Motorcycle Tour Special: Over the Highest Passes in the World

Day 3 Small test drive with the motorcycles

Today, each participant is assigned a motorcycle. On a test drive, we will explore Manali’s surroundings together. (Overnight stay at the hotel) (B/-/-)

Day 4 Manali to Jispa (135 km) (3250m)

We officially start our tour to Leh. We drive along the river Beas through numerous villages up to the Rothang Pass (3980 m) (or alternatively through the Rothang tunnel) Then we go down to Gramphu and on to the checkpoint in Koksar. On the drive along the Chandra River you will pass through small villages, potato and pea plantations and past spectacular mountains and their glaciers. We reach the district capital Keylong. Here is the last permanent market. Then we continue for 35 km to Jispa. (Overnight stay in the luxury camp) (B/L/D)

Day 5 Jispa to Purne (3950 m) 90 km

We start after a good breakfast. After we have crossed Darcha after 9 km, we leave the Manali Leh Highway and turn towards Zanskar. First it goes slightly uphill for 18 km on a well-developed road. We pass small mountain villages and reach Zanskar Sumdo, a confluence of streams. Now it goes for another 18 km up to the Shingula Pass at over 5300 m! The last km is on a gravel road. On a narrow undeveloped curvy road it goes down to the north side of the pass. Here we allow ourselves our lunch. We cross a river and stop after a few kilometers to admire the mighty Conbo Rangjon rock, which towers steeply in front of us. The next 30 km is relatively flat to the village of Purne, which consists of only three houses. On the way there we pass the first villages and yaks of Zanskars. We spend the night in a simple homestay. You can also choose to sleep in a tent. (Overnight stay in homestay or tent) (B / L / D)

Day 6 Optional hike to the Phuktal monastery (4300 m) and drive to Padum

In the morning a short hike to the spectacular 2500-year-old Phuktal monastery is planned. The 5 km long path leads us to the monastery, which was built into a rock. Even today the monastery can only be reached on foot. In the afternoon we continue with the motorcycle: through the narrow valley along the Kurgiak river, we go on a sandy jeep track towards Pardum, the administrative center of Zanskar. We drive the last few kilometers on a brand new paved road. We reach the wide valley of Padum. (Overnight in hotel) (B / L / D)

Day 7 Padum Sightseeing (3559 m), 50 km

We visit the Karsha Monastery and the Sani Lake and the waterfall in the village of Sheela are also worth a visit. If you like, you can also drive a little further in the direction of Kargil – until recently it was the only connection road to Padum. Overnight stay at the hotel (B/L/D)

Day 8 Drive to Lamayuru (3500 m), 200 km

Today there is a very long stretch of road ahead of us on a recently opened jeep track. After the first few kilometers on an asphalt road, the next 80 km in particular are quite demanding. It goes through the Zanskar Gorge and over the two high passes Singge La (5009 m) and Sri Sri La (4832 m). Again and again we pass smaller villages. Towards the end of our route today it gets noticeably greener. Arrived on the highway between Leh and Kargil, we drive for about 7 km towards Kargil to Lamayuru. We stayed here. Overnight stay at the hotel (B/L/-)

Day 9 Drive to Leh (3500 m), 140 km

After so much “off-road” it is really fun to drive on good asphalt. We rush through the high mountain desert. After visiting the Lamayuru monastery, we will also make a detour to the Alchi monastery. Overnight stay at the hotel (B/-/-)

Day 10 Leh sightseeing day (Thiksey, Spituk and Hemis Monastery, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace), 80 km

Today we will be issued the permits for the onward journey to Lake Pangong and the Nubra Valley, which are close to the border with Tibet. So we use the day to explore Leh and its surroundings. Here there are many ancient Buddhist monasteries, a palace and the famous Shanti Stupa, from where we will have a wonderful view of Leh. Overnight stay at the hotel (B/-/-)

Day 11 From Leh over the Khardungla Pass (5340 m) and further into the Nubra Valley (3048 m) 125 km

Today it goes over the once highest navigable pass in the world: the Kardung La Pass. Here it can snow in summer and you can enjoy a tea in the highest café in the world. The view from here is breathtaking! Then we drive into the fascinating Nubra valley. In Deskit we visit the monastery. It continues to Hundur. We can take a walk around the beautiful village as well as visit the sand dunes and take a ride on the camel. (Overnight stay in the luxury camp) B/L/D

Day 12 Nubra to Pangong (4300 m) through the Shyok Valley 227 km

This famous lake is more than 200 km long and on average 5 km wide. Most of the lake is already in Tibet. So we can take a look at Tibet. This lake has been the venue of various Bollywood films many times. We will spend the night in a camp. (Overnight in the camp) B/L/D

Day 13 Pangong Lake to Leh, 223 km

In the afternoon we return over the Chang la Pass (5360 m) – one of the highest motorable passes in the world – and thus reach the Manali-Leh Highway. We’re going back to Leh. (Overnight at Homestay) B/L/-

Day 14 Leh to Sarchu, with a detour to Tsokar Lake 265 km

After breakfast we will drive to Sarchu on the famous Manali-Leh Highway. On the way, after crossing the Tanglang La (5318 m), we make a detour to the Tsokar salt lake (4800 m), where we will also have lunch. Sarchu, located exactly in the middle between Leh and Manali, is a high mountain plateau at 4200 meters. (Overnight in the camp) B/ L / D

Day 15 Sarchu to Manali, 170 km

The last day on our motorcycles: it goes back over the Baralacha La and this time through the Rothang Tunnel to Manali. Finally, we see forests and meadows again. The green is a treat for us and our eyes. In the evening we celebrate the successful tour with the whole team over dinner. (Overnight in hotel) (B / L / D)

Day 16 Manali to Delhi

After a busy day in Manali, we return to Delhi in the afternoon by night bus (14 hours, overnight on the bus) (B/-/-)

Day 17 Arrival Delhi and flight to Germany

Early in the morning, we reach Delhi. A hotel room is available for your flight. Until then, they use the last hours in India for a little more sightseeing with a guide and shopping. (B/-/-)