Mountain biking trip

Day – 1 Arrive in Delhi. Fly to Leh

Day – 2 Based in Leh. Local acclimatisation ride

We have a gentle start to the day, we begin with a briefing from our guides, before enjoying an acclimatisation walk around the old town. In the afternoon we will be fitted out with our bikes and putting them to the test with a short ride to Leh Palace, Sankar and Shanti Stupa before returning to our hotel for dinner (Hotel B,L,D)

Day – 3 Based in Leh. Local acclimatisation ride

Cycling distance: 30 kilometres (19 miles)

After breakfast we cycle out to Thiksay Gompa (monastery), which is approximately 19 kilometres (12 miles) to the east of Leh and situated at 3,600 m above sea-level. Thiksay Gompa is the largest in central Ladakh and houses some examples of statues, wall paintings and swords, dominating the sky-line its temple compound is built on the lines of Potala Palace Gompa in Lhasa, Tibet. En-route to Thiksay we will pedal through Sabu, Choklamsar and Shey, the later notable for its ruined fort and temple with a huge Buddha sculpture. With an afternoon cycling back to Leh we should be well acclimatised for the coming adventure (Hotel B,L,D)

Day – 4 Cycle from Leh to Likir

Cycling distance: 70 kilometres (43 miles)

We head northwards from Leh and cycle alongside the Indus river for a stretch before turning inland towards the magnificent and less visited gompa known as Klu-kkhyil or ‘water spirits’ which lies hidden between the hills at Likir. Klu-kkhyil Gompa was founded by Tibetan monks in the 14th century; it features an unusual, gold-plated 25 m-high statue of the Maitreya Buddha that dominates the surrounding landscape. As we cycle on from Likir the terrain is mostly flat with very few steep hills, we then enter the Sham Valley, which is evocatively known as Apricot Valley, due to the flowering apricot blossom. After an exhilarating day in the saddle we will be staying in Yangthang, a tiny hamlet that enjoys stunning views of Himalayan mountain peaks all around (Homestay B,L,D)

Day – 5 Cycle from Yangthang to Ulley and Hemis Shukpachen

Cycling distance: 40 kilometres (25 miles)

With a new day in the western Himalayas before us, we will be awoken by the sounds of villagers going about their daily business. After a healthy breakfast we will be back on our bikes and slowly ascending along a mainly off-road trail for a few kilometres to reach Ulley where we will sit down for a well-earned lunch break. The cycling this morning is mostly off-road although there is some light traffic. Ulley is best known as a base from which to explore the region to catch sight of the iconic snow leopard, or the ‘Ghost of the Himalaya’ as it is also known. After lunch we have some downhill cycling to reach our base for the night at Hemis Shukpachen (Guesthouse B,L,D)

Day – 6 Cycle from Hemis Shukpachen to Alchi

Cycling distance: 45 kilometres (28 miles)

With the cycle tour taking on a relaxed rhythm, we will be departing the Sham Valley after breakfast and cycling on rough terrain to reach Hemis Chu, at this point we join the Leh to Srinagar Highway which runs alongside the Indus river. We have around 14 kilometres cycling on this famous road before turning off at a bridge over the Indus, this crossing is adorned with Buddhist prayer flags. At this point we have a hilly ride all the way to Mangyu Gompa, where we will pause long enough to catch our breath and explore, before cycling on to Alchi. This Ladakh village is our base for the night and is also home to Alchi Gompa founded in the 11th century by the Great Translator, Ringchen Zangpo (Hotel B,L,D.)

Day – 7 Cycle from Alchi To Chilling 3,650 m

Cycling distance: 70 kilometres (43 miles)

We head out of Alchi eventually taking an easterly course and joining the main road to Nimmu at the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers. The clear mountain light and the backdrop of the rivers make this is a superb location from which to capture some souvenir photographs. The rest of the day is spent cycling alongside the Zanskar river to eventually arrive into the small settlement of Chilling. In the village there is an unusual trolley bridge which the more adventurous amongst us may wish to try. It certainly isn’t for the faint hearted (overnight in homestay B,L,D.)

