Hemis
Monastery Festival & Top
Of The World Motorbike Safari
18
June - 02 July 2004 (Festival Tour) / 25 Jul - 07 Aug 2004 (this
tour is without festival)
Route: Delhi
- Kalka - Dharamsala - Rewalsar - Manali - Rohtang Pass - Keylong - Jispa
- Sarchu - Polokangla - Tsomoriri - Hemis Monastery - Leh - Alchi - Khardung
La - Nubra Valley - Leh - Delhi ; Grade: Moderate -
Difficult ; Best Season: Mid June - Mid Sep ; Cost:
- €1540.00 per biker. Plus Leh - Delhi Airfare - Approx € 125.00
Picture
Gallery for Ladakh Motorbike Tours
 This
motorbike safari is initiated in the alpine valleys of Manali, to ascend
high mountain
passes in the Zanskar & Ladakh ranges.
The safari involves cross country ride of Changthang area, burning out
energies at Tsomoriri lake & not to forget the Bactrian camel on the
ancient silk route of Nubra Valley at the foothills of the world's highest
battlefield. We will be crossing High altitude Passes - Rohtang Jot - 3978
M ; Baralacha La (pass) - 4830 M ; Lachungla La - 5060 M & (Suraj
Tal Lake) ; Khardung La - 5602 M . We visit Dharamsala, the seat of his
Holiness
the Dalai Lama and visit various monasteries enroute to get an insight
into the teachings of Lord Buddha.
We will visit the The
Hemis Monastery situated in the South of Leh, at a distance of 43 Kms,
on the south bank of the Indus river, Belonging to "BKA
BRGYUDPA "School of Tibetan Buddhism - one of the four major school,
Hemis is a religious institute of one of the schools.
The tenth day (Tses-Chu), of the Tibetan lunar month is
celebrated as the birthday of the Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the
founder of Tibetan
Buddhism. The Hemis monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2-day
festival. Its resident Lamas perform the sacred masked dances leading to
the destruction of the evil forces, & sacrificial offerings. The festival
takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan year of the Monkey.
On this occasion the two storeys high Thanka depicting Padmasambhava is
displayed. This famous Thanka is richly embroidered with pearls and semiprecious
stones. The robes of the dancers are different from those usually put on
in the common annual fair. This festival is scheduled from 27 - 28 June
2004.
Itinerary:
18
June - Late evening arrive in Delhi by international flight. Depending
on flight time you may require a hotel for night stay.
19 June, Day 1: Delhi - Kalka - Kasauli
Board the Train to Kalka & transfer to Hotel at Kasauli. Day At leisure
to relax. Evening Seasoning on Bikes in the local area. Kasauli is a tiny
hamlet town with memories of the British era & thick wooded area in
the lap of the evergreen alpine valley. O/NT at Hotel.
20
June, Day 02: Kasauli – Macleodganj – Appx
250 Kms
Easy going ride with
alpine scenery. Our endeavour
shall be today to be on isolated roads rather than national highways
and we will take alternate roads where possible to reach Macleodganj
by evening. O/NT Safari Camp.
21
June, Day 03: McleodGanj – Dharamsala - Rewalsar Lake – 150
Kms
Make the most of this day
because there is some very tough Biking ahead! Visit to the abode of His
Holiness The Dalai Lama for morning Prayers. After local sight seeing we
start for Rewalsar lake near Mandi. O/NT
Safari Camp.
22
June, Day 04: Rewalsar Lake - Nagger - 170 Kms - Appx 4 -
5 Hrs
A day to gear up & catch up in leisure mood - take a sulphur hot spring
Bath & enjoy the scenic views of the Banjar Valley. Today ride is mainly
on the river Bed of the Beas river thus easy going - we are seasoning uphill
to take on more challenges ahead. O/Nt Camp.
23
June, Day 05: Naggar - Manali - Rohtang Pass - Keylong - 180 km -
7 hours
We
shall cross Manali town & ascend the Rohtang
Jot and many hair pin bends ahead, almost 40 Kms near Marrhi
Nala we shall say good bye to the tree Line. You will notice the change
in landscape as greyish brown rocks start showing.
We will reach Khardang
Safari Camp for overnight stay.
24
June, Day 06: Keylong - Jispa and around - 122 km - 9 hours
All day sightseeing Keylong, Trilokinath, Udaipur area - a visit to
Shashur & Guru
Ghantal monasteries in Keylong area and Trilokinath & Udaipur temples
in Pattan Valley area. O/Nt Campsite at Khardang.
25
June, Day 07: Keylong to Sarchu - 140 Kms
We ascend to a height of 4800M
to Suraj Tal (Lake). One has to safeguard
against Skidding, especially where the water of the hill streams
flows on to the Road. We will ascend Baralacha
La (pass) 4830Mand cross into the Zanskar
range, one of the remotest region of the world. We will camp for the
night at Sarchu.
