FAQ

How do charities benefit from these adventures?
Can I raise more than £1500.00?
When do you require the £1500.00 to purchase my vehicle?
What are the qualifying pre-requisites?
Can you book my flights and hotels for me?
Where do we sleep?
How far is it from start to finish?
How long will it take?
What’s the top speed of the Auto-Taxi’s?
Will I be given a route?
Do we all travel in convoy?
What vaccinations are required?
What travel documents are required?
What weather can I expect?
What luggage can I take?
Is First Aid available?
Is there GSM coverage in India & Thailand?
How do I sign up?
What happens if I have to cancel?
What vehicles do you use in India?
Could I catch a stomach upset?
Will there be time for sightseeing?
How much will this cost?
When is the Registration fee due?
What Payments methods do you accept?
How much is the registration fee?
What does my registration fee cover?
What does a typical day involve?
I have a few questions, which were not answered, what should I do?


How do charities benefit from these adventures?
We operate a really simple model: The registration fee covers the operating costs of the business, and the events on route. The £1500.00 participation fee is used to purchase your auto rickshaw, which at the end of the adventure is sold off (at a gala auction). All of the profits from the sale of the vehicles are donated to Charity.
That’s it, nothing complicated, nothing hidden. So, the better the condition the vehicle at the finish line, the more money we can sell it for, and the more money we can give away. (back to top)

Can I raise more than £1500.00?
Yes, you can raise as much as you’d like, so long as you make it clear to your sponsors where the money is going. Our only stipulation is that we require  £1,500.00 to purchase the vehicle for you. Astute fundraisers should be able to raise enough money to help with other costs, such as flights, Hotels, Registration fee, etc etc. (back to top)

When do you require the £1500.00 to purchase my vehicle?
No later than three months before the exploration begins, as we have to order, and pay for each vehicle in advance. (back to top)

What are the qualifying pre-requisites?
You must be alive (or if recently deceased, have a letter from your doctor saying that you are OK to travel)
Not clinically insane (or if you are, then please bring a certificate to show that during your more lucid moments, you can drive an auto rickshaw)
Reasonably fit and healthy (it’s hard work pushing an Auto Rickshaw when it breaks down)
Possess a valid driving license from your country of residence + International Driving Permit (valid to drive in India).
Most important of all - A sense of humour and adventure! (back to top)

Can you book my flights and hotels for me?
No – We are not a profit making travel agency or tour operator that’s jumped onto the charity bandwagon as a twist to increase business. We are a “not for profit” Community Interest Company that organises and facilitates charity adventures for intrepid explorers. We are not a package tour operator – and have no desire to become one. We do however have a few (unsponsored) links on the home page to companies that might be able to assist.
However - should you book a flight with one of these, only to find yourself in a plane crash in the Andes with an Uruguayan Rugby team and have to eat each other to stay alive… don’t come crying to us! (back to top)

Where do we sleep?
India has some of the best hotels in the world, and outside of major business cities such as Delhi, Mumbai etc, they are very reasonably priced. Equally India has some of the worst Hotels and Hostels on the planet (which are obviously somewhat cheaper), so it’s your call.
If you plan it right, you can spend every night in a Palace for $80 - $100 a night, alternatively you can stay in a cheap Hotel / Hostel for less than $10 a night and die of some hideous disease half way around (remember, death is not a valid excuse for failing to complete the adventure). Of course, you can (and should) bring a tent, sleeping bag / bivvy bag and roll mat as you’ll probably have to sleep rough some nights. Just don’t forget your Tiger repellant! (back to top)

How far is it from start to finish?
For the Autumn and Spring expeditions, the shortest distance between the starting point in Kerala and finishing line in Amritsar is roughly 3200 kms, although you’ll probably have driven closer to 4000 kms by the time you finish. The Christmas / New Year run from Goa to Delhi is a mere 2000 kms, or 2500 kms once you've added a few sites to your itinary (back to top)

