Mountain Biking in Ladakh

Day 1: Arrive at Delhi

After immigration and custom formalities you will be met at the airport. Welcome and transfer to hotel.

Day 2: 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: In 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 (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 (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 (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 café.

Day 8: 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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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. 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

Early morning flight to Delhi. Sightseeing in Delhi, Chandi Chowk, old Delhi, the National Museum.

Day 17: Farewells and Flight Home.

On time departure