THE ROOF OF THE WORLD EXPEDITION – MOTO

DATE

SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 8, 2024

RIDE DURATION

10 DAYS
(8 RIDING DAYS)

RIDE DIFFICULTY

3.5/5 (INTERMEDIATE)

TEMPERATURE

-5 TO 15 DEGREES

ACCOMMODATION

3 & 4 STAR HOTELS

MAX ALTITUDE

19024 FEET

MOTORCYCLE

INCLUDED

BACKUP TRUCK WITH MECHANIC

INCLUDED

Experience amazing Zanskar in all its glory – deep in the heart of the Himalayas, in remote
valleys that were till recently isolated from the outside world. A magical land once lost to
time, finally open to the greater public today is a privilege to ride through. Witnessing the
beauty of the area, the simplicity and spirituality of its people and the magical scenery will
make your ride an adventure of a lifetime!

Zanskar is one of the most stunning and challenging riding regions anywhere in the world
today! You will find a mixture of terrain, from smooth tarmac to dirt roads, through winding
valleys and gorges along the flowing rivers, climbing and descending some of the highest
mountain passes anywhere in the world! Though the roadworks in the region have
improved the level of tarmac greatly, challenges such as the altitude ensure that passage
through the region must always be earned by those who make the journey!

Summit Umling La – the World’s Highest Motorable Pass at 19024 feet above sea level –
even higher than Everest Base Camp! Return via timeless Ladakh, crossing several high
altitude passes enroute, each more scenic than the last!

The region is remote and though the locals are warm and hospitable, travelling here with
the proper level of safety, backup and experienced group leaders is an absolute must.

ITINERARY

DAY 0DAY 1DAY 2DAY 3DAY 4DAY 5DAY 6DAY 7DAY 8

ARRIVE MANALI

Riders are to arrive at the resort in Manali, optimally by 1500hrs so that we can complete
pre-ride formalities.
A general BP/ O2 check shall follow, providing the team with your baseline readings for the
remainder of the trip. This shall take place daily so that to ensure any issues that may occur
as we gain altitude in the following days are addressed before they can escalate!
A ride briefing will take place over a barbeque as the team and group get acquainted with
one another and we set down a few guidelines for the days to come, followed by dinner.

MANALI-SISSU (110KM)

The acclimatization day – a leisurely start post breakfast as we climb to the Atal Tunnel, a
9.2km long tunnel constructed at above 10,000 feet above sea level and a real marvel of
modern day engineering.
We turn off towards Gramphoo and begin a beautiful off-road section, one that will provide
the group with a taste of some of the terrain to come in the following days.
We ride till Chhatru, have lunch and return the way we came before heading on to Sissu –
our halt for the day. This will also be a good night of acclimatization, as we shall spend the
night at just over 10,000 feet above sea level, holding us in good stead for the rest of the
trip.

SISSU– PADUM (190 km)

We take the road from Sissu to Padum via Keylong, Darcha, Shingo La, Kargiak and Purne.
Though the road has been largely tarred, the ride remains challenging with dirt stretches,
bare-bones infrastructure along the route, the possibility of water/ice crossings and maybe
even snow atop the 16,800 ft high pass – Shingo La – the Gateway to the Zanskar Valley.
Further along the road we cross the holy mountain – Gombo Ronjon, and make our way
past the village of Purne, before riding along the Tsarap river for much of the remainder of
the day. We halt in the town of Padum for the night.

PADUM-KARGIL (300KM)

One of the toughest days of the entire trip. We leave at first light and follow the smooth
tarmac which soon turns into a narrow dirt track flowing along the Zangskar river. The route
is spectacular, and one you would struggle to rival anywhere in the world!
We arrive at a crossroads further on, with those willing and able having the option to make
the climb to Lingshed. Those wishing to sample a new, uncharted route can head towards
the hamlet of Yolchung, and climb the dirt that meets the old road just short of Singge La.
We then surmount Sirsir La, and soon after we join the tarmac to Kargil – our halt for the
night.

KARGIL – LEH (250 km)

This day has two options.

Those wishing to visit the War Memorial at Drass may do so, before following the main
highway to Leh.
Those that have the restless energy of a true explorer shall venture towards the Batalik
sector – mere kilometres away from the LoC and a central area during the Kargil War,
climbing Humboting La and following the rock strewn dirt road beyond for miles before
rejoining the main highway.
Further on, we join the lesser known track to Likir and beyond, emerging short of Leh – our
destination for the night.

LEH – HANLE (250 km)

We set off early from Leh towards Hanle – our destination for the next few days. The road is
incredible – a mix of tarmac and dirt, with minimal traffic – all the tourists from Leh drawn
towards the more mainstream sights. Time permitting, we will make a small detour to
spectacular Tso Moriri for lunch, before carrying on to the spartan village of Hanle.
Facilities are sparse and basic – a throwback to Ladakh of yore! Sit back and enjoy
everyone’s company

Hanle – Umling La – Hanle (160 km)

We start the morning after breakfast and set off towards Umling La – the highest motorable
pass in the world today! The altitude gain will be rapid – both man and machine will gasp for
air as we make our ascent to the landmark location.
Truly a bucket list item for travellers all over the world – an achievement that will stay with
those who make the summit for life! We return to Hanle via an alternate route, tarmac this
time but no less spectacular!

Hanle – Jispa (370 km)

We start early from Hanle in a bid to make short work of the long day’s driving ahead. A
mixture of dirt and tarmac, we pass the hot springs at Puga, cross the Tso Kar and hit the
main highway between Debring and Pang.
The road is much improved but still tricky in sections, with the constant gain and drop in
altitude along the way, making the ride a challenging one.
Finally, once we surmount Baralacha La and cross over into Himachal Pradesh, we park up in
Jispa for the night.

