Land of the Monks

This section begins in Srinagar, known for its colourful houseboats. The road heads northeast clinging precariously to the sides of towering mountains as the riders climb to the friendly town of Leh. The next stages to Manali are spectacular. Over the next few days, the riders will cross two 5000m passes and spend most nights sleeping at altitudes well above 4000m. At the small village of Upshi, the riders will head through the Pang Valley, splashing through icy, glacial streams and captivated by some incredible rock and sand formations. They will climb over the Talang Pass (5328m) and descend 500m through the 22 hairpin turns of the famous Gata Loops. On the last day, the riders will spin down into the verdant Manali Valley for a well-deserved rest day.

Surrounded by pine forests and apple orchards Manali is one of the Indian Himalaya’s most pleasant hill stations. The riders will pedal back up into the arid Himalayan plateau and climb over the Kunzum Pass (4590m) where they will marvel at the otherworldly Kunzum Stupas. The route then descends to the Spiti River, an area known for its wildlife – wolves, snow leopards, golden eagles and blue sheep. The riders will stop in Tabo with its Gompa, one of the most significant in Tibetan Buddhism and continue through the scenic Kinnaur region whose old capital, Kapla, is said to be the winter home of the Hindu God, Shiva. The final stages bring the riders to Shimla, once the summer capital of the British Raj, and the end of this amazing section.

Highlights

• Srinagar
• Cycling 5000 m Passes On The Leh - Manali Highway
• Remote Forts and Gompas (Buddhist Monasteries)
• British Hill Stations in Manali & Shimla