500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [152]
This is not an entry-level motorcycle trip. Besides the length of the journey and the time involved, you’ll pass through several climate zones, from the searing heat of the Patagonian desert to the sub-zero alpine conditions in the Andes. Nor is Route 40—locally known at Ruta 40 or “La Cuarenta”—a smooth lane of blacktop: Expect hours of bone-rattling washboard road conditions, vast clouds of dust, and mud that will stick to your bike, your clothes, and your skin long after your ride is over. Distances between towns can be vast, and riders should be expected to endure the occasional hardship with the adventure traveler’s secret weapon: a sense of humor.
But those who can weather the hazards of this journey are rewarded with unforgettable thrills. Packs of wild guanacos (cousins of the llama) crossing the roadway are a familiar sight. The towering spires of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, and other snow-capped Andean mountains loom overhead, because much of Route 40 follows the eastern spine of the Andes. The pristine beauty of the Perito Moreno glacier makes a visit to Los Glaciares National Park a must (see ). And the legendary hospitality of Argentine estancias (ranches), with sublime regional wines, and world-class food, await weary riders at each stop along the way. —ML
Tours: Overland Patagonia ( 02944/438654;www.overlandpatagonia.com). Adventure Motorcycle Tours ( 760/249-1105;www.admo-tours.com). Lef Expeditions (info@lefexpeditions.com; www.lefexpeditions.com).
When to Go: Nov–Apr.
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Vietnam by Motorbike
Next Stop Is Vietnam
Vietnam
If you’re ready for a truly epic adventure, visiting an ancient land steeped in history, beauty, and bloodshed, it would be hard to beat a motorbike tour through Vietnam. Traveling by motorbike can take you to places cars and buses can’t visit, and gives visitors to this magical land a taste of local life that few Westerners will ever experience. From the frenzied blur of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) to the serene beauty of remote mountain temples, the journey of a lifetime awaits those willing to trade the comfort of a resort spa for a mud-splattered motorcycle helmet.
Most tours of Vietnam begin in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, and concentrate on the northern reaches of the country, where the more mountainous terrain yields spectacular vistas and unexpected treasures in villages once considered inaccessible. Depending on your itinerary and your spirit of adventure, you could also consider a trip across the border into Laos and/or Cambodia; some motorbike tours offer this as an option, and most will custom-design a tour depending on the group’s interests.
What, you might ask, is there to see in this formerly war-torn region? Pristine tropical beaches, lush pine forests, towering limestone mountains, and thundering waterfalls are all part of the natural scenery. Crowded markets where vendors hawk exotic jewelry, embroidery, and local delicacies like grilled snake kabob are a regular sight. Picturesque stilt houses, rice paddies, and lumbering water buffalo dot the countryside.
Of course, you can expect to get a little dirty on any real motorcycle trip, and with roads that range from spanking-new expressways to mud paths, Vietnam has plenty of dirt to throw in your face. Add to that the grime you’ll get on your hands from trying to fix the 1950s-era engine on your Russian-made Minsk rental motorbike, and you’ll have tales that will last much longer than the grit in your teeth. —ML
Vietnam Motorbike Tours ( 84/58-282092;www.vietnammotorbiketours.websyte.com.au). Offroad Vietnam ( 844/3904-5049;www.offroadvietnam.com).
When to Go: Sept–Dec.
Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, depending on which tour you choose.
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