This journey combines adventure and culture in a wonderful way. We explore valleys of the Western Himalayas, especially the Ladakh and Zanskar Valley. The Kangra Valley is the starting point of our motorcycle journey, located at the foot of the Himalayas with a fantastic view of the Dhauladhar Mountains. We fly to Delhi and then take a train to Amb-Paragpur. The first day is for getting accustomed to India; after resting in a beautiful and charming guesthouse, we visit the Paragpur village, full of Indian flair.
The motorcycle journey begins with a short warm-up route in the Kangra Valley to Bir Billing. From Bir, the journey continues to the Kullu Valley, crossing a small pass and densely forested misty woods. We spend another night in the Green Himalayas in Naggar. The next day, we pass through the mighty Rohtang Tunnel into the semi-arid Lahaul Valley. The Rohtang Pass has always been a nostalgic point between the green, densely forested Himalayas and the barren Tibetan Plateau. It serves as both a weather divide and a cultural transition. While on one side, we still encounter classical India, the landscape and culture on the other side feel more Central Asian/Tibetan.
A long but unforgettable day of riding awaits us from Keylong to Padum. We set out early because today marks our first 5000-meter summit. In Padum, we spend two nights at 3660 meters, aiding in acclimatization. The Zanskar Valley offers us unique moods, and the color spectacles along the way are unparalleled. A particular highlight is the Nun Kun Massif at 7000 meters, which we can admire up close.
We are finally in Padum, a small trade transit town and the capital of Zanskar. Here, we relax for 2 nights. Planned excursions to Karsha and Zangla, the former royal residence of Zanskar, provide deeper insights into the everyday lives of the people. But the adventure has only just begun. The new cross-connection from Zanskar to Ladakh. We set off very early to have enough time for all eventualities on this route, including water crossings. Twice we ascend above 5000 meters to arrive in the small village of Lamayuro in the evening.
From Lamayuro, our route takes us back to a small side road (fortunately still a secret tip) to Hemis Supachen and then to Alchi. Here, we visit the UNESCO Monastery of Alchi. The next few days are spent rather leisurely in the Leh area, enjoying the city of Leh with its international flair. We recommend a rest day! The next stage of our journey redefines the term superlative. First, we travel along the famous Himalaya Leh - Manali Highway, and it's fortunate that we are acclimatized because now we spend 2 days in the mystical highland, passing by 5000-meter peaks, a mountain lake, and endless geological formations.
Heading into the Green Himalayas, we have something truly special on the agenda. We leave the tourist streams of the highway at Keylong and take a lonely road that surpasses everything the Himalayas have to offer. It goes through the Pangi Valley to Sural and over the mighty Sach Pass back to Chamba. We conclude the journey in a cozy resort in Dharamshala and can fly directly to Delhi on the last day, where the connection to Europe is also not far away.
