Rickshaw Run South India
The Details: Rickshaw Run South India
The newest rickshaw-shaped slap around the chops. South India is a veritable banquet of awesomeness. It’s chock full of marvellous shit to see, excellent places to go and has backroads that your will make you tingle in all the right places, and not only due to the potholes.
After looking at the map for a while, we’ve decided to chuck this little spicy route into the mix. And what a mix it’s turning out to be. It’s like an innocent-looking cocktail that will actually make you fall over and possibly wee yourself a little.
Here’s all the information you need to round up a couple of mates and drive a 3-wheeled shit box through South India. 1000 kilometres of ridiculousness awaits.
1. The un-route
At the other end, you have Goa. Famed for its Portuguese heritage, chilled vibe, palm-fringed beaches and rather spicy nightlife. It’s been firmly on the tourist map for many a decade now and it’s very clear to see why.
In between Fort Kochi and Goa is pretty much anything you could ever wish to see whilst bouncing along in your tinny steed. South India is absolutely rammed with very cool shit.
The coast is a big draw for many, but spice that up with some inland driving through the Western Ghats, and you’re onto a winner. Don’t underestimate the Ghats - the highest point is 2700m above sea level, so they’re pretty bloody big.
Each edition goes in a different direction but the Rickshaw Run South India is equally stupid and glorious whichever end you start from.
2. The dates
Pioneers Edition - October 2025
11th October: Pre-adventure beers
12th October: Test driving, team briefing & launch party
13th October: Launch day
17th October: Finish line & party
November 2025
8th November: Pre-adventure beers
9th November: Test driving, team briefing & launch party
10th November: Launch day
14th November: Finish line & party
3. Entry fee & what's included
That makes it £765 each for a team of three.
You can pay in instalments too, chopping the fee up into monthly chunks.
What you get for your money
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The Rickshaw
A 3-wheeled, 4-stroke air-cooled rickshaw, pimped to your own design with insurance and all the other necessary paperwork
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Pimp your rickshaw
Submit your design from home and our team of artists will paint anything you want on your vehicle, including your charities or sponsors logos. We recommend matching your adventuring attire with your pimp job for maximum impact.
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Test Driving
Designed so you can learn to be master of your 3-wheeled destiny. It also includes how to switch your rickshaw on, how not to stall it more than you actually drive it and how not to let it fall over when taking on things like corners or potholes. Our driving instructors are on hand to assist and answer all those pesky questions like "how does it go forward?"
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Rickshaw Repair Lessons
We have a team of most excellent auto-rickshaw mechanics who will give you the basics of how to tinker with your chariot when it inevitably breaks down.
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Team Briefing
Pre-launch briefing on the chaos about to be unleashed and a Q&A with our splendid crew.
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Swag
We like to give you some stuff along the way. So each team member will ceremoniously receive...
- A Rickshaw Run patch to prove your metal
- A Rickshaw Run T-shirt in case you forget spare clothes. -
Tool Kit
We give each team a basic tool kit for fixing up your steed once released into the wild.
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Launch Party
A ruddy great big knees up including dinner, some free drinks and awesome local live music.
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Launch Day Ceremony
An official send off ceremony on launch day.
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Finish Line & Finish Party
We set the stage for your finish line photo and round things off with another bloody great big knees up to swap tales from the road. Much back slapping and quite a bit of falling over is likely.
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The Adventure
One week of being slapped about the chops with everything India can throw at you and your glorified lawnmower. Adventuring stupidity at its very finest.
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The Knowledge
We'll be on hand by phone and email to answer your questions before the adventure. Our team of experts can advise you how to get to the start line, the best outfits for the parties and our recommended blend of Darjeeling tea.
Plus the team handbook packed with pre-adventure info and updates on your Run. -
A community of likeminded idiots
And we'll introduce you to Rickshaw Run India veterans if you want a chat. Most importantly you get the company of fellow Adventurists, a collective of genius-idiots drawn to the call of overland stupidity.
Refundable Vehicle Deposit
The deposit is fully refundable and deductions will only be made if the rickshaw is seriously damaged or if there are bits missing. If you don't bring it to the finish line we'll need to use some of your deposit to recover it so it's best, and cheaper, to get it there yourself.
We understand the 'shaws will take a bit of a kicking because we've been running these adventures since 2006 so we don't deduct anything for normal Rickshaw Run grade wear and tear. We'd rather not have to take a deposit at all but it's a boring necessity so we do our best to make it as painless as possible.
4. The rickshaw
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Make
BAJAJ
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Engine
4 stroke, single cylinder, air cooled
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Engine Size
145cc
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Transmission
4 forward, 1 reverse
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Fuel Capacity
8 litres
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Top Speed
55kmph (ish)
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Power
7 HP at 5000 rpm
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System Voltage
12V, DC
5. Pimp my rickshaw
The more absurd and original the design the faster and more reliable your rickshaw becomes. This might not actually be true, but you are probably 2% more likely to be helped when you break down if you’ve got a giant smiling Ganesh painted on your trusty steed.
Not only does this mean your ride looks shit-hot, but the layers of paint accumulated over the years give the Rickshaws almost 0.5% extra structural durability, which is almost entirely useless.
6. Driving license & insurance
Driving Licence
Auto rickshaws are classed as ‘light motor vehicles’ in India which means a Category A or B Stamp in your IDP normally means you're all set.
Vehicle insurance
Travel & Medical Insurance
7. Saving the world
Anything above this can be raised for any other registered charity of your choice.
Why?
How do we raise the cash?
You've got until 2 weeks after the end of your adventure to raise the minimum amount of £500. Teams often raise the most cash while they're on the road and just after they get back, but it's wise to start your campaign early.
If you don't raise £500 by the deadline, unfortunately you will go to hell. Together with Cool Earth we give you tips and resources to help you fundraise. Then 2 weeks after the finish line party we will pester you for your final total. But don't panic, we won’t set any dogs on you, or force you to sell your children. We will be very, very disappointed though and do a sad face at you.
The warning
Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. Individuals who have taken part in past Adventurists' adventures have been permanently disfigured, seriously disabled and even lost their life.
This is not a glorified holiday, it's an unsupported adventure and so by its very nature extremely risky. You really are on your own and you really are putting both your health and life at risk. This is what makes them adventures.
8. I'm ready - sign me up
