This document summarizes a 18-day cycling trip from Manali to Leh in India along the Manali-Leh Highway in the Himalayas. The route is 500 km long, ranging from 1,900 meters to 5,359 meters in altitude. Riders will cycle for 11 days, passing through small towns and crossing high mountain passes, with support from an Indian crew. The trip benefits riders through physical fitness gains, experiencing local culture, personal challenges and growth, and raising money for charity.

1. T H E M A N A L I - L E H H I G H WAY,
I N D I A N H I M A L AYA S
I N T O T H I N A I R

2. I N T R O D U C T I O N
• Greenrock - We started out designing, running
and riding long distance bespoke cycling
events back in 1990 with the Warsaw-Paris-
London bike ride over 1,200 miles raising
money for charities and over the years
progressed onto adventure trips and challenge
events both here and abroad of varying types.
• Cycling in the Himalayas is our speciality with
our first ride across the Karakoram Highway
back in 1992 through to my wife and fellow
director’s comprehensive guidebook to cycling
many different routes in the mountains, namely
‘Himalaya by Bike’
• Our ride from Manali to Leh is a fantastic
challenge and one of life’s real adventures. Our
itinerary is designed to maximise
acclimatisation safety and create as much
comfort as possible on this testing and
extraordinary route.

3. S U M M A RY O F T H E R I D E
• Starting in Manali in Himachal
Pradesh/India
• Ending in Leh in Ladakh/India
• Distance - 500 kms (311 miles)
• Altitude min - 1,900 metres (6,234
feet)
• Altitude max - 5,359 metres (17,582
feet)
• Duration - 18 days (11 days of cycling)
• Road conditions - 65% tarmac and
35% mud packed road and track
• 2017 tour dates - Sat 8 July – Tue 25
July 2017 & Sat 29 July - Tue 15 Aug
2017
• Price from £2,250.00 inc international
flights, all accommodation (mix of
hotels, guest houses and camping on
twin sharing basis), most meals and full
support with UK & Indian support crew

4. London - Delhi - Chandigarh - Manali
D A Y 1 T O 3

5. Manali - Nagger - Manali
D A Y 4

6. Manali - Marrhi
• 36.2 kms starting at 1,900 metres and climbing to 3,303 meters
D A Y 5

9. Marrhi to Sissu
• 51 kms starting at 3,303 metres up to 3,988 metres and back down to 3,145
metres.
D A Y 6

12. Sissu to just outside Jispa
• 49 kms starting at 3,154 metres and climbing to 3,400 metres.
D A Y 7

15. Jispa (south of) to Zing Zing Bar
• 42.5 kms starting at 3,400 metres and climbing to 4,067 metres.
D A Y 8

18. Zing Zing Bar to Sarchu.
• 43.3 km of cycling starting at 4,067 metres crossing the Baralacha La at 4,918
metres and stopping for the night at 4,408 metres.
D A Y 9

21. Sarchu to Pang.
• 86 km of cycling starting at 4,408 meters and crossing a double pass of Nakeela La at 4,937
metres and Lachulung La at 5,077 metres before stopping for the night at 4,522 metres.
D A Y 1 0

25. Pang to Zso Kar.
• 47 km of cycling starting at 4,522 metres and climbing to 4,515 metres.
D A Y 1 1

28. Tso Kar to Lato.
• 73 km of cycling starting at 4,515 metres and passing over the Taglang La at
5,300 metres before ending up at 4,021 metres.
D A Y 1 2

31. Lato to Leh.
• 72 kms of cycling starting at 4,021 metres and ending at 3,563 metres.
D A Y 1 3

34. Leh - rest day
D A Y 1 4

35. Leh to the top of the Khardung La and back again.
• 76 km of cycling starting at 3,563 metres and topping out at 5,359 metres.
D A Y 1 5

38. Leh - Delhi - London
D A Y 1 6 & 1 7

39. B E N E F I T S
We asked the cyclists from this August to let us know what
they felt the benefits were and these were some of their
thoughts:
• The sense of adventure, even though we knew the
itinerary.
• Learning more about our bicycles/cycling and putting it
into practice.
• Experiencing new foods.
• Being tested under demanding circumstances - and
dealing with it.
• Unexpected rise in fitness level and associated weight
loss.
• The team spirit that necessarily evolves on this kind of
undertaking. Increasing respect for my old friends and
the opportunity to meet new people.
• Being so humbled (and frustrated in turn) by the Indian
people we met on the way.
• Having a holiday from all instant communications and
media
• Raising money for charity.
• If they didn't know about what I was going to do on my
holiday before I went, I've been very surprised by the
genuine respect when people find out what I just did.
• Being thankful for what I have in life and that nothing is
beyond me.
• The journey of self discovery that you enter into.
• The positive affects of having been at altitude when
returning home to lower levels.
• It opens a door to more possibilities!

40. F U R T H E R I N F O
A N D T O C O N TA C T
U S
• www.greenrock.co.uk
• info@greenrock.co.uk
• +44 (0) 1684 892 465
• http://www.greenrock.co.uk/
Greenrock/
Into_Thin_Air_summary.html
• https://www.facebook.com/
highestbikerideintheworld/