Women Motorcyclists Prepare for Historic Everest Base Camp Expedition
This Women's Day, a pioneering group of ten women motorcyclists is preparing to embark on an extraordinary journey to one of the highest terrains accessible by motorcycle. Their ambitious destination is Everest Base Camp, a challenging expedition across India, Nepal, and Tibet that could potentially mark India's first all-women motorcycle expedition to the iconic mountain.
In many significant ways, this ride symbolizes a broader societal transformation. Women across the nation are increasingly claiming their rightful space on the road, choosing paths less traveled, and sometimes riding those paths all the way to the roof of the world.
How One Woman's Question Sparked a National Movement
Recalling the humble beginnings of this movement, Amit Saini, founder of Gurugram-based motorcycle rental and training initiative Motolyf, reveals that the turning point occurred nearly seven years ago. "A woman once called to rent a motorcycle and inquired if we could provide a rider. When I asked why she didn't learn to ride herself, she responded by asking if there were schools where women could learn riding. That simple question stayed with me and eventually inspired the creation of a dedicated training program," he explains.
What began as a modest training initiative has since blossomed into a thriving community of women riders participating in long-distance tours across the country. "To date, we have trained more than 5,000 women from diverse regions nationwide. Once women learn to ride, they experience a profound sense of liberation, and many naturally desire to embark on journeys and experience the road firsthand. That's when we began curating special bike expeditions," Saini adds.
The years of observing women learn to ride have fundamentally transformed Amit's perspective. "As a man, my perception of women has completely evolved. Every Saturday, new women arrive to learn biking, revealing an entirely new world of female empowerment," he shares. During a vision-training exercise where riders are instructed to look far ahead, a homemaker once told him, "Sir, women have always been told to look down. Suddenly being asked to lift our eyes and look forward requires time to learn."
Everest Ride Represents Pushing Personal Boundaries
For Jimmi Mangat, a 43-year-old Director of Business Excellence at a marketing consultancy firm and one of the riders preparing for the Everest Base Camp expedition, motorcycling has evolved into a deeply personal practice. "Over time, motorcycling transcended mere hobby status. It became a form of meditation, a method to feel both grounded and liberated simultaneously. During the pandemic, I enrolled in a four-day training program where I discovered not just a skill but also a supportive community," she reveals.
"Being part of this all-women expedition signifies empowerment, lifting each other up, pushing past fears, and embracing new challenges with confidence. For me, the Everest ride represents pushing my limits physically, mentally, and emotionally, striving to become the best version of myself through this transformative journey," Mangat emphasizes.
Meenakshi Anand, a 48-year-old corporate trainer who has led rides through challenging passes including Rezang La, Khardung La, and Umling La, describes motorcycling as a lifelong passion. "My first experience riding a bike came through my father when I was just 13 years old. Women were rarely given bikes, more as a brief experience than full ownership. I was determined to break that pattern," she recalls.
"Later, when I began formal training, my husband gifted me my first bike. Who says only boys experience first love with a bike? Even girls can fall deeply in love with motorcycles. Numerous stereotypes surround women riders. Standing at 5 feet tall, people frequently told me I couldn't handle a bike's weight. Now I am claiming my rightful space on the road. Participating in the Everest expedition adds another significant milestone to my journey. I eagerly anticipate challenging myself anew," Anand states with conviction.
Preparing for the Ultimate Mountain Challenge
The upcoming ride to Mount Everest Base Camp is anticipated to be the most demanding expedition the group has undertaken thus far, according to Amit Saini. "In 2025 alone, our women riders covered more than 11,000 kilometers, traveling across Ladakh, Umling La near the China border, and the country's northern and southern frontiers, including Kanyakumari and areas adjacent to the Pakistan border. We sought to attempt something even more ambitious next, which is how the concept of riding to Mount Everest Base Camp emerged," he explains.
Scheduled for May 2026, the expedition will feature approximately ten women riders traveling over 16 days. "The journey will commence in Gurgaon, with the first stop in Kathmandu. From there, riders will cross into Tibet through the Gyirong Port border crossing, pause in Lhasa for acclimatization, and finally ride to Rongbuk Monastery at the foot of Everest Base Camp," he details.
However, riding at such extreme altitudes presents unique challenges. "Motorcycling in these regions is inherently unpredictable. During one of our Northeast rides, the group rode continuously through rain for three consecutive days. Sanitation challenges and limited facilities exist, but our riders accept these as integral aspects of the journey," adds Saini, who will lead the expedition.
Breaking Stereotypes Through Two Wheels
Tulisen Gupta, 41, began riding during her college years, secretly operating bikes despite parental disapproval. "I used to sneak rides since my college days, away from my parents' knowledge. Bike riding has evolved beyond hobby status for me; I have been riding professionally for five years now. The engine's sound resonates like my heartbeat. Speed propels me toward a profound sense of freedom," she shares.
"Motorcycling to Everest will undoubtedly be a difficult ride, but for me, it represents shattering the stereotype that women are soft and timid. Life itself constitutes a challenging journey, and women have consistently demonstrated they possess the strength to confront it," Gupta asserts.
Sana Sheikh, a 29-year-old marketing professional based in Gurugram, is fully prepared to ride to the roof of the world. "Everest still feels somewhat impossible to me, and I continually question whether my body is sufficiently fit for this undertaking. Yet that very fear also generates excitement. I used to fear bikes, but at a friend's suggestion, I enrolled in riding classes. The moment I felt the throttle, I knew I wanted to explore this world," she recounts.
"My first long ride to Ladakh proved deeply emotional. I am the first woman motorcyclist in seven generations of my family on both sides. Coming from an environment where girls are never imagined on bikes, taking the lead feels exceptionally empowering," Sheikh concludes.
