Overview
We imagine a bike trip in the trans Himalayan mountains of Ladakh full of challenges, hardcore traveling and drivinf on the road for most of the time. While half of the statement stands true, being full of challenges, a bike trip offers sightseeing, village walks, leisure time, camping and adventurous activities as well. The tours which route takes you through two or more states usually involve a possibility for activities at different stops enroute.
Being a Himalayan road trip, it naturally calls for adventures like river rafting, snow activities, village walks, museum visits etc. Depending on the type of tour package you choose, you will find varied offers and facilities included in different packages. There are packages which offer only sightseeing in Ladakh excluding adventurous activities. The bike trips are more fun and thrilling as you are responsible for your own ride.
The Trip
The ride from Manali to Ladakh covers a lot of adventures, sightseeing, exploring villages and witnessing diverse culture enroute. The standard Manali Leh biking tour package includes meals, accommodations, guide, fuels, toll tax, helmets, first aid, oxygen cylinders etc. The tour takes 11 days, covering the cities of Manali and Leh. The package costs Rs. 24999 per person covering several facilities.
Itinerary
The day one starts from you arriving at Manali. Freshen up and set out to explore Manali and local tourist sights.
For early adventure, visit Solang Valley and have fun in the snow, try skiing, snow scooters, cable car rides, ropeway, paragliding etc.
The Leh Ladakh trip begins on the third day when you set out towards Jispa via Rohtang pass. This is the photography section of your trip. Fill your camera roll with the beautiful views of Rohtang pass and the clear blue skies combined with lush green forests at Bhaga Valley enroute Jispa. Camp near the Chandra River surrounded by greenery and forests at Jispa.
The next day is going to be explorations and a chill time. Hop at the ZIngZing bar, known to be one of the highest bars in the world. Explore through the HImalayan village of Sarchu and move forward to the Baralacha La pass at 16,000 ft where you can see the merging of 3 valleys. After a day of exploring and adventure, head back to the camp at Sarchu.
The journey from Sarchu to Leh is the most awaited one. The Gata Loops starts from here with its 18 hairpin loops and leads you to the Nakhee La pass in Ladakh. The views are spectacular with nothing but Ladakhi aqua blue river of NakheeLa, Lachung La. Have a detour to the nearby spots and reach Leh by evening and rest for the night.
The Leh local sightseeing is a rejuvenating experience as you get to cool off your mind in the monasteries and gompas. The leisure part of the trip begins here. Shop at the local markets, try the Ladakhi local dishes like Thukpa, momos, chang, butter tea etc. or just walk around the city and interact with the locals or buy souvenirs for your dear ones.
Drive off to the top of the world, Khardungla Pass at 18,000 ft first thing in the morning. The roads are thrilling to the top, aligned with colorful Tibetan prayer flags. Take a moment to appreciate yourself and admire the wholesome view of the beige beauty of Himalayas. As you descend to the barren desert in Nubra Valley. Camp on the Himalayan sands under a stellar sky and share the adventures of biking you experienced till now with your fellow bikers around a bonfire.
Live out your Bollywood like day at Pangong Lake, known to be the highest saltwater lake in the world. The lake is widely spread across more than 100 kms out of which 50% of it lies within the Chinese borders and the other half lies with India. This high altitude lake offers the best seat by its shore to watch a beautiful golden sunset. The cafes nearby are the best place to spend a lovely evening and spend the night in one of the campsites with a still, serene view of the shimmering ripples of the moonlit lake.
Spend your final days in the mountains on a trip to Kargil and Sham Valley, gushing with the Zanskar river through it. Pay respects at the Hall of Fame museum for our martyrs who fought in the Indo-Pak war. Get amazed at Magnetic Hill, visit Mulbek village, nearby attractions, and hit the Leh-Srinagar highway.
Explore Srinagar on the last day, don’t forget to keep exploring Drass village, Zoji La pass, Dal Lake, local market etc.
