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MOTORCYCLE SAFARI IN HIMALAYA (3 WEEKS)
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Day
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Details
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Distance
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01
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Delhi; arriving
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02
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Train to Kalka motorbikes to Shimla,
altitude 2200m |
120km |
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03
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Shimla to the old market town called
Mandi, 750m |
155km
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04
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Mandi to the picturesque hill resort
town of Manali; 2050m |
110km
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05
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Rest day exploring Manali and
acclimatising |
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06
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Manali to Jispa; 3350m (via Rohtang La
3978m) |
145km
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07
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Jispa to Sarchu; 4250m (via Baralacha
La 4830m) |
95km
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08
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Sarchu to Leh; 3500m (via Taglang La
5328m) |
240km |
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09
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Rest day in Leh and acclimatising |
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10
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visit for half day - Thikse gompa &
Indus Valley |
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11
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Leh to the mighty Khardung La (5600m )
to the highest motorable road in world ; return to Leh |
80km
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12
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Leh to the 1,000-year-old monastery of
Lamayuru |
120km
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13
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Lamayuru to Kargil, near the disputed
border with Pakistan |
100km |
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14
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Kargil to Srinagar, the beautiful,
capital of Kashmir |
200km
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15
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Rest day in Srinagar, on the
houseboats of Dal Lake |
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16
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Srinagar to Kud via the 2.5km Jawahar
Tunnel |
190km
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17
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Kud to McLeodganj(Dharamshala) in the
evergreen hills of Himachal |
240km
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18
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Rest day in McLeodganj(Dharamshala),
exile home of the Dalai Lama |
180km
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19
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McLeodganj(Dharamshala) to Parwanoo,
almost back where we started |
280km
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20
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Parwanoo to Chandigarh for the train
back to Delhi |
40km
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21
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Day visit to Agra, Taj Mahal & Fatepur
Sikri (by train) |
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22
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Free day in Delhi then fly back home |
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For Detailed Itineraries
Be aware that this itinerary is a best-situation guide only, and
may need to change due to bad weather or other delays. Please be
flexible but rest assured your Tour Leader will make the final
day-to-day decisions only after consultation with local
authorities and of course, group members.
Food & Health
Food quality can obviously be a concern to some people visiting
the subcontinent. We take care in selecting reputable
establishments for our meals and for those with delicate
constitutions it is usually possible to choose Western cuisine
rather than the often fiery local fare. Even so, an occasional
upset stomach cannot always be avoided in remote parts of India,
so we advise initial caution and we carry various medicines to
ensure as much comfort as possible. Participants in any of our
adventure activities are obviously expected to have a reasonably
high level of health, fitness and capability, but in order to
identify necessary vaccinations and precautions, particularly if
visiting India for the first time.
Climate & Clothing
It is perhaps unfortunate (or perhaps not) that the mountain
roads into and out of Ladakh are only passable for the three
months of the northern summer, from mid-June to mid-September.
Even then there is always some snow, so good cold-weather gear
is necessary. The air is crisp and clean in the mountains and
the days are usually sunny and warm, but the Himalaya is always
unpredictable so we need to be prepared for any eventuality.
Also, at this time of the year down in Delhi and the plains, the
monsoon makes wet-weather riding virtually unavoidable for at
least a day or two. Professional quality riding gear such as the
Rivet 'Adventure' or 'Rainlock' jackets and other protective
gear is an excellent investment and will go a long way to
ensuring your comfort in what will sometimes be adverse
conditions. The Rivet jackets are particularly versatile with a
zip-in / zip-out padded liner for extra warmth and protection.
At times there will be little shade available, so plenty of
sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and long sleeves will also be
required. T-shirts and jeans tend to be the norm, with strong
boots and riding gloves. Helmets should be brought with you from
home, but don't bring your brand new, unscratched one, as it may
cop a bit of rough treatment. Full-face or open-face is a matter
of personal preference.
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