Zanskar and Aryan Valley Bike Expedition – 13 Days Ex Delhi
Delhi | Manali | Zanskar | Kargil | Aryan Valley | Pangong | Umlingla
Overview
Ride into the heart of Ladakh with the Zanskar & Aryan Valley Expedition, a 13-day motorcycle adventure designed for riders who crave raw Himalayan landscapes, remote valleys, and untouched beauty. Starting from Delhi and winding through Manali, Zanskar, Aryan Valley, Leh, Hanle, and Umling La (19,024 ft) — this expedition blends thrill, spirituality, and breathtaking scenery in one unforgettable journey.
Experience the high passes of Shinkula, Hambuting La, and Umling La, witness ancient monasteries in Zanskar, and meet the unique Brokpa tribe in the colorful Aryan Valley. From riding along glacier-fed rivers to gazing at starlit skies over Hanle and Tso Moriri, this is not just a bike trip — it’s the ultimate Himalayan odyssey.
Short Itinerary
- Day 1: Delhi to Manali (By Volvo Bus)
- Day 2: Arrival in Manali & Ride to Jispa (via Atal Tunnel)
- Day 3: Jispa to Padum via Shinkula Pass
- Day 4: Zanskar Sightseeing – Karsha, Stongdey & Sani Monasteries
- Day 5: Padum to Kargil via Drang Drung Glacier
- Day 6: Kargil to Garkhon (Aryan Valley) via Hambuting La
- Day 7: Garkhon to Leh via Sham Valley
- Day 8: Leh to Hanle via Chumathang & Nyoma
- Day 9: Hanle to Umling La to Tso Moriri
- Day 10: Tso Moriri to Jispa via Puga Valley & Tso Kar
- Day 11: Jispa to Manali via Atal Tunnel
- Day 12: Manali to Delhi (By Volvo Bus)
- Day 13: Reach Delhi – Trip Ends
The Zanskar & Aryan Valley Expedition is more than just an adventure — it’s a spiritual and cultural journey across Ladakh’s most remote regions. Ride through rugged Himalayan terrains, conquer world-record passes, and explore ancient monasteries, glacier valleys, and tribal villages untouched by time.
From the frozen beauty of Drang Drung Glacier to the serene waters of Tso Moriri Lake, every mile offers a new perspective of Ladakh’s grandeur. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or a first-time adventurer, this expedition promises breathtaking views, adrenaline-pumping roads, and memories for a lifetime.
Tour Highlights
- Delhi
- Manali
- Jispa
- Padum (Zanskar Valley)
- Karsha Monastery
- Stongdey Monastery
- Sani Monastery
- Drang Drung Glacier
- Kargil
- Aryan Valley (Garkhon, Dah, Hanu)
- Sham Valley
- Leh
- Shanti Stupa
- Leh Palace
- Magnetic Hill
- Pathar Sahib Gurudwara
- Hall of Fame
- Hanle (Dark Sky Reserve)
- Chumathang (Hot Springs)
- Umling La Pass (World’s Highest Motorable Road)
- Tso Moriri Lake
- Tso Kar Lake
- Puga Valley
- Atal Tunnel
Trip Overview
Area
Ladakh
Kilometer
2500 approx
Duration
12 Nights – 13 Days
Max Altitude
19,024 ft
Number of Passes
10
Number of Lakes
02
Trip Start
Delhi
Trip End
Delhi
Best Time
May to September
Accommodation Details
Duration and Locations:
Manali (1N) → Jispa/Sarchu (2N) → Leh (1N) → Nubra Valley (1N) → Pangong (1N) → Hanle (2N) → Tsomoriri (1N) → Leh (1N) → Kargil (1N) → Sonamarg (1N)
Accommodation:
- Manali: Maple Retreat or Similar
- Jispa: Padma Lodge or Similar
- Leh: Hotel Travel Inn / Ranjung or Similar
- Nubra: Hide out Nubra / Orchard Camp or Similar
- Pangong: Mountain Chalet / Royal Foster or Similar
- Hanle: Hotel Padma Homestay or Similar
- Tsomoriri: Hotel Lake View/ Yum Chen Cottage / Similar
- Kargil: D Zojila or Similar
- Sonamarg: Inter Mountain or Similar
Tour Plan
- Delhi to Manali – Overnight Journey by Volvo
- In the evening, board your Volvo bus from Delhi for an overnight journey to Manali.
