Manali to Chandratal Cycling Expedition

Region:- Manali & Spiti

•  Total Duration – 4 Nights / 5 Days
•  Style Of Trip – Cycling
•  Maximum Altitude – 3700 mtr.
•  Grade – Moderate to strenuous
•  Best Season – June  to November
•  Accommodation – Hotel/Guesthouse; Organized Campsite
•  Food – On ride – All meals included
•  Distance – 250 Km

Day 1. Reporting in Manali  (1,980m)

Arrive Manali, fulfill your remaining documentation and shop trip related items. 

Day 2. Manali – Marhi (3,300m)(35km.)

Start cycling from Manali on the tarmac through villages, apple orchards, lush green forests, all the way up to Marhi. The road is pretty good but with heavy traffic in the summers. One has to be careful while riding and keeping his side. The road goes along some of the beautiful forests of conifers, birch and oak. The route offers great scenic beauties as one climbs up the hill. The route is uphill with decent gradient. The distance for today’s ride isn’t that long but with a good acclimatize ride. After hours of ride we reach at Marhi. Night halt will be in the temporary hotels/camps at Marhi. 

Day 3. Marhi – Rohtang Pass (3,980m) – Chhatru  (3200m)– Chota Dara (65km.)

Today the ride is slight uphill till the Rohtang Pass for about 10km. after the pass the route is pure downhill until we reach at Gramphoo. Gramphoo is the point from where we turn right and enter into the Spiti valley. Beyond Gramphoo the terrain is total off road but with moderate ride. The landscape is so arid and deserted that one will feel the change after coming from the green valleys of Manali. We will cross some streams on the way before reaching at Chhatru and beyond. Chhatru is a popular site for the travelers and trekkers to halt or rest. Beyond it one will follow rough track till the Chhota Dara, where the camps will be set. Chhota Dara is a decent site surrounded by rock and Sandstone Mountains capped with snow.

Day 4. Chhota Dara – Baatal (13,435ft.)– Chadratal Lake (4,300m) – Baatal (45km.)

Next morning going forward one will pass by some similar stopovers till Baatal. Beyond it there are no inhabitants till Kaza. There must be some camping set by several private adventure companies en route to Chandratal. We will take left few km’s after Baatal because the route separates at this point. One leads to the lake and the other to the Kaza. Chandratal is also called ‘Moonlake’.  Because when full moon rises on the mountains it creates magical reflections on the lake with bright milky light enfolding the valley. We will spend some quality time at Chandratal and return by the afternoon back to the Baatal.  Spend a night in the camps watching bright stars experiencing the real nature.  

Day 5. Baatal – Rohtang Pass – Manali (120km)

Drive back in vehicle through Rohtang Pass to Manali. It will take about 4-5 hours to reach Manali, here on one can leave to his/her preferred destination.

Others Details

A cycling expedition from Manali to Chandratal is great experience through lush green valleys to the arid Spiti valley. The beautiful Chandratal lake is the destination for this ultimate route. The chandertal is named after two words chandra, meaning Moon and the tal is the lake. So it is called moon lake as its crescent shape.