Day 1 : Delhi

Arrival transfer to hotel later free day for relaxing and self exploration around Delhi, get together with group members in the evening.

Accommodation type : Comfortable Hotel

Day 2 : Mandi

This morning we have an early start and transfer to the railway station before boarding the train for a 4 hours journey to Chandigarh. From Chandigarh we will drive to Mandi (approx.145 km/6 – 7 hrs), arriving in the late evening.

Accommodation type : Standard Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 : Manali

An easier day today with a half day drive to Manali (110km/ 4- 5 hrs) 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 carving, 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 colourful bazaar famous for its shawls, jewellery and handicrafts.

Accommodation type : Standard Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 : Manali (Riding around town / acclimatisation ride )

Begin the day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, We cycle down through old Manali on quiet back-roads to the Solang valley (a ski resort in winter), we can take a short walk to the shiva temple if time allows, here before returning to Manali take a short visit to hot sulphur springs at Vashisht temple where we will have lunch.

After lunch it is a short easy downhill back to Manali with a short uphill back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Distance Cycled : 19 mile/31 km

Elevation gain: 2562 ft/781 meter Estimated cycling time : 4/5 hrs Accommodation type : Standard Hotel

Day 5 : Manali – Marhi

This is our first ascent as we begin to “warm up” for the tough ride ahead. 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 on the way to the Rohtang pass. There are also orchards of apple trees and small hamlets along the route and as we ascend waterfalls tumble down off the mountains. We will then ascend into a small valley after which we will reach our camp for the night at Marhi.

Meals: Breakfast (Hotel), Lunch , Dinner Distance Cycled : 22 mi/ 35 km Elevation gain: 4425 ft/1349 meter Estimated cycling time : 6/7 hrs Accommodation : Camp

Day 6 : Marhi – Sissu (The first pass, Rohtang pass. 13,054 ft/3979 meter)

A hard day today as 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. Much of 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 (11mile/18km uphill ride to Rohtang from marhi) Rohtang pass (13054 ft/3979 meter). 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 to the mountains of Lahoul and Spiti. From the top of the pass the road snakes down 900m/ to the small village of Khoksar. Care must be taken on the downhill as some of the road is not tarmac. We are now in the Lahaul Valley and the cycling becomes easier as we continue on to sissu The last 11 mile/17 Kms or so flat along Chandra Rive, the landscaped changed from this point.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance Cycled : 30 mi/ 48 km Elevation gain: 2162 ft/659 meter Estimated cycling time : 5/6 hrs Accommodation type : Camp

Day 7 : Sissu – Jispa (Cycle towards Lahaul region)

We have a beautiful ride following the main valley passing through a ancient fort at Gondhala. We are in the Lahaul Valley and the cycling becomes easier as we continue on to Tandi, where the rivers Chandra and Bhaga come together, to flow as Chandrabhaga or Chenab as it is known in the Chamba valley. You will notice that the terrain is becoming much more arid and we cycle on rutty, dusty and rocky road From Tandi bridge. it’s a short climb to Keylong, which soon continues through some swtichbacks to descend to Jispa 14 mile/23 km from Keylong.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance Cycled : 34 mi/ 55 km Elevation gain: 3182 ft/ 970 meter Estimated cycling time : 6/7 hrs Accommodation type : Camp

Day 8 : Jispa – Patsio (Entering the higher ground)

Another fairly easy day for acclimatisation as we are now approaching the Great Himalayan Range. We cycle through beautiful green pastureland to Darcha (11023 ft/3360m) where we can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at a local restaurant. From here we continue climbing, until we reach Patsio, The site now of a lone of green peas house, Patseo used to be the place of an annual fair of the Changpa nomads.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance Cycled : 14 mi/ 22 km Elevation gain: 2546 ft / 776 meter Estimated cycling time : 3/4 hrs Accommodation type : Camp

Day 9 : Patsio – Sarchu (Cycle over Baralacha La Pass 16040 ft/4889 meter)

A hard day today as we cross the Himalayas to Sarchu. Sarchu is the gateway to Ladakh region and it lies on the border between the states of Himachal Pradesh and Union territory Ladakh . After a gradual climb across large meadows of Zingzingbar we start our long ascent (12mi/20km)to the Baralacha La Pass (16040 ft/4889 meter). The climb seems at times to go on forever but the view at the top is spectacular. Finally we reach the top – we are in the middle of the mighty Himalayas. 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 we get amazing views of the many snow-covered peaks including Barashigri, Chandrabhaga and Mulkila. From the pass the cycling gets easier as we descend past Kiling Serai and on to Sarchu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance Cycled : 34 mi/ 55 km Elevation gain: 3684 ft/ 1123 meter Estimated cycling time : 6/7 hrs Accommodation type : Camp

