India Himalaya Offroad 4X4 Adventure Travel

Welcome to Delhi! Upon your arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel. In the evening, we will meet and get to know each other over local cuisine.

The day has finally come for us to embark on our adventurous expedition! We will leave Delhi early in the morning and reach Amritsar by evening. Amritsar is home to one of the sanctuaries of the Sikh ethos - the Golden Temple. Any trip to this region would be incomplete without a visit to the Golden Temple. Covered in 400 kg of gold and surrounded by a tranquil pond, the sight of this sparkling structure is overwhelming. Afterwards, we will drive to our hotel and have the rest of the evening at our disposal.

After breakfast, we prepare to drive to Patnitop. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains of the Pir Panjal range, Patnitop is located on a plateau in the Shivalik belt and is enveloped by a dense canopy of green pine trees and thick forests. On the way, we will pass mountain streams whose cold water is said to have healing powers.

We set off this morning to Srinagar. Srinagar is nestled among clear lakes and tall, wooded mountains and has long been a notable tourist destination. The Jhelum River, flowing through the city, is spanned by several wooden bridges and numerous canals and waterways. The metropolis lies in the world-renowned Kashmir, which offers not only its silk and carpet industry but also the production of silver and copper goods, leather processing, and wood carving. After our arrival, you have the rest of the day at your disposal to explore all these things on your own.

Today you can enjoy the beauty of Srinagar at your own pace. This free day gives you the chance to explore the sights of the city and take a break from driving. Perhaps you feel like taking a stroll through Srinagar's beautiful Mughal gardens or checking out the local markets, where you can find traditional Kashmiri handicrafts, Pashmina shawls, and delicious regional delicacies.

Back behind the wheel. Today we drive to Kargil. Our journey will take us over the Zoji-La Pass, which is at an elevation of 11,575 feet and offers stunning views of Ladakh's rugged landscapes. Along the way, we will pass through Dras, known as the second coldest inhabited place in the world, see historic sights like Tiger Hill and Point 4875 (Batra Top), and make a stop at the Kargil War Memorial.

The seventh day of our expedition takes us to Leh. The journey there is as beautiful as it is challenging. Behind every curve, there are views of rocky cliffs and valleys, and we will likely stop for a photo or two. We will also stop at the Hall of Fame, a museum built by the Indian army in honor of the soldiers who fell in the Kargil War and learn about the history of this place. Afterward, we will visit the Pathar Sahib Gurudwara, a Sikh shrine built in 1517. And then comes another highlight of our off-road tour. The Magnetic Hill, known for its gravity-defying illusion, which makes our vehicles appear to roll uphill.

Today we spend the day on a day trip. Leh is situated at an altitude of 3,500 meters, and this day is important for us to acclimatize to the heights of the Himalayas. Leh also offers another opportunity to explore the cultural and historical treasures of the region. We start with a visit to the Leh Palace, also known as Lhachen Palkhar. The palace was built around 1600 and offers a view of the entire city and the surrounding mountains. Afterwards, we go to the Shanti Stupa, a beautifully white dome built as a symbol of peace and an important part of Ladakh's spiritual landscape.

The ninth day's stage takes us further into the heights of the Himalayas. Today we cross the Khardung La, which at 5,350 meters is one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world. This adventure is rewarded with the arrival in Nubra Valley, where we will spend the night.

Nubra Valley is known for its dunes and camels, which we will see today. There is an opportunity to ride one of the double-humped camels and explore the valley this way, or if you haven't had enough of motorized transport, take an ATV ride. Also, using the day to relax and only meet the group again for dinner is a way to enjoy the free day.

The off-road adventure continues. We cross rugged gravel roads and high mountain passes to reach Pangong Tso Lake at over 4,200 meters above sea level. Two-thirds of the lake is in Chinese territory, specifically in Tibet. Due to its beauty, it has served as a Bollywood film set multiple times.

Over the Chang La Pass (approx. 5,300 m) our adventure trip leads back to Leh through snow-capped peaks. Due to the border conflicts in this region, the pass is kept free of snow, especially for military use. Drivers should have their passes ready today, as there may occasionally be checks.

Today's destination is Jispa. On the way, we pause at the Zing Zing Bar (tea house) and then cross the Baralacha La, another off-road mountain pass and a set of hairpin bends known as the Gata Loops. It consists of asphalt and gravel sections and allows us to reach a height difference of 730 meters over a length of 23 km. The Gata Loops feature 21 challenging hairpin curves between cliffs and debris. At the end of this adventurous day, we will spend the night in Jispa.

The route section takes us through the Atal Tunnel (approximately 9 km), through the village of Keylong at the Bara-Shigri glacier, which we can visit, over Tandi to Manali.

The fifteenth is the last off-road day of our journey. Once again, we travel through the winding roads of North India, and in the evening, we will review our experiences at a farewell dinner together.

On the last day of our tour, we make our way back to Delhi, from where we will start our journey home. In addition to material souvenirs, our backpacks will also be full of impressions and memories of this off-road expedition through North India, which will accompany us for a lifetime.