About the tour
You are crossing through the world`s highest passes, camping at high-altitude remote village, visiting enchanting monasteries in Ladakh, being the part of Buddhist culture, walking and talking in Leh streets, visiting Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace (the Kingdom of Ladakh), enjoying the Tibetan-Ladakhi cuisine in a nice restaurant, meditating in a monastery which have seen generations (1,000 years old Alchi monastery), and summiting K-Top (world highest motorable pass).
Another highlight of the tour will be crossing five Himalayan passes (high altitude route). Among them, two Himalayan passes are world’s highest. After all the fun, you are flying back home with fond memories of unforgettable Ladakhi hospitality and warmness.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
You will meet Himalayan Saga on arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and transfer to your hotel in the center of Delhi for overnight.
Day 2: Delhi - Manali
In the morning after breakfast, you are free to explore Delhi city at your own pace. At 16:00, you will be transferred to the Volvo stand to board a Volvo coach for an overnight journey to Manali.
Day 3: Arrival in Manali - introduction with bikes
You will arrive at the Manali bus station and transfer to the hotel. In this mid-summer afternoon, there will be a bike session where you will be briefed about various aspects of the motorcycle tour like the Himalayas, climatic conditions, road safety, high altitude, and at last, bike handover to you. You will be free to test your bike and have a short ride to be friendly with your biker friends who will be going to be with you for the next eight days.
Day 4: Manali - Jispa (138 kilometers / 86 miles)
You wake up early in the morning to start your adventure on one of the world's highest road, the Manali-Leh highway. As soon as you leave Manali, the climb for the 13,051-foot high Rohtang Pass starts. After Rohtang, the road descends into the Chandra Valley, passing through Khoksar and on to Tandi and reaching Jispa. Your night stay is at a campsite in Jispa. You can enjoy the bonfire and dinner in a beautiful settlement on the bank of the Bhaga River.
Day 5: Jispa - Tso Kar Lake (225 kilometers / 140 miles)
Today, you ride from the lush green landscape to the stark moonscape which Ladakh is famous for. Undoubtedly the best stretch on the Manali-Leh highway, this section of the Manali-Leh highway will feel as if you are on a roller coaster ride climbing up and down from one Himalayan pass to another. It is a very scenic ride passing through small lakes, waterfalls, and streams. You also cross your second high-altitude pass, Baralach La, at 16,500 feet then Naki La and Taglang La, the other highest motorable passes.
You will cross Pang ground, a 40-kilometer flat ground to arrive in Tsokar Lake for an overnight stay on the banks of the lake. The evening is free for you to walk around the lake to enjoy its exquisite beauty and to get a chance upon the sighting of endangered black-necked cranes or Tibetan asses. You can also visit the Tsokhar village to view local houses and local life.
Day 6: Tsokar - Leh (135 kilometers / 84 miles)
Today, you start your ride in the morning towards Leh town. You start the climb to scale the second highest motorable pass in the world, Taglang La, at 17,480 feet and enter into the Indus Valley, on the banks of which many ancient civilizations have thrived. Once you climb down Taglang La into the Indus Valley, it is a flat valley flanked by high mountains on its snow-capped edge and towards one end where Leh city is located.
You will ride to Leh passing across various villages, settlements, and army camps. You will reach Leh by the afternoon. The evening is at your leisure to explore the town or walk around the various streets and try some Ladakhi or Tibetan cuisine like momos, thupka, etc. Your overnight stay is at a hotel.
Day 7: Leh - Likir - Alchi (75 kilometers / 47 miles)
Today, you start your ride exploring the Sham Valley or lower Ladakh regions. You start the ride from Leh heading towards Likir village and monastery, en-route riding through some enchanting scenic views, visiting Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill, viewing the confluence of Indus River and Zanskar at Nimu.
You will continue riding towards Likir Monastery which is also known as Klu-Kkji (water spirits), and after the visit, you continue your ride to Alchi village. On arrival, you will check in at the hotel and later walk around the village and cultural Buddhist heritage site - a 1,000 years old, living, enchanting, and inspiring Alchi monastery.
Day 8: Alchi - Khardung La Pass - Leh
In the morning, you start your ride back towards Leh and then start your climb to summit the highest motorable pass in the world, the Khardung La, at 18,480 meters. You ride back to Leh town for a relaxed evening and stay overnight at a hotel.
Day 9: Leh - free
Today is a free day in Leh (bike is not included). If you wish, you may walk down Leh streets, visit Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace in the town, shop around, and enjoy the fine dining, or you may hire a local taxi to visit Leh Army Museum, Thiksey Monastery, Hemis, and Shey Monastery. Overnight will be at the same hotel.
Day 10: Leh - Sarchu - riding back (250 kilometers / 155 miles)
You will enjoy bike ride experiences today through Leh / Taglang La / Sarchu following the same route. Your overnight stay is at tents in Sarchu.
Day 11: Sarchu - Manali - riding back (233 kilometers / 145 miles)
You will enjoy bike ride experiences today at Sarchu / Manali. It will be a long ride and you will start this day quite early. Reaching Manali, you will do bike handover and check-in at the hotel. In the evening, there will be a certificate distribution for successfully completing this journey. Your overnight stay is at a Manali hotel.
Day 12: Manali - Delhi overnight in Volvo
In the morning after breakfast, the day is free to relax. You are free to walk around Old Manali trying its numerous cafes, walk around the village, visit Hadima Devi Temple, or go for a relaxing dip in the sulphur spring water bath at Vashisht. In the evening, you will transfer to Manali bus station to board on Volvo for Delhi. Your overnight is on board.
Day 13: Reaching back Delhi in the morning
You will arrive in Delhi at around 07:00 - 08:00 depending on the traffic condition. You would be picked up from Volvo stand to your hotel in Delhi for a wash and change and later dropped back at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) for your flight back home with fond memories of the adventure and the Himalayas. This is the end of the services.
Skill level
Intermediate
- can ride for three to four hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Advanced
- can ride for five to six hours
- extensive riding experience
- assistance on demand (if required)
- experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
