Name: 14 Day Not So Fast Ladakh: A Mindful Ladakh Guided Motorcycle Tour From Manali in India
Brand: Mountaineerz
Price: 2700 USD
Availability: InStock

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

09:00

Check-out Time:

16:00

Your accommodation during this tour will be a luxury three-star cottage in Manali, three-star hotel in Leh, campsites in Swiss tents, and experiential homestays.

Program

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Manali - test ride

Arrive in Manali, then Mountaineerz's support staff will meet you at the bus stop and drive you to Mountaineerz's base. After refreshments, debriefing, and the required paperwork, bikes will be allocated to you. Get used to your bikes while you go for a ride to Old Manali for an early dinner. Ride back to the base for a good night's sleep. Any last minute shopping can be done while in Manali.

Day 2: Manali - Sarchu over Rohtang Pass - Tandi - Jispa - Bara-lacha la (4,890 meters), Nakee La, Lachulung La - Deepak Tal - Suraj Tal, 226 kilometers / 140 miles (8 hours) - challenging ride over Rohtang Pass in traffic and mist and then some wicked roads

You start your journey from Manali at 09:00 to Leh stopping in Sarchu for the first night. Today, you cross Rohtang La (3,978 meters), (la means pass). The Rohtang La is the gateway to Lahaul. The valley of Lahaul is situated to the south of Ladakh. For this very reason, this place derived its name "lho-yul" meaning "southern country".

The ride on the first 60 odd kilometers will be to the top of Rohtang La. Lahaul abounds with monasteries or gompas, the homes of Lamas (Buddhist monks); therefore, Lahaul is often referred to as "The Land of the Lamas". The mountains rise to a mean elevation of 18,000 feet, with the highest peak touching over 21,000 feet and the lowest touching 9,000 feet where Chenab River enters Chamba. Numerous lateral spurs shoot off from the main mountains filling all the valleys with glaciers. It is this feature which made Andrew Wilson, a European traveler (1873), call Lahaul "a valley of glaciers".

The whole Lahaul and Spiti district is a cold desert whose bare rocks and steep slopes stare the visitors in the face. The rivers of Chandra and Bhaga, which constitute the Chandrabhaga / Chenab River after their confluence in Tandi, are the major features on the geomorphology of this region.

Tandi: The village is situated above the confluence of the rivers of Chandra and Bhaga in the Pattan Valley, some 7 kilometers away from Keylong. Revenue and settlement records reveal that Tandi was founded by Raja Rana Chand Ram under the name of Chandi which over the years got corrupted into Tandi.

There are at least three mythological stories connected with Tandi. First, Tandi is believed to mean Tan Delhi, i.e. giving up of the body. This is associated with Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, who left her body at this place. Second, this is believed that Rishi Vasishtha, who meditated near the hot water springs of Manali, was cremated at this confluence; hence named Tandi, i.e. body consumed. According to the third, Chandra and Bhaga were son and daughter of the Moon and the Sun Gods respectively. They were in love with each other. To perform their celestial marriage, they decided to climb the Bara-lacha la and from there, run in opposite directions encircling a vast tract of Lahaul. Thus flowing southeast and southwest both met at Tandi to enter the wedlock. In Tandi, top up your fuel tanks.

Keylong: Keylong is the last place where your mobile phone will work before you reach Leh and also the last place where you can hope to find a mechanic. In case you are having some problems with your vehicle, get it checked as soon as possible.

Jispa: This beautiful spot is 22 kilometers away from Keylong and 4 kilometers ahead of Ghemur. From Keylong, roads are in somewhat better condition and only get smoother as you approach Jispa and eventually Darcha. Once at Darcha, take a break and tank up on supplies and get yourself registered at the check post in Darcha. The village is situated at the junction of two nullahs with the main Bhaga River. Jispa has a very large dry river bed, a rarity in Lahaul. Good Juniper plantation is around this village.

Day 3: Sarchu - Moore plains - Tanglang La - Karu - Hemis - Leh, 154 kilometers / 96 miles (7 or 8 hours) - challenging 70 kilometers to Pang then some mindblowing riding on the Moore plains on awesome roads after Pang

Today, you cross Bara-lacha la (4,890 meters). Before Bara-lacha la, you will stop briefly for a photography session at Lake Deeptaal and the magnificent Suraj Tal Lake. Roads are mostly in a bad shape and as the altitude increases, you might start noticing the first effects of acute mountain sickness. It is advisable to take it easy and don't over stress yourself, especially at the summit of Bara-lacha la, 16,500 feet.

