Markha Valley

Hike & Bike

If you’ve ridden through Lahaul & Spiti and still have a thirst for riding over boulders, river and yak tracks, then a fantastic network of ancient trading trails lead all over the Himalaya. Still the lifeline for many small villages tucked up side valleys, these trails lead over windy passes, spectacular gorges and high altitude pastures - days from the nearest roadhead. In Leh, mountain bikers can read Trekking in Ladakh by Charlie Loram (published by Trailblazer and available at www.stanfords.co.uk) and Sonam Tsetan’s Trekking Map of Ladakh for inspiration. If you don’t fancy carrying your bike over the trickiest sections, then hire a horse to put your bike and panniers on, while you trek on foot. The hike & bike option is particularly attractive as a way of returning overland from Ladakh to Manali without cycling back down the Highway (or vice versa). From Kargil, it takes 4 days to cycle to Padum, at the head of the Suru Valley. From here it’s an 8-10 day trek across the stunning Zanskar landscape to Darcha, 2 days of cycling from Manali. A horsemen and his horse cost from $5 a day.

Spiti Valley

Manali-Leh