How long will it take?
For the Autumn and Spring expedition, the finishing line party is usually 20 days after we start, which means you need to average 160 – 190 kms a day! The Christmas and New Year expedition takes 14 days, so you only need to average 140 kms a day for this one. (back to top)

What’s the top speed of the Auto-Taxi’s?
Err… Not sure the word “speed” is appropriate, however down hill, with the wind behind you, they should make 55KPH. (back to top)

Will I be given a route?
Most of the fun of this type of adventure is planning the route yourself, so go buy some maps and enjoy. (back to top)

Do we all travel in convoy?
Given the amount of traffic on some of the roads, and that everyone has different levels of stamina, and bodily requirements (toilet breaks, meal times, etc ), not to mention different things they wish to do and see on route. It’s very difficult to keep a large body of vehicles together for any amount of time. People tend to form small groups of like minded adventurers and try to stick together… although not always successfully. Mostly you’ll meet other adventurers at state / country border crossings,  petrol stations, hotels and road side cafes. (back to top)

What vaccinations are required?
Contact your local Doctor or travel clinic to determine what is appropriate for you as an individual. (back to top)

What travel documents are required?
A valid Passport including Indian Tourist Visa and an International driving license is essential. Further information will be provided on how to obtain these at time of booking. It’s good practice to bring colour photocopies of anything important with you too… just in case. (back to top)

What weather can I expect?
Owing to the size of the country and its climatic variations it is not possible to speak out for all of India. Generally speaking the months from September to April are best for travelling most parts of the country. (back to top)

What luggage can I take?
Not much!  Auto Rickshaws have a single seat for the driver, and a dual bench seat in the rear. Any luggage will have to sit besides you on the rear seat,  be bungeed onto the roof, or stuffed under the rear seat. (back to top)

Is First Aid available?
Err not from us it's not, so make sure you don’t get into an accident, or if you do… make sure you have good travel / healthcare insurance. (back to top)

Is there GSM coverage in India & Thailand?
Yes, you will be able to keep in contact with your nearest and dearest for most of the journey. Equally you can always tell everyone that India doesn’t have any GSM coverage and leave your phone at home (we won’t tell if you don’t)! (back to top)

How do I sign up?
Send money! No seriously, complete a registration form and we’ll send you details of how to sign up for the forthcoming adventures. (back to top)

What happens if I have to cancel?
Try not to: We aim to be as fair as possible, as we understand things can’t always go as planned, however the closer to the start date, the harder it is for us to find a replacement team and therefore recover our costs. The Terms & Conditions lay out the Cancellation Policy, although if you must cancel or postpone, please call us at the earliest opportunity as we may be able to reschedule without penalty. (back to top)

What vehicles do you use in India?
Either brand New KAL or Bajaj Autorickshaws
Engine 4 stroke Cooling Type Forced Air Cooled Displacement  360cc No. of Cylinders 1 MaxPower 8.17bhp Transmission Type 4 forward and one reverse Electrical System 12V DC Head Light 35/35 W Horn 12V DC Chassis Type Pressed steel sheets and sections Front Suspension Helical coil spring and hydraulic double acting shock absorber Rear Suspension Helical coil spring and hydraulic double acting shock absorber Brakes Drum Fuel Tank Capacity 10 litres Reserve Capacity 1 litres Ground Clearance 200mm Saddle Height 780mm Curb Weight 295kg Maximum Payload 335kg Fuel Efficiency (Ideal) 33kmpl Fuel Efficiency (Highway) 32 to 35kmpl Fuel Efficiency (City) 28 to 32kmpl Max Speed 58kmph (back to top)

