Kaza, Spiti, Ladakh & Himachal

This is the essential day trip from Kaza. The Key Monastery (Ki Gompa) is Spiti's largest and most iconic Buddhist training centre, dating back to the 11th century. It sits like a fortress atop a conical hill at 4,166 metres, housing beautiful murals and an arsenal of ancient weapons.

Continue to Kibber (once the highest motorable village in the world) and cross the Chicham Bridge. Suspended at a dizzying 4,145 metres above a 1,000-foot deep gorge, it is Asia's highest bridge and a spectacular feat of engineering on the Spiti circuit.

A short distance from Kaza is Langza, the "Fossil Village", marked by a giant golden Buddha statue looking out over the valley. The children here sell 100-million-year-old ammonite fossils found scattered in the surrounding high grazing lands—proof that these mountains were once the floor of the Tethys Sea.

Next is Hikkim, home to the world's highest post office (PIN: 174114) at 4,400 metres, where you can literally mail a postcard from the roof of the world. Finally, ride to Komic (4,587 m), often cited as the world's highest village connected by a motorable road.

Approaching Chandratal requires crossing Kunzum Pass (4,551 m), the high-altitude gateway between the Lahaul and Spiti valleys. The road from Batal to Chandratal is a notoriously narrow 14 km single-lane track requiring intense focus, but the reward is absolute.

Chandratal (Lake of the Moon) sits at 4,250 metres. Its crescent shape and crystal-clear water reflect the surrounding glaciers with mirror-like perfection. Due to ecological protection, motor vehicles must park 2 km from the lake, leaving a beautiful high-altitude walk to reach its shores.

Dhankar Gompa is built spectacularly onto a steep, crumbling cliff overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin rivers. It is perhaps the most dramatically situated monastery in all of Himachal, though the erosion of the cliff threatens its existence.

From Dhankar, the road crosses into the Pin Valley National Park. This is a protected biosphere renowned as one of the few natural habitats of the elusive Snow Leopard. The drive to Mud Village at the end of the valley offers scenery distinctly different and more rugged than the main Spiti valley.

Reaching Pangong Tso involves crossing Chang La, the third highest motorable pass in the world at 5,360 metres. The lake itself sits at 4,350 metres and extends 134 km, of which only about one-third lies in India. The rest stretches into Tibet.

The water of Pangong Tso turns incredible shades of azure, deep blue, and green depending on the angle of the sun. Because it is an endorheic (closed) basin, the water is saline and freezes completely solid in winter despite its salt content. An inner line permit is required for all visitors.

Khardung La, widely marketed as the highest motorable road in the world at 5,359 m (17,582 ft), is the gateway from Leh into the Nubra Valley. It is an extraordinary test of both rider and motorcycle against lack of oxygen.

Descending into Nubra reveals a completely different landscape: the cold desert sand dunes of Hunder. Here you will find the double-humped Bactrian Camels, descendants of animals left behind on the ancient Silk Route. Further along is Diskit Monastery, famous for its colossal 32-metre Maitreya Buddha statue.

Take a day off from intense riding to explore Leh's spiritual heritage around the Indus Valley. Thiksey Monastery is visually stunning, bearing a strong resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Hemis Gompa is the largest and wealthiest monastery in Ladakh, famous for its annual festival.

Wrap up the day within Leh itself by visiting the 9-storey ruins of Leh Palace, built in the 17th century, and witnessing the sunset from the dazzling white Shanti Stupa overlooking the city.

Only opened to tourists in 2010, Turtuk lies in the extreme corner of the Nubra Valley, barely a few kilometres from the Line of Control with Pakistan. Culturally, it is completely different from the rest of Ladakh—the population is Balti, their religion is Islam, and their cuisine and architecture are unique.

Sitting at a lower altitude than Leh, Turtuk is lush with apricot and walnut orchards during the summer. Riding here via the Shyok River valley is a journey to the absolute edge of accessible India.

Situated on the banks of the Parvati River, Kasol serves as an international backpacker hub. Sometimes nicknamed "Mini Israel" due to its large number of Israeli tourists, the town is packed with bakeries, cafes, and reggae bars.

Just past Kasol is Manikaran, an important pilgrimage center for Hindus and Sikhs renowned for its geothermal hot springs capable of boiling rice. Kasol serves as the baseline for the spectacular treks deeper into the Parvati Valley (Kheerganga, Tosh, Malana).

McLeodganj (Upper Dharamshala) is the center of the Tibetan administration in exile and the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama. The Tsuglagkhang Complex is the spiritual center here, featuring prayer wheels, monks in deep debate, and the Namgyal Monastery.

A short ride from town brings you to Bhagsunag Waterfall. The town's narrow streets, flanked by pine forests against the dramatic backdrop of the Dhauladhar range, are filled with Tibetan handicrafts, momo stalls, and meditation centers.

Dalhousie retains intense British Raj charm with its Scottish and Victorian architecture. Riding along the Mall Road offers fantastic views across the Chamba Valley.

A sweeping 24 km ride from Dalhousie leads to Khajjiar. Dubbed the "Mini Switzerland of India," this is a stunning, saucer-shaped grassy meadow with a small lake, entirely surrounded by dense deodar and pine forests, making it one of Himachal's most heavily photographed locations.

Tirthan Valley and Jibhi represent offbeat Himachal at its finest. The area feels untouched by severe commercialisation, dominated by traditional stone and wood Kath Kuni homes beside the crystalline Tirthan river.

The ride up from Jibhi to Jalori Pass (3,120 m) is steep, narrow, and often muddy, but leads to the incredible Serolsar Lake trek start point. The entire zone acts as the buffer for the Great Himalayan National Park.