Delhi - Manali - Marrhi Nallah - Rohtang - Koksar
- Sissu - Gondla - Tandi - Keylong - Gemur - Jispa - Darcha - Patseo -
Baralacha La - Bharatpur - Sarchu - Brandy Nallah - Gata Loops - Naki la
- Lachungla - Pang - More Plains - Tanglangla - Rumtse - Gya - Upshi -
Karu - Leh - Delhi
Day 1 : Arrive Delhi
On arrival at the airport you will be met the representative of Canter
Tours and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi - Manali
In the morning after breakfast transfer to the airport to board flight for Kullu. On arrival you will be met the
Canter Tours representative and
transfer to Manali. Overnight at Manali
Day 3 : In Manali
In the morning after breakfast proceed for full day sightseeing of Manali.
Overnight at Manali
Day 4 : Manali - Marrhi Nallah
In the morning start your bike tour crossing the Beas river over Manali
town bridge in the middle of the market & proceed to Palchan the Army
Check post. The Beas river flows on the left side of the road. Passing
through a small Hamlet town you take the first set of hairpin bends on
the Serpentine road on the road to Rohtang. Be prepared to a total
contrast in youather from the partly sunny Manali. There will be fog and
mild rain. Overnight at Marrhi Nallah
Day 5 : Marrhi - Rohtang - Koksar - Sissu - Gondla
In the morning after breakfast bike 17 Kms to Rohtang jot is all ascend. After
a youlcome cup of tea in one of the little Parachute cafes on the Pass
ride downhill till Koksar bridge. If the youather is clear there are
some scenic views of snow-covered peaks & Glaciers in the far horizon.
As you descend there is change in vegetation, the tree line seems to be
getting away from us making way for small bushes. You are in the
foothills of the Pir Panjal range. After crossing the check post follow
the river flow till Tandi. At certain points you will abandon the bank,
climbing uphill but you will be moving more or less along the river. In
case the sun is out youather can be warm & Humid, but the nights will be
cold being on the riverbank & open area. You will encounter some un
metalled stretches of road today after Koksar till Gondla, & cross a few
mountain streams flowing over the road. Overnight at Gondla
Day 5 : Gondla - Tandi - Keylong - Gemur - Jispa - Darcha
At the confluence point of River Chandra & Bhaga cross the bridge &
proceed uphill to Keylong town. En route is Gemur as you ascend the
serpentine road into a gorge. Ahead lies the Jispa hamlet town as you
come out of the gorge & descend downhill. The Ibex hotel at Jispa is the
last comfortable hotel till you will reach Leh town. It's again a green
belt for sometime where you will see many shepherds and their sheep
scattered on the hillsides. You are almost in the Land of Lamas now. In
fact Keylong does support a small Gompa. After crossing Jispa one is
definitely in an isolated region & in far horizon you can distinctively
see the bareness of the Higher Himalayan ranges. Overnight at Darcha.
Day 6 : Darcha - Patseo - Baralacha La - Bharatpur
Darcha can be considered the gateway to the Higher Himalayas as you
cross the bridge & proceed on the hairpin bends uphill. Now it is going
to be all ascend till you come to the cantonment area of military
garrison of Himmatnagar, Appx - 20 Kms ahead. For next 10 Kms you are
into the flat area & then down hairpin bends of Patseo & Zing Zing Bar
as you move into the harsh terrain of the arid mountains. The sun
suddenly seems hotter than before and the atmospheric pressure make the
ride today a bit more challenging. But there are little signs painted in
yellow on the rocks - When the going gets tough the Tough get going! -
boosting our Spirits as you ascend the heights of the Baralacha Pass -
4892 M & Suraj Tal Lake. The Icy blue water & the origin of the river at
the top of the bend that brings us closer to the Pass is a post for the
road construction worker toiling hard everyday to maintainthe roads as
best as they can under the harsh conditions. It is time now for mountain
river crossings. Twice you will be in the middle of water. You will
descend down to the gorge area of Bharatpur, a small make shift Tentage
accommodation area & night halt for the Truck drivers on their way with
fresh supplies to the higher regions. Overnight at Bharatpur
Day 7 : Bharatpur - Sarchu - Brandy Nallah
The Day starts with an easy ride on a flat road, downhill & then
entering a gorge descending to the bridge connecting to the Sarchu
Plateau. Cross over the bridge and you move ahead ascending a small
uphill road making us move to the plateau area & now ahead lies another
