Day 01: Arrival at Chandigarh Airport; Drive to Narkanda (2740m/8990 ft.; 177 km; 6-7 hrs).The meeting place for the group is Chandigarh. We get picked up either at the Airport or the Railway station and start for Narkanda. As we leave behind the plains the air gets cooler and we negotiate the winding mountain roads. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Narkanda.
Day 02: Narkanda – Bike setup and Acclimatization ride.We setup the bikes and then take them for a test ride around Narkanda. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Narkanda.
Day 03: Narkanda – Rampur Bushahr (1000m/3281 ft; 65.5 km) This is first day of our cycling expedition. We start by cycling down 1890m / 6201 ft. for nearly 37 km to the banks of Sutlej River at 850m / 2789 ft. From here we cycle for another 28.5 km and climb 150 m over the period, through
Nirath, Duttanagar to reach Rampur. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Rampur Bushahr.
Day 04: Rampur Bushahr – Sangla (2720m/8924 ft; 113 km) Post breakfast we start our ride. Today we cycle all along the Sutlej river for 93.6 km through which we gain 800m /2625 ft. to reach Karcham. From here it is a very steep ascent of 1020 m / 3347 ft. over 19.3 km to reach Sangla. Dinner and overnight stay at Camp in Sangla.
Day 05: Sangla – Excursion to Chitkul (3400m/11,155 ft.; 23 km one way)
We cycle to Chitkul, the highest and the last village on the Indo – Tibetan trade route. The route is through the scenic Sangla valley on the left banks of the Baspa river. Here again we climb gently along the Baspa river and gain 680m or 2231 ft. over a distance of 23 km. We visit the temple and fort in Chitkul. From Chitkul we cycle back to our camp. In the evening we walk around and enjoy the beauty of the place. Dinner and overnight stay at camp in Sangla.
Day 06: Sangla – Kalpa (2820m/9252 ft.; 50 km) After breakfast we cycle down to Karcham at 1800m or 5906 ft. We descend nearly 1020m / 3347 ft. over 19.3 km. Here we cross over the bridge over the Sutlej and join national highway 5. From here on its a gentle climb of 200m or 656 ft. over a period of 15.1 km till the spot where there is a bifurcation on the left which climbs up rather steeply to Kalpa. From this bifurcation we climb 820m or 2690 ft. over 15.7 km. Kalpa is home to the Chilgoza tree and offers breathtaking views of the Kinner Kailash range. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel/Guesthouse in Kalpa.
Day 07: Kalpa – Pooh Village (2700m/9023 ft.; 73 km) Post breakfast we start from Kalpa and cycle down to Reckong Peo, Khwangi and further down to the main national highway 5 at 2000m. This is approx. a distance of 15.7 km wherein we cycle down 820m or 2690 ft. From here it is a steady climb of 700m, i.e. 2297 ft. over 56 km. Dinner and overnight stay in Guesthouse in Pooh Village.
Day 08: Pooh Village – Tabo (3280m/10,762 ft; 88.5 km) Post breakfast we start by going down nearly 200m from Pooh Village to join the main highway. We travel for 11.5 km along the Sutlej River and then turn left to follow the Spiti River at 2600m. From here we cycle across Ka, Sumdo, Hurling, Lapcha to reach Tabo. We climb approximately 700m or 2297 ft. over a distance of 77 km. Evening visit the 1000-year-old Tabo monastery. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Tabo.
Day 09: Tabo – Dhankar (3860m/12,665 ft.) – Kaza (3670m/12,041 ft.; 65.1 km) After breakfast we cycle gently for 22.8 km, to reach an altitude of 3420m or 11,221 ft. i.e. we gain in height approx. 140m/459 ft. over 22.8 km. We reach a bifurcation on the main road on the right. From here it’s a steep upward climb of 440m or 1444 ft. over 8.6 km to reach Dhankar Gompa (31.4 km), which is located on the top of a hill. Dhankar is the traditional “Capital of Spiti”. After visiting the monastery in Dhankar we cycle down to Kaza (33.7 km). Dinner and overnight stay at Guesthouse in Kaza.
Day 10: Kaza – Excursion to Kye Monastery (3900m/12,796 ft.; 14.7 km) & Kibber Village (4140m/13,583 ft.;40.4 km) Post breakfast we start for Kye Monastery. We climb 230m or 755 ft. over a distance of 14.7 km from Kaza. Fine murals and a valuable collection Kangyur (ancient Buddhist texts) are its attractions. We continue further 6.6 km from Kye Monastery to the village of Kibber, a very steep climb to one of the highest inhabited villages in the world. Here we climb 240m or 787 ft. in 6.6 km. Perched on a vast stretch of land & surrounded by mountains of limestone rocks, the view from here is truly breathtaking. Cycle down to Kaza (19.1 km). Dinner and overnight stay at Guesthouse in Kaza.
Day 11: Kaza – Lhosar (4100m/13,452 ft; 57.8 km)
Today post breakfast we cross the Spiti river and cycle through the villages of Rangrik, Khurik, Sumling, Moorang, Hull, Pangmo, Hansa all along the Spiti river to reach Lhosar village through some of the most spectacular scenery
and landscape. A climb of 430m or 1411 ft. over 57.8 km. Dinner and overnight stay in Guesthouse / hotel in Lhosar.
Day 12: Lhosar – KunzhumLa (4550m/14,929 ft.) – Chandratal (4300m/14,108 ft.) Today post breakfast we have to climb a high pass of KunzhumLa. The climb is 450m or 1476 ft. in 19.1 km. From here it is a steep down of 450m for 8.4 km to reach an altitude of 4100m. From here there is a bifurcation to the main road on the right which goes towards Chandratal. The route is more or less flat but narrow so as to let only one vehicle pass at a time. Dinner and overnight stay at tented campsite near Chandratal.
Day 13: Chandratal – Chhatru (3320m/10,893 ft.; 35.2 km) – RohtangLa (3980m/13,058 ft.) – Solang (2448m/8032ft.; 69.7 km) Post breakfast it is a again a flat road till the small road meets the main road coming down from KunzhumLa. From here it is 35.2 km over nonexistent roads passing through Batal to reach Chhatru. Today’s journey is besides the gushing Chenab river. We come down nearly 780m or 2559 ft. over a distance of 35.2 km.
Post lunch we start with a steady climb followed by ups and downs towards Gramphoo (3340m/10,959 ft.), a distance of 17.4 km. From Gramphoo we take the road going right climbing steeply to Rohtang La pass. We climb nearly 640m or 2100 ft. in 14.1 km. From here it is a steep descent of 38.2 km till Solang. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Solang.
Day 14: Solang – Manali (13 km; 1 hr); Final Departure. Post breakfast by 11.00 – 12.00 start for Manali HPTDC Bus Stand. Afternoon at leisure. Final departure.
End of arrangements…
