11 Day Motorcycle Tour to Explore Zanskar and Ladakh in India

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About tour and program

This is a unique Himalayan adventure! During your trip, you will see the most interesting places of the Ladakh and Zanskar region, but from a new perspective. In 2020, new "roads" connecting the Zanskar Valley with the iconic Leh - Manali route were opened. Of course, these are not easy or asphalt roads, but winding gravel roads leading through Singo - Sir Sir La passes that were previously unavailable for vehicles. No one has ever ridden them among foreign travelers or riders - due to the Covid-19 pandemic; India was closed to foreign tourism for most of the 2020.

You can ride the roads that hardly anyone has traveled so far. Sounds tempting? For Planet Way Round, very much! The trip is mostly off-road. You will pass through the unique Zanskar Valley. You will visit the most beautiful Buddhist monasteries of the Zanskar and Indus valleys. You will taste a motorcycle "roller coaster" in the highest mountains in the world. You will visit the capital of Ladakh - Leh. You will cross the passes located at an altitude of about 5,000 meters above sea level, including the highest lakes; Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri and cross the highest motorable pass in the world - Khardung La!

As befits this part of the world, you will ride Royal Enfields, the "enduro" version that is Royal Enfield Himalaya. The trip is purported for people with off-road experience who are not afraid of inconveniences, weather changes, and difficult terrain conditions.

Itinerary

Arrival

Upon arrival, you will receive Planet Way Round's route map with detailed program.

Day 1 - Leh

Arrive in Leh and stay in a hotel with acclimatization. From Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), you take the domestic flight for Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL). From the airport, the team will pick you up and take a short drive to the hotel. Check in and meet with Planet Way Round's representative. You will overnight at the hotel in Leh with acclimatization and you can go to the local market on foot.

Day 2 - Leh to Kargil (200 kilometers / 124 miles)

At the start of the tour, you will enjoy the beautiful green valley and drive along the Indus River and then from Khalsar you will be heading towards old Indus Aryan civilization at Dha Hanu. You eat lunch at one of the local homes with an Aryan kitchen with local Aryan people. After lunch, you will be heading to Baltistan Valley to the garrison city of Kargil, the gateway to Zanskar Valley. A hotel at the top of the town (2,600 meters) will be your home for the night.

Day 3 - Kargil to Rangdum (130 kilometers / 81 miles)

You will drive towards Rangdum through the beautiful, wild Suru Valley. You’ll be leaving paved roads behind today, continuing on a dusty track at an average speeds of around 20 to 40 kilometers per hour, ascending to the herdsman’s village of Parkachik, and finally reaching Rangdum.

Day 4 - Rangdum to Padum (90 kilometers / 56 miles)

Starting from Rangdum in the morning, today, you’ll ascend the adventurous track further until you reach Pansi La pass (4,401 meters) and visit the tiny Rangdum mountain monastery before descending along a huge glacier at the entrance to Zanskar valley and reaching Padum valley.

Day 5 - Padum to Lamayuru via Sirsir La Pass and Singi La Pass (210 kilometers / 130 miles)

This will be a bit of a hard day because this route just opened in August 2020. It's a fun road made for 4x4 vehicles which connects the Leh - Srinagar highway with an off-road short cut. It will be around 200 kilometers done in daylight. At night, stay at Lamayaru Hotels.

Day 6 - Lamayuru to Leh via Alchi (150 kilometers / 93 miles)

After attending the morning monastery prayer session, you will be heading towards Leh. The ride will be on good mountain route, with a lunch stop at Alchi Gompa, and a night stay at a hotel in Leh city near the market.

Day 7 - Leh to Tso Moriri (220 kilometers / 137 miles)

After a morning meal, you start the ride along the Indus River. The ride will be upwards China Changthang Plato. On the way, cross one small beautiful lake called Kayagar Tso and overnight at lakeside Karzok village with a grand view.

Day 8 - Tso Morri Lake to Pangong Tso Lake (250 kilometers / 155 miles)

It’s going to be a fun riding day. After breakfast, you ride back along with the Indus River. There are two roads; one going along with the China border and 50 kilometer drive along the lake, and another will take you back till Karu and ride on Chang La pass and the lake. You will overnight on the bank with open view swiss camps.

Day 9 - Pangong Tso to Nubra Valley (200 kilometers / 124 miles)

Today is a long day. After a quick meal, you will be riding towards Hunder village in Nubra Valley. On the way, cross Syok village and ride along with the river till the valley. On this day, you stay in Nubra in swiss camps.

Day 10 - Nubra to Leh (160 kilometers / 99 miles)

This day is very exiting as you ride heading to Khardung La pass. Before riding up, you explore the Hunder sand dunes and Diskit Richest gompa and Biggest Budha Satachu. At the top, you stop for tea and photos. At night, stay at a Leh hotel.

Day 11 - Leh

On this last day, you will be dropped off at the airport.

Skill level(s) required for this tour: Intermediate, advanced

Intermediate

• can ride for three to five hours
• Quite Good 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

This tour will take you from Leh on the new route via Zanskar. Along the way, you will visit Leh, Dha – Hanu, Kargil, Rangdum, Pinzila, Padum, Zangla, Lingshite, Singi La, Sir Sar La, Lamayuru, Tso Moriri, Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley, and Kardung La Pass. This tour will also take you to some amazing passes and lakes.

Passes

• Khardung La (5,615 meters) - the highest pass on earth
• Chang La (5,360 meters)
• Singo La (5,100 meters)
• Singi La (5,050 meters)
• Polokang La (5,000 meters)
• Pansi La (4,400 meters)
• Fotu La (4,120 meters)
• Himboting La (4,024 meters)
• Namik La (3,400 meters)

Lakes

• Tso Moriri (4,522 meters)
• Sta Tso / Lang Tso (4,300 meters)
• Pangong Tso (4,350 meters)

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During this tour, you will be served daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner at either the hotel or while on the road ride cafe . Every day you get the best food with local Indian taste and flavor for all hotels and resorts and camps. You will get the best healthy breakfast with Indian and western touch. Lunch will be served on the way at running Ladakhi and local food joint with local Ladakhi and Tibetan taste. Dinner will be at hotel and resort or camp where you stay. At some places, you can plan to visit the best city restaurant to taste local food.

• Planet Way Round can provide you domestic flight booking at an additional cost
• Agra Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi to Agra
• River rafting and camel ride
• ATV drive (on choice)
• Authentic food explore
• Boating (on choice)
• Camel safari (on choice)
• Cycle tour (on choice)
• Hiking
• Meditation and yoga
• Oldest Buddhist monastery visit
• Photography
• Rafting (on choice)

• Experienced guide all the way
• Royal Enfield 500 cc / Himalayan 410 cc bike / SUV or MUV rental
• Backup jeep all the way
• Experienced mechanic with spare parts
• Experienced doctor / medical backup with oxygen (O2) and AMS pack
• Guidance to best places for meals at Pay N Eat (if any)
• Pick up and drop off from Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) (in group)
• 10 nights’ accommodation
• Meals for 11 days
• Border entry fee with all inner line permits to restricted / protected areas
• PWR stickers for your jeep, motorcycle, helmet, and more
• Trip photos
• Things to carry list with map

• Domestic air flight ticket (manageable to book)
• Any damage / fine
• Stay of extra days (manageable to book)
• Extra food like starters / lunch / dinner (if any outside the venue)
• Any kind of personal expenses or optional tours
• Extra meals, starters (alcoholic, mineral, soft drinks, aerated, Pay N Eat) etc.
• Extra guide fee, camera and video fee, tips, insurance, laundry, and phone
• Bike rental deposit: 250 USD

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