Experience amazing Zanskar in all its glory – deep in the heart of the Himalayas, in remote valleys that were till recently isolated from the outside world. A magical land once lost to time, finally open to the greater public today is a privilege to ride through. Witnessing the beauty of the area, the simplicity and spirituality of its people and the magical scenery will make your ride an adventure of a lifetime! From smooth tarmac to dirt roads, winding valleys and gorges along the flowing rivers, climbing and descending some of the highest mountain passes in the world - Zanskar has it all!
The acclimatization day – a leisurely start post breakfast as we climb to the Atal Tunnel, a 9.2km long tunnel constructed at above 10,000 feet above sea level and a real marvel of modern day engineering. We turn off towards Gramphoo and begin a beautiful off-road section, one that will provide the group with a taste of some of the terrain to come in the following days. We ride till Chhatru, have lunch and return the way we came before heading on to Sissu – our halt for the day. This will also be a good night of acclimatization, as we shall spend the night at around 4100m above sea level.
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We take the road from Sissu to Padum via Keylong, Darcha, Shingo La, Kargiak and Purne. Though the road has been largely tarred, the ride remains challenging with dirt stretches, bare-bones infrastructure along the route, the possibility of water/ice crossings and maybe even snow atop the 16,800 ft high pass – Shingo La – the Gateway to the Zanskar Valley. Further along the road we cross the holy mountain – Gombo Ronjon, and make our way past the village of Purne, before riding along the Tsarap river for much of the remainder of the day. We halt in the town of Padum for the night.
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The group heads off towards Penzi La and the Drang Drung glacier – one of the most magnificent sights on this trip, as we witness the 17 km long glacier as it snakes down into the Stod river. The run to Kargil from Padum is almost completely smooth gravel and fast. An amazing track for honing your off-road skills. The roadworks in the region have already converted much of the dirt to tarmac, and one can be sure of a well-paced ride through some incredible vistas. We enter the Suru valley and follow the river for much of the remainder of the day, to Kargil, our halt for the night.
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This day has two options. Those weary and in need of recuperation can do so. The local market can be explored later in the day. Those that have the restless energy of a true explorer shall head to the War Memorial at Drass, a site that truly captures the essence of many historic battles fought in and around the area. We will then cross the Umba La (around 15,000 feet above sea level), have lunch en route and return to Kargil for the night. A stunning ride that many who frequent the region are yet to experience, due to the relatively unknown nature of the route!
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We head out post breakfast and head into the Batalik Sector, climbing to Humboting La (4056m above sea level). This area is seldom explored by mainstream tourists, and the ride is a serene one as a result. The views are stunning and very soon we surmount the Pass, from where one can see the neighbouring land of Pakistan, mere kilometres away. We continue down some backroads before rejoining the main highway, where we stop at Lamayuru for the evening. The town has a famous monastery and those interested can pay a visit to the same.
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The most challenging day of the entire ride. We turn off the main highway before beginning the climb to Sirsir La (4804m). This road, once completely dirt, is being rapidly tarred and the climb to the top will be a fast paced one! We then descend for a short while before beginning the ascent to Singge La (4952m). The descent from here is long and unforgiving, with magnificent vistas greet us around every bend, and before long we find ourselves along the Zanskar river with the sun beginning to set – a truly surreal experience! Tarmac from onwards Zangla and Padum for the night - what a day!
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A day off for you and your motorcycle! Riders are free to explore the quaint town of Padum, familiarise themselves with the local culture, visit the monastery and so on, or even just relax after the rigorous past few days of riding! Our team will spend the day carrying out any work required on the motorcycles.
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An early start, as we ride along the Tsarap Chu and back to Purne and beyond. We cross Gombo Ronjon and summit Shingo La, and before long we are back into Himachal Pradesh. A few more hours on the smooth tarmac and back through the Atal Tunnel before descending to Manali – where we shall celebrate the end of a truly epic journey – one which would have changed you all forever!
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Checkout post breakfast/ early departure depending on when everyone has their flights booked. Those who wish to extend their trip may enjoy the serenity of the hills for a few more days. The rest can avail of our airport transfer facility to Chandigarh!
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English,Hindi
10 Years
Starting From
USD 2,800
*Price is subject to change.