| Day |
Itinerary Detail
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| Day 1 |
We’ve collected you from the airport and transferred you to our Delhi hotel to meet the Group and enjoy a welcome dinner. We night stop at Delhi hotel. |
| Day 2 |
Today we prepare our luggage for an afternoon departure by Express train through Chandigarh to the railhead at Kalka with a short jeep ride to the start of the Tour at a comfortable hotel overlooking Shimla, dinner and bed. The next day you are ready to take command of you motorcycle. |
| Day 3 |
We deliver a brief and then ride off gently through Shimla the Hill Station Capital of Himachel Pradesh and on to hidden valleys; we kick-off with a rollercoaster ride of twisting climbing roads. Our first day takes us into green hills and then to night-stop, at an old temple site with views across the Satluj Valley, in the Alpine-like hills north of Shimla.
Your confidence grows as you learn the ‘rules of the road’, the group is finding its pace and we’re heading north east up the highway. Way above us apple orchards high on hidden plateaux. Apples galore slides silently by ropeway to the roadside, piled high in waiting Tatas; ten million boxes of ‘ruby reds’ to be distributed across all India through Delhi’s huge markets. Way below us a silver streak, the Satluj river, deep in its giant-power cut gorge.
Our night-stop in old colonial style cottages is in the sleepy village of Sarahan, home to the centuries old Bhimakali Temple with its six concentric silver coated doors; creating a unique blend of Hindu-Buddhist architecture. Sarahan is also a summer home to the Apple Maharajas whose fine wooden houses can be seen dotted on hillsides.
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| Day 4 |
Riding up the steep Sangla valley you’ll discover discovering fine examples of the unique Kinnauri religious style in their ancient stone and wood, earthquake-proof temples. Steep sided valleys with thick forests are home to leopards and bears, cloaked in deep snow in winter. Pioneering apple orchard developments are sprinkled across the Baspa Sangla valley as are quaint unique and largely unspoilt villages, whose friendly locals tell of a hard life, often cut-off for months in winter.
We night stop in tents in an aweinspiring location near the 'rumbling' Baspa River. |
| Day 5 |
A fresh start and a ride to the north. We are heading for the hill side village of Kalpa, sitting above a beautiful Deodar forest, amidst gardens and apple orchards. You’ll smile at the views across the valley to Kinnaur’s most holy ‘Kinner Kailash’ 6,050m, not to be confused with Tibet’s Mt Kailash. |
Day 6
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We are heading for a village to the north. We arrive there - just before the demanding landslide at Malling3. We stay in luxury, camping above a beautiful lake. At 3,600m the air is clean and cool, inviting a stroll through narrow paths and lanes in what I think must be one of India’s prettiest mountain villages.
We’re in ‘border country’ we ride below ridges that once were occupied by Chinese forces in the Sino-Indian war 1962, parts of the territory China called Aksai Chin - a high altitude salt desert. It was absorbed by the British in a 1904 treaty with Tibet, once the extended kingdom of the largely Hindu Dogras.
Local tales tell of strange things hidden in the mountains.
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Day 7
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It's too beautiful to rush away so we rest here a day, taking the opportunity to explore the village and for the more adventurous a climb to a nearby Buddhist Gumpa above the camp. Alternatively you can relax in the pretty flower gardens around the campsite. We spend our second night night above the peaceful lake. |
Day 8
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At the top of the valley the Spiti Valley flows into the Satluj river and we must turn left, the Tibet border not 10 kms distant and head into the Spiti Valley. We the road heading for Kaza – but crossing the Spiti river before Kaza we head into the Pin Valley to enjoy a simple night stop at a Gompa Guest house to share experiences and commune with Lamas.
Time permitting we'll ride up the ancient and now crumbling monastery at Dhankar with views way across the Spiti Valley towards the Pin Valley. Our night-stop, is one of the most spectacular sections of this route and frequent stops are a must to grasp the enormity of the mountains.
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| Day 9 |
In a land whose Buddhists built temples over 1200 years ago, we’ll explore some of these magnificent crumbling monasteries, perched quite literally on pinnacles of rock.
Today we take the opportunity to visit the truly amazing view of site of the Ki Monastery, perched quite literally on a pinnacle of rock. Riding on to the village of Kibber for lunch or light refreshment. Kibber is still one the most unspoilt villages in the Spiti Valley. We’ll night stop in Kaza.
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Day 10
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We're ready to ride towards the source of the Spiti River, taking a side tributary that crosses the mountains at Kunzum La. 4,500m, the distant Kunzum La. The other side of the pass sees us in remote, dramatic and seemingly harsh scenery. But we're heading to a little known secret and our night stop beside a beautiful blue mountain lake.
We night stop in tents beside the lake, around which horsemen and shepherds tend their animals.
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Day 11
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From the lake we have to cross many road-rivers, the road is a challenge and in places may seem impassable. We'll make it and climbing up the valley side until we meet the main highway to Leh.
Our destination is Keylong where we night stop in a friendly village guest house.
