15 Day Great Himalayan Challenge Motorcycle Tour in the Himalayas of India
Guided Motorcycle Tour in India
It's one epic tour for all motorcycle enthusiast from all over the world and would test your endurance, physical as well as mental. This is a 15-day / 14-night motorbike tour with unlimited fun and challenge on bikes crossing several high mountain passes including the world’s top two highest mountain passes. The bike safari involves crossing over high mountain passes providing spectacular views of snow capped peaks, rugged terrain, and traveling through one of the most spectacular and picturesque landscapes in the world. Come prepared for every possible weather imaginable from scorching sunshine to freezing blizzards, even in mid-summers.
Key information
- Terrain: 60% pavement 40% off road
- Bike: Royal Enfield Himalayan or Standard 500 bike rental
- Mileage: 1,576 kilometers / 979 miles
- Daily rides: 85 - 253 kilometers / 53 - 157 miles
- Riding gear: not included: helmets / knee guard / elbow guards / shoes / biking trousers and jackets; mandatory: helmet
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the tour
Highlights
- Starts in Manali and ends in Leh
- Varied colours of Himalayan culture - Kullvi, Kinnauri, Spitian, and Ladakhi
- Ride to Spiti valley which is quite similar to rural Tibet
- Some of highest villages of the world in Spiti valley
- Centuries old monasteries of Tabo, known as Ajanta of Himalayas
- Ride across Trans Himalayan regions across several mountain passes
- Stay in Leh, also known as Little Tibet
- 14 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be on twin sharing basis in a hotels / guests houses / camps / tents.
Program
Itinerary
Day 1: Manali
Arrive at Kullu–Manali Airport, meet on arrival, and transfer to your hotel in Manali. Morning is free. Afternoon you assemble at the hotel for a small briefing about the tour and then you meet your friend – the Royal Enfield Himalayan. Later Himalayan Saga takes you on a test ride to Solang Valley and Atal Rohtang Tunnel which is the longest tunnel in the world at 3,000 m. Ride back to your hotel for a relaxed evening. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Manali / Tirthan (110 km / 68 miles / 3 - 4 hours)
Morning after breakfast you start your motorbike adventure on your Royal Enfield bikes from Manali to Tirthan Valley. Ride from Manali on NH 21 crossing Kullu town and after crossing the tunnel at Aut, you turn to enter Tirthan valley. You ride along Tirthan river entering the valley to your abode by the river bank. Enjoy the gurgling river or ride further deeper into Tirthan valley to explore its scenic views and villages. Overnight at guest house.
Day 3: Tirthan / Sangla (209 km / 130 miles / 8 - 9 hours)
You start your ride in the morning, climbing up and crossing over Jalori Pass from where on a clear day a long necklace of Himalayan Range can be viewed including peaks of Kullu region like Deo Tibba, Hanuman Tibba, etc. You now descend down towards Satluj valley. You ride crossing Rampur and continue riding Satluj valley, entering Kinnaur and taking a detour entering the beautiful Sangla valley from Karcham. After a long and a very interesting ride you halt for the night in a camp / guest house at Sangla.
Day 4: Sangla / Chitkul (90 km / 56 miles) / Kalpa (51 km / 32 miles)
Today you ride to explore the Kinnaur belt, riding to Chitkul the last remote village towards Indo-China border. You then return to Sangla and continue your ride further to Kalpa village. Kalpa village is located in the backdrop of Kinner Kailash mountain range. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of day is free to explore Kalpa village. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5: Kalpa / Nako / Tabo (190 km / 118 miles / 8 hours)
Another day of an interesting ride. It's exciting riding the narrow Satluj valley till Khab where Satluj river meets Spiti river and this points is also the reference where you enter the Spiti valley. You ascend up to Nako village, the last among Kinnauri villages located on the banks of a small lake. You walk around the village and later continue further towards Tabo.
Tabo monastery was founded in 996 AD by the great teacher Richensang-po, Tabo is renowned for its breathtaking murals and stucco images – and is often called “The Ajanta of the Himalayas”. The largest monastic complex in Spiti, the old section has 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monks chamber, and a nuns chamber. There are several caves adorned with frescoes and contemporary structures too. In Trans Himalayan Buddhism, Tabo’s sanctity is next only to Tibet’s Tholing gompa. Overnight at guest house in Tabo.
Day 6: Tabo / Dhankar / Pin Valley / Kaza (105 km / 65 miles / 6 - 7 hours)
Today you ride around Spiti valley, exploring the mesmerizing landscape, varied colors of mountains and remote villages and gompas. You start your ride in morning towards Dhankar village and monastery. This monastery at Dhankar rests high over the valley and is a stupendous example of local architecture. It is regarded to have once been a fort and was also the residence of the ruler of Spiti – the Nano. You ride further towards Pin Valley, the land of ibex and snow leopards. You end the day on reaching Kaza, the main town of Spiti valley. Evening is free to explore Kaza town and make some noise: “ride hard, party hard”. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Kaza
Morning you ride to visit Komic which is among the world’s highest permanently inhabited village and then later visit Hikim boasting of the world’s highest post office and Langza village located in the backdrop of Chao Chao Kang Nilda Peak. Evening is free to explore Kaza town and market. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: Kaza / Chandertal (117 km / 73 miles / 4 - 5 hours)
Morning after breakfast visit the Ki monastery, 12 km from Kaza. This centuries old gompa is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors – and at one time also acted as a fort. It houses valuable thangkas and offers a panoramic view of the area. You continue your ride further to Kibber village at 4,205 m which has now become famous for snow leopard sighting in winter months. You cross Chichim Bridge which is the highest Bridge in Asia.
