Royal Enfield’s 18th Himalayan Odyssey Adventure concludes successfully

The 18th Himalayan Odyssey was flagged-off from India Gate in Delhi that covered 18 Days, 70 motorcyclists, 2,700 kilometres of adventure to the world’s highest motor-able pass at 19,024 feet. It aimed at motivating the biking community to adopt responsible travel practices with an attitude towards zero ‘single-use-plastic’ ride routine.

With the thunderous roar of more than seventy Royal Enfield motorbikes with the backdrop of chants of the lamas in contrast, on an early morning at India Gate, the 18th leg of the Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey was kicked off in Delhi. A total of 70 bikers embarked on a journey to Umling La, the highest motor-able road pass in the world, through few of the most breath taking conditions and terrain surfaces in north India, Himalayan Odyssey 2022 saw riders covering a distance of more than 2,700 kilometres in an itinerary that spanned a total of eighteen days on their Royal Enfield Himalayan motorbikes.

With the idea and focus to decrease harmful impact on the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas and also to raise awareness about eco friendly tourism, this year’s version of the Himalayan Odyssey was started to carry on to support the adoption of responsible travel practices by its biking community and rider groups, in an initiative highlighted with the hashtag #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter

Coming back and being organised after a gap of three years, in 2022, the Himalayan Odyssey - one of the largest and earliest motorcycle rides of its kind in the Himalayas, got to witness amateur bikers and motorcycling enthusiasts follow two different routes. Even though both groups were flagged off from New Delhi together, one group rode to Ladakh through the picturesque Manali route and the other traveled via the rough and tough Sangla-Kaza route, before finally converging at Leh. Riding through Ladakh and Spiti really challenged the riders in terms of unpredictable weather and terrain conditions, while also enjoying the adventure experience of a lifetime.

Flagged off from the iconic historical landmark India Gate at New Delhi in the traditional Ladakhi ceremony, the riding contingent were blessed by Buddhist Lamas who chanted prayers to bless the riders at the flag-off ceremony. In this 2022 year edition, the riding participants of the Himalayan Odyssey got together from cities like Anantapur, Bangalore, Delhi, Madurai, Mumbai, Pune, and Vijayawada, among others, as well as from across Saudia Arabia, Singapore, and the USA, to be a part of this epic ride.

According to Mr Mohit Dhar Jayal, the Chief Brand Officer at Royal Enfield who spoke at the flag-off ceremony, “The Himalayas are Royal Enfield’s spiritual home, and the Himalayan Odyssey is an ode to the undying spirit of exploration and motorcycling adventure since its inception in 1997. This edition marks a significant chapter in our endeavours to explore more as we travel to Umling La, the new highest motor-able pass in the world. In 2019, we took a step towards reducing the plastic footprint with our #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter initiative and this year we continue our journey towards preserving and sustaining the delicate environment of the Himalayas with our ‘Responsible Travel’ initiative. We hope our efforts will help nurture an environmentally aware and conscientious community of riders and these seventy riders will become an inspiration for responsible motorcycle journeys, for other riders as well.”

Traveling via some of the roughest terrains and highest mountain passes in the world, the Himalayan Odyssey contingent did continue to promote the concept of responsible motorcycle journey through various efforts. In Himalayan Odyssey 2019, Royal Enfield introduced its #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter initiative which aimed at discouraging participants from using bottled water, and facilitating purified water by installing dispensers along the key riding route in Ladakh. In its efforts towards remaining green, this year, all participants were given a Life Straw and a green kit to significantly reduce their plastic consumption. The ride also managed to encourage participants to dispose of all waste responsibly during the ride.

Collaborating with local communities and promoting them is also a key aspect of Royal Enfield's Responsible Travel campaign. As part of this campaign, the brand has introduced several programs to empower the local community by supporting over sixty home-stays in remote areas in Ladakh, rural electrification with solar power impacting 682 households in rural Ladakh. Royal Enfield is also closely working with the local administrations to monitor waste management in these regions. This year, the cavalcade also made a stop at Chumathang on the 10th of July where Royal Enfield is supporting the Chumathang Football Tournament, which saw participation from almost 300 children.

The month of June marks the start of the riding season in the Himalayas with thousands of riders traversing the Ladakh and Spiti region of the Himalayas. Royal Enfield has set up a comprehensive service network in the region that caters to the riders who require service support at 17,982 feet. Under this program called the ‘Leh Rider’s Support’ the company has nearly 66 service touch points across 6 routes with 175 skilled service technicians to ensure that the riders have a hassle-free riding experience throughout the riding season.

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