Biking India's Nubra Valley

Welcome to New Delhi, India’s sprawling capital city! We pick you up from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and transfer you to our tour hotel in the city. In the evening, we convene for a trip meeting and welcome dinner. Depending on your arrival time, you can explore iconic sites such as the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk bazaar, and the Jama Masjid mosque. Of course, you can also choose to avoid Delhi’s notorious urban chaos and simply relax at the hotel or a cafe before whisking ourselves away into the remote Himalayas the next morning.

This morning we will transfer to New Delhi airport and fly to the mountainous northern region of Ladakh, touching down in its most vibrant city: Leh. (round-trip airfare to and from Leh is not included in the tour cost). The first thing you will notice is the sudden change in altitude (3,500 metres ASL). This will take some getting used to so we will take it easy on this first day in the high Himalayas as we acclimatise. If you are up for it you can wander over to the abandoned Leh Palace, the former seat of the Ladakhi Royal Family, which resembles Potala Palace in Tibet. Take in the panoramic view from atop the palace and then head back into town to visit a local market where Tibetan antiques, Chinese silk, Buddhist ornaments, turquoise stones, and silver jewellery are for sale. Tonight's dinner will welcome us to the north!

Today we will take it nice and slow as we try out our bikes (and lungs!) at high altitude for the first time. Beginning directly from our hotel in Leh, we’ll cycle out of town for 10 km towards the banks of the Indus River. Our first stop is Spituk monastery, a serene and scenic ancient Buddhist sanctuary etched into the hillside. From there we’ll cross to the other side of the Indus for a gentle 20 km ride along the river banks, concluding at Thiksey Gompa, one of the largest Tibetan-style monasteries in Ladakh. We’ll spend some time touring the expansive compound, the highlight of which is a huge statue of the Maitreya (future) Buddha. We will return to Leh by car (30 minutes) where we’ll relax and then meet for dinner.

This morning we will transfer by car to the town of Nimo (45 minutes), which is the starting point for our ride today. Heading out of Nimo and past the scenic confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers, we’ll find ourselves surrounded by a spectacular gorge, riding for 28 km along a paved road skirting the Zanskar River. The ride concludes in the village of Chilling where, taking our cue from the place name, we will chill, sip on some chai (tea), and take in the scenery. Once we’re ready, we will drive for an hour to the peaceful village of Alchi where we will spend the night. Alchi is home to a fascinating 12th-century monastery with stunning murals painted by Kashmiri artists.

We begin with a short transfer from Alchi to our cycling start point near the village of Likir. From here, we follow an undulating road west through weathered foothills, green valleys, and highland farming communities. It’s a more challenging ride with some longer, steeper ascents and grittier downhills on unevenly paved switchbacks — the perfect way to cap off our acclimatisation stage. Our destination today is Tingmosgang, once the site of the ancient capital of Ladakh; the ruins of its fort and monastery stand as a steadfast backdrop to the sleepy village it has become today.

We have a leisurely morning in Tingmosgang before driving around two hours back to Leh. There is no cycling today to ensure we are fully acclimatised before heading north and beginning our ascent into the Nubra Valley. Leh is a great transition base with cafes, markets, and museums to visit in the afternoon before dinner.

Our journey to the 'Roof of the World' kicks into high gear today as we begin our gradual climb over the Ladakh Range to reach the Nubra Valley. Departing from Leh in the morning, we’ll zip along the Manali highway before turning into the peaceful mountain pass that leads up to the ethnically Tibetan village of Sakti. The route dissects the clean and fresh Himalayan countryside, with houses scattered amongst the farmland and mountain streams lined with willow bushes. Other than the odd jeep or bus, you won’t encounter too many other vehicles in this remote part of India. As we approach Sakti, you’ll begin to see the towering peaks of the Wari La pass in the distance. Wari La will be our destination tomorrow — tonight we rest in Sakti.

Today will be challenging, exhilarating, and rewarding all at once. Continuing from Sakti, we have a long and steady climb ahead towards Wari La pass (5,195 m / 16,972 ft). The climb to the top is strenuous but well worth the effort, as the expansive view across the Himalayas from the summit will leave you in awe. After indulging in the panorama and crisp mountain air, we’ll start to descend down a tarmac road leading us to the villages of Tangyar and Khyungru (4,100 m / 13,451 ft). These villages are a testimony to the harsh living conditions that people in this region have adapted to — the inhabitants remain engaged in farming and cattle rearing during the short summer months, when they must grow and gather as much as possible to survive the winter. The surrounding landscape is the winter habitat of the elusive snow leopard, and spending the night here will give you a true window into life deep in the Himalayas.

Get ready to witness a remarkable visual shift as we ride into one of the world’s highest-altitude deserts. We begin with a downhill blitz on a tarmac road, passing traditional Ladakhi homes, before climbing gradually to Khalsar, a small, bustling village with a cluster of tea and noodle shops. From there, we ride downhill to the Shyok valley floor, where wild lavender and sea buckthorn bushes grow. We’ll skirt along the Shyok River to a bridge, concluding with a gentle climb on a good tarmac road to the cold desert village of Hunder (3,048 m / 10,000 ft). Here you will find sand dunes, Bactrian camels, and star-filled night skies.

Beginning from Hunder, we backtrack around 20 km through the Shyok Valley before crossing a bridge and heading north along the braided Nubra River. Our journey traverses a fascinating terrain of sand dunes and expansive floodplains, interspersed with villages, orchards, and groves, in the shadow of the Karakoram mountain range. This area of the Nubra Valley was once a node on the Silk Road, and some of the paths we will cover today were trodden by traders carrying riches from east to west centuries ago. We saddle-off in the village of Tiggur, immersing ourselves in the rural lifeways of India’s far northern frontier. If you have some extra energy in the afternoon, you can continue cycling deeper into the valley on an out-and-back ride north along the river.

We’ll enjoy our morning in the Nubra Valley and then transfer around 1.5 hours by car to the area around the village of Khardung, which will be our base for the grand finale ride back to Leh the following day. The drive involves sightings of huge rocky spires and amazing rock formations as the road snakes its way around the desolate mountainside. Today’s pace is free and easy as we give ourselves a break before conquering the Khardung La pass. We spend the night at nearly 4,000 metres above sea level, so make sure to bundle up!

Today we will navigate one of the world’s highest motorable roads. This is no small feat, but it will be absolutely worth the effort. After a quick transfer from Khardung to North Pullu, the ride begins with a 15 km uphill meander along switchback roads leading to the top of Khardung La pass (5,359 metres ASL). Once at the summit, we’ll marvel at the panoramic views of valleys and snow-capped peaks. Having reached the highest point of our journey, the only way to go is down! We’ll enjoy an exhilarating 37 km downhill cycle all the way back to Leh, where we spend the night one last time.

It is time to say goodbye to Ladakh. We will transfer to Leh airport for our flight to New Delhi. Looking down at the valleys and mountain peaks from the plane, we’ll be filled with a whole new level of appreciation for the adventure we’ve just had. Upon arrival in New Delhi, we’ll transfer to our hotel for the final night of the journey

For those leaving today we’ll organize a shared transfer to the airport. Feel free to extend your stay in New Delhi or travel onwards to discover more of incredible India.