Ladakh translates as "land of passes". And really there is no country in the world with higher ridable roads and passes than Ladakh.
Pricing
| - Prices for the dates - | |
| 15.06.2024 - 28.06.2024 | |
| 04.08.2024 - 17.08.2024 | |
| per rider in shared/double room incl. Royal Enfield Classic (Only available for a booking of two persons. Single travelers need to choose the single room surcharge.) | €2,700.00 $3,075.31 ? |
| per pillion passenger in shared twin/double room (pillion passengers cannot book without an accompanying rider) | €2,460.00 $2,801.95 ? |
| per person single room (surcharge - only available with an additional selection of the basic price "per rider in shared twin/double room") | €250.00 $284.75 ? |
| - | |
| Optional: | |
| Royal Enfield Himalayan (on request - no surcharge) | €0.00 |
| Visit to the Taj Mahal per person incl. double room (surcharge) | €225.00 $256.28 ? |
| Visit to the Taj Mahal per person incl. single room (surcharge) | €250.00 $284.75 ? |
Included
| 11 x overnight stay in hotel |
| 2 x overnight stay in a tent |
| 12 x breakfast |
| 12 x dinner |
| Visit to the Taj Mahal (option) |
| Petrol / Oil |
| Service vehicle |
| Mechanic |
| Nat. flight: Flight from Delhi to Leh and back |
| Airport transfer in India |
| Rental motorcycle (depending on booking) |
| Tour guide on own motorbike |
| Everything that is not listed under services |
| Flights and travel insurance |
| Travel insurance package: travel cancellation insurance, holiday guarantee (travel interruption insurance), travel health insurance, emergency insurance, travel accident insurance, luggage insurance |
| Single occupancy supplement: Indian hotels almost invariably have double rooms. Nevertheless, it is possible to occupy the rooms individually. Please refer to the price lists of the respective tour for the surcharges charged for this. |
| Visa fees |
| Drinks: Drinks are not included in the tour price. |
| Tips: Tipping is very big in India. It is self-evident that one slips a few rupees to the waiter and the hotel boy. |
More details
| Total distance: approx. 965 km |
| Daily stages on site: approx. 50 - 185 km (except arrival and departure stages) |
| Road condition: Asphalt with scree passages, and potholes |
| Riding skills: The difficulty level is high. High demands are placed on the bikers' riding performance and condition as well as on the reliability of the machines. |
| Climate: The climatic conditions are a constant challenge for the rider and the machine. Temperatures reach up to 30 degrees Celsius in summer and can easily drop to freezing point at night. |
| Hotels: You sleep in good, well-kept Indian middle-class hotels in double rooms with a shower or bath and WC. |
| Group size: 4 -12 persons. If the minimum number of participants has not been reached 6 weeks before the start of the trip, we will refund the deposit in this case. |
| - |
| Please note: |
| The outward and return flights between Frankfurt and Delhi are available from about 650,- € or even from 500,- €. The prices depend on the time of booking and the chosen airline. |
| Flights: When booking flights, please note that the first day of travel is the day of departure and the last day of travel is the day of return. |
| Insurance: A complete travel insurance package is available at HanseMerkur for about 100 €, depending on the price of the trip. |
| Visa: To participate in our trip you need a tourist visa with a validity of 6 months or the new eTV. The visa is valid from the day of the issue. The passport must be valid for 6 months after the end of the trip. |
| Half double room: We offer single travelers the possibility to share a double room with another traveler. If there is no "half" double room available at the time of your booking, we will charge the single room supplement. We will refund this as soon as a double room partner is found. |
| Single room occupancy is possible at an extra charge. The single room surcharges can be found in the tour descriptions. |
| Language: This offer is usually suitable for English and/or German speaking participants. Please enquire for language options. |
| Mobility: The offer is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Please contact us for more information. |
Description
This rugged piece of the planet is hiding in the very north of India, on the upper course of the Indus and the border with Tibet. Ladakh is an offshoot of the Tibetan Plateau and is therefore also called "Little Tibet".
The first settlers of Ladakh were Buddhist monks who stopped here on their pilgrimage from India to Tibet. In the 9th century, Ladakh's influence grew far beyond the borders of the Indus Valley; numerous forts and palaces were built during this period. In the 14th century, a Buddhist order, then known as "Gelupka", was founded by a Tibetan pilgrim and led by the first Dalai Lama. To this day, Buddhism is the dominant religion in Ladakh; Buddhist monasteries can be found everywhere. Believers from all over the world flock to this region in their thousands to hear the teachings of Buddha from the mouths of the Dalai Lama and other teachers.
Unlike the Great Ladakh Kashmir Tour, the motorcycle journey on this tour starts and ends in Leh. So we concentrate on Ladakh itself, forgoing the long journey from Delhi through Himachal Pradesh. To avoid the unpleasant effects of altitude, we will spend the first few days in Leh and its environs, and thus at an uncritical altitude of about 3,000 meters. Also, the first few days of the motorcycle trip will never take us higher than 3,000 meters above sea level. Thus, we are safe from altitude sickness. It is not until the trip to Lake Pangong that we sleep for the first and only time at over 4,000 meters, but by then our bodies have already gotten used to the altitude.
But even here a motorbike trip through Ladakh means ultimate adventure. The climatic conditions are a constant challenge to a rider and the machine. Temperatures reach up to 30° Celsius in summer and can easily drop to freezing point at night. Roads are closed from one minute to the next. Landslides, washouts, or even political unrest can be the cause. All this places high demands on the biker's performance and condition, as well as on the reliability of the machines.
And what is the point of it all?
The traveler is compensated for all the efforts by a true feast for the senses. First of all the indescribable variety and beauty of the Himalayan mountains. Surrounded by the most majestic peaks of this globe, we sometimes cross desolate scree deserts and almost believe to have landed on the moon. Then again, our eyes feast on lush meadow valleys crisscrossed by quietly babbling mountain streams. The contact with the extraordinarily friendly and lovable population is soul healing; the blaze of color and the variety of oriental smells that permeate and characterize the bazaars and markets are a treat for the eyes and nose.
Culinary Ladakh leaves nothing to be desired. The Tibetan, as well as the North Indian cuisine, are so varied that two or three weeks are just enough to take home the first impression. And if it gets too Indian for you, there are numerous restaurants with international cuisine in Leh.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
Today you fly off to India and arrive in Delhi around midnight or very early the next morning. A few hours later the flight goes to Leh. There you will be picked up by our staff at the airport and check in at our hotel.
Because of the early check-in, this counts as the first night.
Day 2: Flight to Leh
Early this morning you will arrive in Leh by plane from Delhi. The day starts with breakfast. You will have a relaxing first day in Ladakh's former capital. Once you have acquired a taste for this city, you will never want to leave. The calm, happy equilibrium of the Buddhist population is extremely contagious, and soon the last remnants of stress and hectic fall away from us. Whether walking through the narrow streets of the old town, visiting the Shanti Stupa, touring the palace, or on "observation posts" in one of the many cafes - today it's time to relax.
Overnight stay at approx. 3.500 altitude
Day 3: Takeover of the motorcycles, monastery tour (approx. 50 km)
After breakfast, we pick up the Enfields from the garage. Our guide and the mechanic will give you a short introduction to the handling of the motorcycles. The Enfields are real classics and need a loving treatment. In addition, our staff will try to give you an insight into the "logic" of Indian road traffic.
Then we are ready to go. A short round trip will take you to some of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh, first of all, the monasteries in Thikse and Hemis. In addition, the palace in Stok and the Spituk monastery are on the program.
Overnight stay at 3.500 altitude
Day 4: Ride to Dha-Hanu valley (approx. 175 km)
Breakfast. Today we leave Leh and embark on our first major tour. It takes us first to the Dha-Hanu Valley, named after two villages inhabited by direct descendants of the Aryans who migrated over 4,000 years ago. The Brokpas, as this tribe is called, differ in culture and appearance from the other inhabitants of Ladakh by their light skin color and blue eyes. In total, the Brokpas populate five villages in the region, but only two are open to tourists, Dha and Hanu.
There are no hotels or guesthouses, so we spend the night in a stationary tented camp.
Overnight stay at 3.240 altitude
Day 5: Ride to Kargil (approx. 75 km)
After breakfast, we continue our ride towards the west. The landscape is spectacular. Few tourists penetrate this remote part of Ladakh and we are the only tour operators who have discovered this extraordinary spot for you, hidden deep in the Himalayas.
