Explore the Hidden Zanskar Valley with Ladakh

14 Days – 13 Nights / Riding – 10 Days

US $ 2600 RIDER / US $ 2300 PILLION

PER PERSON ON TWIN SHARING BASIS

06 JULY – 19 JULY

20 JULY – 02 Aug

Riding Distance : 1370 KMS / 851 MILES

Maximum Altitude : 5359 M / 17575 FT

DELHI – KARGIL – PARKACHIK – PENZI LA – PADUM – KARSHA – ZANGLA – STONGDE – RARU – ICHAR – BARDAN – SANI – RANGDUM – LAMAYURU – PHOTOKSAR – PHUGTAL – ALCHI – LEH

In this tour we cover the Remote Hidden Kingdon of Zanskar, Starting from Srinagar the capital city of Kashmir riding through the lush green pine trees uphill crossing Dzoji La Pass to Kargil, and riding through Suru valley over the Penzi La into the Zanskar Valley which is famous for Monasteries of Karsha, Zangla, Rangdum, and Sani, Crossing the High Pass Penzi La on the Kargil to Padum road. The massif Nun and Kun peak and the main highlight of this tour are the Highest Motorable Road in the World Khardung La 5570 M. Into remote Kingdom of Zanskar the towering misty mountains of Ladakh and Zanskar cradle the splendors of Tibetan Buddhism, fascinating travelers for centuries. Here, monasteries were built hundreds of years ago. The mystic magic of Tantric Buddhism is practiced and performed with devotion. Ladakh, including the Zanskar area, has been termed by many Western writers as “greater Tiber”. Open to tourists since 1974, people from all over the world have flocked to experience its warm hospitality and unforgettable landscape. Karsha Gompa is biggest in the Zanskar region. En route we cross Fotu La (4108 M / 13600 FT), Namiki La (3660 M / 12000 FT), Penzi La (4250 M / 14000 FT) visit Rangdum Monastery & Sani Chorten, Karsha & Bardan Monastery. We will have panoramic views of the Highest Peak in the part of the Himalayan range lying on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Nun (7135 M / 23409 FT) and its neighbor peak Kun (7077 M/ 23218 FT). We will also ride on some earlier trekking routes which are now motorable and are totally new for the people who have not done trekking in Zanskar Valley earlier.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in DELHI

We will meet you at Delhi Airport and transfer you to your Hotel. Because fellow group members may be arriving on different flights, we will wait to meet the fellow group members on the next day at the breakfast table and the staff at the dinner table.

Day 2

DELHI – LEH

Today we rise very early to board our flight to Leh. On arrival in Leh, we will be transferred to our hotel, and the rest of the day is free for acclimatization.

Day 3

At LEH

Post breakfast we’ll hold a briefing to cover safety precautions, touring style, road conditions, and check of personal equipment, with time to select our bikes and become familiar with starting procedures, control layouts, and bike handling. A trial day visiting around Leh.

Day 4

LEH – ALCHI – LAMAYURU (3510 M / 11512 FT) (125 KMS / 5 – 6 HRS)

Post early breakfast we will start riding towards Lamayuru en-route visiting the famous Alchi Monastery of Ladakh which has special statues of deities which can be seen only in Alchi Chos Khor, The artistic and spiritual details of both Buddhism and the Hindu kings of that time in Kashmir are reflected in the wall paintings in this monastery. These are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh. The road is nice next to the Indus River. The terrain at the ancient Lamayuru Monastery is like Moon Land as it is believed to be a Lake thousand of years back.

Day 5

LAMAYURU – ARYAN VALLEY – KARGIL (2676 M / 8778 FT) (150 KMS / 6 – 7 HRS)

Post breakfast we ride to Kargil via Aryan Valley through Aryan Villages – Drogpa People.

