Leh Tso Moriri Cycling Expedition
A Breathtaking Expedition across a land of superlatives
Available Batches
Brief Description
Gallery
Brief Itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Leh (11,500 ft)
The most convenient way to reach Leh is by Air. But this has to be followed by at least 2 days of acclimatization in Leh before you head to higher altitudes. You can also reach Leh by road but this option requires at least 2-3 days of travel on the road. You will receive the detail of accommodation in leh through an email from us. After reaching leh check into the Guest House/Hotel. Have some rest. Evening can be utilized to explore the Leh market.
Day 2
Acclimatisation in Leh
Explore the cultural and natural beauty of Leh. This will make you familiar with the town and also help in acclimatize to the weather. Leh is the centre point of Laddakh and also a major town from where all expeditions begin. It is also a culturally rich place. There are dozens of monasteries and ancient temples that you can go around. They are located in and around the town. Enjoy the local cuisines which are major attraction for travellers.
Day 3
Leh (11,500 ft) to Karu (11,150 ft) - 36 km
Today's ride will be a short and easy one. We will start from Leh and follow the Indus River towards the Manali - Leh highway. We'll pass through the towns of Shey, famous for its palace and Thiksey, with one of the largest gompas in the region. The ride is mostly on flat paved road with a slight downhill gradient and the occasional short climb. We will ride till the Karu military station. Overnight in guest house/home stay.
Day 4
Karu (11,150 ft) to Hymia (12,150 ft) - 45 km
After starting from Karu, we will stray off the Leh - Manali highway at Upshi and continue along the Indus River. After Upshi, the valley soon narrows into a steep gorge with strange rock formations and cliffs hundred of feet high towering over the Indus. We will ride across a few small villages till Hymia, one of the bigger villages in the valley and the first village with a home stay after Upshi. The ride is on well paved roads with a slight uphill gradient, save for a few short broken sections. Overnight in guest house/home stay in Hymia.
Day 5
Hymia (12,150 ft) to Kesar (13,000 ft) - 47 km
Today's ride is going to be one of the toughest on this trip. From Hymia, there is a 35 km stretch of broken roads till the Kiari military station. The going will be slow, and you should expect a long day today. The landscape remains dry and sparse and offers little relief from the sun. Once you reach Kiari, the road condition improves and the gradient becomes steeper. It should take another 2-3 hours from Kiari to Kesar, another large village with a home stay and satellite phone. Overnight in guest house / home stay.
Day 6
Kesar (13,000 ft) to Sumdo (14,450 ft) - 46 km
We will start from Kesar and ride on well paved roads to Mahe, crossing Chumathang on the way, famous for its hot sulphur springs. From Mahe, we will cross the Indus on a bridge and finally leaving the Indus Valley, enter a subsidiary valley. The landscape becomes greener here, with a small, clear blue stream moving next to the road. On the way, you will cross grazing grounds with sheep and goat herds - an unusual sight for Ladakh. The road is paved, though broken in sections. The ride throughout the day is a gradual ascent till Sumdo. Overnight in guest house / home stay.
Day 7
Sumdo (14,450 ft) to Karzok/Tso Moriri (15,000 ft) via Namshang La (15,900 ft) - 44 km
We will start early from Sumdo today. Shortly after Sumdo, the hairpin climb to Namshang La begins. The gradient is gradual and the road is well paved. As you gain altitude, the landscape becomes dry again. The climb to the pass should take around 3-4 hours. After reaching the pass, you will descend to Kiagar Tso, another beautiful blue lake that will be visible soon after the pass. You will ride along the southern shore of the lake and then make another short climb to a vast plateau. Although there is a tarmac road, there are also multiple tracks from vehicles going off-road. From here, it a descent all the way to Tso Moriri. After about 5 km of descent from this plateau, you will cross a bridge across the nallah flowing to your right. There is a dirt road 15 km from this bridge to the village of Karzok. Although you reach the lake basin after 5 km, it is another 9 km along the western bank to Karzok. The evening will be free to explore the lake and the village. Overnight in guest house / home stay.
Day 8
Karzok to Leh - 220 km Drive
Today, we will retrace our route and drive along the Indus River back to Leh. Overnight in hotel / guest house.
Day 9
Departure from Leh
The trip ends today. You cal fly out from Leh, drive to Manali or Srinagar, or choose to stay and travel elsewhere around Ladakh.
What's Included
- All Meals during the expedition ( Starting Lunch on Day 3)
- Entry Fee,if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Guest House / Hotel stay in Leh on Day 1,2 and 8
- Home stay / guest house on all other days
- One support vehicle per 6 Participants. 2 Support Vehicles in a batch of 12.
- Services of a First Aid certified expedition leader & Asst. Leader in group of 12.
- Certified first aid support & kit includes Oxygen Cylinder.
- Energy Bars, Dry Fruits & Refreshment during day ride.
What's Not Included
- Bicycle Rent
- Meals during Hotel Stays
- Any Kind of Insurance
- Any expense of personal nature
- Any expense not specified in the inclusion list
Are you Eligible for this Adventure?
BRS Level Required
This makes it mandatory for you to have high-altitude experience of preferably multiple adventures marked at level 4 on the BRS. The altitude, the terrain and the nature of the climb demand a certain level of skill and a need for you to be aware of how your body reacts to the various features of high altitude environment.
