14 Day Himalayan Cycling Adventure in India
India Cycling Tour
A challenging and extremely rewarding journey by bike, crossing six passes including the world’s highest, Khardung La. This carefully planned itinerary combines spectacular scenery, a great variety of landscapes, and rich cultural interest to give a fabulous experience of India’s beautiful Himalayan region.
Key information
- Trip type: Guided
- Lodging: Point to Point
- Starts in: Delhi
- Ends in: Leh
- Total Distance: 383 Miles / 616 Kilometers
- 5 - 15 participants
Highlights
- 11 days of riding
- Experience the ultimate adventure of cycling through India’s most magnificent landscapes
- Cross six passes including Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes
- Visit beautiful Tsokar Lake
- Discover the Tibetan culture of Ladakh
- 13 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Supporting vehicles with luggage transfer
Skill level
- Advanced
Accommodation
Accommodations will be included at all locations. You will stay five nights in hotels and eight nights in tents. Most of the accommodations are of similar category, locally owned hotels and safari tents.
Program
Experience the ultimate adventure of cycling through India’s most magnificent landscapes. Cross six passes including Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes. Visit beautiful Tsokar Lake. Discover the Tibetan culture of Ladakh.
- Difficulty level: Challenging
- Highest point: Khardung La, 5,602 meters / 18,380 feet
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Arrive at Delhi by international flight. A KVT representative will meet you at the airport and assist you in the vehicle. Later transfer to hotel. The rest of the time is free to relax at the hotel or do independent activities. Optional half-day Delhi sightseeing can be arranged at an additional cost.
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2: Train to Chandigarh and drive to Manali
Early morning transfer to New Delhi railway station for train Shatabdi Express to Chandigarh. Upon arrival, you will drive through the winding Himalayan roads to Manali (six and a half to seven and a half hours drive). Reach Manali and check in to the hotel. Note that it is advisable to arrive a day earlier, which will help in better acclimatization.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 3: Manali, acclimatization ride
After an early breakfast, you check your bikes for last-minute adjustments, followed by a briefing session by the tour leader. You then take a short acclimatization ride around the town on your cycles to get accustomed to the bikes. You will ride to Solang Valley and return which will help you in getting a feel of the climb and have some practice of riding on mountainous road. This will help you in dealing with the tough days ahead.
- Distance: 30 kilometers / 19 miles
- Riding time: 3.5 - 4.5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4: Ride to Marhi (3,360 meters / 11,024 feet)
Today, you will get ready for the exciting cycle ride towards Marhi - a shanty town of roadside restaurants, located midway between Manali and Rohtang La on the Manali-Leh Highway. Your ride ascends as you cycle through cedar and pine forests, climbing quite several hairpin bends and passing by a beautiful waterfall. One can never tire of riding because the surrounding view will keep encouraging the rider. Later, you reach Marhi and stay overnight in the tents.
- Distance: 38 kilometers / 24 miles
- Elevation: 3,360 meters / 11,024 feet
- Riding time: 4 - 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 5: Ride to Sissu (3,120 meters / 10,237 feet) en route crossing Rohtang La
In the morning, you will cycle towards the mighty Rohtang La (3,979 meters / 13,055 feet). The road ahead is very challenging and at some point, you may not be able to cycle. You start a steep uphill ride through a zigzag road leading you to the pass. The road will be muddy in some sections. It will be a great achievement as you will reach your first high motorable pass of the journey.
From the pass, the ride will be a downhill zigzag road that leads you to Kokhsar. You are now in Lahaul Valley and the landscape is different here. You continue cycling following the road along the Chandra River towards your next campsite of Sissu. Here, you ride towards your campsite where you camp for the night.
- Distance: 54 kilometers / 34 miles
- Elevation: 3,120 - 3,979 meters / 10,237 - 13,055 feet
- Riding time: 6 - 7 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 6: Ride to Jispa (3,360 meters / 11,024 feet)
In the morning after breakfast, you will start your ride towards Tandi Bridge following the road along the Chandra River. It is here where the Chandra River merges with the Bhaga River to form the Chenab River which flows into Kashmir. You continue with your cycling towards Jispa. The ride is surrounded by an amazing view of the valley. The mountains rise high above you as you ride further. On the way, you will be crossing a few nallahs (streams). The road now is quite good for cycling. Later, you reach Jispa and camp for the night.
- Distance: 54 kilometers / 34 miles
- Elevation: 3,360 meters / 11,024 feet
- Riding time: 6 - 7 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 7: Cycle to Patseo (3,810 meters / 12,500 feet)
Today, you will ride towards your next stopover Patseo. The day starts with an easy cycle to Darcha, a small village located on the banks of the Bhaga River. From here, you cross the river and ride a steep zigzag road which will lead you closer to Deepak Tal. You cycle further to reach your next campsite Patseo.
- Distance: 25 kilometers / 16 miles
- Elevation: 3,810 meters / 12,500 feet
- Riding time: 4 - 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 8: Cycle to Sarchu (4,290 meters / 14,075 feet) en route crossing Baralacha La
After an early breakfast, you start cycling upwards to Baralacha La (4,892 meters / 16,050 feet). The ride is challenging today as you ride a steep uphill road that leads you to the high mountain pass on the Manali-Leh highway. On the way, there is a beautiful lake Suraj Tal which is the source of the Bhaga River.
After crossing Suraj Tal, you continue ascending and from here the pass is not far; so the effort is worth it as the views become breathtaking. Finally, you reach the top of Baralacha La which connects Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar, and Lahaul. After crossing the pass, the ride is all downhill to Bharatpur and further up to your campsite at Sarchu.
