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| Feast of scenic,
topographic and ethnic diversity, The Trans-Himalayan Biking
expedition is one of the rarest of the world's biking trails,
passing through the lush green valleys of Shimla & Kullu,
you drive for rugged high-altitude crossing of the great chain,
from South to Central Asia, through the rarely visited old kingdom
of Zanskar, tucked into the fabled mountains of the same name.
As you drive into the heart of this rugged region of Zanskar
& Ladakh. The landscapes become ever more Tibetan: vast,
sere highlands punctuated by ever-higher passes (the highest
is 5602 Meters), placid blue mountain lakes. Along the way we
visit Buddhist temples perched on crags, prayer flags rippling
silently in the fresh wind, and bike through small green valleys
and over highest motor able passes in world, greeted by cheery
Zanskaris and Ladakhis.
Tsomo Riri & Tso Kar; these high altitude lakes are situated
in the Rupshu region of eastern Ladakh. Tsomo Riri is surrounded
by mountains and is formed by a tributary of the Spiti river.
This rare habitat attracts the Barehead Goose, which breeds
around the inlets of the lake during the summer months.
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| Itinerary: |
| Delhi-Chandigarh-Mandi-Manali-Jespa-Sarchu-Tsokar-Tso
Moriri-Leh-Khardung La-Hunder-Disket-Panamic-Leh |
| Season |
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Mid June – Mid September |
| Grade |
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Strenuous |
| Duration |
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16 Days |
| Highest Point |
: |
5606 Meters |
|
 Day
01: Arrive Delhi |
| Arrive at New Delhi’s
international airport our representative will be waiting for
you outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal, holding a placard.
Met upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for overnight stay.
Accommodation will be held for you from the previous night.
Overnight at Hotel. |
| Day
2: Delhi-Chandigarh-by shatabdi express (dep 0730 hrs, arr 1030
hrs) |
In time transfer
to the railway station to board your train for Chandigarh.
On arrival you are met on arrival and transferred to
hotel. Afternoon intro to your bikes and crew members
of your expedition. Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day
3: Chandigarh-Mandi–206 km, 7-8 hrs |
| After breakfast drive to Mandi. |
| Day
04 : Mandi-Manali – 86 km, 3 hrs |
After breakfast we drive
to Manali, which is 1896 m above sea level and situated
at the northern end of the Kullu valley. A picturesque
little town bustling with activity, Manali is the most
popular place in Himachal Pradesh during the summer season.
Around Manali, nature has lavished the region with forests,
waterfalls, green slopes, rivulets and soaring snow covered
mountain peaks. Manali also boasts of a Mountaineering
Institute, which imparts training in mountaineering, skiing
and other adventure activities. Drive and explore the
beauty of nature. Overnight stay in hotel.Day
05: Manali - Rohtang Pass - Jespa- 147
km – 6-7 hoursAfter an early breakfast drive to
Jespa a small village in the Lahaul region. En route cross
Rohtang Pass (3980 M) and visit Keylong village. The lofty
Shingri Glacier is seen in all its grandeur, it’s
high passes standing between them and the civilized world.
The people of these valleys have an intense love for their
home culture; their songs and dances are as chaste and
pure as the snow that clods the mountains around. Spiti
Valley is famous for Yaks and Choru. Overnight in hotel.
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| Day
06: Jespa-Keylong - Jispa and around |
| All day sightseeing
Keylong, Trilokinath, Udaipur area - a visit to
Shashur & Guru Ghantal monasteries in Keylong
area and Trilokinath & Udaipur temples in Pattan
Valley area. O/N at hotel in Jespa. |
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| Day
07: Jespa to Sarchu – 96 Kms, 5-6 hrs |
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| Beyond Jespa, the regions
main town, the road follows the Bhaga River up towards
its source. We ascend to a height of 4800M to Suraj
Tal (Lake). One has to safeguard against Skidding,
especially where the water of the hill streams flows
on to the Road. We will ascend Baralacha La (pass)
4830Mand cross into the Zanskar range, one of the
remotest region of the world. Overnight in camp
at Sarchu. |
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Day
8: Sarchu - Polokangla – Tsokar 200 Kms |
The road will be testing
the Bullet and nerves today. After crossing Brandy Nallah,
21 hair pin bends of the Gata loops shall bring us to
the Double humped Pass Lachulung La (5060M) and then Pang
(4630m). After Pang start zipping along More Plains -
a flat stretch of 48 Kms, at an average height of 4200m.
At Debring Mor we will steer in the NE direction to reach
Tsokar (Salt Lake). We will drive through the harsh unpaved
terrain of Rupshu region, ahead lies a wide plain the
salt lined Tso Kar shimmered in the heat. We drive through
bank and a spring recommended by the Changpas, the nomads.
Crossing the spongy salt plain the heat shall be intense,
Kyang, the wild ass, like stripe less zebras galloped
the plains, keeping their distance but always curious,
moving as we moved but always turning to stare. We shall
stop to watch the abundant bird life and passing nomads.
