4000 KM
26 Nights, 27 Days
Sri Lanka/ Nepal
(Will change based on tour date selected)
RE Classic 350 (Sri Lanka)
RE Himalayan 450 (India & Nepal)
90% Tarmac, 10% Off Road
Intermediate
10,000 USD (Single Room)
Only Twice every year
Following the overwhelming response to our long format Kashmir – Kathmandu tour we were chasing the next Epic adventure, that would not only showcase a unique perspective on the region, but also create an amazing motorcycle adventure.
Last year, quite serendipitously, one of our clients decided to join us for 2 back-to-back adventures (South India & Sri Lanka). He was then scheduled to fly from Colombo – Bangkok and continue on another bike tour in Thailand (Awesome). The Eureka moment came when we realized we had just completed our Nepal tour, 1 week before the South India tour was set to begin; thus, “The 3 Nations Jam” was born.
Sri Lanka, South India, and Nepal, three of South Asia’s most captivating destinations, each offering a unique blend of history, spirituality, and natural beauty.This cross-cultural odyssey unites the soul of South Asia — a symphony of colors, faiths, and landscapes woven into one unforgettable experience.
Your adventure begins in Sri Lanka, the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” where golden beaches meet ancient ruins and lush tea-covered hills.We begin our journey in the sea side town of Negombo, travelling inland to Sigiriya and onwards to the stunning East coast at Trincomalee. We return inland leading to misty mountains and emerald plantations, at Nuwara Eliya, the so-called “Little England,” and continue to Yala National Park for an exhilarating wildlife safari. We loop back to complete the Sri Lankan leg at the coastal town of Negombo.
Fly north to South India, a land of deep spirituality and rich artistic heritage. Discover ancient traditions in Mahabalipuram, where intricate stone carvings reflect a living history thousands of years old. South India and Sri Lanka share many similarities, so we have crafted an itinerary that showcases the differences within those similarities. Our journey touches the Eastern and Western coastlines, but the parts inbetween take you through two of South India’s most significant geographical features: the Western Ghats & the Deccan Plateau. Stones crafted into civilizations and mountains crafted into plantations form the backdrop of this unique adventure, which covers a stunning slice of South India.
The final leg takes you to Nepal, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas. In Kathmandu, lose yourself among the stupas and shrines of Durbar Square and soak in the gentle spirituality that pervades the valley. Travel to Pokhara, where serene lakes reflect the snowcapped Annapurna range, and take in sweeping Himalayan vistas from Sarangkot. Enjoy a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park, home to rhinos and elephants, before ending your tour in Kathmandu. An introduction to the different Himalayan zones that will leave you quite spellbound.
It’s a short drive to the ancient port city of Negombo with its iconic Oruwa boats. We all meet at the hotel lobby and meet the team and remaining participants. Our hotel is in a beautiful setting, so you can either spend time relaxing on the lawns or take short walks into this bustling but picturesque city. The beach is close by and sunsets are quite stunning. Enjoy a beer at one of the many beachside establishments and take in the charms of this enchanting island.
We ride a short stretch along the coast, then divert inland to travel toward Sri Lanka’s historic and cultural centre. Sigiriya or Lion’s Rock may be Sri Lanka’s most famous geographical feature. Predominantly Buddhist architecture scattered with Hindu influences from South India. The coming days showcase the rich and ancient cultural significance of this island nation in the history of the sub- continent.
Note- All monument entries to be paid at actuals.
From the centre of the island we drift further East to the non-touristy parts of the Island. Immaculate beaches, low crowds, and a roaring surf make this part of Sri Lanka a paradise for those seeking water sports. Predominantly Tamil speaking, you start seeing subtle shifts in food and a total shift in language.
We travel further down the East coast on spectacular highways and some secret off-road tracks through the National Park. There’s always a chance of seeing an Elephant in Sri Lanka, so keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the countryside.
We return inland and this time make for the high country and the fabled tea plantation that produces the finest Ceylon Tea. This is where the magic begins as you climb a series of mountain folds along stunning roads. However, the remains of landslides and fallen rock, indicate how delicate the balance is. We visit a tea factory en route to our hotel.
Today may be one of my favourite rides in the whole world, let alone Sri Lanka. We begin the day climbing further into the clouds and suddenly ride into the surreal Horton plains NP, and descend through enchanting forests into the tourist town of Ella (of the 9 arch bridge fame). We stop briefly before continuing our descent towards Yala NP and our greatest chance of seeing elephants in the wild.
We return to the hills and the accompanying plantation country. By now, it’s easy to look at the vegetation and understand whether we are gaining altitude or not. The paddy of the coast changes to areca nut, changes to rubber, changes to coffee, changes to tea, changes to confierous trees, changes to grassland.
