12 Day Breathtaking and Challenging Ladakh and South Zanskar Guided Motorbike Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Manali

On arrival in Manali, check-in to the hotel and relax till afternoon. Grab a quick lunch, post which you test your motorbike and get used to the roads. Go riding on the Himalayan riding premier through the challenging roads along the Kullu Valley.

The tricky bends and stretches on the road will help you test the characteristics of the bike and acquaint yourself to handle the motor beast for your entire tour. Enjoy a fun ride to the beautiful Kullu Valley. Later, come back to the hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 2: Manali - Sarchu

Wake up early this morning and begin your adventure. Start your ride to Rohtang Pass (3978 meters). The beautiful mountain pass is the gateway of your bike tour. This first leg of your journey is your first challenge as the roads are really bad and the weather conditions are also uncertain.

Overcome your first test, after which you will pass through the Lahaul Valley. Lahaul introduces you to the mountains capped with snow all around. Proceed to Jispa, which is your halt for the day. Enjoy a delicious dinner of the mountains.

Steamed momos and thukpa are famous traditional Himalayan items for dinner. Fill your stomachs and be off to your well-deserved rest. As you leave Jispa behind, enter the Greater Himalayan landscape. This highway route, takes you into the heart of the mountains.

Enjoy the splendid view as you pass through the Baralachha Pass (5000 meters above sea level). Keep driving towards Sarchu which is the border line between Kashmir and Himachal. Overnight at Sarchu

Day 3: Sarchu - Leh

Today you drive to Leh, crossing Nakeela and Lachangla Pass 16,617 feet. After lunch, drive to Debring passing through SkyangchuThang (biggest and highest plateau on Earth on, stretch of 42 kilometers).

From there, drive through Tanglang La Pass (17,585 feet) and Indus Valley. Upon arrival in Leh you’ll met by Inescape Travel and Living's representative and check in at your hotel.

Day 4: Leh (free day)

Today is a well-deserved rest day for the man and the machine. It is essential at this altitude to acclimatize.

Day 5: Leh - Khardung La - Hunder (Nubra Valley)

Today is the day you all came on this ride - to be on top of the world - the Khardung La (5602 meters)! The initial smooth going track becomes tougher as you ascend, full of boulders and stones - but it is certainly worth the ride.

From the pass, one can see all the way south over the Indus Valley to seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar Range, and north to the giants of the Saser Massif. Nubra Valley is popularly known as Ldumra or the valley of flowers.

It is situated in the north of Ladakh between the Karakoram and Ladakh Ranges of the Himalayas. The average altitude of the valley is 10,000 feet above sea level. Upon arrival in Nubra, you will check in at the camp in Hunder for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Hunder - Spangmik (Pangong Tso) via Shyok Valley

After an early breakfast, check out from the camp or hotel and drive towards Hunder where you will have opportunity to ride on a bacterian camel (double humped) amidst the sand dunes of this high altitude desert with snowcapped mountains on the horizon.

Between Hunder and Diskit, you will come across sand dunes besides the road. Seen in isolation you could well be amongst the sand dunes of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.

It is indeed a strange sight since immediately on the left of the road is Rocky Mountains that characterize the Ladakhi landscape and in the distance can be seen snow-capped mountains. On the return stop at Diskit which is the headquarter town of Nubra Valley.

Stroll around the bazaar observing the shops and local people going about their daily chores. Diskit is famous for 515 years old Buddhist monastery, lying magnificently situated on a hilltop, facing the entire valley.

Later, you will drive towards Pangong Tso via Agham and Shyok Valley. Some of the road patches in areas are extremely tough (towards Nubra side) in terms of road conditions but no doubt the journey is very scenic!

Later after crossing this adventurous part, you will drive further towards Durbuk and Tangtse for Pangong. You will pass through few small villages of Changthang and finally you can have a sudden view of the Pangong Lake situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 meters).

This famous blue brackish Lake of Pangong is five / six kilometers wide and over 133 kilometers long with half of its running the other side of the "Indo China Border". One rarely feels so close to nature and environment and the scenery is unforgettable.

