Enfields in Nepal/Tibet.....
 

I'm planning to spend a few months in Nepal/Tibet & perhaps some India Himalaya.

On prevous India trips, I like to purchase a cheap enfield to avoid long bus rides. Can I take an Enfield from India to Nepal & back w/o any special paperwork?

Will I be able to cross into Tibet on an Enfield, how are roads in Tibet. Could I get an Enfield to Tibet's Everest BC on the Rongbuck? How about traveling to Mt Kalish? or would I really be confined just to Lhasa?

Any ride reccommendations for Nepal or Tibet would be appreciated.

No worries taking an Indian registered Enfield to Nepal.
You just need ownership papers (or not - I couldn't find them in my bags once but they let me through anyway!!), they give you 4 weeks free entry (I seem to recall, maybe longer) & if you want to stay longer then you must go to customs office at Kathmandu airport and pay an import tax of about 50 rupees per day for each extra day you want to keep it in the country.
Good luck getting into Tibet - wasn't possible when I was there but you never know until you try....

I have about 2 weeks this summer to take off and would like to see the himalaya area, Shimala, Nepal possibly.

The trick is I want to do it with a hired bike, possibly a guide (not good map reading yet) and not spend a fortune on one of these touring holidays is key.

I've seen 1 or 2 guided tours at about £2000 per person even if we are using 1 bike. India is cheap and I think this is far too much money to pay, I've hired an enfield before and this cost next to nothing.
Can anyone suggest an idea of where to find what I'm looking for which won't cost the earth, local bike hire etc...

martync,

India is very easy, you can go to Manali & get a decent used Enfield for $500 to 1000 and sell it when you're done. If you are doing Manali to Leh you can now rent one way. In the Summer the Monsoon is coming. Nepal & Kumaoan Gharwahl it arrives early to mid Jun, in Shimla Mid to late Jun, same for Manali. Spiti, of Manali to Leh, Leh to Srinighar, Kargil to Padum (the worlds most scenic ride) are good all summer.

The plains are scary drivers if you're not used to it, for me the slower speeds & horrible roads of the mountains are much less nerve racking.

You sound like you may have done this before, Ive not been to the area. Can you suggest a route in (hopefully)good weather and where to get to start the trip, initially I would say 1.5 weeks would be all I can get this summer. The monsoon doesn't sound good but I was told this area is only possible in our summer (europe)is this correct.

1.5 weeks is very little time to get to India, make arrangements Tour & get back.

Let's see....

day 01 -- Fly to Delhi, spend night

day 02 -- Bus to Manali 20 hrs

day 03 -- Rent bike get supplies (xtra gas, tube, ect), rest?

day 04 -- Leave Manali to Keylang

day 05 -- Keylang to Sarchu

day 06 -- Sarchu to Pang

Day 07 -- Pang to Leh, stay in Stk Tsal guest house

day 08 -- Site see Leh, or perhaps side trip to Khardung La (highest motorable road in the world 5675m), return bike

day 09 -- Flight, Leh to Delhi

day 10 -- Flight to Europe, arrive at 2:00 am

Day 11 -- get up at 5:00 am & head to work fully rested?

even a poorly placed flat tire would spoil this itinerary. Flights from leh are unreliable, busses break down, roads wash out, bikes are rented out, gas statiuons run otta gas ect. Worse yet, thats 4 days of riding for six days of arduous travel. If you have less than 4 weeks I'd go w/a pre arranged tour. They'll pick you up at the airport, arrange bikes, accomodation & transport, provide saga wagon mechanics ect.

2000 pounds seem over priced arrange one if delhi for subsrtatial savings.

hi

do you know of any in delhi I can get in touch with, they all seem to be european led tours Ive found and therefore expensive

One Humble suggestion
 

One Humble suggestion > Y don't you do the trip by yourself .
You can get all the required info here on the HUBB and there are so many who have done the trip before.
You would also end up saving a bundle that you would have to otherwise shell out for the organisers.
Red Bull

Marty,

With your schedule, I'd fly to Delhi, get a cheap AC room ($8) in Pahar Gange, book a bus directly to Manali. Find a room in Old Manali ($3-6, Veer guest house is reccommended). Walk down to Boni Soni's shop, ask him where you can rent a bike in Manali that can be picked up in Leh or buy a bike for $500 off some Israeli kid. Grab an xtra gas bottle, a couple of grams of hashish & load the bike. If you can't meet road partners in Manali, you can group up on the way. Dump the bike for whatever you can get in Leh.

The only thing I'd do in advance is book my flights to & from Delha from Leh back to Delhi (leave a day for weather & other flight probs). Everything will come together quickly in Manali, there'll be dozens of bikes for sale.

Bring some cam straps w/you or you'll be stuck w/bungies.