Riding over some of the highest mountain roads, crossing some of the highest mountain passes, fording icy streams and seeing the captivating panorama of nature unfold before your eyes from the saddle of a thumping 350 cc Royal Enfield bike is as close as it gets to achieving biking nirvana. We try to ensure that every moment you spend riding the legendary bike to the Ladakh region in J&K and Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh remains etched in your memory for a lifetime. With us, these rides are like slowly peeling the layers of a unique mountain culture and lifestyle at the steady pace of the Royal Enfield.
Our guides have grown up in these mountains and have travelled far-and-wide. For you, they can open the doors to the inner sanctum of the local culture. Don’t be surprised if they serve you the best locally brewed firewater and delicacies from the house of one their relatives, who still practice a way of life that remains preserved in the sands of time.
Our fleet of Royal Enfield is well-maintained and are always in top condition in order to tackle some of the harshest terrain in these parts of the world. The Royal Enfield might not be comparable to the latest Japanese or European enduro motorcycle in terms of precision, but over the decades it has stood its ground at every stern test that the Himalayan giants have thrown at it. And to keep the bikes in fine fettle, we always have a backup vehicle with spares and mechanics to tend to mechanical emergencies that might arise during the course of the ride. So that you can ride with the peace of mind, leaving us to take care of your worries.
The detailed itinerary gives the lowdown on various rides guided tours that can be done in Ladakh and Spiti. Besides, we also prepare customised itineraries, depending on the number of days of your trip and size of the group.
The Himalaya offers a unique riding experience, but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind for a safe and memorable adventure.
Riding in India
More often than not, most Westerners find their first brush with Indian traffic a bit unnerving. But it’s not something that you can’t master with a little bit of patience and practise. On the road to Ladakh, after crossing the Rohtang Pass, the traffic thins out considerably, giving you ample amount of space to chug along merrily by the gushing river. If you are coming from a country where you drive on the right, then it might take a little bit of time getting used to riding on the left side of the road. In India, remember, that the right side of the road is meant for oncoming traffic. The best way to get into the flow of things is to ride steadily at your own pace to get a feel of the bike and the road for the first couple of days.
Mountain Riding
There are a few things you need to keep in mind while riding on the high mountain roads. It’s better to err on the side of safety than to be sorry and spoil your trip. You need to be careful at the sharp turns because the Royal Enfield doesn’t like too many emergencies. Watch out for loose gravel, oil slick and even black ice going into turns. On the rough and dirt sections, which can often stretch for many long kilometres, you need to ride your Royal Enfield at a steady pace without banging it around too much. In case of a major breakdown due to improper handling, your ride will be ruined because you might have to do the rest of the journey in the backup vehicle. Major repairs like blown engine, damaged gearbox or busted shock absorbers can be repaired only in either Manali or Leh.
Fording Rivers
Any trip to Ladakh and Spiti involves crossing few streams and rivers. Care should be taken not to stall your bike in the middle of the icy and fast-flowing water. Ensure you are in the right gear for a steady entry and exit out of the stream by taking the shallowest point on the river bed. Avoid splashing water in trying to rush through the wet gravel because the Royal Enfield doesn’t rev like a Japanese or European bike. A big splash of very cold water on the hot engine can trigger seizure of the valves. It can also short-circuit the electricals, which is always a problem to fix on the go. We plan our itinerary in a manner that we can cross the streams before noon when the water level is at its lowest.
“Life is a journey, not a destination,” said the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. When the poet said these words, he certainly didn’t have a motorcycle ride to the Ladakh region in Jammu & Kashmir in his mind. But for this motorcycle tour every word of the poet rings true. The 495-km ride from Manali in Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh to the land of ancient Buddhist monasteries, gompas and stupas is hailed as one of the “classic” motorcycle rides in the world.
This motorcycling adventure offers the riders an opportunity of a lifetime: high-altitude terrain, long off-road stretches, fording icy rivers and breathing vistas of constantly changing hues and colours.
The beginning
This classic ride starts from Manali, passing through pristine alpine forests of the upper Kullu valley towards the mighty Rohtang pass (4,000 metres), which serves as a gateway to the Greater Himalaya and to the Lahaul Valley accompanied by dramatic changes in the scenery as the coniferous forests of towering pine, silver oak and deodar give way to verdant alpine meadows and then to the barren and stark landscape of high-altitude desert and craggy mountains of ever changing hues.
The Journey
The climb up to the Baralacha Pass (4830 meters) before descending to the wind-swept Sarchu(4253meters) Plains will make you feel like riding on the roof of the world. Past Sarchu, the riders will enter into J&K and will make a rapid ascent towards two more high passes called Lachung La and Naki La, but before that they would need to tackle the legendary Gata Loops, a series of 21 uphill switchbacks. And if you are observant enough, you will see herds of Ibex and Blue Sheep grazing on the rough vegetation on high mountains. But Leh, is still far away.
Past Pang, the riders will enter the More Plains, which is an extension of the Southern Tibetan Plateau. It’s one of biggest high-altitude flatlands in the world that’s the home to the Changpa nomads. From here, the comfort of hot shower and a soft bed in Leh is in sight. But one last thing needs to be done: crossing the Tanglang La (Pass) at 5,328 metres. This is the highest pass crossing on the road to Leh.