- Enjoy the changing landscapes as you leave behind the city lights and move into the cool mountain air.
- You can make a few rest stops along the way to stretch, grab refreshments, or enjoy a warm cup of tea.
- Experience the charm of a road journey through winding mountain roads and lush valleys.
- Overnight journey by Volvo bus to Manali
- Distance and Duration of Travel: ~120 km approx. 2 hours approx
- Upon arrival in Manali, check into your hotel and take some time to rest and freshen up after the overnight journey.
- Relax until lunch and acclimatize to the mountain altitude.
- Post lunch, begin your scenic ride towards Jispa, passing through Atal Tunnal beautiful valleys.
- En route, enjoy stunning views of snow-capped peaks, rivers, and pine forests.
- Arrive in Jispa by evening, check into your accommodation, and soak in the serene Himalayan surroundings.
- Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Jispa.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 140 km | 5–6 hours)
- After breakfast, drive from Jispa to Padum via the scenic Shinkula Pass.
- Enjoy the changing landscapes as you travel through remote Himalayan villages and rugged mountain terrain.
- Ascend the high Shinkula Pass (5,091 m), offering breathtaking panoramic views of snow-covered peaks and deep valleys.
- After a brief halt at the top, descend into the beautiful Zanskar Valley, following winding mountain roads and pristine rivers.
- Arrive in Padum by evening, check into your accommodation, and relax.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Padum.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 90–100 km | 5–6 hours)
- After breakfast, head out for a full day of Zanskar Valley sightseeing.
- Drive through the stunning valley surrounded by towering mountains, monasteries, and rivers visit Karsha Monastery, the largest and most impressive monastery in Zanskar, offering panoramic views of the valley and showcasing ancient murals and artifacts.
- Continue to Stongdey Monastery, perched dramatically on a hilltop and known for its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful architecture.
- Explore Sani Monastery, one of the oldest in the region, and stroll around its ancient stupas and prayer wheels. Enjoy the scenic drive through traditional Zanskari villages, where you can experience the rich local culture and lifestyle.
- Return to Padum by evening, relax at your accommodation, and enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Padum.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 220 km | 8–9 hours)
- After breakfast, depart from Padum and begin your journey toward Kargil.
- Drive through the breathtaking Zanskar Valley, winding along rivers, rugged cliffs, and high mountain passes.
- Pass through small remote villages, stopping briefly to experience local life and capture the stunning Himalayan scenery.
- Enjoy views of snow-capped peaks, deep gorges, and prayer-flag draped monasteries along the route.
- Continue your descent from Zanskar into the Ladakh region, passing through beautiful valleys and open landscapes.
- Arrive in Kargil by evening, check into your hotel, relax, enjoy dinner, and spend the overnight stay in Kargil
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 120 km | 6–7 hours)
- After breakfast, depart from Kargil and head towards Garkhon via the scenic Hambuting La Pass (13,000 ft).
- Enjoy a beautiful drive through winding mountain roads, remote villages, and stunning Himalayan landscapes.
- Pause at viewpoints to admire snow-capped peaks and experience the serenity of the Aryan Valley.
- Cross Hambuting La, feeling the cool mountain breeze and capturing sweeping views of the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges.
- Descend along the Shingo River, passing terraced fields and charming hamlets on the way to Garkhon.
- Arrive by evening, check into your stay, relax, enjoy a traditional dinner, and spend the night in Garkhon.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 170–180 km in 6–7 hours)
- After breakfast, depart from Garkhon (Aryan Valley) and begin your journey towards Leh via Khaltse, following the Indus River through the beautiful Aryan Valley.
- Enjoy scenic views of terraced fields, colorful villages, and the rugged landscapes of lower Ladakh.
- Drive past Dah, Hanu, and other Brokpa villages, known for their unique Aryan culture and traditions.
- Stop briefly at Khaltse, a charming town along the Leh–Srinagar highway, for tea or lunch.
