FAQs Archive - Page 12 of 13 - Classic Bike Adventure

Q: What are the import regulations for India?

Up to 200 cigarettes and 2 liters of alcohol may be imported duty-free. All international cigarette and spirits brands are available in India. Customs checks of arriving tourists have become considerably less strict in recent years.

Q: How big are the groups? What’s the minimum number of participants?

Groups generally consist of 8 to 14 riders and 2 to 6 passengers. The minimum number of participants is 6 riders.

Q: Do pillion passengers have a guaranteed seat in the support vehicle?

Yes, all passengers have a guaranteed seat. In bad weather or challenging riding conditions, they can switch to the support vehicle at any time – and back to the bike when conditions improve.

Q: Will there be any water crossings?

There is definitely one water crossing on the way from Nubra Valley to Lake Pangong in Ladakh. Ultimately, the situation is different after every winter, so you should be prepared to ford more than one river. Our team will be happy to help and take over your bike if you don’t feel comfortable with the crossing.

Q: Are beer or other alcoholic beverages available everywhere?

Not all hotels in Kerala and Karnataka allow you to order beer or other alcoholic beverages and consume it in the restaurant or garden. In those cases, we’ll buy alcoholic beverages as a group and enjoy them in our rooms or private verandas.

Q: Can I get altitude sickness?

The Ladakh tour starts in Leh at the altitude of 3,500 meters, so a slow acclimatization is important. After two nights in Leh, we’ll move on to two nights in Alchi on the western Indus at an altitude of around 3,000 meters. Based on our experience, everybody should be well-acclimatized by then and the minor discomfort (dizziness, headache, insomnia) associated with high altitudes a thing of the past. So, don’t worry! We have had hardly any cases of “real” altitude sickness on our Ladakh motorcycle tours in the last ten years. That said, everyone reacts differently to high altitudes. We therefore recommend that you discuss the use of acetazolamide, a medication to prevent altitude sickness, with your GP.

Q: Do I need travel insurance and travel health insurance?

We always recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover costs incurred if you need to cancel the trip due to illness or other reasons. When shopping for travel health insurance, make sure the policy covers the potentially high cost of medical evacuation to your home country. Both forms of insurance can save you a lot of money in an emergency and we recommend them unreservedly. In many countries, your national motoring organization can provide the coverage you need.