If you do not know what level of BRS trek would suit you best, worry not! Fill out this Form:
we will send you a progression chart to help you comfortably get out of your comfort zone in order to level up and ultimately reach your highest potential in the big, bad world of outdoor adventure.
Packing List
This is a list of essential items for individuals doing Leh Tso Moriri Cycle expedition with Bikat Adventures. This list contains only those items which the participants are required to bring with them. The list excludes those items which are provided by Bikat Adventures on the expedition. We have divided the items into two categories. Items in Catagory A are essential for everyone. Items in Catagory B are only for participants bringing their own bicycles for the expedition. All the items in the list are essential except for those marked as optional.
Catagory A : Clothes & Accessories
- Cycling Helmet - 1
- Cycling Jersey or Any Dry Fit T-Shirt or Cotton T-Shirts -2
- Cycling Shorts -2
- Track Pant (Preferably Warm & Quick Dry) -2
- T-shirt full sleeves -2
- Undergarments – ( 6 to 8 )
- Rain Coat of Good Quality -1
- Warm Jacket (Preferably Water proof jacket) - 1
- Thermal Inners Upper & Lower - 2
- Woolen Sweater - 1
- Woolen Glove – 1 Pair
- Riding Glove – 1 Pair
- Woolen Cap – 1
- Sweat Band or Bandana or Gamchha - 1
- Hand Towels -2
- Cotton Socks – (6 to 8 pairs)
- Light Cycling / Sport Shoes - 1 pair
- Sandals - 1 pair
- Big Towel – 1
- Water Bottle -1
- Polaroid U V Sunglasses -1
- Small Day Pack/ Waist Pack -1
- Energy Bars or Chocolate Bar or Dry Fruits
- Personal Toiletries
- Lip Balm
- Sunscreen Lotion (SPF – 50 or above)
- Hand or Head Torch with Spare Batteries
- Pan card or Passport or Voter Id Card or Aadhar Card (State govt. ID cards not accepted on the route )
- Medication in plenty for specific conditions, if any. Consult your Physician about this.
Catagory B : For bike – Only in case you are not renting from us
- Bike Reflectors Front & Rear – 1 each
- Spare Tubes – 4 Nos.
- Brake Shoes -1 Set
- Brake cables – 2 Set
- Gear cables – 1 Set
- Spokes – 5 Nos
- Lock (for cycle) – 1 Set
- Spare Tyre – 1 No.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Bikat?
Small Group Size
Our batch size for cycling expeditions is capped at 12 with the expedition leader and participant ratio of 1:6. This ratio, in our years of experience, has proven to deliver the best cycling experience for individuals as well as groups. Capping the size of the group ensures individual attention to each participant so that no signs of distress or need during the expedition go unnoticed. It also helps to form a more cohesive cohort with better group energy which helps define the rhythm and pace of days on the expedition.
Experienced Expedition Leaders
We follow a rigorous regime of hiring and training our experts in the field. Each expedition leader is a certified mountaineer with years of experience in the field. In addition to their qualification, they also go through practical and situational training to tackle any and all kinds of sudden conditions that may present themselves on the ground. Being unpredictable is the core nature of the mountains but being ready for any circumstance as best as possible is a controllable asset that we try to nurture. Our field experts are also trained in basic medicine and first-aid response. Watch: Forerunners - The Making of An Expedition Leader At Bikat Adventures
Guided Progression
Since Bikat Adventures is a learning-based organization, we help you climb up the ladder of difficulty within the sphere of outdoor adventure systematically. Our on-ground training modules are designed to handhold you through the upskilling process so that you are ready to take on bigger challenges.
Equipment Quality and Check
All the gear used on our expeditions is tried and tested, maintained for good quality, and is overall top-notch in quality and condition. We are continually looking to obtain the best of everything there is in the market so as to ensure optimum safety.
Support Systems
Along with the staff you see on-ground, we have a team of superheroes working in the background to give you the best experience possible. Our background team also comprises local staff from each area who know the region best. Having local support helps with studying the area, pre-planning, execution, and in receiving timely support in case of emergencies in these remote locations.
Communication
Our on-field staff is in constant contact with our teams based in primary locations so as to eliminate any avoidable delay in reaching additional help and support when required. We try to use the best tools for communication available, including satellite phones, in regions where they are not restricted.
What our customers Say
Cancellation Policy
Cash refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
Cancellations between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure date
Cancellations within 15 days prior to departure date
Voucher refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
Cancellations within 5 days prior to departure date
Please Note:
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
Blog Posts
Experiential
I’d been in Leh almost a month now and having returned from Kang Yatse more than a week ago, I had an acute case of nothing-to-do. Lala’s (a former monk’s home turned into an art cafe as part of the old town conservation projec...
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Informative
Tso Moriri is a large high altitude lake in Ladakh, on the eastern extension of the Changthang plateau. 26 km long, it is the largest of the big Ladakh lakes entirely in India, surrounded by the gigantic 6600 m Lungser Kangri and Chamser Kangri to th...
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Informative
How to reach Ladakh!
Leh is a place that has become extremely popular these days because of a simple fact that it is like a key to the lock named Ladakh. Ladakh is such a wonderful destination for travelers, almost like an unbelievab...
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