The ultimate Himalayan Excursion on a motorcycle. this one takes an entirely new approach to road not taken in Western Himalayas. The Journey comprises of various locations with totally different and varied topography. One of the lesser taken route on motorbikes.
Saach Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.420m (1,4500ft) above the sea level, located in Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh, India on the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas. The pass is open only from June or early July to mid October.
The road over the pass is extreme. It’s narrow and unmetalled and connects the Chamba valley with the Pangi valleys of Himachal Pradesh. It’s a treacherous and slippery road where even the most experienced drivers do not dare to drive faster than 10 kmph at any point of time. The roads here are in bad condition, no mettaled or tarred road, Avalanches and heavy snowfalls can sometimes block some sections of the road and can be extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. The pass is the shortest road link between Chamba town and the Pangi Valley. The Pangi valley remains cut off from the rest of country for about seven months in a year. some 450 km from the state capital,
Basic accommodation can be found at Killar for the night stay.
The road is winding, in some places only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails. It is the gateway to the Pangi Valley. It is the shortest route from Chamba to the Killar (170 km).
Words can’t describe the road and pictures don’t do it justice. The pass offers a spectacular view of the show clad peaks, high mountains, and untouched and unspoiled surroundings. The traffic on the road is virtually nonexistent, just some buses, a handful of jeeps and trucks. Likewise the valley is relatively sparsely populated not surprising due to the steep valley, with perhaps one village every 30km.
Day 01
Manali arrival – Introduction –
Local Sight Seeing
Day 02: Manali – Mandi – Paprola – Dharmashala 250 Kms/ 6-7 Hrs
This day drive from Mannali to Dharamshala via Palampur Mandi. Check into hotel. O/n hotel
Day 03: Dharamsala Local Sightseeing
After a leisurely breakfast we will go for a sight-seeing tour of Dharamshala. Dharamsala is the centre of the Tibetan exile world in India. The Presence of the 14th Dalai Lama and the Tibetan population has made Dharamshala a popular destination for Indian and Foreign tourists, including students studying Tibet.
We will visit the monastery of H.H. the Dalai Lama and then go to Norbulingka Institute. If you are up for it we can also visit the monastery of the 17th Karmapa. Remainder of the evening would be free for you to explore McLeod Ganj. O/N Hotel
Day 04: Dharmashala – Dalhaousie – Khajjiar 128kms 5-6 Hrs
After breakfast we will start our journey for Dalhousie. We will take the scenic route taking us through Khajjiar and Dalhousie. Khajjiar is about 20kms from Chamba, it is famous as Mini Switzerland of India. We will stop here for lunch and then move forward to our destination. We will reach Khajjiar in the evening. O/N Hotel we can try to visit the Lakshmi Narayan temples
Day 05: Khajjiar – Chamba – Bairagadh 144 kms 7-8 Hrs
After having breakfast and then bidding farewell to the support staff we will set forth for the Sacch Pass. we ride non- stop to Bairagadh via Dalhousie and Chamera dam Manjir and Surangini its a 7 -8 hours journey with a stoppage for lunch at Surangini, by evening we will reach Bairagadh
Day 06:
Bairagadh – Saach Paas – Killar
After having breakfast and then bidding farewell to the support staff at Bairagadh we start for Killar,
We stop at Satrundi do get our ID’s checked and then we ride, As we get closer to the pass the terrain gets rockier and rockier.
The entire road to the pass and about 32kms after the pass is un-metalled and requires 100% concentration.
At the very top is a small temple dedicated to ‘Jog Wali Mata’.
as you get closer to Bagotu you come face on with a wall of mountain- This place is quite amazing About 10-15kms After the pass we come to some make shift tea stall, this place is known as Bagotu we will stop here for some hot Chai and snacks.
We will cross quite a few streams some big some small.
This stretch of the road is lined with the famous Wild Hazelnut trees of Pangi. We start going Downhill. we cross the bridge over Chenab River and Before reaching Killar
Day 07: Killar
Today, we will have an easy start. We will have a rest day in Killar itself and so around to see some villages. In August and September, Pangi is a beautiful place to visit. Many of its forest are covered in birch trees and during autumn as the season is changing the colours on these trees present an enchanting view to the visitors. We will visit Hudhaan village today and if time permits, we will also visit Suraal Valley. Both of these are the two of the only four Buddhist villages in the Pangi Valley.
