Biking Tours to Leh Ladakh

If you are fascinated by mountain biking then the best and the most challenging destination would be Ladakh. The higher reaches of the Ladakh region in India is by far the best destination of mountain biking. There are some areas which are unspoilt by the usual holidaymakers and therefore make the perfect track for biking. The 475km journey from Manali to Leh is one of the ultimate challenges of mountain biking. The route covers four high passes with a total altitude gain of 29 000 feet-the equivalent of cycling to the summit of Mt. Everest from sea level. This route is open from June till the first week of October and traffic is very light.

The tour will take you to Rohtang Pass, Baralachala Pass (4,892 m), Lachalangla Pass (5,065m) and the highest pass on this circuit, the 5,360m high Tanglangla Pass. After a break at Leh, you will proceed to the Khardungla Pass, 18,370ft. which is the world’s highest motorable road.

The bike tour usually starts at New Delhi from where you have to proceed to Manali. The first leg of the tour will cover 39km from Manali to Marhi. The Rohtang Pass (3,980m) lies about 15km from Marhi. You will need to take a night’s rest and then you can bike 50km uphill to cross the famous Kunzam Pass (4,551m) and enter the Spiti Valley, home to some of the world’s oldest Buddhist monasteries. You can cross Kibber, the highest village in the valley and visit the the 1,000-year old Ki Monastery (4,116 m). You can also get to see the Tabo and Dankar monasteries.

First day of your tour you can take a bus from Delhi and reach Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh and drive up to Manali. Stay overnight in a hotel in Manali before undertaking the first trip on a bike. You can ride upto Old Manali and along the Beas River you will find the hot sources of Vashist. The trip through the "alpine" forest to the Rothang La Pass helps you get acclimatized to the conditions on the highest road of the world. Here you can enjoy the view over the glacier summits of Spiti, and the mountains of Ladakh. The route in Keylong the capital city of Lahaul-Valley will in every possible way give you the impression that you are in a Tibetan- Buddhist culture-area. The Baralacha La, 4670m, is the first important position on this demanding tour. The other important areas that you pass are Mora Plain, Tsokar, a no-flowing-off salt lake and Taklang La which separates you from the Indus Valley. You will also pass monasteries of Stakna, Thikse, Shey. The journey is strenuous and you have to depend heavily upon the weather. You need a technically sound bike, a sleeping bag and of course do not forget to carry your camera to capture those unforgettable moments.