The Motorcycle Tours India the Indian plains and crosses the highest passes of the Himalayas into the highland of Western Tibet. On the way you will see Hindu valleys, Buddhist monasteries and an extraordinary landscape of gorges, wild rivers, snow-covered mountain ranges, green alpine meadows, hot springs and desert valleys. You will conquer the thin air to attain the highest point in the world man can reach on wheels. A truly exhilarating journey.

Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi. Group is met and transferred to the hotel. No Cycling, Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2: Late morning, a 5 hour (250km) car ride takes us to the city of Chandigarh, followed by an evening sightseeing tour. The city was designed by the famous French architect Le Corbusier. but the designs suitability for the Indian way of life is disputed. No Cycling, Accommodation: Hotel

Day 3: After a 9 hour bus/ car  ride (320 km) through the hilly landscape of Himachal Pradesh, the Kulu valley, and alongside the river Beas, we finally reach Manali (at 2.000 m altitude). Remainder of the day is free. No Cycling, Accommodation: Hotel

Day 4: We assemble our bikes before taking an exploratory tour around Manali which helps with some acclimatization. Visit the temple of the Goddess Hadimba, which was built in 1553 AD, and is situated in a cedar forest. Then drive to old-Manali (further along the Beas river), and on to the spring of Vashist before returning to Manali. Cycling: Short distance, Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 5: Today we leave Manali, riding through forests as we head towards Rothang pass (3.985 m). We pass the last village of Kothi and after 35km we arrive at our camp (3000m altitude) below the pass,. Here we can acclimatize further in the water-shed of the Rohthang Pass, where we can expect some rain. Cycling: 40km, 1300 Am Accommodation: Camping at 3320.

Day 6: Through green alpine meadows, the road winds up to the Pass at 3.960 m. Weather permitting, we should have a spectacular panoramic view. To the north you can see the glaciers of Lahul and Spiti as well as the barren mountains of Ladakh. To the south the green woods of The Kullu valley are visible. In winter, the pass used to be a great hazard to the trading Caravans with sudden snowstorms and avalanches claiming lives; Therefore the name Rothang (meaning ‘death heap). We enjoy the 1.000 m descent to the village of Khoksar, passing green meadows where the Gaddis (nomad shepherds) are tending their sheep, goats and cows. Khoksar is in the district of Lahul. Biking along the Chandra river we will reach Tandi, today's camp. It is situated at the junction of the rivers Chandra and Bhaga, now called river of Chenab. The story goes that Chandra, the daughter of Moon and Bhaga, son of the sun, got married and the river therefore became known as the Chandra-Bhaga River. Cycling: 60km, 800Am Accommodation: Camping 2900

Day 7: Today we cross the Tibetan-Buddhist cultural border, reaching Keylong (3.350 m), which used to be the capital of Lahul. There are Buddhist monasteries in this vicinity. In the middle of last century, the Herrnhuter missionaries settled in Keylong and to one of them, A.H. Francke, we are obliged for most of the knowledge of Ladakhs history. In the afternoon we have to strain our calf muscles again to reach our camp at Jispa, where we arrive after 37 km. Cycling: 60km, 1000 Am, Accommodation: Camping 3300

Day 8: Past Darcha, with its mighty river landscape (here the Zanskar trek starts), we reach Pasteo. It is only a short day, but allows us a final chance tor acclimatize. Cycling: 40 km, 1300 Am, Accommodation: Camping 4260

Day 9: The Baralacha pass, our first key point on the tour, is ahead of us (at 4880 m) which means an ascent of 1.400 m. The landscape around us becomes more barren as we leave the trees behind.. Some of us may consider a ride in the accompanying vehicle overtaking us about lunch time. But hoping that the next pass will be easier, we pluck up the necessary strength. The pass is a junction of two caravan routes and the end of our cross road. There are 3 rivers on this flat pass - Chandra, Bhagaand, and one of the source rivers of the Zanskar flowing north to the Indus, which we will follow. We have now crossed the Himalayan weather border and therefore only little rainfall reaches the desert–like mountains of Ladakh and Rupshu, which are in front of us. An exciting descent via Sarchu, the border to Ladakh, takes us down to Whisky Bridge (the name was given by the Indian road workers). Cycling: 75km,1000 Am, Accommodation: Camping 4200m a.s.l

Day 10: Narrow winding roads lead us from Whisky bridge to Nikli pass (5.050 m), continuing down into a vast valley. On the pass many stone remains remind of past caravans. They have been left decorated with prayer flags to soothe the mountain demons. Crossing the flat high altitude valley, we reach the 5.065 m high Lachulung-la. We are surrounded by the towering rock bulwark of the Trans Himalayan mountain range. We cycle down into a bizarre gorge until we reach Pang at the second tributary of the river Zanskar called Zara-Chu (Chu = river); it disappears in an impassable gorge. Our camp will be here on 4.500 m, where there are a few restaurants and a checkpoint. Cycling: 60km, 1200 Am, Accommodation: Camping 4500

