Unexplored Monasteries of Zanskar

Chandigarh to Manali

🏁 Starting altitude – 1054 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 6750 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 5706 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  6750 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 3 hrs

Manali to Jispa

🏁 Starting altitude – 6750 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 10800 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 4050 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  10800 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 2 hrs

We cross the Atal Tunnel and the north portal of this 9km tunnel openes up in to a wonder land of very tall mountains, crisp fresh air and crystal clear gurgling brooks. This day is a short ride to set the mood and more importantly acclimatize to high altitude. This is very essential to safely ride a motorcycle in Zanskar. The average altitude in Zanskar is 12,500 ft. So rest well, go for long walks along the river, hydrate well and generally take it easy. Avoid alcohol in the evening and night.

Jispa – Purne

🏁 Starting altitude – 10800 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 12650 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 1850 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  16550 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 3 hrs

Jispa to Purne Alt 12,650 ft | 90km | 8 hrs | Traditional Home Stay:

Breakfast at 6 am and roll out at 7:30 am. Only the first 35km is paved road. We will go over Shinku La (16,550 ft). The descent in to Zanskar valley is a lot more interesting. We will take a short break at Lakhang. Then go through the biggest river crossing of this ride, at the base of the holy mountain Gumbok Rangjan. From here the route becomes extremely

Purne – Trek to Phugtar Gompa

🏁 Starting altitude – 12650 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 12350 (Pgugtal Gompa)

↕️ Elevation change – Nil

This is a 3.5km trek along the Tsrap River in the Lungnak valley to reach one of the most elusive Buddhist Monasteries in the world. Getting to this 2000 yrs old Cave monastery has been the main attraction of trekkers from around the world. While we highly recommend this trek, guests may also choose to stay back rest at the home stay.

Purne to Padum

🏁 Starting altitude – 12 650 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 11800 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 850 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  13280 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 2 hrs

🍽️ Lunch Stop : Packed Lunch (or ready to eat stuff)

Roll out at 8:00 am. Ride to Padum and visit Zanskar’s largest Gompa. The Karsha Gompa is also a superb vantage point to view the entire Padum Valley and the snow-capped mountains beyond it. Padum has 2 petrol pumps, a proper baazar and plenty of cafeterias too. In the past the dirt road from Kargil to Padum was the only road in Zanskar.

Padum – Pensi La – Padum 

🏁 Starting altitude – 11800 ft

🚩 Ending altitude –  14400 ft (Pensi La)

↕️ Elevation change – 3400 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  14400 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 2 hrs

Roll out at 7:00 am. Ride along the Stod River to Pensi La. Charming little villages on the way and spectacular views of Drang Drung Glacier will make this ride totally worth it. This is also good practice to safely ride fast on dirt roads.

Rest at Padum – Dzonkul Gompa – Padum

Padum – Lamayuru via Lingshed

🏁 Starting altitude – 11800 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 11500 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 300ft

🔝 Max altitude –  16 590 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 4 hrs

Roll out at 6:00 am. The Strap Chu and the Stod River meet to form the Zanskar River. We will ride along the Zanskar River for about 87km. Then leave the Zanskar gorge and climb up to Margam La. These 11km will be by far the steepest dirt roads you would ever climb. Then we will descend in to the Lingshed valley to visit the quaint Lingshed Gompa. After a good break we will start our ride towards two of the worlds’s most beautiful passes. Singe La and Sirsir La. The adv road eventually turns in to super smooth tarmac about 30km before Lamayuru.

Lamayuru to Leh

🏁 Starting altitude – 11500 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 11480 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 20 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  11 650 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 2 hrs

This day’s ride will be on a road that would seem more like a dream than reality. A easy road to ride on after having negotiated some of the most tricky dirt roads of Zanskar.

Leh to Sarchu

🏁 Starting altitude – 11480 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 14300 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 2820 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  17582 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 4 hrs

Roll out at 6:00 am. This is going to be a long day on the saddle. Also there will be more traffic on the roads. This route has good tarmac. We will be crossing More plains and Tanglang La (17,582ft). Sarchu is a tent city that comes up only in summers. This will be the highest altitude you will sleep in.

Sarchu – Manali

🏁 Starting altitude – 14300 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 6750 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 7550 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  15912 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 3 hrs

Manali to Chandigarh

🏁 Starting altitude – 6750 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 1054 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 5706 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  6750 ft

🛑 Stoppage time -3 hrs

Chandigarh to Gurgaon

🏁 Starting altitude – 1054 ft

🚩 Ending altitude – 985 ft

↕️ Elevation change – 69 ft

🔝 Max altitude –  1054 ft

🛑 Stoppage time – 2 hrs