Cycling in Himachal

Wheeling Through The Himalayas

Cycling in the Himalayas really involves a combination of travelling by bus, walking and cycling. There are sections of one’s journey which involve long, uphill climbing which are best covered by mounting one’s cycle onto a bus so as to arrive at the starting point of one’s real journey. For instance, the road sections from Kalka to Shimla or Kathgodam to Nainital, or Chandigarh to Manali where the road climbs steadily upwards for kilometre after kilometre and where bus and car traffic are heavy, give no pleasure to the mountain cyclist.

Cautions While Cycling

But first, choice of a cycle. There are a wide variety of models in the market from which one can choose. There are cycles with sprung suspensions to cushion one against the bumpy roads, cycles with broad deep threaded tyres to grip the road more firmly, cycles with slim sporty trims for greater lightness. One can choose any of these.

However, one essential feature that is required is that the machine should be equipped with multi speed gears to enable one to deal comfortably with the climbs and slopes of the mountains. In addition, one should carry with one the wherewithal to repair a puncture and a spare set of brake shoes.

Suitable Mountain Cycling Routes:

The main trunk routes, which enter the Himalayas, are not suitable for the recreational cyclist. The truck and bus traffic that flows along them almost throughout the year makes cycling hazardous and unpleasant. But there are dozens of less frequented routes in the mountains where travelling by cycle is an entirely joyful experience.

Himachal Mountain Biking Tours

One of the best ways to savor the scenic attractions of the state during a trip to Himachal Pradesh is by embarking on some of the famous adventure sports of Himachal Pradesh. One of the most popular adventure sports in Himachal Pradesh is mountain cycling in Himachal Pradesh. Often considered to be the best way of discovering the natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh, one of the most popular tourist destinations of India, Mountain Cycling in Himachal Pradesh can be a one day affair or a group trip planned around a few weeks.

Day 01: Delhi Arrival

Upon arrival at Delhi airport met our representative and then transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 02: Delhi - Chandigarh - Barog - Shimla (2100 mts) - 60 kms

Board the morning Shatabdi express train to Chandigarh. Reach Chandigarh at 1100 hrs and Drive to Barog. Cycling commences after lunch in Barog. Overnight stay in Shimla.

Day 03: Shimla - Thanedar (2348 mts) - 85 kms

80 kms from Shimla on the old Hindustan-Tibet road lays Kotgarh, which enjoys a special place in Himachal history. In 1916 Samuel Stokes, a social worker from Philadelphia brought the first apple saplings to Kotgarh, the place he adopted as his home. One can still see the 'Starking Delicious' apple orchard that he planted there. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 04: Thanedar - Sarahan (2165 mts) - 97 kms

Ride to Sarahan famous for the Himalayan views it offers and the Bhimakali temple. Overnight stay in hotel.
The Gods were generous when they gave Sarahan its settings. Located halfway up a high mountainside, the road to Sarahan winds past flowering pine trees that give way to stately oaks. The fields and orchards that surround the small villages with their slate roofed houses, compose pictures of pastoral perfection. Above Sarahan, a many deodar trees rides the slopes and higher still, encircling the Bashal peak, are trees of smooth birch and variety of wild flowers and rare medicinal herbs.

Day 05: Sarahan - Sangla (2744 mts) - 92 kms

For six months every year, the Himalayan valleys of Kinnaur and Spiti emerge from a thick cloak of snow to reveal a different, secret world to man. Your discovery of the lesser - known Himalayas can begins in the Sangla Valley. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 06: Sangla

The day is for relexation and explores the area. One can walk to Rakcham village (the signature walk of the valley) or ride to Chitkul; the last border village (20 kms one way).

Day 07: Sangla - Kalpa (2670 mts) - 50 kms

Kalpa was known as Chini back in the days when it was the regional capital; Kalpa has changed little in the last 500 years. It is said that as and when Lord Dalhousie wanted to take a break from his hectic schedule in Shimla, he would come here on his horseback.

Day 08: Kalpa - Pooh (3662 mts) - 76 kms

In the morning after breakfast cycle to Pooh. Pooh is a small village in Spiti valley with a small cantonment. Overnight in Pooh.

Day 09: Pooh - Tabo (3500 mts) - 95 kms

We enter the Spiti valley today. The terrain will leave you breathless and speechless. From lush green valley of Kinnaur, we move to rock-hard cold desert mountains, torrential rivers and icy cold winds that account for the sparsely populated villages. At a height of 10,500 ft this high altitude desert is home to the second most important Buddhist monastery in the entire Himalayan region - the Tabo Gompa. It is now 1008 years old and is rumored to be the place the Dalai Lama will finally settle in.

Day 10: Tabo - Kaza (3870 mts) - 47 kms

Kaza is the capital of Spiti Valley. Rudyard Kipling describes Spiti in "Kim" in these words: "At last they entered a world within a world - a valley of leagues where the high hills were fashioned of the mere rubble and refuse from off the knees of the mountains... Surely the Gods live here.

Day 11: Kaza

In the morning after breakfast visit the Ki monastery, Kibber and Gete village. Later ride back to Kaza for overnight stay.

Ki Monastery is a Gelugpa sect monastery. Its hilltop position points to a post-thirteenth century construction. The three storied structure consists largely of storage rooms at the bottom level while the middle floor houses the Dukhang - the assembly hall - and the uppermost floor has another temple and head Lama’s quarters on the one side of an open terrace. The greatest wealth of Ki Gompa lies in its collection of ‘Thangkas’ salvaged with difficulty from the devastating raids of the Dogars and the Sikhs in the 19th century.

From here a scenic drive takes you into the pasture country of Kibber. From Kibber, the pastures are spread over hundred of square kilometers. Kibber is small village and is the take off point for the popular trek to Tso Moriri in Ladakh. Further up six kilometers from Kibber, we drive up to a still smaller village of Gete. Consisting of just six houses, it boasts of being the highest village in Asia connected by road.

Day 12: Kaza - Losar (4076 mts) - 65 kms

A long day in the cold desert of Spiti. Overnight camping in Losar.

Day 13: Losar - Gramphoo (3200 mts) - 74 kms

We enter the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh after crossing the 4500M high Kunzum La. Chandra and Bhaga rivers confluence at Gramphoo to Chandrabhaga River. Overnight in Gramphoo.

Day 14: Gramphoo - Manali (1926M) - 62 kms

Ride over the 3800M Rohtang pass and enter the Kullu district of Himachal. Today we move from the barren landscape of Lahaul to lush green landscape of Manali. Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 15: Manali – Delhi

In the morning after breakfast take a sight seeing of Manali town and by evening drive to Delhi by AC Luxury Volvo Coach. Overnight journey.

Day 16: Delhi

Arrival at Delhi in the morning and then transfer to airport to catch onward flight.
Trip and Services Ends Here

Himachal Adventure Tour

Bike Safari Tour

Jeep safari in Kinnaur Valley

Kinner Kailash Trek

Hampta Pass Trek

Mantalai Lake-Pin parvati

Manali to Keylong Hamta Pass

Indrahar Pass Trek

Cycling in Himachal

Cycling Tour in Himachal

Himalayan Cycling Tour

Wildlife in Himachal

Himachal Adventure Tour