Features
When you book a trip, it’s always nice to get a few added features. We don’t put chocolates on your pillow but what we do offer is a practical list of inclusive features that from experience we know you’ll use and be mighty thankful for! These aren’t token gestures but things that make a real difference when you are on the road and well outside of your normal comfort zone.
We offer as much flexibility as possible so if you want to sleep under the stars that is entirely up to you. At the end of a hard day on the road however you might just appreciate being able to roll straight in to a hotel with to relax with a cold beer by the pool. Sound tempting? In that case you might wish to consider our Deluxe Adventure Package offer.
There are several benefits to this. Firstly you have the certainty of a bed and secondly we have used our contacts and purchasing power to negotiate great rates. What better way to unwind in the evening than to swap stories with your fellow participants over some food and drink and maybe a bit of partying!
It is truly amazing how quickly you can fill a wagon designed to haul a whole harvest with road junk. The Luggage Truck to the rescue!
Each morning participants can load up all their belongings and have them chauffeured to the next destination. That leaves you free to carry all your essentials aboard the wagon like water, sunscreen, cameras, and of course fancy dress! And don’t forget they’ll be plenty of goodies to pick up along the way from the local street sellers, anything from ornamental sculptures to refreshing coconuts!.
If the wheels have well and truly come off your adventure then advice is just a phone call away. Whether it is a medical, veterinary, or mechanical matter our Service Car and Crew will do their best to assist. They carry an array of tools to fix your wagon and an experienced animal wrangler and veterinary professional to deal with any bull related problems.
The comprehensive services of the support crew are at an additional cost as required, or for your peace of mind are included in the Deluxe Adventure Package.
Not many of us have really even seen a bull up close before, let alone attempted to drive one across India. Never fear! Our short, intensive training course will familiarise you with your wagon and bull team, distilling thousands of years of rural wisdom into a single afternoon! The safety of both participants and animals is of paramount importance, and so you will also receive vital advice on becoming Indian-streetwise.
We will also teach you basic maintenance and repairs so that by the end of the training you’ll be able to drive, navigate and fix like a veteran farmer!
Amazing pimping for your wagon, from racing seats and a bean-bag disco lounge in the back to hand-painted new looks for your bull team. No customization too big or too weird for our pimping crew. Check our the Pimp My Wagon page for details.
No adventurer should leave home without the essentials and we’ve got all that covered for you. As well as the obvious items like a medical kit (to fix you), and a tool kit (to fix your wagon) we know from experience what other simple measures can get you out of a jam. A pen and paper will get you a long way in helping communicate with the locals or asking them to draw you a map. A locally registered mobile phone and pre-paid SIM card will enable you to make phone calls without racking up international charges, and a custom ID card containing a the vital information you need will serve as a back-up for important information. As well as this we will provide you with Road maps and a phrase book.
With a bit of resourcefulness this should be everything you need to keep the wheels turning but if all else fails and you are completely stuck then the trusty Service Car will be there to help! The Kit includes a tool set complete with flashlight, essential spares, quick First aid kit, and the invaluable event specific Roadbook.
Each participant gets a commemorative event pack which includes a customised shirt, cap and badge and on completion of the rally you will be presented with a Bullathon medal. Here are some of the goodies you will get, depending on which package you choose. Bullathon hand-spun biodegradable tote bag, Bullathon ‘Wagon Driver’ khaki shirt, Bullathon Participant badge, Bullathon Custom Lanyard with key clip, Bullathon medal.
Our approach is to keep the number of participants to a manageable number. This ensures that we can deliver the standard of support necessary, and keep the nightly cultural events intimate. Just 15 teams are permitted to enter, and even then there is a huge logistical operation in managing all the paperwork, wagons, back-up, back-office, catering and entertainment.
Our experience shows that running groups too large for the sake of it is a false economy. It dilutes the cohesion of the group and stretches all the resource too thin. Our approach delivers the adventure without the aggravation. Just maximum enjoyment!
Every night at the end of the daily stage a feast for both the senses and the stomach will await you. The whole point of the Bullathon is to experience India in a totally new way, and central to that is a close experience with its cuisine and performing arts. You may have driven in like the just as the peasant farmers of old, but every evening your will be entertained like the Hero Kings of legend!
Back when the first of the Travel Scientists events, the Rickshaw Challenge, launched from downtown Chennai it did so the curious eye of a few local news crews and intrigued residents. Since then our events have grown in stature and have been broadcast across the globe, from TV and radio, to internet and magazine articles. As the saying goes, everyone has their 15 minutes of fame and yours is guaranteed from the moment you sign up. Don’t be surprised if you get the occasional welcome party of locals as you travel along your route as the chances are they saw you on the TV the night before and want to get their photo taken with you! Click here to see a selection of previous media coverage.
Signing up to the Bullathon will also get you a guaranteed membership to The Clubhouse and its most excellent Adventure Points system. We like to reward all our participants which is why we’re introducing this reward system, similar to airmiles. Earn splendid rewards whilst you adventure, including substantial discounts, merchandise, accessories, and even the ability to look like a real cool dude by gifting discounts to your friends!
