12 Day Kinnaur and Spiti Trans Himalayan Guided Motorcycle Tour in Northern India

About the motorbike, Royal Enfield

Royal Enfield was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company made motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines. This legacy of weapons manufacture is reflected in the logo, a cannon, and their motto "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet".

Use of the brand name Royal Enfield was licensed by the Crown in 1890. The original Redditch, Worcestershire based company was sold to Norton-Triumph-Villiers (NVT) in 1968. Production ceased in 1970 and the company was dissolved in 1971.

In 1956, Enfield of India started assembling Bullet motorcycles under license from UK components, and by 1962 were manufacturing complete bikes. Enfield of India bought the rights to use the Royal Enfield name in 1995.

Royal Enfield production, based in Chennai, continues and Royal Enfield is now the oldest motorcycle brand in the world still in production with the Bullet model enjoying the longest motorcycle production run of all time.

About the tour guide

The guide is a local from Himachal Pradesh, born and brought up there, in the state, and he has a minimum of five years experience.

Motorbike tour program

Day 1: Arrival Delhi / Manali

Assemble at Volvo pick up point at 5:30 p.m. and board Volvo coach (seat in coach basis). Start your journey to Manali. Overnight in Volvo.

Day 2: Arrive in Manali  

Arrive in Manali at 8:00 a.m. Meet on arrival and transfer to hotel (check-in time is at 12 noon, early check-in is subject to room availability). Time to freshen up. Assemble at the motorbike garage at 2:00 p.m. for a small briefing about the tour.

Today, Himalayan Saga takes you on acclimatization ride to Naggar Village. Return back to Manali and spend the rest of the evening at leisure or last-minute purchases in the market. Overnight at the hotel.  

Day 3: Manali / Shoja (111 kilometers / 69 miles - 5 hours)

Today, you start your motorbike adventure and ride to Shoja in Tirthan Valley. Ride from Manali on NH 21 crossing Kullu Town and after crossing tunnel at Aut, you turn to enter Tirthan Valley. You ride along Tirthan River and cross Banjar and start your climb towards Jalori Pass which you cross the next day. You end the ride for the day with a break at Jibhi or Shoja. Overnight at camp / guest house.

Day 4: Shoja / Sangla (209 kilometers / 130 miles - 8 - 9 hours)

You start your ride in the morning, crossing over Jalori Pass from where on a clear day a long necklace of Himalayan Range can be viewed including peaks of Kullu Region like Deo Tibba, Hanuman Tibba, etc. You now descend down towards Satluj Valley. You ride crossing Rampur and continue riding Satluj Valley, entering Kinnaur and taking a detour entering the beautiful Sangla Valley from Karcham. After a long and a very interesting ride, you halt for the night in a camp / guest house at Sangla.

Day 5: Sangla / Chitkul (90 kilometers / 56 miles) / Kalpa (51 kilometers / 32 miles)

Today, you ride to explore the Kinnaur belt, riding to Chitkul the last remote village towards Indo China border. You then return to Sangla and continue your ride further to Kalpa Village. Kalpa Village is located in the backdrop of Kinner Kailash mountain range. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Rest of day free to explore Kalpa Village. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Kalpa / Nako / Tabo (190 kilometers / 118 miles - 8 hours)

Another day of an interesting ride. It's exciting riding the narrow Satluj Valley till Khab where Satluj River meets Spiti river and this point is also the reference where you enter the Spiti Valley. You ascend up to Nako Village, the last among Kinnauri villages located on banks of a small lake. You walk around the village and later continue further towards Tabo.

Tabo monastery was founded in 996 AD by the great teacher Richensang-po, Tabo is renowned for its breathtaking murals and stucco images - and is often called "The Ajanta of the Himalayas". The largest monastic complex in Spiti, the old section has 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monks chamber, and a nuns chamber. There are several caves adorned with frescoes and contemporary structures too. In trans-Himalayan Buddhism, Tabo's sanctity is next only to Tibet's Tholing gompa. Overnight at guesthouse in Tabo.

Day 7: Tabo / Dhankar / Pin Valley / Kaza (105 kilometers / 65 miles - 6 - 7 hours)

Today, you ride around Spiti Valley, exploring the mesmerizing landscape, varied colors of mountains and remote villages, and gompas. You start your ride in the morning towards Dhankar Village and monastery. This Monastery at Dhankar rests high over the valley and is a stupendous example of local architecture.

It is regarded to have once been a fort and was also the residence of the ruler of Spiti - the Nano. You ride further towards Pin Valley, the land of Ibex, and Snow Leopards. You end the day on reaching Kaza, the main town of Spiti valley. Evening free to explore Kaza Town and make some noise "ride hard, party hard". Overnight is at guest house.

