# Great Himalayan Motorcycle Loop

Multi-destination · 17 nights · 18 days · Motorcycle tour · Up to Khardung La, ~5,359 m · Mid-July – mid-September · Back-up vehicle · For experienced riders

Every valley we work in, on two wheels. From Dharamshala we ride to Chamba and our Diwan Sachpass in Bairagarh, cross Sach Pass into Pangi, follow the Chandrabhaga into Lahaul and take the Manali–Leh road to Ladakh for Nubra and Pangong. Then back south to Chandratal, a night at our Spiti Villa in Kaza, and home through Kinnaur.

It runs only from mid-July, when Sach Pass is open, to mid-September, before the high passes start to close. A ride captain leads, and a back-up vehicle with a mechanic carries luggage, spares and fuel.

## Highlights

- Sach Pass and the cliff roads of Pangi
- A night at our own Diwan Sachpass before the climb
- The Manali–Leh road, Khardung La, Nubra and Pangong
- Chandratal, Kunzum Pass and a night at our Spiti Villa
- Out through Kinnaur to close the loop

## Day-by-day itinerary

1. **Dharamshala to Chamba.** Night: Chamba. Bike handover and a briefing, then west through Nurpur and up the Ravi to the old town of Chamba. A day of five to six hours on tarmac.
2. **Chamba to Bairagarh.** Night: Diwan Sachpass, Bairagarh. Up the Churah valley through Tissa, the last big fuel stop, to our hotel in Bairagarh. About 90 km, with a bonfire evening.
3. **Over Sach Pass to Killar.** Night: Killar · Pangi. An early start, past Satrundi and the snow walls to Sach Pass, at about 4,414 m, then down the narrow road into Pangi. About 76 km, slow going.
4. **Through Pangi to Udaipur.** Night: Udaipur · Lahaul. East along the Chandrabhaga on the cliff roads of Pangi. Pangi has no petrol pump, so the back-up vehicle carries fuel.
5. **Udaipur to Jispa.** Night: Jispa. Past Trilokinath to Tandi, where we fill up, and on past Keylong to Jispa.
6. **Baralacha La to Sarchu.** Night: camps at Sarchu. Up to Baralacha La, at about 4,890 m, and down to the plains of Sarchu. About 85 km.
7. **Sarchu to Leh.** Night: Leh. The Gata Loops, Nakee La, Lachulung La, the More Plains and Tanglang La, at about 5,328 m, then down to Leh. About 250 km.
8. **Rest day in Leh.** Night: Leh. Rest and acclimatise, sort permits and see the old town. Riders on our bikes switch to a Leh-registered bike for the next three days.
9. **Khardung La to Nubra.** Night: Nubra Valley. Over Khardung La, at about 5,359 m, to Diskit and Hunder. About 120 km.
10. **Nubra to Pangong.** Night: camps at Pangong. Along the Shyok river to Pangong Tso. About 160 km.
11. **Pangong to Leh.** Night: Leh. Over Chang La, at about 5,360 m, and back to Leh, where you switch back to your own or our Himachal bike. About 160 km.
12. **Leh to Sarchu.** Night: camps at Sarchu. South over Tanglang La to Sarchu. About 250 km.
13. **Sarchu to Chandratal.** Night: camps near Chandratal. Over Baralacha La, down to Khoksar and up the gravel road past Batal to the camps near Chandratal.
14. **Kunzum Pass to Kaza.** Night: Spiti Villa, Kaza. Over Kunzum Pass, at about 4,550 m, and down the Spiti valley, with a detour to Key Monastery before our Spiti Villa. Fill up at Kaza.
15. **Dhankar and Tabo to Nako.** Night: Nako. The cliff-top gompa at Dhankar, the old monastery at Tabo, and out of Spiti past Sumdo to Nako.
16. **Nako to Kalpa.** Night: Kalpa. Down the hairpins to Khab and along the Sutlej to Kalpa, facing Kinner Kailash. About 105 km.
17. **Kalpa to Narkanda.** Night: Narkanda. The cliff roads of Kinnaur down to Rampur, then up to Narkanda.
18. **Narkanda to Dharamshala.** Trip ends in Dharamshala. Through Mandi and back to Dharamshala, about 250 km, where the loop ends.

The pass can close at short notice. We keep a spare day in hand and confirm road status the evening before each crossing.

## Included

- A ride captain who knows the route
- Back-up vehicle with a mechanic, spares and your luggage
- Stays as listed, twin sharing
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Permit help and route briefings each evening
- Help on WhatsApp throughout the trip

## Not included

- Motorcycle hire (ask us, or ride your own bike)
- Fuel for your motorcycle
- Lunches, snacks and personal expenses
- Riding gear and travel insurance
- Extra nights caused by road closures
- Leh bike hire for Nubra and Pangong, and Ladakh permit fees

## Before you go

- **Licence:** A licence with a motorcycle category. Foreign riders also need an International Driving Permit that covers motorcycles, plus a passport and visa.
- **Riding experience:** You should be comfortable on gravel, water crossings and long days in the saddle. If you are new to mountain roads, start with a shorter ride.
- **Fuel:** Pumps are far apart above the tree line. The back-up vehicle carries spare fuel, and the ride captain tells you where to fill up each day.
- **Gear:** A full-face helmet, riding jacket, gloves and boots, rain gear, and warm layers for the high passes even in summer.
- **Altitude and permits:** You cross passes above 5,300 m and sleep above 4,000 m several times. Protected areas such as Nubra and Pangong need a permit for foreign nationals and fees for everyone; foreign nationals also need an Inner Line Permit for Kinnaur. We arrange both.

## Frequently asked questions

**Who is this ride for?**

Experienced riders who are happy on narrow gravel, stream crossings and long days. Sach Pass and the Pangi road are among the hardest roads in Himachal. If this is your first Himalayan ride, start with our Spiti tour.

**Why only mid-July to mid-September?**

Sach Pass usually opens around July, and the passes on the Manali–Leh road and Kunzum start to get snow from late September. That leaves about two months when the whole loop is open.

**Can I use a hired bike for the whole loop?**

Yes, everywhere except the Nubra and Pangong days, when local rules in Ladakh mean riders on bikes hired outside Ladakh switch to a Leh-registered bike. Your own bike can ride the whole loop.

**What if Sach Pass is closed when we get there?**

We keep a spare day in hand at Bairagarh. If the pass stays shut, we ride round through Manali to Lahaul and pick up the route at Jispa.

Price: quoted with your itinerary. No payment on this website. Enquire on WhatsApp: +91 76500 90909.

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