Spiti and Kullu valleys
From the steamy Gangetic plains and the chaotic capital of Delhi, we come to a totally different world, the Spiti region. For this we will see how the landscape is completely transformed. From the green and flowery landscapes of the Shimla and Lahul Valley to the isolated Spiti region. This trip is largely by off road and driving in very high altitude at more than 4000 meters. It is necessary to be an experienced off road driver and had a good control of the motorcycle to cross rivers and rocks.
Day 1 Arrival of flights to Delhi. Meeting with the group in the afternoon at the hotel, information (presentation of the country, driving in India and travel program). Hotel in Delhi.
Day 2 Depart by train from Delhi in the morning to Kalka by Shatadbi Express. Three hours later, we will join the team that will help us during the trip. First contact with our motorcycles, we tested them around the station since Kalka is a much easier and more pleasant city than Delhi to embark on the hectic streets of India. Then departure to Shimla. Lunch on the way. Many curves until arriving in Shimla, the former summer capital in the time of the English Raj. This picturesque town was established in colonial times on the side of the mountain: Hotel in Shimla.
Day 3 Shimla - Sarahan. Sarahan is known for its sights and one of the top destinations for escaping the heat of the plains. We will spend the night at the hotel in front of the mountains of the Pabbar Valley.
Day 4 Sarahan - Sangla. One of the best routes of our tour. Sangla is a small town lost in the Pabbar Valley. We leave the main road to travel 20 km of winding road between canyons and lost valleys with incredible views that will delight the most experienced bikers. We spend the night in very comfortable tents with beds and private bathrooms. Night in Sangla.
Day 5 Sangla - Kalpa. Our shortest day of our tour, returning to the main road, via the Sarahan-Jeori road that will take our breath away. At 60 km, we ascend to the west to reach the town of Kalpa at 3000m. The Kinnaur region is known for its orchids and apple plantations. Our hotel overlooks the city with great views of the mountain peaks. Hotel in Kalpa.
Day 6 Kalpa - Nako. Departure in the morning to Nako and stop 50kms later at the checkpoints to show our permits to enter this area. We follow the river flanked by gorges and mountainous landscapes of majestic shapes. In Sumdo, we are only 10 km from the border with Tibet, but it is a no-go area for foreigners. Arrival in Tabo where we have the best hotel in the area. The Tabo gompa dates from the 10th century, one of the oldest in Spitti. Hotel in Nako.
Day 7 Nako - Kaza. We continue to the city of Kaza surrounded by mountains typical of the Tibet landscape. Visit of the Dhankar gompa to continue to Kingri in the Pine Valley. The departure after lunch for Kaza where our beauties will have to refuel because till Manali there is no more petrol. Hotel in Kaza.
Day 8 Kaza - Losar. Ascent to the gompa in Comic, 40 kms from Kaza. The gompa is high up with breathtaking views of the valley and the river. We return to Kaza to visit the village and the Kye gompa. Arrival in Losar to our basic but clean hotel and prepare for tomorrow's epic journey. Hotel in Losar.
Day 9 Losar - Manali. Today we will cross two passes higher than 3500m. The first is Kunzum-La at 4550m. We will stop at the top to take a group photo with the Tibetan flags waving in the small stupa made to greet and protect the travelers who venture to this pass. Arriving in Lahaul Valley, the landscapes begin to be greener and the vegetation appears again after several days of lunar landscapes. We are on the mythical Manali - Leh route. Before reaching Manali, we have to cross the Rothan Pass at 3880m. Hotel in Manali.
Day 10: Manali. Well-deserved free day to hike in old Manali, in the mountains, or simply get lost in the city's bazaar discovering Tibetan antiquities. Hotel in Manali
Day 11 We continue the descent of the green Kullu Valley. We pass along the right side of the river, passing through small villages with wooden houses typical of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The route follows the course of the river until reaching Manali with magnificent views of canyons, long tunnels and wooden bridges suspended in the river. Deviation towards Shoja in the middle of fields of flowers and vegetation. Hotel in Shoja
Day 12 The last day of our motorcycle tour, but before reaching Shimla, we have to cross the Jalori pass at 3100m. The steepest port on our tour. Arrive in Shimla and say goodbye to motorcycles. Hotel in Shimla.
Day 13 Departure by minibus to Kalka where we will take the train back to Delhi. Transfer from the station to our hotel. Arrival in the afternoon around 10:30 p.m.
Day 14 Free day until the departure of international flights.
Duration of the tour:
14 days 13 hotel nights (day 1 to 13 included).
Your flight must arrive and depart from Delhi. Meeting with our team and the group on day 1.
Local flights included on the price, from Delhi to Leh and from Leh to Delhi. Companions who wish to make the trip may do so on the back of a motorcycle or in the assistance vehicle.
Extra options:
Motorcycle model Himalaya supplement
We also propose the off-road model of Royal Enfield, the Himalaya model.
Supplement modelo Himalaya: 140€ .
The price includes:
• Hiring of the motorbike throughout the whole trip (500cc Enfield Bullet).
• Standard clean hotels. 9 nights (1 to 9included).
• Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional 250€ ). 1*
• Breakfast, water and tea during the trip on the road.
• English speaker guide during the motorcycle tour, a mechanic on Enfields. (minimum of 4 participants).
• Train Delhi Kalka and private bus from Shimla to Delhi
• Backtoup vehicle and driver, for luggage and provide assistance on the road.
• Spare parts, tools, first aid equipment and medicines.
• Petrol during the full tour, tools and spareparts and third party insurance.
• All permits for the Ladakh region and Rotang Pass.
• Transfers from/to hotel in Delhi from/to Delhi airport.
The price mentioned above does not include
- Travel assistance insurance (compulsory 2*)
- Visa for India.
- Banking expenses.
- Personal expenses such as washing clothes, souvenirs or alcoholic beverages.
- entry tckets to the gompas or monuments.
- Tips for our tour staff, hotels and restaurants.
- Transfers or transportation during free days in Leh or without a motorcycle.
- Deposit 500 € for the motorcycle rental.It is returned at the end of the trip if the motorcycle has not been damaged.
- Dinners, lunches and any other service not mentioned in the section "the price includes".
Weather
In July, and August the temperatures in Delhi can exceed 35°C. When going up in altitude, starting from Shimla, the weather is milder with temperatures around 25°C with very sunny days. When crossing the pass on the road from Manali to Leh, the weather is, in general, dry and sunny but it can suddenly change and temperatures may drop. It is thus usual to pass from one extreme to the other several times during the day. We should have some very sunny and hot days, some cold days, and maybe some days riding under the rain. At more than 4000m of altitude, the sun can burn the skin easily and on the road there are very few places with shade. It is thus advised to bring high protection sun lotion, sunglasses and gloves.
Motorbike gear:
- helmet (best an open one), windtobreaker,
- Gloves, closed boots, and motorbike equipment for the rain (those in two parts preferably). In windy days, the top of the windtobreaker could be enough for not feeling cold.
- In Ladakh, the rain is rare in July and August, but the weather is unpredictable. If you are sensitive to the cold, bring protection.
- A motorbike tank bag is very useful to keep the camera, hand gloves or small things within reach.
State of the road and driving in India
This trip is one of the most spectacular and impressive that one can make on a motorbike. Nevertheless, this trip is not an easy walk and is not obvious for everybody. If driving in India is not easy (the rules are not the same as in our countries), one gets used rather quickly to the “local habits”. The traffic is chaotic in the cities but there is in general very little traffic on the roads and people drive slowly. The road, in particular from Manali up to Leh, is very variable. One rolls on for kilometres on roads in very good state that change abruptly into dirt tracks with sand and stones. We could encounter landslides blocking the road for a while or small rivers to be crossed on motorbike. The state of the roads varies each year, since the road is closed for eight months and it is covered with snow, which destroys the asphalt.
This is an intermediate level trip. More accessible and easier than our 12-day Himalayan Crossing tour that requires an expert level.
Even being an experienced driver, it is advisable to take a two or three-day training course. One can be amazed at the things one learns in this type of training, even if it you have been driven for more than twenty years!
India is an incredible country, full of magic, but it is not an easy country for those who do not have patience or are not used to the delays and the unforeseen situations. If you decide to join the group, I will ask you to be flexible with the possible delays and the unexpected situations due to the special conditions of the country. This type of motorbike adventures always has a share of risks of which you must be aware of and accept before joining the group.
Being open minded with a good amount of humour is essential to be able to enjoy this trip to the maximum. A trip that you will almost certainly never forget in your whole life.
The Royal Enfield Bullet
The Royal Enfield continues to be manufactured in the Indian factories of Madras after the closing of the head office in England in the Fifties.
There have been very few aesthetic and technical changes since then. It is a very solid motorbike with a legendary look and motor noise. With a 500cc engine, the Royal Enfield gives a pleasurable sense of a bygone time on the Indian roads. The Bullet is far from being a fast motorbike but it is the best adapted for the hard conditions of the roads in this part of the world.
Our fleet of Royal Enfields motorcycles are all 500cc models with right side 5 speed gearbox, disk brake and electric start.
1*- Registrations will be made in strict order of the reservation date. Which means that if you book last minute, you may have to opt for a single room if there is no other person to share a double. You know, the earlier you make the reservation, the more chances you will have to sleep in a double room.
2*- It is mandatory to subscribe a travel assistance insurance that covers the use of a motorcycle. If you don't have one with your credit card or with your car or motorcycle insurance. This type of insurance covers medical expenses abroad and repatriation by plane in case of illness or accident.
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