Great Himalayan Beast

Fly into Srinagar Airport and be received by our team member at the airport.

Transfer to Hotel. Unpack, Unwind.

We recommend that you relax and take in the sights of this gorgeous Himalayan city. Your hotel is close to the Dal lake and the views an walks in the vicinity are what mountain dreams are made of.

There are several places to visit and activities to engage in, but we recommend taking it easy and enjoying the lazy charms and comforts, the food and the general vibe of the place, a sunset shikara ride or a sundowner at the Lalit hotel

60/100 Kilometers

Today we get on the bikes and head out on a short 60/100 KM exploratory road trip to reach our staging point for the Transhimalayan traverse.

We divert off the main highways and hit small country roads that give you a flavor of riding in the alpine Himalayas, a landscape you will not see for the subsequent part of your road trip.

We visit a 7th century Shiva temple in a gorgeous setting, we visit some of the lesser visited lakes around Srinagar and eventually make our way to our riverside resort, in a quaint village 5 km short of the busy town of Sonamarg.

Soak in the views and just relax by the riverside, anticipating the next days.

We have a great deal of riding ahead of us.

190 Kilometers

We leave early to avoid the traffic at Zoji La. The route is covered in a series of hairpin bends and you quickly ascend from the valley floor. While they are not technical, but it leaves you awestruck as you see the marvel of engineering that slithers up huge mountains and descends great heights.

This is the gateway to Ladakh and within a matter of a few KM s the landscape has taken such a dramatic transition that it leaves you quite speechless. We cross the war memorial at Drass and continue onwards to Kargil (the second largest city in Ladakh is predominantly Muslim) on quick paced roads, along a roaring river and enter the gorgeous Suru valley and onwards to our guesthouse at Panikhar.

170 Kilometers

The final bits of Suru valley cross by in a dazzling display of cultivated green and the many hued kaleidoscope of wild flowers, as we race up river, through tiny villages and glacial streams. We cross the monastery at Rangdum riding along a mesmerizing landscape that takes you to the gateway of Zanskar, Pensi La (our highest point on this route).

Its difficult to describe the feeling of viewing the Drang Drung glacier for the first time. The largest glacier in Ladakh redefines infinity.

We descend into Zanskar and the valley opens up before you. Tiny villages surrounded by windswept barley, Yaks grazing in the horizon, and people with weathered faces turning a prayer wheel , transpose you into a time far gone by.

We ride past busy Padum to our homestay near Karsha

195 Kilometers

And now ladies & gentlemen, the moment we have all been waiting for.

Let the off-roads begin.

Probably the best off-road patch left in the Himalayas, the lesser said about this route, the better. This is one for the senses.

The focus must be unwavering but the scenery beckons a glimpse, the dust fills your visor but you cant stop smiling, it could be hot, it could be bone chilling cold. We could have rain , we could have snow, the roads could be blocked due to roadwork’s, we could have freshly paved tarmac- there is so much unpredictability on this road- that makes it the perfect backdrop for a motorcycle adventure in the Himalayas.

110 Kilometers

We have a well deserved half days rest at Leh city. Based on the mood we can cover the 100 KM to Leh fairly quick, or we can choose to take a few detours, spend some time on off-road tracts and visit some of the famous monasteries en route. We cross the Gurudwara, Pather Sahib and finally ride into bustling Leh city- a dramatic transition after what we have experienced over the last few days.

Rest, eat, shop, chill.

The coming week will be in some serious high altitude territory where our body and mind will be tested. The riding remains spectacular, the landscape transitions surreal and the roads are brand new.

0 Kilometers

A well deserved rest day after completing the Zanskar le of our adventure. Leh city is busy and vibrant city that blends the new with old. The village ladies occupy one end of the street in the city centre selling their vegetables and local produce whilst the other end of the street is surrounded by modern cafes, restaurants and shops.

We meet the participants who are joining the next le of our adventure, sharing memories just made and anticipating ones that will be created over the coming week.

140 Kilometers

We are chasing the silk route today, this being the main road connection that took goods (on Yaks, Mules and Camels) from the Indian sub-continent to join with the main silk route at Yarkand in central Asia.

We enter serious high altitude territory, crossing Khardung La at 5348 M (one of the highest motorable passes in the world). We descend more than 2000 M into Nubra valley, one of the most dramatic landscapes on the trip. We ride on fairly good but narrow mountain roads with sharp drops and chances of snow near the pass. Only a small patch (about 30 KM) is of poor road quality due to the constantly melting and freezing of snow and water.

190 Kilometers

Dramatically changing landscapes are our companions for the day. On a combination of on/off road, you will ride on river beds, on high passes, through mountain gorges and open flat plains. Our prize for the day is the lake of Pangong . Partly in India and partly in China, this politically strangled lake is a natural wonder of the world.

We camp close to the shore, relax and take in the changing colours as the sun sets. The night skies are surreal as we are camping at 4300M with clear views of the milky way and several constellations. Based on the wind the nights can be cold and chances of mild AMS (headaches & insomnia) are possible.

190 Kilometers

Today’s route is a relatively new (open only to the army in the past) that’s only recently opened to tourists. It was a closely guarded secret and its easy to see why. Two high altitude lakes in a setting so surreal, endless twisties, wildflower covered slopes, panoramic views, very little traffic and a single track road with a mind of its own.

