 Tour Essentials | A Royal Enfield Motorcycle Tour of Ladakh, Zanskar and Kashmir riding from the hills to high mountains. 21 days exploring hidden worlds from Ladakh's high altitude plateau, deep into the hidden Zanskar Valley and down into Kashmir's silver Vale. | Location: North India | Duration: 21 days Distance: 2,750kms | Tour Dates: 8th Aug/08 to 29th Aug/08 | WayPoints: - Manali
- Keylong Sarchu
- Leh Nubra
- Lamayuru Kargil
- Rangdum Padum
- Srinagar
| Tour Notes: - This is a guaranteed Departure.
- We leave Delhi @ 8pm. 8/8/8.
- Places remain for 1/2 more Riders.
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A Royal Enfield Motorcycle Tour of Ladakh, Zanskar and Kashmir riding from the plains to high mountains. For 21 days we explore hidden worlds from Ladakh's high altitude plateau, deep into the hidden Zanskar Valley and ultimately down into Kashmir's silver Vale. In Delhi the Tour Leader will meet you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel in central Delhi. Welcome to India Dinner and a chance to chat amongst fellow riders and start the Motorcycle Tour Briefing. The next day we transfer by deluxe sleeper coach, destination Manali, where after a briefing, you take command of your Royal Enfield Bullet followed by a short acclimatisation ride. The next day we begin the Tour with a climb into the Himalayan foothills, destination Keylong. During our motorcycle tour we glimpse the Khampa Nomads on this ancient Silk Road to Tibet. On the Ladakh plateau we find Buddhist Gompas perched on pinnacles and arrive in Leh with its myriad lanes and peaceful oases. We ride further over Khardung La (5,600m) the world’s highest motorable road and down into Nubra's twin valleys. Returning to Leh the next stage of the tour takes us to Kargil, gateway to the Zanskar Valley. Here a single track road takes us south between vast glaciers, furious rivers and dramatic landscapes to the remote Buddhist town of Padum. We rest here and explore the age old Gumpas clinging precariously above the Zanskar River. From Kargil the final stage of the tour brings us down into the alpine-like Sind Valley and down to Kashmir’s silver vale. We relax on Srinagar’s peaceful lakes in houseboats, once upon a time the floating summer cottages of British holiday makers, escaping the scorching heat of the plains. From Srinagar the tour concludes with a spectacular mountain flight back to Delhi. Tour EssentialsLocation: North India. Duration: 21 days. Riding Days: 18. Distance: 2,750kms.
Minimum riders: 3. Maximum riders: 10.
Tour 1: 8 Aug/08 to 29 Aug/08.
Rider Rate: € 2,640. Pillion Rate: € 2,250.
Includes: Bullet ~ Fuel ~ Accommodation ~ Support ~ Domestic Transfers ~ Adventure
Excludes: International Air Tickets ~ Visa ~ Bar / phone Bills ~ InsuranceTour WayPoints Delhi - Manali Arrive Delhi. Transfer to Delhi Hotel for 'wash and brush-up' and Welcome Lunch.
Manali After deluxe sleeper bus transfer from Delhi. Arrive Hill Station Manali 2,050m.
Manali Motorcycle hand-over. Road Safety Briefing. Tour Route Briefing. Short Local Ride.
Keylong 1st Way Point Rhotang La 3,980m. Ride down into the Lahaul Valley - Tandi.
Sarchu Destination Sarchu 4,253m. Check Point: Darcha 3,400m. Baralacha La 4,892m.
Sarchu/Pang* Destination Pang. A short leg across Lachlang La 5,065m. We camp in Pang 4,630m.
Leh Destination Leh. Tanglang La 5,360m. Indus Valley, Shey Palace, Ancient Gumpas.
Leh Rest day. Explore Leh on foot, Local rides, The Leh Palace, Polo, Shanti Stupa.
Nubra The High-Ride over Khardung La 5,602m. Down to Nubra. Lodge in Nubra.
Leh Ride back to Leh and stay in our Leh Hotel.
Lamayuru Explore the lower reaches of the Zanskar River. Buddha in Alchi. Lodge at Lamayuru.
Kargil A town reborn / Silk Road Museum / We stay in Kargil.
Rangdum Ride south to the 350yr old Gumpa at Rangdum. We camp in the valley.
Padum Ride on to Padum over Penzi La and on to Padum. We stay in Padum.
Padum Explore ancient Buddhist Gumpas. Relax in the peace and quiet of Padum.
Rangdom Ride back to Rangdom.
Kargil Ride back to Kargil.
Srinagar The 2nd coldest town on earth / Sind Valley / Srinagar's peaceful houseboats.
Srinagar Shikara tour of the lakes / Hasratbal and City Centre Mosque visit/Relax.
Delhi Mountain flight to Delhi.
Administration Stuff Singles - Singles can opt for a single room for an additional fee of € 50. But generally we put singles of the same gender together sharing a twin room (or a double + single bed room).
Pre – Post Tour - Arrangements can be made for additional days before and after the planned Tour dates including escorted transfer to the scheduled Tour hotel. Additional transfer and hotel room fees will be charged pro-rata.
Tour Notes - The route to Padum is quite a tough (4 day) ride, down and back. It is largely an un-metalled road. Though the rewards of such amazing views en-route down into the Zanskar Valley and the ancient and hidden Buddhist town of Padum, make it a challenging and a wholly rewarding ride. Obviously the risks of breakdown are higher, though with careful/skilled riding the journey can be done without too many breakages. Padum is high on my list “Special Places” in India.
Support - Support is always harder to provide the higher or more remotely one ventures. These rides are adventures in the true spirit of the word. Riders must be physically fit and skilled and experienced motorcyclists. Riding in India requires that you are not only fit, but also have the stamina to tour through such different places and climates. Road conditions sometimes dictate slow, wet, muddy or bumpy riding conditions. Though the good bits make up for the bad bits – by far!
Reality CheckToughness / Climate Rating - This is can be a physically demanding Tour, with some long riding days. It sometimes calls for a degree of mental and physical stamina. Domestic transfers are as comfortable as possible, though delays can be experienced at Srinagar (and Leh) airports due to altitude and prevailing weather conditions. Warm daytime sun, evenings cool to chilly, snow is possible, generally no rain after the Rhotang pass.
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