21 Day Great Himalayan Beast Guided Motorcycle Tour on Royal Enfield in India

Overview

The newest addition to their signature Himalayan circuits, this ride is designed (by popular demand) for those who want a little extra on their motorcycle adventure in the Indian Himalayas. Instead of having to choose between Zanskar, Ladakh, and Spiti, this 21 day ride has it all.

Highlights

• Starts in Srinagar and ends in Chandigarh
• Explore Zanskar, Ladakh, and Spiti in one adventure
• Journey through the highest road in the world in Umling La
• Visit the enigmatic Spiti region
• Ride through hairpin bends
• 20 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive Srinagar

   Fly into Srinagar Airport and be received by their team member at the airport. Transfer to the hotel, unpack and unwind. They recommend that you relax and take in the sights of this gorgeous Himalayan city. Your hotel is close to the Dal lake and the views and walks in the vicinity are what mountain dreams are made of. There are several places to visit and activities to engage in, but they recommend taking it easy and enjoying the lazy charms and comforts, the food and the general vibe of the place, a sunset shikara ride, or a sundowner at the Lalit hotel.

2. Day 2: Srinagar - Sonamarg (60 or 100 kilometers / 37 or 62 miles)

   Today, you get on the bikes and head out on a short 60 / 100 kilometers exploratory road trip to reach your staging point for the Transhimalayan traverse. You divert off the main highways and hit small country roads that give you a flavor of riding in the alpine Himalayas, a landscape you will not see for the subsequent part of your road trip. You visit a 7th century Shiva temple in a gorgeous setting, you visit some of the lesser visited lakes around Srinagar, and eventually make your way to the riverside resort in a quaint village 5 kilometers short of the busy town of Sonamarg. Soak in the

3. Day 3: Sonamarg - Panikhar (190 kilometers / 118 miles)

   You leave early to avoid the traffic at Zoji La. The route is covered in a series of hairpin bends and you quickly ascend from the valley floor. While they are not technical, it will leave you awestruck as you see the marvel of engineering that slithers up huge mountains and descends great heights. This is the gateway to Ladakh and within a matter of a few kilometers, the landscape has taken such a dramatic transition that it leaves you quite speechless. You cross the war memorial at Drass and continue onwards to Kargil (the second largest city in Ladakh is predominantly Muslim) on quick paced

4. Day 4: Panikhar - Karsha (170 kilometers / 106 miles)

   The final bits of Suru Valley cross by in a dazzling display of cultivated green and the many hued kaleidoscope of wild flowers, as you race up river, through tiny villages and glacial streams. You cross the monastery at Rangdum riding along a mesmerizing landscape that takes you to the gateway of Zanskar, Pensi La (your highest point on this route). It's difficult to describe the feeling of viewing the Drang Drung glacier for the first time. The largest glacier in Ladakh redefines infinity. You descend into Zanskar and the valley opens up before you. Tiny villages surrounded by windswept barl

5. Day 5: Karsha - Lamayuru (195 kilometers / 121 miles)

   And now ladies and gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for. Let the off-roads begin. Probably the best off-road patch left in the Himalayas, the lesser said about this route, the better. This is one for the senses. The focus must be unwavering but the scenery beckons a glimpse, the dust fills your visor but you can't stop smiling. It could be hot, it could be bone chilling cold. You could have rain, you could have snow, the roads could be blocked due to roadworks, you could have freshly paved tarmac - there is so much unpredictability on this road that makes it the perfect backdrop

6. Day 6: Lamayuru - Leh (110 kilometers / 68 miles)

   You have a well deserved half day's rest at Leh city. Based on the mood, you can cover the 100 kilometers to Leh fairly quick, or you can choose to take a few detours, spend some time on off-road tracts, and visit some of the famous monasteries en route. You cross the Gurudwara, Pather Sahib, and finally, ride into bustling Leh city - a dramatic transition after what you have experienced over the last few days. Rest, eat, shop, and chill. The coming week will be in some serious high altitude territory where your body and mind will be tested. The riding remains spectacular, the landscape transi