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| Day 12 |
The ride today has you climbing in altitude, crossing two passes to over 4,000m. We ride through glacial-melt rivers, some small some not so small. Arid desert landscapes so dry you’ll stop for water, zig-zagging roads, saline lakes and at the wide open pastures of Sarchu our first camping night-stop at altitude. At 4,250m you may be at an all time high, literally, as the thin air induces deeper breathes and sometimes an uncomfortable sleep. The Tour Leader keeps a keen eye on all Riders during these high altitude stages, checking for signs of AMS.
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| Day 13 |
Today’s not a long ride by design, we are climbing continually to over 4,500m and the symptoms of AMS may well be showing themselves. We ride slowly and take frequent rest stops, a technique that helps acclimatise Riders on a route that must not be rushed. The engineering masterpiece, the Gata Loops will tire you. 22 testing hairpin bends climbing for over 7kms, carrying you right over the top of the mountain. We stop for lunch at Pang and climb again to the More plains, where we reach our night-stop beside the tranquil Tso Kar lake where Ladakhi nomads graze large flocks.
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Day 14
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The biggest challenge so far on the tour lies ahead. 50kms onwards the second highest motorable pass on earth, Tanglang La 5,360m (over 16,000ft), can be warm and sunny or cold and snowy. The approach road climb seems never ending, all the time your motor gets weaker. On the far side the road is broken. Landslides weaken the higher sections as we drop down through swinging through loops down towards civilisation.
One more tricky river crossing through enormous gorges in red and green rock buttress-like formations and we’re on for lunch at Upshi on the mighty Indus river. With Leh in our sights the road takes us through ancient Buddhist capitals, past Potala-like monasteries and triumphantly into Leh.
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| Day 15 |
It’s a rest day and a day to service the motorcycles. The town is close at hand and a short walk gets you into Leh’s busy markets, shops and restaurants. We explore Leh on foot, go for small group local rides. Visit the beautiful Leh Palace and enjoy sundown at the “Shanty” or Peace Stupa overlooking the Leh Valley. There are often festivals in Leh and it’s easy to see the local dress and customs all around you. It’s so nice here, you’ll be sad to leave! We spend our second night in the same hotel. |
| Day 16 |
Today sees us taking the High-Ride over Khardung La 5,602m. We slip out of Leh and take the steady climb up out of the Leh valley. We’re heading north and first check point is only an hour ahead. All checked through we ride on to reach the pass. Of course take photos! Buy the souvenirs and have a hot cup of tea. The far side is narrow and often broken, we’ll ride down with double caution until the gradient lessens and the marmots come out to play.
Beyond the check point we stop for lunch. We check our bikes at every stage of the tour, our mechanic is with us; his efforts keep your motorcycle running nicely. As we ride down to the Shyok River, slowly the enormous twin valleys of Nubra loom into view. Only at the last minute does the marvellous monastery at Diskit come into view, as ride down into the busy village of Diskit.
Keep an eye out for camels grazing below in the spiky Seabuckthorn scrub on the valley floor. This is the last market and shopping opportunity before our relaxing night-stop in a family run guest house at the end of the road. In a quiet lost world, an oasis of fruit orchards, colourful gardens and crystal clear streams.
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| Day 17 |
Today is a local touring day, for some a walk to the tiny Gumpa on a razor-edged ridge above our guest house. A walk through the lanes and through quiet orchards and a ride past Diskit to the far side of the Nubra valley.
A desert ride, to the hot springs at Panamik. A tour through the maze of passages and hidden rooms of the Diskit Monastery and cup of tea with the Lamas. A huge Buddha statue is being built nearby.
It’s a place where tradition and custom continue to thrive. We ride back to our restful guest house and relax over dinner.
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| Day 18 |
We have to leave the Nubra valley today and we plan to cross the pass by lunchtime. We are heading back through Leh to a small village to the north west of Leh. We take several interesting detours to explore the Zanskar river valley as it meets the Indus river. We’ll ride up to one of the most famous monasteries at a small village called Likir.
It’s our last taste of Buddhism before we reach a new Islam. We visit 1100 year old Buddhist monasteries whose many angry deities have covered faces to prevent their wrath before it’s due. Then we can settle for our night-stop in a beautiful family guest house in Alchi.
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| Day 19 |
Today is a shorter ride, with explorations of hidden monasteries en-route. A shorter riding day gives us time to explore the rich history of the Monastery at Lamayuru.
Also at this time of year the villagers are harvesting crops, and singing echoes across the small valley in time with ancient threshing techniques. We Night Stop in the shadow of Lamayuru monastery.
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| Day 20 |
We double back today for a short section, though it’s a different road and quite spectacular in its content. Not often used by heavy traffic, this high-road reveals magnificent views of the Lamayuru moonscape. We’re back on the Indus river again, following its course north west on a road falling slowly from 3,000m.
This is largely uncharted territory for tourists and will demand exceptional riding skills. We will meet people who are thought to be the last descendents of Alexander’s army who remained in this remote valley.
