Preparations

As you set about your preparations over the next four weeks, you may wish to consider the following documentation.

Docs coming with you:
Passport (with multiple entry visa stamp)
All flight itineraries and confirmations
Hotel booking confirmation for 1st night in Calcutta
Drivers license and international driving permit
Insurance policy number and their international medivac number
Several spare passport photos
$25 USD cash for the Nepalese visa
Map pack (Jason is providing this for everyone, including way points)
+ Everyone else’s Indian SIM number (will exchange in Calcutta)
Please colour copy everything once and give the copies to another rider for safekeeping.

Docs staying at home (copies) with a friend who can take a call 24x7:
Passport (with multiple entry visa stamp)
All flight itineraries and confirmations
Hotel booking confirmation for 1st night in Calcutta
Drivers license and international driving permit
Insurance company, policy number and their international medivac number
Several spare passport photos
Recent will (forms from post office if you don’t already have one)
Power of attorney (forms from post office if you don’t already have one)

Why bother?
Quoting from Lonely Planet, etc re eastern plains of Nepal:
“power outages are the norm”
“fuel shops run dry all the time”
“many people in the countryside are still armed and travellers may be asked to make a ‘donation’”
“the risk is high in the former Maoist areas to the east of the country”
“rarely a day goes by without seeing a serious accident”
“drivers drive with little care for their own safety or others”
“overtaking is an act of brinkmanship with no room for error”

On the bright side, we will be travelling during Navami, a time when many animals are sacrificed and their blood is sprinkled on car wheels to ensure a safe journey. ‘Cause that’s bound to help...

And remember, if you do need to get out, the National Carrier currently has only four working aircraft

Seriously though, good documentation can be the difference between minor misfortune and total disaster for adventure travel. It’s worth spending a little time to get it right.