After crossing this mighty pass, the riders will rapidly descend onwards the town of Upshi from where a short run on a smooth tarmac road along the gushing waters of the Indus river will take you to Leh. Once in Leh, you will see an ancient way of life of peace, harmony and meditation still being practiced in the World Heritage monasteries of Ladakh.
Detailed Itinerary
Bike: Royal Enfield
Day: 01 Arrive in Manali (By Bus)
On reaching Manali, check-in to your hotel and relax till afternoon. After lunch you will be given the keys of your bike. It’s advisable that you ride the bike in and around Manali to get familiarised with your machine. You can visit Solang Valley, Nagar, Haripur Trout Farm, Jagatsukh etc. Come back to the hotel in the evening for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Day: 02 Manali to Jispa Over Rohthang Pass
An early for a day full of adventure. On this day you will cross the Rohtang Pass (3978 meters). It will be challenging to ride the 55-km distance to the top of the pass as you would be tackling broken and steep uphill roads with the chances of the weather turning anytime, before descending to Kokhsar town on the other side of the pass. After Kokhsar, you will ride through Lahaul valley, which is famous the world over for its seed potato. For dinner, you will be served steamed momos and thukpa. Thukpa is a famous traditional soup of the Himalaya, which is made from noodles, meat and vegetables.
Day: 03 Jispa to Pang
Another early morning start for the next destination at Pang. After leaving Jispa, you will enter the Greater Himalayan landscape. On this part of the route, you will see the big giants of the Himalaya along the road before crossing the formidable Baralachha Pass (4,890 meters). From there, you will head towards Sarchu, which is the village of Himachal Pradesh before crossing into J&K. From there, you will head towards the Pang camp but not before going up the 21 switchbacks towards Nakila. The road will be a mix of broken tarmac and dirt sections. At Pang, you will see stunning formations in the mountainside like moonscape carved by the wind and snow over the centuries.
Important Tip: You need to eat well and keep the fluid levels up in your body. So, drink plenty of water. Alcohol is best avoided at this height.
Day: 04 Pang To Leh
The fourth day will greet you with a lot of challenges. First you need to cross the More Plains with its deceptive gradient and thin air surrounded by russet-coloured mountains and snow caps. Once you leave the More Plains behind, you will start climbing towards Tanglang La (Pass), which is the second-highest motorable mountain pass in the world at the height of 5,300 meters. From one specific point on the top, you can see the edge of the Tso Kar lake. After crossing the pass, the road improves dramatically as you speed on your way to Leh. En route you will see the Thiksey and Shey the monasteries, perched on top of a hill. After checking into the hotel spend the remaining part of the day resting and exploring the colourful bazaars of Leh town.
Day: 05 Leh To Khardung La pass And Leh
A good night’s rest will do well to prepare you for the ride to Khardung La (Pass) at 18,360 ft,, which makes it the highest motorable pass in the world. An early afternoon return to Leh from the ride will give you plenty of time to interact with the local people of Muslim and Buddhist origins and visit the Old Fort overlooking the city. Food lovers will have the option of eating launch at one of the many multi-cuisine restaurants on the central street. In the evening, you can enjoy a leisurely dinner at one of the popular garden restaurants.
Day: 06 Leh to Pangong Lake
On this day, the riders will head to Pangong Lake, which is the largest brackish water lake in Asia. Two-thirds of this massive lake is in China. This lake shot to national prominence after being filmed in the Bollywood blockbuster, 3-Idiots. After spending some time at the lake, you will head for crossing the Chang La (Pass) at 5,500 meters and go towards an army checkpoint at Tangse where you will spend the night at a comfortable resort.
Day: 07 Pangong Lake to Leh
After an early breakfast, you will commence the ride to Leh. This will be you last day in the city. So, explore Leh and while you are at it you can shop at the bazaars and visit the Shanti Stupa, which is a white-domed Buddhist structure, which overlooks Changspa. Enjoy a great view of the Indus Valley and the Zanskar range being up close to nature.
Day: 08 Leh to Sarchu
It’s time to say goodbye to Leh as we commence the ride back to Manali. The destination on this days is Sarchu. The riders would need to maintain a good pace to cover the distance of over 200 km over broken roads and dirt sections. Sarchu lies on the windswept plains next to the Tsarap Chu river, which famous for its blue waters due to the presence of natural copper sulphate in the water. In the evening, you might be able to spot herds on Ibex and Blue Sheep in the craggy mountainsides surrounding Sarchu.
Day: 09 Sarchu to Manali
On the penultimate day of this bike expedition, the riders will set out after breakfast with the aim of reaching Manali before sundown. But it’s not going to be an easy ride as they would need to cross the Baralacha Pass once again before overcoming the bad roads on the climb to Rohtang. Once on the other side of the pass, it will be a smooth ride to Manali for a comfortable night in the hotel.
Day: 10 Manali
After the breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye as the tour ends in here.
Cost Includes:
NOTE: BEFORE STARTING THE TOUR FROM MANALI RIDERS WOULD NEED TO DEPOSIT RS. 5,000 AS SECURITY, WHICH WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL IF THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BIKE.
Cost Does Not Include:
Any airfare/ train fare, fuel for the bike, gloves, kneepads, riding jacket, riding trouser, any other meal other than mentioned in itinerary, any personal or travel insurance, tips, gratuities, portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks or any other expenses of personal nature or any item not specified under cost inclusion.