7. Day 7: Leh local (rest day 1)

   A well-deserved rest day after completing the Zanskar leg of your adventure. Leh city is busy and vibrant city that blends the new with old. The village ladies occupy one end of the street in the city center selling their vegetables and local produce whilst the other end of the street is surrounded by modern cafes, restaurants, and shops. You meet the participants who are joining the next leg of your adventure, sharing memories just made and anticipating ones that will be created over the coming week.

8. Day 8: Leh - Hundar (140 kilometers / 87 miles)

   You are chasing the silk route today, this being the main road connection that took goods (on yaks, mules, and camels) from the Indian sub-continent to join with the main silk route at Yarkand in Central Asia. You enter serious high altitude territory, crossing Khardung La at 5348 meters (one of the highest motorable passes in the world). You descend more than 2000 meters into Nubra valley, one of the most dramatic landscapes on the trip. You ride on fairly good but narrow mountain roads with sharp drops and chances of snow near the pass. Only a small patch (about 30 kilometers) is of poor roa

9. Day 9: Hundar - Pangong (190 kilometers / 118 miles)

   Dramatically changing landscapes are your companions for the day. On a combination of on/off road, you will ride on river beds, on high passes, through mountain gorges and open flat plains. Your prize for the day is the lake of Pangong. Partly in India and partly in China, this politically strangled lake is a natural wonder of the world. You camp close to the shore, relax and take in the changing colors as the sun sets. The night skies are surreal as you are camping at 4300 meters with clear views of the milky way and several constellations. Based on the wind, the nights can be cold and chance

10. Day 10: Pangong - Hanle (190 kilometers / 118 miles)

    Today’s route is a relatively new (open only to the army in the past) that’s only recently opened to tourists. It was a closely guarded secret and its easy to see why. Two high altitude lakes in a setting so surreal, endless twistiness, wildflower covered slopes, panoramic views, very little traffic, and a single track road with a mind of its own. Halfway through the journey and the best bits are yet to come. You divert towards the village of Hanle which has opened to foreign tourists only since 2024 (due to close proximity to the Chinese border). The edge of the Tibetan plateau, the floodplai

11. Day 11: Hanle - Umling La - Nyoma (230 kilometers / 143 miles)

    You leave some bits to the imagination but it’s a long and high day in the saddle. Please note that, due to the politically sensitive nature of this region, you could be refused permission at the last moment. They will alter the itinerary if this is the case but they hope that the gods of motorcycling are smiling on you.

12. Day 12: Nyoma - Sakti / Leh (160 kilometers / 99 miles)

    The journey back to Leh is fairly straightforward, though a little long. The roads are beautiful tarmac and the valley floor undulates gently following the course of the river towards the town of Upshi. It’s a play of light and shadows as you speed across this multi colored valley, the increase in oxygen levels as you descend, playing some interesting mind games. Your body fights the fatigue of the past days but the mind is elated with the oxygen surplus.

13. Day 13: Sakti / Leh (rest day 2)

    The second leg of your journey is complete and Sakti village is like an oasis that allows you to soak in the magnitude of the journey thus far. You bid goodbye to those who will be leaving you at this stage and you rest up for what remains to be still discovered. A fitting climax to your epic adventure, the region of Spiti and the road leading you towards it is what motorcycle legends are made of.

