Day 1 - Sunday, September 2, 2001

Arrive on International Flight at airport inNew Delhi, usually a late night arrival time.
Escorted on Arrival to the Hotel for Wash & Changes relax.

Day 2 - Monday, September 3, 2001 (Labor Day in USA)

Departure to domestic airport for Delhi / Shimla - flight - Departure 0930 / 1030 Arrival
Fly to Shimla and arrive at Jubbar Hatti airport 21 Kms from Shimla.
Immediately transfer to Russian military Helicopter for onward journey to Sarhan.   Appx 30 - Minutes flight time to Sarhan.

Practice time adjusting to motorcycles, Enfield 500cc singles.   Enfield 350cc available upon advance request..
110 km (kilometer) ride to Kalpa, overnight stay.

Day 3 - Tuesday, September 4, 2001 - Kalpa to Kaza, 210 km.     

We start early today.  For 38 km. ahead till Powari the ride is again on Sutlej Bed & in the Lush green forest.  We refill at the final gas station before we reach Kaza & then check the inner line permit.  We proceed 18 km. to Ribba, as we crossing some main streams of water falling in Sutlej.  This sector is also known for the famous Kinnaur apples, and there are end number of bridges falling enroute.

Till Puh 42 Kms ahead more or less we ride on the paved road on the Bank of the Sutlej River which flows on the right side this road.   It is also called the Indo Tibetian road.  In northwest direction one can distinctly see some snow covered peaks in Pin Parvati valley range in clear weather.   After crossing the cantonment of the Puh, & once we come out of the gorge of Khab another 11 Kms ahead of Puh the topography changes from low bushes & low tree lint clearly demarcating the height we are gaining from the lower Himalayas to the Higher Himalayan range .

Khab is the point where there is resounding sound of the two mountain rivers confluencing - Tabo & Sutlej being it a gorge there is heavy echo sound in the area, also where as one end the Sutlej mountain river flows with light Grey texture.  The Tabo is Mud Colored making a great site down below in the gorge.

As we ascend the Gorge & leave behind the trail of Sutlej the terrain changes its color to arid landscapes.  We navigate the hair pin bends & ride ahead for 24 km on paved road till Yangthang. As we descend Yangthang it can be considered an ideal entry point in the Land of Lamas, as not only the features of the locals we meet across the road remind us of the Mongolian blood but also the area is sparsely populated.

From Yangthang the road condition also deteriorates to unpaved imbetween some loose mud & mountain river crossing till Chango (3658 meters).  The road is under maintenance & the Tabo river flows in the gorge.  From Chango another 8 Kms is arid landscape features till Sumdo.  The next 9 km until Hoorling we ride in the plateau area. 24 km. ahead is Tabo.  We will try to reach it by 1500 hours to make it possible for sightseeing.  Founded in 996 AD, the Gompa (temple) has exquisite frescoes & stucco statues.  It is often referred as the Ajanta of the Himalayas, it is the largest Monastic complex in the area.   There are 9 temples, 23 chortens, and also a mummified body of Monk now encased in glass it is high veneration!

Later on we leaves for Kaza, 3660 meters, 47 Kms past Tabo.    We overnight in a basic hotel.

Day 4 - Wednesday, September 5, 2001 - Kaza to Losar - 124 Kms

            - Visit Kibber 4205 M & Ki - Monastrey 18 Kms ahead on the height though the distance is only 18 Kms we ascend a height of more than 1000 M & the road conditions are tough means unpaved stretch Today is a challenging drive for the cross country only nice point is we are not yet in highaltitude, as we leave Kaza & proceed ahead after sightseeing of the KI monastery (2000 Kaal Chakra Ceremony), the drive till Rangrik 8 Kms only brings us in full Isolation & we are driving now into the barren landscapes in the gorge for next 30 Kms we are clinging to the road cliffs & the unpaved stretch of roads & also there will not be many villages falling enroute .

This area do afford a stretch of Barren plains & observe the horses of the area, they do resemble a lot to the Mongolian breed in their features, also falling enroute are some fine vast stretch of Plains, where horse Polo can be a good attraction, & in winters this Circuit can be an Alpine tour for Skiing.

Overnight camp at Losar.

Day 5 - Thursday, September 6, 2001 - Losar to Jispa - 160 km.

We cross over the Kunzumla pass (4551M) & than proceed to sightseeing of the Chander Tal lake, almost 12 Kms one way of the main axis (Subject to Speed of the Group We be Flexible).

Start Early in the beauty of the Satellite snow covered peaks, one can distinctiley see a lot of black ice in the form of glacier, we are driving in the river bed of the Chandra river it’s a day to make your own way there are enough of pebbles & loose sand to give an acid test to the bike & the bikers other than usual river crossing (Mountain) falling enroute.

Suddenly when we start getting tired from the ride we find ourselves crossing a bridge & heading to North west direction into a gorge & the unpaved track clinging to the uphill feature on the left feature, the paved is in vicinity another 17 Kms.

Uphill till Grampoo & finally we are on the main Axis to Leh after two days of burning down the energies, trust that the driving seems so easy on the main road now after doing the awful stretch but is an experience in itself.  Also it is a familiar ride in the area we drive ahead & we are back in to the greenery for a day to take a break from the barren landscapes.

