Spiti Valley Expedition
Explore the "Middle Land" between India and Tibet. A high-altitude desert characterized by extreme terrain, ancient monasteries, remote villages, and jaw-dropping gorge roads.
By booking you agree to our Terms & Conditions
AT A GLANCE
- Distance
- 900 km
- Duration
- 10 Days
- Highest point
- 4,079m
- Starts
- Manali
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Passport access
- Open to all passports
- Motorcycle
- Royal Enfield, fuel included on group departures
- Accommodation
- Hotels and camps, twin-sharing
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner on riding days
- Permits
- Inner Line or Protected Area permit processed for you
- Riding gear
- Helmet, jacket and knee guards — gloves not included
EXPEDITION PHOTOS
Expedition Route Map
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Download the GPX for this route
Free GPX 1.1 file — 300 km of routed road in 7 day tracks, with 10 named waypoints and an elevation value on every point. High point 4,546 m. Opens in Garmin, Komoot, OsmAnd, Ride with GPS and Gaia.
Detailed Itinerary
Manali Arrival & Test Ride to Solang Valley
Arrive in Manali. Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, we allocate the bikes and take a ride up the Solang Valley to test gear ratios and front fork suspension. Mandatory group briefing in the evening.
Manali to Jibhi (Entering Tirthan Valley)
We ride south from Manali, following the Beas River, before taking a detour into the Tirthan Valley. We wind through narrow roads lined with cedar forests, ending at Jibhi—a beautiful wooden hamlet.
Jibhi to Kalpa via Jalori Pass (Kinnaur Gateway)
Today we tackle Jalori Pass (3,120m / 10,236 ft), featuring steep dirt inclines. We drop down to join the Sutlej River valley, riding along the Hindustan-Tibet highway carved out of vertical cliffs to reach Kalpa. We enjoy views of Kinner Kailash peak from our hotel.
Kalpa to Tabo (Entering Spiti Valley)
We ride past the Khab confluence where the Spiti and Sutlej rivers meet. The terrain turns completely barren as we enter Spiti Valley. We stop at the Sumdo checkpost to submit permits, riding through dust to reach Tabo village—famous for its 1,000-year-old mud monastery.
Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar Monastery
A short but spectacular ride. We take a steep dirt track up to Dhankar Monastery, which sits precariously on a crumbling clay cliff overlooking the river basin. We explore the ruins and ride into Kaza, the administrative capital of Spiti.
Kaza Local: Key, Kibber, Chicham & Hikkim
A highlight day. We ride to the Key Monastery—a massive, fort-like structure built on a conical hill. We then cross Chicham Bridge (the highest bridge in Asia) and ride to Hikkim to send postcards from the highest post office in the world (4,400m) before returning to Kaza.
Kaza to Pin Valley (Mudh Village)
We take a detour into Pin Valley National Park, famous for its unique flora, fauna (including snow leopards), and green shale formations. We ride to the last village, Mudh, and explore the dry, cold landscape.
Kaza to Chandratal Lake via Kunzum Pass
We ride north from Kaza, climbing the steep, gravel switchbacks of Kunzum Pass (4,590m / 15,059 ft). From the pass, we take a narrow, unpaved off-road trail to Chandratal—the sacred crescent Moon Lake. We sleep in luxury wilderness tents at 14,000 feet.
Chandratal to Manali (Gravel & Water Crossing Challenge)
Our final and toughest riding day. We tackle the unpaved, boulder-strewn road from Chandratal through Batal and Chattru. We negotiate several deep, icy stream crossings. We then enter the Atal Tunnel to return to the green valley of Manali, returning the bikes.
Departure from Manali
The expedition concludes. After breakfast, we assist you in booking local buses or private cabs to Chandigarh or Delhi for your onward journeys.
OPEN TO EVERY PASSPORT, END TO END
No part of this route crosses a sector India keeps closed to foreign nationals. On a Protected Area Permit — which we arrange as a registered Leh agency — a foreign passport holder rides every kilometre of this itinerary exactly as written, with nothing swapped out and no day re-planned. That is worth checking before you book anything in Ladakh: several of the most advertised circuits include a pass or a lake that only Indian nationals may reach. How to check any operator on this
Frequently Asked Questions
The maximum altitude reached on this tour is 4,079m. We ensure proper acclimatization and carry emergency oxygen on all group tours.
