Adventure seekers always find new ways to answer the call of the wild. As the song says, they 'head out on the highway'. In search of extreme adventure, seven 640 cc and one 950 cc KTM Adventure motorcycles made in Austria embarked on their maiden commercial journey to Mount Kailash and the Everest Base Camp in Tibet on May 7, 2004. The trip was to last until 25 May.
Josef Pilcher, a veteran of the journey led the trip riding the newly launched 950 cc KTM Adventure. In accompaniment was his wife Renate, a keen photographer, she would be making the promotional photos and videos for KTM.

 

On a glorious morning of May 7 th, we set out from Kathmandu to Nagarkot and then on to Kodari on the 8 th. The bikers are greeted with bewilderment and awe at every stop. We quickly get accustomed to these huge gatherings. The ride through the lush green and beautiful Nepalese countryside is exhilarating. Crossing over to Zhangmu, we head off to Nyalam (3750 m). The riders' skills are now being put to test, driving through uneven high altitude mountainous terrain for the first time. We were now above 3,500 m. and heading for higher ground.

From Nyalam, the ascent begins over the desert-like landscape and our climb to an altitude of 5,050 m. makes the journey disturbingly more hazardous. However, it is compensated by the magnificent views of Mount Shishapangma, Mount Gauri Shankar and others from the Lalun La pass at an altitude of 5,050 m. The riders brave the strong gusty wind to enjoy the serence magnificence of the high Tibetan desert plateau, the roof of the world.