Day 10 : Sarchu – Pang (Via Naki La 4950m and Lachung La 5100m)

We start by climbing fairly gently for approximately 27 mile across the windswept Sarchu Plains past Brandy Nala and Whiskey Nala to the bottom of the Gata Loops. This is a series of 22 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 500 metres and reached the Naki La (16240 ft/4950m). We then have a nice 4.4km downhill to lunch at the collection of tea tents, After lunch the road winds up for 7.3km to the top of our second pass of the day,the Lachung La at 16732ft /5100m. We are now crossing the barren Zanskar Range, an easy ride down through an amazing canyon of magnificent rock formations of the Trans Himalaya, we are surrounded by amazing multi-coloured mountains – the purples, greens and browns of the hillsides change shades as clouds are blown across the sky, until we reach before Pang then you camp an isolated place under the stars to camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance Cycled : 35 mile/82 km Elevation gain: 3891 ft / 1186 meter Estimated cycling time : 7/8 hrs Accommodation type : Camp

Day 11 : Pang – Tso-kar

We start slowly with gradual decent to Pang tea shop and military setup later with a short ascent to the Mori Plains (15419 ft/4700m). We are now in Rupshu, the waterless high altitude desert of the Tibetan Plateau. This area is all above 14763 ft/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 turn off the main road and cycle along a sandy track to Tsokar Lake where we camp for the night near Pongunagu. Tsokar means ‘white lake’, and there are white salt deposits ringing the water. Our camp is a few kilometres from the lake, will take short transfer to visit lake and look out for herds of ‘kiang’, the wild asses which roam the surrounding hills. The lake is also good for birdwatchers.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance Cycled : 29 mi / 46 km Elevation gain: 1174 ft / 358 meter Estimated cycling time : 5/6 hrs Accommodation type : Camp

Day 12 : Tso-kar – Lato (Cycle over Tanglang La 5350m )

A hard day today as we cross the last pass before Leh, the Taglang La. We leave Tsokar and cycle back to the main road. The long climb starts gradually and winds ever higher and steeper to the top of the Taglang La (17480 ft/5350m). You should be proud of yourself at the top – you have just cycled to the top of the second highest motorable road pass in India! We are rewarded for all our hard work with wonderful views of both the Himalaya and the Karakorum

Mountains. After a rest and photo stop we have a wonderfully long zig zag descent to our first real villages . The houses and green fields of barley and potatoes greet us as we reach our camp at Lato.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Distance Cycled : 47mile/76 km Elevation gain: 3293 ft/ 1004 meter Estimated cycling time : 7/8 hrs Accommodation type : Camp

Day 13 : Lato – Leh

Today we cycle down to the main road and follow the mighty Indus River at Upshi. From Upshi to Karu we continue on to Thiksey, where an impressive monastery sits perched on a hilltop. If there is time we can cycle up to the monastery, which contains a very impressive two-story statue of the Future Buddha. Passing the ruins of Shey Palace 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. From Choglamsar to Leh you will get some traffic while cycle up, Tonight we can enjoy the comforts of a hot shower in our hotel in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Distance Cycled : 45 mile/72 km

Elevation gain: 1532 ft/467 meter Estimated cycling time : 5/6 hrs Accommodation type : Standard Hotel

Day 14 : Leh – Khardungla – Leh (The big climb – Khardungla pass above 18380 ft/5602 meter )

Optional Ride :-

The big climb is here – 5600m Khardungla pass. We set off at daybreak and cycle 26mi gaining 2000m/6600ft – the

ultimate challenge of this trip! Pat your back twice! It is the highest motorable road in the world! Feel proud of your achievement and reward yourself with the topview of a spectacular stretch – Indus valley in the South to endless peaks and ridges of Zanskar range to giants of the Saser Massif in the North.

Hoping you’ve travelled far enough to meet yourself as we end the trip today!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Distance Cycled : 48 mile/78km

Elevation gain: 6722 ft/2049 meter Estimated cycling time : 7/8 hrs Accommodation type : Hotel

Day 15 : Leh

Today you have time to relax and explore Leh town, The day is free to explore the back street and bazaars or maybe do some optional sightseeing around Leh, Set above Leh on the Namgyal Hill, are the ruins of the Old Royal Palace,

From here a winding path takes you to the Namgyal Tsemo Monastery. The recently build japanese Peace Pagoda is also worth exploring, offering stunning views of Leh.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 16 : Leh – Delhi

Post breakfast departure from Leh to Delhi, check into hotel and free day for self exploration around Delhi later final farewell dinner with group member.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 17 : Delhi

Post breakfast departure from Delhi to your home with full bag of memories and many stories.

Meals: Breakfast