Trans Himalayan Motor Biking Expedition
Season: Mid June Mid September Feast of scenic, topographic and ethnic diversity, The Trans-Himalayan Biking expedition is one of the rarest of the world's biking trails, passing through the lush green valleys of Shimla & Kullu, you drive for rugged high-altitude crossing of the great chain, from South to Central Asia, through the rarely visited old kingdom of Zanskar, tucked into the fabled mountains of the same name. As you drive into the heart of this rugged region of Zanskar & Ladakh. The landscapes become ever more Tibetan: vast, sere highlands punctuated by ever-higher passes (the highest is 5602 Meters), placid blue mountain lakes. Along the way we visit Buddhist temples perched on crags, prayer flags rippling silently in the fresh wind, and bike through small green valleys and over highest motor able passes in world, greeted by cheery Zanskaris and Ladakhis. Tsomo Riri & Tso Kar; these high altitude lakes are situated in the Rupshu region of eastern Ladakh. Tsomo Riri is surrounded by mountains and is formed by a tributary of the Spiti river. This rare habitat attracts the Barehead Goose, which breeds around the inlets of the lake during the summer months. ItineraryDelhi - Chandigarh - Mandi - Manali - Jespa - Sarchu - Tsokar - Tso - Moriri - Leh - Khardung La - Hunder - Disket - Panamic - Leh Day 01: Arrive Delhi Arrive at New Delhis international airport our representative will be waiting for you
outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal, holding a placard. Met upon arrival and
transfer to your hotel for overnight stay. Accommodation will be held for you from the
previous night. Overnight at Hotel.
^^ TOP ^^ Day 2: Delhi - Chandigarh - by shatabdi express (dep 0730 hrs, arr 1030 hrs) In time transfer to the railway station to board your train for Chandigarh. On arrival you are met on arrival and transferred to hotel. Afternoon intro to your bikes and crew members of your expedition. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast drive to Mandi, Day 04 : Mandi - Manali 86 km, 3 hrs After breakfast we drive to Manali, which is 1896 m above sea level and situated at the northern end of the Kullu valley. A picturesque little town bustling with activity, Manali is the most popular place in Himachal Pradesh during the summer season. Around Manali, nature has lavished the region with forests, waterfalls, green slopes, rivulets and soaring snow covered mountain peaks. Manali also boasts of a Mountaineering Institute, which imparts training in mountaineering, skiing and other adventure activities. Drive and explore the beauty of nature. Overnight stay in hotel. Day 5: Manali - Rohtang Pass - Jespa- 147 km 6-7 hours After an early breakfast drive to Jespa a small village in the Lahaul region. En route cross Rohtang Pass (3980 M) and visit Keylong village. The lofty Shingri Glacier is seen in all its grandeur, its high passes standing between them and the civilized world. The people of these valleys have an intense love for their home culture; their songs and dances are as chaste and pure as the snow that clods the mountains around. Spiti Valley is famous for Yaks and Choru. Overnight in hotel.
^^ TOP ^^ Day 6: Jespa - Keylong - Jispa and around All day sightseeing Keylong, Trilokinath, Udaipur area - a visit to Shashur & Guru Ghantal monasteries in Keylong area and Trilokinath & Udaipur temples in Pattan Valley area. O/N at hotel in Jespa. Day 7: Jespa to Sarchu 96 Kms, 5-6 hrs Beyond Jespa, the regions main town, Day 8: Sarchu - Polokangla Tsokar 200 Kms. The road will be testing the Bullet and nerves today. After crossing Brandy Nallah, 21 hair pin bends of the Gata loops
^^ TOP ^^ Day 9: Tsokar- Tsomoriri (76 Kms 3-4 Hours) We now enter, perhaps the harshest stretch of this tour, we climb through the rocky terrain, Journeying eastwards shall cross the pass of Pologonka La (5,060m), and Changpas have travelled this way for centuries collecting salt, grazing herds and trading along the Indus or south into Spiti and Kinnaur. At Juksi they had an extensive camp of yak hair yurts set on the barren plain amongst flocks of pashmina goats, sheep and yaks. We shall stop for a while at Pologonka La, we shall then descend into the valley, passing through the land abundant with hot sulphur springs to reach the village of Sumdo at a junction from where one road leads to Leh and another turns right to Tsomoriri, We will camp overnight at Sumdo. Drive through the mountainous terrain to reach the pass at Namshang La, we then descend to reach the lake of Tso Kiager, another small lake en-route, this stretch is very sandy and picturesque, we shall continue our drive to reach the village of Korzok on the banks of Tsomoriri.
Tsomoriri Lake with Korzok village is the most beautiful place of the Rupshu region.