We drive Till Tandi in the hot heat if it is shiny day & the drive is easy going, after crossing the bridge of Tandi we head towards Keylong & than on to Jispa.

Overnight hotel at 9,000 feet in Jispa. 

Day 6 - Friday, Septmber 7, 2001 - Ride to Brandy Nullah - 130 km.

We ride in the familiar terrain of the 1999, till Darcha the road are almost in the same condition not much improved, after crossing the double bridge, we proceed on the hair pin bends entering into the Higher Himalayan range & leaving behind the Pir Panjal Range, as we reach the top of the gorge & head straight to Himmatnagar Cantonment the road has improved on few stretch especially after the small water body till we cross Cantonment, & than it is again unpaved stretch of the Patseo & ZinZing Bar hairpin bends , as we get closer to Suraj Tal the road & than ahead to Baralacha La- 4892 M the road has been converted to paved stretch from Gravel thus making it is ascend uphill also the Zing Zing Bar water crossing has been made to flow underground thus we can escape riding in the water .

Once we are on top & than descend down to Bharatpur where we had lunch last time the road is almost same with not much improvement with two mountain river crossing falling enroute, enter the gorge of Sarchu & the road condition has improved from unpaved to paved as we get out of the gorge after crossing the bridge it is time for the Sarchu Plateau with its Windy factor playing a role & bringing down the Temperature. 

For next 30 Kms we ride in the plateau area at good speed being cautious of the dead grounds falling enroute after security cleareance we move to BrandyNullah, to Camp for Overnight.     

Day 7 - Saturday, September 8, 2001 - BrandyNullah to Rumtse  - 160 km.

Ascend the Road bends of Gata Loops early morning to beat the uphill traffic & we scale the height of Takh 3950 M, the road conditions are same paved but with scree, & then it is a downhill that has been paved now to the year 1999 thus making ride easy.  After we cross over the low lying road in the stream it is time to ascend uphill again the height of Lachungla, rather called a double humped pass, the road has not much improved on the downhill till we hit the base of Bridge before Pang other than the water crossing that has been cemented we move to Pang to ensure to cross it before 1200 Hrs noon as after the said it is the Traffic regulation that the traffic is not allowed .

Ahead of the Pang gorge in the More plains the road condition has rather deteriorated to 1999 as there are few bad stretches more, its only after we cross the Debarring Turn from where we can take a turn to proceed off track to reach Polo Khang la (4415 M) & than to Tsomoriri, but as this stretch is fully unpaved & Sand & Shepherds area thus we will not take the diversion & proceed ahead to from Debarring more Tanglangla the road distance is appx 10 Kms this stretch is again unpaved & the road is under construction thus a tough ride uphill & the rarefied atmosphere adding more tiredness , once we cross Tanglangla we proceed to next 5 Kms on unpaved stretch & then we ride on to the paved road till Rumtse .

O /NT at Simple Guest House or Camp.    

Day 8 - Sunday, September 9, 2001 - Ride to Sumdo - 180 km. 

Till Push it’s the Maroon color of the mountains dominates the horizon, from Push bridge we take right turn after crossing the bridge, as we proceed ahead, we enter into a valley on a paved road, the drive other than a few cliff hangers is almost in the Change valley the locals horses & the Shepherds with there local herd of Sheep & goat are common locals in vicinity, other than the said it is the cantonment area that dominate the area.

From Mae bridge we cross into the unpaved track after crossing the Indus river that followed us till now from Upshi river (128 Kms)  & for next 50 Kms till we hit Korzok Gompa on the Tsomoriri it is all unpaved, intially the drive is on concrete bed than boulders & finally one can distinctively see the sand fully realizing this area in the past has been part of the Lake the one Tsomoriri we are visiting yes there are few small falling enroute & dominating the Horizons.

Especially to Mention is the Habits, the Shepherds over here are called Changpas, they are the Nomadic people & rear the breed of Pashmina goats also along with then it is common to fins shepherd dogs huge in size as we will be on bikes thus they are not very familiar with the sound of the bike & we will be traversing in there area thus always travel together & follow the Road Captain, from Security reason.

Camp at Sumdo village.

The area is known as Chusul Valley.

Day 9 - Monday, September 10, 2001 - Ride into Leh - 220 km.

Early morning ride to Tsomoriri lake, Tsomoriri lake is a Heaven for the rare breed of Species, like Black necked Necked Cranes & wild Goose, the adjoining area are home of Marmot, the Scenic Beauty of the snow covered satellite peaks reflected in the lake & the Dry Shrubs do add on a lot of color to the day of the nature lover.

After sightseeing of the lake we proceed to Leh, the saddle of Buddhist Culture.

Note:  From this point the itinerary is scheduled to continue to Leh.  However, we have an application pending with the Indian government to allow us a first-ever foreigner's access to a route called the Inner Line.  If granted we will ride off-road for a full day in a northerly direction to Pangong Tso, a 14,000-foot high lake sitting on the border of Tibet.  From there we would ride westerly over 18,000-feet Chang La and on into Leh.

Day 10 - Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - Day At Leisure. Bike Maintenance.

        Leaving the bikes in the capable hands of the mechanic, we explore the city of Leh includng  the 16th Century Leh Palace (once the seat of power),  the splendid peace pagoda, and the busy marketplace - a faschinating labyrinth of winding streets.