RIDING GEAR
During our adventures in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bhutan, we’ll experience huge altitude changes from near sea level to over 4000m (5600m on some Indian adventures) so it’s imperative that you have gear/clothes that are suitable for all weather extremes. Temperatures can be as low as -10 degrees Celsius at night and as high as 30 degrees during the day. If it rains and when there is cloud cover, the temperature can drop quickly. The heat and humidity in Delhi, Kathmandu and Islamabad can be stifling so make sure you bring some light clothing. When entering mosques, temples etc it is requested that you don’t wear shorts and that you remove your shoes especially if they are made from leather.
WET WEATHER GEAR
Although we are mostly riding in arid regions, it can rain and when it rains you do not want to be caught without wet weather gear. A cheap, two piece motorcycle rain suit does the job if you put it over your normal riding gear. It’s small and light and easy to put in your back pack. Feel free though to kit yourself out with high quality adventure gear.
HELMET
Absolutely compulsory on tour. Bring a comfortable one with you as your head is going to be in it for a long periods of time. An adventure helmet or a quality flip-up, full face helmet are recommended as we stop often and taking your helmet off can be a hassle. It is much easier to flip the front up. You are welcome to ride with an open face helmet but you’ll want to bring a peak, bubble visor or goggles as added eye protection.
GLOVES
Quality summer gloves are the way to go. Winter gloves are useful to pack if it gets cold and they don’t take up much space.
JACKET
A textile jacket with armour is probably best although a leather bike jacket will suffice. If the jacket has a removable liner then that is even better as it’ll allow you to add or remove a layer as the weather changes. Motocross armour is worn by some.
TROUSERS
Again, armoured textile trousers with a few pockets are probably the way to go, but Kevlar riding jeans are OK as well.
BOOTS
Quality boots, covering the ankle, are highly recommended. If your boots have shin protection even better. This is the most important piece of your gear so don’t skimp. You’ll be in your boots more than you’ll be out of them so they should be very comfortable. We’re going to cross some rivers so you’ll want them to be waterproof.
TOILETRIES & HEALTH
- A compact travel towel is a good idea. They fold up to the size of a clenched fist and are very light.
- A packet of flushable wet-wipes. Hopefully not needed but could make your trip far more comfortable.
- 30+ Sun Block as the sun is deceptively powerful at altitude
- Lip balm
- A small bottle of hand sanitiser in your back pack could be handy.
- A toiletries bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shaving equipment, antiperspirant etc.
- For women, both travelling and altitude can play havoc with your menstrual cycle. Sanitary pads are available in the larger towns.
- Imodium – For diarrhoea relief
- Diamox – For Acute Mountain Sickness (suitable for altitudes above 2500m (8000ft)
OTHER STUFF
Some of the items below can be bought very cheaply in when you arrive, so you could chance it and buy it there but we might be on a tight schedule so it pays to be well prepared.
- A snood (tubular scarf) comes in handy for keeping dust out of the nose and the sun off your neck. Also good to keep you warm if gets cold and vice versa you can always wet it to keep you cool.
- Sunglasses with UV protection are essential. If there is snow, you’ll be blinded by the light.
- Warm and cool socks, plenty of them.
- Sleeping bag – Rated to 30°F (0°C). (Useful for warmth and hygiene. Keep it as small as possible)
- A compact travel towel is a good idea
- Thermal underwear can be useful both for adding warmth and as a sleeping layer
- Some people feel more comfortable with a kidney-belt.
- A small back pack which can carry a 1L water bottle, wet weather gear and your valuable items such as passports, wallets, phones, cameras etc.
- A wide brimmed hat is far more sensible that a baseball cap. Nothing beats a sombrero!
- 2+ Passport photographs.
- Torch or Head-torch so you can see your way around at night if there is a blackout.
- Power adaptor so you can charge you phones, cameras and powerbanks.