Mountain Biking In Ladakh
Tour Information
Cross the Himalayas by mountain bike. In 11 days of riding we will cross from the lush green, apple growing region of the Kulu Valley on the South side of the Great Himalayan Range to the high and dry desert mountains of Ladakh on the North side.
The trip starts in New Delhi, India, where we will immediately head north to the small Himalayan town of Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh to begin acclimatizing and where we start our ride. Our route travels along a military road cutting through the Himalayas of North India, over some of the highest passes crossable by road in the world and through some of the most dramatic awe inspiring terrain in any corner of the globe. We will ride through deep gorges, lush valleys and the subtle mountain desert and plains of the Tibetan plateau. We will cross the Rohtang pass (3980m/13,100ft), the Baralacha pass (5065m/16,300ft), the Nakeela and Lachung passes (15,500ft and 16,700ft) , the Tangnang pass(5360m/17,500ft) before reaching the Indus valley and Leh, Ladakh and if one chooses, they can ride to the Khardung La pass (5540m/18,200ft) claimed to be the highest motorable road in the world.
We will be in the saddle for 4 to 6 hours per day and will ride a minimum of 35km/21 miles and a maximum of 73km/44 miles per day over 11 days of biking with one day of total rest for acclimatization along this high altitude route. The trip is entirely supported by a 4wd vehicle and a full team of local staff as well as being guided by an experienced professional mountain guide from the US.
The road is semi-maintained and is very rough in places and other places where it is pavement. Riders can expect the road to be about 45% paved. However this "pavement" can vary from smooth road to potholed nightmare to packed rocks. Road surface conditions can range from muddy to dusty to wet and/or snowy. It is a very good idea to have a shock- absorbing fork for this trip, and as there are no reliable bicycles available in India you must bring your bicycle from home. Everyday holds very dramatic and different terrain. We start by climbing from the relatively lush Kulu Valley over the Beas Kund range and drop into the Lahaul Valley, where the locals have prospered from decades of apple growing. You will notice the terrain starting to become gradually more arid. The next few days of winding mountain roads and steep valleys brings you into the Rupshu Plains – an extension of the Tibetan plateau within Indias borders and home to nomadic shepherds. The moonscape here is vast and awe inspiring. The interesting internplay between the unusual landforms and the local culture can really only truly be absorbed at a human powered pace. The last few days will be traveling through lush cultivated valleys, cut by fantastic rock formations, which drop us into the valley of the fabled Indus River.
After an afternoon of biking along the Indus River we end our journey at 11,500 feet in the magical town of Leh, also known as "Little Lhasa" due to its distinctly Tibetan influence. It is the heart of the region known as Ladakh and has a distinctly Tibetan Buddhist culture, although Ladakhi society is in reality a mosaic of Tibetans, Ladkhis, Zanskaris, Dards, Kashmiris, other diverse cultures from around the region. It is a peaceful, inspiring place to end the journey and a wonderful place to explore. Leh town is a maze of narrow streets where you can find unexpected shops and restaurants down hidden alleys surrounded by beautiful cultivated valleys, light filled willow forests, and fantastic high mountain landscapes. There are many ancient monasteries, temples and palaces to explore, a plethora of tasty local cuisine to try while you rest and recuperate in this high Himalayan Shangri-La.
-
Day 1
Arrival at Delhi
Arrival at Delhi - After immigration and custom formalities you will be met at the airport. Welcome and transfer to hotel.
-
Day 2
Delhi to Manali
Delhi to Manali (morning flight) - Transfer to Domestic Airport. Board flight to Kullu and 45 minute drive to Manali. On arrival in Manali, Check into Hotel. Down time, rest and bike assembly. In the Evening make a visit to Manali town.
-
Day 3
Manali - After breakfast we have a full day of sightseeing visiting Hadimba temple, Manu Temple, Tibetan Monasteries, the Mountaineering Institute, Vashisht Hot Spring and Temple, Nehru Kund, the Solang Valley, Arjun Gufa (cave) and the Rohtang Pass. Optional short acclimatization ride to Jagatsukh village and Naggar castle.
-
Day 4
Begin Biking - Manali to Marhi
Begin Biking - Manali to Marhi (3354m/11,050ft) - 35km/21miles - After breakfast we will slowly start biking up to Marhi along the Beas River on the Leh- Manali road, passing through some settlements, roadside shops, and small chai tea shops.We will slowly start biking uphill on switchback roads to Marhi. En-route we will meet withour support crew for hot lunch. Overnight in camp at altitude 10,890 ft.
-
Day 5
Marhi to Gondhla
Marhi to Gondhla (3160m/10,400ft) via the Rohtang Pass(3980m/13,100ft) - 56km/33miles - After breakfast we will start biking towards the Rothang pass for about 13 kilometres, which is the gateway to the lovely Lahaul valley. The Rohtang sits at 13335ft. Cycling down the switch back roads you will come to the settlement of Koksar and cross the Chandra River which flows down from the Kunzum Pass and finally reach our destination for the day: Gondhla. Overnight in Camp at 10,428ft.
-
Day 6
Gondhla to Jespa
Gondhla to Jespa (3142m/10,350ft) via Keylong village -43km/26miles - After breakfast we will continue biking down hill towards Keylong to the confluence of the Chandra and Bagha Rivers at Tandi. Here both rivers join to form the Chenab River. Crossing the bridge we will bike up to Keylong, the headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti districts. We continue for another 25 kilometres to reach the picturesque village of Jespa. Overnight in Camp at 10,560 ft.
