FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS​
FAQs
Since we try to spend most of our time on the road touring or exploring new routes, we may not always be in immediate contact. To not leave you hanging, we have put together as much relevant information as possible to answer the initial questions that come to mind when planning your trip.
If you do not find your answer below, please send an email to ride@heartsandtears.com, or head to the CONTACT US section. ​
HOW DO I PAY FOR THE TOUR?
Payment for your selected tour can be made via credit card or wire transfer to our various bank accounts in GBP, EURO, USD, CAN, AUD, NZD and more. Please note that wire transfers do not attract any fees but there is a small fee when using credit cards - normally between 1.7%-2.5%. To secure your booking we ask for a deposit. The remaining amount is payable 120-days prior to the tour start date. If you book within 120-days of the tour departure date, then we require full payment at the time of booking. ​ For more information regarding our booking and refund policy, please refer to our Terms & Conditions. And if you are ready to place a deposit for a tour, please click the BOOK NOW button and lock it in!
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
All of our tours are inclusive of motorcycle rental (the model of bike depends on the tour), petrol, accommodation on twin-sharing basis, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), permits where necessary, guides (English speaking), mechanic (English speaking), support vehicle with driver (when there are 5 or more riders in the tour group), and medical kit. Please note that on most tours you can upgrade to a single room for an additional amount.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
What's not included is your international flights, entry visas, travel insurance (mandatory), tips, laundry, alcohol, drinks/snacks outside of meal times, and personal expenses.
WHERE IS HEARTS & TEARS LOCATED
The original headquarters of Hearts & Tears MC is located in Pokhara, Nepal. Our garage is next to the main lake (Fewa Lake) and home to the many bars, restaurants, adventure stores, hotels and shops. Pokhara itself is 200km west of Kathmandu and can be reached by tourist bus, private jeep or domestic flight. We also have a garage located in downtown Tbilisi, Georgia. We are lucky to secure this position in the middle of the city, within walking distance to hotels, bars, restaurants and all the action. We converted an old bar into our base in Caucasus. Soon we will also have another base located in Malaga, Spain. We are quietly developing a new project for our tours into Morocco and throughout Spain which will be announced soon! For more location information plead head to the CONTACT US section.
WHERE ARE THE TERMS & CONDITIONS?
Can't locate the Terms & Conditions? Well look no further! Download the general Terms & Conditions below. Please note that once the deposit is paid, it is assumed that you have read and agree to the general Terms & Conditions.
RECOMMENDED RIDING KIT?
Boots - Strong and sturdy with waterproof properties. We recommend adventure motorcycle boots such as the Forma Terra Evo. Trousers - We recommend adventure style motorcycle pants with knee armour. Kevlar jeans are ok for Tibet. Our speeds are kept relatively low but the temperatures are quite high, so leathers are simply too uncomfortable. If your trousers are not waterproofed, then a pair of overpants are a good idea if it does drizzle. Baselayers - Thermal underwear is needed if you are doing the Upper Mustang tour or any tour that takes place between December to February. Jacket - Riding jackets or (armour with a jersey) are a must. The textile variety are recommended as they breathe better and can be zipped up (or down) to be comfortable in a variety of temperatures. If you are riding during the winter months (December to February), make sure you also bring the winter-liner. Hearts & Tears has several jackets that can be used but sizes are limited so we do recommend bringing your own. Once again, leathers are not needed (unless you want to get that iconic Wild One shot ;) Helmets - All riders must wear a full-face helmet. Adventure helmets that have a visor and can also fit goggles are perfect. Hydration - Hydration packs are a good idea when riding to keep your fluids up. When riding at altitude your body dehydrates faster so it is important to remember to keep drinking. Hydration packs are a handy reminder to keep sucking in the H2O - about 3-4L/day. We do stop regularly however (about every hour) at a photo-point or tea stop where water can be bought. Most riders will also throw a bottle in their small day-pack or panniers so you can get by without a hydration pack. Buff - Buffs are highly recommended. For those who don't know what a buff is, it is a material scarf-like loop that slides over you head (face and neck) and is used to keep out the dust whilst also providing protection from the wind and sun. Gloves - Gloves are a must. Textile adventure gloves are the best in our opinion but each rider has their preference. Unless you ride to Upper Mustang or Morocco during November, you do not need winter gloves. Luggage - On all tours (with more than 4 riders), a jeep is provided to carry your luggage. There is not a lot of room though so please pack light. A duffle bag or small carry-on sized suitcase is acceptable. The jeep is not always directly behind the riding group though so any items that are needed during the day's ride should be kept on your person. Most riders therefore wear a small day-pack for their camera, money, sunscreen, rain coat, and a water bottle. If you have a tank-bag, they are also very handy for the small items and keep you free from wearing a pack on your back. Sunscreen & Sunglasses - Super important. At altitude the sun beats down with ferocity and can wipe the skin off even the most coconut-oiled sun-bather. Cameras - Keep it simple. Nothing beats the quality of a SLR but lenses can be bulky so if you do bring a large camera, remember that you must carry it as the jeep will not always be directly behind the riding group. Conditions can also be rough so expect to get items knocked around. A smart alternative is a compact camera which can fit into your pocket. You'll be able to take photos easily and quickly. The standard of phone cameras these days is exceptional. GoPro - Hearts & Tears does not rent GoPro's but we always have one with us on tour. Riders a free to download the footage at the end of the trip or wait until we upload to Dropbox for download. If you bring your own Go Pro, you are more than welcome to stick mounts onto the bikes or use existing mounts from previous tours which are on numerous bikes and helmets. Medical kit - Every rider should bring their own personal medical kit. We have a comprehensive kit with us but it is not considered a mobile-pharmacy. In the kit riders should bring any personal medication, rehydration salts, band-aids (plasters), compression bandage, paracetamol, ibuprofen, antiseptic cream, alcohol swabs, and Imodium. Bungee cords, zip-ties and duct-tape. Never leave him without it!
