What's it all about?
Do you fancy the thrill of riding through Southern India for two weeks? Well throw in a Royal Enfield Bullet, vast quantities of pot holes and the searing heat and you’ve got yourself a challenge!
Rainbow Trust has been benefiting from this event since 2003, receiving over £310,000 in donations. We would thoroughly encourage anyone who has a love for motorbikes or travelling the unbeaten path to sign up for this once in a lifetime trip.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in India and chill out for the rest of the day, meet the team in the evening.
Day 2
Warm up day, this day enables you to get used to the Indian traffic and the idiosyncrasies of the Royal Enfield.
Day 3
Today is designed to break everyone in gently; this rally stage sees you tackle a beautiful and demanding stretch of the western Ghat mountain range on your way to Palolem, our first nights destination. Palolem is one of India’s most beautiful beach resorts; during the riding day you will encounter mountains every bit as spectacular as the Himalayas. Get ready for very rough accommodation and a breathtaking location tonight - the rally has begun.
Day 4
The second day is longer and more demanding but feels no harder due to the fact you are becoming more confident on your bike and the forest trails and mountain passes are becoming less daunting. Today’s ride is quite simply mind-blowing as you wind your way on and off road all the way over the mountains and back to the nights stop point at a truly secret cove, looking out to the Arabian sea.
Day 5
Today we start off with a short stretch of highway, which by Indian standards is very quiet, you then take some beautiful winding roads up the mountains stopping for lunch at India’s highest waterfall; Jog Falls. Once you’re refreshed, we crack on towards the final nights stop, a bustling Indian city of Shimoga. Shimoga sees no tourists whatsoever, and therein lies it’s fascination for us – it is one of the rare places on earth you can see a city totally unaffected by tourism. It is eye opening and extremely friendly, it is probably one of the only places on earth where the owner of a petrol station asks you in for a coffee!
Day 6
If there was an awards programme for the worlds best rides this day would be up right up there. It’s so good it’s almost too much for the mind to take in. You will bike up and down roads that haven’t been used by traffic for decades – at some stages we have to send a chainsaw gang in before we tackle it, as nature has taken it’s hold so firmly. Cautious and progressive are the terms appropriate on these stages, as the scenery is awesome but the road conditions changeable. You finish this tough day with the sun setting behind you whilst chasing shadows all the way to the incredible mountain resort of Kalasa nestled in the vast Elephant area of Kudremukh National Park.
Day 7
An early wake up call will be tough for some to deal with this morning as the aches and pains of the last few days start to take hold. Today is another long and demanding ride as you make your way to Mysore, ancient summer seat of the Raj. Mysore is a city much more used to tourists due to its regal status, proud history and beautiful buildings. The team love Mysore as it’s the sort of place that reinforces India’s surreal atmosphere. Pulling up at the lights and having a bull elephant to the right and left is a feeling you’ll never get used to!
Day 8
Mysore to Masinagudi is a beautiful and short day’s riding. Its dense tiger reserves, huge wild elephant populations and friendly villagers make this a memorable and exhilarating place to ride. It’s the day’s destination (and the rest spot for the next 2 nights). The Jungle Hut guest house is nestled in the Mudumallai tiger reserve and the scenery and wildlife are out of this world. Nothing will prepare you for this place.
Day 9
Rest and recuperation at Jungle Hut, this off bike period will give you time to reflect on your very special surroundings. - take a safari drive, trek or visit the fascinating old British hill station of Ooty, with it’s old street names such as Regents street and Charing Cross. Just being in this place is magical and many of you will not want to leave preferring to read quietly or sip a drink by the amazing pool – surrounded by high mountain peaks (and tigers)! This 2 day rest period is also good for the bikes, as it gives the mechanics a proper chance to service them after their testing ride.
Day 10
We leave the beauty of Mudumallai behind and head off up the mountain to Ooty, once there we tackle one of the most amazing rides in India, another secret road that Enduro India have special permission to ride. This ‘road’ doesn’t appear on any maps and certain stages have been closed to foreigners since the 1960’s. Riding this road – and its 100 hairpin bends is one of the most amazing and challenging stages on the rally. Don’t rush it; riding on earth doesn’t get much better than this. Today sees us finish at Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal was the only American hill station under British rule and still maintains a strong international presence with its famous Kodai School. It’s also set up for tourists with shopping and email facilities available. The food here is also fantastic and there are many Tibetan immigrants. The road from Palani to Kodai is one of the most memorable on earth.
Day 11
Today is the best day’s riding on the entire trip and will quite simply knock the breath out of your lungs with it’s intense beauty. First you leave Kodai and spend 2 hours descending the beautiful and high mountain. Then the group will hit the stunning wildlife sanctuary of Indira Gandhi and Chinnur, with their awesome switchbacks and great tarmac. The views here are wild in the extreme, you are never far away from big cats, elephants, bears and Hyenas. After this stunning stage and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better you hit the tea country and Munnar national park. This place has to be seen to be believed. I’ll say no more.
Day 12
Today sees a nice easy ride through the tea towards the fragrant spice plantations of Thekkady. Nestled in the most amazing tiger reserve in south India is our wonderful hotel, who will welcome you with all the charm India can muster. Today you will feel like you’re on holiday, and why not? – You’ve been suffering for your art til now. Today is a true half day and that offers you the chance to go shopping, drink a cold beer or visit the stunningly beautiful Periyar tiger reserve.
Day 13
Today is rather emotional as it involves the last day of riding together. We travel past one of India’s biggest Arch Dams and tackle the tricky roads of the Idukki wildlife reserve towards our nights stop at the amazing city of Kottayam. Prepare yourself for a very emotional ride in on the now famous final stretch of Enduro India.
Day 14
A well deserved chance to rest and recuperate and gather together to look back at the amazing two weeks you have spent together all set against the backdrop of India's 970 square kilometres Kumarakom Lake.
Day 15
An early morning wake up call and transport to Cochin International Airport for your return journey.
How do I sign up?
For more information or to sign up for this amazing event, please visit www.enduroindia.com
If you have already signed up and would like to find out more about Rainbow Trust please contact Sarah on 01372 220013.
