Quick take: Rent the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 (₹2,499 (about US$28) a day) for Tawang, or the lighter Royal Enfield Scram 440 (₹1,999 (about US$23)) if you're riding solo in the good season. Bring your passport with an Indian visa, your home licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles. Arunachal Pradesh needs a Protected Area Permit (PAP), arranged through an approved tour operator, so start that early.
Which Royal Enfield?
- Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: the one for Tawang. The most power at altitude, long-travel suspension and room for a pillion and bags over Sela Pass (13,700 ft). ₹15,744 (about US$179) for a week.
- Royal Enfield Scram 440: lower, lighter and easier to handle, for a confident solo rider travelling light outside winter. ₹12,594 (about US$143) for a week.
We compare them in detail in Scram 440 or Himalayan 450 for Tawang. A week includes 10% off for 7 days or more.
What you need to rent
- Passport with a valid Indian visa.
- Your home driving licence, plus an International Driving Permit from your own country in the 1949 Geneva Convention format, covering motorcycles. Indian law doesn't accept a foreign licence on its own.
- Payment: cash in rupees, or international UPI.
A helmet comes with the bike. Ask for a pillion helmet when you book. There's no security deposit on the bike, only a refundable deposit for the full tank.
The Arunachal permit (PAP)
The whole of Arunachal Pradesh is a protected area for foreign nationals. You need a Protected Area Permit for Tawang, Bomdila, Dirang and everywhere else on the way.
- It's applied for through an approved local tour operator, not the online ILP portal.
- There's a royalty of about US$30 per person, plus the operator's fee.
- You'll need your passport, visa, photos, and your route and dates: the permit names the places you can go.
- Allow a few working days, and carry printed copies. It's checked at Bhalukpong, where the road enters Arunachal, and at hotels.
We can help arrange the PAP through an operator when you book; tell us your route and dates early. More detail: Northeast India permits for foreigners.
Planning the days
- Tawang is about 480 km from Guwahati, two days each way, with a night at Bomdila or Dirang. Plan at least 5 days with the bike, 7 if you can.
- While the PAP is being processed, ride somewhere that needs no permit: Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, or Kaziranga in Assam.
- The route, stops and seasons: Guwahati to Tawang guide. Costs for 5, 7 and 10 days: Guwahati to Tawang on a rented adventure bike.
Riding in India: the short version
- Traffic keeps to the left.
- Horns are used to say "I'm here", especially on blind bends in the hills.
- Ride the mountain roads in daylight, and expect fog late in the day.
- Fuel pumps are far apart in Arunachal: fill up whenever you can.
More tips: renting a bike or car in Northeast India as a foreign visitor.
FAQs
Can a foreigner rent a Royal Enfield in Guwahati? Yes. Bring your passport with an Indian visa, your home licence and an International Driving Permit that covers motorcycles.
Which Royal Enfield is best for a foreign rider going to Tawang? The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, especially two-up or in winter. Solo and travelling light in the good season, the Royal Enfield Scram 440 is easier to handle and costs less.
Do foreigners need a permit for Tawang? Yes, a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, through an approved tour operator. We can help arrange it.
Can I pay in dollars or by card? We take cash in rupees or international UPI.
Contact / Book
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, your route and where you're from. We'll keep a bike for you and help with the permit.
The information in this post is indicative. Final terms and policies are discussed and confirmed when you take the vehicle on rent.
