Montain Biking Himalaya

Montain Biking Himalaya

Day 01

Arrive in Shimla

Arrive in Shimla. Check into you hotel. After breakfast go for an acclimatization ride to Shimla catchment sanctuary and Mashobra. Evening spent by the bonfire and a brief orientation about the ride.

Day 02

Mashobra – Baikhalty (19kms) 2300mts to 2400mts – Transport to Narkanda – Narkanda – Baghi (18kms)

The first day of our ride we ride in two sections, cutting out on the main highway in which we are transported to Narkanda; the actual start of our ride. The first section is the semi off road starting from Mashobra to Baikhalty which falls on the busy national highway 22.

From here we get jeep transport to Narkanda, an almost pass like a small hamlet at 2500mts also the gateway to Himachal’s apple country. From Narkanda we ride flat and downhill till the diversion to Baghi, an apple orchard paradise, the first bit till the diversion is 6kms and the rest 12 kms of an uphill ride. O/N camp

Day 03

Baghi – Khadrala – Sungri – Bahli – Taklech – Daranghati (83 kms)

The ride for the first half till Taklech is 59 kms, on the ridgeline overlooking the Garhwal shivaliks, flat till sungri top then a descend to sungri village and further till Bahli bridge, from where we climb a gruesome 8 kms to Bahli village, where the view changes towards the Srikhand range on the left and again a ridgeline ride till Taklech village.

From Taklech village it’s a difficult uphill, with magnificent vistas towards Daranghati (2900 mts). We camp at the rest house just after Daran Pass.

Day 04

Daranghati – Mashnu – Kinnu – Gharat – Sarahan – Jeori (64kms) – Karcham – Rakcham (30kms)

A great ride in the morning, as we descend through a conifer forest towards Mashnu, on the Old Hindustan Tibet road (18kms), then continue towards Kinnu village (6kms; 2400 mts); from where it’s a fascinating flat ride of 18.4kms, with a scary Cliffside towards Gharat. From Gharat we climb uphill 6kms to reach Sarahan for a good lunch and seek the blessings of Mother Goddess Bhimakali, an 800 year old temple. After lunch descend 18kms to Jeori, the gateway to Kinnaur district. From Jeori we are transported to Rakcham in the Sangla valley. O/N Hotel.

Day 05

Rakcham – Chitkul – Rakcham (32kms)

An easy day – almost a rest as we explore the Sangla valley and ride till Chitkul, the last village of India on the border with Tibet. After a sumptuous lunch at Chitkul we ride back to Rakcham. O/N Hotel.

Day 06

Rakcham – Sangla – Karcham Bridge (38kms) – Powari – Reckong Peo – Kalpa (42kms)

Another easy day, as the morning finds us descending towards Sangla village and then further towards Karcham, all through enjoying the gentle breeze of the Kinner Himalaya. From Karcham Bridge we are transported to Kalpa, yet again skipping the dusty ride on the busy national Highway 22. O/N Hotel

Day 07

Kalpa – Reckong Peo – Rarang – Lippa – Kirankhud – Spillo – Pooh (72 kms)

A full day of riding, as we start in the morning to descend to Reckong peo, the district headquarters of Kinnaur, and yet again find ourselves on the Old Hindustan Tibet road, following the ridgeline till Lippa village and then descending 12 kms to Kirankhud. From Kirankhud Pooh is 24 kms, the last 4 kms being an uphill till the village. O/N Rest House/Camp

Day 08

Pooh – Dubling – Khab – Ka – Nako – Mulling – Chango – Shialkhar – Sumdo – Hurling – Tabo (102kms)

A difficult day of riding today, as we cover a long distance, seeing the transition from alpine Kinnaur into the moonscape land of Spiti valley. The day starts with a 16 kms descend towards Khab, the place where the Sutlej river enters India from Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. This is also where we leave the old Hindustan Tibet road and meet the Spiti river.

Khab is also the confluence of the Spiti and Sutlej rivers. From Khab bridge it’s an uphill of 11 kms as we navigate the KA LOOPS. From Ka it’s a flat ride through a road which winds through some hair raising cliffs to reach Terasang Monastery. From Terasang, switchbacks to reach Nako village for a well deserved lunch. It’s a gruesome climb from Nako to Malling, a glacial stream, from where a breezy downhill to Chango village. We are very near to the Tibet border now, as we start the climb from Chango to Shialkhar. Further from shialkhar till Sumdo where our passports, visas and identifications are checked, it’s an offroad ride – up-down-up.

We geographically are in spiti valley now. It’s 28kms to Tabo monastery from here – a breathtaking ride with straight rides again climbing and descending. Reach Tabo monastery and camp.

Day 09

Tabo – Sichiling – Dhankar – Lallung – Lingti (59kms)

Ride after breakfast, through Sichiling, Dhankar Monastery & Lallung to finish the day at Lingti camps. A beautiful day of riding as we follow the spiti river all through.

Day 10

Lingti – Lidang – Kaza – Langza – Komic – Kaza (64kms)

A morning mixed bag of riding till Kaza. An early lunch at Kaza after checking into our country house/Hotel and then an uphill ride of 18kms to reach fossil land of Langza, under the shadow of Chao Chao Khal Nilda, the highest peak of spiti. Yet another round of meals before we descend back to Kaza.

Day 11

Kaza – Losar

61 kms of riding today, as we traverse the length of the Spiti valley along the Spiti river, to reach Losar. Most of the riding today is on tarmac. Overnight stay in camps. (total 61kms)

Day 12

Losar – Kunzum Pass – Chandratal Lake

The first pass of the race today, as we set out from the camps for another level ride towards Takcha (8kms), at the base of the Kunzum pass, the start of an uphill ride of 11kms, a gain of 800 meters. From the pass it’s a downhill ride to the diversion, from where we ride a gravel section of 13 kms to Chandratal lake. Our camps are set up by the lake side. (43kms)

Day 13

Chandratal Lake – Batal – Chattru

The region we ride today, is an interesting area, through a trail, cut through the Chandra river and melting glaciers, as three major mountain ranges of the mighty Himalayas meet together, The Pir Panjals, The Greater Himalayas and the Zaskars. A 41 kms ride through this region is bound to remain etched in our memories forever, as we reach Chattru, our abode for the night. (total 48kms)

Day 14

Chattru – Gramphoo – Rohtang Pass – Marhi – Manali

Another day of great riding as we bid our bye-bye’s to the mesmerizing Spiti valley, and head on towards Gramphoo (17kms) at the base of the Rohtang passes (3950mts), and begins the uphill ride (13kms) to the pass. From the pass it’s a 51 kms downhill to Manali.

Day 15

Manali – Naggar – Aut – Jibbi – Sojha

From Manali today we bike along River Beas to reach Aut. From here we leave the highway, and the connecting road initially ascends gradually and finally for last 8 km of sharp climbs to reach village Sojha.

Day 16

Sojha – Jalori Pass – Anni – Luri – Thanedar

A lovely uphill morning 5km ride from Sojha to Jalori pass enthralls! From here a continues descends brings us to Luri and we cross Sutlej to reach Thanedar village below Narkanda.

Day 17

Thanedar – Narkanda – Theog – Shimla

From Thanedar uphill to Narkanda and last section is repeated as it was on day one.

Day 18

Shimla

There is an option to relax at a Spa resort in Shimla for the day.

Day 19

Today in morning drive to Chandiagrh and board a flight to Delhi.

Day 20

Today as per your travel plans fly back home.

Tour ends