The Himalayan Grand (22 days)

Your adventure begins on the 7am express from New Delhi Railway station.The 4 hour journey will bring you to Kalka (at the foot steps of the Himalayas). A 4 hour bus/coach journey from here will bring you to Shimla (capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh & former “summer capital” of India).

Today you’ll meet your Royal Enfield Motorcycle, your ride for the next several days. After an extensive briefing session by your ride leader you’ll take a short ride in an effort to familiarise yourself with the bike and riding conditions. Today’s ride is short but challenging. You’ll be riding up the Hindustan-Tibet Highway (NH-22) towards Theog.  Leaving the NH-22 at Narkanda, you shall follow the narrow & winding road up the mountain to the “Hatu peak” and the famous Hatu Temple at the altitude of 3292 M.  After enjoying the spectacular views of the high Himalayan ranges from there, you shall ride the last 10 km on a beautiful district road lined with apple orchards as it winds up & down the mountain to a beautiful “forest lodge” amongst lush greenery. Tonight you’ll be at an altitude of about 2480 M.

Heading further along the NH-22 you’ll continue towards Kinnaur, where you’ll ride alongside the fierce Sutlej as you reach turning point Karchham. Here, a road continues towards Spiti and another turns towards the Baspa Valley and on to the beautifull village of Sangla. This is another 18km stretch of narrow winding road with hair-raising gorges & cliffs high above the Baspa river gushing below. Accommodation is in a comfortable tent camp at a beautiful setting on the banks of the river.

After enjoying a quiet morning in the lap of Sangla valley you’ll saddle-up once again, for a short ride to Chitkul, another quaint village in the Baspa Valley. Chitkul is the last village on this road towards the 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 in time for lunch. The evening is at your disposal to take a walk along the Baspa river or just enjoy the view & the setting from the camp.

We’ll backtrack to the NH-22 at Karchham and continue on the road towards Recong Peo, where you end up in the village of Kalpa. You’ll most likely be spending the day absorbing the stunning views of the “Kinner Kailash” and reminiscing the past few days after you left Shimla. Or perhaps walking 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 this is your last chance to make long distance phone calls, stack-up on toiletries, or anything else you need.

As you ride further up the Hindustan-Tibet highway, the landscape changes from green to rocky & barren. Still riding along the Sutlej you’ll reach Spello where your permits will be checked at a police check-point. Another 35km ride will bring you to Khab, a small village at the confluence of the Spiti & Sutlej rivers. 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 (Altitude 3660m). 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 a comfortable tent camp.

Today’s ride will take you further up into higher mountains (and across the infamous “Maling Nala”, your first major water crossing) then 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 47km ride along the Spiti river to Kaza.

Kaza is the headquarters of the Spiti sub-division and you’ll be staying here for 2 consecutive nights. You’ll be able to use facilities like Internet & long distance phone calls again, “luxuries” you left behind at Kalpa.  Today you will be visiting the Key Gompa and Komic village (4275m), considered to be one of the highest villages in Asia, on your motorcycle.  The remaining time can be utilised to explore the town & it’s markets.

Continuing up the Spiti Valley & further into higher Himalayas, today you’ll arrive at the second High Altitude Lake on your tour. After crossing a high pass (Kunzum La, 4550m) and a couple of streams (glacier melts) you’ll reach a pasture land 4km 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). Here, the accommodation will be at a “basic” camp-site in “alpine” tents (sleeps two each). Sleeping bags will be provided. Dinner & breakfast will be basic “camping meals”. Calls of nature will have to be answered in a small toilet tents or “in the open”, as per your preference.

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 (20km ahead of Keylong). On the way, 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.

A well deserved rest day has been placed here after 2 challenging days of riding, especially because another 3 days of back-to-back riding follows. Here 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.   

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.  85km from Jispa, Sarchu is the last settlement (& check-point) in Himachal Pradesh. You reach here after crossing over Baralacha La (4930m), 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 tent camps.  

Leaving after breakfast, you’ll first climb to the Nakee La (4900 M) & Lachlung La (5095 M) passes.  After a short break at Pang (4500 M) you’ll be riding across “The Morey Plains”, at an average height above 4700 M.  From here it’s a quick ascent to Tanglang La (5340 M), the highest pass you’ll be riding to on the tour.  Riding down the other side of the pass, you’ll arrive at the at a guesthouse/ homestay in a small Ladakhi village (at 4000 M).

