This Himalayan motorbike tour will take you through one of the most stunning parts of the planet – the Spiti Valley. On your trusty Royal Enfield, you will ride along epic roads, scything through the incredible landscape of the lower Himalayas.
Pricing
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| per rider in shared twin/double room incl. rental motorcycle Royal Enfield Himalayan (Only available for a booking of two persons. Single travelers need to choose the single room surcharge.) | $4,340.00 |
| per rider in shared twin/double room with own motorcycle (Only available for a booking of two persons. Single travelers need to choose the single room surcharge.) | $4,043.00 |
| per pillion passenger in shared twin/double room (pillion passengers can only book along with an accompanying rider) | $3,773.00 |
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| per person single room (surcharge, only available with an additional selection of the basic price "per rider in shared twin/double room") | $533.00 |
| Motorcycle Damage Protection Plan (surcharge) | $257.00 |
Included
| The latest Royal Enfield Himalayan |
| Quality twin-share accommodation as per itinerary |
| Airport Pickup/Drop-off |
| Coach/minivan transfer from Delhi - Shimla |
| Entrance Fees/Permits |
| Expedition Leader |
| Financial Protection |
| All fuel |
| GPS Tracking |
| Local Guide |
| Meals |
| Mechanic |
| Medical Support |
| Part Profits Donated to Charity/Rainforest & Wildlife Conservation |
| Personalized Jersey |
| Support Vehicle |
| Welcome Pack |
| Everything not listed as included |
| Flights |
| Motorcycle Damages |
| Other Expenses: Alcohol; Laundry; Souvenirs; Any meals that are not mentioned in the itinerary; Recovery, oil, spare parts, labor or other indirect costs resulting from the damage or repair of your motorcycle; Emergency transportation; Any other item, optional excursion, activity or entrance fee that is not specifically mentioned as being included. |
| Personal Travel Insurance |
| Riding Kit |
| Visa costs, if applicable |
More details
| Max Group Size: 12 Riders |
| Pillion Friendly?: Yes |
| Terrain: 35% unpaved |
| Difficulty: Average |
| Support: Local guide | Trip manager / 1st response medic | Support vehicle | Consulting doctor | Mechanic |
| Comfort: 7/10 |
| Average Daily Ride Hours: 6-7 |
| Total Distance km: 1410 |
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| Accommodation: |
| Quality twin-share accommodation as per itinerary is included as standard on this tour. Please see under ‘Prices’ for the single room supplement option. Please see the daily itinerary details for more info on each night’s accommodation. The accommodation on this trip is deliberately varied to give you a wide experience of the region. Sometimes we’ll be in top-end hotels with all the facilities you’d expect, sometimes we’ll be in individual yurts at campsites miles away from anywhere. But wherever we stay, please bear in mind this is India and standards are not necessarily the same as back home. |
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| Airport Pickup/Drop-off: |
| You’ll be collected from Delhi international airport (DEL) on the morning of the first day. At the end of the trip, we will arrange transfers to the airport in Leh (IXL). |
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| Expedition Leader: |
| Your tour will be led and managed by a highly experienced member of our team (trained as a wilderness first response medic). |
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| Financial Protection: |
| We are committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. At no extra cost to you, all our passengers are fully insured, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy also includes repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to insolvency. During the COVID-19 crisis, every rider that requested a refund was issued a cash refund. |
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| Fuel: |
| All fuel for your motorcycle is provided by us and we carry spare fuel in our support vehicle for the sections of the route where fuel stations are scarce. |
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| GPS Tracking: |
| This motorcycle tour is accompanied by a GPS tracker that displays our live location and track history on an online map. We will provide you with the link and login details which you can then share with your family at home so they can track your progress throughout the trip. |
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| Meals: |
| Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided on most days. Please see the daily itinerary to see what meals are included on each day. |
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| Medical Support: |
| At least one member of the support team will have been trained as a Wilderness First Response medic. An extensive medical kit including a defibrillator (AED) & stretcher is carried in the support vehicle. We also have consulting doctors on call, 24/7, who are always ready to assist in the case of an emergency. Our doctors are fully briefed on all riders medical info prior to the tour, they know what we do, where we are riding, exactly what we have in our medical kit and what training our medics have. Tours are accompanied by GPS trackers and a satellite messenger device so our doctor and office can see exactly where we are and can maintain communication. |
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| Part Profits Donated to Charity: |
| Part profits from every motorcycle tour are donated to M’Lop Tapang – a local Cambodian charity dedicated to bettering the lives of young children & their families. |
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| Support Vehicle: |
