Classic Car Journeys

Questions

• You’re not a member of ABTA. How safe is my deposit?
• What if I want to stay longer?
• How difficult will the driving be?
• How do we get there?
• How hard will the map reading be?
• How long will the Rally be?
• How tough will the rally be?
• Insurance?
• Should I bring my wife/partner or a friend?
• What is the food like?
• What is the standard of accommodation?
• Why this time of year?

Answers

You’re not a member of ABTA. How safe is my deposit?

For a small company like us joining ABTA is prohibitively expensive. However, European Law governing holidays dictates that any monies paid to us must be protected. All monies we receive from you are paid into a trust account and only passed to us on completion of the trip.

What if I want to stay longer?

No problem. We’ll help you with advice and tips and can even book hotels for you if you plan on staying on extra days.

How difficult will the driving be?

There are many myths surrounding driving in India. Sure, in the towns it’s busy but nothing worse than Hyde Park Corner. You will see standards of driving that will astound, amaze and amuse you but definitely nothing to be concerned about. For much of the time we will be on rural roads with very little traffic. Only the very brave and the foolhardy venture on Indian roads at night. Consequently there will be no driving after dark.

How do we get there?

For the Southern Indian trip we start and finish in Kozhikode (also known as Calicut) which has it’s own international airport. There are no direct flights form the UK which means routing through Mumbai or alternatively travelling via one of the Arab countries stopping in Dubai, Doha or Muscat. For the Himalayan trip we fly direct to Amritsar and return via Delhi.

How hard will the map reading be?

You do not need to be an experienced rally navigator. Detailed route maps and city plans will be provided to make the map reading as easy as possible.

How long will the Rally be?

For Southern India we leave on Saturday and arrive Sunday. We’ll have an easy day on the Monday with a local run to experience the cars. The rally will begin the next day and run from Tuesday to the following Tuesday. We will start in the state of Kerala and then travel to the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka before returning to Kerala for the finish. The total mileage will be approx. 1000 miles. You return to the UK the UK on Wednesday and should be home later that same day. For the Himalaya trip we leave on a Friday and arrive Saturday. We spend the weekend sighseeing and then pick up the vehicles on Monday. The driving lasts until the following Sunday.

How tough will the rally be?

This is not an endurance event. However, driving an old car with low power, in a strange country, in hot weather, over some bumpy roads is never going to be totally without challenge. The roads vary from beautiful smooth blacktop to fairly appalling. The rally will be totally non competitive with comparatively low mileage to cover each day. Most days will start early to avoid the necessity of driving at night and there will be plenty of time built into each day for ample stops as well as a leisurely lunch stop. Most days will finish between 4 & 5 o’clock. The Himalayan trip too is not an endurance event, however it is tougher than the southern Indian trip and I suggest you call me for a detailed answer.

Insurance?

The cars are all fully comprehensively insured with a £250 excess.

Should I bring my wife/partner or a friend?

Clearly this is your choice. However, you should bear in mind that whilst we will be staying each evening in civilised hotels, during the day facilities will be at a minimum. If the thought of going behind a bush doesn’t appeal, then maybe it would be better to bring a friend.

What is the food like?

The food in Southern India is wonderful. Forget vindaloo as traditionally the food is mildly spiced and you’ll certainly experience many dishes that you will not have come across in Indian restaurants in the UK. The choice of dishes, both vegetarian and meat should be sufficient to keep everyone happy. As a break from Indian food breakfast each day will consist of cereal, toast, porridge and fruit. Detailed essential information about eating whilst out on the road will be provided.

What is the standard of accommodation?

This seems to be area most people are concerned about. Don’t be. I have personally selected every hotel. In southern India the hotels do vary but all are excellent, clean and comfortable. Wherever possible I have chosen the best available. Several are five star establishments with standards of service as good, if not better, than any hotels in Europe. In the Himalayas, there are times when it is simply not possible to find luxurious accommodation as it doesn’t exist. However, again, wherever possible i have picked the best available.

Why this time of year?

By September, in southern India the monsoon season is almnost at an end. There is still rain around but usually confined to the late evening. During the trip we will experience huge variations in temperature. On the plains at sea level it will be hot, nudging 30 degrees. As we climb into the mountains the temperature will gradually drop requiring the need for a fleece late evening and early morning. In the Himalayas the road we are using is only open form June to October so July is an ideal time to visit.