Day 6

KARGIL – RANGDUM (4031 M / 13221 FT) (130 KMS / 5 – 6 HRS)

Post breakfast we ride to Rangdum, through Suru Valley the gateway to Zanskar valley, Green Fields Massif Mountains continue further to the Herdsman Village Parkachik and Panikhar in Suru Valley facing the massif Nun and Kun Peaks above 7000 M / 22960 FT.

Day 7

RANGDUM – PENZI LA (4242 M / 14000 FT) – SANI – PADUM. (3505 M / 11600 FT) (100 KMS / 5 – 6 HRS)

Post breakfast we’ll ascend the adventurous track further until we reach Penzi La pass the highest pass on the Zanskar road before descending along a huge glacier at the entrance to Zanskar Valley continuing further to Padum the small capital and the district headquarters of Zanskar.A strange ride across the huge central Zanskar plain. From your first step, the dramatic Karsha Gompa can be seen clinging to dark jagged cliffs over the Doda river. All the way you will be dominated by the Nun and Kun massif around Padum: ice, snow, and rocky peaks.

Day 8

PADUM – KARSHA – ZANGLA – STONGDE – PADUM. (4400 M / 14520 FT) (100 KMS ROUND TRIP)

Post breakfast we will ride to visit the Karsha monastery, a medieval oasis of peace and an important center of the Buddhist faith, This Gelukpa monastery is the largest of Zanskar. Further heading out to the Stongde monastery, which overlooks the Zanskar River from a rocky outcrop – a special highlight of our tour and the castle of Zangla towering on a mountain ridge above the village.

Day 9

PADUM – PHUKTAL – PADUM. (4000 M / 13200 FT) (120 KMS ROUND TRIP)

Today we will do a day excursion to the famous Monastery of Phuktal built in the 12^th century which is one of the most isolated monasteries of Ladakh – Zanskar, passing through the villages of Raru, Muni, and Bardan, Muni village can be seen deep inside the valley like typical Zanskar cauldron with gardens. The road will show you views of great peaks. Bardan Gompa, perched on a rock promontory, was built in the 17th century and can be visited on the way. Small hike 3 Hours round trek to the Magnificent Phuktal Monastery – CAVE OF LIBERATION.

Day 10

PADUM – SINGE LA (5100 M / 16728 FT) TINGMOSGANG. (3041 M / 9975 FT) (230 KMS / 8 – 9 HRS)

Today we start early as the day is long. We ride back on the newly opened route in Zanskar / Yapo Gorge which was the old classic trekking route from Padum to Lamayuru via Singe La and further ride to the famous ancient villages of Tingmosgang and Hemis Shukpachen – The Apricot Valley or the Sham Valley of Ladakh.

Day 11

TINGMOSGANG – LEH. (3600 M / 11800 FT) (100 KMS / 5 – 6 HRS)

We ride back to Leh Enroute visiting Likir Monastery.

Day 12

LEH – KHARDUNG LA – (5359 M / 17575 FT) – LEH

Today we will have an excursion ride to the One of the Highest Motorable Road in the world Khardung La (5359 M / 17575 FT). Post lunch explore Leh market.

Day 13

LEH – DELHI

Early morning transfer to the Airport to board the flight to Delhi.

Day 14

DELHI

Transfer to the Airport to board the flight back home.

Cost Includes:

Royal Enfield Standard 500cc / Himalayan 411cc / Himalayan Scram 411cc
Spare parts for the bikes
Support Vehicle for luggage
Toyota Innova / Small Bus
Mechanic
English Speaking Road captain
Fuel & Oil
First Aid Equipment
Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
Hotels 3* / Heritage
Fixed Camp
Delhi – Leh – Delhi Flight Tickets
Inner Line Permit
Oxygen in the unlikely event of altitude sickness

Cost Does Not Include:

Any part broken while riding will be payable extra
The expense of personal nature viz laundry, telephone calls, tips, mineral water, beverages, etc
Expense arises due to unforeseen circumstances like roadblocks, landslides, flight cancellation, etc
Personal Insurance
Sleeping Bags
Helmets or any riding gear
Indian Visa and International Flights