Elusive Himalayan Tour 2022| Sep 8- 19

A signature Tourbugs ride.

Elusive Himalayan Trails is a signature ride from Tourbugs and it runs through the most rugged and scenic part of the Himalayas. These breath-taking landscapes are perfect for photography & videography. The secret trails are perfect for pure riding experiences along with some very unusual wildlife. The routes which go along the rivers & inspire you to do great journeys even though the terrain is demanding.  History of the places that take you to stone age. History, that will make you think about our existence & make you wonder about the culture & Dharma.

This tour is not for those people who have been in Ladakh before & say” Ladakh is crowded and there is nothing much to see”. Better stay away from such new Indian social media wannabes, thirsting to travel on Facebook & Instagram. The Himalayas have a lot to offer and this ride is for people who want to experience a different Ladakh and visit places beyond regular tourist spots.

The deserted Himalayas has lots of hidden secrets, the more you explore the less you know and at the end of the tour it will definitely leave you speechless.

Riding Experience

Get ready for one of a lifetime riding experience! The terrain of Ladakh is famous amongst all the adventure lovers. Riding along the Indus, Suru, Stod & Zanskar river with a view of horses running along the river beds, view of thousands of sheeps & goats grazing on wetlands! Seems like a dreamland, right? Well, we will be riding in this dreamland and clicking a lot of pictures (both physical and mental) as it is too scenic to miss on any of the things.

Also, not to miss when it comes to riding though dried-up river streams, bone chilling deep water crossings, sand patches and to the highest of the high passes will quench your thirst for adventure for a long time. The off-roads for miles and miles. Sometimes we will have to follow the direction and keep riding even without the trail marks. Sometimes the terrain gets so tough that you may not feel like riding anymore, but the moment you stop enjoying, the fun turns in to fear. We want you to keep your spirits high.

Even wildlife photography & offers Wildlife, Landscapes, tough terrains & very experiential stays along with various culture & food.

In this tour we will be taking some of the non-tourist places & routes to explore Ladakh like in the olden days.

We are taking you to rugged, tough terrain of Ladakh which includes Suru Valley, Zanskar Valley, The High & Highest Motorable roads, Changthang, Indo-Pak border, Indo-China Border, Pangong Tso, Moonland, Sand Dunes (Not Nubra Valley) and unknown plateaus layered with natural flowers.

During this ride we will be riding through challenging off roads of Suru & Zanskar Valley, through dried up river streams and beyond tourist places to experience wildlife. This ride is tiring but the scenery will definitely soothe you.

Wild Life
Mammals -Tibetan Wild Asses, Marmots, Gua, Ibex, Fox, Tibetan antelope etc.
Birds like Bar-headed goose (ngangpa), Black-necked crane (trung-trung), Tibetan Snowcock, Chukar, Brown-headed gull etc.

Aryan Valley

Culture & Lost Army of Alexander- The pure race of Aryans

A community which for thousands of years have lived in isolation in their inaccessible villages- The Brokpa Community These villages are situated on the banks of Indus River Darchik, Garkon & Dah

They have distinct features – tall and statuesque, with green eyes, high cheek bone, fair with flawless skin and some with blonde hair. They are the pure bloodline of the Aryans & direct descendants from the Alexander’s Army. This tribe has rather successfully been able to keep its gene pool intact, using strong social sanctions and rules.

This tribe is identified by a colorful headgear called Tepi that has various colorful props attached, embellished with colorful berry flowers. The red flowers shown in the picture are called ‘Montho’ by them. This flower doesn’t fade even for a year. The women wear heavy metal, gold and silver jewellery along with full length sheepskin capes and sheep wool dresses! Old metal coins are part of the accessory. All married people put it. It signifies our love and prosperity and is considered auspicious

Either these people were remnants of Alexander’s Greek army or the original Aryan race from which all the Indo-European people descended. Any inter mixing with outsiders by way of marriage and kinship is forbidden in this Community. These villages are beautiful located in deep valleys with steep sides, overlooking the overflowing Indus River. The irrigation system is well planned to cultivate many Vegetables and fruits. They have managed a glacier water stream through the village.

Suru Valley

This is the most fertile part of Ladakh. It serves as Ladakh’s granary. Lower Suru Valley is extensively cultivated with barley, wheat, millet and bean fields interspersed with willows. This valley encompasses the catchment basin of the Suru River, which emerges from the Panzella glacier.  Lofty pinnacles of Kun and Nun mountains crown the breathtaking landscape of this scenic region. Parachik Glacier is a beautiful location situated at the slopes of Nun – Kun Mountains.

Zanskar Valley

Zanskar remains one of the very few places on Earth that, for several months every year, becomes almost entirely isolated from the rest of the world. It can only be reached, or left, via the frozen river Zanskar. Geographically, the Zanskar mountain range separates this region from the rest of Ladakh. It is fed by two rivers: the Doda, which has its origin near the Pensi La (4.400m), and the Kargyak, with its source near the Shingo La (5.100m), which then merges with the Tsarap River and is hereinafter referred to as Lungnak. In the Central Valley of Zanskar, the Doda and the Lungnak combine to give birth to the great Zanskar River.

Zanskar needs no introduction. With an encompassing rugged terrain and the pristine valleys, Zanskar is known for its breathtaking views. From torrid days to gelid nights, temperatures range wildly in this magical land.

Drang Drung Glacier: is likely to be the largest glacier in Ladakh other than the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram Range, with a maximum length of 23 kilometers at an average elevation of 15,680 feet. The glacier lies in the northeastern Himalayan Range known as the Zanskar Range. It is one the highest in the region and one can just sit and get lost in the magnanimity of it. The moon’s reflection in the Suru River is something that you can’t stop staring at. Serene is the word we like to describe this place as.