26 June, Day 08: Sarchu - Polokangla - 173 Kms.
The road will be testing the Bullet and nerves today. After crossing Brandy
Nallah, 21 hair pin bends of the Gata loops shall bring us to the Double
humped Pass Lachulung La (5060M) and then
Pang (4630m). After Pang
start zipping along More Plains - a flat stretch of 48 Kms, at an average
height of 4200m. At Debring Mor we will
steer in the NE direction to reach Tsokar
(Salt Lake). We will be flexible and camp in the vicinity of fresh water
around 1700 Hrs.
27 June, Day 09: Polokangla - Tsomoriri - Hemis Monastery - 250 Kms/ 3506
M
After a ride near Tsomoriri Lake on a cross
country ride
we take on the flow of the Indus current to proceed in the direction of
Leh
town. "Joolay" - you are truly in the Land OF Lamas now.
The ride is on the metalled road & Easy going.
O/Nt camp near Hemis Monastery.
The Hemis
Monastery is situated in the South of Leh, at a distance of 43 Kms, on
the south bank of the Indus river. Hemis
Monastery is famous for its annual festival in the month of June/ July.
The tenth
day (Tses-Chu), of the Tibetan lunar month
is celebrated
as the birthday of the Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the founder of Tibetan
Buddhism. The Hemis monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2-day
festival. Its resident Lamas perform the sacred masked dances leading to
the destruction of the evil forces, & sacrificial offerings. The festival
takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan year of the Monkey
- the next is in 2004. On this occasion the two storeys high Thanka depicting
Padmasambhava is displayed. This famous Thanka is richly embroidered with
pearls and semiprecious stones.
28
June, Day 10: Day at leisure to participate in the Hemis Monastery
festival.
Enjoy a day of leisure today and mingle with the huge crowds from all over
Ladakh, India and in fact world-wide here to witness this festival. The
bikes also need a break for routine check-up and maintenance. O/Nt Camp.
29 June, Day 11: Hemis Monastery - Alchi Monastery -150 KMS
Ride into Leh town and proceed for some leisurely
riding to see some interesting monasteries- the Spituk monastery and
Alchi Gompa. We are heading for the confluence point of the Indus and
Zanskar river at Nimu (White water Banks), on way to Alchi. After a visit
to the Monastery we will cross the bridge again to ride back towards
Leh and camp in the area.
30
June, Day 12: Leh - Khardung La (5602 M) - Nubra Valley - 180 Kms.
Today we will start early. Our objective is the head of the Nubra Valley,
the Khardung La, at 5,602 meters the highest motorable pass in the world!
Initially the going is smooth then as Khardung La top gets closer,
the track becomes more tough, full of boulders and stones.
After a brief stop at the Top we will ride on into the Nubra Valley to
tentage accommodation for Overnight stay.
1 July, Day 13: Nubra Valley - Leh - 170 Kms.
After an early breakfast we will head out to explore the beautiful Nubra
Valley and after some great riding
experience in this remote area we will head back for Leh crossing Khardung
La a second time. The view of Leh town
is awesome on the ride down.
Over night Hotel in Leh.
02 July, Day 14: Fly Leh - Delhi
Bid goodbye to the Land of Lamas, Monasteries and friendly people and fly
to Delhi. Spend the day at leisure in Delhi - sightseeing, shopping etc
and transfer to International Airport for onward flight.
QUOTE
- €110.00 Or Equivalent in US$ / GB£ per person per day. Plus
Leh - Delhi Airfare - Approx € 125.00 (To be calculated on Actual)
10% less for Pillion rider - Pillion Riders will only be able to join if
they are travelling with a biker. If you are interested in being a Pillion
rider on a tour and are travelling alone there will be an extra charge
of € 50.00 per day.
Services will include.
- Arrival & Departure
Transfers in Delhi (Individual / Group) by Air-conditioned Coach /
Car.
- Airport
Transfer at Leh
- 500 CC
Enfield motorbike's. CLASS " A SHAPE"
- Fuel enroute
Safari for the Chase Vehicle only & Administrative Back
up transport.
- Mechanical
Back up, Spare Parts & Maintenance for bikes.
- Services
of Chase Vehicle as Mechanical Back up & Luggage Carrier for
Guest.
- Reserved
Seat for Guest in Chase Vehicle to meet any contingency.
- Services
of Road Captain.
- Accommodation
- on Twin sharing Basis. Tentage accommodation during the safari where
applicable. Please advice us
if you want to book
single occupancy
for yourself at extra cost.
- All meals
during camping, breakfast only for Hotel stays
- Accommodation
as applicable to itinerary
- Kitchen & Mess Tent Facility in Camping (Safari) including Cook, & Helpers.
- Restricted
area Permission.
- First
aid kit including Portable Oxygen Cylinder.
- Transfer
of Motorbikes by truck to Kasauli
- Transfer
of Motorbikes by truck from Leh to Delhi
Services Exclude
- Fuel for
the bikes
- Insurance
Cover including baggage loss, flight delay & cancellation,
medical insurance, theft insurance.
- Medical
Expenses in case of any contingency (though every support will be catered)
- Accident
to the Bike if any cost incurred, though minor accidents are covered & ignored.
- Any Personal
Expenses like Telephone bills, Internet access, Alcoholic Drinks, Tips,
Laundry, Cigarettes etc.
- Monuments
Entry Fees and camera fees if any.
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