Himalaya » Western Himalaya Travel

The 490krn journey from Leh to Manali is one of the ultimate challenges for experienced mountain bikers. Crossing the Himalaya from north to south, the route traverses four high passes and climbs more than 8800m in total — the equivalent of cycling to the summit of Mount Everest from sea level! The strenuousness of the trip is more than compensated for by arguably the most spectacu­lar scenery in the world.

A variety of operators now organize road-cycling tours, but a self-sup­ported trip is possible. However, it requires carrying a lot of gear (a load can exceed 20kgs), as the tented camps which have been set up along the route often turn out to be more than a reasonable day’s cy­cling distance apart. Commercial outfitters can provide full camping and vehicle sup­port, allowing you to carry nothing more than a water bottle and windbreaker. In­ternational outfitters typically offer 16-day trips out of Delhi.