| Our Himalayan motorcycle tours are accompanied by at least one support vehicle. There will always be space for any of the riders to sit inside should they need a rest at any point throughout the tour. These backup vehicles will also carry all of your luggage, spare parts, tools, extensive medical kit (in addition to the kit carried by the tour medic), defibrillator (AED) & stretcher. Our support vans will usually be no more than 5-15 minutes behind us on the bikes & meet with us at the rest/ drink stops & lunch. The drivers will hand out water, fruit juice, chocolate bars & fruit etc at each of the rest stops. The truck will follow behind us all the way to our accommodation where the driver will have your bags sent to your rooms. |
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| Welcome Pack: |
| We’ll welcome you with a bag of goodies which will include a T-shirt, Baseball cap, Map, Stickers, Mug, Keyring, Neck tube. |
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| Flights: |
| You’ll need to book a flight to arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi (airport code: DEL) on or before the morning of Day 1 of this trip. You will then fly out of Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport in Leh (IXL) on the last day of the trip. From here you can fly back to Delhi or other major domestic airports. The Leh-Delhi route is operated by GoAir, SpiceJet and Vistara. Flight costs vary from £38 – £160 depending on when you book… earlier is of course better! Flight departure times vary from 7am to 12pm and the duration is approx 1 hr 30. It is important you either: |
| Book a flexible flight ticket that allows you to make amendments or cancel without penalty; |
| Have travel insurance that will reimburse you for out of pocket expenses incurred by a canceled trip; |
| Do not book your flights until we have notified you that this departure is guaranteed. |
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| Motorcycle Damages: |
| Please be aware that you are liable for all damage caused to the motorcycle. If you don't want the potential hassle of being charged for motorcycle damage at the end of the ride, we offer our own damage protection plan. If you book the Motorcycle Protection Plan (see under prices), all damage to the motorcycle is then covered by us. Please bear in mind that this excludes damage caused by irresponsible riding (for example, a failed wheelie attempt). |
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| Personal Travel Insurance: |
| It is a condition of booking that you obtain appropriate travel insurance that covers you for riding the same capacity motorcycle that you’ll be riding on this motorcycle tour. The insurance must cover emergency evacuation, medical bills, repatriation etc. |
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| Riding Kit: |
| Road / adventure style kit is the way to go on this motorcycle tour, rather than off-road or enduro gear. So that means a good helmet, protective riding jacket and trousers, ideally with CE or equivalent approved armour on the pointy bits – elbows, knees and shoulders. You are also going to need good leather gloves, a neck tube, thermal base layers and a sturdy pair of motorcycle boots. Please bring waterproofs if your kit doesn’t keep out the wet stuff. |
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| Motorcycle Hire (if selected): |
| If you have your own suitable & reliable motorcycle at the start point, you are quite welcome to use that for this trip. If not, we will provide a rental motorcycle for you… Please see under Prices section for available bikes. The cost of shipping the motorcycle to and from the start and end destination is also included. |
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| Visa: |
| You need a Visa unless you are a national of Nepal, Bhutan or the Maldives. If you are from an eligible country, the easiest way to get one is to apply for an e-tourist visa online, but make sure you visit the official site… Here’s the link: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html |
| Assuming you live in an eligible country / territory you can apply online up until a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival with a window of 120 days. So for example, if you are applying on 1st Sept you can select arrival date from 5th Sept to 2nd Jan. For peace of mind, we recommend you do this nicely in advance to avoid any delays or issues. The visa lasts 60 days so unless you decide to extend your trip for vastly more than the length of the tour, then this should be plenty. |
| Visa costs, if applicable, are not included in the tour price. |
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| Health Consideratioons: |
| For the most accurate and up to date info, we advise you visit the Indian page of the ‘Travel Health Pro’ website: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/105/india |
| How to avoid altitude sickness: |
| Stay well hydrated. Caffeine and alcohol impacts hydration, so it’s a good idea keep intake to a minimum until you are acclimatised. |
| Apparently a high potassium diet helps. Lots of bananas then… |
| Make a conscious effort to breathe properly as we climb to higher altitudes – you want to saturate your blood with oxygen. Your tour leader will explain this in more detail in your welcome briefing. |
| Diamox is an altitude sickness tablet – please do your own research on this – if you decide you would like to take these, we always carry a stock with us. You’ll want to start taking these in Delhi, before we start climbing. |
| Oxygen – we carry oxygen bottles with us on every trip. Our medic will keep an eye on everyone and monitor peoples stats. He will administer oxygen if necessary. |
| A headache medicine if you start to feel a headache coming on. |
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| 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
Motorcycle touring through the Himalayan mountains provides breathtaking views around every corner, unique cultural experiences with the amazingly friendly locals, and motorcycle riding to dream of.