From Bara-lacha la, it is again a downhill but a rough ride until Bharatpur, after which the road condition starts improving gradually as you approach Sarchu. Sarchu, at an altitude of 14,000 feet, is a collection of tents and a militarily base. Even though it is quite a windy place and high in altitude, it is the preferred night stop for most travelers. You will need to register at the check post in Sarchu before proceeding further.

Roads from Sarchu until the start of Gata Loops are not too bad. Gata Loops are a collection of 21-hairpin bends that take you to an altitude of 15,302 feet. Roads in the loops are in not so good condition and the slow-moving trucks leaving a cloud of thick smoke make the ascent feel tougher than it actually is. Next up is the third pass on the Manali-Leh route, Nakee La (4,750 meters or 15,547 feet), while few kilometers up the road is Lachulung La (5,059 meters or 16,616 feet).

The descent from Lachulung La will take you to Pang which is a temporary tent settlement and has a check post where travelers need to register themselves. The road from Pang to Leh is excellent and will take you over a plateau (42-kilometer long), Skyangchu Thang (the biggest and highest plateau on earth), also called the Moore plains.

Day 4: Leh - rest day and spectacular sightseeing in and around Leh - roads maintained by Border Roads Organisation in excellent condition

It is a day for some rest and checkup of the vehicles and some sightseeing.

Come early afternoon, you'll drive to the 17th-century Leh fort, the most famous landmark in town. From the fort, there's a short trail up to Tsemo Palace; the light walking can help you acclimatize, but Mountaineerz will gladly whisk you to the top by car if you prefer. At the top is a big reward: sweeping 360-degree views of Leh, the valley, and its surrounding mountains, which includes the well-known more than 6,000-meter Stok Kangri peak, towering in the distance at a height of 6,137 meters.

You head to another Leh's great panorama point, the Shanti Stupa, late in the afternoon. The view from here is quite different to the one from Leh Palace; you get a sense of the huge mountain spaces and the illuminated town in the late 'blue' evening light makes for compelling images. Especially in the night when the stupa is lit, the view is spectacular.

Thiksey, 40-minute drive from Leh (especially in the right light) is simply spectacular. Tier upon tier of buildings rises on a crag above the Indus River, white fronts bouncing the prevailing light back at you against the deep Ladakh sky. You wander next through the monastery complex, the photo opportunities coming thick and fast. (Do you know those iconic National Geographic-style Tibetan / Ladakhi / Buddhist shots that got you all fired up about coming here in the first place? They probably came right out of this same monastery.)

You tear yourselves away to go a few minutes north to Shey, a palace and a monastery that also tumbles splendidly down a hillock. Once the home of royalty - the Namgyal kings were required to father their sons here - it now houses the largest metal statue of Buddha in Ladakh. It is 7.5-meter high, built from Zanskar copper hammered out into sheets on a nearby rock and gilded with five kilograms of solid gold.

There is Hemis Gompa, the largest monastic foundation of Drukpa Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism and Stok Palace and Sindhu Ghat. Overnight in Leh.

Day 5: Leh - Diskit - Turtuk, 205 kilometers / 127 miles (6 to 7 hours) - easy riding over mostly good roads

Turtuk is a village, 205 kilometers from Leh on the banks of Shyok River. Turtuk gram panchayat is the northernmost village of India. Turtuk was under Pakistan's control until 1971, but later, India got control of this strategic area. Predominantly a Muslim village, residents speak Baltistani, Urdu, and Ladakhi language. Turtuk is the last outpost in India from where the Pakistan-controlled northern areas begin.

Turtuk is one of the gateways to the Siachen Glacier. Diskit Monastery, also known as Deskit Gompa or Diskit Gompa, is the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery (gompa) in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, northern India. It belongs to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong Khapa, founder of Gelugpa, in the 14th century. It is a sub-gompa of the Thikse Monastery.

Lachung Temple and Hundar Monastery are also located nearby; the latter is below the main road near a bridge. The monastery has a statue of Maitreya Buddha in the prayer hall, a huge drum, and several images of fierce guardian deities. An elevated cupola of the monastery depicts a fresco of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery of Tibet.

The village of Turtuk which was unseen by tourists until 2010 is a virgin destination for people who seek peace and an interaction with a tribal community of Ladakh. The village is stuffed with apricot trees and children. The local tribe, Balti, follow its age-old customs in their lifestyle and speak a language which is just spoken and not written. For tourists, Turtuk offers serene camping sites with environment-friendly infrastructure. Enjoy the scenic drive. Stay in a homestay or camp.

