Ladakh Overland Tour

5,605 meters above sea level – Welcome to the world’s highest motorable pass!

The way up is tough and adventurous. We’ll be heading northward through the Himalayas on National Highway 21 – a narrow road that snakes along a precipice. Most of it is relati well-paved, but frequently strewn with rocks, or slippery with mud or snow. The bike tour starts off with several passes that are astoundingly high by western standards: 3,975 m, 4 m, 5,065 m, 5,328 m and finally 5,608 meters altitude at Khardung La pass – it’s the ultimate challenge for bikes and bikers – the "Highway to Heaven"!

In this awe-inspiring landscape, we’ll get to know the warm hospitality of the Buddhist Ladakhis, experience the spirituality of their impressive monasteries, admire the colorful royal of Leh, and let our minds take us back in time at the ancient campsites of the caravans. In this part of the world, any tour will have the character of an expedition, no matter how planned and prepared it is. With the Taglang La (5.328 m) and Khardung La (5.608 m), we’ll be tackling the two highest motorable passes in the world. The 480-km overland route from Ladakh to the upper In Valley was not opened for civilian traffic until 1989. We’ll be entering it from Manali Valley, camping in a variety of environments, exploring inaccessible side valleys, and approaching whole tour without a rigid schedule thanks to our flexible camps.

Day 1 – Arrival in Delhi and bus transfer to Kasauli

A privately chartered AC super deluxe bus will be waiting for us at the airport for the 12 to 14-hour drive to the hill station 350 km north of Delhi to Kasauli.

Day 2

Today we'll get introduce with our Bullet motorcycles. We're confident that it will be the start of a great friendship. To warm up, we're going to explore winding mountain ro along the picturesque to Mandi

Day 3 – Ride to Nagar (1,760m)

We’ll arrive in Kullu Valley in the afternoon. Our hotel is beautifully situated on a slope next to Nagar Castle, with a view of the lush vegetation of the valley and gleaming snow-cap peaks. Next, we'll get to know the crew and the immediate vicinity. Group dinner.

Day 4 – Manali (2,000m) and Solang Valley, 60km

Idyllically set among forested hills, Manali is a perfect setting for shopping in the bazaar, visiting the Buddhist temple, or snacking on the veranda of one of the many small overlooking the old town. Overnight in the stylish, comfortable Resort overlooking the bustling town.

Day 5 – Rohtang Pass (3,890m), Hotel in Keylong (3,350m), 100km

In Tibetan, “Rohtang” means “a pile of corpses”, and the pass once marked the end of the inhabitable world in the imagination of many Indians. Even today, crossing the pass on bikes can be an adventure, with convoys of trucks and a track muddy with meltwater providing our first proper challenge. From here on out, the road is our destination, especially for next four days. On the ninth day of our journey, we’ll reach Leh, an exotic green oasis in the otherwise arid Greater Himalayas – at the point where our highway meets the old Silk from China to Persia. Near Keylong, the main town of the Lahaul region, we’ll be spending the night in a hotel near the confluence of the Bagha and Chandra rivers (3,350 m).

Day 6 – Baralacha Pass (4,890m), Camp Near Sarchu (4,350m), 100 km

The vegetation is getting sparse at this point and the rugged mountain ranges are becoming ever loftier. We’ll be setting up camp at Brandy Nalla, after crossing the pass but by reaching the Sarchu Valley checkpost.

Day 7 – Lachalang Pass (5,065 m), Taglang La pass (5,360 m), Camp Near Rumtse or Hotel (4,200 m), 180 km

Today will be a tough day in the saddle. We’ll ride on our bikes from Sarchu over Lachalang La pass (5,065 m) to the vast lunar landscape of the Moore Plains at 4,300 meters. There, we’ll begin our ascent of the Taglang La pass (5,360 m). After a stop at the crest for a quick toast and summit photo op, we’ll be descending to 4,400 meters, setting up camp in the first Ladakhi village.

Day 8 – Indus Valley – Tikse monastery – Leh, Hotel (3,550 m), 100 km

At Uphsi we’ll enter the Indus Valley, rolling on to the Tikse monastery. We’ll be spending the night in Leh, the capital of Ladakh. At 3,550 meters, the air is noticeably thicker.

Day 9 – Leh, Sightseeing and Rest, Hotel in Leh

Leisurely breakfast and free time for sightseeing. We recommend a stroll through town to the royal palace, shopping in the bazaars of the old city, or a hike up to the stupa overloo Leh. We’ll be having dinner in a restaurant with a beer .

Day 10 – The Khardung La pass – at an altitude of no less than 5,606 meters! From there we’ll continue into the wild Nubra Valley; guest house in Diskit (3,600 m), 160 km

50 km on the road and 2,000 meters ascent to Khardung La pass, the highest motorable road in the world. After a brief stop in the thin mountain air for a photo, we'll descend qui into the arid Nubra Valley, which until recently was a restricted military zone due to the nearby Pakistani and Chinese borders. It's now a new high point of our Ladakh tours, breathtaking views, remote oasis villages and rugged river landscapes.

Day 11 – Nubra (3,600 m) 40 km

Morning visit to Diskit. Monastery and bikeing day trip.

Day 12 - Westwards to Alchi (3,200 m), deluxe camp or guest house, 160 km

Back down at the Indus, we’ll continue to Basgo, the ancient capital of western Ladakh, with its impressive temple and palace ruins. We’ll cross the Indus on the way to the oas Alchi. Alchi’s monastery contains impressive murals dating back to the 10th century – the greatest artistic treasures of Ladakh. We'll spend the night in a basic but picturesque house. Our crew will set up its kitchen tent in the garden and serve us a delicious meal.

Day 13 – Fatu La pass and Lamayura, deluxe camp or guest house rooms, 180 km

After a morning visit to the monastery, we’ll be heading out to the westernmost point of our tour, into little-known regions of the Indus Valley. We’ll be crossing Fatu La pass (3,990 m the panorama road overlooking Moon Valley. Our destination for the day is the Lamayuru monastery, situated in an amazing craggy landscape at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. We’ll be returning to Alchi for the night.

Day 14 – Last night in Ladakh, hotel in leh, 100 km

The beautiful grounds of the monastery and the bejeweled Buddha statue inside will be our last contact to the living Buddhism of the red-robed monks of Ladakh. We’ll spend the afternoon and night in Leh.

Day 15 – Flight to Delhi, Sightseeing and Shopping

Our domestic flight back to the capital will be leaving in the morning. Our good midrange hotel is centrally located in Karol Bagh, downtown New Delhi, the modern business center of city. We’ll take time for sightseeing in the bazaars of Old and New Delhi.

Day 16 – Relaxation and City Sightseeing in Delhi

For those of you who would like to spend another seven to eight hours on Indian highways, we'll be saddling up for 190-km motorcycle ride to Agra to see the world-renowned Taj Mahal. If you'd rather take it easy, strolling through the bazaars and doing a bit of shopping, feel free to take the day off in Delhi. We'll be getting back together in the evening for our fare dinner in a Tandoori restaurant, followed by the transfer to the airport.

Day 17 – Departure from Delhi to Home Country

We'll reach the airport around midnight. Depending on your destination, you'll be arriving at home in the morning or afternoon.