Thinking of taking a bike trip from Manali to Spiti Valley? And don’t know how to plan on your own? We at Backpackclan have a team of professionals who will help you in exploring the beauty and adventure of this hidden gem on Earth by taking away all your stress of planning one of its kind trips and leaving behind millions of memories that you can cherish forever by taking you to all the offbeat places, challenging terrains, beautiful valleys, and much more.
Once you reach Manali, take a bike for Spiti Valley and we will help you cover all the renowned ancient monasteries, mystical topography, semi-frozen lakes, and breathtaking trekking routes that Spiti Valley has got to offer. A place that has got that much to offer on its plate, should be on the top of your bucket list. Besides offering picturesque views, Spiti Valley has also gained a lot of popularity amongst adrenaline seekers for its adventure activities, spectacular sightseeing opportunities, and surreal vistas. Spiti Valley bike trip from Manali is filled with various beautiful and stunning destinations including Chandra Taal, Pin Valley National Park, Dhankar Lake, Kibber, Kaza, Lahaul Valley, and Kungri Monastery. A Spiti Valley bike trip from Manali offers a chance for the participants to hike, camp, raft, and of course, after all this, it is pretty much clear that this destination has everything it takes to satisfy the wanderlust souls.
So, what are you waiting for? Hop on your bikes and get ready to experience 13 days full of adventure with us.
- Visit ancient Monasteries.
- Experience the beauty of Chandra Taal.
- Experience scenic villages of Himachal like Kalpa, Bir, Jibhi, etc.
- Adventure activities like hiking, rafting, etc.
- Experience the local culture and hospitality.
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Day 1: Arrival in Manali.
Upon your arrival, meet your team in the hotel along with the crew who will guide you further on the trip. Today you will also get the briefing done by your road captain about the route, bike allocation, itinerary, and all the do's and don'ts that you have to follow to make this trip a lifetime experience. You can buy anything that you missed from the market in Manali as almost everything is available here. Have your dinner and take good sleep so that you can wake up fresh for the ride that starts from Day 2.
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Day 2: Manali to Bir (160 Kms):
Bir is a small town in Himachal Pradesh and is the base camp for the people who take the paragliding adventure from Biling. It is one of the best destinations for paragliding and is also a location where international competitions take place. Bir has multiple hotels and restaurants and cafes for you to chill and relax after the first day’s ride. The weather remains pleasant as you are surrounded by hills on all sides. The accommodation will be in a hotel and dinner will be served at night. Overnight stay in Bir.
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Day 3: Bir to Khajjiar (176 Kms):
Get ready after breakfast as today’s ride is going to be exciting. You will ride on hilly curvy roads to reach Khajjiar. Khajjiar is a beautiful destination where a lot of people come to enjoy the holidays in the summers and you can see snow-capped mountains around you. Khajjiar is a vast ground with a thick plantation of Oak and Deodar trees making it a treat for your eyes. There is a lake called Khajjiar lake which we will see and spend some good time for the next day’s briefing. We will stay in a hotel and have dinner before saying adios for the day.
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Day 4: Khajjiar to Bairagarh (110 Kms):
The road conditions which were great till now will change from great to moderate where you will find patches of bumpy roads in between. Well after the breakfast you need some for it to be digested, right? Bairagarh is the gateway to Sach Pass and later it connects the Chamba Valley to the Pangi Valley. Bairagarh is a stop over as it is not possible to cover Sach Pass on the same day because we reach there in late evening. We take the halt and get briefed about the big day, the day when you cross Sach Pass. This Pass is the most dangerous one as it will test your mental and physical strength. Overnight stay at the hotel and early dinner because it's an early start on the next day.
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Day 5: Bairagarh to Sach Pass to Killar (71 Kms):
Today we get ready for an early breakfast and an early start so that the challenges of the mighty Sach Pass can be handled in a timely manner and we reach Killar before sunset. Yes the distance is less but the road is very challenging. Basically, there is no road, all you have is gravel and sand and bumps and water crossings flowing right from the middle of the road. The flow increases as sun gets brighter in the day, so we start early and get lost in the beautiful adventure. Overnight stay in a hotel/guest house.
