Cycling tour of Ladakh -14N/15Days

The group flight arrives in Delhi in the morning and we will then transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and recover from the flight or for individual exploration of Delhi. Rooms in the hotel are usually available from noon. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel during the day. Bikes will be transported from Delhi to Manali by road-ready for your arrival in Manali. Overnight in Delhi.

This morning we have an early start and transfer to the railway station before boarding the train for a 4-hour journey to Chandigarh. From Chandigarh we will drive to Mandi (approx. 145km/6 hours approx), arriving in the early evening. Overnight Mandi.

An easier day today with a half-day drive to Manali (110 km/3.5-4 hours approx). We drive through the lush alpine landscape of Himachal Pradesh into the Kullu Valley. Here we meet the mighty Beas River which we follow to the hill resort of Manali (2020m).

On arrival, we check into the hotel and after lunch, we will collect/build our bikes ready for the following day. There will be a full bike briefing this afternoon. Late afternoon there will be time to visit the 450-year-old Hadimba temple, which is made completely out of wood and has remarkable carvings. The evening is free to explore the local surroundings. Manali is surrounded by beautiful fir and pine forests and there are lovely walks in and around the town. There is also a colorful bazaar famous for its shawls, jewelry, and handicrafts. Overnight in Manali.

This morning we get on our bikes for the first time and go on an acclimatization ride. We cycle down through Manali town, crossing the Beas River, and head south to Naggar. Naggar was once the capital of this area and the old castle has now been turned into a hotel.

Near the castle is the Nicholas Roerich estate. Roerich was a Russian artist, who married a Bollywood heroine and lived here in Nagar. He traveled extensively through Ladakh and Tibet and many of his beautiful works of art still hang in the gallery here (please note the gallery is closed on Mondays).

After a coffee and cake stop at Naggar, we cycle back to Manali for lunch. Cycle approx. 54km, time approx. 5-6 hrs, ascent approx. 1100m. The other option for acclimatization is to cycle through Old Manali on quiet backroads to the Solang Valley (a ski resort in winter). We can take a short walk to the Shiva Temple here before returning to Manali via hot sulfur springs at Vaishisht where we can have lunch. It is then a short easy downhill back to Manali with a short uphill back to the hotel. Cycle approx. 31km, time approx. 4 hrs, ascent approx. 849m, descent approx. 842m. Overnight Manali.

Today we start our first full day of biking on one of the classic cycle routes in the world. We start climbing right from Manali through the flower-filled valleys and cedar and fir forests, passing through numerous villages. After the last village, called Kothi, we will cycle up lots of hairpin bends which bring us to the Rohalla Falls. We will then ascend into a small valley where we will reach our camp for the night. Cycle approx. 37km, time approx. 6 hrs, ascent approx. 1415m, descent approx. 119m. Overnight in Camps.

Today we cross our first pass. We set off early and leave all habitation behind as the road zig zags higher and higher into the mountains. It is a fairly tough climb and the road near the top of the pass can be muddy especially when wet. We feel as though we are entering a different world as we reach the top of the Rohtang La (3946m).

This barren windswept pass, blocked by snow for more than six months of the year, crosses the Pir Pinjal Range and is the gateway to Ladakh. We leave the coniferous forests and lush green pasturelands behind and enter a vivid mountainous desert. Ahead are spectacular views across the mountains of Lahaul and Spiti. From the top of the pass, the road snakes down 900m to the small village of Khoksar, where we stop for lunch. Care must be taken on the downhill as the road is being worked on and is very rough in places. We then cross the Chandra River and have an easy 14km following the beautiful Chandra Valley to our camp at Sissu. Cycle approx. 51km, time approx. 4 hrs, ascent approx. 816m, descent approx. 1086m. Overnight in Camps with all meals.

We are now in the beautiful Lahaul Valley surrounded by wonderful snow-capped peaks. The road to Tandi is being worked on and is very rough in places as it undulates by the river. At Tandi, the rivers of Chandra and Bhaga meet to become the Chandrabhaga, which we have been following. Crossing the river here we climb through Tandi.

