» Ladakh Cycling Tour
Places Covered : Delhi - Kulu - Manali - Keylong - Lahaul - Valley - Gataloops
- Lachalung La - Karakorum - Hemis - Shanti Stupa - Leh - Delhi
Duration : 12 Nights / 13 Days
Day 01
You go with a bus from Delhi through the hill-landscape of Himachal Pradesh
into the valley of Kulu and the Beas River along into the small town of Manali(2000m)
Here you can stroll through the streets how you want for yourself. Overnight-stay
in a hotel (2 nights)
Day 02
The mountain bikes will be settled up, and now you go on a first reconnaissance-trip:
A forest hides a temple, called Hidimba Devi, out of wood with remarkable carving.
Later you drive steeply up to "Old Manali", a picturesque vil
lage
close to the ruins of the Fortress Mandakot. Along the Beas River you will find
the hot sources of Vashist.
Day 03
You are biking on the highest roadof the world. This trip through the "alpine"
forest to the Rothang La serves for your acclimatization. After the last village,
called Kothi, many serpentines bring you to the Rohalla Falls and after a big
turn into a small valley you reach the camp where you stay overnight (3000m).
Now the cook spoils you with his arts. However it could be raining there, because
in this height the weather changes. Day-Performance: 35 km, 5 hours.
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Day 04
In many serpentines and over green pastures, it goes to the Rothang La,
4060m. There you can enjoy the view over the glacier summits of Spiti, and the
mountains of Ladakh. Its fantastic! Now you enjoy the downhill of about 1000
height-meters to the village of Khoksar. There is the first check post, but
you need not a permit. You are now in Lahaul-Valley. In softly up and down,
you reach Tandi, the campsite at the place, where the rivers Chandra and Bhaga
comes together. (2800m). Day -Performance 75 km, 5 hours.
Day 05
You start early morning into the canyon and come to Keylong, the capital
city of Lahaul-Valley. Prayer flags and Mani walls clarify for you that you
are in a Tibetan- Buddhist culture-area. Four monasteries surrounding in the
former capital of Lahaul invite you for sightseeing. The monastery of Kardung
shines at the opposite hillside in the sun. After a powerful uphill in the afternoon
you reach at the camp Jispa (3200m).
Day 06
Now the wood border is behind you, passing Darcha (3235m), in a big river-landscape,
you reach Patseo (3650m) on a comfortable half-stage. You start your trip intentionally
quietly, in because of the adaptation of height. There you get a lot of fresh
tea, because much drinking is very important during the acclimatization. Day-
performance 32 km, 3 hours.
Day 07
The Baralacha La, 4670m, is the first key-position on this demanding tour.
The timberline remains behind, the landscape becomes balder. The height of this
pass is a crossing- point of archaic caravan-ways. Three rivers rise from here:
Bhaga, Chandra and one of the brooks of Zanskar, which will follow you from
now on at your way in direction northwards to Indus. You have crossed the weather-
difference of the Himalayan. You are very proud that you have managed this without
help of the car, which accompanies you. Now, the indented mountains of Ladakh
and Ruphsu are in front of you. Campsite in Sarchu at the Zanskar River. The
cook there pampers you with original Indian or Nepalese food. The comfortable
tents will give you a gently night. This day you pushed up your bike 1800 height
meters and finished 55km. You need 6-8 hours, thats a regular time.
Day 08
Early morning you start the strongest steppe. First you go approximately
38 km very flat till you come to the Gataloops. The next 800 height meters you
push up your bike in many serpentines. Then you reach Nakee La 5050m. A short
downhill (250m) and thelast ascent bring you to the Lachalung La 5150m. On the
pass travelers have established Manis out of stones, which should appease the
mountain- demons. The wind cancels over the colorful prayer-flags. You are acclimatized
well, and so also the Lachalung La 5150m, does not cause any problems in you.
Over you pile the rocks of the Trans Himalaya. They roll through a bizarre canyon,
until in Pang the second arm of the Zanskar is reached, the Zara Chu. Immediately
beside a control- station you will stay for camping in the tents there, 4500m.
You are hungry and you enjoy the Tibetan food-Momo, Noodles with Beans, Pancakes
with Jam, Dal with Rice, and so on. Day-Performance 84 km, 7-9 hours.
Day 09
You slept well in the Jute-tent. After breakfast, you start slowly at a
short ascent to the Mora Plain 4700, one of the Rupshu typical, waterless high
deserts. There only lives poor Changpa -Nomads, which reach even 5600m high
pastures with their yaks, sheeps and goats. In interesting excursion, you bump
over unfixed tracks to a clear; source that bubbles between mountain-backs from
green pastures. Further to Tsokar, a no-flowing-off salt lake. That is
eaten
by a sweet twin lake, and in its mineral wealth almost suffocates. Rust and
strip-goose are in this paradise equally at home, as the Tibetan gull. Few years
ago people have transported the precious salt with goat stoves into the endless
corners of Ladakh. It is a fantastic panorama! Campsite near the lakes. Day
performance: 57 km, 4 hours.
Day 10
Only the Taklang La, 5303m separates you from the Indus-Valley. In a far
swinging back, soft traverse, the street wins the saddle before debling, 4800m.
You can see it as a thin line at the steep hillside. Also like the audacious
turning of the old caravan-way, from prayer-masons. In three hours you are above
and will be rewarded with a wonderful view on the mountains of Karakorum. Its
a stormy corner and you stay only for a short time on the pass. After taking
some pictures, you have a gently downhill till pshi, 56 km, without treating!
The street is in very good competition and you reach the camp in the romantically
canyon of the Gya-River in 2 hours.
Day 11
Its cold on morning in the shadow of the canyon. We start early to the Indus-Valley.
We follow the green wideness till a hidden valley.In a short uphill, 7 km, we
reach the monastery of Hemis. There we have sightseeing and in the restaurant
our second breakfast. Past midday we are on the last trip to Leh, we pass the
monasteries of Stakna, Thikse, Shey, and its time enough, to make a short visit.
A last ascent, 300m, will bring you to Leh. There are many guesthouses and restaurants.
Day 12
You slept very well in the clean bed, now you have time to make a sightseeing
and shopping in Leh. Its fantastic here; they have on market all kinds of fruits,
what you missed in the past tense. It is warm in the sun, you enjoy at a black
coffee and Donates in one of many shops. You go by bike to the monastery of
Sankar, the Shanti Stupa, and the Tsenmo Hill.
Day 13
With less luggage you start early morning to the highest motor able pass
of the world , the Khardung La 5606m. The ascent begins at 3540m and end by
5603m. There are 46 km. Behind Leh you leave the last small village, Ganglass
4000m, then you reach 2 hours later the check post in South Pullu. Only 14 km
separate you from the summit. You need 3 hours to the pass. The view along the
street is always fantastic, on Kardung La; you get fresh tea or Maggie noodle
soup. There is also the highest Gompa, you can make a visit. The reward of the
day is a fantastic downhill to Leh. This journey is very strenuous and sometimes
depend on the weather. You need a technical perfect bike, a fully is the best.
You sleep often in a tent with a sleeping bag. Check your cameras and batteries.