Our last day on the road and after a idyllic start we start hitting some traffic. Its a huge contrast from our previous 5 days of riding, because we are now riding through some of the most populated parts of Sri Lanka and therby the associated traffic. The countryside is still stunning and quality of tarmac brilliant, so we ride into Negombo, tired but alsolutely sated.
We wake to the waves of the Bay of Bengal before we begin our journey West, speeding through the highways of Tamil Nadu, across the Cauvery Delta into a region called the rice bowl of India. Small villages, immense farms, canals, lakes and reservoirs dot the countryside and we cross through several busy towns that showcase rural Indian life to the maximum. Colors, smells, street food, chai, cofffee, bananas, coconuts, there is so much to experience in this region. We are headed to the little known town of Erode and will be visiting one of the country’s largest spice factories- to introduce you to the “The Land of Spices.” and the reason why every colonial power wanted a slice of India.
We cover a short journey through the plains and start climbing into, what may be some of the best motorcycling country in the world. We are entering the Western Ghats and riding towards Ooty, the summer capital of the colonial British and home to some of the finest Tea’s in the world. With the mountains come twisting roads, and boy! Are they a joy to ride? It’s great riding weather and the countryside is lush. Endless vistas of rolling tea gardens are a sight to behold, as layer after layer of mountains lie, covered under a carpet of manicured green. We cross state boundaries, moving over to Kerala from Tamil Nadu, ride through a wildlife sanctuary (fingers crossed for elephants), and finish the day on a 400 acre coffee plantation.
It’s always difficult to leave this property, the hosts make it such a memorable experience. Managing a 400 acre plantation that grows almost 10 varieties of cash crops and handles over 100 people, elephants, tigers, leopards and monkeys-daily, is not a simple job; there are so many anecdotes to share and so much information to absorb. We stay within Kerala’s wildlife parks, cross borders into Karnataka and notice the vegetation change as we start climbing. We are entering the heartland of Robusta coffee in India, home to a warrior tribe known for their valor and hospitality. The Kodavas are a unique community in the heart of the Western Ghats with traditions and rituals completely different from anything else in the region. They are also famous for Pork curry and home brewed alcohol, which makes them an endearing stop on our various South India motorcycle tours.
From the heartland of Robusta to the orignal home of coffee in India- Chikmangaluru is where the first fertile coffee beans, smuggled from Yemen by a saint named Baba Budan were planted. A stunning peak ( Baba Budan Giri) is dedicated to the region’s patron saint,who, in the 17th century, provided the seed (quite literally) for India’s coffee industry. If we are in luck and the coffee is in blossom, be prepared to be assailed by an ocean of white blossom and the air, redolent with an aroma that’s a mixture of jasmine and vanilla. More pork and home brewed alcohol means that the night will be spent in good company.
We begin our ride today heading East. We leave the Ghats and coffee plantations behind. After a short descent we arrive at the edge of the Deccan plateau, another unique geographical feature of India and home to some of the less famous, yet thriving empires of the past. Scattered across its vastness is such a treasure trove of architecture, both Indian and Islamic and our destination is one of its greatest examples.
Hampi, the crowning jewel of the Deccan and the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire, is a sight to behold.
This place needs a whole day; take your time and let it all soak in.
A 17th-century city is home to the UNESCO-certified Virupaksha temple and several other monuments that dot this bizarre landscape, which will leave you spellbound. The size and intricacy of the architecture, the boulder strewn landscape and the gentle Tungabhadra River flowing through stand as calm observers to centuries gone by.
A long hot ride along a high speed expressway takes us West, once again. We are approaching our final traverse of the Western Ghats, spending another night in the cool climate of the hills and surrounding forests, before our final descent into the West Coast state of Goa. We try and cover bulk of the KM’s in the early hours of the day to avoid the heat and reach our destination- a resort in the middle of nowhere, with a swimming pool that begs a plunge.
Our last day on the road is rather picturesque and a befitting end to this incredible adventure. The sharp twisting switchbacks keep you focussed as you make a final steep descent towards the West coast of India. We ride through dense forests and roads covered with a canopy of trees that make the sunlight shine like dappled gold, but they also disguise unmarked speed breakers, so please be aware. We find a little traffic as we cross the historic centre of Old Goa with its stunning churches and cobbled avenues. We hit Highway 66 for a short stretch before diverting to inner roads that take us across paddy fields and backwater mangroves to one of South Goa’s best beaches. Say goodbye to your bikes and hello to the Arabian Sea.
We leave the bustling city of Kathmandu, befuddled by the sheer volume of traffic and the #methodinthemadness that makes Nepal tick. This is the most densely populated part of the Himalayas and there is an irony that’s unmistakable. You are surrounded by the highest mountain peaks in the world, travelling along one of the youngest geographical features of our world- through a cultural Diaspora spanning more than two millennia.