The destination of today's trip is Kargil. In Kargil, the Buddhist part of Ladakh ends and we are now in the land of the Muslims. Bearded men and veiled women dominate the street scene. An exciting experience. A walk through the streets of Kargil makes us feel that the happy lightness of the Buddhists had to give way to the strictness of the Islamic faith. Fortunately, a hotel has finally opened its doors in Kargil, where western tourists can be accommodated with a clear conscience.
Overnight stay at 2.700 altitude
Day 6: Ride to Lamayuro (approx. 105 km)
Right after breakfast we leave Kargil and are soon back in the land of the Buddhists. Today we will go to Lamayuro. Here we will find one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh. Perched high on a rocky hill, the complex offers an excellent view of the so-called "Moonland". Around the monastery, on the hill "stick" we will see the houses and huts in which the inhabitants of Lamayuro live.
Overnight stay at 3.520 altitude
Day 7: Ride to Alchi (approx. 55 km)
Breakfast. Alchi is home to an ancient Buddhist monastery known for its beautiful murals. The small town has a very relaxed atmosphere. Those who wish can head to the nearby Rizong Monastery, which has the reputation of being one of the strictest monasteries in Ladakh.
Overnight stay at 3.130 altitude
Day 8: Ride over the Kardung-La to the Nubra Valley (approx. 185 km)
Breakfast. Now we climb high up. Just behind Leh rises the pass road to the Kardung-La, the highest rideable pass in the world. With a cloudless blue sky and bright sunshine, there is a magnificent view of Leh and the Stok mountain range. At Kardung-La we enjoy tea in the highest tea house in the world and continue our ride after the obligatory "pass photos" to Diskit in the Nubra Valley.
Overnight stay at 3.180 altitude
Day 9: Relaxation or excursions through the Nubra Valley (approx. 0 to 180 km)
Breakfast. Today is free for everyone to do as they please. There are some options. Relaxing with a visit to the monastery of Diskit, camel riding in Hundur (approx. 30 km), an excursion to Turtuk (approx. 180 km), a small dreamy village on the border to Pakistan or along the Nubra River to the Valley of Flowers (approx. 100 km). The km figures refer to the outward and return journey.
For dinner, we meet again in Diskit.
Overnight stay at 3.180 altitude
Day 10: Ride to Pangong Lake (approx. 160 km)
Since recently the road from Diskit directly to Pangong Lake is regularly passable. Only occasionally there are roadblocks. So we will not, as before, take the detour via Leh, but ride directly to Spangmik.
Overnight stay at 4.200 altitude
Day 11: Back to Leh (approx. 160 km)
Breakfast. The ride to Leh is the last ride on our journey through Ladakh. Back in Leh, a (shopping) stroll through the shopping streets of Ladakh's capital concludes the day.
Overnight stay at 3.500 altitude
Day 12: A day in Leh
Before heading back to Delhi and heading home in the morning, we spend a relaxing day in Ladakh's capital Leh.
Overnight stay at approx. 3.500 altitude
Day 13: Flight to New Delhi
Breakfast. Early in the morning, we fly back to Delhi. Here we have a few hours to visit some highlights.
For Taj Mahal visitors
All those who have booked the visit to the Taj Mahal after the tour will be picked up directly at the airport and brought to Agra by car.
Day 14: Flight home (or visit the Taj Mahal)
The adventure comes to an end. Sometimes tonight, you will have your return flight home. Until then you will have a room in the hotel in Delhi at your disposal.
For Taj Mahal visitors
Early in the morning, before sunrise, we head to the Taj Mahal to admire this amazing marvel of Muslim architecture. Afterward, we have breakfast at the hotel and ride back to Delhi.
Dinner in Delhi.
Day 15: Flight home
Now the adventure comes to an end for the visitors of the Taj Mahal. The adventure comes to an end. Sometimes tonight, you will have your return flight home. Until then you will have a room in the hotel in Delhi at your disposal.
We would be happy to welcome you soon on one of our other trips to "Incredible India", maybe in the desert state of Rajasthan or in tropical Kerala.