Day – 8 Cycle from Chilling to Stok Palace

Cycling distance: 66 kilometres (41 miles)

Chilling marks the end of this section of our journey and we will retrace our tyre tracks for around 28 kilometres (17 miles) arriving at Nyemo, from there we will follow the mighty Indus river to reach Spituk Gompa; in addition to some sightseeing at the gompa we will pause to watch the aeroplanes negotiating the snow covered peaks that surround Leh Airport before pedalling on once again along the well maintained road to Stok. We are guaranteed a spectacular view of Stok Kangri which stands at 6,123 m and is the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas (Homestay B,L,D.)

Day – 9 Cycle from Stok Palace to Sakti

Cycling distance: 65 kilometres (41 miles)

Today’s ride promises to be long and interesting and with fewer hills in prospect we should leave our homestay with a spring in our step. We begin the day with a glorious descent to reach Chushot, a place famous for breeding the Bactrian two humped camel which is native to the steppes of Central Asia, the camel derives its name from the ancient historical region of Central Asia which straddled the Hindu Kush mountain range and Amu Darya river. Bactria covered the flat regions which are today part of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. From Chushot we continue on flatter terrain to Changa and then take a short path to Hemis Gompa, notable as one of the most splendid in the region and famous for its festival mask dance. After visiting the gompa we head to Kharu and start our gradual climb to our overnight accommodation in Sakti (Homestay B,L,D.)

Day – 10 Cycle from Sakti to Sumur. Crossing the Wari La (pass) at 5,280 m

Cycling distance 108 kilometres (67 miles)

After a comfortable night in our homestay we will be occupied for the first part of the day with a challenging yet exhilarating three hour ascent to reach our first high pass, the uncompromising Wari La at 5,260 m above sea-level, from the Wari La we cycle into the Nubra valley, following a steep downhill path all the way to Agham. From Agham we cycle alongside the Shayok river to reach Sumur at 3200 metres above sea-level where we will be staying overnight (Guesthouse B,L,D.)

Day – 11 Cycle from Sumur to Hunder

Cycling Distance: 45 kilometres (28 miles)

Today is a short and easy day and packed with sightseeing. The cycling terrain is mainly flat and we will be visiting Samstanling Gompa in Summor, a remote village in the Nubra Valley. The monastery was built in the early 19th century by Tsultims Nima and is decorated in the traditional colours of gold, red ochre and white. After our visit to Samstanling we will cycle on to visit Diskit Gompa, this is the oldest Buddhist monastery in the Nubra Valley, it was founded by Chanzem Tserab Zangpo in the 14th century. Besides its role as a place of worship, the monastery also serves as a school, with financial support from the Tibet Support Group, it provides education delivered in the English language to local children. After our extended break at Diskit Gompa we will remount and continue to cycle through the Nubra valley, its original name being Ldurma, the Valley of Flowers. The geography of the Nubra Valley is that of a high altitude cold desert, with little rainfall, the only vegetation is to be found alongside the river beds. This is a spectacular part of our journey and our destination for the evening is the oasis like village of Hunder (Homestay B,L,D.)

Day – 12 Cycle from Hunder back to Leh Crossing the Khardung La (pass) at 5,602 m

Cycling Distance: 128 kilometres (80 miles)

Our Ladakh cycling tour saves the most exciting and adventurous leg of the journey until the end. We have to cross the highest road pass in the world, the awe inspiring Khardung La at 5,602 m above sea-level. We start the day cycling on mostly flat terrain until we reach Khalsar, some 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Hunder. This part of the ride sorts the women from the girls, it is a leg stretching, lung busting full-on climb, forget Mont Ventoux (1,912 m), the Khardung La at around two and a half times higher, is the real deal. We ascend to the base on the Khardung La and then continue with an even steeper ascent to the very top of the pass. You will feel on top of the world and will have the photographs to prove it. After plenty of high-fives and some sweet tea its all downhill back to Leh. (Hotel B,L,D.)

Day – 13 Leh

After yesterday’s exertions today is a recovery day, rounded off with a celebratory meal. (Hotel B,L.)

Day – 14 Fly to Delhi