Day 01: New Delhi - Kalka - Shimla (By Train/Car)
You shall be joining the tour at the New Delhi Railway Station or another convenient
location informed to you (if you haven’t purchased a Meet & Greet Add-on) where you’ll
be met by an ABoriginal Tours rep. An early morning air-conditioned express train
will bring you to Kalka, at the footsteps of the Himalayas, in about 4 hours. Breakfast
is served in the train & is inclusive in the fare. From Kalka a 3 hour road journey
in an AC Car will bring you to the erstwhile “summer capital” of India. The evening
can be spent taking a stroll on The Mall, soaking-in the charm of Shimla & its surrounds
and visiting the Christ Church on the Ridge.
Day 02: Shimla (short familiarisation ride – 50 KM)
Today you’ll meet your Royal Enfield Motorcycle, your ride for the next several days.
After an exhaustive briefing by your ride leader you’ll be taking a short ride in
an effort to know your bike better and to get familiar with its controls and riding
conditions in India. The rest of the day is free for leisure or sight-seeing.
Day 03: Shimla - Sarahan (175 KM)
After breakfast it’s time to kickoff your motorcycle journey into Kinnaur. You’ll
be leaving Shimla riding up the Hindustan-Tibet Highway (NH-22) towards Rampur. We
leave the NH-22 at Jeori, from where an 18 Km road winds up the mountain to Sarahan,
home to the legendary Bhimakali temple, dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali,
presiding deity of the rulers of former Bushahr State.
Day 04: Sarahan - Sangla (95 KM)
Today’s ride is comparatively short but challenging nonetheless. Back-tracking till
Jeori, you’ll take the NH-22 again towards Kinnaur. Riding along the fierce Sutlej
river flowing angrily in the gorges below you’ll reach Karchham. At this turning
point, a road continues towards Spiti and another turns towards the Baspa Valley
and on to the beautifull village of Sangla. This is another 18 km stretch of narrow
winding road with hair-raising gorges & cliffs high above the Baspa river gushing
below. Accommodation is in comfortable tented camps at a beautiful setting at the
banks of the river, inclusive of all meals.
Day 05: Sangla - Chitkul - Kalpa (100 KM)
After enjoying a quite morning in the lap of Sangla valley you’ll saddle-up once
again, first for a short ride to Chitkul, another quaint village in the Baspa Valley.
Chitkul is the last village on this road towards border with Tibet (China) and offers
great views of snow clad peaks of the Kinnaur region. After spending a little time
here you’ll return to Sangla for lunch and shortly afterwards leave for our next
destination, Kalpa. Again backtracking to the NH-22 at Karchham you’ll continue
on the road towards Recong Peo, nestled 7 km above which is the village of Kalpa.
Day 06: Kalpa
You’ll most likely be spending this day absorbing the stunning views of the “Kinner
Kailash” and reminiscing the past few days after you left Shimla. Or perhaps, taking
walks around this lovely village & its apple orchards. We, on the other hand, will
be busy arranging your Inner-line permits (which are required by “foreign visitors”
for visiting the areas ahead) and giving the motorcycles a thorough check-up for
the journey ahead. You’ll be heading further up the NH-22 tomorrow and soon enter
a region devoid of certain amenities (cell phone networks & provision stores, among
other things) so its your last chance to make long distance phone calls & stack-up
on toiletries & whatnot.
Day 07: Kalpa - Nako Lake (120 KM)
As you ride further up the Hindustan-Tibet highway, the mountain landscape starts
to change from green to rocky & barren. Still riding along the Sutlej you’ll reach
Spello where your permits will be checked at a Police check-post. Another 35 km
ride will bring you to Khab, a small village at the confluence of the Spiti & Sutlej
rivers. Leaving Sutlej, from this point on you’ll be riding along the Spiti river
to reach Nako, a village situated near the small but beautiful Nako lake (3660 M).
This is first of the many high altitude lakes visited by you on this tour. The
location of this village is remote & infrastructure is basic. Accommodation here,
is in comfortable tented camps inclusive of all meals.
Day 08: Nako - Tabo - Kaza (115 KM)
Today’s ride will take you further up into higher mountains (& across the infamous
“Maling Nala”, your first major water crossing) and down to Chango where you’ll enter
Spiti Valley. Your first destination is Tabo where you visit the historic monastery.
After having lunch at a restaurant nearby you’ll embark on the days second leg,
a 47 km ride along the Spiti river to Kaza.
Day 09: Kaza
Kaza is the head-quarters of the Spiti sub-division and you’ll be staying here for
two consecutive nights. You’ll be able to use facilities like Internet & long distance
phone calls again, “luxuries” you left behind at Kalpa. You’ll also be visiting
the Key Gompa and Komic village (4275 M), considered to be one of the highest villages
in Asia, on your motorcycle.
Day 10: Kaza - Chandra Tal (100 KM)
Continuing up the Spiti Valley & further into higher Himalayas, today you’ll arrive
at the second High Altitude Lake on your tour (enjoying a packed lunch, en route).
After crossing a high pass (Kunzum La, 4550 M) and a couple of streams (glacier
melts) you’ll reach a pasture land 4 KM short of the beautiful & desolate lake of
Chandra Taal (Vehicles are not allowed beyond this point & camping is no longer permitted
near the lake shore). The support staff will help set up our own camp here and cook
the evenings dinner while you can take the walk upto the lake. Accommodation will
be 2 persons in one 4-man tent. Nature’s call will have to be answered in a small
toilet tent with a folding camping toilet (homemade-type, with saw-dust!). Although
an “awkward” experience, besides being eco-friendly its a lot better than having
to find an inconspicuous spot in the open, flat & barren surroundings of the lake
at 4200 M (that too after dark, in windy & cold conditions) !!!
