The Great Himalayan Bicycle Adventure

**In June 2010 very sadly Joel died while leading this trip. This page is kept here in his memory.**

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"Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look beyond the ranges"
Rudyard Kipling

The far north west of India with its tapestry of ancient Himalayan kingdoms is the setting for our first unique exploration of the high roads of Asia. Beginning in Shimla, the old summer capital of British India, it is a demanding journey through no less then five Himalayan kingdoms, with a truly fitting end at the crossroads of high Asia, Ladakh.

Our journey takes us over seven passes, moving from the forested middle hills of the Pir Panjal range through the Sutlej gorge - the old Hindustan Tibet Highway through Kinnaur - into the high desert scenery of Spiti, one of the least known Tibetan enclaves with spectacular cycling. Here we visit Tabo monastery, over 1000 years old, and Ki Gompa, perched high above the wide Spiti valley.

Leaving Spiti we enter the "valley of the moon" via the Kunzum Pass, a challenge as we off road the trails to Chandra Tal (Lake); then follow the incredible dirt road along the Chandra Valley, with snow peaks and glaciers all around, meeting the legendary Manali - Leh "highway" at Gramphoo.

Four passes later we descend into the Indus Valley, and turning away from the main route towards the Ladakh Range, we cross the Wari La into our last kingdom, Nubra, bounded by the Shyok River and the Karakoram.

A fitting finale is the world's highest road pass, the Khardung La - and then we pedal into the central Asian bazaar of Leh, having truly crossed the roof of the world.

Outline itinerary

jdesign -- all rights reserved -- frozen in time July 2013