Trans-Himalayan Motorcycle Expedition
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Trans-Himalayan Motorcycle Expedition Region:- Himachal Pardesh, (Kullu-Manali), and Leh-Ladakh Duration: - 15days 14 nights, 11 days motorcycling Country: - Indian Great Himalayas & Karakorum. Tour category: - It’s a package, everything is included. (AP base) Season: - June to Mid-September Ride Grade: - Full of Gravel, Adventurous Ride. Rough & Tough Kindly note: - itinerary and price valid for 2014/2015 Best of Trans-Himalayan motorcycle expedition The highest motor-able road 5,600mtrs Visiting ancient Buddhist monasteries Riding Indo-Tibetan frontier’s most remote roads of Indian Himalayas. Visiting Tibetan nomads with their caravan of Yaks and Pashmina goats. Discover trans-Himalaya’s impressive & enchanting culture. Ride by some of the most impressive settlement of roof of the world” Riding the mighty 500 cc Royal Enfield. Ride article This motorcycle safari is one of the best ways to discover the Indian Himalaya on your next holiday. Experience pure and complete pleasure taking the challenge of the twists and turns, riding your 500cc Royal Enfield motorcycle through the stunning landscape of the Indian Himalayas… This journey starts in New Delhi but the real adventure on your Royal Enfield motorcycle starts with the snowcapped peaks of the Himalaya all around you in the lush green alpine forests of the Kullu valley, known as “The Valley of Gods”. From there we ascend to the high mountain passes of Zanskar & Ladakh known as “The land of high mountains or high mountain passes.” You will visit Changthang, known as “The valley of the Tibetan Nomads.” Here you will see the most amazing crystal clear high altitude Lakes - the Tso-mo-riri and Tso-khar in the region of Changthang on the Indo-Tibet border. This area is also the traditional summer pastures, where the Tibetan nomads bring their yak, goat and sheep to graze… You will cross several of the highest and most beautiful mountain passes in India – the Rohtang pass - 3978 meters; Baralacha pass – 4830 meters; Lachungla pass - 5060 meters, and the highest motor-able pass in the world the Khardung pass – 5602 meters! Finally this tour offers awesome adventure, stunning panoramic views, a very real cultural experience and nonstop incredible fun the kind you only get when you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and just go for it!!! Detailed itinerary day by day: Day 1 – Arrive in New Delhi, India Himalayan Frontiers representative will meet & greet you at the airport IGIA, (Indira Gandhi International Airport) and most flights arrive around midnight. Transfer with a private bus or taxi to your hotel accommodation in central New Delhi for overnight stay. Day 2 - New Delhi to Manali, 570kms - 13/14 hour journey Full day Visit Delhi evening transfer to Bus stand night in Volvo bus to Manali. Day 3 – Around Manali - checking and riding your bike Arrive manali, Transfer to Hotel, breakfast and a short briefing on the Motorcycle Tour. After a quick rundown of road safety precautions and check of personal equipment, we will start out on the narrow adjacent road of villages into the mountains. This is your chance to get acquainted with your bike and get to know the roads. In evening we get back to hotel to have dinner and rest and relax. Day 4 - Manali to Jispa, 135kms 6-7 hours through Roh-tang pass 3980 meters First 35 km is nice road windings till Marhi and then we have to cross the famous traffic jam & challenging muddy road about 10 km on the way to Roh- tang pass (13,044ft). Here you catch fantastic views back towards Manali and the surrounding Himalaya! Next we descend into the Chandra Valley, stop(check point) take a “chai break” before we continue along the bank of the mighty Chandra & then after Tandi we enter in Ghar Valley along Bhaga river through the town of Keylong, have another chai break and then finally head to Jispa (Tod Valley)where we stay in the Hotel. Day 5 - Jispa to Sarchu 90kms, 5 – 6 hours ride; including the BaraLacha pass 4890 meters. Quick stop at the police check post & and then we follow windings road until Baralacha. We cross one of the toughest passes of the journey: the Baralacha pass, lies at 4,890 meters and catch stunning views…Then we descend to "Bharatpur" for a well-deserved chai break and hot lunch. After lunch we ride some fantastic bits of road along the valley floor to our overnight campsite in Sarchu. This is a wonderful semi-permanent camp, dinner