Backtracking the same way, you’ll get to enjoy the same ride in reverse and view the Himalayan vistas from a different perspective.

Riding further south and back-tracking past Jispa, you’ll arrive at a small hamlet of Sissu, on the banks of the Chandra river. The camp here has a spectacular setting and offers the opportunity to take short hikes in the beautiful surroundings.

Riding past Gramphu, you leave the Chandra river behind as you ride up to Rohtang La (3978 M). The scenery starts to turn a lot greener as you head down the Rohtang pass to the town of Manali. Situated along the banks of River Beas at the northern end of the Kullu valley, Manali is a popular tourist destination attracting thousands of Indian tourists in the summers who want to beat the heat of the plains (back to civilization).

Another day for relaxation, exploration or contemplation depending on your inclination.

Heading south from Manali, along the banks of the Beas, today’s ride takes you through some beautiful scenery. Riding down the Kullu valley past Naggar, you’ll leave behind the Beas and turn south-east towards Banjar at Aut. From here, a 28km journey lined with apple orchards leads you to your destination, a small hamlet called Sai Ropa, right on the banks of the Tirthan river and on the edge of “The Great Himalayan National Park”.

Sai Ropa and it’s surrounds offer some interesting experiences including fishing for trout in the Tirthan river, village walks and a short trek to a small but beautiful waterfall.

The penultimate days ride is another spectacular journey over the Jalori Pass (3150 M), through the apple orchards of the region, past several picturesque villages down to the village of Tattapani on the banks of river Sutlej. Tattapani (as the name in local dialect suggests) is famous for it’s a Sulphur “hot spring” and you shall get every chance to have a dip in its refreshing & rejuvenating waters at the resort you’ll be staying at.

You’ll saddle-up yet again and for the last time on this tour for your journey back to Shimla. The evening can be spent taking a stroll on The Mall and doing some souvenir shopping.  A farewell dinner is organized at a popular restaurant in the city.

It’s time to say your good-bye’s to fellow travelers & the Himalayas. You’ll be taking a 3-hour Car/MUV ride down the Shivalik range to its footsteps at Kalka from where an Express Train will take you to New Delhi (in about another 4 hours) which shall be the end of the tour. Dinner is served in the train & is inclusive in the fare. If you’ve purchased a “Farewell” add-on you’ll be transferred to the hotel where your accommodation has been arranged.

If you have concerns regarding the standard of accommodation on our tours, we’d like to assure you that our selection of hotels will not disappoint you.  In fact, despite the limitations of this region (having seasonal tourism & remote locations) we have ensured that our riders get the most comfortable stay possible.  The reason for that is that we have carefully selected (and fine tuned) a good mix of heritage & modern hotels/ lodges/ holiday homes in the villages, towns & cities we stay at which create a good balance between the old charm and modern travelers needs. Some have been chosen for convenience, some for their spectacular location and some just to give you a taste of the “luxury” of the colonial era without sending our tour prices “through the roof”.  Even the high altitude camp(s) we’ve chosen are the best set-up accommodations  (almost “glamping” considering their location) all with ensuite toilets.  The reason we don’t share photos here is to keep the surprise element.  Nonetheless, we’ve provided a small “glimpse” of it on one of our Gallery webpage (scroll down to “Himalayan Accommodation” slide) as evidence 🙂

Please note:  On all our tours the space on the support vehicles is limited.  Hence, we request that you limit your baggage to 25 KG.

• Driver’s license*
• International Driving Permit
• Travel insurance**
• Protective Riding Gloves
• Riding boots
• Riding jacket & pants
• Helmet
• Rain suit
• Riding goggles
• Balaclava
• Eye drops
• Sunscreen
• Torch/Flashlight
• Thermal underwear
• Insect repellent

Suggested

• a fleece/pullover/ warm jacket
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Scarf/Bandana
• Ear Plugs

*Full and valid for  min 411cc motorcycle

**Must cover riding motorcycle overseas for leisure

Our Himalayan tours start and end in New Delhi where the temperature can get up to 42°C in July.  However, as soon as you’re in Shimla (2200 M) on Day 01, you’ll feel a drastic change.  But even in the Himalayas the day temperature at low altitude can get up to 30°C.  And at high altitudes it can fall to freezing temps in the mornings and during the nights (0-5°C).  Rain is almost a certainty with snow being a possibility, specially while riding over high passes.  Statistically, on half our tours in the Himalayas, our riders are glad that they brought rain gear with them and on the other half they wonder why.