Jispa – Manali (100 km)

A short day’s ride from Jispa through the Atal Tunnel and down to Manali – back to
civilization!
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon at the hotel spa, explore the Manali marketplace or just chill –
the choice is yours!
We reconvene in the evening over a barbeque and some drinks to celebrate a truly epic
adventure with people who have now become friends for life!

want to know more about us?

YOUR RIDE

You shall be riding through Zanskar on one of the following machines, basis availability.
Both are capable of traversing the terrain adeptly and are extremely popular choices when it comes to travellers riding into the Himalayas.

RE Himalayan 411

RE Scram 411

IMPORTANT TRIP DETAILS

COST

Cost for tour (Twin Sharing): USD 2800
Cost for pillion (Twin Sharing): USD 2300
Single Rooming Supplement (Optional): USD 600

INCLUSIONS

The cost includes:

1. Accommodation for 9 nights at places specified in the itinerary, on Twin Sharing basis.
2. Breakfast and dinner at all hotels.
3. Lunch/ tea/ refreshments en route on all riding days mentioned in the itinerary.
4. An Isuzu V-Cross 4×4 equipped with a VHF Radio for communication for the duration of the ride. The vehicle will carry your luggage, have a trained Mechanic onboard, Tool Kit,Puncture Kit, High Volume Air Pump, emergency fuel etc. and can carry a stricken motorcycle if need be, and will sweep the course to ensure everyone is brought home to roost! The ride leaders shall be equipped with radios as well to as network is spotty in the area, allowing us to keep a track of all the riders!
5. First Response Medical kit.
6. Transportation for arrival to and departure from Manali at the ride start/ end.
7. Services of two accompanying Xplorearth Lead Riders (Instructors at the True Adventure Honda Camps), one backup truck driver/ mechanic.
8. Toll taxes, green fees and permissions required en route.
9. Royal Enfield Himalayan or Scram 411 rental fee, plus fuel cost for the duration of the ride.

EXCLUSIONS

The cost excludes:

1. Accommodation & meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
2. Costs towards accidents/ illness and medical evacuation.
3. Damage to the motorcycle/ spares for the motorcycle.
4. Expenses of a personal nature such as porterage at bell desk of hotels, soft beverages, alcoholic drinks, laundry, telephone/internet charges or room service.
5. Air/Train fares
6. Indian Visa fees
7. Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.

WHY XPLOREARTH?

Born and bred in the Himalayas, we at Xplorearth are a group of passionate motorcyclists and 4×4 enthusiasts curating experiences for travellers from across the globe to experience these magical mountains. Our team is highly skilled and we take utmost care to look after every aspect of your journey from the moment you join us so all you need to do is enjoy the ride!

Heritage:
Xplorearth started out as the logistics backbone for the Rally Raid de Himalaya and the pan-India National Superleague TSD Rally Championship. We have not only an unmatched understanding of the region, but also the infrastructure, local contacts and other intangibles that are crucial when organising a trip into these areas, particularly when other connectivity and healthcare infrastructure is underdeveloped! Moreover, our experience in the area helps us take riders on routes that most others haven’t even heard of!

Ride Leaders:
Xplorearth has a number of skilled and experienced ride leaders who have been heading expeditions for decades now! We have led rides for renowned brands such as Triumph, BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield and Honda, amongst others, and share the common passion of motorcycling with all our clients – something which transcends all barriers! All of our ride leaders have ridden in various countries across the world and are fluent in English as well as local dialects, making them the perfect guides to lead you through these remote and stunning regions.

Hospitality, accommodation and cultural experiences:
Our team makes it a point to ensure the best possible accommodation even in the most remote regions! We understand the value of comfortable accommodation after a hard day’s riding, and make sure to cut no corners when designing our itineraries in this regard. All the hotels used on the trip shall be 3 or 4 star properties. Homestays and tents offered by other operators sound great in theory, but not so much so after a full day’s riding at high altitude!
Our knowledge of the region also allows us to point out certain cultural nuances and traditions to those who travel with us, making the entire experience a more fulfilling one!

Backup (medical and technical) and comms:
We use an Isuzu V-Cross 4×4 (or multiple, depending on group size!) equipped with a VHF Radio for communication as our backup vehicle for the ride. The vehicle will carry all your luggage other than anything you need to keep on the bike (rain gear etc.), so you will not have to ride a fully loaded bike every day!
The vehicle will have a mechanic onboard, Tool Kit, Puncture Kit, High Volume Air Pump, emergency fuel etc. and can carry a stricken motorcycle if need be, and will sweep the course to ensure everyone is brought home to roost! Unlike most other tour operators, we don’t simply throw everyone’s bag into the back of a local pick-up and hope for the best!
We put the utmost priority on rider safety during our rides. Our team understands the limitations that the remote areas of the Himalayas have when it comes to medical infrastructure and are well equipped to be the first-responders for any medical issue that may arise. We carry a comprehensive medical kit, stretcher, oxygen cylinders to deal with the altitude and so on to ensure that everyone makes it home safe! Our team also carries licensed VHF Radios for the duration of the trip – a base station and hand-held radios for the ride leads to help keep track of all riders during the event – cellular connectivity in the region is extremely spotty!

SIGN UP

To confirm your slot on the ride, or for more information on anything regarding it,
contact us on any of the following:

Email: [email protected]
Phone/ Whatsapp: Arjun +91 9769144072 / Vijay +91 9816004137

SAY HELLO
Email: [email protected]
Phone/ Whatsapp: Arjun +91 9769144072 / Vijay +91 9816004137