Mountain bike holidays in Ladakh

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.

Day 1:	UK - Delhi. Depart from London and arrive in Delhi International airport. Here you will be met by your guide and transferred to a nearby hotel. Overnight in the hotel and over the evening meal we will discuss the forthcoming days of the trip. (D)
Day 2:	Delhi to Leh. After a good nights' sleep, we have an early transfer to Delhi’s domestic airport for our internal flight to Leh. The short hour flight over the Himalayan range is truly spectacular, no dozing or you will miss the views of towering 7000m peaks! Arriving in Leh, capital of Ladakh at 3500m, you will be met by the local operators and transferred to our hotel by jeep. After a welcome tea at the hotel, you have time to rest until lunchtime. Suitably refreshed, we spend time putting bikes our together and time permitting, stretch our legs strolling through Leh’s Market, with it’s colourful Tibetan craft and food stalls. For dinner, we head back into town, to try out one of the many Tibetan or Indian restaurants. (B,L)
Day 3:	Leh and Shey. After breakfast, we take a guided walking tour of Leh town, including a visit to Shanti Stupa and the headquarters of LEDeg, a conservation organization working to preserve Ladakhi ways of life and supporting sustainable energy projects. Eager to get on our bikes, yet still needing to acclimatise, we head off down towards the Hindus and ride along a tarmac road, visiting the villages of Chaglamsar, Shey and Tikse. Chaglamsar is a Tibetan refugee village, with scattered Tibetan style dwellings and where the Dalai Lama has his beautiful temporary residence. A short ride on we reach Shey, which used to be the old capital and home of the Kings of Ladakh. The palace sits in a strategic position on a spur jutting out into the Hindus River, views from the top across to Stok and Sputuk and the hundreds of stupas across the desert are wonderful. We return to Leh. Dinner in town. (B,L)
Day 4:	Visit to Sputuk and Stok. In the morning there is some free time or if you wish we can take a short walk to the North of Leh, visiting some farms on the way to Sankar. After lunch, time to get on our bikes, as we ride down towards the Hindus valley, through Sputuk village. Crossing the hindus, we follow the river with great views of the imposing white capped Stok Kangri peak (6100m). After arriving in Choglamsar we have the choice of riding back to Leh or transferring by car. Overnight at the hotel (as days 2 & 3). (B,L)
Day 5:	Leh to Liker. Still acclimatising, today we set off on the first day of our Ladakh onward journey. Driving westwards, we follow the Hindus Valley and drop off with the bikes on the high plateaux above Nimmu. A great descent on a land rover track through a gorge will bring us to Nimmu - a ride not to forget! Back on the main road, we head on to Saspul, visiting Basgo Palace, before heading up to Liker (3500m). This small, spread out village is a lovely place to come after the hustle and bustle of Leh. The Gompa of Liker is headed by the brother of the Dalai Lama, Naris Kuchok. It is strategically built atop a hill overlooking the valley. It has various temples along with the quarters for the monks. There is a small museum above the gompa full with thankas, puja musical instruments, religious masks used in festivals, weapons and more. Outside, there is a giant golden Buddha statue which stands over eight metres tall. Tonight we will stay in a local guesthouse eating with the family; an excellent way of gaining insight into Ladakhi village life. (B,L,D)
Day 6:	Liker, Alchi & Temisgam. After breakfast we head down to the main road, cross over the Hindus river to then make our way to Alchi (3150m), riding past “chortens” (stupas) and little mud huts. Abandoned centuries ago as a place of active worship, it is a must to visit in Ladakh and has been lovingly maintained by the monks of Likir, and is the nearest functioning monastery. Known as Chos-kor, or religious enclave, it comprises five temples, the richest in paintings and images being the Du-khang (assembly hall) and the three-storey Sum-tsek. Its murals, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, pre-date the Tibetan style of painting seen in all the other monasteries of the region. After a picnic lunch break, we return to the Saspul on the main road and continue our journey. From here the road follows the river, passing villages with their terraced fields and neat whitewashed houses, the roofs piled high with neat stacks of fodder laid in preparation for winter. Here and there one notices the ruins of an ancient fort or palace or the distant glimpse of a gompa on a hill. Before arriving in Temisgam, a brief stop to visit Rezong will give us yet another example of the devotion of this Buddhist community. Temisgam (3200m) is a prosperous village set amongst fertile fields and spreading orchards, with remains of a castle and two temples, testifying a rich past. Again, our accommodation is with a Ladakhi family, dinner is shared in a traditional way. (B,L,D)
Day 7:	Temisgam – Rest day with trekking or meditation options. Today is the a chance to take it easy in this lovely village. For those who may be interested, we have the opportunity to experience an introduction to Buddhist meditation in a charming Gompa in a small neighbouring valley. Alternatively, a few hours trek will take you to a fertile valley and the village of Ang and to the Lago-La Pass (3750m) from where you get magnificent views across to the south side of the Hindus Valley. Returning to Temisgam, is another evening with the Ladakhi family. (B,L,D)
