Day 1: Arrival.

For all the details regarding your pick up and travel, please click on the How To Get Here link on the Roof Of India webpage.

Pick up from Hometel near Chandigarh airport and travel to Narkanda by taxi/minibus.

Day 2: Narkanda – Narkanda (80km)

After breakfast and morning briefing regarding riding in India, I’ll introduce you to your motorcycle that’s yours for the duration of the tour. Treat her gently as she will be looking after you for the next couple of weeks. Today’s ride will be a short warm up on beautiful forest tarmac roads and a few dirt trails. This will allow you a fairly relaxing time to get to know your Royal Enfield Himalayan a bit better and get used to the legendary Indian traffic.

Day 3: Narkanda – Tatapani (90km)

Okay, we are almost ready. The trucks will be loaded with everything we need. Spare parts, extra fuel, all our luggage etc. Everyone will be good to go as we set off into the mountain wilderness heading for the Hot Water Springs of Tatapani. All the motorcycles are fitted with soft panniers, magnetic tank bags and USB chargers for GoPros, mobile phones and cameras etc. The panniers & tank bags are NOT waterproof so make sure you bring proper waterproof bags for your valuables and documents. It’s a short ride alongside the spectacular River Sutlej. It’s the longest of five rivers that flow through the region of Punjab. It starts high up in Tibet, drops all the way down across India and out into the Arabian Sea in Pakistan.

Day 4: Tatapani – Manali (230km)

The ride out of Tatapani is fascinating as we head along alpine forest tarmac roads cut straight out of the mountain. Some of today’s routes start off quite narrow so remember to use that all important horn on blind bends and when riding through villages. We eventually drop down to the River Beas and ride on long sweeping blacktop all the way to Manali. I’ll tell you later about the 3km tunnel.

Day 5: Manali – Keylong (125km)

We set off for a beautiful ride up into the snow-capped mountains that tower over the Kullu Valley. We are headed up and over the Rohtang Pass which translated literally means ‘BED OF CORPSES”. The road conditions will be dependent on the recent weather and we will have no way of knowing what they will be. Looking out for landslides and water crossings may be the order of the day.

Day 6: Keylong – Ishtyari (160km)

This where it all gets very interesting. For the next three days we will be riding on a remote route alongside the Chenab river. It is mind-blowing - feel free to stop at any time to take photographs. Our support trucks will run ahead with tents, cooks, helpers, food, generator, drinking water and firewood as our overnight stopping point will be a remote tented camp high up in the mountains. Prepare yourself for a proper adventure experience. Don’t expect showers as a cold refreshing bucket of water and your tent will be your only luxury. Remember to bring some warm clothes and your sleeping bag. We’ll get the campfire lit early.

Day 7: Ishtyari – Daksum (210km)

Today’s ride is one of the loneliest in the country. Within 20 minutes of setting off, we’ll stop and regroup before tackling the legendary Cliffhanger.

If you want to see what it’s really like to ride the Cliffhanger first hand, click this link https://youtu.be/Af3paocPFAA to watch the unedited – no BS version of me riding it recently. With a pillion.

This is a riding experience like no other in the world. It’s truly exhilarating. You’ll never forget it. Riding this route in the summer as we do, it is difficult to imagine that the area is completely isolated by over 4 metres of snow during the winter months along with minus 30 degree temperatures. This is wild India unseen by most. Crossing over the remote Sinthan Pass is spectacular with the final 50 km winding down through evergreen Himalayan forest. Animals such as yak, ibex, brown bear and snow leopard roam across this wild land.

Day 8: Sinthan – Srinagar (100km)

This is our last day of remote riding for now as we hit the bustling and ancient city of Srinagar. We will arrive early afternoon and can enjoy a shower, a cool beer or two, fabulous food and a soft bed. The accommodation is on a another level as we’re staying in luxury houseboats on Dal Lake. Some of them are over 100 years old. There are also small boats available called Shikaras. We’ll jump aboard them just before sunset for a tour of the lake. The Kashmiri people are renowned for their friendliness and warm hospitality. Tonight is no exception.

Day 9: Srinagar – Kargil (205km)

After a perfect day we are back on the motorcycles as we ascend the long and twisty mountain roads towards Sonmarg and up and over the stunningly spectacular Zoji La (pass) at over 3,500 metres. We ride alongside the River Indus for long periods whilst hoping that the weather and road conditions are on our side. Have your documents at hand for the numerous Indian Army check posts.

Day 10: Kargil – Leh (210km)

The riding conditions today are possibly the best anywhere in India due to the fact that the roads are maintained by the Indian Army. It’s near perfect winding tarmac twistys for long periods. The Royal Enfield Himalayan really is a well handling motorcycle and today you can settle into a nice relaxing riding groove.

Day 11: Rest Day in Leh

The Buddhist and Islamic influenced city of Leh has everything you need on a rest day. Massage, cafes, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, haircutting, sight-seeing, internet cafes, ATM’s and market areas for those take-home presents. I personally recommend that you take a leisurely walk about the narrow streets and visit Leh Palace. It’s in the centre of town, you can’t miss it. Get yourself down to one of the local barber shops and try the wet shave with an open cut throat razor.

(You have an option to ride the World’s Highest Motorable Road at over 18,000 feet. Doing this means that you will have a shorter rest day. We set off at around 10am and will return at around 3pm. The total distance is 50km. Due to local government restrictions, we’re not allowed to take our own motorcycles. You will be riding locally rented motorcycles. We will try to get Royal Enfield Bullets so as to let you sample another type of motorcycle. The support team will be travelling with you. You need to choose this optional extra when booking if you want to take part.)

Day 12: Leh – Sarchu (260km)

It’s an early morning ride out of Leh on tarmac roads. We cross the border from Jammu and Kashmir back into Himachal Pradesh whilst traversing the second and third highest motorable roads anywhere in the world at well over 5,000 metres. We’ll get round the bonfire tonight as we watch the sun go down and the moon come up. A few drinks, maybe a song or two!!! Make sure you have your sleeping bags at the ready as it can get a bit chilly.

Day 13: Sarchu – Manali (215km)

Today, we cross the notorious Rohtang Pass again. This is the day you have to look forward to. You’ve now been there, you’ve seen it, you’ve beaten it. If there are 10 things you should ever do in your lifetime, this is it. It’s possible to stop at the top where you can meet a few other bikers doing the same as us and they will also be laughing and shaking their heads. We do it because we love it, why else?

Day 14: Manali – Narkanda (210km) FINISH.

It’s an early start on our last day of riding as we head back to Narkanda over the stunning high forest Jalori Pass. We’ll regroup and catch some lunch at the top. We are in apple growing country today. You will have the most surreal experience as we ride through a 3km long mountain tunnel that goes uphill, downhill and around corners. It makes you feel alive, and quite a bit scared also, so I’m told. We have mixed riding conditions today from wide flowing mountain highways to narrow tree covered forest trails. Tonight’s a bit of a celebration. I’m sure we we’ll have more than a few beers, share all our amazing experiences, funny moments and laugh into the wee small hours.

Day 15: Depart.

That’s it, we’re done. Check your bags and make sure you’ve left nothing behind. It’s time to board your vehicles and head to Chandigarh airport where you can connect with your onward flights.