vast stretch flat ground with shepherds and their mountain goats. There
are a number of features of arid landscapes with some beautiful scenery,
a delight for photographers who are looking for high rise mountain
ranges, bearing water marks & erosion of soil clearly indicating that
the area was under water a few million years ago. The area is sparsely
green, the wind is chilly & fast blowing here. You are at the Traffic
Check post, which is the entry point into Ladakh. Another 20 Kms ahead
on the base of the Gata loops hair pin bends you will camp for the night
at Brandy Nallah. The road though metalled is very bumpy with flat
stretches of barren land on both sides. Overnight at Brandy Nallah
Day 8 : In Brandy Nallah
Day at leisure. Overnight at Brandy Nallah
Day 9 : Brandy Nallah - Gata Loops - Naki la - Lachungla - Pang
After an easy day yesterday you now move to scale the Gata loops, 23
hairpin bends bringing us top of the mountain feature. You ride up hill,
over an easy slope only to cross the Naki La pass, descend down into the
gorge to an isolated military garrison area & then ascend again to the
height of the Lachulung la - 5065 M. After Naki La you are almost on an
un metalled stretch of gravelly road all the way inside the gorge of
Pang. Overnight at Pang
Day 10 : Pang - More Plains - Tanglangla (Base Camp)
Eight Kms uphill from the Bowl-like feature of Pang you come to the
plateau area of the More plains. Changpas, the Nomadic people who tend
their yaks here and a few wild asses are the only sign of life on this
isolated and long road. This belt not only barren but is known for fast
blowing winds, sandstorms & extreme temperatures in the early morning
and evenings. Fresh stream water can be considered a scarcity in this
area though you might find some isolated mountain streams flowing down
from the Tanglangla. The ride is easy going being a flat plateau area,
but the road, which stretches on ahead, is not as smooth as it looks.
There are tiny bumps all along. Overnight at the base of Tanglang La.
Day 11 : Tanglangla - Rumtse - Gya
You proceed early to scale the World's second highest pass, Tanglang la
- 5,360 M. The ride for the next 17 Kms is a challenge for even the
fittest of riders, youather being cold early in the morning, with
gravelly stretches of the road consuming extra energy, riding over the
altitude of 17,000 Ft will be an acid test for the mind & Body. Reaching
the top is a very satisfying experience & then it's all down hill with
smooth gradients till the base of the Pass. After crossing a small
mountain river it is time to find civilisation again. The Chortens along
the road in the villages announce our arrival in the heart of Buddhist
culture. The greenery changes the landscape, and the red coloured
mountains surrounding us and reflected in the river only add to the
beauty as you hit Rumtse and Gya. Overnight at Gya
Day 12 : Gya - Upshi - Karu - Leh
For next 20 Kms you ride on some metalled & un metalled stretches of
roads & cross over the Upshi bridge across the river Indus. The river
originates in China & crosses over into India somewhere in the higher
regions of these great Himalayan ranges. The road condition improves
considerably as you follow more traffic from the cantonment area & local
villages going to Leh. Ahead lies the Thiksey Monastery & the Chortens
Garden before you finally enter Leh Town. The ride is easy and you can
expect to reach Leh by evening. Overnight at Leh
Day 13 : In Leh
Day at leisure. Overnight at Leh
Day 14 : Leh - Khardungla - Leh
The youather on the pass is not always very reliable and an early start
is called for. The journey from Leh till the North Pullu Check post,
Appx 20 Kms, is fair enough to warm up, with some easy uphill ride.
After North Pullu one has to gear up more. The roads are under
maintenance & construction thus the ride is bumpy & as you proceed ahead
it becomes a gravel track & the ride becomes more and more challenging.
But reaching the top is worth every bit of the effort and syouat! Its
the highest motor able pass in the world, and not many dare to bicycle
their way up to 18,380 Ft. The Truck awaits on top of Khardung la for
the cycles to be loaded and brought back to Leh town. You will ride back
comfortably in 4 Wheel drive vehicles taking time for photography.
Overnight at Leh
Day 15 : In Leh
Day at leisure. Overnight at Leh
Day 16 : Fly Delhi
Early morning transfer to Leh Airport Fly to Delhi. Arrive & check in
the Hotel. Spend the day at leisure and take the International flight
back home.