The difficulty field is a first sort, not a verdict. **Easy** today—`garden-route-gs` and `garden-route-gs-7d` (~90% asphalt). **Hard**—`himalaya-ladakh-12d` (3,500 m+ in audience). **Medium**—Vietnam, Morocco, Balkans, Cappadocia, Java/Bali, and the rest. The tag does not replace surfaceRu, distanceKm, daily km, and **audienceRu**: Garden Route audience still expects mountain riding experience, not “first bike ever.” Medium on `morocco-atlas-8d` means 200–350 km in the saddle seven days straight; on `vietnam-due-north`—Ma Pi Leng switchbacks across ~1050 km. Before deposit, match both tag and card.
Medium—the catalog core
Vietnam Due North, Morocco Atlas, Balkans GS 8d, Cappadocia GS, Java/Bali—medium. Shared traits: long days, gravel sections, mountain experience. Morocco adds day-length stress; Vietnam adds switchbacks and fog.
If you only rode a 150 cc city bike—the medium tag will not save you. You want a season on a 650+ adventure or regular 200+ km days and an audience match.
Easy and hard—the scale edges
Easy: Garden Route GS—~1700 km in nine days, surface “90% asphalt,” pillion available. Easy does not cancel audience: long-distance touring and mountain riding. Softer on surface, not “zero experience.”
Hard: Himalaya Ladakh 12d—~1500 km, twelve days, audience—gravel/asphalt, altitude from 3,500 m, acclimatization. Organizer conversation and honest route history are mandatory.
How to pick without guessing wrong
On `/tours`—filter by region and difficulty. Easy narrows to Garden Route; hard—to Ladakh. Open the card: surfaceRu, distanceKm, audienceRu, pillion, daily km.
Compare with “when was my last 6+ hour saddle day.” Date on the calendar; deposit after documents and insurance.
| Tour | Tag | Km | What differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| garden-route-gs | easy | ~1700 | 90% asphalt, touring audience |
| vietnam-due-north | medium | ~1050 | switchbacks, experienced |
| morocco-atlas-8d | medium | ~1800 | 200–350 km/day ×7 |
| himalaya-ladakh-12d | hard | ~1500 | 3,500 m+ altitude |
FAQ
01Medium with pillion?
Tour-dependent: Vietnam, Balkans, Garden Route allow pillion; Morocco atlas does not. Check the card field.
02Can difficulty be lowered on site?
Sweep may shorten distance in rain/fog but will not turn medium into a stroll. Pick honestly.
03Two years off the bike?
Ride 200–300 km at home first, then call the organizer. Garden Route (easy) or another date—if audience fits.