We hit the busy Kathmandu – Pokhara highway which is in a constant state of repair and expansion. So expect a lot of dust, slush, noise- everything that’s the charm of a motorcycle adventure in this part of the world. The views are stunning as you ride along the Trishuli river and the glimpses of the Annapurna massif could play hide and seek based on the cloud cover. We divert off the main highway and begin climbing a series of switchbacks on a narrow road that climbs and climbs towards the magical village of Bandipur.
Today is a short ride so we can have a leisurely start. The village of Bandipur offers spectacular walks and the street side cafes are abuzz in the mornings. Chances of seeing the peaks in the Annapurna range are extremely high and the sunrise colors can be quite dramatic.
We descend towards the highway and make a dusty entry into the picture perfect town of Pokhara. The stunning Phewa lake is the crowning glory and the touristy part of town surrounds the lake in (almost) perfect harmony. There is a lot happening in Pokhara, so walk the streets, chill out at a bar, go shopping, chat with the locals, swap stories with other travelers.
There are some options for sightseeing like the Shanti Stupa and the large Shiva statue, so if anyone would like, an optional tour(by car/mini bus) can be organized. Our hotel has a pool and a bar with views of the lake, so feel free to just unwind.
Note- This is a good point to get some laundry done.
Lets say, the real fun is just about to begin. We head out of crowded Pokhara, quickly diverting towards Sarangkot where a series of sharp switchbacks quickly ascends on narrow tarmac towards one of the popular look out points near Pokhara. Stunning views of the Annapurna range are often times, your backdrop as you ascend the road, each turn bringing the peaks closer and then suddenly further away, almost like an optical illusion. We ride along the ridge for several KM with views of rural and agricultural Nepal, a sharp contrast to the big city vibes that we experience in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
We join the highway and ride on great tarmac following the Kali Gandaki river and eventually divert towards the Annapurna conservation area after the town of Kushma.
This road has everything that makes a Himalayan motorcycle adventure- mud, gravel, rock, water crossing, sand, roads under construction and some stretches of stunning tarmac. The views are magical as we climb higher into the upper Himalayas of Nepal. The landscape changes quite dramatically and this will be the highest point of our expedition (close to 3000M asl). We have the option of visiting the Muktinath temple but that depends on when we arrive at our destination.
We back track on the same route as yesterday but it will surprise you to see how dramatically different the valley looks on the way out. The mornings are typically clearer so the peaks catch the light in a completely different way and the descent towards the plains feels like you are in a brand new landscape.
We come back to the town of Kushma and attempt one of the highlights of our tour- the highest suspension bridges of Nepal. It looks scarier than it actually is but, honestly, I still get the jitters every time.
The ride back into Pokhara seems like coming back home. You may now have a favourite bar to go to, or a restaurant you want to eat at again, some local who now feels like a friend. We are back at the same hotel, so you definitely know your way around.
We have an early start as this is the longest day of our tour. We begin on another busy highway connecting large population centers but the roads are fairly good and there is a sweet little coffee shop for our first break. We then divert off the usual road onto a specially curated route that takes you through some spectacular parts of the middle Himalayas. Small villages dot the circuit and stepped fields of paddy keep you company throughout the day. Very little traffic makes this one of the most enjoyable days of the tour. The are a series of ascends and descends as we traverse North-South across the many folds of the Himalayan range.
Our final descent takes us to the Terai lowlands of Nepal which may be considered the agrarian heart of Nepal and is also home to many of Nepal’s National parks. We cut across the highway and into Chitwan, the first established NP with the largest population of the Asiatic One horned Rhino. We check into a resort on the edges of the park and descend into the evening amidst birdsong, calls of langurs and if lucky the roar of the Tiger.
We start the day early today because we have an early morning Jeep safari planned into the National Park. Rhino sightings are almost guaranteed but additionally there are chances of seeing a huge variety of wildlife, birds and some magnificent trees. Deer ( 4 different types), wild boar, monkeys, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, gharial are some common animals and if we are extremely lucky, the Tiger.
We get to riding by noon, for a short run into the hills and cooler climes. The road from Chitwan to Daman is partly on a new highway and the second half goes through picture perfect twisters in lush forests and gorgeous valleys. If we are lucky we get a chance to see the peaks in the Everest cluster.
Our final riding day is a mixture of emotions, in many different ways.
We start the day riding through the lush countryside and low traffic roads and then continue riding on the Kathmandu highway, braving traffic, potholes, dust and tourists- but it all goes by in a blur as we reminisce the week gone by.
This journey is just a small slice of this magical kingdom, but we hope it gives you an insight into the culture, the people and the geography that is so intrinsic to the life of the inhabitants of this mountain kingdom.
