ECO BIKING THROUGH THE ZANSKAR VALLEY

ITINEARY DETAILS

NUMBER OF DAYS

MILES COVERED

107 KM

NUMBER OF HOURS

ACCOMMODATION TYPE

Homestay | Tent | Guest House | Hotel

MAXIMUM ELEVATION

3585 Meters

COST INVOLVED

Rs 25,000
Max 12 px | Min 6 Px

WHAT DO YOU EXPERIENCE

At Sermer Outdoor, we have a unique concept in Zanskar Tourism called ‘Ethnic Zanskar Eco Biking’. In this package, we provide the opportunity for our guests to explore Zanskar valley in an eco-friendly manner with serious health and fitness concerns. Here, by ‘health’ we mean not only human health but strictly the health of our mother earth as well. In this tour, we explore Zanskar, its people, their way of life, culture, and landscape on two wheels (mountain bike). Only a single car accompanies with medical and mechanical aids. It is an easy grade mountain biking tour. One does not need to be a professional cyclist; one just simply needs to know how to ride a bicycle. The ‘Ethnic Zanskar Eco Biking’ is highly recommended to adventurers, photographers, fitness freaks, nature lovers, and also people who love mountain scapes, tranquil Buddhist culture, etc. The ‘Ethnic Zanskar Eco Biking’ is highly recommended to adventurers, photographers, fitness freaks,
nature lovers, and also people who love mountainscapes, tranquil Buddhist culture, etc.

DAY 1

PADUM TO SHILA WATERFALL BACK TO PADUM
Max Elevation - 3575 Meter

Distance: 18 kms | Duration: 04 hours

Mode of Accommodation: Guest House/Hotel

After breakfast, starts riding southward to the Stagrimo monastery of the Zhung Drukpa Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, situated just above the Padum town, to enjoy the scenic view of central Zanskar being kissed by the golden morning sun. This trail is a gentle ascent passing through the old Padum town and between the beautiful meadows of Khangok and Zingltak hamlets, and finally to the Stagrimo monastery. One can feel the freshness and the calmness of the morning vibes of nature here while enchanting the animating beauty of the Zanskar valley coming to life and setting for another beautiful day. Then riding down slowly the same trail after halfway, we will take a right turn to cross the bridge over the famous Tsarap River of Zanskar and continue to ride towards the beautiful Shila village along the picturesque Tsarap River into the narrow valley of Lungnak. At Shila, one can enjoy the beauty of Shila waterfall. It is the only waterfall in the entire Zanskar. Overnight at Padum.

DAY 2

PADUM to ZANGLA via STONGDEY
Max Elevation - 3485 Meter

Distance: 35 kms | Duration: 05 hours

Mode of Accommodation: Homestay/Tent Camping

After breakfast, a gentle slope rides eastwards, passing through the beautiful Skisherak village to cross the famous motorable steel bridge of Pibiting, which connects the lower valley (sham) Zanskar with the rest of Zanskar. After crossing the bridge, continue riding on an excellent tarmacked road cutting through the vast pastureland of Marthang. After a smooth ride through Marthang, our next attraction is the spectacular 11th-century Stongday monastery of Gelugpa (Yellow Hat), order of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is located on a mountain ridge just above the scenic Stongdey village. From the monastery, one can enjoy the beautiful confluence of Stod river and Tsarap River, merging into each other and evolving out as the famous Zanskar river. One can also enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of both Stod and Sham valley of Zanskar. After, Stongdey continues riding towards Zangla along the banks of the Zanskar river while enjoying the majestic mountainscapes. If luck favors, you may get to spot the occasional Black Necked Crane and other altitudinal migratory birds in the marshland of medicinal springs near Zangla. After reaching Zangla an easy walk to the 17th-century palace and exploring Zangla village afterwards. Overnight at Zangla.