Zangla: A picturesque village in Zanskar, Zangla is an offbeat destination and is set against the spectacular backdrop of Zanskar Rage. A palace which once housed the royal family stands atop a hill nearby is now in ruins. There is a small Buddhist nunnery here and one can go and visit it to get a view of the daily life of the nuns.

Shinkul La/ Shingo La: This is a high pass on the border of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. The pass is situated at 16580 feet and is considered as the origin of Zanskar River.

While extreme climatic conditions make life very difficult, people of the valley are very simple and honest, poor and hardworking, religious and spirited, affectionate and hospitable. They have minimal resources for their daily life but would always welcome guests and are happy to help the travellers, if stuck. You understand what warmth truly means when you meet people here.

Zanskar remains one of the very few places on Earth that, for several months every year, becomes almost entirely isolated from the rest of the world. It can only be reached, or left, via the frozen river Zanskar. Geographically, the Zanskar mountain range separates this region from the rest of Ladakh. It is fed by two rivers: the Doda, which has its origin near the Pensi La (4.400m), and the Kargyak, with its source near the Shingo La (5.100m), which then merges with the Tsarap River. In the Central Valley of Zanskar, the Doda and the Lungnak combine to give birth to the great Zanskar River.

Changthang region
Located on the southeastern part of Ladakh, Changtang is famous for its landscape, wildlife and natural beauty.
The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is a high altitude wildlife sanctuary located in the Ladakhi adjunct of the Changtang plateau. It is important as one of the few places in India with a population of the kiang or Tibetan wild ass, as well as the rare black-necked crane.

Hanle
Hanle is a one of the interesting places in the Changthang region. It is possibly one of the world’s most enchanting, serene and breath-taking places.
On the way to Hanle, it seems like you’re on a different planet altogether. Its enchanting beauty — so eerily calm — imparts the feeling of being lost in an alien land. There is some wildlife to spot along the way: mostly wild asses, golden ducks, rabbits, jackals. You can also see a few nomads along the roadside, in their makeshift tents and surrounded by their cattle and dogs. It is a lovely site to witness.
It is the site of the 17th century Hanle Monastery (gompa) of the Drukpa Kagyu branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Hanle is also home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory. It is the world’s second highest observatory.

Detailed Itinerary

 Day-1 Arrival Leh Airport
We will meet, greet, assist, and transfer you to Hotel in Leh. Free day to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember, rest is very important on this day as the body needs to acclimatize well before we hit the road. Dinner at Hotel.

Day 2 – Leh to Aryan Valley:
We start our ride today. As the ride progresses, we will move towards a greener part of Ladakh. Aryan Valley, as the name suggests is home to the Aryans. The villages are beautiful located in deep valleys with steep sides, with a great view of the overflowing Indus River.
Overnight stay at a village in Aryan Valley.

Day 3 – Aryan Valley to Randgum:
Post breakfast we will start the ride towards Rangdum. It is beautifully located village in Suru Valley. This day offers a good riding terrain, spectacular landscapes and the beauty of magnificent Himalayas. Randgum has a Tibetian monastery
Overnight stay in Rangdum.
This is the day we start our exciting journey. Pack up your bags, sort out your riding gears and get ready for an amazing ride ahead! We will hit the road post breakfast. This is a very comfortable ride till Panikhar
Panikhar is said to be the most beautiful inhabited area in the trans Himalayan region. While the entire Ladakh is full of spectacular landscapes, Panikhar definitely steals the show. Panikhar is still away from commercialization, making it a perfect place to stay and experience the simple lifestyle here.

Day 4- Rangdum to Padum/Zangla: –
Today we pack our bags and post breakfast start our ride towards the mighty Zanskar Valley! The ride goes through one of the most scenic routes. We will be crossing the Pensi La (14436 feet) today.
We will also get to witness Drang Drung Glacier on our way. Drang drung glacier is one the highest in the region and one can just sit and get lost in the magnanimity of it.
Overnight stay at a cozy home stay for a good local experience.

Day-5 Zangla to Shinkula:
The ride goes parallel to Zanskar river and has some good climbs as well. This day is the most adventurous day of this entire ride. Difficult roads make this ride challenging but the scenery around makes up for it.
Today we will see the confluence of Zanskar & Tsarap River at Purne. There’s an old trekking route in Kurgyak
Overnight stay at Gombak Ranjan. Get ready for some more excitement as we will be camping here tonight!

Day-6 Shinkula to Zangla:
We will start the ride post breakfast.
Today we will head back to Zangla by the same road so that we can cover two amazing passes on Day 7.
Overnight stay at in a Home Stay at Zangla.

Day 7- Zangla to Leh:
Today, we will be passing through two passes names Singge La (16590 feet) and Sirsir La (15761 feet). These are probably India’s deepest gorges. Overnight stay at Leh.

Day 8- Leh to Hanle
Post breakfast, we will start out ride towards Hanle.
It is a smooth ride with mountains to keep you company along the way.

Day 9- Hanle around
One full day at Hnale and around to explore wildlife, culture and serene landscapes.
A perfect day to take out your cameras and capture the beauty that is this place.

Day 10- Hanle to Umling La
Post breakfast we will start our ride. This is a very important day of the ride as we will be riding to the Undoubtable Highest Motorable pass- Umling La which is at 19300 feet making it higher than Khardung La.
Overnight stay at Hanle.

Day 11- Hanle to Leh
Post breakfast we will start our ride towards Leh.
Dinner at Hotel in Leh. 

Day 12- Check out and fly back
The ride ends here. Post breakfast, check out from the Hotel.

Price:
INR 97000 per person- with own bike
INR 114000 per person- inclusive of bike