Motorcycle Tour

Ladakh-Zanskar, India

The Ladakh Zanskar tour is an extension of the Ladakh compact tour. We follow the same route only in the opposite direction. In Lamayuro we then leave the highway to Kargil and ride deep into the interior of the Himalayas to Padum, the capital of Zanskar.

Description

Until now, Padum could only be reached by foot from Lamayuro. This was a very arduous trek leading over several 5,000-meter passes. Since 2020, a road has been completed and it is now possible to ride to Padum by car or motorcycle.

The road connection between Padum and Kargil has existed for some time, and so we take the opportunity to extend our Ladakh compact tour by the detour to Padum and thus enrich it noticeably.

The ride to Zanskar is a real adventure. If a trip through the Himalayas is already no walk in the park, the journey to Zanskar demands the mobilization of the last reserves of condition and riding skills. The road in this region is not the same as the road in our latitudes.

As a reward, we experience untouched nature. Only here and there do we find tiny settlements, for which the term village is a gross exaggeration. Three or four houses in traditional architectural style, small gardens for self-sufficiency, a few animals, and lovable friendly people who eke out a tedious existence here. Otherwise, mountains, valleys, rocks, boulders - a landscape, barren and hostile, yet beautiful and beguiling.

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Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Delhi

Today you fly off to India, and the next morning, around 8 o'clock, you continue to Leh. As you arrive at the international terminal, but fly on from the domestic terminal, you first have to check out, i.e. go through passport and visa control, wait for your luggage, take the shuttle bus to the domestic airport, and check in again. The whole process can take five to six hours. So you need to schedule your flight to Delhi so that you arrive on time, preferably no later than 03:00.

The easiest way is to use Prima Klima to book your flight. They know the dates and which flights are ok.

In Leh, you will be met by our staff at the airport and taken to the hotel.

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Day 2: Arrival in Leh

Early this morning you landed 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 not 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 you. Whether walking through the narrow streets of the old town, visiting the Shanti Stupa, visiting the palace, or on "observation posts" in one of the many cafes - today it's time to relax.

Overnight stay at about 3.500 m.a.s.l.

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Day 3: Takeover of the bikes - First ride / approx. 50 km

After breakfast, we will take over the bikes. Our guide and the mechanic will give you a short introduction to the handling of the bikes. The modern Himalayas hardly need any adjustment. Long gone are the days of the right shift and left brake. In addition, our staff will try to give you an insight into the "logic" of Indian road traffic. Just this much in advance: what happens on India's roads has nothing to do with logic and rules. Here everyone does what he wants and there is only one law, the law of the strongest. Since we don't belong to the stronger ones with our bikes, there is only one rule for us: ride defensively and let the others have the right of way. So we get well through India and back home in one piece.

A short round trip will bring you to some of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh, first of all, the monasteries in Thikse and Hemis. Also on the program are the palace in Stok and the Spituk monastery. And when you return to the hotel later, you will be as familiar with the bikes and the traffic as if you had never done anything else.

Overnight stay at 3.500 m.a.s.l.

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Day 4: Ride from Leh to Lamayuro / approx. 115 km

National Highway No. 1 (NH 1) leads from Leh to Srinagar in Kashmir. It is in very good condition in parts, as it is maintained by the military. But the harsh weather conditions always cause the first holes to form in the asphalt, and the many trucks then tear up the road for kilometers. This goes on until it is almost impossible to get through, and only then do road crews arrive and roll out a new thin layer of asphalt. In the meantime, however, the same game has already begun elsewhere, and so the girls (yes, young women are not uncommon in Indian road construction) and boys from the BRO (Border Roads Organization) are well-occupied and have secure jobs.

We are happy about the first real ride with our Enfields and arrive a bit exhausted in Lamayuro in the late afternoon. Here we 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, "clinging" to the hill are the houses and huts where the people of Lamayuro live.

Overnight stay at 3.520 m.a.s.l.

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Day 5: Ride from Lamayuro to Padum / about 95 km

Today it will be a bit hairy. The road to Padum is new but not necessarily good. Until recently, Padum and Zanskar could only be reached on foot from Lamayuro. A tedious trek led through rough terrain and over some 5,000-meter passes. Since 2020 there is now this road. Let's hope that it will withstand the attacks of the weather.

Overnight stay at 3.550 m.a.s.l.

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Day 6: A day in Padum

We spend the day in Padum and experience a completely different world. Because of the remoteness of the region, a very original culture has been preserved. You can see this in the architecture, in the clothes, in the stores, restaurants, and hotels. Everything is very simple and functional. The people are mostly Buddhist and very kind and friendly. There is a Buddhist monastery nearby, which we can visit if you are interested.

Overnight stay at 3.550 m.a.s.l.

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Day 7: Ride from Padum to Kargil / approx. 205 km

Today we have to hurry a bit. 205 kilometers doesn't sound like much, but in India and especially on a mountain road through one of the most remote regions of the Himalayas, that's a decent distance.

The destination of today's ride is Kargil. Kargil is on the cultural border with Kashmir and this is where the Buddhist part of Ladakh ends. 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 cheerful ease 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. This was not always the case, and Kargil had the nickname "the rat hole." When the war between Pakistan and India raged, Kargil was in the middle of it, and all tourism came to a complete halt. It took many years for the town to recover from this trauma. But now you can see light on the horizon again.

