The Trans-Himalayan : the ultimate Himalayan motorcycle adventure

You will have an early morning arrival in Manali, but then you will have most of the day to explore or relax. Then, finally…you get to ride! We will get warmed up for this Leh Ladakh bike trip with a 60 kilometre ride through the Kullu Valley. This will include a visit to the Manali fort and temple, both of which were built in the 10th century! On our way back to town we will pass through several rustic villages, and have plenty of gorgeous views. Then it will be time for a good night’s rest back at your hotel. The Kullu Valley is rich with history, and was formerly known as “Kulanthapitha,” which translates to “the end of the livable world.” It was believed that deities lived amongst the mortals here, and it is renowned for its gardens, orchids, and natural beauty. Even the hashish grown here is famous. Today, the Kullu Valley is known as the “Land of the Gods,” as the valley is dotted with numerous temples.  

Today is the day we begin the greatest of Himalayan motorcycle tours! Yesterday was only a small taste of what is to come; today you will begin to experience the sensation of the twists and turns of the mountain roads in this beautiful landscape. We will begin the 170 kilometres journey as we ascend the Kullu Valley on endless switchbacks. Eventually we will reach Rohtang La, the mountain pass with an elevation of 3980 metres, where we leave the Indian subcontinent behind and enter the divine Buddhist world. From Rohtang La we will travel down a spectacular slope to Lahaul, a unique crossroads of Buddhism and Hinduism. Finally, we will cross the Pattan Valley before reaching the impressive Chandra Valley. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the Triloknath temples, before bedding down for the night at a guest house.  

Today will be a shorter journey, with more sightseeing opportunities. This stretch of our Leh Ladakh road trip winds along an impressive gorge before flowing into the Indus Valley. We will follow the Indus for about 50 kilometres and finally reach Leh, the capital of Ladakh. On the way, we will visit the famous Hemis monastery, which is the largest monastery of Ladakh, and Tiksi. It is built on top of a rocky peak overlooking the village. Finally, we’ll spend the afternoon in Leh, and lodge in a guest house for the evening. Dominated by the majestic royal palace, Leh was a rich commercial centre. Traders with their caravans from Tibet and central Asia stopped there, before continuing their journey to Kashmir. The bazaar in the old district is abuzz with beautiful women with rosy, high cheekbones dressed in black robes, tied at the waist with bright pastel belts, old gentry with wrinkled skin like withered apples, lovely children, farmers from the Nubra valley, Tibetan and Kashmiri traders, and even monks from Zanskar. It truly is a lively and colourful world.  

Another short ride awaits us today, but it will not be easy, nor quick! We will ascend to the Khardung La pass on another labyrinthine route. The Khardung La is the highest motorable pass of the world at 5600 metres! From here, the panorama of the Zanskar range to the south, and the great Karakoram range to the north, is absolutely magical. Then we’ll retrace our routes to go back to Leh. The day is not over yet though, we’ll embark on a journey for the true and adventurous rider; the incomparable visit to Stock village, which is located on the other side of the Indus, at the bottom of the Stock Kangri at a height of more than 6000 metres! After the day’s journey, we’ll spend the night in a guest house.  

Today will tie for the longest distance of this Leh Ladakh road trip. We begin with a ride up the Indus valley towards the Tibetan border. After Upshi, we continue along the Indus to the bridge of Mahe, often crossing gorges along the way. For lunch, we’ll enjoy a picnic on the white sand “beaches” of the Indus bank. We then leave the valley to enter the heart of Rupshu, the most isolated part of Ladakh. Taking a sandy track, we reach the famous Tso Moriri Lake, gleaming in its turquoise glory. After making this 210 kilometre trek, we’ll spend the night camping on the shores of the sacred lake. The Indian half of the huge Tibetan plateau that extends from east to west over more than 2000 kilometres is known as Rupshu (or Changtang). The average altitude of the Rupshu is 4500 metres, too high for regular life. Only nomads live here, with their yaks and goats.  

This leg of the Leh Ladakh bike trip covers 100 kilometres and includes more sightseeing, as well as some immersion into the life of the Champa nomads. Along our ride, we will make a visit to Korzok village, one of the rare settlements of Rupshu, and its small monastery. Then you can enjoy a ride or walk along the lake. Next, we’ll make our departure in the direction of Tso Kar on a sandy and rocky track. The Tso Kar is a salt water lake surrounded by unbelievable lunar scenery. We’ll spend another night camping, this time next to the Thukje village. The Champas (nomads) live under their waterproof black tents made of yak wool. They live on their yaks, goats and sheep and mostly earn their living by selling their wool. They go down to the valleys to trade for cereals, materials, spices, sugar. In exchange, they bring back salt, butter, cheese, meat, and other daily necessities. They raise sheep, and the world famous wool from their goats, which is known as pashmina. The wool is then brought down to the Kashmir valley, where it is woven, and then sold all across the world.  

Another long ride of 210 kilometres will take us back towards Jispa. We begin this part of our Leh Ladakh road trip with a rugged, but safe, track to reach the Leh-Manali road, next to Pang. We then head southward until Sarchu, where we will break for lunch. During the afternoon, we will drive down to Drache or even Jispa, before overnighting in a simple Guest House. While it may be simple, it still resides at 3500m altitude, where a hard bed and a shower are items of luxury! This region is the refuge for many animal species that we can see while trekking: wild hares, marmots with thick fur, white partridges, ibex, wild donkeys from Tibet (known as Kyangs), wolves, and if we are lucky, some very rare snow leopards.  

Today begins with an early morning arrival in Delhi. You’ll then be transferred to the hotel. Feel free to spend the rest of the day exploring Delhi. Delhi is the capital of India. It was founded on the site of seven historical cities, and is now composed of the old town and the new – two halves of an exciting and chaotic unit. The fortified citadel and the Red Fort remind one of the strength and elegance of the great Mughal Empire. The lively Chandni Chowk, known for its dealers in gold and silver, the Jama Masjid mosque, the largest in India, and the Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, are truly captivating. New Delhi is a vibrant city, with multi-storied buildings, boulevards, fountains and large parks. You can visit the minaret of Qutub Minar, the mausoleum of Humayun, and Connaught Place, where the mix of vendors, displays of silk, cinemas, and restaurants perfectly reflects the essence of the national capital.