Day 6: Turtuk - Hundar - Warshi - Panamik, 235 kilometers / 146 miles (8 hours) - a beautiful ride along Shyok River on good roads

Today, you ride 105 kilometers to Warshi and then ride a U-turn to the other bank of Shyok River to Panamik. Nubra is a tri-armed valley located to the northeast of Ladakh valley. Diskit, the capital of Nubra, is about 150 kilometers north from Leh town, the capital of Ladakh district, India. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra (the valley of flowers).

The Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and Karakoram ranges. The Shyok River is a tributary of the Indus River. The average altitude of the valley is about 10,000 feet, i.e. 3,048 meters above the sea level. The common way to access this valley is to travel over the Khardung La pass from Leh town.

On the Shyok (pronounced Shayok) River, the main village, Diskit, is home to the dramatically positioned Diskit Monastery which is built in 1420 AD. Hundar was the capital of the erstwhile Nubra kingdom in the 17th century and is home to the Chamba Gompa. Between Hundar and Diskit, there lies several kilometers of sand dunes and (two-humped) Bactrian camels graze in the neighboring "forests" of seabuckthorn. Non-locals are not allowed below Hundar village into the Balti area, as it is a border area.

The beautiful village of Baigdandu is also located in that area. There is a marked presence of people with startling blue eyes, auburn hair, and rosy cheeks as against the typical mongoloid features of the Ladakhis. Local lore has it that they were a Greek tribe who came in search of Jesus Christ's tomb and eventually settled here. Baigdandu is also known for the goats that give you the famous Pashmina shawls.

Ride along the banks of the Shyok River, where a bit of patience, a touch of luck, and a long telephoto might capture you red fox, partridge, hare, weasel, and migratory ducks resting in river pools. There is much to pleasurably distract you here; if the light is good, you'll be asking to stop every mile or so to capture an amazing atmospheric river valley landscape, a field of shockingly vivid lavender or yellow barley.

Day 7: Panamik - Shyok - Durbuk - Tangste - Lukung - Spangmik (Pangong Tso), 187 kilometers / 116 miles (6 hours) - Easy riding mixed with really demanding stuff on Shyok River road, challenging ride over Wari La

Pangong Tso, Tibetan for "long, narrow, enchanted lake", also referred to as Pangong Tso, is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 meters (14,270 feet). It is 134-kilometer long and extends from India to Tibet. Approximately 60% of the length of the lake lies in Tibet. The lake is 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) wide at its broadest point.

Altogether, it covers 604 kilometers. During winter, the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. It is not part of Indus River basin area and geographically a separate landlocked river basin. The brackish water of the lake has very low micro-vegetation. Guides report that there are no fish or other aquatic life in the lake, except for some small crustaceans. On the other hand, visitors see numerous ducks and gulls over and on the lake surface.

There are some species of scrub and perennial herbs that grow in the marshes around the lake. The lake acts as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migratory birds. During summer, the bar-headed goose and Brahminy ducks are commonly seen here. The region around the lake supports a number of species of wildlife including the kiang and the marmot.

Formerly, Pangong Tso had an outlet to Shyok River, a tributary of Indus River, but it was closed off due to natural damming. Two streams feed the lake from the Indian side, forming marshes and wetlands at the edges. Strandlines above current lake level reveal a 5-meter (16-foot) thick layer of mud and laminated sand, suggesting the lake has shrunken recently in geological scale. Camp at an awesome location by the lake.

Day 8: Pangong Tso - Leh (160 km / 99 mi / 4-5 hours)

After a hearty breakfast, you leave behind the emerald blue waters of Pangong to ride over the 3rd highest motorable pass, Chang La at 5360 meters. It would be a slightly relaxed ride today. Once over Chang La, most of the ride is downhill. This is going to be one exciting ride that you’ll remember forever.

Stay: Nice homestay / guesthouse on triple sharing
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 9: Leh

Today will be spent exploring Leh.

Day 10: Leh - Tso Moriri (210 km / 130 mi / 7 - 8 hours)

Start from Leh in the morning on bikes. Located at an altitude of 15,075 ft / 4594.86 m, Tso Moriri is the largest of the high altitude lakes in the Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region – Tso Moriri is a hidden gem in the region and not very touristy yet – enjoy the view from deluxe tents – overnight stay at Tso Moriri.

Stay: Nice homestay or private camping on triple sharing
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 11: Tso Moriri - hike / ride to Kiangdom

On this day, you will explore Karzok village, meet the locals and spend some time to reflect and introspect today.

Day 12: Tso Moriri - Tsokar Tso - Sarchu (220 km / 137 mi / 8 - 9 hours)

After breakfast, start your ride to Sarchu via another beautiful lake and village of Tsokar. Reach Sarchu by evening and check-in to your camps. Overnight stay at Sarchu.

