Himalaya - Crossing Spiti Zanskar Ladakh - Gravel on the highest roads in the world

Flight to New Delhi (DEL) 

Return flight from Leh airport (IXL)

Price approx. 800€ for flight + 200€ for bike transport.

Advise the airline that you will have bicycle luggage, even if this has to be paid for at the time of boarding. 

For reasons of price variations, this gravel bike trip in India is sold without flights. 

We strongly advise you to buy changeable tickets. 

Technical level

This is gravel biking on tracks where cars and trucks can pass. There's nothing as technical as mountain biking, just a bit of shaking on the big descents.

Physical level

Good physical condition, regular cycling, able to cover distances of at least 100km/d in gravel mode (130km/d on a road bike, 70km/d on a mountain bike). There's no hurry, you just have to go at your own pace, grind it out and you'll be fine.

For this trip, it's advisable to have a stress test with a cardiologist beforehand to make sure you're fit enough for physical exertion at high altitude. And don't forget to make an appointment with your doctor to get a prescription for Diamox (it can be a lifesaver if you suffer from altitude sickness). During your trip, make sure you're well hydrated during (and after) exercise. 

Be careful though, you're not playing in the skatepark near the house!

We take it easy on the downhill sections, we don't go crazy going too fast, we're in very isolated areas, and having an accident in these areas can mean long hours of repatriation.

Please note: If you don't have the required level, the guide will be able to ask you to leave the group for the well-being of the whole group. Don't hesitate to ask us if you have any doubts!

From 5 to 8 people. 

A couple or a group of friends may decide to ride together. The camps can be split up by affinity, as far as possible. In the towns, it's the same: everyone goes at their own pace, organises outings with whoever they like and can eat out if they like. 

An AZIMUT Tour Leader from France. He'll be there to help you, to brief you on how to prepare for the day, to sort out any mechanical problems and to coordinate the teams on site. He'll also be able to advise you on your fitness levels and abilities, and may even recommend that you take a vehicle to rest up a bit. 

Local cycling guide: He or she will show us around the country, liaise with the people, help us find the best runs and liaise with the local teams. 

Logistics and cooking team: They are there to help with vehicles, including a car to hold up the line. Some of them go ahead and set up our comfortable camps, take care of the luggage and cook the evening meals (Indian cuisine but not just that) so that you get the most out of this gravel bike trip.

During gravel bike days

Saddlebag, handlebar bag, frame bag for a few snacks, windbreaker, gloves, repair kit, radio and water bottle.

In short, everything you need for a day's cycling as well as a trip home.   

Your luggage for the trip and your big bag are transported from stage to stage by our assistance vehicle. You just enjoy cycling, and we'll take care of the rest.

Price

The price includes

• Organisation
• All local transport by minibus (or 4x4) from your arrival at the airport on D1 to your departure from the airport on the last day of your stay.
• Full-board accommodation (shared double room), from the morning of D1 (dayuse hotel to rest up) until the morning of D17 when you leave New Delhi.
• All meals from the time you arrive at the airport on D1 until dinner on D9.
• The AZIMUT Tour Leader from France and all his expenses (accommodation, meals, travel, etc.) 
• The local guide and all his expenses (accommodation, meals, travel, etc.) 
• The drivers and the support minibus for the whole trip and all their expenses
• Local teams, logisticians and cooks
• Entry permits for restricted areas
• Quality cereal bars
• AZIMUT welcome pack

The price does not include

• Return flights to India
• Visa fees (between €40 and €100)
• Extras in accommodation and during meals, hotel option and single tent
• Personal expenses
• Your personal insurance 
• And anything else not included in the "price includes" section.

30% deposit on registration + insurance if taken out, balance due 30 days before departure. A reminder e-mail will be sent to you 35 days before departure. 

It is strongly recommended that you are adequately insured in the event of cancellation. It is compulsory to be insured for search and repatriation costs. When you register, we will offer you the opportunity to take out insurance through our partner insurer, with several options covering the activities on offer and the risks incurred (please note that this insurance is only valid for European nationals).

Tipping

Nothing compulsory, but it is customary for members of the group to tip the Tour Leader and the local team at the end of the trip.

For the local teams, the local guide and the drivers and cooks, it is important to give a tip at the end of the trip (count between €15 and €25/person for the guide and the same amount for the driver. Hand over the envelope to each of them personally.

Luggage transport by minibus, 4x4 assistance that follows us all the way. You ride your gravel, we'll take care of the rest. During long transfers, bikes are transported in a pick-up. Bikes must be well protected in padded aircraft bags.

Depending on the composition of the group, you may be with someone of the opposite sex.

- Hotels: in double rooms to be shared in the towns.  We have chosen good quality hotels (3*-4*) with charm where possible so that you can make the most of the trip and get some rest. During the biking trip, you will be staying in tents (set up by the local team) with mattresses and sleeping bags provided.

- Meals: all meals are included from D1 to D14 of your gravel bike trip.

In the towns: Breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Lunch will be either a picnic or a break at a local restaurant. The Indian food you'll find is local, organic, hearty and always very good.

During the trip, at the campsites: Dinners, picnics and hearty breakfasts, cooked by our teams using fresh produce. A variety of meals to suit the needs of cyclists and European cyclists (we don't just eat Indian food).

- Water: During your stay you will be provided with bottled water on a daily basis. 

- Single accommodation throughout the trip: single room + single tent possible (take sleeping bag -15°C comfort), supplement to be checked with us when you register. 

- Snacks: to boost your energy we've chosen to provide tasty and top quality energy bars.

The currency is the Indian Rupee: 1€ = 91 INR (exchange date 23/04/23)

Take euros in cash for exchange during the trip to the North. Currency exchange and withdrawals possible in Delhi, Leh and Manali. The rest of the time, you don't need cash.

Visa

Visas are compulsory for French, Belgian and Swiss nationals. For all other nationalities, please contact the Indian consulate in your country of origin and/or residence.

It is much easier to obtain an Indian visa through specialist organisations such as Action Visa or Visa Express, which cost around €70.

E-Tourist Visa: online application: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html, "e-Tourist Visa (eTV)" section.

The online application is in English only, and the form contains over 50 questions (estimated time taken to complete is around 45 minutes). You will need to resize the scans of the required documents yourself when you apply for the e-Visa (format, size, sharpness). The e-Tourist Visa is a document you need to print in order to travel to India. In addition to the printed e-Tourist Visa, the traveller must be in possession of his or her passport and return air ticket.

Documents to send us before your departure

Once your enrolment has been confirmed, please send us the following by e-mail (attachment):

• 1 colour photocopy of the identity page of your passport
• 1 colour photocopy of the page on which the Indian Visa is stamped or the E-visa confirmation if you have applied for your visa online. You'll need this confirmation when you board your flight to India. Keep it in paper form, but also as a PDF on your phone and in your e-mails, clouds, etc.

Passport

Valid passport, valid for 6 months after the date of return for French, Belgian and Swiss nationals. For other nationalities, check with the relevant consulate or embassy. 

If you are travelling with your children, you should know that minors, whatever their age, must now also have an individual passport. If they have an individual passport, they do not need authorisation to leave the country.

Vaccinations

Make sure you are up to date with your usual vaccinations. There are no compulsory vaccinations for entering India for less than 30 days, apart from yellow fever for travellers arriving from countries where the disease is rife. 

Please note: you can find all the information you need about health, entry and other matters on the MAE INDE information sheet.

However, please note that these headings take account of the precautionary principle and the prevalence of the risks involved. They generally represent the worst that can be found and not the reality that you will experience when you go there. 

Habits & Customs

• No particular dress code, just that women's outfits should not be too short. Veils are not required. 
• When visiting temples, refer to the local guide for the right attitude and dress.  

Your helping hand for this area and its inhabitants

Remember to bring a few items of clothing and warm clothes for the children you meet along the way. Anything is welcome: fleeces, jeans, gloves, mittens, warm socks, hats, sunglasses, sun cream, etc... and a few sweets, as they don't know Haribo crocodiles...

Formalities

• The languages commonly spoken are Hindi and English, although there are dozens of dialects in the country.
• The weather is generally the same as in the mountains of France. The sun is strong with the altitude, there are clouds and a little rain, but nothing to panic about. The weather also varies according to region and altitude!
• The time difference with France is between 4 and 5 hours.

In the event of an emergency or delay, you can contact our guide, whose number will be given to you before departure. You can also contact Azimut on: +33 (0)4 92 23 07 24. Pass on these contacts to your family and friends before you leave.

Telephone: The telephone network is good, but coverage is patchy in the mountains.

Wifi: There is Wifi in all the accommodation in the towns we visit. It is sometimes unreliable.

Electricity: 220V, same plugs as in France 

Pense à prendre des vêtements en couleur vives, c'est plus funky sur les photos!

Equipment - clothing & gear

• Gravel bike with pedals of your choice (we prefer clips). 
• We recommend 32-34 teeth on the chainring and 42 or 46 teeth on the cassette.

 Example of a gravel bike: https://www.scott-sports.com/fr/fr/products/bike-bikes-road-gravel-cx 

• Waterproof handlebar, frame and saddle bags. Syncros or Ortlieb models are ideal for use in all conditions.
• 2 water bottles on the frame + a spare water bottle 
• 1 can of micropure to purify water if necessary
• Helmet and goggles compulsory
• Cycling gloves (mountain bike or road) + warm gloves for descents at altitude
• Front and rear lights for the tunnels
• Bike shoes with clips 
• A repair kit, including two pairs of brake pads (adapted to the correct brake model), an extra derailleur hanger adapted to your bike model, a quick link adapted to your chain, spokes adapted to your wheels, pump, self-adhesive patches, tubes of the correct size, serflex, wire, ducktape... and anything else specific to your bike.

Clothing

This equipment list contains a series of tips on equipment, but it doesn't mean you have to have the latest gear. If you want to re-equip yourself or add to your equipment, take advantage of our advice to get the right gear that's light, warm and comfortable. Good equipment makes for a successful holiday!

Headwear

• Sunglasses (index 3-4) because it's important to protect your eyes, especially at these altitudes. Photochromic lenses adapt to the light and vary from index 2 to 4 to optimise visibility between light and shade. Very practical.
• A helmet

Bodywear

• Technical underwear: long-sleeved top and tights for added warmth under trousers. Tip: Merino wool has the advantage of being highly breathable and antibacterial, so it retains odours less than synthetic materials. Think about it if you need to re-equip yourself.
• Short-sleeved cycling jersey - Not too tight for the girls (this isn't Ibiza, remember?).
• Long-sleeved cycling jacket or fleece 
•  Synthetic down jacket with hood to slip under the Gore Tex for extra warmth during breaks 
• Large down jacket for evening camps
• Jacket and trousers with a waterproof, breathable membrane such as Gore Tex or Soft Shell, lightweight and compressible to take up less space in the rucksack.
• Mountain bike shorts. Ideal for this type of "travel" activity. 
• Tights to wear under shorts in cool weather. Bike arm warmers and leg warmers are an excellent way of quickly switching to uphill or downhill mode. They give you the warmth you need for morning starts or long rides in the shade.
• Light gloves (fleece or Soft Shell) / Warm gloves with waterproof and breathable Gore Tex-type membrane for the day of the ascent and descent at altitude and on cool days.
• Swimsuit: it takes up so little space in your luggage that it would be a shame not to have it if you need it! Avoid shorts, as they are not widely accepted in swimming pools and baths.

Footwear

• Cycling shoes (clips or not, it's your choice)
• Cycling socks. Merinos wool has the advantage of being highly breathable and antibacterial, so it retains odours less than synthetic materials. Think about it if you need to re-equip yourself.
• Slippers or Crocs recommended for the evening. 

Luggage & miscellaneous

• 1L water bottle, thermos flask or Camelback, pocket knife, duck tape (resistant scoth), sun cream factor 50.
• Sleeping bag (-15°C comfort)
• 110-litre duffle bag, to be left at the accommodation or in the vehicle. No hard cases.
• Special travel bag for your bike
• Snacks, local specialities from your region, a good wine, snacks, etc.

Toiletry bag & first-aid kit

• Toiletry bag with personal kit
• We advise you to use the Iffremont website  to put together your first-aid kit.

Our guides are equipped in these brands and you will be able to see and test the equipment on our trips:

• SCOTT
• Arva
• Fitschi swiss bindings
• Anena

We are members of Entreprises du Voyage and APST.

And last but not least...

Don't forget to

• Leave our contact details with your friends and family
• Take your identity papers (up-to-date passport and visa for trips requiring them)
• Take your policy number and the details of your insurer if you have not taken out insurance with Azimut
• Take your Vitale card and we also recommend the European Health Insurance Card - free of charge and on request: www.ameli.fr
• Check that you have the required equipment
• Take batteries / chargers for your camera / avalanche transceiver
• Leave cool and relaxed, you'll be fine! The scenery and the memories you'll bring back will be many! 
• Before you leave, water the plants, take out the bins, turn off the water and gas, and tell your partner (other than by text message) that you're going to have a great time... because you really need it! Anything you forget in this last recommendation will come back with a vengeance when you return.

We'll be waiting for you! Have a great trip with AZIMUT!