14. Day 14: Sakti / Leh - Jispa (320 kilometers / 199 miles)

    The longest leg of your journey so far, but one that is necessary in order to escape the high altitude and the remoteness of the region you are passing through. The over 5000 meters Tanglang La, the Tibetan plateau (More Plains), several high altitude passes ( Laclung La, Nakee La, Baralaca La), The Ghost of Gata Loops (22 switchbacks). There is so much drama on today’s ride that it feels like the last two weeks thrown into 1 day. However the roads are amazing, the pace quite fast. You spend a long day on the road but the visual delight of the surroundings leave the mind elated and the body is

15. Day 15: Jispa - Chicham (185 kilometers / 115 miles)

    It's tough to imagine that after more than 2 weeks of riding the Himalayan highs that a landscape will still surprise you, the views take your breath away- anew. The crossing of Kunzum La does just that and the dramatic gateway to Spiti is visually stunning and the roads still challenging. Spiti, also called mini Leh, is just that and barring the new spate of construction, it still looks like a land locked in time. The landscape is remote and the valley floor with the braided Spiti river catches the dying light in a bright reflection of sparkling gold, giving the land an aura of divinity - a c

16. Day 16: Chicham - Tabo (high village loop) (80 kilometers / 50 miles)

    Today is short day on the road but you traverse some high roads leading to remote villages, monasteries, and post offices. It's one of the most enjoyable riding day, since the roads are traffic free, the landscape vast, and the general vibe and pace of this region just conducive to easy riding that allows you to take in the energy. There are many monasteries to cover, remote villages that are habited through the harsh winters, the highest post office in the Himalayas, and the trails connecting them, traverse a high path in the mountains that allows splendid views of the valley below. Kaza is t

17. Day 17: Tabo - Sangla (125 kilometers / 78 miles)

    From the stark treeless landscape of the high Himalayas to the lush alpine greens of the lower Himalayas, the transitions of today’s ride are reminiscent of the start of your adventure in Kashmir. You ride through the windy funnel of the Spiti ore, crossing villages that are distinctly more populated and busier. There is a lot more traffic on the roads and the air takes on a different, thicker consistency and while the replenished oxygen in the air is quite noticeable, the proximity to the fossil fuel burning civilization is also clearly discernible.

18. Day 18: Sangla - Chitkul - Sangla (rest day 3)

    It's your final rest day and you spend it in the lap of lush, embracing nature. Fresh water streams, pine covered forests, and emerald green meadows invite you to take a walk, a swim, or just find a nook to lie down and soak in the mountains. You take a short ride to the village of Chitkul and if you feel like, trek to the border with Tibet (China). Drink chai, chat with the locals, and just hang out with your fellow travelers - reliving the memories of the last few weeks.

19. Day 19: Sangla - Narkanda (160 kilometers / 99 miles)

    You are traveling through apple country and as far as the eyes can see, the mountains have been denuded of their natural cover and now a monoculture of apple dominates the landscape.

20. Day 20: Narkanda - Chandigarh (ride ends) (170 kilometers / 106 miles)

    Your final days ride is a stark reminder of the reality you are returning to. Descending the Himalayas towards the gangetic plains, the population and traffic rows exponentially and it’s a rude reminder that you are travelling through the most populated country in the world. While the previous 3 weeks were spent in the same country, the region you have travelled through is a world within this world.

21. Day 21: Depart

    It’s a straightforward journey to Delhi either by train or by road. It takes anything between 3-5 hours and they are happy to help organize a taxi or train tickets based on your preference.

Ride Details

Terrain

70% tarmac, 30% off roads

Bike

Rental bike (Royal Enfield Himalayan)

Mileage

3,000 kilometers / 1,864 miles

Daily rides

60 - 320 kilometers / 37 - 199 miles

Riding gear

Not included

Meals

all breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation

You will be staying in various accommodations based on twin sharing rooms.

Food

The package includes all meals - breakfast, lunch, evening tea, and dinner.

Getting There

You cover the remote and challenging Zanskar, catch the highlights of Ladakh including Umling La (the highest road In the world), and finish with the enigmatic Spiti circuit. Physically demanding and visually stunning, this ride is the epitome of motorcycling In the Himalayas and for that reason, they present you, “The Great Himalayan Beast.” This unique ride is also broken down into 3 distinct ci