1100 KM
9 Nights 10 Days
Leh/Chandigarh
RE Himalayan
80% Road,
20% off roads
Intermediate
USD 2700
Built upon years of experience, this tour circuit offers the best of the upper Himalayas in India. Combining Spiti & Ladakh into 1 tour is done by very few operators due to associated logistical constraints, but that’s our speciality. We ensure you have a seamless experience without worrying about logistics, permits, bike unions etc. You just focus on the riding and take in the most remarkable landscape the Indian Himalayas have to offer.
We travel through the surreal landscape, where dramatic valleys and the light play on the braided Spiti river take you through a portal; where the sheer magnitude of the landscape just humbles you into awestruckness. We traverse Kunzum La on some tough off-road and in-construction road stretches but the descent gets us into the gentle Lahaul valley. There, the emerald green of its sprawling meadows and endless vegetable fields on stepped terraces lull you into a sense of beatitude- or maybe it’s just the lower altitude.
We continue into Ladakh via Shink La and into the remote Zanskar valley. Padum is changing rapidly but most of the landscape is still under transition and tourist infrastructure is nearly nonexistent. After a short ride, we enter the busy city of Leh, spending the remaining day relaxing, doing laundry or checking the sights of this ancient Silk Road city. The final leg takes us to Nubra and Pangong, two of the most distinct landscapes that Ladakh has to offer. Sand dunes and camels in the Himalayas and a turquoise blue lake of such magnitude, that it almost defies the imagination.
Arrive at Leh ( No Riding)
Fly in from Delhi to Leh and be received by our team member at the airport.
Transfer to Hotel. Unpack, Unwind.
We recommend that you relax and take it easy and focus on monitoring your body and the effects of high altitude. Communicate with your team and don’t ignore any signs of discomfort.
The usual symptoms of AMS could be headache, lack of appetite, insomnia and difficulty in breathing.
Only mild activity is advised as you are in high altitude territory.
Based on how you are feeling you can visit the Leh city and market place in the evening.
Today we get on the bikes for the first time and head out on a short 60 KM exploratory road trip.
We get accustomed to our bikes, the traffic in the mountains , the dogs & cows and the ever changing road conditions.
We break for lunch at one of the popular cafes in or near town.
Based on the level of fatigue and the mood of the group, we can head out for a short evening ride or we could take a car tour of the popular sights and monasteries around Leh town.
Alternatively you could just relax. We have a great deal of riding ahead of us.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
