Itinerary
Below is a day-by-day itinerary for the Spiti Circuit tour. This is how we expect the tour to flow, but as you know…adventure happens! Dive in and get excited!
Day 01: New Delhi – Kalka – Shimla (By Train/ Bus)
Your adventure begins on the 7am express from New Delhi Railway station.The 4 hour journey will bring you to Kalka (at the foot steps of the Himalayas). A 4 hour bus/coach journey from here will bring you to Shimla (capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh & former “summer capital” of India).
Day 02: Short familiarisation ride – Narkanda (70 KM)
Today you’ll meet your Royal Enfield Motorcycle, your ride for the next several days. After an extensive briefing session by your ride leader you’ll take a short ride in an effort to familiarise yourself with the bike and riding conditions. Today’s ride is short but challenging. You’ll be riding up the Hindustan-
Day 3: Narkanda – Sangla (180 KM)
Heading further along the NH-
Day 04: Sangla (Optional Return trip to Chitkul – 40 KM)
After enjoying a quiet morning in the lap of Sangla valley you’ll saddle-
Day 05: Sangla – Kalpa (55 KM)
We’ll backtrack to the NH-
Day 6: Kalpa – Nako Lake (120 KM)
As you ride further up the Hindustan-
Day 7: Nako – Tabo – Kaza (120 KM)
Today’s ride will take you further up into higher mountains (and across the infamous “Maling Nala”, your first major water crossing) then down to Chango where you’ll enter Spiti Valley. Your first destination is Tabo where you visit the historic monastery. After having lunch at a restaurant nearby you’ll embark on the days second leg, a 47km ride along the Spiti river to Kaza.
Day 8: Kaza
Kaza is the headquarters of the Spiti sub-
Day 09: Kaza – Chandra Tal (100 KM)
Continuing up the Spiti Valley & further into higher Himalayas, today you’ll arrive at the second High Altitude Lake on your tour. After crossing a high pass (Kunzum La, 4550m) and a couple of streams (glacier melts) you’ll reach a pasture land 4km short of the beautiful & desolate lake of Chandra Taal (vehicles are not allowed beyond this point & camping is no longer permitted near the lake shore). Here, the accommodation will be at a “basic” camp-
Day 10: Chandra Tal – Manali (125 KM)
After breakfast, you’ll head down into the Lahaul Valley, along the Chandra, a river originating from a glacier near Baralacha La. The road (or the lack of it) from Chandra Taal all the way to Gramphu (where it meets the popular Manali-
Day 11: Manali
Situated along the banks of River Beas at the northern end of the Kullu valley, Manali is a popular tourist destination attracting thousands of Indian tourists in the summers who want to beat the heat of the plains. It will be a well deserved rest day.
Day 12: Manali – Nagini (105 KM)
Heading south from Manali, along the banks of the Beas, today’s ride takes you through some beautiful scenery. Riding down the Kullu valley past Naggar, you’ll leave behind the Beas and turn south-
Day 13: Nagini – Tattapani (190 KM)
The penultimate days ride is another spectacular journey along the Beas, through the apple orchards of Karsog region, past several picturesque villages down to the village of Tattapani on the banks of river Sutlej.
Day 14: Tattapani – Shimla (70 KM)
You’ll saddle-
Day 15: Shimla – New Delhi (By Car/Train)
It’s time to say your goodbye’s to fellow travelers & the Himalayas. You’ll be taking a 3-hour car ride down the Shivalik range to its footsteps at Kalka, where an Express Train will take you to New Delhi (in about another 4 hours). Dinner is served in the train & is inclusive in the fare. If you’ve purchased a “Farewell” add-
*Distances measured are approximate Odometer readings. Actual / Sat Nav figures can be different.
IMPORTANT ADVISORY: Please note that touring in the Himalayas on a motorcycle involves considerable amount of riding on un-paved/dirt track/loose gravel/wet mud type surfaces as well as creek crossings, some of which can range between moderate to difficult. Riders need to have confidence in their riding skills/experience to be able to handle their bikes under such conditions. We would expect that you have at least 3-4 years (10,000 – 15,000 KM) riding experience (& some off road skills) before you consider registering for these tours. Also, since the routes involve being at high altitudes (above 3500 M), a certain level of health/fitness is a pre-requisite. Write to us if you have doubts or need further clarifications.
Inclusions
- 14 nights twin share accommodation
(double-bed rooms or tents) - English-speaking ride leader & support crew
- Breakfast & Dinners
- Experienced motorcycle mechanics
- Royal Enfield Himalayan 410 or Classic 500 EFI rental motorcycle
(including fuel) - Local sight-seeing
(at selected locations) - Comfortable support vehicle with driver
(for luggage, gear & occasional passengers) - AC Coach/Train transfers between New Delhi & Shimla
Important Info
What To Pack
Please note: On all our tours the space on the support vehicles is limited. Hence, we request that you limit your baggage to 25 KG.
- Driver’s license*
- International Driving Permit
- Travel insurance**
- Protective Riding Gloves
- Riding boots
- Riding jacket & pants
- Helmet
- Rain suit
- Riding goggles
- Balaclava
- Eye drops
- Sunscreen
- Torch/Flashlight
- Thermal underwear
- Insect repellent
Suggested
- Sleeping bag/liner***
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Scarf/Bandana
- Ear Plugs
*Full and valid for a 500cc motorcycle
**Must cover riding 500cc motorcycles
***We provide these for you
Weather
Our Himalayan tours start and end in New Delhi where the temperature can get up to 42°C in July.
Even in the Himalayas the temperature at low altitude can get up to 30°C. However, they can fall below freezing at high altitudes in the mornings and during the nights (0-5°C).
Rain is a certainty with snow being a possibility.
Health & Hygiene
Health
Please keep in mind that you need to be reasonably fit to participate in tours.
IMPORTANT: Applicants are advised against participating in any Himalayan tours if they suffer from severe asthma, muscular disorders, respiratory or heart disorders, or any medical precondition which might be detrimental to the health of the participant on a tour which involves spending nights in high altitudes (3500 to 4500 metres).
Please consult a doctor before booking a Himalayan tour.
Food & Drink
When travelling through India it is advised to carry your own drinking water that has been obtained from a reliable source (RO/UV water filter) or always drink branded mineral/packaged water.
Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised.
Avoid dairy products likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Milk in India is often unpasteurised and should be boiled before consumed.
Any fruit and vegetables should be cooked and/or peeled before consuming. To avoid TD or other sickness while travelling include avoiding undercooked foods and street vendors.
Hygiene
Popular tourist restaurants and hotels will have clean facilities for you to use.
Vaccinations
The following vaccinations are recommended for your trip to India* (if visiting for less than 5 months):
- Hepatitis A
- Diphtheria
- Typhoid
- Malaria
- Tetanus
- Japanese Encephalitis, Poliomyelitis
- Rabies
Please ensure you are also up to date with routine vaccinations such as:
- Influenza
- Chickenpox
- Polio
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT)
- Rotavirus (for children)
If you are arriving from the following countries it is required for you to have the Yellow Fever vaccine:
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Cote d’lvoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Panama
- Peru
- Suriname
- Venezuela
- Trinidad
- Tobago
*This is a general guide. Please consult your doctor for country specific medical advice.
Communication
Telephone: Country code is 91
Mobile phone: Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns.
Internet: Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafes.
Post: Airmail service to U.S and Western Europe takes up to two weeks.
Visas & Documents
When travelling to India you will need the following documents:
- Passport (valid at least 6 months past the intended period of stay)
- Indian Tourist Visa
Indian Tourist Visa
Travelers should apply for a tourist e-visa before they visit India. Processing time is generally between 36-48 hours, you can apply for an e-Visa here. These are single/multiple entry visa’s that are valid for a 30/60-day stay. To see if you are eligible for a tourist e-visa visit this website.
Book for 2021
Your adventure starts now! Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch.
What happens then?
We’ll get back to you within a couple of days with a registration form. This is to make sure you are, in fact, able to tour (eg: Healthy with an adventurous streak!). Once you’ve returned the completed registration form we’ll send you an email with the price of your tour and a full list of T’s & C’s.