We’ll take you through sunny pine forests, snow-capped mountains, and red rocky landscapes that look like they’ve come straight out of Star Wars.
Our Himalayan motorcycle tours aren’t about racing around mountain roads – you might just fall off the edge if you try – it’s about cruising through the hills with a group of like-minded riders and taking in the incredible surroundings of the beautiful Himalayan mountains. Sitting aboard your thumping Royal Enfield is the only way to travel India’s mountain roads as you pass beneath cascading waterfalls, alongside fast-flowing rivers, and weave around the occasional yak!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Outstanding natural beauty everywhere we go.
KhardungLa pass – at 5,380m above sea level, it is reputed to be the highest motorable pass on Earth!
Pangong Lake – the world's highest salt lake and possibly the world's most amazing views.
Visit the endangered double-humped Bactrian camels in the Nubra Valley.
Hundreds of hairpin mountain turns – everyone knows they’re good fun!
Start the ride in Shimla - the beautiful old summer capital of British India.
The trip starts and ends in Delhi - allow yourself an extra day to visit the unmissable Taj Mahal.
A stunning mountain flight out of the mountains from Leh – Delhi.
Start your love affair with Tibetan momos! Trust us, they’re delicious!
TOUR ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Arrive in Delhi - Welcome to India!
Accommodation: 4* hotel.
Included Meals: Dinner.
You’ll be met at the airport in New Delhi and brought to your hotel – ideally located, it is the perfect base from which to explore this chaotic and stunning city.
Yes, the traffic is INSANE, but thankfully you will not have to ride in any of this! We will all meet in the afternoon where your tour leader will give a full briefing of the adventure that lies ahead. We’ll all then head out to an excellent restaurant for a welcome dinner.
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DAY 2: Delhi - Shimla transfer
Accommodation: Hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will board our private coach/minivan and head for the hills! The journey to Shimla is a comfortable 9-10 hour trip on good roads. Sit back and enjoy the views as we begin the climb into the Himalayas.
Shimla is simply a beautiful and fascinating town that was the old summer capital of British India. We’ll arrive at the hotel mid-afternoon where our support team will be waiting with welcome drinks on the front lawn.
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DAY 3: Shimla - Shoja 160km
Accommodation: Hillside hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
The first day of riding on this Himalayan motorcycle tour and boy – is it a good one! We leave the chaos of Shimla behind and quickly find ourselves on beautifully paved winding roads that are simply a joy to ride! Next, you descend into a river valley where you’ll stop for lunch in an air-conditioned restaurant.
In the afternoon we will steadily climb on winding roads that cut through pine forests up to our first high pass of the trip – the Jalori Pass at 3,100m above sea level. We will stop at the top outside Mahakali Temple for a cup of chai before riding the newly paved road down to our hotel, perched on the hillside offering spectacular views over the trees. Sunset beers followed by a big meal and a roaring campfire: a great end to a great first day of riding!
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DAY 4: Shoja - Manali 120km
Accommodation: 5* hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
We’ll ride down into the Banjar Valley, through the pine forests and quaint rural villages. We’ll descend until we meet the Beas River which we’ll then ride alongside all the way to Manali. The traffic gets a bit manic so you’ll need to keep your wits about you as you weave around trucks, rickshaws, dogs, and cows! We’ll escape this as best we can by crossing to the other side of the river and riding tiny winding roads through small villages, all the way up to our excellent hotel. Manali is a beautiful ski resort-style town sitting at 2,000m. We’ll arrive mid-afternoon, giving you the chance to do a spot of shopping in Old Manali, explore the village of Vashisht, or even hike up to a nearby waterfall.
In the evening we’ll go out for dinner at Johnson’s Cafe where we strongly recommend you sample the trout from the local rivers – it’s delicious! After dinner, we’ll enjoy drinks around the fire pit.
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DAY 5: Manali - Keylong 110km
Accommodation: Hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Leaving Manali, we continue the ride alongside the Beas river before starting our climb up to our second high pass of the trip – Rohtang La at 3,876m. The roads up to the top are incredible, with countless hairpin turns and spectacular views across the hills.
As we descend into the Lahaul Valley the roads get a bit rougher, but with its cascading waterfalls and rugged terrain, the scenery is no less impressive. Tonight’s destination is the small town of Keylong… if your beard needs a trim, we recommend the local barber experience!
