A Ride Story by Mototour-
Some riders come for a trip.
Some come for something bigger.
Haren and Nerine… we knew early, they weren’t here just for Ladakh.
Day 1: Srinagar - “Let’s Fix Their Posture”
I went to receive them in Srinagar.
Standard plan.
Meet → brief → “let’s teach off-road riding posture.”
You know… the usual:
- stand up on pegs
- balance
- throttle control
We started.
And after sometimes
I realised I was wasting my own time.
These guys were already dialled in.
Clean riding. No panic. No overcorrection. Just natural.
So yeah…
That “training session” quietly disappeared.
Not Tourists. Riders.
From day one, something was different.
They weren’t rushing.
They were just,,,,riding.
And Nerine’s family was with them—from start to finish.
Her dad, mom, aunt, brother.
Tsetan (Captain) said that changed the whole energy of the ride.
This wasn’t a group of clients.
It felt like a moving story.
I Met Them Again at the End
Fast forward to the last day.
Most operators wrap it up there.
Goodbyes. Photos. Done.
But something told me not yet!
So I decided to ride with them for two more days.
We headed towards Hanle.
Hanle: Where It All Made Sense
Somewhere in Hanle, the conversation shifted.
No noise. No distractions. Just open land and time.
That’s when they told me.
They were already preparing for a world ride.
Not dreaming. Not “someday.”
Preparing.
And suddenly, everything clicked.
The way they rode.
The way they carried themselves.
The calm.
Umling La — Not Just Another Pass
Next day, we rode to Umling La.
One of the highest roads you can ride.
Extreme altitude. Thin air. No room for mistakes.
But they handled it like it was just another day.
No drama. No ego. Just control.
That’s when you know — these riders are built different.
The Farewell Didn’t Feel Like One
We wrapped up after that.
Said our goodbyes.
But it didn’t feel like the end of a trip.
It felt like the beginning of something.
Two Years Later…
We came across their story again.
Same couple. Still riding Haren on KTM 500 EXC and Nerine on Honda CRF 300L.
But now across countries.
Featured in The Straits Times
As of 28 Feb, 2026 they rode over 102,000+ km across 59 countries,
facing everything from jungle breakdowns to freezing high-altitude routes.
And still not done.
Looking Back Now…
Honestly, it makes sense.
They didn’t come to Ladakh to “experience a tour.”
They came already on a journey.
We just happened to be a part of the beginning.
This Is Why We Do What We Do
Not every rider will go on to ride the world.
But some will.
And you can tell early.
It’s in the way they ride.
The way they think.
The way they don’t need to prove anything.
And Sometimes…
It is not about finding the path.
It’s about riding the one you’ve already chosen.
For Haren and Nerine--
This was never the beginning.
Somewhere between Srinagar and Hanle,,,
It just confirmed what they already knew.
Their social-
