Overview
This insightful journey takes you from the hill resort of Manali on the Manali Leh highway through an amazing lunar landscape to the roof of the world – the laid back capital of Ladakh – Leh. On the journey you pass lakes, rock and granite hills sculpted and eroded into spirals and surrealistic shapes by nature’s awesome power. See colours and hues you could have never imagined existed and vast mountain plateaus home to brackish water lakes that sustain hundreds of migratory birds in season, and an unusual variety of wild life species.
Itinerary
On arrival at the International airport in New Delhi we meet you and drive you to your pre-reserved hotel. Overnight stay in Hotel.
Manali.
Morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Chandigarh by surface. Upon arrival in Chandigarh you will be transferred to Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in Hotel.
We drive from Chandigarh to Manali. Upon arrival in Manali check in to Hotel for overnight stay.
The day is reserved for rest in Manali for acclimatisation, which we spend by strolling to the 500 year old Hadimba Devi temple in a dense grove of giant Deodar trees; the charming Tibetan monastery and the colourful vibrant Mall road the mainBook Your Tour shopping area in town. Overnight in Hotel.
Today is the first day of cycling. We leave Manali and cross the bridge over the River Beas and head north to the small village of Palchan from where a side road takes us to the winter ski resort of Solang Valley. We however continue on the road that takes us to the small hamlet of Marhi for the night.
MarhiAfter a wholesome breakfast we ascend to the Rohtang Pass and then descend to the Chandra River valley. From the saddle of the pass you can see the drastic change in landscape as you look north into a barren land with towering stark mountains. After riding down from the pass and registering at the Khoksar police post we continue on till we reach the village of Sissu. We camp in a grove of willows for the night.
After breakfast we proceed along the Chandra River till Tandi Bridge where it meets up with the Bhaga Rive r flowing in from the north. We then turn north and by passing the district headquarters of Keylong we ride on to the sleepy hamlet of Jispa whereBook Your Tour we camp for the night on the banks of the Bhaga River.
The road now continues north past the small settlement of Darcha the trek head for treks into Zanskar and Ladakh, the small village of Patseo to finally reach the flat grounds of Zingzingbar where we set up camp for the night.
On today’s ride we pass the second mountain pass on our journey – the 4830m / 15,483ft Baralacha La. This pass was once the meeting point for traders coming in from four distinct regions and journeying north into the teeming bazaars of central Asia. After descending from this pass we head on to the pastures of Sarchu 4235m / 13,890ft with quite a few private camps. We go on ahead of these tented settlements and camp for the night.
The road now goes along a level path and then after crossing a bridge begins a slow ascent through 21 hairpin bends known as the Gata Loops till we reach the Naki La and Lachulang La passes. From the saddle of the pass it’s a short descent to the campsite of Pang where we put up our tents for the night.
The road from here climbs up past two mountain streams and emerges into the vast 4750m / 15,580ft Morey Plains (45 Kms long ) also referred by locals as the Kyangshuthang Kyang in Tibetan means Wild Ass which in herds roam these expansive plains. The road goes straight past grazing land. We camp near the abandoned road workers camp at Debring 16 Kms below the Tanglang La pass.
The road now begins a winding ascent to the Tanglang la at 5334m / 17,582ft the third highest motorable road in the world (the first is the Marsimik La at 5590m / 18,335ft near Pangong Tso and the second is the Khardungla La at 5570m / 18,269ft north of Leh) . From the pass it’s entirely a downhill ride to the small village of Rumtse.
RumtseWe are now in the Indus Valley and the road heads west to Leh passing a few monasteries and sudden patches of swaying green fields and fruit trees appearing like oases in this vast barren land. On reaching Leh we check into a comfortable hotel for the night.
The Day is at leisure to explore the local market of Leh on own. Overnight in Hotel.
Morning board your flight to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to international Book Your Tourairport to board your flight to home.
Trip ends here.
The Itinerary Includes :
- Stay in chosen hotel / guesthouse / Camp
- Surface transportation as per the itinerary including toll, tax, parking and driver
- Arrival / Departure assistance at chosen station
- Necessary railway station transfers
- Trekking: Complete Trekking arrangements with English speaking guide, porters/ponies to carry your baggage (10 kg each), Tent for sleeping with mattresses, kitchen tent & utensils, toilet tent and All Meals during trek (Chinese, Indian & continental)
- Trekking permit, camping & wildlife fees & Current government taxes.
Does not Include :
- Tips to trekking staff
- Air Fare, & Travel insurance
Expenses of personal nature like drinks, mineral water, telephone & Laundry etc - Personal equipment for trek
- Expenses due to bad weather, Land Slide, Road block and any other natural reason beyond our control.