ZANSKAR – THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

DATE

August 18 – 27, 2024

RIDE DURATION

10 DAYS
(8 RIDING DAYS)

RIDE DIFFICULTY

3.5/5 (INTERMEDIATE)

TEMPERATURE

5-25 DEGREES

ACCOMMODATION

3 & 4 STAR HOTELS

MAX ALTITUDE

5091 m

MOTORCYCLE

INCLUDED

BACKUP & LUGGAGE VAN

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 motorcycling 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!

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. The motorcycles shall be handed over to the riders and any pre-ride adjustments can be made according to your preferences.

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 (240KM)

The group heads off towards Penzi La and the Drang Drung glacier – one of the most magnificent sights on this trip, as we witness the 17 km long glacier as it snakes down into the Stod river.

The run to Kargil from Padum is almost completely smooth gravel and fast. An amazing track for honing your off-road skills. The roadworks in the region have already converted much of the dirt to tarmac, and one can be sure of a well-paced ride through some incredible vistas. We enter the Suru valley and follow the river for much of the remainder of the day, to Kargil, our halt for the night.

AROUND KARGIL(160KM)

This day has two options. Those weary and in need of recuperation can do so. The local market can be explored later in the day.

Those that have the restless energy of a true explorer shall head to the War Memorial at Drass, a site that truly captures the essence of many historic battles fought in and around the area. We will then cross the Umba La (around 15,000 feet above sea level), have lunch en route and return to Kargil for the night.

A stunning ride that many who frequent the region are yet to experience, due to the relatively unknown nature of the route!

KARGIL – LAMAYURU (180 km)

We head out post breakfast and head into the Batalik Sector, climbing to Humboting La (13,202 feet above sea level). This area is seldom explored by mainstream tourists, and the ride is a serene one as a result. The views are stunning and very soon we surmount the Pass, from where one can see the neighbouring land of Pakistan, mere kilometres away. We continue down some backroads before rejoining the main highway, where we stop at Lamayuru for the evening. The town has a famous monastery and those interested can pay a visit to the same.

LAMAYURU – PADUM (160 km)

The most challenging day of the entire ride. We start after an early breakfast and turn off the main highway before beginning the climb to Sirsir La (16,370 feet above sea level). This road, once completely dirt, is being rapidly tarred and the climb to the top will be a fast paced one! We then descend for a short while before beginning the ascent to Singge La (16,590 feet above sea level). The descent from here is long and unforgiving, and one has to take care not to overheat the rear brakes on the way down! Magnificent vistas greet us around every bend, and before long we find ourselves riding along the Zanskar river with the sun beginning to set – a truly surreal experience!

We meet the tarmac around Zangla and head on to Padum, our halt for the night.

AROUND PADUM

A day off for you and your motorcycle! Riders are free to explore the quaint town of Padum, familiarise themselves with the local culture, visit the monastery and so on, or even just relax after the rigorous past few days of riding!

Our team will spend the day carrying out any work required on the motorcycles.

PADUM – MANALI (230 km)

An early start, as we ride along the Tsarap Chu and back to Purne and beyond. We cross Gombo Ronjon and summit Shingo La, and before long we are back into Himachal Pradesh.

A few more hours on the smooth tarmac and back through the Atal Tunnel before descending to Manali – where we shall celebrate the end of a truly epic journey – one which would have changed you all forever!

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 per PAX
Cost for pillion (Twin Sharing): USD 2300 per PAX
Single Rooming Supplement (Optional): USD 600 PER PAX

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