India – Himalaya Motorcycle Tour to Ladakh and Kashmir

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Mountain retreat of Mughals and Buddhist lamas, Alps of India. Valley of paradise. Terms beeing used to describe Kashmir one of India´s wildest destinations. Kashmir boasts some of the highest and most rugged landscapes on earth in mountainous Ladakh, and one of the most sublime in serene Dal Lake. These rugged Buddhist regions, reachable via the world´s highest mountain passes, are a little slice of Tibet transplanted to India and wedged in by roaring rivers and snow-capped mountains.

DAY LITTLE TIBET - TOUR | LADAKH | KASHMIR
1 Arrival in Delhi. Airport pick-up and transfer to Hotel.
2 Early morning we take the Shatabti express train to Kalka. After a Briefing on bikes and traffic and a few rounds at the parking lot, we ride a few kilometers towards Shimla before heading back to Kalka for dinner.
3 A ride up to Shimla, former summer residence of the British Raj to an altitude of 2200 m.
4 An endless up and down and round and round... curves, curves, curves and most memorable scenery on the road to Mandi.
5 A relaxing ride brings us to Manali.
6 We cross 3.890 m high Rothang Pass on route to Keylong.
7 A scenery that makes you feel as if you´re on the moon. And a great camp at Sarchu.
8 Another remarkable day with two passes above 5000m!! We camp at Rumtse.
9 On the way to Leh, the capitol of Ladakh, we visit the monasteries of Hemis and Tikse.
10 We explore Leh and its vicinity with  Stok palace and Matho monastery.
11 Another highlight of the tour! We cross Kardung La, with its 5.603 m the world's highest motorable road.
12 We explore the sand dunes and ride our motorcycles and ride our motorcycles again across Kardung La and along the Indus valles to Alchi.
13 We leave Alchi in the morning for Kargil. On the way, we visit Lamayuru Monastery in the "Moon Valley". (2weeks motorcycle tour ends here and turns back from Lamayuru to Leh. Day 14 is spent in Leh leave for Delhi day 15)
14 Via the most memorable Zoji-La pass, we reach Srinagar, where we spent two nights on a luxury houseboat.
15 A day to relax, to visit the Moghul gardens...
16 ...and the floating market with a Chikara boot taxi.
17 We leave the Kashmir valley and the House Boats behind and wind southwards to Jammu. Night at Patnitop.
18 Going up the into the hills again, to Dharamsala.
19 A day at the Dalai Lama´s exile, Dharamshala.
20

A relaxing motorcycle ride  towards the end of our trip takes us to the little village Pragpur.

21 Trough the Himalayan foothills to LeCorbusiers Chandigarh!
22 Train ride to Delhi and time for a last shopping spree.
23 Farewell! Flight back home.
 
AT A GLANCE
Touring the worlds highest passes!

DATES: June, July, August
START / FINISH: Delhi / Delhi
DURATION: 23 day vacation, 17 riding days (3weeks), 16 day vacation, 12 riding days (2weeks),

ROUTE: Distance covered around 1600 miles / 2600 km (3weeks) and 870 miles / 1400 km (2weeks)
Day rides 50 - 180 miles / 80 - 290 km.
ROADS: Mainly  tarmac but for around 400km mixed with gravel stretches

ACCOMMODATION: Comfortable middle-class Hotels, Houseboat, 1 tented camp (with beds) and 1 campsite
REST DAYS: Leh, Srinagar, Dharamshala
RIDERS REQUIREMENTS: You should be comfortable to ride (easy) gravel. Good nerves to cope with the traffic necessary!
GROUP SIZE: Min. 4 and max. 10 riders - space for pillion rider in our follow up car

WHAT´S INCLUDED: All meals, all non-alcoholic beverages, all entry fees, petrol for the bikes
HIGHLIGHTS: World´s highest roads, home of the Dalai Lama, Buddhist monasteries, houseboats on Dal-Lake, sand dunes at 12000 feet, the joviality of the Ladakhi people