Mountain bike holidays in Ladakh
| country: | India |
| location: | Ladakh, Kashmir |
| trip type: | Adventurous mountain biking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 12 Jul, 2 Aug |
| price: | From £1255 (18 days) excluding flights. Optional bike hire £150. We can help arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Experience the remote Himalayan region of Ladakh during an amazing 18 day trip to this fabled land. Often referred to as “Little Tibet” because of its rich culture and tradition, similar to its neighbouring country, this is your chance to bike and absorb a place few people visit.
Following international flights to New Delhi we take the early morning flights to Leh the capital of the region. It’s important to take things easy in this rarefied air and so our initial few days are spent on acclimatisation rides in and around Leh. Suitably acclimatised we leave Leh and follow the Hindus river towards the region of the culturally distinct Drok-pa villages.
Here we explore isolated villages seemingly ‘frozen in time’ and visit remote monasteries perched on high cliffs, and containing a wealth of Mandalas (ancient Buddhist paintings) and other hidden treasures.
For the second part of the trip, we head towards Ladakh’s eastern border with Tibet, biking between snowcapped peaks and the wonderful lakes of Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. This remote region offers many challenges as we ride through huge scenery across vast dry plateaux over the 5200m Taglang La pass, towards the one of the highest villages on earth Karzok, the headquarters of the Changpa nomads.
Combining staying in family run guesthouses, Ladakhi farms and camping near villages gives you the possibility of experiencing this culture and lifestyle first hand. This trip offers unrivalled possibilities of tough climbs, endless downhills and the chance to meet the local people and experience their unique sustainable lifestyles.
Following international flights to New Delhi we take the early morning flights to Leh the capital of the region. It’s important to take things easy in this rarefied air and so our initial few days are spent on acclimatisation rides in and around Leh. Suitably acclimatised we leave Leh and follow the Hindus river towards the region of the culturally distinct Drok-pa villages.
Here we explore isolated villages seemingly ‘frozen in time’ and visit remote monasteries perched on high cliffs, and containing a wealth of Mandalas (ancient Buddhist paintings) and other hidden treasures.
For the second part of the trip, we head towards Ladakh’s eastern border with Tibet, biking between snowcapped peaks and the wonderful lakes of Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. This remote region offers many challenges as we ride through huge scenery across vast dry plateaux over the 5200m Taglang La pass, towards the one of the highest villages on earth Karzok, the headquarters of the Changpa nomads.
Combining staying in family run guesthouses, Ladakhi farms and camping near villages gives you the possibility of experiencing this culture and lifestyle first hand. This trip offers unrivalled possibilities of tough climbs, endless downhills and the chance to meet the local people and experience their unique sustainable lifestyles.
this tourism business was Highly Commended
In our 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards, the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine. The idea behind the Awards is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people. how this holiday makes a difference
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Global adventures start with a local perspective - that's our philosophy. Whether abroad, or just as importantly at home, the start point is the same; how to get the most enjoyable holiday for our customers while benefiting the local people, economy and respecting their environment and their culture.
Cycling is a great way to explore Ladakh and it's remote mountain regions, travelling at a speed that enables you to take in the surroundings without damaging the environment. We visit isolated villages and remote monasteries, and enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the local people. Accompanied by a local knowledgeable guide our guests are able to understand in depth about Ladakh culture, custom and contemporary issues. During our biking adventure, we combine staying in family run guesthouses, Ladakhi farms and camping close to villages, enabling you to experience this culture and lifestyle first hand. We take the opportunity to learn about meditation in a small Tibetan Monastery (Gompa) and visit local markets and restaurants. By collaborating with Ladakhi based guides and buying local products from small producers, we contribute to the regional economy and encourage self-reliance. We provide travellers with Travellers Codes that encourage the reduction of water usage, systems for collecting, recycling or safe disposal of litter and relevant suggestions to minimise damage to the environment and local culture. Our holidays in Ladakh have a maximum group size of 12 people minimising both the social and environmental impact. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |