Elusive Himalayan Tour

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Elusive Himalayan Trails is a signature ride from Tourbugs and it runs through the rugged yet very scenic part of the Himalayas. The breathtaking 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 sheep’s & 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.

Culture & Lost Army of Alexander-Aryan Valley

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

Suru Valley is the most fertile part of Ladakh. Suru Valley 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.

Actually 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.

The Drang-Drung Glacier is likely to be the largest glacier in Ladakh other than the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram Range. The Drang-Drung Glacier is a long river of ice and snow, a source of the Stod River[2] which is a tributary of the Zanskar River.

World Famous Pangong Tso

We are spending a good amount of time at Pangong Tso to experience changing shades of lake during Sunrise, Sunset & mid afternoon. Also would be taking around at midnight to experience millions of stars and the milky way.

This journey of 25kms is going to be memorable throughout life. This stretch is very scenic and a relaxed ride for photography lovers. Also a place to click your profile pictures with rugged terrain & lake in background.  Observe the shades of lake throughout the day. Pangong Tso is one of most beautiful lakes in the world. Definitely this deserves a relaxed day to experience the changing colors of lake. overnight stay at Homestay/ Guesthouse. Also experience local fool along with local culture around the bonfire.

Overall it’s a ride for riders, riders interested in wildlife, photography and mountain experiences.

We are doing very experiential terrain & few secret routes only known by locals. Also we are riding beyond tourist places hence do not intend to share the information about those routes in this itinerary. Those routes will be briefed on a daily basis during the ride.