Our tours are motorcycle holidays. We do not spend a great deal of time sitting round swimming pools, shopping, drinking etc. The emphasis is firmly placed on being on your bike and enjoying the scenery, roads and cultural experience. Having said that we do adopt a fairly relaxed approach. Usually we start each day of the tour at around 0900 hrs and aim to be in our next hotel or camp by 1700 hrs. We will have a stop for lunch for approximately an hour and we do have regular tea and coffee stops in the morning and afternoon. On average we will travel approximately 100km per day in the Himalayas and on The South India Tour we will average about 150 km a day, as the driving is less challenging.
What do we expect from you?
With all these types of holidays there is an element of risk. We obviously want everyone to be as safe as possible, therefore, we do insist on a few common sense rules. These include wearing of crash helmets, gloves, jackets and full-length trousers whilst riding. Riding in just flip-flops, t-shirt and shorts is not allowed. We will give you a full briefing on other safety issues on the morning before the tour begins.
Is there a minimum or maximum age requirement?
There is a minimum age requirement of 21 years for all riders. There is no minimum age requirement for pillions but they obviously must be able to meet the legal requirements for a pillion passenger. We always have space in the support vehicle for people wanting to do the tours but not on a bike. We do expect those coming on the Himalayan tours to make sure that they fit and healthy and in good order for the altitudes the tours travel over.
Are there hospitals available in the journey?
On all the tours there are good quality hospitals along the routes should anyone need them.
Himalayan Tours.
During your trip the following information may be useful to you.
Most people who do this tour just experience tiredness while acclimatising. During a day's drive over high passes the time spent on top of the passes is minimal. For this reason AMS is kept to a minimum. We do carry oxygen with us on tour so you have no need to worry. We also have a spare rider should he be required.
We do spend plenty of time acclimatising in certain places in order for you get used to the relevant heights on the tour.
Please see your GP before doing these tours in order for you to ask about AMS and also to get a prescription for the drug Diamox. (See below)
Acute mountain sickness (AMS)
AMS is common at high altitudes. At elevations over 10,000 ft (3,048 meters), 75% of people will have mild symptoms. The occurrence of AMS is dependent upon the elevation, the rate of ascent, and individual susceptibility. Many people will experience mild AMS during the acclimatisation process. Symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after arrival at altitude and begin to decrease in severity about the third day. The symptoms of mild AMS are headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, disturbed sleep, and a general feeling of malaise. Symptoms tend to be worse at night and when respiratory drive is decreased. Mild AMS does not interfere with normal activity and symptoms generally subside within 2-4 days as the body acclimatises. As long as symptoms are mild, and only a nuisance, ascent can continue at a moderate rate. When riding, it is essential that you communicate any symptoms of illness immediately to the crew on your trip. AMS is considered to be a neurological problem caused by changes in the central nervous system. It is basically a mild form of high altitude cerebral edema.
Basic treatment of AMS
The only cure is either acclimatisation or descent. Symptoms of mild AMS can be treated with pain medications for headache and Diamox. Both help to reduce the severity of the symptoms, but remember reducing the symptoms is not curing the problem. Diamox allows you to breathe faster so that you metabolize more oxygen, thereby minimizing the symptoms caused by poor oxygenation. This is especially helpful at night when respiratory drive is decreased. Since it takes a while for Diamox to have an effect, it is advisable to start taking it 24 hours before you go to altitude and continue for at least five days at higher altitude. The recommendation of the Himalayan rescue association medical clinic is 125 mg. twice a day (morning and night). (The standard dose was 250 mg., but their research showed no difference for most people with the lower dose, although some individuals may need 250 mg.) Possible side effects include tingling of the lips and fingertips, blurring of vision, and alteration of taste. These side effects may be reduced with the 125 mg. Dose. Side effects subside when the drug is stopped. Contact your physician for a prescription. Since Diamox is a sulfonamide drug, people who are allergic to sulfa drugs should not take Diamox. Diamox has also been known to cause severe allergic reactions to people with no previous history of Diamox or Sulfa allergies.
We would ask all person that are coming on our Mighty Himalayan tours to do a trial course of the drug before coming out to the Himalayas where a severe allergic reaction could prove more difficult to treat.
Welcome to Extreme Bike Tours, we offer following Tours:
