Manali Trip Overview
A unique motorcycle tour through the Himalayas on the highest roads in the world. It goes over high passes, to beautiful azure mountain lakes and through a fascinating mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks. We will visit Buddhist monasteries and small traditional villages. Road conditions are constantly changing from new, wide and well-developed roads to stony and sandy jeep slopes.
Additional Info
Duration: 11 days
Starts: Manali, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Manali Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India
A unique motorcycle tour through the Himalayas on the highest roads in the world. It goes over high passes, to beautiful azure mountain lakes and through a fascinating mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks. We will visit Buddhist monasteries and small traditional villages. Road conditions are constantly changing from new, wide and well-developed roads to stony and sandy jeep slopes.
Itinerary
Day 1: Test Ride Manali
Stop At: Manali, Manali, Manali Tehsil, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh
Small test ride with the motorcycles. Today, each participant is assigned a motorcycle. On a test ride, we will explore Manali’s surroundings together.
Duration: 4 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel
Day 2: Manali to Jispa (135 km) (3250 m)
Pass By: Jispa, Jispa, Lahaul and Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh
We officially start our tour to Leh. We drive along the river Beas through numerous villages up to the Rothang Pass (3980 m). Then we go down to Gramphu and on to the checkpoint in Koksar. On the drive along the Chandra River you will pass through small villages, potato and pea plantations and pass spectacular mountains and their glaciers. We reach the district capital Keylong. Here is the last permanent market. Then we continue for 35 km to Jispa.
Stop At: Rohtang La, Himachal Pradesh
We cross the mighty Rothang Pass (3980 m)
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Keylong, Keylong, Lahaul and Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh
We pass the lass permanent settlement on the way to Ladakh
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Deluxe Camp (Tent with attached bathroom and bed)
Day 3: Jispa to Lake Tsokar (4267 m) 220 km
Pass By: Tso kar Lake, Keylong Leh Road (Leh-Manali Hwy), Leh 194201 India
We will start the day with a good breakfast and cross the 4800 meter high Baralacha Pass. Then it goes down to Sarchu – the center on the route from Manali to Leh. We leave the Sarchu plains and take the 21 narrow bends up to the Nakeela Pass ( 4780 m). A little later we cross our first 5000-meter pass, the 5090-meter high Lachung La. The way down to Pang is bad and makes a lot of trouble on the stony ground. The landscape, however, is spectacular and constantly changing. It goes for 40 km on a flat and new road through the Morray Plains. Then we turn to the beautiful Tsokar lake.
Stop At: Baralacha La Pass, Himachal Pradesh 175132
The first pass we are crossing: the 4800 m Baralacha La
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Nakee La 4739 m, 194201
Pass Number 2 for today
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Lachung Monastery, Lachung India
Tha Lachung La Pass is Pass Number 3 and the last Pass we are crossing today. It will be the first pass over 5000 m with 5050 m of height
Duration: 10 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Deluxe Camp
Day 4: Tsokar to Leh (3500 m) 131 km
Pass By: Leh, Leh, Leh District, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
Today we will cross the second highest pass in the world, the Tanglang Pass (5328 m). We pass the first tranquil villages of Ladakh and finally reach Leh. We check into our hotel and spend the evening with the first exploration of Leh.
Stop At: Tang La, 790105
The second highest motorable pass in the world
Duration: 10 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel
Day 5: Leh Sightseeing Day (Thiksey, Spituk and Hemis Monastery, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace ) ca 50 km Round Trip
Pass By: Ladakh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
Today our permits will be issued for the trips to Lake Pangong and the Nubra Valley, which we will visit in the next few days. So we use the day to explore Leh and its surroundings. Here there are many ancient Buddhist monasteries, a palace and the famous Shanti Stupa, from where we will have a wonderful view of Leh.
Stop At: Thiksey Monastery, Leh Manali Highway, Leh 194101 India
We visit the monastery
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hemis Monastery, Hemis India
One of the oldest and most famous monastery in Ladakh
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Shanti Stupa Road 500 steps from Changspa Road, Leh 194101 India
Enjoy the view from Shanti Stupa
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Leh Royal Palace, Leh India
We visit the ruins of the palace overlooking Leh
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel
Day 6: Leh to Khardungla Pass (5640 m) and on to The Nubra Valley (3048 m) 125 km
Pass By: Nubra Valley, Nubra Valley, Leh District, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
Today we go to the highest pass in the world, at least that’s what it says. Here it can snow in summer and you can enjoy a tea in the highest Café in the world. The view from here is breathtaking! Then we drive into the fascinating Nubra valley. In Deskit we visit the monastery. We continue to Hundur. We can take a walk around the beautiful village as well as visit the sand dunes and take a ride on the camel.
Stop At: Khardung La, 194101
Today we cross the highest motorable pass in the world
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Diskit Gompa, Diskit 194401 India
We visit the monastery
Stop At: Hundur, Hundur, Pulwama District, Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir
How about a camel safari in the sand dunes? Extra charges of 1000 rs (13 €)
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Deluxe Camp
Day 7: Nubra Valley Tour 160 km
Pass By: Turtuk, Turtuk, Leh District, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
Today we explore the Nubra Valley and drive all the way to the end of the valley.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Deluxe Camp
Day 8: Nubra to Pangong (4300 m) through the Shyok Valley 227 km
Pass By: Pangong Tso, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India; Ladakh, , India;, Leh 194101 India
This famous Pangong lake is more than 200 km long and an average of 5 km wide. Most of the lake is in Tibet. So we can enjoy a glimpse of Tibet. This lake has been the venue of various Bollywood films many times. We will spend the night in a camp.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Deluxe Camp
Day 9: Pangong Lake back to Leh 223 km
Pass By: Leh, Leh, Leh District, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
In the afternoon we return to Leh over the Chang La Pass and use the evening for a little shopping.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel
Day 10: Leh to Sarchu 252 km
Pass By: Sarchu, Sarchu, Himachal Pradesh
After breakfast, we will drive back towards Manali and stop in Sarchu this time. Sarchu, located right in the middle between Leh and Manali, is a plateau at 4200 meters.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Deluxe camp
Day 11: Sarchu to Manali 253 km
Pass By: Manali, Manali, Manali Tehsil, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh
The last day on our motorcycles: it goes back over the Baralacha La and Rothang Pass to Manali. Finally, we see forests and meadows again. The green is a boon for us and our eyes. In the evening we celebrate the successful tour with the whole team with dinner together.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