Half way through the journey and the best bits are yet to come. We divert towards the village of Hanle which has opened to foreign tourists only since 2024 ( due to close proximity to the Chinese border).

The edge of the Tibetan plateau, the floodplains of the Indus river, a haven for migratory birds, home to the Palash cat , the astronomy capital of India- Hanle is famous for so many reasons.

For us however, the above doesn’t really matter.

The staging point for our Umling La traverse, Hanle has a completely different significance for moto enthusiasts.

230 Kilometers

We leave some bits to the imagination but it’s a long and high day in the saddle.

***Please note that, due to the politically sensitive nature of this region, we could be refused permission at the last moment.

We will alter our itinerary if this is the case but we hope that the gods of motorcycling are smiling on us.

160 Kilometers

The journey back to Leh is fairly straightforward, though a little long. The roads are beautiful tarmac and the valley floor undulates gently following the course of the river towards the town of Upshi.

It’s a play of light and shadows as you speed across this multi colored valley, the increase in oxygen levels as you descend, playing some interesting mind games. Your body fights the fatigue of the past days but the mind is elated with the oxygen surplus.

0 Kilometers

The second leg of our journey is complete and Sakti village is like an oasis that allows you to soak in the magnitude of the journey thus far.

We bid goodbye to those who will be leaving us at this stage and we rest up for what remains to be still discovered.

A fitting climax to our epic adventure, the region of Spiti and the road leading us towards it is what motorcycle legends are made of.

320 Kilometers

The longest leg of our journey so far, but one that is necessary in order to escape the high altitude and the remoteness of the region we are passing through.

The 5000m+ Tanglang La, the Tibetan plateau (More Plains), several high altitude passes ( Laclung La, Nakee La, Baralaca La), The ghost of gata Loops (22 switchbacks)- There is so much drama on today’s ride that it feels like the last two weeks thrown into 1 day. However the roads are amazing the pace quite fast. We spend a long day on the road but the visual delight of the surroundings leave the mind elated and the body is (by now) prepared for everything.

185 Kilometers

Its tough to imagine that after more than 2 weeks of riding the Himalayan highs that a landscape will still surprise you, the views take your breath away- anew.

The crossing of Kunzum La does just that and the dramatic gateway to Spiti is visually stunning and the roads still challenging.

Spiti, also called mini Leh is just that and barring the new spate of construction, it still looks like a land locked in time. The landscape is remote and the valley floor with the braided Spiti river catches the dying light in a bright reflection of sparkling gold, giving the land an aura of divinity- a celestial halo embracing the entire landscape.

We spend the night in a charming guesthouse in the village of Chicam- a legendary village in the motorcycle stories of yesteryears.

80 Kilometers

Today is short day on the road but we traverse some high roads leading to remote villages, monasteries and post offices. Its one of the most enjoyable riding day, since the roads are traffic free, the landscape vast and the general vibe and pace of this region just conducive to easy riding that allows you to take in the energy.

There are many monasteries to cover, remote villages that are habited through the harsh winters, the highest post office in the Himalayas, and the trails connecting them, traverse a high path in the mountains that allows splendid views of the valley below. Kaza is the capital city of the region and has some trappings of modernity. Enjoy a coffee or a Pizza and exchange stories with other travelers that use Kaza as a base to discover Spiti valley.

110 Kilometers

A relaxed start savoring the last bits of Spiti valley and the transhimalayas. We travel slow and we stop often because Spiti is a treasure trove of antiquity. The Frescos at Tabo , and the Mummified Lama at ue monastery continue to showcase why Spiti as captured the imagination of travelers from time immemorial.

We spend the night at the stunning village of Nako, its prayer flags fluttering in the evening light, lending a surreal ambience to this quaint village with its man-made lake.

125 Kilometers

From the stark treeless landscape of the high Himalayas to the lush alpine greens of the lower Himalayas- the transitions of today’s ride are reminiscent of the start of our adventure in Kashmir.

We ride through the windy funnel of the Spiti ore, crossing villages that are distinctly more populated and busier. There is a lot more traffic on the roads and the air takes on a different, thicker consistency and while the replenished Oxygen in the air is quite noticeable, the proximity to the fossil fuel burning civilization is also clearly discernible.

60 Kilometers

Its our final rest day and we spend it in the lap of lush, embracing nature. Fresh water streams, pine covered forests and emerald green meadows invite you to take a walk, a swim or just find a nook to lie down and soak in the mountains.

We take a short ride to the village of Chitkul and if we feel like, trek to the border with Tibet (China). Drink chai, chat with the locals and just hang out with your fellow travelers- reliving the memories of the last few weeks.

160 Kilometers

We are traveling through apple country and as far as the eyes can see, the mountains have been denuded of their natural cover and now a monoculture of apple dominates the landscape.

170 Kilometers

Our final days ride is a stark reminder of the reality we are returning to. Descending the Himalayas towards the gangetic plains, the population and traffic rows exponentially and it’s a rude reminder that you are travelling through the most populated country in the world and while the previous 3 weeks were spend in the same country, the region you have travelled through is a world within this world.

250 Kilometers (Train or Taxi transfer)

It’s a straightforward journey to Delhi either by train or by road. Its takes anything between 3-5 ours and we are happy to help organize a taxi or train tickets based on your preference.