What a ride is going to be from here onwards, hold your breaths to ride into the Himalayas. Now you ride inside deep into the Himalayas. From Chichim you ride towards Losar which is the last Spiti village and from here start the ascend towards Kunzam Pass (4,558 m) which lies on the main Great Himalayan Range. You get beautiful views of CB ranges and continue further towards Chandertal Lake (the moon lake – 4,270 m) which is of exquisite beauty between a lower ridge and the main Kunzum range, the outlet being into Chandra river. You check into your camp and after a brief rest, start your walk towards the lake which is about an hour away. Enjoy the beauty of lake and after spending sometime, you walk back to your camp for overnight.
Day 9: Chandertal / Chatru / Jispa (116 km / 72 miles / 6 hours)
Morning you start your ride from Chandertal lake for yet another breathtaking day of charming scenic views and exciting rides. You ride through the trans Himalayan region crossing Batal, Chatru entering into Lahaul valley. From Gramphoo you continue through Lahaul valley crossing several village likes Sissu, Gondla, Tandi, Keylong, Gemur to Jispa. You check in at the camp for overnight stay.
Day 10: Jispa / Baralacha Pass / Sarchu (85 km / 53 miles / 3 hours)
Ride on your bikes from Jispa to Sarchu enroute crossing Darcha and over Baralachala Pass (4,800 m). On arrival check in at the camp. Evening is free to walk around in Sarchu. Overnight in camp.
Day 11: Sarchu / Tanglang La Pass / Leh (253 km / 157 miles / 8 hours)
On your bikes ride from Sarchu to Leh crossing over Naki La (4,800 m), Lachang La (5,065 m), and More Plains. After crossing More Plains, climb up to Tanglang La pass (5,328 m) which is the world's second highest motorable pass and continue further to Leh. On arrival in Leh by evening check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Leh
After breakfast ride your Royal Enfield bikes to Nimo to witness the confluence of Zanskar and Indus River. Return to Leh enroute visiting Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, and Spituk Monastery. Evening is free to walk around exploring Leh market or go up to Shanti Stupa to have a glimpse of the setting sun and Leh town. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: Leh / Nubra via Khardung La (130 km / 81 miles / 6 - 7 hours)
Today after breakfast at your hotel ride to Nubra valley via Khardung La pass (5,600 m), which once used to be the highest motorable pass in the world and has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Later drive to Nubra valley, take photos enroute. The natural home of double hump Bactrian camel and the famous old silk route, enjoy a small camel ride at the sand dunes. On arrival check in at camp. Evening explore Hunder village and enjoy a short Bactrian camp ride. Overnight stay at the camp in Hunder.
Day 14: Nubra / Leh (120 km / 75 miles / 5 - 6 hours)
Today after breakfast you ride back to Leh scaling the Khardung La once again. You end your motorcycle adventure on reaching Leh for a relaxed afternoon. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15: Leh
In time transfer to Leh airport to connect flight to Delhi. End of tour.
Skill levels
Intermediate:
- can ride for 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Advanced:
- can ride for 5-6 hours
- extensive riding experience
- assistance on demand (if required)
- experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
Location
The motorcycle tour starts from Manali which has an alpine feel, into Kinnaur valley which is a mixture of Hindu and Buddhist cultures, riding into Buddhist dominant region of Spiti which is very similar to rural Tibet and then riding across several mountains entering Ladakh finally conquering Khardung La.
Kullu valley
- Visit 500 years old Naggar Castle
- Visit Sir Nicolas Roerich Art Gallery
Places covered
- Manali
- Tirthan Valley
- Jalori Pass
- Sangla Valley
- Kalpa
- Nako
- Tabo
- Kaza
- Ki Monastery
- Kibber Village
- Chandertal Lake
- Keylong
- Jispa
- Darcha
- Baralacha La
- Naki La
- Lachlung La
- Tanglang La
- Leh
- Spituk
- Nimu
- Khardung La
- Nubra Valley
Highest altitude gained
- Khardung La: 5,600 m
Food
Breakfast and dinner during the tour are included. During rides we stop at a local dhaba / restaurant where you would be served a simple lunch.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- Transfers to/from airport and hotel
- 14 nights accommodation on twin sharing basis in A category hotels / guests houses / camps / tents
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the tour (during ride in remote areas Lunch can be at a local dhaba / restaurant / packed box)
- Royal Enfield Himalayan or Standard 500
- All Fuel for the ride
- English speaking guide
- First Aid Box and Oxygen on high altitude adventures
- Mechanics with all necessary spare parts
- Support vehicles to carry your luggage, spare, extra fuel
- Bottled mineral water throughout the adventure
- Tea / chai and snacks en-route
- Permits & environment fees for restricted areas
- All entrance fees to places of visit
What's not included
- Any flight international or domestic
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Alcoholic drinks
- Anything not mentioned in above price include column
- Refundable security / damage deposit of 20,000 INR per rider
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Bhuntar Airport (Kullu Manali Airport)
40 km
Transfer included
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.