Could I catch a stomach upset?
Yes, and you probably will. The biggest challenge most people face when traveling within the sub-continent is avoiding “Delhi Belly”. The main thing to avoid is Water, it’s not that it’s all-bad; it’s just that the locals grow up drinking the stuff and you don’t (they’d probably get sick if they drank your tap water). Avoid anything other than bottled water with the seal intact. Even steer clear of fruit or vegetables which have been washed in anything other than bottled water (except for at the best Hotels). Other good tips include: Not eating in Restaurants where business looks slow, as you don’t know how long the food has been prepared for. If you can’t see the Sea, don’t eat Sea food (refrigeration trucks often break down), and keep a good supply of Pills & Potions recommended by your local Doctor. Other than that, you’ll be fine, (well, in fact, you probably won’t be… but good luck anyway) (back to top)

Will there be time for sightseeing?
Yes lots… Each trip is a Kaleidoscope of Forts, Palaces, Caves, Waterfalls, Game Reserves, Tropical Forests, Mystical Towns and bustling Cities (and boy how they bustle). Our adventures try to balance the joys of unfettered motoring freedom (no speed cameras) with the delights of the fantastic local culture. Ever seen an Elephant pulling a wide bodied Jet up a main road? Well you just might! (back to top)

How much will this cost?
This isn’t an easy one to answer, as different people have different requirements. On top of the Registration Fee of £895.00 per vehicle (including VAT) and the Vehicle acquisition fee of £1500.00 (plus taxes), you will have to arrange your own travel, accommodation, health insurance and spending money. If you are prepared to fly at strange times, with one or two stops, the flights can be as little as £350.00 return. Although you are more likely to spend in excess of £500.00 if you chose direct flights into the start and destination cities. (back to top)

The Auto Rickshaws have an average range of 250  - 300kms on a full tank of fuel – depending on how you drive them. As such you’ll need between ten and twelve tank loads of fuel to reach the finish line. So you’ll probably spend around £100 on fuel.  You will be liable for all road tolls, border taxes and bribes. However if you spend more than £50.00 on the whole trip... Then you didn’t haggle well enough.

Night time accommodation can cost anything from £10.00 per person per night, to £300.00 in some of the major Cities. Alternatively, you could sleep in your tent / bivvy bag and it’s free.

Meals are generally much cheaper than Europe / America.  With a typical meal for four costing less than £10.00 - Unless of course you opt for the large western hotels, in which case it will cost as much as back home. (back to top)

When is the Registration fee due?
The £100 pre-registration deposit is due at time of registration - the remaining £795.00 registration fee and the £1500 vehicle purchase costs are due no later than four months prior to the event. Once you have pre-registered you will be given a unique (and secure) user area which will detail the status of your account and how much money is still to be paid. (back to top)

What Payments methods do you accept?
The registration & vehicle fee can be made via Credit Card, PayPal & Google Checkout, Cheque or Cash (at our office in Basingstoke). (back to top)

How much is the Registration fee?
The registration fee is £895.00 (including VAT) per vehicle. We would recommend two people per vehicle, although it’s up to you if you want to go on your own, or drag a couple of friends along.  You can fit three people in without too much hassle, just don’t take a lot of luggage with you. (back to top)

What does my registration fee cover?
The registration fee covers the operating costs of the organization, as all of the proceeds from the sale of the vehicles goes directly to charity.  Included in your adventure will be several parties, (Flag Up, Mid-Way, Finishing Line) which are included. Along with several local events such as Cricket / Football matches on route. We also provide third party indemnity insurance the vehicles. Although vehicle road tax (for India) is chargeable on a State by State basis… We also provide an electronic tracking system (via your mobile phone) which will provide friends and family with access to your mobile blog, and location details. (back to top)

What does a typical day involve?
Riding any vehicle in India in the dark isn’t fun, so try to get to your destination at least one hour before sunset. This gives you roughly eight to ten hours driving time per day. And we guarantee you’ll be so exhausted at the end of each day, you’ll get the best sleep you’ve had in years. (back to top)

I have a few questions, which were not answered, what should I do?
Give us a call, or drop us a line. We will be only happy to help and if we don’t know the answer, we’ll make something up that sounds convincing. (back to top)