- Distance: 58 kilometers / 36 miles
- Elevation: 4,290 - 4,892 meters / 14,075 - 16,050 feet
- Riding time: 6 - 7 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 9: Cycle to Pang (4,600 meters / 15,092 feet) en route crossing Naki La and Lachulung La
This is a very challenging and hardest day for cycling because you will be crossing the two highest mountain passes. Before that, you will also be riding uphill through the Gata Loops - the 21 hairpin bends on the Manali-Leh highway. You start with easy cycling for a few kilometers crossing Brandy Nala.
After that, you will start a steep uphill cycle through Gata Loops and continue with the ride to Naki La (4739 meters / 15,548 feet). After the pass, it will be a downhill ride to Whiskey Nala. After some rest, you will again start ascending towards another pass that is Lachulung La (5065 meters / 16,618 feet) and then descend on the rough road to reach your next campsite Pang.
- Distance: 75 kilometers / 47 miles
- Elevation: 4,600 - 5065 meters / 15,092 - 16,618 feet
- Riding time: 9 - 10 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 10: Cycle to Tsokar Lake (4530 meters / 14,863 feet) via Morey plains
Today, you start with a quick and gradual ascending cycle to reach Morey plains, a vast stretch of plain land at an average elevation of 4800 meters and has some of the most amazing landscapes, accompanied by beautiful mountains and rock formations on both sides. After completing around 35 kilometers of stretch, you head towards Tsokar Lake - situated in Rupshu Valley, it is also known as 'White Lake' because of the salt deposits all over its shores. Later, you reach Tsokar Lake where you camp for the night. One can explore around the lake and also get an opportunity to watch different species of birds and the Kiang, Tibetan wild ass.
- Distance: 65 kilometers / 41 miles
- Elevation: 4,530 meters / 14,863 feet
- Riding time: 7 - 8 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 11: Cycle to Lato (4,040 meters / 12,255 feet) en route crossing Taglang La
This morning, you start cycling towards the next high mountain pass Taglang La (5,328 meters / 17,481 feet). The ride is quite challenging as the condition of the road is not good and mostly a gravel path. After ascending for some stretch negotiating strong wind, you will reach the Taglang La and will be blessed with a spectacular view of the surrounding snow-capped peaks. After some rest, you will continue cycling through a zigzag downhill road and will be crossing Rumtse and Gya villages on the way as you head towards your next campsite Lato.
- Distance: 72 kilometers / 45 miles
- Elevation: 4,040 - 5,328 meters / 12,255 - 17,481 feet
- Riding time: 9 - 10 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation: Camp
Day 12: Cycle towards Leh (3,500 meters / 11,483 feet)
Morning after breakfast, you start your cycling to Leh. After crossing Upshi, you will enter the Indus Valley and be joined by the Indus River as you ride alongside it. On the way, you visit Thiksey Monastery which is located on top of the hill and resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Tibet). After that, you cycle towards Shey Palace - a monastery known for its giant copper with a gilded gold statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha. Later, you continue riding to Leh and upon arrival, you will check in to the hotel.
- Distance: 65 kilometers / 41 miles
- Elevation: 3,500 meters / 11,483 feet
- Riding time: 7 - 8 hours
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 13: Cycle to Khardung La (5,602 meters / 18,380 feet), return to Leh
Today, the ride will be challenging as you cycle all the way uphill toward one of the world’s highest motor-able passes Khardung La. The road is smooth till South Pullu and then it will be a rough bumpy road till the pass. After reaching Khardung La, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the valley and snowcapped peaks of the Zanskar range. After spending some time, you will ride back the entire way downhill to Leh.
- Distance: 80 kilometers / 50 miles
- Elevation: 5,602 meters / 18,380 feet
- Riding time: 9 - 10 hours
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 14: Depart Leh
In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, connect the international flight back to your home country.
Location
The tour will take place in India. The route will be Delhi - Manali - Sissu - Jispa - Patseo - Sarchu - Pang - Tsokar Lake - Lato - Leh - Khardung La.
Food
You will enjoy daily breakfast at standard-category hotels in Delhi, Manali, and Leh, all meals from day 3 till day 11 (starting from lunch on day 3 to lunch on day 11), and packaged drinking water in the vehicle included in the price. Other lunches and dinners as well as alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks are at your own expense.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- Cycling tour
- 13 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast at standard category hotels in Delhi, Manali, and Leh
- All meals on days 3 to 11
- Packaged drinking water available in the vehicle throughout the day
- All entrance and permit charges
- Bicycle-hire charges (1 person per cycle) for 11 days
- Services of a mechanic throughout the tour for 11 days
- English-speaking company cycling leaders throughout the trip, including his wages, traveling expenses, and meals
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle till Manali and non-air-conditioned vehicle in Leh with a driver as per the itinerary
- 1 accompanying camping vehicle to carry camping materials and supporting staff
- 1 supporting vehicle for 11 cycling days to accompany the group
What's not included
- Applicable 5% GST
- Any transfers outside the itinerary
- Any domestic flight or train tickets
- Tips for local staff and guides
- Any meals and alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, except those mentioned above
- Expenses of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, alcohol, cigarettes, insurance, camera fee, etc.)
- Travel insurance covering emergency evacuations due to sickness, natural disaster, or any other health problems
- Unforeseen expenses that demand a change in itinerary like natural forces, changes in weather, road blockages, flight or train cancellations, and illness
- Anything else not included
- Your water bottle
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Indira Gandhi International Airport
11 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.
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