EVENING WEAR?
We rendezvous for aperitivo at 5pm sharp. Tweed jackets for the men and heels for the women. Ha, just kidding ;) In the evening after the days-ride is finished, most riders will settle in to their rooms, freshen up, and then enjoy a beer or two. It's a relaxed affair and the important thing is to be comfortable. A clean pair of trousers, T-shirt, sweater and some comfortable shoes (or sandals) are all that's needed. Down-jackets are a good idea in the winter months with a beanie and scarf. At some locations there are natural hot-springs or rivers for swimming so throw in a pair of shorts. No budgie smugglers allowed ;) Sleeping bags - Are not necessary as all hotels will provide clean sheets and blankets. We have selected the best possible local hotels with western toilets and clean facilities. On some occasions however, the 'best available' hotels are limited in the service they can provide due to their remote locations, so a light-weight sheet (or sleeping bag liner) is a safeguard against any standards which may not be quite up to scratch. Electronics - Nepal suffers from intermittent power supply due to technical and political issues. All the power in Nepal is derived from hydro-power which more or less means that when the damns are full, there is power for most of the day, but in the drier months, there may only be 12 hours of power per day. A power-bank is therefore recommended to charge cameras and phones. An international power adapter is also needed in Nepal to plug into the wall. A torch is also a good idea although most phones these days have decent spotlights. Wifi - Every hotel has WiFi but in the remote locations it can be slow (to say the least!) so factor in being without internet for at least one night during your trip.
WHAT'S THE BRIEFING SESSION ALL ABOUT?
The briefing session kicks off the evening before the tour starts. The briefing session is factored into the tour dates. Therefore if your tour runs from March 10 - 16 for example, the briefing session is on March 10, at 5pm. Accommodation is also included on the night of the briefing session. The briefing session gives you a chance the meet the Hearts & Tears crew, your fellow riders, and your bike! We conduct the briefing over a beer and some food and get you even more excited for the upcoming ride. By about 7:30pm the session is over, giving you a chance to finish packing your bags and explore the town before the riding starts the following day.
WHAT LICENSES AND INSURANCE DO I NEED?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) with motorcycle accreditation is required to legally ride a motorcycle in most countries. These can be purchased for between $15-30 in your home country before departing. INSURANCE Travel insurance is mandatory and we will ask for the details of your policy before riding. Travel insurance, much like any other type of insurance, covers an agreed-upon set of circumstances as set forth in the insurance contract. It is never a bad idea to protect a carefully-planned trip with coverage for delays, illness, lost luggage, and even natural disasters—the best travel insurance can soften the impact of unforeseen events. From our experience, for AUSTRALIANS we have found that WORLD NOMADS & 1COVER provide comprehensive coverage for riding a motorcycle in a foreign country. NAVIGATOR INSURANCE are good for UK citizens. GLOBAL RESCUE is good for US citizens and for any nationality if you are struggling with regular travel insurance. If you are Spanish, then IATI or Santa Lucia are good options. The bike capacity is typically 410c so please also ensure you are covered for this engine size which is normally determined if you are licensed to ride this sized bike in your home country. Please also ensure that your policy is effective for emergency evacuation (helicopter evacuation) in case - touch wood! - it is required.
WHAT BIKES DO WE RIDE?
Our trusty steeds in Nepal are the infamous Royal Enfield. It's history is incredible and some quick googling can give you good insight into this vintage bike. We mainly ride the Himalayan 410cc these days. In Georgia we have a fleet of KTM 390 Adventures which are perfect given the terrain and higher cruising speeds. In Mongolia we ride KTM 450 EXC dirt bikes which are the perfect balance of power and durability to tackle to steppe. In Morocco and Spain we have a fleet of Yamaha T7s which we LOVE. They are big bikes but brilliant for the vast variety of terrain and distances we cover.
HOW ARE ACCIDENTS HANDLED?
Accidents are rare and we have not had a serious incident to date. However, in the event of an incident, treatment will depend of the degree of the injury. Our staff are 1st aid trained and we carry a first-aid kit with us so treatment on location may suffice. We also have an excellent understanding of the hospitals located enroute so depending on the injury, their services may be utilised. In the event of a serious injury, we will call for an emergency helicopter evacuation, which will take you to CIWEC clinic located in Pokhara – a western medical clinic. Payment for helicopter evacuation is made via your travel insurance policy which is mandatory on our tours.
IS ALTITUDE SICKNESS AND ISSUE?
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can affect anybody when at an altitude of 2500m or more. It does not depend on whether you are fit or have been at high altitudes before. Anyone is succeptible and we take the risks seriously when on tour. ​ On both our Into Thin Air tour and Upper Mustang tour, we ride up to 4000m and 5000m accordingly. We must therefore be careful of the risks. We have staged our tours to minimise the possibility of AMS and have not experienced any serious issues to date. We carry Diamox with us but we recommend bringing your own supply. Diamox is a preventative medication rather than a treatment and must be taken several days before riding into altitude. It is also important to keep hydrated when at altitude and drink up to 5L of water per day. The symptoms of AMS are dizziness, nausea, headaches, and disrupted sleep. Vomiting is an indication of advanced AMS and requires immediate action which involves moving to a lower alitude asap.
READY TO BOOK YOUR TOUR?
Head to our BOOK NOW section, select the tour, follow the prompts and lock it in!​
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GOT A QUESTION?
Head to our CONTACT US section and leave a message. We'll get back to you asap!​​​​​