Health

Please keep in mind that you need to be reasonably fit to participate in tours.

IMPORTANT: Applicants are advised against participating in any Himalayan tours if they suffer from severe asthma,  muscular disorders, respiratory or heart disorders, or any medical precondition which might be detrimental to the health of the participant on a tour which involves spending nights in high altitudes (3500 to 4500 metres).

Please consult a doctor before booking a Himalayan tour.

Food & Drink

When travelling through India it is advised to carry your own drinking water that has been obtained from a reliable source (RO/UV water filter) or always drink branded mineral/packaged water.

Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised.

Avoid dairy products likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Milk in India is often unpasteurised and should be boiled before consumed.

Any fruit and vegetables should be cooked and/or peeled before consuming. To avoid TD or other sickness while travelling include avoiding undercooked foods and street vendors.

Hygiene

Popular tourist restaurants and hotels will have clean facilities for you to use.

The following vaccinations are recommended for your trip to India* (if visiting for less than 5 months):

• Hepatitis A
• Diphtheria
• Typhoid
• Malaria
• Tetanus
• Japanese Encephalitis, Poliomyelitis
• Rabies

Please ensure you are also up to date with routine vaccinations such as:

• Influenza
• Chickenpox
• Polio
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
• Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT)
• Rotavirus (for children)

If you are arriving from the following countries it is required for you to have the Yellow Fever vaccine:

• Angola
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo
• Cote d’lvoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ethiopia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• French Guiana
• Guyana
• Panama
• Peru
• Suriname
• Venezuela
• Trinidad
• Tobago

*This is a general guide. Please consult your doctor for country specific medical advice.

Telephone: Country code is 91

Mobile phone: Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns.

Internet: Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafes.

Post: Airmail service to U.S and Western Europe takes up to two weeks.

When travelling to India you will need the following documents:

• Passport (valid at least 6 months past the intended period of stay)
• Indian Tourist Visa

Indian Tourist Visa

Travelers should apply for a tourist e-visa before they visit India. Processing time is generally between 36-48 hours, you can apply for an e-Visa here. This is a single/multiple entry visa’s that are valid for a 30/60-day stay. To see if you are eligible for a tourist e-visa visit this website.

We’ll get back to you within a couple of days with a registration form and a full list of T’s & C’s.  Once you’ve submitted the completed registration form we’ll send you an Invoice of the tours/services opted by you.  If the tour start date is more than 3 months away, a 25% advance payment will secure your spot on the tour.

To pay for your tour, we only accept Bank telegraphic (wire) transfer.

It’s our preferred option because it’s safe, transparent & cheap. While it may seem like outdated technology where you’re from, it’s still standard business practice here.  Transfer of funds takes place from your bank account directly to our bank account (with reasonable commissions or charges levied by the banks).

Our T’s & C’s document details more info about our payment policy, but if you’ve got questions about ‘wiring’ money please don’t hesitate to contact us or your bank.

We’ll send you an email with confirmation, a receipt, and everything else you need to know – so you can get ready for new experiences, with new friends, in foreign lands!

The open road beckons. See you at the airport.

Booking shall be subject to availability & eligibility. Your booking is confirmed after deposit is received as per the terms & conditions. Your privacy is protected and we agree not to share the information provided with third parties for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, unless legally required.

The price of the tour is per person on the basis of twin-share accommodation. “Twin Share” means sharing a “double bed” or a “twin bed” room with your companion, or another member of the tour of the same gender.

If you don’t want to share a room you can purchase a single accommodation add-on.  Single Accommodation is subject to availability.  On the Himalayan Tours, it cannot be guaranteed at locations where we stay in “tented camps” as the availability of such accommodation is scarce during the high season.

We reserve the right to impose a “single accommodation” price on a participant, like a minor participant or an unaccompanied participant, if he/she cannot be accommodated with another member of the tour due to any reason(s).

To participate as a rider an individual has to be an adult above the age of 18 years at the time of the tour, holding a valid full motorcycle driving license authorizing him/her to ride a 411/500cc motorcycle and in sufficiently good health to undertake a motorcycle journey without any pre-existing medical condition(s) which may be detrimental to the participants health & safety.   To participate as a co-rider on the pillion an individual has to be above the age of 12 years.

Further details will be available for your perusal in the terms & conditions appended to the tour registration form.