Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey 2024: Mountain Exploration Done Right!

We recently participated in the 2024 Himalayan Odyssey which was one of the largest rides organized by Royal Enfield and got a chance to explore the beauty of the mountains. Here is our experience on completing this ride astride the capable Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.

What is the Himalayan Odyssey?

This year marked 20 years of the Himalayan Odyssey, which is one of the largest rides organized by Royal Enfield. This edition saw over 100 motorcycles make their way to Zanskar Valley and Siachen Base Camp for the very first time. The full ride spanned around 3000 kilometres, taking participants through some of the best routes along with some unique experiences planned along the way. We completed one leg of this long ride starting out and ending our ride in Leh itself, covering approximately 1000 kilometres. Our route took us through Hanle, Umling La, Pangong Tso, Nubra, and Siachen Base Camp.

The Himalayan 450

I have had the honour of attending quite a few Royal Enfield rides over the last few years, but this one was special because I was astride the new Himalayan 450. It's a completely different machine in nature compared to the 411 and that is what made this year's Odyssey feel so different. Mountain roads are unpredictable and unforgiving. For some long stretches, there’s well laid tarmac and then you will suddenly have an off-road section for the next 20 kilometres. That is the beauty of exploring the mountains. The unpredictability of the entire situation makes it all the more challenging. 

No better way to test the capabilities of a Himalayan 450 than in its natural habitat and that was my mission this time around. The older 411 had been a superb companion when it came to making my way through the mountains and I was sure that the 450 would take that a step further. Just two days into the ride and I was already impressed, not just with the motorcycle, but with the way that it made me feel like a much better rider, especially through those tricky off-road sections. 

The 411 used to chug along through any trail in a peaceful manner, but with all of the power available on the 450, it's a bike that allows you to play around and have a lot more fun. As long as I remember, I’ve found it challenging to cross paths with big loose rocks. On this ride, the Himalayan 450 taught me to just power through, maintain balance and make it to the other side with a big grin on my face. Once you get confident with it, you become one with the motorcycle and that is when it becomes as easy as walking on your own two feet. 

Doesn't matter whether you are on road or off road, up in the mountains, the Himalayan 450 strikes the perfect balance for the ever changing nature of the terrain. One thing I love about the bike is its rugged nature which allows it to be ridden hard and still survive everything that you put it through. 

Up at a high altitude, with the lack of oxygen, it gets difficult to breathe and the mistake you don’t want to make is falling over too many times. Picking up a heavy motorcycle multiple times is just going to tire you out and make the ride ahead exhausting. And that is where the stability of the Himalayan 450 comes into play. There were a bunch of tricky moments throughout my journey, but somehow, the bike always kept me astride even after slightly losing the front end on a couple of occasions. Then again, if you do make a mistake, you'll always have the support of fellow riders traveling alongside in the group. 

The Himalayan 411 has always been a memorable machine for me as it's one of the first bikes I got to experience on one of the official Royal Enfield rides when I had started out my career as an automotive journalist. Ladakh has evaded me for a long long time but I guess it was worth the wait because doing it astride the Himalayan 450 was such a crazy experience. 

The Views

One of the main reasons to visit Ladakh is for the insane views that you will witness. With the route curated to perfection, it gets difficult to focus on riding as you get lost in the beauty of the surroundings. As someone visiting for the very first time, I guess I finally understand why it is the dream ride that every rider wants to tick off their bucket list. The highlight for me had to be the route leading up to Pangong Tso where the untouched blue waters stretch for miles, creating a landscape that feels almost otherworldly. It didn't just end there as the night sky was even more impressive, lit up bright with the milky way, making it one of the most surreal views to witness.

The Experiences

There are some experiences that you just have to be courageous to get past. And for us, that was visiting Umling La, which is the world's highest motorable road with an elevation of 19,024 feet. The air is thin, you are literally high up in the sky and the route leading up there gets a little tricky. But once you do reach the top, it gives you a proper sense of accomplishment and for us, the cherry on top was the snowfall that occurred as soon as all the bikes made their way to the top. 

Should You Embark On The Himalayan Odyssey?

The 2024 Himalayan Odyssey was more than just a road trip; it is a memorable experience that will stay with you forever with all of the stunning locations visited and lessons learnt. The Himalayan 450 surely surpassed my expectations as it made easy work of treading past Ladakh’s unpredictable terrain. This is surely one of those rides that you must complete if you own a Himalayan as it proves to be the perfect partner to make that dream a reality.