Day 8:	Temisgam, Khaltse & Lamayuru. In the morning we ride out of Temisgam following the hard packed dirt road towards Khalse. From here the route follows the Indus river, An exhilarating day of riding in more remote mountains as we make our way through the impressive Yuru gorge on our way to Lamaruyu village. As we arrive in Lamaruyu, we see the imposing gompa perched up high above the hill overlooking the town and river below. Its position on top of a beautifully eroded crag with rocky pinnacles and caves, gives it almost a fairytale quality as it stands over the small village below. This monastery is most probably the oldest in Ladakh and therefore worth a visit. The village, with its shops and many guesthouses, is a nice place to stop and wander around. We spend the night at a guesthouse in the village. (B,L,D)
Day 9:	Lamaruyu to Leh. Loading the bikes onto our support vehicle in order to give our legs a rest, for our return journey to Leh. Back in familiar surroundings, we settle into our hotel and enjoy a meal in town, at one of our favourite local restaurants. (B,L)
Day 10:	Leh Rest Day. Today is your free day or for those who are very keen, the chance to ride up to highest pass, Khardung-la (5380m). The first section is a transfer, setting off from the check post at 4500m. The three hour ride is rewarded by superb scenery and of course the achievement of reaching the top! The views from the pass are amazing. One can see all the way south over the Indus valley to the seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, Stok Kangri, and North to the giants of the Saser massif and the Central Karakoram peaks. Now what remains is to ride down the 45kms all the way back to Leh, and which will be for many the highlight of the trip! (B,L,D)
Day 11:	Leh to Mahe transfer. In the morning, we load the bikes on our support vehicle and set off down the Hindus. Time is put aside to visit the famous monastery of Hemis, where every year they perform an awe-inspiring festival. From here we continue, getting off in Mahe and riding the remaining kilometres up to Puga. Here we set up camp for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 12:	Puga to Tsomoriri. The first of the real passes on this route, the Kiagar-la will take you up to 5000m, on a gradual but rewarding dirt road. If you don’t feel like the challenge, you can always take the support vehicle to the top and enjoy the ride down, you are on holiday after all! Scattered in the expanse of the landscape, the only presence of life might be a scattering of Yak and a small Tibetan camp community. After a roller coaster track we reach our final destination for the day, Tso Moriri lake and Karzhok settlement. Karzok, situated at 4,572m, is the only permanent settlement in this region, which otherwise is inhabited by the nomadic Chang-pa herdsmen, living in black tents and moving their cattle of yak around the pastures. Setting up camp near the lake, we have another unwinding evening in the stillness of the Himalayas. (B,L,D)
Day 13:	Tsomoriri to Puga. After another mouth watering breakfast prepared by our camp staff, there is time to walk to the shores and admire this extensive landscape, or to wander through the village soaking in the atmosphere of this remote village. The riding today will take us back to Kiagar-la and Puga, where we set up camp again. (B,L,D)
Day 14:	Puga to Tsokar Lake. Another challenging day, where we ride up the “nomads valley”, past alternating sulphurous landscape and green pastures with yak herds and grazing goats. A long but gradual climb will take us over Polakongka-la (5115m) and as we head down towards the salt lake (4262m) - an eerie haze over the still lake might create some interesting hallucinations! A slight detour will take us to a small settlement, simple mud huts and a few goats grazing close to the lake. In addition to the expanse of mountains and rock, you might be able to spot a few Yaks and the Kyang, a wild ass of the Ladakh and Tibetan Plateau. Meeting up with the Leh-Manali road, we continue towards Debring, dropping into a deep valley, where we set up camp, our last in Ladakh. (B,L,D)
Day 15:	Tsokar Lake to Upshi to Leh. Taglang La (5280m) pass is the second highest pass and final challenge for this trip. The road follows the Moray Plains, a few switch backs up through the mountain ranges, until we reach the prayer flag flattering pass (as well as barrel after barrel of empty tar containers!) After a short stop for the obligatory pictures, we descend on a 30kms rewarding switchback road towards the valley where Rumpsti is nestled. The geology in this area is quite amazing, towering rock walls, ochre red pinnacles and an inspiring end to our exploration of Ladakh. For those who wish to continue, from Uspshi, Leh is a mere 49 kms away… if not, there is always the support vehicle. Hotel (shower!) and dinner in Leh for an evening of celebration. (B,L,D)
Day 16:	Leh Khadlongla Pass. Today is your free day or for those who are very keen, the last chance to ride up to highest pass, Khardung-la (5380m). The first section is a transfer, setting off from the check post at 4500m. The three-hour ride is rewarded by superb scenery and of course the achievement of reaching the top! The views from the pass are amazing. One can see all the way south over the Indus valley to the seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, Stok Kangri, and North to the giants of the Saser massif and the Central Karakoram peaks. Now what remains is to ride down the 45kms all the way to Leh! Celebratory dinner in Leh. (B,L,D)
Day 17:	Leh to Delhi. We rise early and transfer to the airport for the flight to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel. Half-day sightseeing in Delhi. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 18:	Delhi. You have a free day in Delhi, with the option of sightseeing some of the most important sights in Old Delhi: the Red fort, Jama Masjid Mosque, Raj Ghat, Jantar Mantar, Qutab Minar and Lotus Temple. Alternatively, you can wander the back streets of the bazaar areas of Parahganj. In the evening, after dinner we transfer to Delhi International airport for our connecting flight back to the UK.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner