Spiti Valley Motorcycle Tour from Shimla: Royal Enfield

Seven days on a Royal Enfield across the Himalayas' highest passes and remotest valleys.

A 7-day motorcycle tour from Shimla that takes you on Royal Enfield or KTM bikes through Spiti Valley in the Himalayas, with overnight stays in remote villages, visits to thousand-year-old monasteries, and rides over Asia's highest bridge and past the world's highest post office. The tour includes all meals, a certified English-speaking guide who is a motorcyclist, a backup vehicle with a mechanic, and pickup from Chandigarh. Minimum age is 18, and moderate physical fitness is required due to high altitude and mountain terrain.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Shimla to Chitkul via Narkanda

• Ride from Shimla to Narkanda
• Lunch break en route
• Ride to Chitkul village
• Dinner and overnight stay at camp

Day 2: Chitkul to Nako via Khab Sangam and Shipki La

• Visit Shipki La mountain pass
• Stop at Khab Sangam confluence
• Overnight stay at Alake View Hotel in Nako

Day 3: Nako to Tabo via Gue Monastery

• Visit Nako Lake
• Visit Gue Monastery and mummy
• Overnight stay at mud house in Tabo

Day 4: Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar Monastery

• Visit Tabo Monastery
• Visit Dhankar Monastery
• Overnight stay at hotel in Kaza

Day 5: Kaza to Komic and Hikkim

• Visit Hikkim post office
• Visit Komic village
• Return and overnight stay at Kaza hotel

Day 6: Kaza to Chandertal Lake via Key Monastery and Chichim Bridge

• Visit Key Monastery
• Cross Chichim Bridge
• Camp overnight near Chandertal Lake

Day 7: Chandertal Lake to Manali via Atal Tunnel

• Visit Chandertal Lake
• Travel through Atal Tunnel
• Overnight stay at hotel in Manali

The experience

You start in Shimla at 2,276 meters and climb steadily from there. The first riding day pushes toward Narkanda through pine forests and sweeping Himalayan ridgelines, then continues to Chitkul (the last inhabited village before the Indo-China border), where you overnight at a campsite. The terrain grows wilder with each kilometer, and the scenery of Kinnaur Valley unfolds in all its scale.

Days two and three take you over Shipki La, a 3,930-meter border pass connecting to Tibet, then down to Nako Lake at 3,662 meters, where you stay at a lakeside hotel. From there you ride to Tabo Monastery, founded in 996 A.D. and known as the "Ajanta of the Himalayas" for its thousand-year-old frescoes and mud sculptures. You also visit Gue Monastery, home to a 500-year-old mummified Buddhist monk, and Dhankar Monastery, a clifftop fort monastery built over a thousand years ago. The route passes through the Spiti Valley, Earth's coldest desert, where the air thins and the landscape turns lunar.

Days four through six center on the highest and most remote sites. You ride to Komic village at 15,500 feet, the world's highest village on a motorable road, then to Hikkim, where the world's highest post office stands as a symbol of India Post's reach. You cross Chicham Bridge at 13,596 feet, the world's highest bridge by altitude, and camp under the stars beside Chandertal Lake at 4,300 meters, a crescent-shaped body of turquoise water ringed by snow-capped peaks. Key Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Spiti at 13,668 feet, sits perched on a hilltop and houses around 400 monks. On the final day, you ride through the Atal Tunnel (a 9-kilometer passage that saves five hours of travel), and descend to Manali.

Your motorcycles are Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc or 450cc bikes, or KTM 390 adventure models, all well-maintained and backed by a support vehicle carrying a certified mechanic and spare parts. A guide who is a motorcyclist by profession rides with you, speaks English, and knows the route intimately. Meals are included throughout, as are mineral water, first aid supplies with oxygen cylinders, and all inner-line permits and parking fees. Pickup runs from Chandigarh to Shimla.

What’s included

• Pickup from Chandigarh to Shimla.
• Royal Enfield 411cc or 450cc motorcycle or KTM 390 adventure bike with helmet and gear.
• certified English-speaking guide who is a motorcyclist.
• backup vehicle with mechanic and spare parts.
• all meals.
• mineral water during riding days.
• first aid box with oxygen cylinders.
• all inner-line permit fees and parking fees.
• overnight accommodations in hotels, guesthouses and campsites.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Mountain Xplorer Expedition

Is this one for you?You ride your own bike throughout, so this suits riders comfortable on two wheels for extended mountain days at high altitude. The fixed 7-day itinerary and group format mean you travel with other riders and a guide, not solo. If you prefer a self-guided route or a longer expedition, look for alternatives that offer those options.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What's the highest point I'll ride to on this 7-day motorcycle tour?

Chandertal Lake sits at 4,300 meters (14,100 feet), the highest overnight stop. You also cross Chicham Bridge at 13,596 feet and ride through Key Monastery at 13,668 feet, but Chandertal is where you camp.

Do I need to own a motorcycle or have ridden one before to join this tour?

The tour provides Royal Enfield or KTM bikes, so you don't need to own one. You should have at least moderate physical fitness and be comfortable riding at high altitude on mountain roads. The operator recommends a basic level of riding experience, though the guide and support team are there throughout.

What happens if my motorcycle breaks down in a remote area?

A backup vehicle with a certified mechanic and spare parts follows the group. The mechanic travels with you to handle repairs on the spot, and the support vehicle can transport you if needed.

How many nights will I spend camping versus staying in hotels or guesthouses?

You camp once, beside Chandertal Lake on night six. The other nights are in hotels, guesthouses or campsites in Chitkul, Nako, Tabo, Kaza and Manali.

Is the world's highest post office at Hikkim actually operational, or is it just a tourist stop?

Hikkim post office is a functioning India Post facility at 4,411 meters, staffed and operational. You can visit and send postcards from it during the tour.

What's included in meals, and are there options for dietary restrictions?

All meals are included throughout the 7 days. The operator provides hearty local and regional cuisine. Inform them of dietary needs when you book so they can arrange alternatives in advance.