India, Bike & Boat the Brahmaputra tour Reviews

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About Grasshopper Adventures:

The Leader in Asia Bike Tours.

For the last fifteen years, Grasshopper Adventures has brought you the best bike tours in Asia, in cycling destinations across much of the Asian continent. We have the experience, knowledge, and passion to bring you high-quality bicycle tours with plenty of fun cycling, cultural experiences, stunning views, and comfortable accommodation along the way. Our dynamic itineraries and awesome local guides will make your cycling holiday a time to remember.

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18448743720

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tours@grasshopperadventures.com

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“What a wonderful journey. The villages were fascinating, the villagers friendly and welcoming - though obviously surprised to see ‘outsiders’. The boat was very comfortable, the food on board 5 star. An extraordinary, unforgettable experience”

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“Grasshopper Tours’ new trip lives up its promise. It’s the people who make the trip, isn’t it? Our Host Claire and Guide Swaleh kept us learning, laughing, and pedaling through to the next village and to the last ghat to find our boat waiting. Grasshopper ensures that you complete a good ride and also understand something about the land you’ve ridden through. The people along our way exchanged hellos with us, and when we stopped near schools we sometimes found ourselves surrounded by curious children. Westerners are an unusual sight in this area. The crew on our comfortable boat were attentive, friendly and always ready to try out their English (Assam Bengal Navigation notes in its brochure that it recruits from local villages and trains the crew in English and hospitality services). The chef served delicious Indian food with western options. There were always several vegetarian dishes, and a couple of dishes with meat (fish was regularly one). Sourced locally: when we toured an island village I noticed our crew walking back to the boat with a big bag of corn. Finally, the people on our trip really connected well. We’ve ridden with Grasshopper before and expected this would be true. There was a mix of couples and singles, older and younger (mid-30s to early 70s). After people, the facilities are most important. The Charaidew river boat was quite comfortable. Rooms have local textiles, firm mattresses, hot showers, hairdryers, and nice toiletries. It is a boat, so storage space is key. Carry-ons and duffels can fit in the drawer under the bed, large suitcases may be a problem. Grasshopper had new Cannondale bikes and new helmets for us. Except for one day, there was a support van which followed (the sweep was a moped that day because of the trail). We rode to temples, towns, and the safari in mini buses. Finally, a few vignettes from the overall experience: Tea on the upper deck watching the sun rise over the broad Brahmaputra. Riding through rural villages and towns, rice paddies on the left, houses intricately woven from local bamboo and palm on the right. A basket of red chills drying on a roof. A tea stop in town in an open-front concrete shop, curious folks watching us from outside. The Jeep Safari at Pobitora! Rhinos, elephants, and lots of birds. Swaleh, although his Masters degree was in history, knew the birds as well as our local guides at Nameri and Pobitora. An evening barbecue on a sandbar, appetizers and drinks around a bonfire. A traditional Assamese dance performance. The cold towel and welcome drink after regaining the boat following a hot ride. Would we do it again? Oh, yes! Why? 1. India! the Brahmaputra! 2. Cycling allows an intimate interaction with the culture. 3. Unpack once, see a week’s worth of sights. Any issues? 1. It’s tough on photographers because you need to keep riding and every moment is memorable. 2. When the ship’s generator and engine are going, the stern cabins are noisy. 3. Wifi was intermittent. Packing notes: Small binoculars Padded bike shorts under longer shorts Biking gloves Sunscreen and bug spray Clothing: Spandex as outer wear is not the order of the day. India is more conservative than many of our home countries and we want to respect that. You’ll feel more comfortable if you fit in: cover your shoulders and your legs to the knee at least. Some of the women on our tour wore capri-length yoga pants or basketball shorts, or cycling tights, men wore baggy shorts. Our guides wore comfortable long trousers. Grasshopper could have done a better job of communicating the dress code - perhaps when we signed up instead of in the pre-departure notes. Be prepared to ride 15-30 miles over three to six hours, and then do it again the next day. The third day is a day of rest on the boat. This isn’t hard core cycling, but it is along varied types of surfaces from pavement to dirt tracks and loose gravel. You will ride alongside trucks, cows, and friendly villagers. Baby goats should be regarded as little missiles. It’s dusty and can be hot, although much of the ride is shaded. Amazing scenery, truly fantastic guides, good food, and unpacking once. This tour is a wonderful addition to Grasshopper’s adventures”

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