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Day 6: Killar to Keylong (127 Kms):
Now that you have tried your hands on off roads, you will have just these to ride on. Killar to Keylong is a remote route with narrow path and no tarmac to ride. So we suggest that you do not eat a heavy breakfast as the altitude makes the oxygen useless as you won't be able to inhale it like normal. Also the road ahead makes you a bit tired and so it is essential that you stay fit. The landscapes in the mountain keep changing and keeps you involved with the ride. You will have a smile admiring the nature and beauty that it has while you ride. Keylong is a relatively bigger town at an altitude of 3,300 meters. Overnight stay will be in the hotel/camp.
- Day 7: Keylong to Chandra Taal (118 Kms): After having breakfast, we get ready as we are going to see the Lake called Chandra Taal. It is the source of the river “Chandra” which later confluences with the river “Bhaga” and flows with the name “Chandrabhaga”. The lake is a high altitude lake situated at over 4,200 metres above the sea level. This height can make you feel uneasy but by now you have been acclimatized to such altitude. The landscape will now be barren, you will see the green mountains covered with trees turn to brown with almost no vegetation. It is also the first day when you will enjoy a stay at campsite. We will have dinner with some stargazing and sleep as tomorrow is again a new adventure.
- Day 8: Chandra Taal to Kaza (100 Kms): Finally you get Spitified as you will enter the headquarters of Spiti Valley, i.e. Kaza. The ride is going to be small but still will test your mettle. You need a strong back for riding on the stretch of this road as it is just a dirt trail with lots of water crossings and cross another high altitude pass named Kunzum La at an altitude of 4,551 metres. Kaza is a town where you will finally find some establishments and houses and government offices. Banks and ATMs can also be found in Kaza. Being a bigger town, it has good restaurants and cafes and we recommend that you have some local cuisine here in Kaza. You will stay at an exotic campsite where you will be served with dinner.
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Day 9: Kaza Sightseeing / Rest Day.
A lot of riding in the last few days with some very challenging roads will definitely leave you tired and your body needs a small break for it to recover. Today is that day when you can sleep a little more than usual. After breakfast we will do some small excursions to places like Hikkim, where the highest post office is located and you can also send a postcard from here as a memento. Komic and Langza can also be visited today and we will do that. If you want to opt out of the ride and wish to spend the day just at the hotel or market, you are free to do that. We will have dinner and sleep early as tomorrow we enter the Kinnaur valley.
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Day 10 – Kaza to Kalpa (208 Kms): We start early after breakfast as the distance to be covered is quite long though the road condition improves and the ride becomes more soothing. We see the change in landscape again from barren to green after we move out of the Spiti Valley and enter the Kinnaur region. We will cross the towns of Tabo and Nako to reach Kalpa. A large part of the movie Sanam Re was shot here in Kalpa. We cross the Pin Valley forest area. Kalpa will give you tremendous peace just looking and admiring the beautiful mountains and the wonders of mother Earth. We stay at a hotel where you will be served with dinner.
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Day 11 – Kalpa to Chitkul to Sangla (85 Kms):
Wonder what’s next? Brace yourself as today is a special day and a special ride to the last village of India which is called as Chitkul. Chitkul is at Indo-Tibetan border and we are not allowed to go any further from Chitkul as the border of Tibet is only a few kilometers away. You will get to see a lot of Indian Army Jawans posted here and the settlements where they are deployed to serve the country. The road is nice and the ride is smooth. The only thing that remains common is the beauty of Himachal Pradesh. We ride back to Sangla and stay in a hotel.
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Day 12 – Sangla to Jibhi (190 Kms): Get ready to get going! Remember how many valleys have you been through since the start of this trip? First was the Kullu Valley from there we entered the Chamba Valley from there we entered Pangi Valley via Sach Pass, then we entered the Lahaul Valley in Keylong, then we entered the Spiti Valley in Kaza, from there we entered the Pin Valley in Tabo and further to Kinnaur Valley in Kalpa and Reckong Peo. Finally we leave the Kinnaur valley and enter the Tirthan Valley. Isn’t that exciting? Tirthan Valley is yet another very beautiful valley and here the jewel in the crown is the river which makes it that beautiful. We spend the night in Jibhi and spend time enjoying as tomorrow is the last day of the trip.
