Tour Price: £1,359       Fuel Supp: £75       Single Supp.: £5/night


• The beachfront areas in parts of Goa are tourist dominated and not representative of India as a whole. You'll be there for one day at the beginning and two at the end, which is enough to enjoy the beaches and bars on offer. The majority of your tour will be in Karnataka, with a brief dip down into the northern tip of Tamil Nadu. Karnataka epitomises rural India, which is much the same as it has been for centuries. Most of the population work in the fields and our arrival in town usually causes quite a stir. People are very friendly, everyone feels compelled to wave and the kids rush to the roadside when they hear the roar of the bikes. We also pass through some big towns, such as Mysore - famous for sandalwood and silk, where you can do your shopping and experience the local bazaars. The weather is generally very hot, so lightweight riding gear is recommended (jeans or combats, shirt, light jacket and boots).

Day 1: Goa.

Arrive in Goa, meet the team and have a briefing session. You'll be at your hotel by lunchtime, leaving you the afternoon for money changing and any other last minute preparations.

Day 2: Goa to Dandeli.

It’s up horribly early, 5.45am to be precise, but no doubt you’ll be itching to get on the road. First off, we introduce you to your steed: the Enfield 350 Bullet. Actual set off is by 6.45am. Your main bag will be loaded onto the support truck but you should carry a small bag with you containing first aid, wash things, fresh clothes (in case the support truck arrives late), sun cream, camera, water, a few rupees and little else. Today is a fairly short day for everyone to get used to the Enfield. Heading east the road passes through Old Goa and winds into the surrounding hills.

Cows and other assorted obstacles permitting we should arrive in time for lunch and our first night's stop at the Kali Wilderness & Adventure Camp.

Day 3: Dandeli to Hampi.

A more civilized start time of around 9.00am sees you heading out through the forest and wildlife sanctuary and onto the Deccan plateau in the neighbouring state of Karnataka. The road levels out and we hit the plains for a total change of landscape and a chance to open your throttle. At a sensible pace we breeze through the flat landscape, which may not be the most visually arresting day of the trip, but the easy riding lets you get used to your bike and Indian road manners. Our destination is Hampi, which at just over 250kms is about a 6 hour ride.

Day 4: Bikes have a day off today and so do you!

Hampi, the now ruined ancient capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, is a magnet for wandering pilgrims. This is a stunning place, and we spend two nights here in a bizarre tropical lunar landscape, divided by rivers and littered with huge boulders sheltering numerous temples. Untouched since the Muslims sacked the city in the early Sixteenth Century, Hampi is now called home by just a few monkeys. The ruins cover about 40 square kilometres, with star billing going to the rocks, some the size of houses, piled in a manner that defies logic.

Day 5: Hampi to Chikmagalur.

Today we are going from Hampi to Chikmagalur. It’s a fairly long ride so we should be off by 8.00am. Riding away from Hampi is again through open agricultural land but slowly we pull into more forested areas as we approach Chikmagalur, one of the main coffee growing centres of India.

Day 6: Chikmagalur to Mysore.

Another early start as we set off for Mysore. We cruise across verdant plains rice paddies and palm plantations. Time permitting we will stop in Belur en route and have a look around the 1,000 year old Hoysala temple. Mysore is famous for its palace, sandalwood carvings, spices and some of the best silks in India.

Day 7: Mysore to Masinagudi.

We head out of the hustle and bustle of Mysore, then down through the wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipur and Mudumalai, forested with teak and sandalwood and populated by elephant, tiger, bison, wild boar and spotted deer, until we reach the foot of the Nilgiri or Blue Mountains. You are now in your third Indian state – Tamil Nadu.

Day 8: Jungle Retreat.

Anyone who wants to go up to Ooty can nip up the shortcut which is pretty spectacular – 36 hairpin bends climbing 1,500m in 11km. However, if it is raining we kindly ask you not to bother – the road becomes treacherous and Indian tyres have about as much grip in the wet as Damon Hill. Ooty itself is a great shopping town for tea, spices, Toda tribal jewellery, pashmina shawls and the like. Around Ooty are the tea plantations and fantastic views. Anyone wishing to go off trekking up in the hills or off into the forest just has to let us know and everything will be arranged. Alternatively there is a stunning pool at the hotel where people can go swimming and just generally chill out. Night safaris or early morning elephant rides in the forest are usually great fun as forest life is fairly active at these times.

Day 9: Masinagudi to Madikeri.

Sit back in the saddle, arms at a comfortable stretch and let your Enfield pull you through the still morning air, as we head back out of the wildlife sanctuaries and up into the heart of the Coorg hills. This is perhaps the most tranquil ride of the trip, along beautiful, winding roads that meander through hill crops and woodland scenery. Wild scented flowers tickle your senses, and you’ll be mellowed through and through by the time we pull up at a remote coffee plantation deep in the beautiful forest.

Day 10: Madikeri to Turtle Bay.

After an early breakfast, heroes and loons can try and scrape their centre stands as we sweep along stunning roads that loop down through the Coorg Hills, until we reach sea level at the Mangalore bypass. We then cruise up National Highway 17 until just North of Coondapur.

Day 11: Turtle Bay to Gokarna.

A relaxed morning on the beach before a gentle cruise up the coast on the NH 17.

We regroup and park up the bikes in Bellakan before striking out for the beach by boat or on foot. Our destination tonight has no address, no telephone number, no electricity and no road. What we can tell you is that it is a beautiful beach, peopled only by the travellers who reckon that Goa is ruined. They are generally quite a laid back crowd. We frequently see dolphins swimming very close to the beach.

Day 12: Gokarna to Goa.

After a morning spent swimming and relaxing on the beach there’s an easy ride back up into Goa where, sadly, you must say goodbye to your bike.

Days 13 & 14: Goa

A couple of days winding down.

Day 15: From Goa to the ‘real world’.