An awe inspiring place, cycling in Ladakh takes on an otherworldly feel, as we pedal through craggy multi hued mountains, sparkling streams, high glaciers, and azure lakes. Get ready for an action packed trip as you go, cycle to quaint monasteries in the Indus valley basin, and to two of three famous lakes of Ladakh.
Fly into Leh via one of the most picturesque flights over the high Himalayas. Acclimatize yourself to the high altitude town of Leh, located at 3500m above sea level.
We start the tour with an exploration of the main Leh town- chaotic at the beginning, but with a number of hidden treasures. Walk up to the old Leh Palace, overlooking the main city. The old kings of Ladakh used the same architect as that of the Potala, and seems to have ordered the architect's hands cut off after the costruction, so that a similar building could not be built again.
Also visit the LAMO (Ladakh Arts and Media House) house, a beautifully restored old house of the Munshi family. The main market is a noisy muddle, with ladies in traditional clothing sitting on sidewalks, selling organically grown vegetables. End your day with a view of the Leh town from atop the Shanti Stupa.
We start off with a short cycling trip, to get used to cycling at this altitude. Drive to Nimoo and cycle from there, along the Zanskar river to Chiling. Raft down from Chiling till Nimoo. Pick up and drive to Alchi monastery for sightseeing. Return back to Leh by evening.
Start your cycling expedition today. Cycle from Leh, towards the Indus valley basin, crossing the monasteries of Shey, Thiksey and Hemis. Stop in the evening to camp at Himia, a small village close to Mahe Bridge. Camp for the night.
Distance cycled - 20km
Cycle from Himia towards Chumathang, crossing the Mahe bridge. Till now, the ascent has been minimal. From Mahe, the road climbs to the village of Sumdo - post which we reach Chumathang. We camp here for the night.
Distance cycled - 70km
Cycle from Chumathang hot springs to the village of Korzok. The route today is especially scenic, crossing a high pass, descending onto the Tso Kyagar lake, and finally reaching the village of Korzok next to the Tsomoriri lake. Camp here for tonight.
Distance cycled - 80km
Spend the day at Tsomoriri, cycling around its perimeter. You can interact with the Changpa nomads, who traditionally traded between Tibet and Ladakh. They are mainly herders now, and spend their time roaming the vast Changthang plains. The Tsomoriri area is also well known for its rich bird life - including the bar headed geese and the endangered black necked crane.
Cycle from Tsomoriri to Tsokar (4530m). The road from Sumdo to Tsokar is perhaps the roughest and most isolated in Ladakh, with very little traffic. The route goes over Pologongla pass (4950m) and on the way, you may see some wildlife, such as the Tibetan Wild ass, Marmots, Blue sheep, and the red fox. Tsokar lake is a saline lake, rich in wildlife and avifauna. Camp here for the night.
Distance cycled - 60km
Set a day aside to explore the rich wildlife of the Tsokar region.
The hardest stretch today, cycle from Tsokar back to Leh, via the Taglang La (5328m)- a challenging climb up to the top, from where you get a great view. The path down the Taglang La is a great ride, with stunning views, making up for the initial arduous climb. Reach Leh by evening.
Distance cycled - 60km
Assisted transfer to the airport for departure.
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