The 11-night trans-Himalayan self-drive expedition covers 5 states and takes you to one of the highest motorable roads in the world covering a distance of more than 1,500 kms.
The expedition starts from Shimla from where the convoy will move to Manali through parts of the old Hindustan-Tibet road and across the Jalori pass. From Manali, the participants will drive across the Rohtang pass to Jispa, a small village on the banks of Bhaga River in the Lahaul region. The road beyond Jispa follows the picturesque Bhaga river across Baralacha La pass. After passing the Suraj Tal Lake, participants will reach Sarchu, which is on the Himachal Pradesh-Jammu & Kashmir border. The journey from Sarchu to Leh will involve crossing the Zanskar range and climbing up the Gata Loops, a series of 21 hairpin bends carved into the mountain side, and crossing the Lachlung La and Nakee La passes, Pang & More plains and the Tanglang La pass as well.
From Leh, the convoy will move to the Nubra Valley, the road to which passes through Khardung La Pass, which was once the highest motorable road in the world. The next stop in the journey after Hundar is Pangong Tso Lake, a saline water lake on the Line of Actual Control between India and China. After returning to Leh, the participants will begin the journey towards Srinagar and pass Magnetic Hill as well as the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar at Nimmu and cross Fotu La, the highest point on the Leh-Srinagar highway to exit the Indus valley. On the final day of the expedition, the participants will drive across Kargil and Drass to Srinagar.
The previous editions of The Himalayan Dash have witnessed participation from business owners, senior executives and professionals driving some of the most premium cars ranging from Range Rovers, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen & Nissan SUVs, Mitsubishi Pajeros and Toyota Fortuners. The journey gives the partakers a break from driving on congested city roads while allowing them to experience the potential of their SUVs on breathtaking terrain.
The route is carefully planned with relaxed driving and adequate breaks. The drive allows gradual acclimatization while crossing some of the world’s highest motorable mountain passes, long stretches of the cold desert and deep gorges of the Beas, Chandra and Indus rivers. Accommodation during the Himalayan Dash is arranged at some of the best boarding and lodging available enroute including The Oberoi Wildflower Hall in Shimla, Rock Manali in Manali, The Grand Dragon Ladakh in Leh and The Lalit Grand Palace in Srinagar.
All the logistical challenges during the expedition are taken care of by Cougar Motorsport. The organisers are responsible for planning the route and itinerary to include the ‘must see’ sights, providing road books and GPS tracks, coordination of the convoy, arranging local guidance and support from experts, service support and liaison with the local authorities for permits. The excursion involves a considerable amount of driving with adequate halts in between to discuss places, take pictures, eat food and enjoy the holiday! A doctor and ambulance with oxygen and medical supplies will be available with the convoy to take care of any medical emergencies during the journey.
There are three different packages for The Himalayan Dash 2016 The per head participation charges for Indian Nationals for The Himalayan Dash 2016 are as follows:
For 6 nights (Shimla – Leh): INR 70,000
For 9 nights (Shimla – Leh + Hundar + Pangong Tso): INR 80,000
For 11 nights (Shimla –Leh – Srinagar): INR 1,00,000
For the trip, you will need a valid driving license/permit recognised in India. You will need to get your own vehicle, either a 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive with a high ground clearance, and in good mechanical condition. All vehicles must have a private registration and comply with the legal requirements of cars used on public roads in India. A Letter of Authority for the use of the vehicle must be produced from the owner of the vehicle in case the owner is not a member of the crew. It is compulsory for the vehicle to have a valid comprehensive insurance coverage policy.
Those interested can visit www.cougarmotorsport.in. But hurry, limited seats are available.