Through the eyes of our travellers
A little bit about Liza Miller who will lead your tour:
Liza runs the Re-Cycle Garage out of Santa Cruz, CA, a free co-op motorcycle garage that has been supporting the two-wheeled community for over 12 years. Host and producer of the Motorcycles & Misfits podcast, one of the longest-running and most successful motorcycle podcasts available.
Chickistan is the brain-child of Liza Miller from Santa Cruz, California which coincides with ADA’s mission to showcase the beauty of Pakistan and to help remove negative stereotypes people around the world have about this amazing country. Chickistan’s agenda is to encourage female travelers to explore the raw beauty of Pakistan.
In 2017, our first ever ‘Chickistan’ tour kicked off with 12 incredible women from half a dozen different countries. We met in Lahore to start the historic motorcycle tour, and on our journey, visiting different schools, hospitals, historical sites and hidden gems in remote areas all over the northern mountain region of Pakistan.
By far, Chickistan was one of the most heavily bonded and meaningful tours ADA has ever done, with deep connections formed between the riders, with the people we encountered, and the landscapes we conquered.
You can sign up now and join an initiative that will not only change your life but will make an international impact for Pakistan.
Visit of Honda Motorcycle factory in the morning, followed by a trip to the infamous India-Pakistan Wagah border. At night, we will have dinner in culturally rich Walled City (or the old Lahore).
Before departing for Islamabad, we’ll visit the SA Gardens track, and hone your skills needed for the challenging and fun roads ahead.
It’ll be your first day on the motorcycle in Pakistan so we leave early in the morning to beat the traffic and get into the mountains. Breakfast is going to be one of those hidden gems on the side of the road and you’ll get to ride along the famous Kunhar River, We try our best to stay at a family run guest houses/hotels for a more personalized experience.
Naran is known to be the entry point to the mountains, you get to cross Babusar Pass 13,700ft one of the most spectacular high passes in the country. You finally get a chance to ride the world famous Karakoram Highway today!
Deosai Plains, known as the land of giants, is the world’s second highest alpine plateau with an average elevation of over 13,500 ft. It is almost impossible to describe riding along its vast, infinite stretch- an experience so humbling, it will bring even the toughest riders to an emotional brink. It is a land of legend and story-telling, and the shepherds you’ll meet along the way will give you your fill of ancient folk tales.
Skardu is packed full of history and adventure, and home to a spectacular cold desert. Summiteers and mountaineers looking to conquer Pakistan’s massive peaks all land in Skardu as a starting point for their excursions. There’s climbing fever everywhere you go, with bazaars loaded with expedition gear, and some of the shopkeepers famous mountaineers themselves! If it’s a cloudless night, the stars will take your breath away. Kharpocho Fort and the Organic Village are a must see.
5 Hour ride from Skardu is the last town on the eastern side called Hushe. A small unique little village.
Hunza has a lot to offer, one of the most vibrant bazaars in GB has to be the Karimabad Bazaar. From old ancient jewels, to hand made handicrafts, silk carpets and clothes.. Karimabad is also home to the famous Walnut cake at Cafe de Hunza. A lot of history too so you’ll be visiting some 1000 year old forts too. My favorite is the all women furniture factory, Hunza has a 95% literacy rate, one of the highest in the country.
An exhilarating ride up Karakorum highway to the Pakistan/China Border, 15,400ft above sea level is a real treat to experience on 2 wheels. You might also get lucky and see the super rare Markhor, Ibex or even the snow leopard.
Hunza has a lot to offer, one of the most vibrant bazaars in GB has to be the Karimabad Bazaar. From old ancient jewels, to hand made handicrafts, silk carpets, and clothes. Karimabad is also home to the famous Walnut cake at Cafe de Hunza. A lot of history too so you’ll be visiting some 1000-year-old forts too. My favorite is the all-women furniture factory, Hunza has a 95% literacy rate, one of the highest in the country
Fly out to your home country!
Please visit https://visa.nadra.gov.pk for complete information.
General riding gear (Helmet, jacket, pants, shoes, and gloves) Jeans, long and short-sleeved T-shirts, riding shoes or boots, gloves. For summer weather, some long sleeve white T-Shirts are a great idea. You will have the opportunity to put a pack in the chase vehicle, so you have some room for error in how much you pack. Mornings and evenings can be brisk. Some windbreaker/gear is easy and great to have. Some cash for personal expenses like shopping, laundry, snacks, etc. We can change currencies for you, please make sure to let us know beforehand.
Some common items include:
– Motorcycle Gear (Head to Toe)
– Sunglasses
– Camera
– Base layers are must-have for our winter tours
– Windbreaker/gear as needed per tour/season
– Sense of adventure
– SPF 50 Sun Block
The Visa process sometimes takes up to 2 months for Pakistan so we suggest getting your visa as soon as possible. If you have a visa, you need to book a tour with us at least a month in advance so we can prepare properly for you.
We recommend you to arrive two days before the tour begins. We want you to wear off your jet lag, and be fresh for the adventurous journey ahead.
Absolutely, we give special 15% discounts for pillion riders or they can always hop in one of our vehicles following the riders.
Mini Van / Passenger Van: We can arrange for the passengers to have their own passenger minivan that they can drive trailing the group if they want. That way they can either ride on the back of the bike, or they can all ride together in their party van depending on weather, and how much they want to be on the bike. They just take turns driving if the others are on the bikes.
Riding days can vary from as little as 150 km to 350 km per day, depending on the trip you choose. In the twisty Himalayas or the Karakoram range a 300 km day can easily take up to 7 hours at times due to ferry crossings, side excursions, or other activities depending on the trip you choose, so just keep in mind that we design itineraries that make full use of your vacation time, and it would be difficult to get bored at any time.
The simple rule is: Anything’s possible, so prepare accordingly. Riding season in Pakistan starts in May and ends around mid-October. Its generally great weather to be in the Himalayas however, the weather is unpredictable and so bring your rain gear, bring a summer mesh jacket for hot days plus a warm layer or two, just got to be prepared.
Also, it depends on the month and location that you choose a trip in, as we have a wide list of options and are growing all the time. There’s a wide range of weather possibilities on some trips. If you want to make sure you’re choosing a trip that suits your hopes for the weather, please be sure to Contact Us and we’ll help you make a “statistically wise” choice.
Yes, a valid operator’s license from your home country specifically with the motorcycle endorsement is necessary and will be confirmed at the starting point of your tour. This is not only for legal & insurance reasons but also for the safety of yourself and the people on the road with you.
This answer actually does not vary from tour to tour, as we at ADA hope you are in excellent physical and mental condition anytime you plan on riding a motorcycle. As with other topics, let’s discuss what shape you’re in and the type of tour you’re planning on to make sure there’s a match. However, our “approval” of your condition does not take the place of a trusted doctor’s evaluation, which is something we strongly encourage you to seek before any tour or rental. Also, we recommend you to arrive two days earlier than tour date to avoid Jet Lag.
No. Your tour begins in Islamabad the day of the tour. We have found that this is really the best option for you. Arrangements can be made for extra hotel accommodations, upon request. The hotels we use on the first and last day of the tour are usually close to the airport. In most situations and tours, there will be a shuttle to shuttle you to or from the airport. We suggest arriving a couple of days early, and leaving a couple of days after the tour so you have time to rest before and after the tour. We can help you book these for you.
If you have any other questions then please Contact Us
Share This Tour