After the success of 3 Idiots, this beautiful natural location has attracted more tourists from all over the world. Upon arrival, you will check in at the camp near Pangong Lake. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 7: Pangong Lake - Korzok (Tsomoriri) via Nyoma, Tsaka La

After an early breakfast, check out from the camp and start another interesting journey to Tsomoriri Lake located at 14,000 feet near a small village of Korzok, passing through Man-Mirak Village.

Chushul - the attraction is 1962 War Memorial and one of the four officially agrred BPM (Border Personnel Meeting) Point between Indian Army and People's Liberation Army of China for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies, which helps in defusing face-offs.

The Changthang is a land of wilderness and magnificent landscapes, Tsomoriri Lake is also the breeding ground for numerous species of birds, like the bar headed goose, crested grebe, the Brahmini duck (ruddy sheldrake) and the brown- headed gull.

The Tsomorir Lake is eight kilometers wide and 28 kilometers long. Upon arrival, you will check in at the camp for overnight. Spend your evening on the lake by leisure walk on the banks of lake. Overnight Korzok.

Day 8: Korzok - Sarchu via Tso Kar

Post breakfast, drive to Pang passing through Tsokar Lake and Skyangchu Thang plateau on a stretch of approximately 50 kilometers. Drive further to Pang by crossing Nakeela and Lachlung La passes. Upon arrival at Pang, check in at the pre-arrange campsite for overnight stay.

Day 9: Sarchu - Jispa

Post breakfast, drive to Jispa, crossing Baralacha La. Darcha is the new access point to Zanskar valley. Overnight at Jispa.

Day 10: Jispa (day tour of Shingo La and Darcha via Palamo, Zanskar, Sumdo, and Upper Gampa)

After breakfast, drive towards the Zanskar Valley on the new access road. Ride along the Tsarap Chu River exploring the rough terrains of Zanskar till Shingo La Base.

Post the real test of the man and machine, you will head back to the campsite at Darcha. Overnight at Jispa.

Day 11: Jispa - Manali

In the morning, enjoy the beauty crossing through Lahaul ranges and reach Rohtang Pass. Rohtang Pass will challenge you with mini-rivers of mud. Ride through the obstacles to reach Manali. Have a comfortable stay at the hotel in Manali.

Day 12: Manali departure

Services ends today morning post breakfast. For those taking the evening Volvo home, Inescape Travel and Living would provide the transfer till the bus stand.

Bike rental deposit

Inescape Travel and Living requires a 1000 USD deposit which is refunded at the end of the tour. The deposit also takes care for wear and tear.

Skill level

Beginner

• can ride for two to three hours
• minimal riding experience
• assistance required
• comfortable with curves and leans
• basic experience with unsurfaced roads
• short distance ascents and descents

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

During this motorcycle tour, you will be riding through the most beautiful landscapes on the Earth. From the millions of years of permanence, the Himalayas with mountain streams, high altitude passes, majestic plains and enormous mountain lakes have left a lasting impression on the lucky ones who have got a chance to travel to this remote Himalayan region.

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Included in your package are all breakfasts and dinners as well as packaged drinking water.

• Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle (411cc Royal Enfield Himalayan or 500cc Royal Enfield Classic)
• Meals throughout the stay (breakfast and dinner) and packaged drinking water
• Fuel throughout the tour
• All inner line permits for national and international travelers
• First aid
• All sightseeing, tolls, permits, etc. on the tour
• Varied choice of food in most places
• 11 nights accommodation in good listed hotels and camps on double occupancy basis
• A local guide from the region
• A lit with essentials like maps, basic tools, etc. to keep with you
• Tour captain - highly experienced guide accompanies you on the tour (English and Hindi speaking)
• A backup vehicle
• A mechanic with all necessary spares and tools
• All applicable taxes in India
• Riding gear (used standard size helmet and used gloves)

• Any kind of personal expenses or optional tours / extra meals ordered
• Anything not specifically mentioned under the head “What is included”
• The services of vehicle is not included on leisure days and after finishing the sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, landslides, road conditions, and any other circumstances beyond Inescape Travel and Living's control.
• Camera fee and any monument entrances
• Medical and travel insurance
• Any changes you may choose to make during your tour
• Bike rental deposit (1000 USD)
• Jackets (150 USD)
• Shoes (200 USD)

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.