and night in the deluxe camp. Day 6 - Sarchu – Rumtse 7H - 180 KMS The road goes to the Lachlung La (5050 m) and plunges into gorge. Keeping an eye out for Tibetan Nomads, we will ascend quickly again and emerge into an amazing high altitude valley.After check-post Pang ride to the Tanglang La (5300 m), the second highest motor able pass in the world. We are rapidly losing altitude and reach the first village Ladakhi Rumtse. nIght in Guest house / camp or Home stay. Day 7: Rumtse - Leh (3500 m) 3h - 70 Km The road winds through a gorge impressive before flowing into the Indus Valley. We follow the Indus 50 km and climb up a side valley to finally reach Leh, the capital of Ladakh. En route, visit the monasteries of Hemis, the largest monastery in Ladakh and Tikse, built atop a rocky peak overlooking the village. Free afternoon, overnight in guest house/ Hotel in Leh. Day 8 – Leh – Alchi –Leh 125 km 6 hours Ladakh is also known as the land of Lamas and monasteries – so we’ll take you to visit one of the oldest monasteries of Ladakh – the Alchi Choskar Montastery, which is renowned for its architecture and ancient wall paintings. The monastery was built by the great Buddhist translator Lottsava Rinchen Zangpo. We’ll have lunch in the restaurant run by the monastery. After lunch we’ll stop to visit the Spituk monastery, it offers a magnificent view over the entire Indus valley. Then we head back to Leh. You have a free evening and spend another night at the hotel. In evening visit the market. Day 9 – Leh – Khardungla-Leh 5602 mtrs 5 hours Today we ride to Khardung pass. This is the world’s highest motor-able road – the Khardung pass at a thrilling 5602 meters 39 km from Leh!! After noon Free, visit to market, or by foot visit Shanti Stupa a good view of Leh town & relax. Day10 - Leh to Tso-Mo-Riri via Upshi 210 Kms, 8 - 9 hours We will be riding 215 kms today so it is best to start early from Leh. We take the Leh – Manali highway until the town of Upshi. Near Upshi we stop at a check post where you need to submit your permits. For the better part of today’s journey we follow the Indus River and the tarmac is in good condition for the most part, barring a few landslide prone stretches… Chumathang itself has little to offer to a visitor apart from a few local roadside restaurants, a Gompa and hot water springs. A quick lunch stop would suffice for most, instead we make our own track, riding off road and following the numerous tracks left by passing vehicles. The last 30kms are a pain, but a boon for those who love off road riding! The track here is a mix of sand and dirt trails littered with small stones. However the view one gets at the end of it makes it all worth it, overnight on the bank of the Tso-mo-riri or Korzok village. Day 11 – Tso Moriri (Korzok) to Tsokar 90 km 6hours From Korzok we back track to the Junction Sumdo and from there take the diversion to reach Tso- Kar. This road tends to be a bit rough for some but great fun for those who appreciate off road motor biking!! It is believed that Tso- Kar was once connected to Tso- Moriri, even though TsoKar has salt water lake while Tso Mo-riri has fresh water… The area surrounding Tso- Kar is protected and forms the Tso- Kar wild life sanctuary. Dinner and night in the deluxe camp. Day 12 – Tsokar to Jispa 240 kms, 8-9 hrs Lachulang la pass 5,060 mtr (16,602 feet) Baralacha pass 4890 meters Today we climb up to the Lachlung pass at 5,060 meters. Lachlung, Once over the pass you’ll enjoy the winding ‘switchbacks’ known as the Gata Loops all the way down to Sarchu. We stop in Bhaartpur to have a chai before we tackle the Baralacha pass and night in hotel. Day 13 - Jispa to Manali 135kms, 6 -7 hours including the Rohtang pass 3980 meters Today is a short but pure bliss ride of bad roads! Streams to cross, frozen puddles and dirt tracks to navigate all the way up to and back over the Rohtang pass. We’ll take our chai and lunch break at Marhi before descending back to the lush green of the Kullu valley, the sparkling Bease River and finally you are back in Manali! As it’s the last night of this adventure we’ll celebrate and party with all our new friends. Night in hotel. Day 14 - Manali to Delhi 570kms, 16 hours You have the day to relax and enjoy more time in the hot springs, do a little shopping or perhaps book a massage… We’ll enjoy a farewell lunch together around 1:30pm. At 4:30pm you will be transferred to the bus station. This is a Deluxe Volvo Bus service from Manali to Delhi.