The scenery is spectacular and the valley narrows as magnificent mountains rise high above us. Continuing up the valley we cycle through Keylong, a small bustling town. Keylong is the capital of Lahaul and is surrounded by three famous monasteries – we can see the rooftops shining in the sun on the surrounding hillsides.

From Keylong, the road is good as we climb up above the river to Istingri and Gemara. From here we cycle through beautiful green pastureland to Darcha (3358m). We cross the river and have a steep zig-zag ascent for 8km and then a nice 12km descent to a small lake called Deepak Tal. We can stop by the lake for a tea break and camp is just a further 1.5km at Patseo (3780m). The site of a lone tea house, Patseo used to be the place of an annual fair of the Changpa nomads. In the afternoon we can have a walk into the surrounding hills. Cycle approx. 78km, time approx. 7 hrs, ascent approx. 1028m, descent approx. 758m. Overnight in Camps with all meals including Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance covered: 78 km / 48 miles Activity (hours).

A hard day crossing the Himalayas to Sarchu, the border between the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. From Paseo, we have a gradual climb past large meadows to Zingzingbar, where we start our long ascent to the Baralacha La Pass (4933m). After a couple of hours and 16.5km, we stop for a tea break at the only tea tents on the way up the pass. From here it’s another 2 hours and 16km to the top. Just before the top, we pass Suraj Kund, an isolated high-altitude lake. From here the top is not so far – the climb seems at times to go on forever but the hard work is worth it as the views become increasingly spectacular.

Finally, we reach the top – we are in the middle of the mighty Indian Himalaya. The word Baralacha means ‘a pass with crossroads’ and the trails from Zanskar, Ladakh, Spiti, and Lahaul come together here. This is the main crossing of the Great Himalayan Range and offers amazing views of the many snow-covered peaks including Barashigri, Chandrabhaga, and Mulkila.

From the pass, the breathing gets easier as we descend on a rough road for 30 minutes (5.4km) to lunch at the tea tents at Bharatpur. After lunch, the cycling gets easier (although the road is very rough at first) and it’s an easy 1.5 hours and 20km descending past Kiling Serai and on to our camp 6km before the checkpoint at Sarchu. Cycle approx. 57km, time approx. 6 hrs, ascent approx. 1211m, descent approx. 587m.  Overnight in camps with all meals.

This will be our longest and hardest day of cycling so we will set off early. We start by climbing fairly gently for approximately 32km across the windswept Sarchu Plains past Brandy Nallah and Whisky Nallah to the bottom of the Gata Loops.

This is a series of 21 amazing hairpin bends, which we slowly ascend. Take time to stop and look back – the valley behind is full of amazing wind-eroded rock formations. At the top of the loops, we will have climbed 400m in 9.4km. From a viewpoint at the top of the loops, it’s another 9.5km to the top of our first pass, the Nakli La at 4948m.

We then have a nice 4.4km downhill to lunch at a collection of tea tents. After lunch, the road winds up for 7.3km to the top of our second pass of the day, the Lachalung La at 5100m. We are now crossing the barren Zanskar Range and we are surrounded by amazing multi-colored mountains – the purples, greens, and browns of the hillsides change shades as clouds are blown across the sky. From the Lachalung La, we have one of the most amazing descents of the trip – an easy 17km ride down (on rough road) through an amazing canyon of magnificent rock formations of the Trans Himalaya until we reach our camp a few kilometers before Pang. Cycle approx. 81km, time approx. 8 hrs, ascent approx. 1611m, descent approx. 1157m. Overnight in camps, with all meals.

We start slowly with a descent to the tea shops at Pang, followed by an 8km ascent to the Mori Plains (4778m). We are now in Rupshu, the waterless high-altitude desert of the Tibetan Plateau. This area is all above 4500m and is home to the hardy Changpas; Tibetan nomads who live in yak hair tents and graze huge flocks of sheep and yaks in this seemingly barren landscape.

