The 800 km expedition from Shimla to Manali is one of the ultimate challenges, even for the experienced mountain biker. The Mountain bike tour includes 15 days of unlimited fun on bike to one of the remotest regions of Himachal Pradesh, via Kinnaur & Spiti valley. It involves visiting isolated valleys, villages and crossings over high mountain passes (Kunzum Pass (4558 m), Rothang Pass (3980 m)). The tour provides spectacular views of picturesque snow capped peaks, rugged terrain and old monasteries. Come prepared for every possible weather, imaginable from scorching sunshine to freezing blizzards, even in mid-summers.
Detail Itenrary
Day 1 Arrival in Delhi from abroad
Pick up from airport to hotel, overnight in hotel
Day 2 Sightseeing Delhi, evening drive to Shimla 367 km
Visit the most famous Sights in Delhi today ( Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple, Qutab Minar…). In the evening we start towards Shimla.
Day 3 Shimla rest day
Today we recover from the yesterday’s long journey. You can do some sightseiing in the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and we will check our Mountain Bikes, overnight in hotel
Day 4 Shimla to Narkanda (64km) 2708m
Today our cycling tour starts. Narkanda has become a must for people visiting Shimla in summer. It is an ideal retreat to find solitude. From here you have unique views of the eternal Snowline, the fertile potato and apple growing area and the dense forest. It is a famous place for skiing, overnight in camp
Day 5 Narkanda to Sarahan (90 km) 2165 m
Sarahan is a tiny but beautiful Village in the Sutley Valley, surrounded by apple orchards and dominated by the Shrikhand Mahadev Peak (5227m). It was the ancient capital of Rampur Bushehr, one of the biggest princely states in the Shimla hills. Here you can visit the Bhimakali Temple with its six silver coated doors. It is a mixture of both, Hindu and Buddhist style and attracts tourist from all over the world, overnight in camp
Day 6 Sarahan to Sangla (80 km) 2680 m
Today we enter the Sangla Valley, the most romantic and beautiful Valley in the Kinnaur District. It is 95 km long and has green pasture land on either side of the River and the meadows close to the river are full of flowers and fruit trees. There are barren ranges of snow all year. Sangla is situated at an elevation of 2680 m. The Bering Nag Temple and the monastery are worth a visit. There is the famous fair Phulaich, which is celebrated each year in August-September. The wooden houses are a unique example of wooden architecture. One kilometer away is a Saffron farm, overnight in camp
Day 7 Sangla - explore Sangla valley & Chitkul village 3460 m,
Chitkul is the last inhabited Village in that Valley. Surrounded by green fields and high mountain Peaks it is like a fairy tale. Here you can see old quaint little houses, temples and gompas, overnight in camp
Day 8 Sangla to Kalpa (51 km) 2960 m
Kalpa, 51 km away from Sangla, is surrounded by vineyards, which are protected from bears by large sheep dogs, which are especially trained for that purpose. Here you can buy Kinnauri Shawls and caps, overnight in camp
Day 9 Kalpa to Nako (122 km) 2950 m
Nako, at an altitude of 3662 m in Hingrang Valley is the famous and largest village. Yaks, kine, horses and donkeys are reared here in abundance, overnight in camp
Day 10 Nako to Tabo (69 km) 3050 m
At the right side of Spiti River is an ancient Village which is flanked on either side by lofty hills. Brown and sun burnt, it is the seat of one of the most famous monasteries: The 1000 year old Tabo Monastery. It has exquisite frescoes and stucco statues and is often called the Ajanta of the Himalayas, overnight in camp
Day 12 Tabo to Dhankar to Kaza (48 km) 3600 m
Dhankar is the ancient capital of the Spiti king; the most incredibly Gompa is situated high on the barren rocky mountain slopes. Kaza is situated on a foot of steep ridges. It has a population of 781 and a traditional fair is celebrated every year in August, overnight in hotel
Day 13 Kaza to Ki monastery & Kibber village (37 km) 4205 m
Let’s visit the famous Kye gompa. The gompa is placed high on a mountain looking like a pyramid. It belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Kibber, one of the highest permanent inhabited villages is located in a semi bowl-shape. A small Gompa is worth a visit, later we go to Kaza, the head quarter of Spiti Valley, overnight in hotel
Day 14 Kaza to Hikim (4115 m) & Comic villages (4389 m)
The trail to these two villages is totally off road and it is a favorite route for these looking for fossils. Near Comic village is the famous Thangyud monastery, overnight in hotel
Day 15 Kaza to Losar (58 km) 4079 m
Losar, the last habituated spot, which tourist can find after ascending through the course of the Peeno Stream, is worth a visit because of its location on 4079 m. The population of that Village is 242. There are 4 shops, a school, a Post office and a health centre, overnight in camp
Day 16 Losar to Kunzum La/ Chandertal Lake (34 km) 4270 m
We drive through several villages of Spiti over the Kunzum pass, (4551 m). Our way leads us further to the beautiful Chandratal Lake at an altitude of 4270 meters. Chandratal, which means the Lake of Moon, is shaped like a half moon and is set on a large meadow of edelweiss within a lower ridge and the main Kunzum range, overnight in camp
Day 17 Chandertal to Chatru (50 km) 3560m
Our way is along the rapid Chandra River through the dry mountain dessert with high snow covered mountains on both sides. Nice view of Shigri Glacier, a mountainous mass of solid ice, more than a kilometer wide and extending over a distance of ten kilometers, overnight in camp
Day 18 Chatru to Manali (81 km) 2050m
Having a nice view of magnificent Himalayan Peaks, we drive through the Chandra valley, then uphill over the Rohtang pass (3950m), the gate way of Lahaul, Spiti and Kullu. In the evening we reach Manali, overnight in hotel
Day 19 Rest and relax day in Manali, evening back to Delhi by car
Enjoy Manali which it’s green surrounding. You can just take some rest or do some local sightseeing
Day 20 Journey back home