Day 11: We start with a shortl climb to reach the Mora plain, at 4.700 m, which is a dry, high- altitude desert, typical for the arid Rupshu. Only Changpa nomads are living here with their yaks, goats and sheep, which are grazing at an altitude of up to 5.600 m. Here we can see their tents made of yak hair or we meet the nomads while they change their grazing areas, hidden in the folds of this oversized hilly landscape, with only the highest tops covered with snow. Today we experience one of the culminating points of our trip. Leaving the road on an unmetalled track between two mountain ranges, we find a river source, gushing from a green meadow. Nearby the Toskar, a lake almost solidified by its mineral content. Some years ago, the
Changpa nomads still used goats to transport the salt to all corners of Ladakh. The lake has no discharge, but its connection to another small lake feeds it with fresh water. This is the native place of the almost extinct Kyang, the wild donkey, formerly populating the highlands of the Rupshu and Tschangthang. The haughty animals have found a last refuge in the vicinity of this lake. Also geese as well as the Tibetan laughing gull are living here. The lake is a few kilometers from our camp and we spend the afternoon and evening roaming the area. Cycling: 55km, 500 Am, Accommodation: Camping

Day 12: We are now only separated from the Indus valley by the Taglang–La (5.370 m). In one immense traverse starting in Debling (4.800 m), a decayed village, the road reaches the pass, which can be seen as a thin line on the mountain side. The daring bends of the old caravan path follow alongside us, and are bordered by Chorten and Mani walls. Our ascent is easy as the road has not been constructed steeply. After only 3 hours we arrive at the pass and are rewarded with an amazing view of the mountain range to the north, the Karakorum and the descending road down to the Indus valley. Without any break we cycle downhill for 50 km. We are past the almost inhabited wilderness and are greeted by villages with irrigated fields. Our camp is in the romantic narrow gorge, dug out by the river Gya. We have the chance to meet friendly villagers and also have a well–earned bath in the river. Cycling: 65km,1000 Am, Accommodation: Camping 4100

Day 13: The narrow Gya gorge releases us towards the vast Indus Valley, where we cross the river, which the Tibetans and Lada dakhis call Singhi-Chu. It rises from the ‘muzzle of the lion near the distant holy mountain of Kaliash. Once more we cross the Indus before reaching the monastery Hemis via another steep ascent of 30 km, which is hidden in a mountain valley. It is famous for the mysterious mask dances which we will see today. The hike up to the hermitage is easy and the camp will be close to the monastery. Cycling: 41km, 400 Am, Accommodation: Camping 3500

Day 14: This is the last stage to Leh as we cycle through the Indus valley with its green fields, willows and poplars, suspended by a desert of sand and rubble and white washed Chorten enclosures. We travel towards the most typical Ladakhi monastery of tikse. It overlooks the vast plane of the Indus valley and the view from the roof of the monastery is impressive. We continue past Shey, the old capital of Ladakh, the previous residence of the Royal family. Continuing past the stone figures of the 5 Dhyani Buddhas we at last arrive in Leh (3.500 m). Cycling: 44km, Accommodation: Hotel 3500

Day 15: Today we have to conquer the 5.602 m high Kardung-La.. This pass should not be too tough considering the high altitude training of previous days. A jeep will accompany us, but we will have to ‘power for 4–5 hours in thin air to eventually be rewarded by the experience of a 40 km (2.000 m) descent! It will be an unforgettable adventure. This afternoon, the bikes be packed for their return (by truck) to Delhi. Cycling: 80km, 2100 Am, Accommodation: Hotel 3500

Day 16: This morning we rest. Around lunchtime we do some sightseeing on foot in and around Leh. Cameras are not to be forgotten for the fantastic view from the fortress of Namgialtsemo to the snow–coverd Stok–kangri range beyond the desert like Indus valley. No Cycling, Accommodation: Hotel 3500

Day 17: We travel by jeep to the adjacent monasteries of Phyang and Spituk. If possible in the evening, we will try to organize a demonstration of the Ladakhi culture. Today we also do sightseeing of Shankar Monastery and the small but interesting Leh Gompa. The Shankar Gompa is an smaller Gompa of Spituk Gompa. At the most, 20 Monks live here but few are permanetly in residence even though the Monastery itself is fairly active. No Cycling, Accommodation: Hotel 3500

Day 18: This morning we return by flight to Delhi and transfer to our hotel. No Cycling, Accommodation: Hotel

Day 19: We travel by morning train to Agra followed by sightseeing at the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, etc. We return t Delhi by evening train (subject to schedules) – otherwise by bus.. No Cycling, Accommodation: Hotel

Day 20: City tour and transfer to the Airport for your International flight.