Cross the Himalayas by mountain bike. In 11 days of riding we will cross from the lush green, apple growing region of the Kulu Valley on the South side of the Great Himalayan Range to the high and dry desert mountains of Ladakh on the North side.

The trip starts in New Delhi, India, where we will immediately head north to the small Himalayan town of Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh to begin acclimatizing and where we start our ride. Our route travels along a military road cutting through the Himalayas of North India, over some of the highest passes crossable by road in the world and through some of the most dramatic awe inspiring terrain in any corner of the globe. We will ride through deep gorges, lush valleys and the subtle mountain desert and plains of the Tibetan plateau. We will cross the Rohtang pass (3980m/13,100ft), the Baralacha pass (5065m/16,300ft), the Nakeela and Lachung passes (15,500ft and 16,700ft) , the Tangnang pass(5360m/17,500ft) before reaching the Indus valley and Leh, Ladakh and if one chooses, they can ride to the Khardung La pass (5540m/18,200ft) claimed to be the highest motorable road in the world.

We will be in the saddle for 4 to 6 hours per day and will ride a minimum of 35km/21 miles and a maximum of 73km/44 miles per day over 11 days of biking with one day of total rest for acclimatization along this high altitude route. The trip is entirely supported by a 4wd vehicle and a full team of local staff as well as being guided by an experienced professional mountain guide from the US.

The road is semi-maintained and is very rough in places and other places where it is pavement. Riders can expect the road to be about 45% paved. However this "pavement" can vary from smooth road to potholed nightmare to packed rocks. Road surface conditions can range from muddy to dusty to wet and/or snowy. It is a very good idea to have a shock- absorbing fork for this trip, and as there are no reliable bicycles available in India you must bring your bicycle from home. Everyday holds very dramatic and different terrain. We start by climbing from the relatively lush Kulu Valley over the Beas Kund range and drop into the Lahaul Valley, where the locals have prospered from decades of apple growing. You will notice the terrain starting to become gradually more arid. The next few days of winding mountain roads and steep valleys brings you into the Rupshu Plains – an extension of the Tibetan plateau within India's borders and home to nomadic shepherds. The moonscape here is vast and awe inspiring. The interesting internplay between the unusual landforms and the local culture can really only truly be absorbed at a human powered pace. The last few days will be traveling through lush cultivated valleys, cut by fantastic rock formations, which drop us into the valley of the fabled Indus River.

After an afternoon of biking along the Indus River we end our journey at 11,500 feet in the magical town of Leh, also known as "Little Lhasa" due to its distinctly Tibetan influence. It is the heart of the region known as Ladakh and has a distinctly Tibetan Buddhist culture, although Ladakhi society is in reality a mosaic of Tibetans, Ladkhis, Zanskaris, Dards, Kashmiris, other diverse cultures from around the region. It is a peaceful, inspiring place to end the journey and a wonderful place to explore. Leh town is a maze of narrow streets where you can find unexpected shops and restaurants down hidden alleys surrounded by beautiful cultivated valleys, light filled willow forests, and fantastic high mountain landscapes. There are many ancient monasteries, temples and palaces to explore, a plethora of tasty local cuisine to try while you rest and recuperate in this high Himalayan Shangri-La.

Fitness, Altitude, and Difficulty
The most important thing will be to have your rear end in saddle shape. You need to spend the time necessary to be "ride ready", to know your equipment well, to make sure it fits you, and to make sure you can handle multiple full days in the saddle. This will require 3 or 4 days of training riding each week as the trip draws closer.

This trip requires good fitness, however you need not be a superman nor a super-biker. As long as we are trained up, staying healthy, getting rest on our rest days and eating well, everyone should have no problem riding every day and clearing every pass in good style. We have built the itinerary to insure that everyone is acclimatizing properly and gets the rest they need.

The passes we will be biking over are big...and high... but not often steep. They do sometimes take many hours to get up them, and in places there can be difficult riding conditions, but if you are healthy and have spend good amount of time in the saddle you will be able to make it. On most days we will spend the morning travelling up a pass and in the afternoon we get to ride down the other side to camp. We have plenty of time to ride at very casual pace and there will always be a support vehicle for anyone who simply cannot make it over a pass due to weather, health issues, or fatigue.

If you have never been to high altitude (above 12,000ft) you will find it is indeed difficult at first. Your ability to perform work is considerably diminished, but with proper planning, and a careful ascent rate everyone will acclimatize properly and will feel very definite improvements in ability and com. fort as the days roll along.

Logistics and Support FAQs
What type of bike and equipment is required?

This route has been done with mountain bikes of all sorts, and touring bikes. Our recommendation is to ride a hard tail mountain bike, a light full suspension mountain bike, a cross bike, or a touring bike with substantial tires. We highly discourage anyone from trying to ride this route on a traditional road bike or touring bike with narrow tires.

One does not need overly knobby tires, but they ought to be at least 1.5" wide. Our personal favorites for this trip are the Hutchinson Python Classic or Maxxis Crossmark (or similar tire) in a 2.0" wide. Call or email if you have any questions about the appropriateness of your bike.

What will we eat?
Meals will be a tasty and healthy mix of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Continental dishes freshly prepared by our staff every day.

Breakfast will consist of porridge, cornflakes, bread, eggs, sausage, marmalade/jam, peanut butter, cheese etc. If there are special wishes, like red beans in tomato sauce or a rice congee soup, our cooks can usually accommodate.

Lunches will be either a cold lunch bag, given to the rider to carry for the day with sandwiches, boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, flatbread, biscuits, fruit, and/or fresh cakes. Or it can be a hot lunch, which is prepared by our staff and will be eaten at a pre-designated lunch stop along the route. Hot lunches will generally include soup, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, nuts, breads and fruit. Some of the support crew will go ahead to prepare lunch on these days.

Dinner will be a variety of Continental and Asian dishes that will include soups, pastas, curries, chicken, mutton, and Chinese style rice and vegetables. Even local trout will feature on the menu.

Food will be healthy, nutritious, and safe and there will always be plenty of clean water and hot drinks for rehydration every morning and evening. There will also always be plenty of biscuits and snacks available at all camps.