Sikkim the Dream/Darjeeling Tour
next Date to be announced soon
ALL INCLUSIVE TOUR
Suitable for experienced riders and Enfield is Prayer graduates. And of course, as in all our tours, you can always come and join us as a passenger, no experience necessary! (Find out more about that here )
QUICK NAVIGATION
All Inclusive means you pay one price and you get all of the following:
- Your Royal Enfield ride
- All the petrol and maintenance
- Luxury Accommodations and Charming Homestay's*
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner + special momo’s *
- All the special Sikkim permits and visa’s including a rare special permit to ride to Zero Point
plus we bring our own travel photographer!
*double occupancy and some meals not provide on off days
THE ROUTE
Come Fly with Us!
Sikkim is simply beautiful! Untouched part of the Himalayan mountains with roads up to 4,800 meters and a hawks view of mt. Kanchenjunga (3rd highest mountain in the world, 8586m).
Sikkim was an independent Kingdom until 1975 when it ceded control to India after unwanted pressure from China. The northern border is Tibet, the west side is Nepal and Bhutan is to the east. Just south is the beautiful mountain hill station of Darjeeling in West Bengal.
Flight Plan
Our Tour starts from Siliguri. We gather here a couple of days before the tour to climatize, synchronize and get ready for the ride of our lives! How to get to Siliguri, click HERE!
South Sikkim
We ride the first days thru the mountain river village of Kalimpong and enter the Sikkim border check post of Rangpo. Features include a ride up the mountains to the elegant Temi Tea Gardens and a nights stay at the spectacular Cherry Resort Hotel, the preferred hotel of Your Holiness the Dali Lama and the most luxuries, The Martam Retreat and Cottages.
East Sikkim
Gangtok, capital city of Sikkim. pop. 100,000 by far the largest city in this sparcely populated former Himalayan Kingdom. We ride to the village of Rumtek, where one of the biggest monasterys in the area is located. We will stay at the exquisite Swiss owned Bamboo Retreat.
West Sikkim
We will catch our first view of Mt. Kangchenjunga (8586m), 3rd highest mountain in the world, the first time probably from high up from the Plantations at Temi Tea-Garden from the balconys of charming Pelling.
After crossing some mountain roads (and sometimes rivers) we will park our bikes for a day to hike up to the Monastery Village of Holy Khechuperi Lake, which is only reachable on foot.
There we will stay at the most charming homestay's tucked up in the hills in the Monastery Village of Khechuperi Lake.
North Sikkim
Restricted area, accessible only with a special permit, an EIP exclusive. Ride untouched roads (altitude 4800m) to Zero Point, 10 air miles from the Tibet border. 360 degree views of snow top mountains and catch a glimpse of wild Yaks. We visit Mangan, LaChen, LaChung and the beautiful Yumthang Valley. There is snow everywhere but also bring your swimwear for a relaxing dip in the mountain Hot Springs!
Darjeeling
Snake up steep hairpin turns to the mesmerizing colonial Hill station of Darjeeling. Famous world over for its Tea and the UNESCO world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, built in 1879. Stay two nights at the glamorous, Olde Bellevue Heritage Hotel, family owned for four generations.
Come fly with us!
Accommodations & Food
Only the Best for our Sikkim warriors!
We rough it on the road, but when we stop for a nights rest, its only the best, the most luxurious and charming accommodations in the land.
Check the slideshow for a glimpse of some of our favourite accommodations.
The Bamboo Retreat
www.bambooretreat.in
Packing & Preparations
Preparation
Get your India Visa. You can go directly thru your local Indian Consulate or get an e-visa online at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html
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In the application they will ask you for a local address and contact.
Our recommended local address in Siliguri, West Bengal, India is:
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Hotel Tourist Inn
Opp. P.C.Mittal Bus Terminus,
Sevoke Road, Siliguri,
West Bengal 734001, India
Other documents to bring (for Sikkim permits):
- 4 passport size photo's
- 4 copies of your passport main page
- 4 copies of your drivers license (motorcycle license not necessary)
How to get to Silliguri, West Bengal
We recommend you arrive a few days before the tour starts to climatize to the local environment, get over the jetlag, do some last minute shopping, and get familiar with your Royal Enfield.
Airplane - The airport name is Bagdogra (IXB) and its about a 20 min taxi ride to our Holy Holy Holy! tour start point. You can get direct flights from Delhi and Kolkata for under $100. Check it out at Kayak.com or makemytrip.com
Train and Bus - Siliguri is the hub city for Darjeeling, Sikkim, East India and very close to the Nepal and Bhutan borders. Many train and bus connections here but unless you have lots of experience on India travels, we would recommend you fly.
As soon as you know your scheduled arrival, please inform us and we will help you arrange a taxi or rickshaw and your local hotel in Siliguri.
Our tour does not include hotels and transportation before and after the tour dates, however we can help you make all the arrangements for your stay in Siliguri. Our recommended hotel for Siliguri is as follows
Hotel Tourist Inn
Opp. P.C.Mittal Bus Terminus,
Sevoke Road,
Siliguri, West Bengal
734001, India
When you arrive at the Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri, give them the above address to the hotel. Maximum price you should pay for the taxi ride is 500 rupees (7-8 euros).
