Rickshaw Run Himalaya
The Details: Rickshaw Run Himalaya
A glorified lawnmower versus the highest roads in the world. This is a difficult, remote adventure designed for a small band of seasoned, hardy Adventurists.
New edition up for grabs: August 2024
The Rickshaw Run is also available in All India and Sri Lanka Spice flavours.
Contents
1. The un-route
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START
Leh, Ladakh (3,500m)
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FINISH
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan (225m)
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DISTANCE
2,200km (ish)
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TIME
2 days test driving, 12 days on the road
**The direction you go in depends on the edition you do.
"It was absolutely incredible. The 'route' is a great balance of smooth to crazy to smooth that makes it good both ways. I love the fact you couldn't even get signal let alone wifi for most of the trip and only little tarp tents were dotted around randomly to stay in, just how it should be."
Fred B, September 2019
"Really loved the remoteness of it all. The transition between High Himalayan to the foothills was excellent. The road is great."
Michael A, June 2018
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July 2024
Leh to Jaisalmer
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August 2024
Jaisalmer to Leh
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September 2024
Leh to Jaisalmer
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July 2025
Jaisalmer to Leh
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August 2025
Leh to Jaisalmer
71 seconds of epic drone footage
2. The dates
July 2024: FULL
6th July: Pre adventure beers
7th July: Test Driving & Launch Party
8th July: Test Driving & Team Briefing
9th July: Launch Day
20th July: Finish Line & Finish Party
August 2024: £200 off until 14th June
4th August: Test Driving & Launch Party
5th August: Test Driving & Team Briefing
6th August: Launch Day
17th August: Finish Line & Finish Party
September 2024: Three spots left
1st September: Test Driving & Launch Party
2nd September: Test Driving & Team Briefing
3rd September: Launch Day
14th September: Finish Line & Finish Party
July 2025
6th July: Test Driving & Launch Party
7th July: Test Driving & Team Briefing
8th July: Launch Day
19th July: Finish Line & Finish Party
August 2025
10th August: Test Driving & Launch Party
11th August: Test Driving & Team Briefing
12th August: Launch Day
23rd August: Finish Line & Finish Party
"It was bloody brilliant. Before this I was a Rickshaw virgin. It was daunting, challenging and hard work, but then that’s the point. It was also exciting, exhilarating and very rewarding."
Andrew D, September 2019
3. Entry fee & what's included
Get £200 off the August 2024 edition until 14th June.
Pay in monthly instalments
What you get for your money
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The Rickshaw
A 3-wheeled, 4-stroke air-cooled rickshaw, pimped to your own design with insurance and all the other necessary paperwork
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Pimp your rickshaw
Submit your design from home and our team of artists will paint anything you want on your vehicle, including your charities or sponsors logos. We recommend matching your adventuring attire with your pimp job for maximum impact.
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Official Team Swag
We like to give you some stuff along the way. So each team member will ceremoniously receive...
- A Rickshaw Run patch to prove your metal
- A Rickshaw Run t-shirt in case you forget spare clothes. -
Test Driving
Our mechanics will bestow their knowledge in sessions covering basic maintenance and repairs on the road.
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Rickshaw Repair Lessons
Our mechanics will bestow their knowledge in sessions covering basic maintenance and repairs on the road.
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Launch Party & Launch Day Ceremony
A ruddy great big knees up including dinner, some free drinks and awesome local live music. Plus an official send off ceremony on launch day.
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Finish Line & Finish Party
We set the stage for your finish line photo and round things off with another rowdy shindig to swap tales from the road. Much back slapping and a bit of falling over is likely.
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Some kit
A few key spare parts plus some basic tools.
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The Adventure
A week of some of the most underpant-stirring adventuring possible in a rickshaw.
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The Knowledge
Support from our team of experts to advise you how to get to the start line, the best outfits for the parties and the best biscuits to cure altitude sickness.
Plus the team handbook packed with pre-adventure info and updates on your Run. -
A community of likeminded idiots
We'll introduce you to Himalaya veterans if you want a chat before the adventure. Most importantly you get the company of fellow Adventurists in India. You're joining a collective of genius-idiots drawn to the call of overland stupidity.
