with Altitude Riders is more than just the bikes , everyone is encouraged to experience where they are and have time to allow it to settle in and remain in the travellers conscience .
“ Obviously , the riding is a part of the adventure ,” suggested Brett Tkacs , leading a group of riders from the United States , and with whom we tagged along . “ But out here it ’ s about absorbing the culture , meeting the locals , going home with memories ”.
Starting in Lumbini , the said birthplace of Buddha , the onboarding of culture starts early with a visit to the Maya Devi temple . This UNESCO World Heritage site is something to behold and with the close proximity to the Indian border sees a unique blend of Buddhism and Hinduism .
The ride heads north , passing through lush semitropical plains where agri-business abounds , and as the foothills of the World ’ s highest mountain range approach it ’ s time to acclimatise to both environment and the riding conditions . The roads , even major , can be a challenge , sometimes sealed , mostly chopped and mixed with difficult dirt . This is a land where humanity ’ s attempts to tame the environment seldom succeed . Roads are often victim to rockfalls and landslides , the first determinant of the course taken .
The tropical feel of the lower foothills gives way to a
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