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Bikepacking Zanskar valley - lone rider on the dirt road into a wide Himalayan valley

Zanskar
Bikepacking

Expedition

₹1,45,000 per person · Maximum 4 riders · June, September 2027

Level

Intermediate +

Duration

12 days / 11 nights

Riders (max)

06

Region

Ladakh

Investment

Rs145000 inc.GST
+12000 Bike rental opt.

EPIC MOUNTAIN PASSES + UNTAMED BEAUTY OF ZANSKAR

There’s adventure that excites you and then there’s adventure that grounds you.
Zanskar is the second kind.

You’ll face cold, altitude, exhaustion.
You’ll also find laughter, quiet strength, and the kind of connection that only comes when comfort runs out.

No luxury here, except the one that matters most being fully alive.

Temperatures

0 to 10C

Duration

12 days / 11 nights

Payment:₹30,000 deposit to reserve your spot.

Balance due 60 days before departure.

Deposit is fully transferable to the next season if your plans change

Tour Dates

13 June'27 - 25 June'27

Only 4 spots available 

To put this in perspective: 12 days of fully guided, fully supported bikepacking through one of the world's most remote valleys with a guide who has ridden every kilometre personally works out to ₹10,400 per day.

This is your accommodation, meals, support, safety, and the experience of a lifetime, all in.

Bikepacking Zanskar valley - rider with local Zanskari women on the route
Bikepacking Zanskar valley - chortens beside the gravel road through a Zanskar village
Bikepacking Zanskar valley - Gonbo Rangjon peak under storm clouds
Bikepacking Zanskar valley - traditional Zanskari village house below the mountains
Bikepacking Zanskar valley - gravel road winding through arid Himalayan mountains
Bikepacking Zanskar valley - switchback road descending into a deep Himalayan valley
The Route
Sissu
Sumdo
Shinku La
Purne
Phuktar monastery
Lingshed
Photoksar
Hanupatta
lamayuru
Jispa
Kargiakh
Padum
Zangla
leh
Manali
Day-Wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Manali (Briefing & Transfer to Sissu)

Our journey begins in Manali, where riders meet the crew and prepare for the days ahead. After a short briefing and gear check, we travel through the Atal Tunnel a gateway from pine forests into the barren majesty of Lahaul.
By evening, we arrive at Sissu, a quiet village framed by glaciers and waterfalls. There’s time to unwind, share a meal, and let the mountains begin their quiet work of slowing you down.

Day 2 - Sissu to Jispa (Ride starts)

We start pedalling today an easy, rolling ride that follows the Chandra and Bhaga rivers to Jispa.

The air feels different here: thinner, colder, cleaner.
We ride past prayer flags fluttering over bridges and the sound of the river rushing below. In Jispa, we settle into a cosy riverside camp a perfect place to rest, stretch, and prepare for higher climbs ahead.

Day 3 - Jispa to Zanskar Sumdo

This is where the world starts to feel remote. Leaving behind the last signs of civilisation, we ride through Darcha and Palamo, climbing gently toward Zanskar Sumdo. The road winds through wild valleys and hanging glaciers the landscape growing quieter, harsher, and more beautiful with every turn.
Tonight, we camp under an ocean of stars, the mountains humming around us in silence.

Day 4 - Zanskar Sumdo to Gomboranjan

We begin before sunrise. The road rises steadily, and soon the oxygen thins as we approach Shinku La our first major pass at 5,040 metres. The climb is relentless but meditative. Snow often lines the trail, and every breath feels earned.
Crossing the pass, we descend to the foot of Mount Gomboranjan  a sacred rock face that commands the horizon. We camp beneath its shadow, where silence feels almost holy.

Day 5 - Gumbak Ronjon to Phuktal Monastery and

Return to Purne

From the rugged slopes of Gumbak ronjan, the descent into the Zanskar Valley begins. The terrain shifts from cold rock to barley fields, from isolation to the faint hum of villages.
By midday, we reach Purne, a riverside village wrapped in calm. After a short rest and lunch, we ride to the ancient Phuktal Monastery, carved into a cliffside and believed to be over 2,500 years old.
The approach is narrow and humbling - a single trail clinging to the mountain. The return to Purne feels quieter, heavier the kind of silence that follows awe.