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Day 13 – Jibhi to Manali (101 Kms): Yes, it is a bit disappointing but yes, you will have the sense of achieving something very special. You have seen the remotest areas in the Himalayas and numerous valleys, treacherous water crossings, and high mountain passes. Another one which is the last Pass of your journey is Jalori Pass which you will cross to reach the Kullu Valley again. The ride is small and easy with good roads all around. The trip ends at the Volvo bus stand in Manali where we bid goodbye with hopes of meeting again on some other quest.
What is included in the tour
- Accommodation in Hotels / Camps / Guest Houses/or similar on double/triple sharing basis from Day 01 to Day 12.
- Meals – Breakfast and Dinner. Dinner from Day 01 to Breakfast on Day 13.
- Services of Experienced Tour Leader and Motorbike Mechanic.
- First Aid Kit and oxygen cylinder at dispersal with the Tour Leader.
- Inner Line Permit/Green Tribunal Permit.
- Facility to carry luggage in a vehicle restricted to 1 Rucksack / Duffle Bag of 60 liters per motorbike.
- Royal Enfield 350cc Motorbike.
- Motorbike fuel for the complete trip as per the itinerary.
- Helmet for both rider and pillion.
- Extra fuel for back up.
- Back up vehicle.
- Bonfire wherever possible.
- Participation certificate for riding up to the highest motorable road of the world - Khardungla Pass and a goody bag from Backpackclan team.
What is NOT included in the tour
- Any insurance.
- Early check in or late checkout rooms at any hotels unless specified above.
- Any entry fees to visit any place.
- Any personal expenses like drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips, camera fees, etc.
- Tips to driver, guide, hotel staff, and representatives.
- Any portages at hotel. (for baggage on arrival and departure from the hotel)
- Camera/video camera fees at the monuments.
- 5% GST.
- Anything that is not mentioned in the inclusion section.
- Any Airfare / Rail fare, airport tax, etc. other than what is mentioned in “inclusions”.
- Airport, Railway station or bus stop pick up or drop.
- Cost of any spare part which will be used due to the accidental damage incurred when the motorbike is in rider's possession.
- Cost incurred to transfer or tow the motorbike in case it is dropped on the way.
- Vehicle servicing or maintenance cost.
- Any lunch and other meals not mentioned in package inclusions.
- Security deposit per motorbike of Rs. 5,000/ as per the deposit policy. (This is refundable at the end of the trip if there is no damage or spare parts used.)
- Parking and monument entry fees during sightseeing.
- Any cost incurred due to extension, change of itinerary due to natural calamities, road blocks, flight/train cancellations, vehicle breakdown, union issues, and factors beyond our control.
- Any additional accommodation / food cost incurred due to any delay.
- Riding gears for rider which can be hired. (Knee pads and elbow guards Rs. 750 for the whole trip.)
Here's a list of essential items one should carry for the Spiti Valley bike tour:
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Clothing:
- Lightweight and breathable clothing.
- Warm layers for cool evenings and high altitudes.
- Waterproof jacket or poncho for unexpected rainfall.
- Hat or cap to protect from the sun.
- Comfortable walking shoes or trek shoes.
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Personal Items:
- Sunscreen with high SPF.
- Lip balm with SPF.
- Sunglasses with UV protection.
- Insect repellent cream or spray.
- Personal medications and first aid kit.
- Moisturizer for dry climate.
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Travel Essentials:
- Valid identification documents.
- Camera or smartphone for capturing the stunning landscapes.
- Portable charger/power bank.
- Travel adapter for charging electronic devices.
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Health and Safety:
- Reusable water bottle or hydration pack.
- High-energy snacks like nuts, granola bars or dry fruits.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Basic toiletries. (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
- Emergency contact information and travel insurance details.
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Miscellaneous:
- Lightweight backpack or daypack for day trips.
- Cash in small denominations (ATMs may be scarce).
- Torch/flashlight with extra batteries.
- Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife.
- Insulated water bottle to keep beverages cool.
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Optional Items:
- Binoculars for wildlife spotting.
- Trekking poles for hikes.
- Books or games for leisure time.