Day 8: In Kaza

In the morning, you visit the Ki Monastery, 12 kilometers from Kaza. This centuries-old gompa is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors - and at one time also acted as a fort. It houses valuable Thangkas and offers a panoramic view of the area. Also visit the small gompa at Kibber, 9 kilometers further ahead. Kibber at 4205 meters has the distinction of being the highest permanently inhabited village of the region. Ride back to Kaza and evening free to explore the town. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 9: Kaza / Chandertal (117 kilometers / 73 miles - 4 - 5 hours)

What a ride is going to be today, hold your breaths to ride into the Himalayas. Today you ride inside deep into the Himalayas. From Kaza, you start your ride crossing few Spitian Villages. You cross Losar which is the last Spiti Village and start the ascend towards Kunzam Pass (4558 meters) which lies on main Great Himalayan Range.

You get beautiful views of CB ranges and continue further towards Chandertal Lake (The moon lake - 4270 meters) which is of exquisite beauty between a lower ridge and the main Kunzum range, the outlet being into Chandra river. You check into your camp and after a brief rest, start your walk towards the lake which is about an hour away. Enjoy the beauty of the lake and after spending some time, you walk back to your camp for overnight.

Day 10: Chandertal / Chatru / Manali (116 kilometers / 72 miles - 7 hours)

Today is the last stage of this adventure. In the morning, you start your ride from Chandertal Lake for yet another breathtaking day of charming scenic views and exciting rides. You ride through the trans-Himalayan region crossing Batal, Chatru entering into Lahaul Valley.

From Gramphoo, you start your ride up the mountain to conquer the mighty Rohtang Pass (3980 meters). Crossing Rohtang, you enter the green Kullu Valley. You descend towards Manali and end the motorbike adventure in Manali. You bid farewell to your companions, The Royal Enfields, carrying fond memories and promise to meet again. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 11: Manali / Delhi

Morning at leisure. At 3:30 p.m., Himalayan Saga transfers you to Volvo stand to board the coach to Delhi (seat in coach basis). Overnight is in Volvo.

Day 12: Arrival in Delhi

Arrive in Delhi in the morning. Tour and Himalayan Saga's services end.

Bike Rental Deposit Policy

Himalayan Saga requires a refundable bike renal deposit of 10,000 INR per bike.

Skill level

Advanced

• can ride for 5-6 hours
• extensive riding experience
• assistance on demand (if required)
• experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
• comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions

The tour will take you into the remote Trans-Himalayan region of Kinnaur and Spiti Valley where there is ample opportunities to click a lot of beautiful pictures of landscape / villages / local people / temples or monasteries and make walks to interact with local people. This tour will take place in various locations in India. You will visit Manali, Rohtang Pass, Chandertal Lake, Kunzam Pass, Kibber, Ki, Gungri, Dhankar, Tabo, Nako, Kalpa, Sangla Valley, Jalori Pass, and Shoja.

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During the tour, you will be provided with half-board meals at places of stay; 9 breakfasts and 9 dinners. Food served on tour is a fixed menu which is Indian vegetarian with egg served in breakfast only. A few places as per availability, few Chinese items like noodles / fried rice may be served in dinner.

Note:

Please note that on all fixed group departures, the meals are vegetarian.

• 11 nights accommodation in mentioned or similar hotels on twin/ triple sharing basis
• Half board basis at places of stay (nine breakfasts and nine dinners)
• Transfer by jeeps from Manali bus stand to hotel and back
• Guide during tour from day 2 to day 10
• 1 Royal Enfield Motorcycle 500 cc per rider with fuel for day 2 to day 10
• 1 motorbike mechanic for the entire tour for day 2 to day 10
• Support jeep to carry mechanic, baggage, spares, etc. for day 2 to day 10
• General spare change like spark plugs / brake wire / accelerator wire / brake shoes, engine oil for the bike (any damages to bike or spare change due to riding to be paid by rider)
• Travel from Delhi to Manali and back by Volvo coach (seat in coach basis)
• Presently applicable taxes

• Any airfare / train fare
• Any other meal than mentioned in the itinerary
• Bike damages
• Inner line permit for foreign nationals (2500 INR)
• Any personal or travel insurance
• Tips, gratuities, and portage
• Laundry, telephone calls, and table drinks
• Any other expenses of personal nature
• Any item not specified under cost inclusions
• Damage deposit 10000 INR per rider (refundable bike security deposit against any damages that may incur)
• Pillion rider cost does not include any transport in jeep / car

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 14 days before arrival.