I was going to do the aforementioned trip but realize that quite a few other people have the same idea . As I do not enjoy being in mass tourist packs , even though with the freedom a bike gives , i am looking for any other ideas for a similar trip . Id have to rent the bike in Manali or perhaps there are other places to get ones hands on an Enfield near the Himalayas ? Thanks for any ideas . In SL of now and theres more tourists here than locals .
1
zauberberg
Shimla, Spiti Valley, Keylong, Manali, Shimla. Shimla to Keylong is not as busy as Manali to Leh, but challenging particularly after Kaza...
Don't know if you can get an Enfield in Shimla, perhaps in Chandigarh?
2
midnite_toker
As #1 says, Spiti is challenging on a motorbike. Coming from Manali, you'll hit the rough stretch after the fork at Gramphu. It only seems sane with a pair or group on this stretch - the stream beds are rough, and you'll often be pushing your wheels over suitcase-sized rocks under fast-running water.
For an out-and-back, how about Manali to Udaipur HP? It is a lovely valley (turn off before Keylong) little touristed. Better to camp than depend on hotels here. Or carry on around the road through to Kashmir.
3
dale164
In Ladakh itself, I like the "Sham"area, which is a trekking route where you can stay in a homestay in a village each night. It is about 70-80km west of Leh at a similar altitude (~3500m)
However, you can also visit each of those villages by car or motorbike, as there are a number of good paved roads and smaller unpaved roads linking all the villages.
The route is basically: Likir - Yangthang - Ulley - Hemis Shukpachan - Ang - Timishgam - Tia
These villages all have homestays which cost around 1000Rs per night, for 1 person, inc dinner and breakfast.
I have been to this area, with a car and driver, 3 times in recent years in July, and have only ever seen half a dozen foreigners over a period of a week or so.
Places like Pangong Lake and Nubra, are like a conveyor belt of 4x4s taking the tourists to the "Famous Places"
Travelling a little further west from this region, and staying on the Indus Valley road, you will come to the villages of Domkhar and Skurbuchan, which I really like and have stayed in homestay also several times. They are easily accessible, but I've never seen any foreigners there.
Another village I like is Kanji, which also has homestays, and amazing scenery. it used to be very remote, but is now accessible by a decent road through the valley/canyon landscape
If you make it to Leh, you may like to check out these places. Perhaps you could fly to Leh and hire a bike there.
4
Thorn Tree
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