Yes. Every permit the Spiti Valley Expedition needs is arranged and included in the package price — a Protected Area Permit for foreign passport holders, an Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals, plus environmental fees. You send us passport and visa copies; we process them at the Leh magistrate's office.
Yes. We publish the full Spiti Valley Expedition route as a free GPX 1.1 file covering 300 km, split into 7 separate tracks — one per riding day — with 10 named waypoints for every pass, fuel stop and overnight halt. Every track point carries an elevation value, so the climb profile is real rather than flat. The road geometry comes from OpenStreetMap and the elevation from SRTM terrain data. It opens in Garmin, Komoot, OsmAnd, Ride with GPS and Gaia. Download it from the route map section of this page by entering your email address.
Yes, every guided expedition is accompanied by a professional Ladakhi tour leader and an experienced local mechanic to handle any high-altitude breakdowns.
What's Included
- ✓ Royal Enfield Motorcycle (with fuel for group tours)
- ✓ Professional Tour Leader & Local Mechanic
- ✓ Support vehicle for luggage & medical gear
- ✓ Riding gear — helmet, jacket & knee guards
- ✓ Accommodation on Twin-Sharing Basis (Hotel/Camps)
- ✓ Breakfast & dinner on riding days — vegetarian set menu on group departures
- ✓ Inner Line Permits & environment fees
- ✓ Oxygen cylinder & emergency medical kit
What's Excluded
- ✗ Airfare to/from Leh
- ✗ Personal travel & medical insurance
- ✗ Refundable bike security deposit
- ✗ Lunch on all days
- ✗ Riding gloves — bring a pair that fits you
- ✗ Tips, laundry, telephone calls, alcohol
- ✗ Damage costs to the motorcycle during transit
Key Highlights
- ⛰ Kunzum Pass (4,590m)
- ⛰ Key Monastery
- ⛰ Hikkim Highest Post Office
- ⛰ Chicham Bridge (Highest in Asia)
- ⛰ Pin Valley National Park
International Rider Safety
⛰ High Altitude Protocol: This expedition crosses passes up to 17,580ft. We include 48 hours of acclimatization rest in Leh and carry portable oxygen cylinders, oximeters, and trauma kits in our backup vehicle.
🛂 Visa & Permits: We secure all Restricted Area Permits (PAP) and provide official booking confirmation letters for your Indian Tourist Visa application.
🧥 Riding Gear Provided: We supply helmets, riding jackets and knee guards at no extra cost, so you do not need to fly them in. Gloves are the exception — they are not included, and a borrowed pair that does not fit is worse than none at 5,000 m. Bring your own.
Helpful Guides For International Riders
As an international tourist, there are unique permit requirements, money logistics (cash vs. international cards), and SIM card rules in Ladakh. Please read our detailed guides before your trip:
- 📋 Protected Area Permits (PAP) Guide - Understanding group requirements and restricted zones.
- 💳 Survival Guide: Cash, SIMs & Flights - Vital advice on network coverage and money exchanges in Leh.
Travel Insurance — Strongly Recommended
We strongly recommend all riders, especially international tourists, to carry comprehensive travel and medical insurance that covers:
- High-altitude medical evacuation
- Adventure sports / motorcycle riding coverage
- Trip cancellation & delay due to weather or road closures
- Personal accident & liability coverage
⚠️ Ladakh Bikers does not provide personal insurance. Riders participate at their own risk. Ensure your policy explicitly covers motorized two-wheeler activity.
No Hidden Costs Guarantee
We believe in 100% transparent pricing. Your refundable security deposit (cash or UPI) is returned in full immediately upon vehicle drop-off in Leh. No inflated damage claims, no surprise deductions.
30-Point Mechanic Check
Every Royal Enfield is personally inspected by our lead Ladakhi mechanics before being handed over. We guarantee brake pad health, chain tension, and high-altitude carburetor tuning.
DIRECT B2C LOCAL OPERATOR
Official Registration: Aryan Ladakh Tour & TravelBook directly with native Ladakhi mountain leaders on Karzu Rd, Leh. Zero middlemen or agency markups. Verified Google Business profile with 5.0 ★ (170+ Customer Reviews).
Verify Google Business Map Profile (5.0 ★)