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DAY 6: Keylong - Sarchu 100km
Accommodation: Large tents with attached WC and proper camp beds.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
We’ll ride smooth tarmac in the morning that curves its way up to the scenic Baralacha La pass which sits at a whopping 4,883m above sea level. We stop just on the other side for lunch and three things might now happen:
1. You might feel a bit queasy;
2. You might feel a bit drunk and giddy – happy days!
3. Nothing at all.
Don’t worry though, this is just your body acclimatizing to the high altitudes and it should not last long. Our medic will be on hand to monitor your blood oxygen levels and we have oxygen bottles to hand if required.
Back on the bikes, we’ll descend onto the Sarchu plateau where our campsite awaits. After enjoying a buffet dinner in the food tent we will light a bonfire to keep our toes warm and toast marshmallows! Perfect.
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DAY 7: Sarchu - Leh 260km
Accommodation: Hotel just outside of town.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After breakfast we will saddle up for what might well be the most beautiful days riding you’ll have ever experienced – this is certainly the opinion of Toby, one of our guides...
A great start to the day as we ride up Gata Loops – 21 hairpin turns that snake up the mountainside. Riding towards the Upper Indus Valley and over two more of the world’s highest passes – Lachalung La at 5,085m and Tanglang La at 5,330m – the winding roads are joyful to ride and there are breathtaking views around each and every corner.
We do have a larger distance to cover today, but the road conditions are excellent – with exceptions of course – we’re still in the Himalayas – so we’re able to increase the pace.
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DAY 8: Leh - Rest Day or ride out to Alchi Monastery
Accommodation: Hotel just outside of town.
Included meals: Breakfast, dinner.
Enjoy a day of rest, local sightseeing, and explore the fascinating mountain town of Leh – the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Ladakh. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, cafes, and markets. There are many monasteries and ancient temples that are well worth a visit, as is the impressive 9-story abandoned Leh Palace that overlooks the town.
If you can not bear to be separated from your steed then we will arrange for your tour leader to ride the awesome roads out to Alchi Monastery – Ladakh’s oldest monastery – for lunch.
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DAY 9: Leh - Pangong Lake 175km
Accommodation: Comfy yurts with big beds and attached WCs.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Riding over Chang La pass at 5,280m we’ll cruise over towards Pangong lake – the highest saltwater lake in the world. Watch out for the huge Himalayan Yaks that patrol the valley! We’ll stop for a picnic lunch alongside a stream in this beautiful valley, before continuing down towards the lake. Careful because the horses will try and eat your sarnies…
The lake, shared by both India and China, is 134km long and a spectacular sight with snow-capped mountains and orange rock faces reflecting off of the perfectly clear blue waters.
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DAY 10: Pangong Lake - Nubra Valley 190km
Accommodation: Luxury campsite.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After enjoying breakfast and a couple of cups of chai tea down by the lake, we’ll saddle up for another day's fine riding through the mountains. We’ll travel through an incredibly remote region along an old military road alongside the Shyok River. The smooth road surfaces cruise us down into the beautiful Nubra Valley.
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DAY 11: Nubra - Turtuk - Nubra 165km
Accommodation: Luxury campsite.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Today we ride out to have lunch in the small village of Turtuk, located just 7km from the Pakistan border. You might’ve thought that you’d already seen all the different types of terrain the Himalayas has to offer – think again! This road is an incredible ride and the views are smack-in-the-face amazing.
After arriving back at the camp and sinking a cold Kingfisher or two, it’s into the support vans and out to the sand dunes to visit the camels and enjoy a spectacular sunset.
Back at camp – you’ve guessed it – another campfire awaits!
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DAY 12: Nubra Valley - Leh 130km
Accommodation: Hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
We’ve saved the big one ’til last – Khardung La Pass! Join the elite handful of motorcyclists that have stood on top of the world with their motorcycles by their side. Reputed to be the highest motorable road in the world (actually, it isn’t, but it’s pretty damn close!), Khardung La pass sits at 5,380m above sea level – that’s the same height as Mt. Everest base camp!
We’ll ride down the other side on rocky dirt roads until we reach our final destination. We’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel restaurant and say goodbye to the support team.
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DAY 13: Departure - Transfer to the Airport
Accommodation: Not included.
Included meals: Breakfast.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will say our goodbyes and transfer you to Leh airport (airport code: IXL) where you can fly back to Delhi (airport code: DEL), or other major domestic airports. Flight departure times vary from 7 am to 12 pm and the duration is approx 1hr30.
Buckle up for an exciting flight – no fighting over the window seats – which passes over numerous mountain tops and glaciers.
Back on the ground in Delhi, it’s high fives and hugs all around as we say our goodbyes.
If you intend to stay longer in Delhi then please let us know. We happily assist with the planning.