Spend 14 days exploring the Himalayas on a mountain bike
Embark on one of the most epic adventures in the world on this cycling tour that traverses the Himalayas, crossing five mountain ranges between India’s Manali and Leh! Cycle to crazy high altitudes and bask in the energy of the mountain summits that surround you.
The guided Himalaya Cycling Tour from Manali to Leh is tailor-made for adventure enthusiasts wanting an experience different from any other they’ve had. While this 14-day tour spends most of its days taking you to unspoiled outdoor utopias in the Himalayas, it also unveils glimpses of the spirituality embedded deep into India’s culture. Mountain biking high in the Himalayas can exceed your expectations no matter how high you set them.
Highlights of the Himalayan Cycling Tour: Manali to Leh
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Himalayan Cycling Tour: Manali to Leh
Day 1 Arrive in Delhi
Upon arrival, a tour representative will meet and greet you before you transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring Old Delhi. Visit one of the largest mosques in India, Jama Masjid. Enjoy a rickshaw ride from Red Fort to Jama Masjid. The day is yours!
Enjoy a relaxing night at your hotel and get a good night’s sleep before the upcoming adventure.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Delhi
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Train to Manali
Prepare for a travel day! In the morning, you’ll head to the railway station for your train to Chandigarh. Arrive here at 11:05 am. Then, board a coach and travel to Manali.
You’ll meet your guide and go over the plan for your upcoming adventure in the evening.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Manali
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Get Acclimatized in Manali
Spend the day allowing your body to adjust to the 2,050m elevation. Enjoy a pleasant bicycle ride around the city to warm up and then enjoy your last hotel sleep for a while.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Manali
Distance: 8-12 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Ride the Beas Valley and Rohtang Pass
Get ready to totally immerse yourself in the mountains! Start your cycling adventure by meandering through the verdant Beas Valley along an ancient trade route. You will eventually begin an ascent to Rohtang Pass, but prepare to pass by postcard-painted villages en route, including Palchan, Kothi and Gulaba.
Shake out your legs in Marhi, where you’ll camp for the night.
Overnight Location: Camping in Marhi (3,360m / 11,023’)
Distance: 35 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Cycle to Sissu
Prepare to head up the first of the five mountain passes on this Himalayan cycling tour. Once you’ve cycled up, take a moment to breathe in the stunning views. Snow tends to blanket the ground here even during the summer months!
After relaxing at the top for a moment, descend towards Gramphu, a quaint village. From here, follow the river until you reach Sissu.
Overnight Location: Camping in Sissu (3,120m / 10,235’)
Distance: 53 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Cycle to Patseo
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before cycling along the Bhaga River. Admire how the scenery dissolves into a more natural, wild landscape. Today’s trail takes you further from civilization- savour the solitude of trails few people travel by.
End your bike ride with an ascent to Patseo.
Overnight Location: Camping in Patseo (3,800m / 12,467’)
Distance: 60 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 Cycle to Sarchu
After enjoying breakfast, get ready for a steep, challenging ride. Today’s path takes you to the second mountain pass on this tour. The cycle up to Baralach La Pass may have you screaming a little, but the views at the top make the burn so worth it!
Admire the shimmering Suraj Tal lake below. The cycle to Sarchu also takes you into the Great Himalayas. After marvelling at the view, descend toward your campsite.
Overnight Location: Camping in Sarchu (4,280m / 14,070’)
Distance: 58 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 Cycle to Whisky Nullah
Zigzag along the 21 Garda Loops as you make your way to Nakeela Pass. This is the third mountain pass on this tour. Do these views ever get old? seems not!
Overnight Location: Camping at Whisky Nullah (4,765m / 15,633’)
Distance: 56 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 Lachang La Pass to Debring
Enjoy a fulfilling breakfast before embarking on the second-longest journey of this trip! Make your way to Lachang La Pass, the second-highest pass you’ll encounter.
While you have some steep sections on this route, enjoy a combination of downhill, gradual ascents, and smooth roads!
Overnight Location: Camping in Debring (4,765m / 15,633’)
Distance: 70 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 Ride Tanglang La to Rumtse
Get ready to ride to the highest point of the cycling tour so far! Today's route takes you to Tanglang La, the second-highest pass in the world and the world's highest drivable road. The first 12 km will trick you into thinking it's easy, but following 8 km will have you panting. At the top, you'll see prayer flags fluttering and a Buddhist Chorten. Revel in the remarkable vistas of two mountain ranges, Zanskar and Ladakh.
After admiring the views, descend towards civilization and spend the night camping in Rumptse.
Overnight Location: Camping in Rumtse (4,166m / 13,667’)
Distance: 52 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11 Cycle to Leh
Enjoy a rewarding breakfast before hopping on your bike and cycling to Leh. Today’s journey may be 90 km, but it’s an easy route!