-
Day 7
Rest Day in Jespa - We can spend the day relaxing, acclimatizing and exploring the nearby market in Keylong and shooting out emails from the local internet cafe.
-
Day 8
Jespa to Zingzingbar
Jespa to Zingzingbar (3900m/12,680) - 40km/24miles - After leaving camp you will continue to Darcha the last settlement of Himachal Pradesh state on the Leh-Manali road. From here the road gets steeper and more barren leaving the Juniper trees behind and crosses a small plateau to reach Patseo, a small army base. Continue to Zingzingbar which is at the base of the Baralacha Pas. Overnight in camp at 11,220 ft.
-
Day 9
Zingzingbar to Sarchu
Zingzingbar to Sarchu (4300m/14,200ft) via Baralacha La Pass(4950m/16,300ft) - 45km/27miles - After breakfast we will continue uphill biking to the Baralacha La Pass. On the way you will pass by Suraj Taal, a beautiful tiny lake. On the top of pass we will hang our prayer flags and say the "Kiki Soso Lhargyalo" Prayer (may good triumph over evil), and enjoy the spectacular view of the Himalaya and Zanskar ranges. From here we descend through a gorge to Sarchu. Overnight in camp at 14025ft.
-
Day 10
Sarchu to Whisky Nala
Sarchu to Whisky Nala (3950m/13,000ft) - 60km/36miles - We will cross the check post and enter into the Ladakh part of the Leh-Manali road. We travel across wide open plains with sparse green vegetation, mountain goats and herds of sheep. Overnight camp at Whisky Nala at 13,000ft.
-
Day 11
Whisky Nalah to Paang
Whisky Nalah to Paang (4630m/15,250ft)via Nakeela and Lachungla Passes (4550m/15,030ft & 5065m/16714 ft) - 44km/27miles - This is one of our harder days with a significant climb and a double pass. After breakfast we will start ascending biking towards the Lachung La, the third highest pass on the trip. The day will be longer and the air thinner as we pedal steeply up the "Gata loops" 21 switchbacks with 464m/1500ft of elevation gain over 7 kilometers - to reach the Nakeel pass at 15,030ft and after a short descent, we ascend once more to the Luchung (or Lachalung) pass at 16,714ft.. The scenery and view are ample reward as it gets more spectacular with astounding rock and sand formations all the way to Paang. Paang, is a busy, dusty roadside settlement with many makeshift tented caravan-serai style restaurants set up for the summer season. We will camp just before Paang in a more pristine location at 15,250ft.
-
Day 12
Paang to Tsokar Lake
Paang to Tsokar Lake (4500m/14,800ft) - 55km/33miles - Leaving the camp this morning we will pass the roadside settlement of Paang and the tented "Dhaba" restaurants. After few switchbacks, we will come to the beautiful More (pronounced Mo-ray) Plains. We have mostly flat cycling day after the initial ascent. We will pass through settlements of the Changpa people - nomadic shepherds - and hopefully see herds of Kyang, the Tibetan wild ass. Overnight in camp at 14,800ft.
-
Day 13
Tsokar Lake to Rumtse
Tsokar Lake to Rumtse (3384m/11,150ft) via Tangnang La Pass (5360m/17,490ft) - 73km/44miles - A simple up and down day but a challenging one! We climb for about 20 to reach the Tangnang La (or Tanglang la) pass, the second highest pass on the trip. From the summit of the pass we will enjoy spectacular views of Ladakh, and the Zanskar and Karakoram mountain ranges. We continue downhill from the pass to Miru, a small and beautiful Ladakhi village. Overnight in Camp at Rumtse at 11,150ft.
-
Day 14
Rumtse to Leh via Hemis
Rumtse to Leh via Hemis (3506m/11,500ft) - 51km/31miles - An easy day of biking: to the village of Miru, we will come to a bridge and cross the Indus river and then bike along the Indus for 3 hours to Leh. We will pass through the monastical villages of Thiksey, Shey and other prominent villages, finally arriving to our hotel in Leh. After shower we can visit the market for a stroll, enjoy some well deserved refreshments, and relax in the peaceful surroundings of Leh.
-
Day 15
Indus Valley Explorations and Celebration
Indus Valley Explorations and Celebration. OPTIONAL: ride up Kardung La (5540m/18,250ft) - 60km/36miles - After breakfast we will visit Ladakhs most prominent monasteries of Hemis, Thiksey and Shey or for those who feel like one last challenge we will bike up to the highest motorable pass of our trip, the Khardung La Pass at 18,250ft which crosses over into the fascinating Nubra valley, where the locals raise and ride two-humped Bactrian camels.
-
Day 16
Leh to Delhi flight
Leh to Delhi flight - Early morning flight to Delhi. Sightseeing in Delhi, Chandi Chowk, old Delhi, the National Museum.
-
Day 17
Farewells and Flight Home.
| Place | Hotel |
| Delhi | The Park / Metropolitan / Lebula or Similar |
| Leh | The Kaal / Nobla House / Cho Palace / Silk Route Inn or Similar |
| In Nalagarh | Nalagarh Fort or Similar |
| In Manali | Orchid Green or Similar |