Greetings from the Ride Expeditions Summer HQ high in the hills above Manali. The riding season is in full swing and we’re busier than hive full of bees on Ritalin. Toby and Anna are overseeing the legions of riders booking and arriving for our tours. Pete and the team are darting about all over the Himalayas and Julian has been splitting his time between writing, riding and testing in both the UK and India.

We’re riding the crest of a wave and loving it!

OK so let’s update you on just what’s been going on and what’s coming up

 FULL DIARY , HAPPY CUSTOMERS AND GREAT RIDING – GET IN

SPITI VALLEY IS ON

While our customers were loading up and heading north on our Himalayan Heights tours, Toby and Julian were heading the opposite direction on our epic Spiti Valley Recce tour. Joined by a select band of returning and intrepid new customers – Ali, Nico, Chris, Bruce and Garry – we were researching and riding a brand new tour for next season.

The new route takes in the stunning scenery to the southwest of Manali, from the densely forested Banjar Valley and the hilltop and achingly beautiful village of Nako, before heading to the jaw-droppingly epic Spiti Valley.

The team and customers were blown away with the new route and we know that if you’ve never been to this region before, you won’t be able to believe the sights and experiences of this tour. If you’ve already ridden the Himalayan Heights tour, then this is like taking that one and turning all the controls up to 11 …

We’ll be posting the full itinerary on the website in the next week or so, so keep an eye out. In the meantime, email Anna to get your name on the list for the new tour

PAYBACK TIME

Oh and while we are talking about returning customers, how about a bit of love for all you guys that show us your loyalty and return for another tour? Yep, we thought so too, so we’d like to remind you that we offer a full 5% discount for all you lovely people who come back to us. So get your bookings into the diary and feel warm and fluffy that you’ve got a better deal that recognises your continued support of Ride Expeditions.

WE”D LOVE YOU TO JOIN US FOR ANOTHER TOUR

If you are one of our past clients, we’d love to hear your feedback on your experiences. Trust Pilot is becoming an increasingly used tool for riders seeking adventure experiences, so maybe leave your thoughts at https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/rideexpeditions.com

Thanks guys – we couldn’t have done it without you.

 HO CHI MINH TRAIL – FIRST TOUR BOOKING NOW

So enough with the love-in, back to tours. At the start of the year Toby set off for Cambodia – cruelly leaving Julian at home – to research an all-new tour following the route of the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail. It’s an epic route that has everything from fantastic scenery and unbelievable trails to fascinating history and incredibly friendly people.

Being one of our longer tours the price is that little bit higher, but quality adventure experiences don’t come cheap and this one is going to be simply awesome. We’ve got boat trips, luxury camping, museum visits, stunning resort hotels, elephant sanctuaries and of course – some of the most incredible trails in the world. This is a top end tour and we know you will love it!

THE HO CHI MINH TOUR WILL BE A CRACKER

So with all the logistics in place, the tour is now on sale and we’ve already got a good selection of adventurers signed up and ready to go. If you fancy joining us, we’d love to have you on-board, and more importantly to Julian – if there are more riders he gets to join us too.

Drop us an email, book yourself in for an epic adventure and make a brother happy – he might even buy you a half of Kingfisher!

HIMALAYAN HAPPINESS

While these tours are just starting, our Himalayan Heights tour is going from strength. Last year we ran just two tours with 25 riders taking in the delights of the amazing ride from Manali up to Leh, Pangong Lake and beyond to the highest road on the planet.

MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER WANT TO RIDE WITH US

For 2017, thanks to incredible support, stunning videos, massive press coverage and sheer hard work we are half way through our series of nine tours, all completely sold out with over one hundred riders from as far apart as Columbia to Canberra. It’s a level of success and support that reflects the work we put in to provide the best tours you can ride.

With this year’s season now fully booked, we’re taking bookings for 2018 and we’ve already close to half sold on those tours.  If you are up for it – get in touch now. Bucket Lists are fine – putting it into the diary is far more satisfying.

TESTING TIMES

OK so the final item for today, and it’s that man Julian again and his motorcycle testing obsession.

While we were in the Himalayas, Julian got his little mitts on the Royal Enfield Himalayan and subjected it to ruthless testing on the harsh terrain of the Khardung La Pass at over 5km above sea level.

THE HIMALAYAN . GOOD, BUT NO CIGAR

To read his unique view on the new kid on the block – go to our blog and enjoy. For us – the line of the review has to be  “to have achieved such little power from such a big engine is a triumph of engineering that could only occur in India”

Read the rest right here

That’s all for now, but in the meantime we leave you with more of Mr Challis’ work – how to park a motorcycle in deep water!

RIDE SAFE!