O/N Hotel/ Guest house
Day 08: Killar – Upaipur
As soon as we leave Killar we bid Goodbye to Tarmac. The entire 80kms from Killar to Udaipur is un-metalled. The entire route is very challenging, there are large stretches of bull dust, rocky surface or scree and keeping the bike stable takes every effort. All along the way there is atleast 100-150m drop and rocky over hangs.
Although the distance isn’t much but the road doesn’t allow you to ride too fast and thus we arrive in Although the distance isn’t much but the road doesn’t allow you to ride too fast and thus we arrive in Killar in the late afternoon. in the late afternoon.
Day 09: Udaipur – Keylong 50Kms
Just as we Leave Udaipur we take Left Riding along this 20km stretch of smooth road is nothing but perfect The Last few kilometer is somewhat metalled with potholes,. The villages along the way are charming and you can see the locals working in their fields. Keylong is about 50kms form Udaipur. The ride from Udaipur to Keylong is nothing short of Spectacular. The road is a combination of metalled and un-metalled. From Tandi Bridge we retrace the road back to Keylong
Day 10: Keylong to Chandertal 174km) 5-6 Hrs
Enjoy an early morning ride from Keylong up to Tandi. and then Thereafter, drive to Gramphoo – Chatru- Batal Have your lunch en-route. then proceed to visit the picturesquely beautiful Chandratal Lake (4,270m), about 12 Km from the Kunzum Pass Spend some time and enjoy the spectacular beauty of the surroundings around the lake.
Cross Kunzum Pass (4,551 m), proceed to Chandratal have Dinner and overnight in the hotel at Chandratal. O/N Hotel
Day 11: Chandertal – Kaza (4270 Mts.) (115 Kms) 4-5 Hrs
We drive back to Kunzum pass then take another narrow track to Chandertal Chandra tal – The first sight of this wondrous lake takes ones breaths away, with its shores ringed with meadows carpeted with hundreds of varieties of alpine flowers. An excellent campsite surrounded by the massive mountain tops O/N Fixed Camp
Day 12: Kaza- Local Visit (Langza, Hakim, Komik , Kibber , Ki Monastery ) 80 Km 4-5
Ki MONASTERY – 8 Km from Kaza is situated Ki Monastery at an elevation of(3969 Mts.).
The Monastery Consists of large irregular heap of low ceilinged Rooms and narrow corridors, interconnected by dark Passages and tortuousstaircases, built on what must have been a crater of an extinct volcano. This is One of the biggest and the oldest monasteries belonging to the Ge- Lug – PaSect in Spiti.
It dates Back to around 14thCentury and is famous for its murals,Valuable books and fabulous collection of Thankas. The instrument here deserves mention. There are two trumpets, two or three small brass Instruments, a pair of large cyabals, a big deep voiced drum, and pair of Smaller ones. The trumpet, Which is about three meters in ength, rests on a triangular block of wood, placed on the ground, and Rises in a long sweeping curve to the mouth of the player, who remains standing and blows Into it with all his might. The sound produced by this magnificent instrument is surprisingly feeble
O/N Hotel
Day 13; Kaza – Tabo Via Dhankar – Lalung – Pin Valley.100 Kmt 5-6hrs
DHANKAR (3890 mts) – About 30 km from Tabo through steep hillside along a dusty road slowly winds its way up to the village Dhankar, located at a height of 3890 mts. There situated in the middle of Ridge in a striking location, a 6th Century Gompa, though not well preserved still has some magnificent original Thankas tucked away in dark.
There are some beautiful murals. Unfortunately a part of monastery was destroyed during severe winter of 1989.
PIN:- Cross the Spiti River by a solid concrete bridge and following the Pin River, one of the major tributaries of Spiti River. The Valley is famous for wild life – Ibex, Snow Leopard. There is also a Monastery called Kungri Monastery,
which is believed to be founded by Guru Padmasambhava. The Monastery must have remained an ancient monastic site of the Padmasambhava days.
Lalung –This small village in the beautiful Lingthi Valley consists of a cluster of 50 to 60 houses with a population over 300. The Gompa is situated on the top of the village, is invisible from the road.