Weather
At this time of year, winter has started and there will be snowfall in North Sikkim. Dress warm! Although chances of rain are low and days are usually sunny and pleasant, the weather will be unpredictable at times. After sunset and in the mornings, you will be in full winter riding gear. Best to have a thick riding jacket and gloves and to wear layers, as the temperature gets warmer in the day, you can peel off some layers.
How and what to pack?
A Rucksack (backpack) - your bag will be bungie tied to the luggage rack that is attached to your Enfield. Keep the weight at 10 kg. No suitcases! it will not fit on the bike.
Riding Jacket - Full winter riding jacket.
Long Pants (warm) and Boots - also bring a couple pairs of thermal underpants.
Riding Gloves, Goggles, and a Bandana - get good warm riding gloves to keep your hands warm, sunglasses and a bandana or scarf to keep your neck warm
Swimwear - winter hot springs!
What you can get in Siliguri
(please arrive a couple of days before we start the tour if you need to do any local shopping) -
Helmet - you must wear a helmet at all times. You can get one in Siliguri for $15-40 depending on style and quality.
Local Indian Simcard - if you must get one, its available here
Currency Exchange - change you Euro’s, Dollar’s, Pound’s here. It might be difficult on the road.
Note: Please keep the weight of your rucksack to about 10kg. There will be safe storage at the Siliguri hotel for any excess bagagge.
Questions and Answers
F.A.Q
- What is included in the Sikkim the Dream Tour?
Your Royal Enfield ride!
All the petrol and maintenance for the whole tour
Luxury accommodations and charming homestays*
All meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner*
All the Sikkim visa's and permits including an EIP exclusive special permit to Zero Point (10 air miles from the Tibet border).
plus we bring our very own travel photographer to document our journey!
*double occupancy and some meals are not provided on off days
To book your space with us and for any specific queries about the tour click
- If I don't ride a motorcycle can I come on tour as a passenger?
Yes! Its an EIP feature, and traveling India on the backseat of a Enfield is the only way to fly. We save some designated spaces for our passengers only, we encourage the participation of our Pillions, pillows, and hitchriders and offer some discounts to certain kind of referrals and voluntary support and contributions towards the tour. Its for a limited time and limited space. Contact us here.
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For motorcycle riders already on tour; bring your partners! To share this adventure is intimate, inspirational and bonding. Experience of a lifetime
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- What is the Early Bird special price?
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The Early Bird price is a special discounted price for people who do advanced bookings with us. We also offer some discounts to certain kind of referrals and voluntary support and contributions towards the tour. Its for a limited time and limited space.
To enquire about our Early Bird special prices, click ´
In addition, EIP has an incredible track record of about 70% of our EIP participants come back for a 2nd or 3rd or more, tours of duty. We offer a special price for our returnees; our family, friends and lovers.
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- What is not included in Enfield is Prayer tours?
Alcoholic drinks and beverages are not included in the tour.
You must obtain your own Indian visa and travel insurance.
Your personal travel cost to reach the starting point of the tour. (we are happy to support you with booking flights, trains and transportation from the airport to our hotel, just write to us and let us know, if you need some help)
All personal expenses before and after the tour dates, as well as your hotel stay and meals are not included. However we are happy to recommend hotels in Siliguri and help you book them.
Personal gear, clothes, helmets, etc, are not included.
Some meals are not included on off days where it not possible to have the group together
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- How much motorcycle experience do I need to ride in the Sikkim the Dream tour?
You must have advanced motorcycle riding experience and/or you must be a graduate of our Enfield is Prayer riding school. You need to be able to properly shift gears, ride on different terrains and deal with steep inclines and even have some experience riding off road.
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- Do you provide insurance?
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We do NOT provide any insurance of any kind. Traveling around India and traveling by motorcycle is inherently dangerous. It can result in serious or fatal injuries to you and others. You will be solely responsible for your own risk and liabilities and to obtain your own insurance and hold harmless the organizers of the tour and any others associated with the tour.
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Enfield is Prayer is NOT a license company. We are not incorporated, licensed, bonded or insured. We merely act as an organizing entity to recommend hotels and restaurants and help rent Enfield's to ride in India.
We will go over all the safety ins and outs in our pre-tour meeting before we start the tour. Just a couple of quick things we do. We recommend you ride slow and always 100% in control at all times. No need to add karma to the road, the Himalayan mountains are enough. We have a method to shield our new riders when we cross intersections until everyone is familiar with the flow of the Indian traffic and at the end of the day, its up to every individual to take their own responsibility to be aware and focused on the road. This is our motorcycle meditations. This is where we look deep inside ourselves and witness our reactions and how we respond to moments. Challenging situations will arise, and most of us will take this as an opportunity to Rise to the occasion!
- How do I sign up?
Its easy. Simply contact us and tell us that you want to sign up and how you heard about the us. Then we will return you a message asking for the following information:
1: How much experience do you have riding motorcycles?
2: Do you have any mental or physical considerations that may inhibit you from effectively operating a two wheel vehicle?
3: Have you traveled India before and if so, where?
4: Do you have allergies and/or on any special medication or diet? ie,vegan, gluten free, etc
After that, you just send a copy of your passport and a deposit to save your space and voila' you have your spot saved for you on our Exclusive Motorcycle Tour!
to book your Enfield click
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