June 2019 Newsletter
Hello all and welcome to our June Newsletter.
It’s the height of summer in the UK and so far, it’s stopped raining for at least three hours in the last month. After the tropical temperatures last year, we’ve been spoiled, so the constant and torrential rain is beginning to grate a tad on the nerves. Not that it’s a problem for Toby and the team in sunny South Africa, basking in wall to wall sunshine every day while Julian is getting trench foot in Blighty …
Hey Ho – at least it means there’s loads of opportunities to test waterproof kit! On with the news – and boy have we got some!
COLOMBIAN TRAILBLAZER IS ON
So, with almost unprecedented speed, the Ride Expeditions team have ridden the recce, sorted the logistics, written the itinerary and got our new Colombian tour on sale within a little less than two months. Sometimes things are so good you’ve got to share them as quickly as possible!
So, ladies and gentlemen, may we introduce – drum roll please – The Colombian Trailblazer – our very first foray into South America and a tour that we think will sell out quicker than a WRF450 with a turbo charger! Toby and Anna were blown away with just how beautiful Colombia really is and when you throw in thousands of miles of exquisite trails, incredible scenery, beautiful villages and astoundingly friendly and warm people, then we knew that this tour would be an instant winner.
The Colombian Trailblazer is all about off-road riding – if you like your trails you are going to love this one. Over thirteen glorious days, we’ll take you through achingly beautiful landscapes from tight and twisty jungle trails, to sweeping tracks through coffee plantations and up to incredible hotels in the foothills of the Andes where you can swim in pools heated by a volcano. In the evenings we’ll find cosy little bars in wonderful villages, and in the days, we’ll ride some of the best trails on the planet. This tour knocks it so far out of the park, it’s in the next county!
Our Pioneer tour goes out in October and it’s already nearly full, so if you fancy being one of the first riders to take on the delights of Colombia, not to mention getting a nearly £700 discount on the full tour price, you better get a wiggle on – so contact us on info@rideexpeditions and put Colombia Trailblazer – Hell yes! in the title!
After the Pioneer tour in October, our first run of the full price tours will start in early 2020 so if October is too soon, then we’d be happy to take bookings for the 2020 tours – again email us on info@rideexpeditions.com and put Colombia 2020– somewhere in the title line.
If dirt biking is not your thing, watch this space for the Colombian Royal Enfield tours that are also in the pipeline!
HILL TRIBE EXPEDITION – A TRULY SPECIAL TOUR
So, while we are on the subject of new tours, just like buses, no sooner one arrives there’s another one right behind. But this is far more exciting than the No 23 to Clapham Common. This is our all new and totally epic tour to the remote and incredible hill tribe region of deepest Laos. If you want something a bit different, then Hill Tribe Heaven will give you this and more – it’s a truly epic tour!
Starting from the bustling and vibrant town of Luang Prabang with it’s fascinating French colonial history, we’ll take you on wonderful and picturesque trails through the Laos countryside, climbing up to the remote villages far away from the usual tourist trails. We’ll stay in everything from luxury resorts to rural homestays, sharing our meals with the incredible and welcoming people. The winding dirt trails and meandering hill roads will have you smiling from sunrise to sunset.
Our Pioneer tour runs in January for an incredible price of £1965, a discount of 15% on the price for the inaugural run of this tour. Toby and the team have put in weeks of work and thousands of miles to make this tour really special – we’re pretty proud of this one!
If you want to really experience the joy and beauty of this tiny country, then the Hill Tribe Expedition tour is the one for you. Drop us an email and the team will sort the details – that’s what we’re here for!
EPIC TOURS, EPIC VIDEOS – NO SCOOTERS
Now regular readers of the newsletter will know that Ride Expeditions have their very own film maker on the team. Despite being an occasional scooter rider, Ian is a top bloke and spends his time locked away in an editing suite, delicately splicing all the incredible footage and images we get out on our tours and crafting them into bitesize morsels for your viewing pleasure. If Ian’s films don’t make you want to come ride with us – you better check you still have a pulse …
First off, it’s the Cape Crusader, a thirteen-day romp through the wonderful landscape of South Africa’s Western Cape on adventure bikes. If you like your big bike adventures, then join us and become a Cape Crusader with Ride Expeditions!
If that looks like a bit of you, check out the tour details here and then drop us an email to check availability and dates.
But if you are more into trail riding and mud plugging, then maybe our Cambodian Tours might flick your switches? We’ve got three options to choose from in this beautiful country, from the hard-core challenge of The Tough One, the adventure of the Cardamom Mountain Explorer or the delights of the Cambodian Quest. All offer a lovely mix of fantastic riding, amazing accommodation and unforgettable experiences – what more do you need?
Like the look of that? Hit us up on email at info@rideexpeditions.com and lock it in!
HIMALAYAN SEASON STARTS – AND IT’S SOLD OUT!
OK so it’s time for a big fanfare again as on the first day of July the opening ride of the 2019 Himalayan tour season will roll out of the 1920’s splendour of the Woodville Palace Hotel in Shimla. To the evocative sound of a host of Royal Enfield engines, the first of our heroic customers will set out on the adventure of a lifetime, exploring the incredible Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir region in the Indian Himalayas. They will ride the highest roads in the world, splash through icy rivers and camp by the highest saltwater lake on the planet – what a ride!
We’re incredibly pleased to say that every one of our tours is sold out, from the Himalayan Heights tour at the start of the season in July to the challenging Himalayan Extreme tour at the end of October, so thanks to the tireless Ride Expeditions office staff for organising the logistics for all of the tours.
But most of all thanks to all our riders that are travelling with us to India this year – we’re so pleased that you chose Ride Expeditions, and we’ll ensure you have the best holiday ever!
CAPTAIN'S BLOG
So, what’s been going on in the blog section this month? Well Julian has been tapping away in his draughty garret to give you a mixed buffet of content. We’ve got a review of the mighty BMW R1250GS Adventure, news about a lovely little Yamaha Woods bike and KTMs new enduro range, reviews on Scott Prospect Goggles and Weise’s Dakar Jacket and a look at our recent Namibian recce ride.
Are we good to you or what?
AND ZIGGY PLAYED ...
With an old Tennis ball mostly! Yes, the latest recruit to the Ride Expeditions team is arguably the least productive member of staff, unless of course you count his eye-watering emissions from under the desk! Ziggy the mongrel has been adopted by serial pet adopter Anna who was unable resist his soppy little face and able to overlook his occasional air biscuits for his cheery temperament and lack of murderous tendencies.
Ziggy gets his name from his David Bowie style two-colour eyes and can be seen in and around the Ride Expeditions Cape Town Headquarters, usually dragging out Charl, Tom, Toby or Kayne for a walk or to purchase yet another pack of Snossages …
FINALLY
So, it wouldn’t be a Ride Expeditions Newsletter without the closing video, so this month were going a bit of classic madness from the Crusty Demons crew back in the day! Love it!