Payment Policy
To pay for your tour, we only accept Bank telegraphic (wire) transfer.
It’s our preferred option because it’s safe, transparent & cheap. While it may seem like outdated technology where you’re from, it’s still standard business practice here. Transfer of funds takes place from your bank account directly to our bank account (with reasonable commissions or charges levied by the banks).
Our T’s & C’s document details more info about our payment policy, but if you’ve got questions about ‘wiring’ money please don’t hesitate to contact us or your bank.
I’ve paid, now what?
We’ll send you an email with confirmation, a receipt, and everything else you need to know – so you can get ready for new experiences, with new friends, in foreign lands!
The open road beckons. See you at the airport.
The fine print
Booking shall be subject to availability & eligibility. Your booking is confirmed after deposit is received as per the terms & conditions. Your privacy is protected and we agree not to share the information provided with third parties for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, unless legally required.
The price of the tour is per person on the basis of twin-share accommodation. “Twin Share” means sharing a “double bed” or a “twin bed” room with your companion, or another member of the tour of the same gender.
If you don’t want to share a room you can purchase a single accommodation add-on. Single Accommodation is subject to availability. On the Himalayan Tours, it cannot be guaranteed at locations where we stay in “tented camps” as the availability of such accommodation is scarce during the high season.
We reserve the right to impose a “single accommodation” price on a participant, like a minor participant or an unaccompanied participant, if he/she cannot be accommodated with another member of the tour due to any reason(s).
To participate as a rider an individual has to be an adult above the age of 18 years at the time of the tour, holding a valid full motorcycle driving license authorizing him/her to ride a 500cc motorcycle and in sufficiently good health to undertake a motorcycle journey without any pre-existing medical condition(s) which may be detrimental to the participants health & safety. To participate as a co-rider on the pillion an individual has to be above the age of 12 years.
Further details will be available for your perusal in the terms & conditions appended to the tour registration form.
Inquire for 2022
Your adventure starts now! Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch.
What happens then?
We’ll get back to you within a couple of days with a registration form. This is to make sure you are, in fact, able to tour (eg: Healthy with an adventurous streak!). Once you’ve returned the completed registration form we’ll send you an email with the price of your tour and a full list of T’s & C’s.
Payment Policy
To pay for your tour, we only accept Bank telegraphic (wire) transfer.
It’s our preferred option because it’s safe, transparent & cheap. While it may seem like outdated technology where you’re from, it’s still standard business practice here. Transfer of funds takes place from your bank account directly to our bank account (with reasonable commissions or charges levied by the banks).
Our T’s & C’s document details more info about our payment policy, but if you’ve got questions about ‘wiring’ money please don’t hesitate to contact us or your bank.
I’ve paid, now what?
We’ll send you an email with confirmation, a receipt, and everything else you need to know – so you can get ready for new experiences, with new friends, in foreign lands!
The open road beckons. See you at the airport.
The fine print
Booking shall be subject to availability & eligibility. Your booking is confirmed after deposit is received as per the terms & conditions. Your privacy is protected and we agree not to share the information provided with third parties for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, unless legally required.
The price of the tour is per person on the basis of twin-share accommodation. “Twin Share” means sharing a “double bed” or a “twin bed” room with your companion, or another member of the tour of the same gender.
If you don’t want to share a room you can purchase a single accommodation add-on. Single Accommodation is subject to availability. On the Himalayan Tours, it cannot be guaranteed at locations where we stay in “tented camps” as the availability of such accommodation is scarce during the high season.
We reserve the right to impose a “single accommodation” price on a participant, like a minor participant or an unaccompanied participant, if he/she cannot be accommodated with another member of the tour due to any reason(s).
To participate as a rider an individual has to be an adult above the age of 18 years at the time of the tour, holding a valid full motorcycle driving license authorizing him/her to ride a 500cc motorcycle and in sufficiently good health to undertake a motorcycle journey without any pre-existing medical condition(s) which may be detrimental to the participants health & safety. To participate as a co-rider on the pillion an individual has to be above the age of 12 years.
Further details will be available for your perusal in the terms & conditions appended to the tour registration form.