With over 70 Royal Enfield motorcycles in the early morning at India Gate, the 18th edition of Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey was flagged off in Delhi. With 70 riders embarking on a journey to Umling La, the highest motorable pass in the world, via some of the most breath-taking terrains in northern India, Himalayan Odyssey 2022 will witness riders covering a distance of over 2,700 kilometers in 18 days on their Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles. With a view to reducing the impact on the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas and also raising awareness about environment-friendly tourism, this edition of the Himalayan Odyssey will continue to root for the adoption of Responsible Travel practices by its rider community, in a bid to #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter.
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Returning after a hiatus of three years, this year, the Himalayan Odyssey – one of the biggest and oldest motorcycle rides of its kind in the Himalayas, will see riders follow two different routes. While both groups will be flagged off from Delhi together, one group will ride to Ladakh via the picturesque Manali route and the other will traverse the rugged Sangla-Kaza route, before finally converging at Leh. Riding through Ladakh and Spiti will challenge the rider in terms of weather and terrain, while also experiencing an adventure of a lifetime. Flagged off from the India Gate – New Delhi in the traditional Ladakhi ceremony, the riding contingent was blessed by Buddhist Lamas who chanted prayers to bless the riders at the flag-off ceremony.
Traversing through some of the roughest terrains and highest mountain passes in the world, the Himalayan Odyssey contingent will continue to promote the concept of a 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 toward remaining green, this year, all participants have been given a Life Straw and a green kit to significantly reduce their plastic consumption. The ride will also encourage participants to dispose of all waste responsibly during the ride.
Official statement
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony Mohit Dhar Jayal, Chief Brand Officer, Royal Enfield said, “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 endeavors to explore more as we travel to Umling La, the new highest motorable 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 70 riders will become an inspiration for responsible motorcycle journeys, for other riders as well.”