DAY 3

ZANGLA to KARSHA via PISHU

Max Elevation - 3585 Meter

Distance: 28 kms | Duration: 06 hours

Mode of Accommodation: Homestay

After an early breakfast, ride downwards until the suspension bridge near Pishu village on the other side of the Zanskar river. After crossing the suspension bridge, we will pass by Pishu village and continue our
ride towards the southwest. After some while, we will pass nearby the beautiful hamlet of Rinam. This side of the valley is frequently used by the trekkers of the famous Lamayuru-Padum trek. Continue riding, and after a while, one can also have an advanced side-glimpse of the majestic Karsha monastery. Continue riding, and within more than half an hour, you will be in Karsha. Karsha is an ideal Buddhist Himalayan village with picturesque meadows, a monastery, a nunnery, and houses in typical Zanskar architecture. The poplar trees, the clusters of ancient stupas, and the glacial stream trickling down in the middle of Karsha delineating it into Nangkar and Phikar add up more to its comprehensiveness. After refreshment, a walk upward to the serene Karsha nunnery (known as Chushig-Jal) situated on a hillside facing south. Here, you can witness an eleven-faced adorable statue of bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara and mesmerizing eleventh-century mural paintings. One can also enjoy the spectacular evening shades of the central plains of Zanskar from here. Overnight at Karsha.

DAY 4

KARSHA to SANI via YOULSUM
Max Elevation - 3580 Meter

Distance: 14 kms | Duration: 03 hours

Mode of Accommodation: Tent Camping

Today is going to be the most important day of our tour. An early wakeup around 05:30 in the morning. After getting fresh, a ride to the majestic Karsha monastery to witness the unique experience of the spiritual monastic morning assembly of the monks. The morning view of the central Zanskar from the Karsha monastery is just mesmerizing. After witnessing the monastic assembly and enchanting landscape, we ride down back to the village. We continue riding towards the Stod valley along the Stod (Doda) river passing through the romantic meadows of Yulsum with chartreuse fields of barley, wheat, and peas. From the end of the Yulsum cluster, on the other side of the river, one can see the giant massive of Phovrang of Haftal valley with white glacial water babbling down to the river. Continue riding towards Tungri bridge over the
Stod river via Tahan village while enjoying the scenic beauty of the holy lake of Sani with the village as the backdrop on the other side of the river. After crossing the bridge, we will take the left turn and ride on to Sani. Overnight at Sani.

DAY 5

SANI to PIBITING/PADUM via ZHUNGKOR
Max Elevation - 3575 Meter

Distance: 12 kms | Duration: 03 hours

Mode of Accommodation: Guest House / Hotel

After breakfast, a quick visit to -Sani Gompa, more commonly referred to as Sani Palace by the locals. Generally, in Zanskar, most monasteries, shrines, and castles are built on high mountainsides or hillocks, but Sani Gompa is located on a plain on the edge of village households. This place is believed to must have been sanctified in the second-century AD by the Kushan rulers. The carved stone statues and a uniquely shaped stupa here somehow reinforce this claim. However, the gompa itself is believed to be initiated by Guru Rimpoche. After the gompa, we shall visit the small spring lake surrounded by lush green grassland and a beautiful statue of Guru Padmasambhava in the open air. The villagers consider the lake holy and are concerned about its cleanliness. From the lake, we will continue our final day ride towards Padum. After crossing the Haftal bridge, we will get off the highway and ride through yet another beautiful cluster of villages called Zhungkor and then to Pibiting Guru, situated on a small hillock in the epicentre of Zanskar. This is an ideal position for a 360° view of central Zanskar. Ride back to Padum. Overnight at Padum.

We’re happy to assist you with all your adventureing needs.

SERVICES

WHAT IS INCLUDED

All stay in Zanskar twin sharing basis guest house/ camping
All meals during the trip
Support Vehicle
Tour guide
All monastery fee
Cycle
Helmet

NO SERVICE

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Bottled water
Items of personal clothing
Any expenses incurred due to force of nature like bad weather, land slide that are beyond our control.
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry, phone calls, Alcohol, insurance.
Camera fee in monastery.
Transportation from your place to Zanskar.

SAFE HARBOR

Outdoor adventure always has an element of uncertainty and unpredictability. Therefore, Sermer Outdoor strongly recommends that any individual who wishes to use the service mentioned in this site, should have their own Travel Insurance. Sermer Outdoor and its associates won't be liable or held responsible for any injury or accident caused to an individual when using the services offered by Sermer Outdoors.