- Continue your drive through dramatic gorges and open valleys, witnessing prayer-flag-draped bridges and monasteries perched on cliffs.
- Arrive in Leh by evening, check into your hotel, relax, enjoy dinner, and spend the overnight stay in Leh.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 250 km in 7–8 hours)
- After breakfast, begin your journey from Leh towards Hanle, following the scenic route via Chumathang along the Indus River.
- Enjoy a picturesque drive through barren mountains, small Ladakhi villages, and everchanging high-altitude landscapes.
- Stop briefly at Chumathang, famous for its natural hot springs and stunning views of the Indus Valley.
- Continue your drive towards Nyoma and Loma, crossing check posts and witnessing vast open plains dotted with nomadic settlements
- Admire the pristine beauty of the Changthang Plateau, home to rare wildlife like kiangs (wild asses) and black-necked cranes.
- Arrive in Hanle by evening, check into your homestay or guesthouse, enjoy a warm local dinner, and spend the overnight stay in Hanle.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 180–200 km in 7–8 hours)
- After breakfast, begin your adventurous journey from Hanle towards Tso Moriri Lake, driving via the world-famous Umling La Pass (5,883 m) — one of the highest motorable passes on Earth.
- Ascend through stark high-altitude terrain, witnessing breathtaking panoramas of the Changthang Plateau and distant Himalayan ranges.
- Pause briefly at Umling La Top to take in the vast, surreal landscape and capture this once-in-alifetime moment above the clouds.
- Continue your drive through rugged mountain tracks and pristine valleys, eventually reaching the serene Tso Moriri Lake, shimmering in shades of blue amid the barren mountains.
- Arrive by evening, check into your lakeside camp or guesthouse, enjoy dinner with stunning lake views, and spend the overnight stay at Tso Moriri.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 210–230 km in 7–8 hours)
- After breakfast, begin your journey from Tso Moriri Lake to Jispa via Puga Valley and Tso Kar.
- Enjoy the stunning high-altitude landscapes of the Changthang Plateau, known for its hot springs, lakes, and unique wildlife.
- Pass Puga’s geothermal fields and the beautiful Tso Kar Lake, home to migratory birds and wild asses (kiangs).
- Drive across the vast More (Mori) Plains and the thrilling Gata Loops, a series of 22 sharp bends offering dramatic mountain views.
- Cross the high passes of Polo Gongka La, Nakee La, Lachulung La, and Baralacha La before arriving in Jispa by evening.
- Check into your riverside hotel or camp, enjoy dinner, and relax by the Bhaga River
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 90 km in 3–4 hours)
- After breakfast, begin your journey from Jispa to Manali, driving along the picturesque Bhaga and Chandra Rivers as you ascend toward the Baralacha La region and then descend through the stunning Lahaul Valley.
- Enjoy breathtaking views of snow-clad peaks, rugged mountains, and quaint Himalayan villages along the way.
- Pass through Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul, and continue your drive through Tandi, where the Chandra and Bhaga rivers meet. Ride through the majestic Atal tunnel.
- En route, stop for tea or snacks at a roadside café before continuing your descent to Manali, where the fresh mountain air and pine forests welcome you back to the vibrant hill town.
- Distance and Duration of Travel: (approx. 550 km in 12–14 hours)
- After breakfast, begin your journey from Manali to Delhi, driving along the scenic Beas River through Kullu and Mandi.
- Enjoy the mountain views, pine forests, and glimpses of local village
life as you descend from the hills. - Pass by Pandoh Dam and Bilaspur, where the landscape gradually changes from mountains to
plains. - En route, stop for lunch at a local dhaba before continuing your drive through Sundernagar and Kiratpur Sahib.
- As you approach Delhi, feel the shift from tranquil mountains to the bustling energy of the capital city.
- By evening, you’ve reached Delhi, marking the conclusion of your unforgettable Himalayan adventure.
- As you enter the bustling capital, feel the contrast between the serene mountain landscapes and the lively city atmosphere.
- Reflect on the incredible journey through snow-capped peaks, winding valleys, and charming mountain towns that made this trip truly special.