Admire how the mountainscape scenery fades and the lush Ladakh valleys, tucked into the red-tinted slopes spanning the region. Ride along the Indus River, past an array of villages, and past Thikse Gompa before reaching Leh. Enjoy a comfortable, well-earned night in a hotel bed tonight.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Leh
Distance: 90 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12 Leisure Day in Leh
Spend the day at your leisure! A good starting place is to explore the incredible monuments and monasteries in and around Leh, like Thikse Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shey Palace, and Stok Palace Museum.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Leh
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13 Cycle to Khardung La Pass
Enjoy a delicious breakfast before enjoying one final, challenging day of mountain biking! You’ll travel from Leh to Khardung La Pass and back to Leh, ascending around 2000m en route to the pinnacle. The route may be tough, but it unveils panoramic views of the Himalayan range surrounding you.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Leh
Distance: 41 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14 Depart Leh
After breakfast, head to the airport and fly to Delhi. You can choose to stay in Delhi for the night or transfer to the international airport for a connecting flight.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Himalayan Cycling Tour: Manali to Leh Price and Dates
This guided mountain biking tour of the Himalayas is always run as a private tour for your group only and the price depends on the size of your group. Please note that the prices might increase during public holidays.
Prices below are per person:
- Guided groups of 6-7: $1,838 USD per person
- Guided groups of 8-9: $1,652 USD per person
- Guided Groups of 10+: on request
Accommodation on the Himalayan Cycling Tour: Manali to Leh
This tour will have you staying in a combination of hotels and alpine tents at overnight campsites. When you’re not camping, expect to stay in 2-4-star hotels. The hotels offer modern amenities and the campsites are basic.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may be swapped for other similar accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
You can pay a supplement of to have a private room where possible (please enquire for the pricing).
Hotels on Standard Tour
Pride Plaza Hotel in Delhi ★★★★★
Enjoy the luxurious amenities at this swanky hotel. You’ll enjoy a chic room, pool access, free WiFi, and helpful staff.
Shivadya Resort and Spa in Manali ★★★★
This stunning resort enjoys fabulous mountain views, and you’ll enjoy the sauna, fireplaces, room service, and cozy decor.
Camping on Himalayas
Enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains as you camp! Alpine tents, restroom facilities, and a dining tent are included.
Glacier View Hotel in Leh ★★★
This intriguingly-designed hotel overlooks a pretty pond and offers comfortable rooms, some of which have balconies.
What’s Included in the Himalayan Cycling Tour: Manali to Leh Tour?
Meals
13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 13 dinners are included on this tour. Light snacks, refreshments, and water will be provided as you cycle.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 13 nights are included on this tour. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for you ad your luggage is included as required throughout the tour. A car will follow behind you as you cycle. The train from Delhi to Chandigarh is also included. You should budget around 165 USD for the flights between Leh and Delhi (depending on the dates, this price might vary).
Also Included
- Cycling guide
- Local guide in Leh
- Support vehicle following riders (it will also carry extra bikes in case something happens to yours)
- Camping, permit, and entrance fees
- Supplies and support including tents, cook, insulation mats, toilet tent, dining tent, and a kitchen tent
- Support vehicle for equipment
- Cycle support vehicle
- Cycle mechanic
- Firefox Target bike
Not included
- Flights to and from Delhi
- Accommodations before and after the tour
- Tour guide gratuities
- Personal expenses such as laundry or telephone calls
Optional Extras
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Extra night in Delhi or Leh before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about Himalayan Cycling Tour: Manali to Leh
Trans India Holidays was founded nearly 30 years ago in New Dehli, India. They grew their team from four dedicated travellers to 100 energetic guides and trip planners.
Trans India strives to provide the best possible value for client’s money, continually searching for ways they can upgrade their service and experiences.
Offering a range of tour styles, Trans India operates cultural, religious, adventure, wildlife, culinary, family-friendly, and sporting tours.
Looking after each little detail from the perfect hotel room to booking your tee time for you, Trans India knows how to make a holiday in India as unforgettable as possible.
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Local Guide
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Rajiv has been working as a guide since 1996, and fell in love with sharing the ancient cultural and social roots of India with travellers. Rajiv believes that the diversity of India’s different regions in terms of food, language, and culture makes travelling the country an experience like no other. Rajiv runs all kinds of tours, but especially enjoys trekking tours. He’s climbed mountains up to 8,000 feet in -10 degrees with groups and considers those to be his greatest achievements as a guide.
- Q: What is your favourite trip to lead?
- A: I enjoy giving people walking tours of the city, because that’s the best way to give a vivid introduction to the country and also because there is an element of surprise on the streets. It cannot be controlled or planned, and I immensely enjoy presenting that world to them.
- Q: What is one experience anybody visiting your country should have?
- A: Learning to cook traditional Indian food.
- Q: What is one local dish or drink that visitors absolutely have to try?
- A: Masala Dosa, it’s very tasty.
- Q: What is the best part about guiding?
- A: Providing them with more than they expected and noticing and taking care of any discomforts the guests might experience. Sometimes the guests don’t say it, so as a guide you have to be very attentive to that.