Korzok village, one of the three permanent settlements of the nomads in Rupshu and the only one in the Tsomoriri Valley, is situated on the northwestern shore of the lake. The village has around 100 houses. Korzok monastery built on place of an ancient temple of 9th centaury, was built around 1850.
Overnight in Camps at Tsomoriri.
^^ TOP ^^ Day 10 Tsomoriri Leh (3650 Mts.) (Drive 240 Kms 8-9 Hours) Take the same road back till Sumdo, turn right from Sumdo, we shall take a brief halt at Mahe
The Hemis Monastery is situated in the South of Leh, at a distance of 43 Kms, on the south bank of the Indus River. Hemis Monastery is famous for its annual festival in the month of June/ July. The tenth day (Tse-Chu), of the Tibetan lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of the Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The Hemis monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2-day festival. Its resident Lamas perform the sacred masked dances leading to the destruction of the evil forces, & sacrificial offerings. Continue driving to reach the Leh, overnight in Hotel
Day 11: Day at leisure in Leh Leh is an excellent base for excursions to several nearby monasteries and other worthwhile points of interest. Day for servicing the bikes and to explore the down town. Overnight in Hotel
^^ TOP ^^ Day 12: Leh - Khardung La (5606 M) - Nubra Valley - 125 Kms. Day 13: Hunder Disket - Panamic - Hundar Bacterian camel safari subjects to availability. Drive to Panamic, en route visit Disket. See the
Day 14: Hunder Leh After breakfast drive to Leh over Khardung la. Afternoon rest & relax or take a walk to the local market. Overnight at Guest House/hotel. Day 15: Fly Leh - Delhi Bid goodbye to the Land of Lamas, Monasteries and friendly people and fly to Delhi. Spend the day at leisure in Delhi OR half day city tour of Old and New Delhi. Day 16: Delhi - Agra (Optional Tour) This day will also serve as the reserve day in case of any eventuality of cancellation of Delhi Leh Flight, if every thing goes fine take a optional tour to AGRA to see the Famous Taj Mahal, return back to Delhi and transfer to the international airport to board the homeward flight.
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Day 3: Chandigarh - Mandi 206 km, 7-8 hrs
the road follows the Bhaga River up towards its source. We ascend to a height of 4800M to Suraj Tal (Lake). One has to safeguard against Skidding, especially where the water of the hill streams flows on to the Road. We will ascend Baralacha La (pass) 4830Mand cross into the Zanskar range, one of the remotest region of the world. Overnight in camp at Sarchu.
shall bring us to the Double humped Pass Lachulung La (5060M) and then Pang (4630m). After Pang start zipping along More Plains - a flat stretch of 48 Kms, at an average height of 4200m. At Debring Mor we will steer in the NE direction to reach Tsokar (Salt Lake). We will drive through the harsh unpaved terrain of Rupshu region, ahead lies a wide plain the salt lined Tso Kar shimmered in the heat. We drive through bank and a spring recommended by the Changpas, the nomads
Crossing the spongy salt plain the heat shall be intense, Kyang, the wild ass, like stripe less zebras galloped the plains, keeping their distance but always curious, moving as we moved but always turning to stare. We shall stop to watch the abundant bird life and passing nomads. Overnight in tents near the lake.
Tsomoriri, at a height of 4485m is a lake of fantastic beauty, lying between two mountain ranges of an average height of about 6000m, on the east and west. With a depth of 76m, the lake is about 27 km long and 5-8km wide. It is on the banks of this lake that the black necked cranes, bar-headed goose, ducks and several water birds breed. The bar-headed goose, one of the most endangered species of birds in India, come to the shore of this lake to hatch their eggs between June, to mid-August. The environment at Tsomoriri is so clean, pure with its unspoilt natural beauty.
bridge, to complete the formalities with local police. Continue driving through Chumatang, another hot sulphur spring, keep driving and pass through the Monasteries of Chemrey, Shey and Thiksey. Also visit Hemis Monastery
After break fast drive to Hunder village 125 kms; (5-6 hrs) over Khardong La
pass (5606 mt), the highest motorable road pass in the world. The view from the top of this pass is amazing. One can see all the way south over the Indus Valley to the seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, and north to the giants of the Saser massif. After crossing the pass, drive another 80 kms; (2-3 hrs) across the river Shyok to reach Hunder village. Overnight at fix camp at Hunder.
Disket monastery perched on a rock overhanging a stream, which is the source of energy, used by the mills of the monastery. The monastery is full of Tangkas (silk paintings), magnificent giant statues of the Buddha and old mural paintings in which can be noted a multitude of influences. Visit the Hot springs at Panamic and drive back to your camp at Hunder.