"I thought it was fantastic. Loved every minute. Getting hypothermia didn't dampen my experience... just made for more interesting stories."
Adam B, June 2018
Refundable Vehicle Deposit
The deposit is fully refundable and deductions will only be made if the rickshaw is seriously damaged or if there are bits missing. If you don't bring it to the finish line we'll need to use some of your deposit to recover it so it's best, and cheaper, to get it there yourself.
We understand the 'shaws will take a bit of a kicking because we've been running these adventures since 2006 so we don't deduct anything for normal Rickshaw Run grade wear and tear. We'd rather not have to take a deposit at all but it's a boring necessity so we do our best to make it as painless as possible.
4. The rickshaw
This means you have slightly more power than the standard 2 stroke model, but don't worry, the largest mountain range in the world does a marvellous job of making sure this is still a totally unsuitable choice of vehicle. Which is, of course, the whole point.
Here is a visual representation of the rickshaw and its suitability for driving over the Himalaya. In Figure 1 we have a gentleman looking rather grumpy as a Rickshaw Run team pulls up on the side of the street...
Rickshaw Specs
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Make:
Bajaj Auto Rickshaw
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Engine:
4 stroke DTSi Engine, Air Cooled
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Engine size:
198.88cc
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Power:
10.5 HP at 4500 rpm
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Transmission:
4 forward, 1 reverse
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Fuel capacity:
8 litres
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Top speed:
55kmph (ish)
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Weight:
277kg
"We have seen an incredible part of the world. The scenery is absolutely stunning and never ceases to amaze. Travelling through this amazing place by rickshaw is brilliant. The low speed allows for much more time to enjoy it."
Anton T, June 2019
5. Pimp my rickshaw
This may not technically be part of the official specifications but we consider it one of the most important elements. The more absurd and original the design the faster and more reliable your rickshaw becomes. This might not actually be true, but you are probably 2% more likely to be helped when you break down if you’ve got a giant smiling Ganesh painted on your trusty steed.
"Loved every minute .... except for when I had altitude sickness."
Fo Millais, June 2018
6. Driving license & insurance
Driving Licence
Auto rickshaws are classed as ‘light motor vehicles’ in India which means a Category A or B Stamp in your IDP normally means you're all set.
It might be legal for you to drive a rickshaw in India using your legit IDP but not quite as legal to drive a rickshaw in your home country because of the way rickshaws are classified differently around the world. If you're legal in India you shouldn't have any problems but travel insurance providers are quite good at finding excuses to invalidate policies if you become an expensive problem. So double check your license set up with them. Any questions give us a shout at Rickshaw Run HQ.
Vehicle insurance
Travel & Medical Insurance
Imagine how proud your family will be when they get a $50,000 hospital bill because you were too lazy to do a bit of boring paperwork for your adventure. Then go do and sort the boring paperwork instead.
Inner Line Permit
7. Saving the world
Anything above this can be raised for any other registered charity of your choice.
WHY?
HOW DO WE RAISE THE CASH?
You've got until 4 weeks after the end of your adventure to raise the minimum amount of £500. Teams often raise the most cash while they're on the road and just after they get back, but it's wise to start your campaign early.
If you don't raise £500 by the deadline, unfortunately you will go to hell. Together with Cool Earth we give you tips and resources to help you fundraise. Then 4 weeks after the finish line party we will pester you for your final total. But don't panic, we won’t set any dogs on you, or force you to sell your children. We will be very, very disappointed though and do a sad face at you.
8. The warning
These are genuinely dangerous things to do.
The website is written in a light-hearted fashion but you cannot overestimate the risks involved in taking part in this adventure.
Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. Individuals who have taken part in past Adventurists' adventures have been permanently disfigured, seriously disabled and even lost their life. This is not a glorified holiday, it's an unsupported adventure and so by its very nature extremely risky. You really are on your own and you really are putting both your health and life at risk.
This is what makes them adventures.