Stay: Camping or tented accomodation provided by the locals
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 13: Sarchu - Manali (225 km / 140 mi / 8 - 9 hours)

In the morning, leave for Manali. On the way, visit Suraj Taal and Deepak Taal, two breath-taking lakes in the Lahaul Region – Reach Manali by evening.

Stay: Comfortable rooms at ‘da base’ on triple sharing
Meals: Refreshments, breakfast, and dinner

Day 14: Departure

After a leisurely breakfast, participants can choose to explore Manali or go for paragliding or try the highest zip-line in the country. Those who just want to relax after the long exciting trip can choose to spend the day by the river.

Meals: Breakfast

Bike Rental Deposit

Mountaineerz requires a bike rental deposit of 10,000 INR. This will be refundable at the end of the tour.

Skill level

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

Instructors

Parminder Sandhu

An explorer by instinct, a rider by reflex, a mountaineer by passion, and a humble and true leader by nature, Parminder has chosen Himalaya to be his home. Parminder is humble enough, not to mention the numerous map making and theme-based photography tours and road trips he has facilitated and many successful off-beat and alternate route expeditions he has led to Zanskar, Leh, Ladakh, and Lahaul-Spiti. Having facilitated over 40 truly off-beat expeditions and road trips, it would only be fair to say that he knows what he is talking about when it comes to the Western Himalaya, especially Ladakh and Spiti.

Location

This tour will take place in India including Manali, Keylong, Sarchu, Leh, Diskit, Hundar, Turtuk, Panamik, Pangong Tso, Hanle, Karzok, and Tso Kar.

High-altitude mountain passes:

5,615 meters Khardung La
5,390 meters Tanglang La - the second highest
5,360 meters Chang La - the third highest
5,307 meters Salsal La
5,300 meters Wari La
5,050 meters Namshang La
5,019 meters Lachung La
5,000 meters Polokang La
4,900 meters Namshing La
4,908 meters Kanglajal La
4,890 meters Baralacha La
4,740 meters Naki La
4,635 meters Tsaga La
4,400 meters Rezang La
3,978 meters Rohtang La

High-altitude mountain lakes:

Pangong Tso Lake (4,350 meters)
Tso Moriri Lake (4,595 meters)
Tso Kar Lake (4,620 meters)
Thatsangkaru Lake (4,500 meters)
Surajtaal (4,883 meters)
Deepaktaal (4,000 meters)

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Features

Activities

Mountain biking

Food

Freshly cooked high nutrition vegetarian meals will be served on the trip. You have the choice of ordering non-vegetarian food from dhabas, wherever available. Tea or coffee, soups, and snacks will be served. The non-vegetarian meal can be served at the campsite or dA Base.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Drinks

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Biking
Brilliant photography opportunity
Opportunity to live the way the natives do
Paragliding
Rafting

What's included

Royal Enfield 500 cc or 'Himalayan'
Experienced and professional trip leaders and guides
Mechanic and trip leader on bike
High-clearance 4x4 backup vehicle
All permits and entry fees including museums, monasteries, etc.
Emergency first aid
Guaranteed Himalayan adventure
Travel in luxury Volvo bus from Delhi to Manali and Manali to Delhi
Pickup and drop-off to the bus stand in Manali
13 nights' accommodation
All meals

What's not included

Camera fees in museums, monasteries etc
Meals at restaurants or dhabas
Any personal riding gear
Insurance of any form (personal / baggage / medical) (please let us know if you'd like us to arrange this)
Cost of any form of insurance (personal / baggage / medical)
Cost of rescue, evacuation, hospitalization, etc.
Any expenses of personal nature like laundry, tips to drivers, guides, any beverages
Any expenses that arise due to change in itinerary and decrrase/increase in the number of days because of natural forces like landslides, weather, roadblocks, flight cancellations, sickness, etc.
Cost of any optional activity offered like paragliding, angling, rafting, etc.
5% Goods and Services Tax

How to get there

Recommended Airports

KUU

Bhuntar Airport (Kullu Manali Airport)

40 km

Transfer not provided

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Kullu-Manali Airport (KUU).

Mountaineerz can offer airport pick up/ drop off at an additional cost of 3,500 INR per way.

Arrival by bus

Direct buses ply daily from Delhi / Chandigarh to Manali. Cabs are also available. Mountaineerz will make arrangements for participants travel in luxury Volvo bus departing from Maharana Pratap Inter State Bus Terminus between 19:00 and 21:00. In Manali, Mountaineerz will meet you at the bus stand.

Arrival by train

You can come to Kalka Railway Station (KLK), but you may not get the comfortable Volvo buses.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 30% 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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