Overnight in tents near the lake. |
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| Day
09: Tsokar- Tsomoriri (76 Kms 3-4 Hours) |
We now enter, perhaps
the harshest stretch of this tour, we climb through the
rocky terrain, Journeying eastwards shall cross the pass
of Pologonka La (5,060m), and Changpas have travelled
this way for centuries collecting salt, grazing herds
and trading along the Indus or south into Spiti and Kinnaur.
At Juksi they had an extensive camp of yak hair yurts
set on the barren plain amongst flocks of pashmina goats,
sheep and yaks.
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| We shall stop for a while
at Pologonka La, we shall then descend into the valley, passing
through the land abundant with hot sulphur springs to reach
the village of Sumdo at a junction from where one road leads
to Leh and another turns right to Tsomoriri, We will camp overnight
at Sumdo. |
| Drive through the mountainous
terrain to reach the pass at Namshang La, we then descend to
reach the lake of Tso Kiager, another small lake en-route, this
stretch is very sandy and picturesque, we shall continue our
drive to reach the village of Korzok on the banks of Tsomoriri.
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Tsomoriri Lake with Korzok village
is the most beautiful place of the Rupshu region. Tsomoriri,
at a height of 4485m is a lake of fantastic beauty,
lying between two mountain ranges of an average height
of about 6000m, on the east and west. With a depth of
76m, the lake is about 27 km long and 5-8km wide. It
is on the banks of this lake that the black necked cranes,
bar-headed goose, ducks and several water birds breed.
The bar-headed goose, one of the most endangered species
of birds in
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India, come to the shore of
this lake to hatch their eggs between June, to mid-August. The
environment at Tsomoriri is so clean, pure with its unspoilt
natural beauty. Korzok village, one of the three permanent settlements
of the nomads in Rupshu and the only one in the Tsomoriri Valley,
is situated on the northwestern shore of the lake. The village
has around 100 houses. Korzok monastery built on place of an
ancient temple of 9th centaury, was built around 1850.
Overnight in Camps at Tsomoriri. |
| Day
10 : Tsomoriri – Leh (3650 Mts.) (Drive 240 Kms 8-9 Hours) |
Take the same road back till
Sumdo, turn right from Sumdo, we shall take a brief
halt at Mahe bridge, to complete the formalities
with local police. Continue driving through Chumatang,
another hot sulphur spring, keep driving and pass
through the Monasteries of Chemrey, Shey and Thiksey.
Also visit Hemis Monastery.
The Hemis Monastery is situated in the South of
Leh, at a distance of 43 Kms, on the south bank
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| of the Indus River. Hemis
Monastery is famous for its annual festival in the
month of June/ July. The tenth day (Tse-Chu), of
the Tibetan lunar month is celebrated as the birthday
of the Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the founder
of Tibetan Buddhism. The Hemis monastery celebrates
this event in the form of a 2-day festival. Its
resident Lamas perform the sacred masked dances
leading to the destruction of the evil forces, &
sacrificial offerings. Continue driving to reach
the Leh, overnight in Hotel |
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| Day
11: Day at leisure in Leh |
| Leh is
an excellent base for excursions to several
nearby monasteries and other worthwhile points
of interest. Day for servicing the bikes and
to explore the down town. Overnight in Hotel |
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| Day
12: Leh - Khardung La (5606 M) - Nubra Valley - 125 Kms. |
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| After break fast drive
to Hunder village 125 kms; (5-6 hrs) over
Khardong La pass (5606 mt), the highest motorable
road pass in the world. The view from the
top of this pass is amazing. One can see all
the way south over the Indus Valley to the
seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the
Zanskar range, and north to the giants of
the Saser massif. After crossing the pass,
drive another 80 kms; (2-3 hrs) across the
river Shyok to reach Hunder village. Overnight
at fix camp at Hunder. |
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| Day
13: Hunder–Disket-Panamic-Hundar |
| Bacterian camel
safari subjects to availability. Drive to Panamic,
en route visit Disket. See the Disket monastery
perched on a rock overhanging a stream, which is
the source of energy, used by the mills of the monastery.
The monastery is full of Tangkas (silk paintings),
magnificent giant statues of the Buddha and old
mural paintings in which can be noted a multitude
of influences. Visit the Hot springs at Panamic
and drive back to your camp at Hunder.
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| Day
14: Hunder – Leh-by surface |
| After breakfast drive to Leh
over Khardung la. Afternoon rest & relax or take a walk
to the local market. Overnight at Guest House/hotel. |
| Day
15: Fly Leh - Delhi |
| Bid goodbye to the Land of
Lamas, Monasteries and friendly people and fly to Delhi. Spend
the day at leisure in Delhi - sightseeing, shopping etc
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| Day
16: Delhi - Agra Outbound |
| This day will also serve as
the reserve day in case of any eventuality of cancellation of
Delhi – Leh Flight, if every thing goes fine take a excursion
to AGRA to see the Famous Taj Mahal, return back to Delhi and
transfer to the international airport to board the homeward
flight. |
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Odyssey Motor Bike Tour 