The main temple is decorated with unique Mandalas and statues with main statue of Bodhisatva in the center. A small but very attractive temple depicts the philosophy which originated in Western Tibet about 800 years ago. The monastery is over shadowed by a huge Fig tree. There is another small temple to the left of the main building, which houses a four headed clay idol of Buddha looking in to four different directions.
These Villages are situated over 4000 Mts. With striking locations and house some of the most interesting terrains in the Spiti Valley. Abundance of fossils, takes one 50 million years back when Indian subcontinent drifting northwards across the Ocean of Tethys on its tectonic plate slammed into the stationary mass of Asia and gave birth to the mighty Himalayas. Monastery of Hikkim is also known as the Tangyug gompa.
This is one of the two Sakya Pa monasteries. The second one is at Kaza. These monasteries were responsible for the revision or propagation of Tantra teachings during the 14th Century Overnight in Home Stay
Day 14; Tabo – Kalpa (163 Kms/ 7 – 8 Hrs)
After an early morning breakfast, Visit Tabo Gompa (temple). Founded in 996 AD, the Gompa has some of the best-preserved examples of Indo-Tibetan art remaining in the world from here 24 Km ride takes you to Hurling Another 9 Km drive in the plateau area, Sumdo another 8 Km in arid landscape to Chango (3,658 m). the road condition also deteriorates to unpaved in between some loose mud and mountain river crossing till Yangthang,
Yangthang, considered as the ideal entry point in the Land of Lamas, Navigate the hairpin bends and ride ahead for 24 km on paved road till Khab, Khab is the point where two rivers, Tabo and Sutlej merge, producing the resounding sound.
Enter the Gorge of Khab (another 11 Km). to cross cantonment of the Puh, . In northwest direction one can distinctly see some snow-covered peaks in the Pin Valley Range (subject to clear weather).Then drive to Puh to Ribba (40Km) while riding on the paved road on the Bank of the Sutlej River, known as the Indo-Tibetan road. In northwest direction, Ribba. 
This region is also known for the famous Kinnaur apples, grapes and the alcohol distilled from grapes. There are a number of bridges you will cross en-route Drive 18 km from Ribba to Powari. riding on Sutlej Bed and in the surrounding lush green forest you reach Kalpa
Day 15;Excursion Kalpa And Drive To Baspa Valley (97kms.)
Located at an altitude of 2,670m, Kalpa is also famous for good quality Chilgoza.. Kalpa provides the best view of the Kinner Kailash peak. .
Enjoy a spectacular view of the mighty Kinnaur Kailash Mountain Ranges from anywhere up the road spend visiting all these beautiful villages and meeting their beautiful inhabitants. We drive via Recongpeo..
The location of Rackcham – another village in Baspa Valley is striking as rocky cliffs of granite rocks and forests surround it. One can visit Kamru Temple and fort in Kamru Village, situated on a top of Sangla Village
The Sangla or Baspa valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in Himachal Here we visit the beautiful village of Baspa Valley such as Chitkul (3450 mts) – the route in this stretch is very narrow and steep till Chitkul, the last and highest village in Baspa Valley.
It is situated on the Right Bank of Baspa Valley; there is a temple dedicated to local Goddess, Mathi, which is said to have been constructed some 500 years ago.. O/N Hotel
Day 16; Sangla – Sarahan (92 Kms/4 – 5 Hrs)
Sangla, a picturesque little village with a small population, famous for its trout fishing possibilities. Situated on the slope with houses rising one above the other, and the Kinner-Kailash Peak towering behind, Sangla is also known for the impressive and historical Kamru Fort, 
which has now been dedicated to the Kamakshi Temple. Ride on to Karchham and to Wangtu and further delving deeper into the breath-taking, secret world of the Kinnaur and Spiti Valleys. we move on to Sarahan
Day 17; Sarahan – Shimla (185 Kms/7-8 Hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Sarahan. The former Capital of Bushahar Empire, Sarahan is a wonderful little village located amidst lush green and beautiful surroundings of Deodar forests. Visit the historical Bhimakali temple,
having an unusual architecture and wealth of carvings, a fine example of Hindu-Buddhist architecture.
Deep down in the alley flows the river Sutlej and across lies the scenic snow-clad Shrikhand Peak O/N Hotel
Day 18; Shimla to Manali 250 Kms/ 6-7 Hrs
This day drive to Manali from Dharamshala via Mandi.
Check into hotel. O/n hotel End of the tour.
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