Overnight stay at 2.700 m.a.s.l.

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Day 8: Ride from Kargil to Dah Hanu valley / approx. 75 km.

Also today we are going to a region of the Himalayas that is hardly visited by tourists. The ride 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 Brokpa, 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 Brokpa populate five villages in the region, but only two are open to tourists, Dha and Hanu. The valley is named after them.

There are no hotels or guesthouses, so we spend the night in a stationary tent camp.

Overnight stay at 3.240 m.a.s.l.

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Day 9: Ride from Dah Hanu to Alchi / about 100 km.

We ride along the Indus River. Because the river overflows its banks, again and again, we have to expect heavy road damage and temporary detours. Nothing can be planned. The adventure can come.

In Alchi, there is an old Buddhist monastery, which is known for its beautiful murals. The small town has a very relaxed atmosphere. There is a large market where you can buy all kinds of souvenirs, and the place also delights the traveler with a German Bakery, where there are delicious cakes and good coffee.

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 m.a.s.l.

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Day 10: From Alchi to Diskit in the Nubra Valley / approx. 185 km

Today we will climb high, very high, to the highest motorized pass in the world. A must for every biker who thinks something of himself. We pass Leh without stopping and immediately start the ascent to the pass. In the beginning, we find good road conditions, but about 15 kilometers before the pass is the end of the fun. Now it's rodeo time. This part of the route has never seen asphalt and a scree road is an absolute luxury compared to what awaits us before the Kardung La.

But we will reach the top anyway. All our guests have made it and you will also proudly reach the highest pass in the world. In the highest tea store in the world, there is squeaky sweet Kashmiri tea, and those who still have reserves of strength can climb a few meters higher and visit a small temple located at the very top. It doesn't get any higher than that.

We must not stay here too long. We quickly take a passport photo, and then we start our descent. The first 15 kilometers are also a horror here, but then the road gets better and a few hours later we reach our hotel in Diskit.

Overnight stay at 3.180 m.a.s.l.

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Day 11: A day in the Nubra Valley.

You have earned this day of rest. We still have a big effort ahead of us and should take the opportunity to cut back a bit today. Nevertheless, if you feel like it, you can get on your bike and explore the Nubra Valley.

Not far away, in Hunder, there are sand dunes and camels that invite you for a little ride. Further north, in Panamik, there are hot sulfur springs. However, the hygienic conditions are quite extensive. Worthwhile is the ascent to the monastery of Diskit. Not only is the old monastery itself very interesting. From here you have a great view over the Nubra Valley.

Overnight stay at 3.180 m.a.s.l.

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Day 12: Ride from Diskit to Spanmik at Pangong Lake / approx. 160 km

For some time now, the road from Diskit directly to Pangong Lake is regularly passable. In the past years, we had no problems getting to Pangong Lake on this way. Only occasionally there are road closures. So we will not, as before, take the detour via Leh, but ride directly to Spangmik.

In Spangmik there are no hotels, only stationary tent camps. So we will also spend the night in one of these facilities. Since we will spend the night at quite a high altitude, one or the other may suffer from headaches. So you should bring headache tablets. We hardly have to reckon with altitude sickness, since our bodies have acclimatized by now and the altitude can't affect them anymore.

Overnight stay at 4.200 m.a.s.l.

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Day 13: From Spangmik to Leh / approx. 155 km

The circle closes. One more pass, the Chang La, and we arrive back at the starting point of our journey. If you still have the desire, strength, and energy, you can visit the Chemrey Monastery on the way. Otherwise, we will ride pretty much directly and without stopping to Leh, where we will arrive in the late afternoon.

Overnight stay at about 3.500 m.a.s.l.

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Day 14: Rest day in Leh

And also this rest day you have earned. Enjoy another day in this beautiful city, stock up on souvenirs, have a T-shirt individually embroidered, visit one or more bakeries, in short, have a good time after this certainly exhausting journey for everyone.

Overnight stay at about 3.500 m.a.s.l.

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Day 15: Flight to Delhi

So, that's it. Today we will go back to Delhi. There you can use the time to have a look around Delhi. This adventure ends with a dinner together.

For Taj Mahal visitors: 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.

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Day 16: Flight home or visit the Taj Mahal

The adventure comes to an end. Sometime in the night of today, your plane will take off for home. Until then you will have a room at the hotel in Delhi. The latest check-out time today is 10:00 am.

For Taj Mahal visitors: Early in the morning, before sunrise, we will go to the Taj Mahal to admire this amazing marvel of Muslim architecture. Afterward, we will have breakfast at the hotel and ride back to Delhi.

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Day 17: Flight home

Now the adventure comes to an end even for the visitors to the Taj Mahal. Sometime during the night, your plane will leave for home. Until then you will have a room in the hotel in Delhi.

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 the tropical-exotic south of India.

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NOTE: The map is not quite correct, because maps do not yet recognize the new road from Lamayuro to Padum. So think of a direct connection from Lamayuro (B) to Padum (C).