Day 11: Chandra Taal - Jispa (140 KM)
After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to the “Moon Lake” and head down into the Lahaul
Valley, along the Chandra, a river originating from a glacier near Baralacha La.
The road (or the lack of it) from Chandra Taal all the way to Gramphu (where it
meets the popular Manali-Leh “highway”) offers some of the most thrilling riding
experience you’ll have on this tour. This stretch of the journey has several big
& small water crossings challenging enough to test your grit & determination. After
Gramphu its a relatively smooth ride till Jispa (20 km ahead of Keylong) where you’ll
be able to snuggle in a soft, warm bed once again (and enjoy a hot shower) in a beautiful
Guest House right on the banks of Bhaga, a river originating from Suraj Taal (Sun
Lake) also near Baralacha La. The Chandra & Bhaga rivers meet at Tandi (which is
also the last fuel station before Leh) & together form the Chandrabhaga river which
is renamed as “Chenab” in Jammu & Kashmir state. Jispa is small village, mainly
serving as a convenient stop-over on the way to Ladakh.
Day 12: Jispa - Sarchu (85 KM)
85 km from Jispa, Sarchu is our next stop and also the last settlement (& check-point)
in Himachal Pradesh. You reach here after crossing over Baralacha La (4830 M), one
of the many high passes on this tour & considered to get the maximum snowfall during
the winters. You’ll also pass Suraj Taal, another of the high altitude lakes in
the region. Accommodation is in comfortable tented camps inclusive of all meals.
Day 13: Sarchu - Tso Kar (125 KM)
Once you leave Sarchu it becomes evident that you’re going deeper into the Himalayas
and any sights of human settlement will become few & far between from here on, barring
some temporary “tent restaurants”, truck stops & Indian Army barracks. Crossing
another two high passes (Nakee La 4905M & Lachlung La 5095M) and the vast expanse
of plain area called “the morey plains” (at an average height above 4000 M) which
stretches for almost 35 km’s you’ll reach Tso Kar (4524 M), the third high altitude
lake on this tour. Surrounded by a wild life sanctuary, Tso Kar is a salt lake and
breeding ground of many rare migratory birds. Accommodation is in comfortable tented
camps inclusive of all meals.
Day 14: Tso Kar - Leh (135 KM)
Leaving after breakfast, you'll backtrack to the Manali-Leh road and head towards
Taglang La (5359 M), another of the high passes on this journey. Beyond this mighty
pass, the road meanders down all the way to the banks of the river Indus, at Upshi.
Turning north-west from here, the journey will take you along the banks of river
Indus to Leh, the administrative head-quarters of Ladakh and entry/exit point for
most travelers coming to this region.
Day 15: Leh
Another day for relaxation, exploration or contemplation depending on your inclination.
Day 16: Leh - Chang La - Pangong Tso (160 KM)
Today, once you leave Leh it becomes evident that you’re going deeper into the Himalayas
and any sights of human settlement will become few & far between from here on, barring
some temporary “tent restaurants”, truck stops & Indian Army barracks. Making an
early start, today you’ll cross another high pass (Chang La, 5289 M) and a crazy
stream of glacier melts (Paagal Nala) to reach the banks of Pangong Tso, the first
of the many High Altitude Lakes visited by you on this tour. Accommodation is in
comfortable tented camps inclusive of all meals.
Pangong Tso, a 134 km (83 mi) long endorheic lake, is one of the largest brackish
lakes in Asia situated at a height of about 4350 M in the Changthang region of Ladakh.
You can just laze around the camps, enjoy spectacular views of the lake changing
its colours or take short hikes up the hills behind you for even better vantage points
to watch the sunset as village folk return from the pastures with their herds of
sheep.
Day 17: Pangong Tso - Leh (160 KM)
Backtracking over the “Paagal Nala” & Chang La you’ll be returning to Leh.
Day 18: Leh - Khardung La - Hunder (125 KM)
Today's journey will take you across Khardung La (5359 M), if not the highest, at
least considered to be one of the highest motor-able passes in the world, into the
Nubra Valley and at the footsteps of the Karakoram range of the Himalayas. Going
past the Khardong village, you’ll get the first sight of the Shyok river, flowing
in a wide valley. From Khalsar, you’ll turn left towards Deskit and on to the little
village of Hunder.
Day 19: Hunder
Between Hunder and Deskit lie several kilometres of sand dunes where two-humped bactrian
camels graze in the neighbouring "forests" of sea-buckthorn. There is also a Gompa
next to the road beyond which you’re not allowed. You can either laze around, take
walks around the village or to the sand dunes or if you are in the mood for yet another
monastery take a hike 2 km up the hill to a deserted monastery. The place is quite
eerie but its worth the climb for spectacular views of the Nubra Valley.
Day 20: Hunder - Khardung La - Leh (125 KM)
You’ll saddle-up yet again and for the last time on this tour for your return journey
to Leh.
Day 21: Leh
Your last day in Leh. You can shop for souvenirs or just explore the historic city
of Leh at your own pace. This day also works as a reserve day between your flight
to New Delhi incase an unforeseen event delays our arrival from Hunder.
Day 22: Leh - New Delhi (By Air)
It’s time to say your good-bye’s to your fellow travelers & the Himalayas today.
You will be transferred to the Airport where you’ll catch an early morning flight
to New Delhi. At the New Delhi airport you’ll be met by an ABoriginal Tours rep
who’ll transfer you to a convenient location (like Connaught Place) which shall be
the “end” of your tour. If you’ve purchased a “Farewell” add-on you’ll be transferred
to the hotel where your accommodation has been arranged.
