Legends of the Karakoram and Himalaya

On our last day of biking through Pakistan, our adventure takes us through Garhi Habibullah, a spectacular natural terrain, to Muzaffarabad in Azad (Pakistan-administered) Kashmir. We will stop at the Taxila museum on the way. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel.

A bus will take you to Lahore, and on to the Wagah border to cross into India. Our Pakistani crew will bid you farewell after assisting you with what might be a slow process at the border. Our Indian crew will welcome you on the Indian side of the border. After experiencing the phenomenal and unforgettable Wagah-Attari border ceremony, you’ll pay a visit to the exquisite Golden Temple in Amritsar. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel.

Once you’ve met your legendary Royal Enfield and received a briefing on Indian traffic and road rules, the journey to Patnitop will commence, before the traffic gets heavy. It’s all tarmac until the Shivalik range of the Himalayas and you’ll ride by many colourful towns and cities. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel on top of the hill.

Today we’re riding the twistie jackpot! We’ll zigzag downhill all the way to the plains of SriNagar, in Indian-administered Kashmir. Nature here is absolutely breathtaking and please keep an eye out for India’s holy cows. On arrival at Dal Lake, you will be transferred to houseboats for a luxurious overnight and dinner.

Kick back with a slow start to the day on the deck of your houseboat. There are options to take a canoe sightseeing around the lake (not included in this itinerary) and visit the renowned and vibrant floating markets including vegetable and other shops. Lunch will be at a traditional Kashmiri restaurant and then you’re free to explore the town. Overnight and dinner on a houseboat.

The endless hairpins between Kargil and Srinagar present exquisite scenery, even in challenging patches on the Zojila pass. There are several monuments, temples, stupas, varying sized towns and villages and other attractions along the way, for us to discover. On the other side of the Zojila pass the landscape changes dramatically from lush green alpine valley to the semi-desert where we will reach our destination for the day, Kargil, a small Muslim town. Overnight stay and dinner at a hotel.

From Kargil we proceed towards Mulbek. The landscape changes into the desert abode of Buddhist monks and after many a mountain crossing including two of the highest passes, we finally set our eyes on Lamayuru monastery, one of the oldest gompas in Ladakh. The road then follows the Indus river towards Leh, all the while rewarding you with breathtaking sights of untouched landscapes and ancient architecture. Overnight stay at a hotel and dinner out in the town.

The mighty Khardung La is ours today! This is the worlds’ highest motorable road at a riveting 5359m, only 39 km from Leh. Fantastic, surreal sceneries and landscapes will guide you all the way to the very top. Upon return to Leh, your afternoon is free for a visit to the market or a stroll to the alluring Shanti Stupa with a captivating view of Leh. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel.

Congratulations, you’ve completed a fantastic cross-country adventure and we hope you made unforgettable memories that’ll bring you endless joy for many years to come! An early morning flight will take you to Delhi and after freshening up at the hotel, you will be taken to visit Old Delhi and its spice market. A traditional Indian restaurant will serve our lunch. You’ll be escorted from the hotel to the international airport on time to take your flight back home.