Tour De Spiti: 9-Day Spiti & Kinnaur Motorcycle Expedition

On the first day of our Road to Spiti, we take you north of Manali and into the Lahaul Valley through the world's longest high-altitude highway tunnel, the Atal Tunnel. We visit the stunning Sissu waterfall and stop en route for photography. Returning by late afternoon leaves the evening at your disposal for last-minute shopping and soaking in the lively atmosphere of Manali's Mall Road.

Today we start the BIG RIDE. We cover 104 km to reach Jibhi, a picturesque village nestled in the Banjar Valley on the outskirts of the Great Himalayan National Park. The village is surrounded by dense cedar forests, and a short scenic hike takes you to a hidden waterfall. Afterwards, we retire to our riverside campsite/hotel for a warm dinner and fireside stories.

After breakfast in Jibhi, we ride over the challenging off-road switchbacks of Jalori Pass (10,800 ft). We visit Sarahan, renowned for the sacred multi-tiered Bhimakali Temple, before descending to the Sutlej river gorge and ascending into Kinnaur. Sangla Valley welcomes us with apple and apricot orchards, snow-capped peaks, and trout-filled glacial streams for a memorable mountain night.

Today we ride from Sangla to the legendary outpost of Chitkul on NH-22, the final Indian village before the Tibetan border. After soaking in the pristine border scenery, we head towards Reckong Peo and climb to Kalpa village. Kalpa offers an unforgettable front-row view of the holy Kinner Kailash peak and ancient heritage temples to explore.

We descend from Kalpa towards the arid high Himalayas. At Khab, we witness the confluence of the milky Spiti and muddy Satluj rivers beneath the towering shadow of Reo Purgyal (6,816m). Winding up through stark desert switchbacks, we reach the timeless village of Nako, famous for its sacred lake and 1,000-year-old monastery.

A thrilling riding day! After crossing the notorious Malling Nallah, we enter Spiti Valley at Sumdo. A detour brings us to remote Gue village to witness the miraculous 500-year-old self-mummified monk Sangha Tenzin. We halt at UNESCO-listed Tabo Monastery, renowned for its 1,000-year-old clay sculptures and murals, before riding into Kaza, the cultural and administrative capital of Spiti.

An unforgettable day exploring the rooftop of the world! We visit 1,000-year-old Key Monastery perched on a conical hill, ride to Kibber, and mail postcards home from Hikkim, the world's highest post office. We admire the golden Buddha of Langza and ride to Komic, the highest motorable village on Earth. We then cross the dizzying Chicham Bridge suspended over a 1,000-foot gorge before returning to Kaza.

We leave Kaza and ride across Spiti's stark moonscapes towards Kunzum Pass (4,590m). After circumnavigating the Kunzum Mata shrine for blessings, we navigate the rugged descent to Baatal and stop at the famous Chacha-Chachi Dhaba. From here, an adventurous trail leads to Chandra Taal. We hike to the surreal crescent-shaped turquoise lake before settling into high-altitude luxury camps under the star-studded Milky Way.

At dawn, we rev our engines and leave Chandra Taal to tackle the roughest off-road section of the tour toward Batal and Gramphu. Treacherous rocky ledges, roaring glacial streams, and unpaved riverbeds test our adventure riding skills to the max. Reaching Gramphu, the challenge gives way to the smooth curves of the Leh-Manali Highway. Rolling into Manali caked in dust and adrenaline, we celebrate conquering the most thrilling motorbike circuit in the Himalayas!