Day 6 – Purne to Padum

Today’s ride is long but easy-going. The valley opens up and the path winds through a string of remote settlements before reaching Padum, the cultural centre of Zanskar.
We set up camp near the village and enjoy the warmth of community life local kids, prayer wheels, and the rhythm of daily life in this remote world. A perfect day to rest and reset.

Day 7 – Padum to Zangla

A calm day after the high climbs. We ride through the ancient capital of Zanskar - Zangla, where the old palace and monastery overlook the valley.
We explore the ruins and meet locals who still carry oral histories of their kings and monks.
Our camp is set beside the river, where the reflections of peaks shimmer in the twilight.

Day 8 – Zangla to Yulchung (via small pass)

The real test returns today. We start early the route is long and remote, crossing a small unnamed pass that challenges both lungs and legs.
The descent brings us into Yulchung, one of Zanskar’s most isolated villages. By the time we reach camp, we’ve earned every bit of the hot meal waiting.
Tonight, the silence feels sacred just wind, stars, and mountain echoes.

Day 9 - Rest Day at Yulchung: Lingshed Monastery Visit

We wake up before dawn to ride to Lingshed Monastery for morning prayers. The chants echo through the cliffs it’s a spiritual pause amidst days of raw adventure.
We return to Yulchung Farm Camp for a slow breakfast and a full day of rest. You can help locals with their fields, share stories, or simply lie under the poplars doing nothing at all a rare gift on a high-altitude journey.

Day 10 - Yulchung to Photoksar via Singe La and Bumiktla

An early start for a long and spectacular ride. We climb over the mighty Singe La Pass (4,980 m) - the “Lion Pass” and then over Bumiktla, a smaller but equally dramatic ridge.
The route is stunning, threading through canyons and high plateaus before descending into Photoksar, a village surrounded by golden fields and stone homes.
We camp beside the stream, sharing dinner under endless stars.

Day 11 - Photoksar to Khalsi via Sirsir La

The final stretch and what a finish. We climb the last major pass, Sirsir La (4,800 m), before beginning a long, exhilarating descent through Hanupata and Wanla.
By midday, we reach Khalsi, marking the end of our ride. The descent feels symbolic  from thin air back to oxygen-rich valleys, from grit to gratitude.
We load our bikes and drive to Leh, where a warm bed and celebration dinner await.

Day 12 - Departure from Leh

The final morning in Leh is slow and reflective. Breakfast together, shared laughter, maybe one last coffee overlooking the mountains.
Airport transfers are arranged based on your flight times.
You leave with dust on your shoes, clarity in your mind, and stories that will outlast the journey itself.

Trip Highlights
  • Crossing roaring rivers on narrow suspension bridges fluttering with prayer flags

  • Sharing butter tea with Zanskari families inside warm, smoke-scented kitchens

  • Standing beneath Mount Gomboranjan - the sacred rock that guards the valley

  • Watching dawn light fall over frozen rivers and barley fields

  • Riding through ancient mud-walled villages where time moves differently

  • Visiting Phuktal Monastery - a 2,500-year-old cave carved into a cliff

  • Sleeping under skies so clear you can see every constellation

  • Finding calm in Yulchung Farm Camp - a place where the world finally slows down

  • The quiet pride of summiting Singe La and Sirsir La, then descending endless mountain switchbacks

  • Arriving at Lamayuru Monastery, dusty, tired, and transformed

Bikepacking Zanskar valley - riders celebrating at a high Himalayan pass
Bikepacking Zanskar valley - road cut through a narrow red rock gorge

What’s Included / Not Included

16-week preparation schedule

Altitude preparation recommendations

Support vehicle

(Day2nd-11th) Meals during cycling

Mechanical support

Permits

Guided monastery visits
First Aid Support
Shared Tent

Basic bike maintenance and repairs

Flights to Manali/from Leh

Personal cycling equipment

Travel insurance Meals in Manali & Leh town

Bicycle Rent
All personal expenses

Mountain bike.
(You could get your own cycles or could

also rent from us)

Additional hotel stays if required

Hi, I’m Sudhanshu
founder of Wildly Radical.

I started Wildly Radical as a way to bring intentionality,

slowness, and inner shift into the world of adventure.

After years of cycling through the Himalayas solo,

I realised that bikepacking is more than sport it’s a path to transformation.

Zanskar is one of the rawest, most powerful landscapes I’ve ridden through. This trip is about reconnecting with yourself, with nature, and with the edge of what you think you can do.

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