Tso Kar – Tso Moriri: Bikepacking the Indian Himalaya
Distance
46 Mi.
(74 KM)Days
4
% Unpaved
88%
% Singletrack
60%
Total Ascent
6,369'
(1,941 M)High Point
18,564'
(5,658 M)Difficulty (1-10)
9?
- 9Climbing Scale Very Strenuous138 FT/MI (26 M/KM)
- -Technical Difficulty
- -Physical Demand
- -Resupply & Logistics
Contributed By
The Pikes
The Andes by Bike
![](https://bikepacking.com/wp-content/themes/pedalingnowhere/img/v2/routes/map-x.png)
Despite the fact that gradients on many of the uphills are too steep to ride, it’s all pushing rather than carrying, and the descents are thrilling.
There are four lofty passes on the route, and in the valleys in between nomadic herders set up tents in the summer months. A profusion of non-technical peaks in the area tempt those who like to combine their biking with explorations on foot. Though it’s under 50 miles from the main Manali-Leh road to Tso Moriri, the thin air means it takes most people three or four days to cover the distance.
Highlights
Must Know
Camping
Food/H2O
- The wildness of the area
- Occasional meetings with Ladakhi nomads.
- Cresting 5600m.
- Kozur La.
- The descent to Tso Moriri is unforgettable.
- The route leaves the Manali to Leh highway between Pang and the Taglang La, and heads south-east to Tso Moriri.
- June – September is the best (only) time to visit the area – snow and extreme cold blocks it off to the outside world for most of the year.
- Inner Line Permits are needed to visit the region – they can be obtained in Leh, and there’s a checkpoint near Korzog, on the shores of Tso Moriri.
- Detailed route info here: http://pikesonbikes.com/routes/himalaya-biking/tsokar-tsomoriri/
- Inner Line Permits are needed to visit the region – they can be obtained in Leh, and there’s a checkpoint near Korzog, on the shores of Tso Moriri.
- Wild camping is available.
- As there are no permanent settlements to resupply between the Leh-Manali road and Korzog, you need to bring all supplies with you. Water can be found on occasion.
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