THE HIMALAYAS – 2014 & 2017
You know, when you’re diving into off-road riding for the first time, why not aim for the Himalayas, right ? Crazy as it sounds, I was hooked from the get-go and ended up going back for round two !
Back in 2014, I linked up with Himalayan Bikers and their main man, Gaëtan. Let me tell you, from start to finish, it was smooth sailing. Now, on a trip like this, trust in your crew is key. I learned that the hard way on a trip to Argentina with a different outfit… let’s just say, bike maintenance matters big time.
With zero off-road experience, I won’t sugarcoat it—the route was a challenge. But lucky for me, I had a crew of top-notch guides and fellow bikers who had my back every step of the way. One of the riders happened to be a seasoned pro and gave me tips that were downright lifesaving.
And here’s the kicker : Gaetan even hooked us up with French-speaking guides in the heart of the Himalayas ! In 2014, we rolled with Tinley, and then in 2017, Sanu took the reins. Both of them spoke French like champs.
The wombats loved :
_ The Himalayan Bikers’ rock-solid professionalism and their warm, welcoming vibe. When you roll in as a customer and roll out feeling like part of the crew, you know you’ve hit the jackpot. Definitely an other one of our Top Picks !
_ The jaw-dropping scenery, unlike anything I’ve ever laid eyes on. There’s just something about those Himalayas that etches itself into your soul.
_ And let’s not forget about the Royal Enfields. These babies are like magic—they’re forgiving as can be, which is a blessing when you’re still getting the hang of things out there on the road !
The wombats didn’t like :
_ Nothing. Well … at least nothing we could pin on Himalayan Bikers. But fair warning : dealing with Indian administration and bureaucracy can test your patience.
The biggest bricks we sh** :
_ Every single day !
Whether it was dodging trucks on the edge of a cliff, navigating through mudslides blocking the road, or suddenly encountering a cow in your path. But let me tell you, nothing beats the feeling of reaching the summit of Khardung La, the highest pass in the world at a jaw-dropping 5,359 meters above sea level. Yep, that’s a whopping 600 meters higher than Mont Blanc !
I highly recommend checking out their website. This isn’t your typical leisurely vacation—it’s a full-on adventure that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
ARGENTINA – 2015
For a solid ten days, we saddled up our Royal Enfields and tore through some of the most breathtaking landscapes you could imagine. Whether we were blazing along the iconic Routa 40 or weaving through the vineyards of Cafayate, or even carving our way through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Humahuaca or the quebrada de las conchas, every twist and turn of the throttle was a wild ride !
Sadly, there won’t be any epic GoPro footage from this trip. Turns out, our trusty camera decided to take a solo journey somewhere along a dusty trail. Note to self for next time : always give those mount fastenings a good tighten now and then…
The wombats did not like :
_ Dealing with the agency was a real headache. From shoddy bike maintenance to a lackluster trip prep, it felt like we were constantly hitting roadblocks. Those Royal Enfields were definitely overdue for some TLC. Even though the organizer claimed it was the first time he’d run into so many problems with a group, he ultimately ended up giving us back some of our cash. That’s saying something !
_ Talking about cash and the payment situation : despite claiming to be Argentina experts, they had us wiring the account into a Uruguayan bank and then shelling out the rest in cold hard cash upon arrival. Let’s just say, walking around with 5,000 USD in our pockets wasn’t exactly our idea of a good time…
The biggest bricks we sh** :
_ floodwaters raging through the Jujuy region.
The wombats loved :
_ Chasing down certain stretches of the Dakar route had us feeling like true champions.
_ And let’s not forget about the Argentina meat ! Mouthwatering steaks cooked to perfection over an open flame ? Yeah, count us in !