We now cycle along a great section of flat blacktop road for 33km to the turn-off to Tsokar Lake. From here it is just over 6km on a sandy track to Tsokar Lake where we camp for the night near Pongunagu. Tsokar means ‘white lake’, and white salt deposits are ringing the water. Our camp is a few kilometers from the lake but for the energetic, there will be time to walk to the lake, which is good for bird watching and you may even spot some ‘kiang’, the wild asses that roam the surrounding hills. Cycle approx. 51km, time approx. 4 hrs, ascent approx. 592m, descent approx. 280m. Overnight in Camps, with all meals.

We start slowly with a descent to the tea shops at Pang, followed by an 8km ascent to the Mori Plains (4778m). We are now in Rupshu, the waterless high-altitude desert of the Tibetan Plateau. This area is all above 4500m and is home to the hardy Changpas; Tibetan nomads who live in yak hair tents and graze huge flocks of sheep and yaks in this seemingly barren landscape.

We now cycle along a great section of flat blacktop road for 33km to the turn-off to Tsokar Lake. From here it is just over 6km on a sandy track to Tsokar Lake where we camp for the night near Pongunagu. Tsokar means ‘white lake’, and white salt deposits are ringing the water. Our camp is a few kilometers from the lake but for the energetic, there will be time to walk to the lake, which is good for bird watching and you may even spot some ‘kiang’, the wild asses that roam the surrounding hills. Cycle approx. 51km, time approx. 4 hrs, ascent approx. 592m, descent approx. 280m. Overnight in Camps, with all meals.

We start early with an easy ride winding down by the Kyamnar River down to Upshi. Here we join the Indus Valley, which we follow all the way into Leh. Passing a large army camp we come to Karu and then the road ‘roller coasters’ along the Indus to Thikse, where an impressive monastery sits perched on a hilltop.

We cycle up to the monastery (2km), which contains a very impressive two-story statue of the Future Buddha. Back on the road, we cycle past the ruins of Shey Palace and the cycling is fairly easy as we come to Choglamsar, home to many Tibetan refugees. There is a final sting in the tail as we leave the Indus and climb into Leh. Tonight we can enjoy the comforts of a hot shower in our hotel in Leh. Cycle approx. 79km, time approx. 6 hrs, ascent approx. 723m, descent approx. 1230m.  Overnight in Leh.

For the energetic today, there is the challenging ride to the Khardung La, arguably the highest motorable road pass in the world. After the last 10 days, we should now be fully acclimatized to the altitude and mountains. We leave Leh early and take a packed lunch. It will take around 6 hours to cycle to the top of the pass.

The views are magnificent as we wind our way higher and higher away from Leh. The first 24km of the ride is tarmac and the last 15km is a rough road. From the top, we are rewarded with close-up views ahead of the Karakorum, while behind us the Ladakh and Zanskar mountains seem to stretch forever.

After a photo stop, we have a fantastic downhill ride back to Leh – a great reward for all the hard work this morning! For those who do not want to do the whole ride, there will be the option to drive to South Pollu and then cycle the final 15km to the top and all the way down. (Please note: If you hold a Chinese, Korean or Taiwanese passport you will not be able to get an Inner Line Permit to do the Khardung Pass trip and you will only be able to cycle from Leh to the checkpoint halfway up). Cycle approx. 78km, time approx. 8-10 hrs, ascent approx. 2049m, descent approx. 2049m. Overnight in Leh.

We transfer early in the morning to Leh airport and catch a flight to Delhi. The flight is spectacular as it flies right across the Himalayas. On arrival in Delhi, we transfer to our hotel. During the afternoon you are free to relax or explore Delhi.

There are plenty of sights in both Old and New Delhi you may want to visit such as the Red Fort, Jamia Mosque, India Gate, and Humayun’s Tomb. Overnight in Delhi.

Check-out from the hotel. If you have the time and would like to discover more of India, we also offer a Golden Triangle extension after the main tour.