Indian Himalayas
Manali to Leh

Tour Overview

redspokes Indian Himalayas cycling holiday from Manali to Leh begins in the fertile greenery of Kullu Valley, from here we traverse a high altitude desert to reach the isolated mountainous Ladakh region, so remote and stark it is barely populated.

The redspokes journey is one of the most demanding mountain bike tours in the world offering extreme challenges and rewards through the very heart of the Himalayas. You will encounter sacred and spiritual landmarks in this celestial landscape on some of the finest roads an adventure cyclist could wish for, riding switchback after switchback for hours on end, ascending into the thin air at an altitude of 5,000 m.

We transfer by road from Delhi to Manali via Mandi and spend a couple of days acclimatising. Situated at 1,950m (6,398 ft) Manali is an interesting hill station in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh and a popular tourist destination during the summer months. Our cycling route from Manali to Leh in Ladakh covers 476km (296 miles) over 8 days and takes us over five major passes, two of which are above 5000m (16,400ft). An old trading route and described as a 'highway', the Manali to Leh road is extremely narrow in places. For much of the year it is closed due to extreme weather conditions.

Cycling the Highest Road in the Himalaya!

We enjoy a well-deserved rest day in Leh then, reinvigorated, we face the ultimate challenge of the tour: the Khardung-La. Starting at 3, 600m (11,500 feet) in Leh we cycle to the top of the pass at a breath taking height of 5359m (17,583 feet) in just 39km (24 miles). This is one of the highest roads in the world accessible by motor vehicles.

Not for the faint hearted - this is cycling with Extreme Altitude!