These people are called Drogpa and their pure Aryan features - Aryan noses and fair skin, combined with their ancient Bon Buddhist customs and beliefs make them amongst Ladakh’s most unusual races.
Many villages and several passes later we arrive at our camp Night Stop near a small village.
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| Day 21 |
On a circular route we head south again back to the Kargil highway. We are heading again from a land of Buddism to a land of Islam. After Namika La at 3,780m we reach the village of Mulbekh marking the last of Ladakh’s Gumpas and the first of many more mosques, each with their own uniquely shaped shiny tin roofs.
Road repairs and road construction works provide a varied day’s riding, sometimes with long sections of new highway, sometimes with grinding bulldozers carving out new lanes.
Riding through desert like features we eventually come down into the green Suro river valley and drop down into Kargil. It’s an old town and one that has faced many hardships from the 1998 war with Pakistan to harsh periods of isolation in winter. There are few gems to find in Kargil, we’ll find them. Our night stop is in a Kargil hotel. |
| Day 22 |
Today sees the start of a long ride south. There are diversions to visit en-route but we will ride most of the day. Over the day we climb towards Rangdum, through small Muslim villages often busy at work in their fields.
The ride takes us through green pastures aside crystal clear rivers, past glaciers, beneath massive rock piles, that are the terminal moraines dumped by centuries of glacial action.
At last we reach Rangdum village and a little further on we reach our night stop and camp in the middle of this wide valley, with the 350yr old Gumpa at Rangdum in the distance. |
| Day 23 |
Our second day heading into the Zanskar valley, takes us first over the pass at Penzi, marked by little more than a rusty sign board and the odd yak herder’s camp.
With 100km still to go we can take our time heading for the remote town of Padum. These are stone roads and the riding calls for skill and patience. Our motorcycles still have to carry us a long way and caring for them is our priority.
After the pass the view of the 14km long Drung Durung glacier heralds our arrival in the Zanskar valley. There are very few villages after the glacier and the ride on to Padum is through simple mud-brick villages our companions hundreds of squeaking Marmots, sometimes lolloping slowly ahead of our bikes running for the cover of their warrens.
Long straight section of stone road until we reach the quiet town of Padum, spread across a green valley floor. Our night stop is in Padum.
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| Day 24 |
After two days of stone roads and bumpy riding, today is a rest day, time to explore on foot or with short local rides to the far side of the Zanskar river to explore ancient Buddhist Gumpas.
Relax in the peace and quiet of Padum with a second night at our Padum guest house.
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| Day 25 |
Today is a day of unknowns, if we make good progress back to rangdum, we can choose to head on and make it back to Kargil. If the going is too hard and we can’t make it comfortably, we stay in Rangdum again, though typically we expect to have our night stop in Rangdum.
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| Day 26 |
This last day out of Zanskar is the hardest and roughest ride between Rangdum and Srinagar. We will ride with care and at a steady pace back to our hotel in Kargil for our last night stop in Ladakh. |
| Day 27 |
It’s an early start for Srinagar. It’s a day of riding along rivers. Until we reach the (second) coldest inhabited place on earth, Dras. It’s on the Line of Control and the military presence is heavy. Signs remind us ‘you are being watched by the enemy!’ After the last checkpost we ride the last section to Zoji La, climbing steadily out of green pastures.
The pass is our last obstacle before Srinagar. With cool heads and alert to the possibility of falling rocks, we gingerly ride the Zoji La Re-Alignment Project. A constant feat of road engineering, and one which many feel is the most daunting of the entire Tour.
We’ll make Sonermarg by lunchtime and mutton curry and rice heralds our arrival in an Alpine like Islam.
The last leg down to Srinagar is quite beautiful; the upper reaches of the route following the dashing waters of the Sind river. It’s a route for stopping and sitting, as we head slowly down to the green fields and silver trees of the Kashmir valley.
At last we arrive amidst the lakes and peaceful lanes of Srinagar’s Hazratbal, whose white marble mosque sits resplendent on the banks of Nageen Lake. Around the corner in a quiet cul-de-sac lie moored our houseboats. Miniature floating palaces, a peaceful rest after our extended Tour.
Time enough to relax and reflect on the wondrous sights and challenges you faced for 3 weeks on the highway.
A hot bath and dinner before our first night stop in Srinagar. |
| Day 28 |
Today is a restful day before your return to Delhi. The birdlife on the lakes is quite simply magnificent and Shikara rides to places of beauty and interest reveal a rich history of Mogul rule and development.
For the early risers there is the floating vegetable market, a chaotic marvel of floating traders. You won’t have to hunt for last minute souvenirs in Srinagar. The Shikara wallas will bring them to your doorstep!
We enjoy a farewell dinner for our last night of the Tour. |
| Day 29 |
Bid farewell to your hosts and your bikes too. And after escorting you to the Srinagar’s recently rebuilt airport, we bid you farewell for your mountain flight back to Delhi and your international connections home. |
