Manali-Zanskar-Leh
Our tours will take you to some of the highest motorable roads in the world and into the wild and fascinating landscape of Ladakh. Your ride will take you from the lush green of the mountain foothills to places high up in the Himalayas, all on the famous Royal Enfield motorcycle. Hidden behind sky-high mountain ranges lies the region of Ladakh, often called “Little Tibet”. There’s a famous Ladakhi saying: “The land is so barren and the passes so high that only our best friends or worst enemies would want to visit us” Quite fitting, when you consider that the roads leading to the Himalayan region of Ladakh are open for only four months a year and remain snowbound for the remaining eight. We will travel on the age-old pathways used by the caravans going up the Silk Route centuries ago. Like these ancient travellers, we will pass through some of the most breath-taking landscapes found on earth. The highest passes, the most famous mountain roads, crystal clear turquoise lakes beneath the towering mountain ranges – this ride will be the adventure of a lifetime.
- We will meet you at Delhi Airport and transfer you to your Hotel. Because fellow group members may be arriving on different flights, we will wait to meet the fellow group members on the next day at the breakfast table and the staff at the dinner table.
- Today we rise very early to board our flight to Leh. On arrival in Leh we will be transferred to our Hotel and rest of the day is free for acclimatisation.
- Post breakfast we’ll hold a briefing to cover safety precautions, touring style, road conditions, and check of personal equipment, with time to select our bikes and become familiar with starting procedures, control layouts and bike handling. Trial day visiting the Shey Palace, Hemis and Thiksey Monasteries.
- Time:5-6 hrs
- Distance: 125kms
- Elevation: 3510 M / 11512 FT
- Post early breakfast we will start riding towards Lamayuru the road is nice next to the Indus River. The terrain at the ancient Lamayuru Monastery is like Moon Land as it is believed to be a Lake thousands of years back.
- Time: 7-8 hrs
- Distance: 250km
- Elevation: 4031 M / 13221 FT
- Post breakfast we ride to Rangdum over the Fotu La the highest pass on the Leh – Srinagar road, through Suru Valley the gateway to Zanskar valley, Green Fields Massif Mountains continue further to the Herdsman Village Parkachik and Panikhar in Suru Valley facing the massif Nun and Kun Peaks above 7000 M / 22960 FT.
- Time: 5-6 hrs
- Distance: 100km
- Elevation: 3505 M / 11600 FT
- Post breakfast we’ll ascend the adventurous track further until we reach Penzi La pass the highest pass on the Zanskar road before descending along a huge glacier at the entrance to Zanskar Valley continuing further to Padum the small capital and the district headquarters of Zanskar.
- A strange ride across the huge central Zanskar plain. From your first step, the dramatic Karsha Gompa can be seen clinging to dark jagged cliffs over the Doda river. All the way you will be dominated by the Nun and Kun massif around Padum: ice, snow and rocky peaks.
- Time: 7 hrs
- Distance: 100kms Round Trip
- Elevation: 4400 M / 14520 FT
- Post breakfast we will ride to visit the Karsha monastery, a medieval oasis of peace and an important center of the Buddhist faith, This Gelukpa monastery is the largest of Zanskar.
- Further heading out to the Stongde monastery, which overlooks the Zanskar River from a rocky outcrop – a special highlight of our tour and the castle of Zangla towering on a mountain ridge above the village.
- Time: 7 hrs
- Distance: 100 Kms Round Trip
- Elevation: 4000 M / 13200 FT
- Today we will ride passing the Raru village, the pass goes over moon land (that can be interesting if like birds) to the beautiful located Muni Gompa. Muni village can be seen deep inside the valley like typical Zanskar cauldron with gardens.
- The road will show you views of great peaks. Bardan Gompa, perched on a rock promontory, was built in the 17th century and can be visited on the way.
- Time: 7-8 hrs
- Distance: 230 km
- Elevation: 2676 M / 8777 FT
- Today we start early as the day is long. We ride back on the same route to Kargil.
- Time: 5-6 hrs
- Distance: 140 kms
- Elevation: (3718 M / 12270 FT) – FOTU LA (4084 M / 13479 FT) – TINGMOSGANG. (3510 M / 11512 FT)
- We ride back on the same Srinagar – Leh Highway to our next night stay at the famous ancient Tinmosgang Village via Namki La Pass & Fotu La Pass highest pass on the Srinagar – Leh highway.
- Time: 4 hrs
- Distance: 100 km
- Elevation: 3600 M / 11800 FT
- Post breakfast we continue on the same Srinagar – Leh highway en route visiting one of the famous Likir Monastery.
- Time: 4 hrs
- Distance: 90 km
- Elevation: Khardung La 5570 M / 18380 FT.
- Today we will have an excursion ride to the One of the Highest Motorable Road in the world Khardung La (5570 M / 18380 FT). After lunch free to explore the local market.
- Early morning transfer to the Airport to board the flight to Delhi
- Transfer to the Airport to board the flight back home.