Riding To
Spiti Valley
5 Things To Remember When Riding To Spiti Valley
Like Ladakh, Spiti is a cold desert and is very different from the rest of Himachal Pradesh. Spiti Valley is probably one of the remotest and most desolate regions of India. Below are a few things you should keep in mind when planning a ride to Spiti Valley:
It is an adventure, not a vacation
If you decide to ride to Spiti Valley, keep in that mind this is not a vacation or a fun ride that you can decide to “Just Do”. It is an adventure that requires you to plan and be prepared for any eventuality. It is not going to be a leisurely ride, simply travelling from one destination to the next. There are rivers & gorges, mountain trails and extreme off-roads that will keep your adrenaline pumping, ensuring that this trip is nothing short of “An adventure of a lifetime”.
You need to develop your riding skills
Before just renting a bike and deciding to ride through Spiti Valley, up your riding skills! Just because you can ride a bike, doesn’t mean you can comfortably ride in Spiti. Many people often just come to Himachal, rent a bike more powerful than they are used to and decide to head out over rocky river beds & water crossings, tough mountain trails and endless gravel tracks. If you want to enjoy the ride and not regret it, then take the time to build your riding skills in the ghats and off-roads before taking off on this epic adventure.
Know your bike
If renting a bike in Spiti, then ensure you get enough practice riding a similar bike before the trip. If taking your own bike, make sure you do a few practice rides on different terrains, especially off-roads. Familiarize yourself with the bike, how it handles, its characteristics and most importantly how you will load your luggage on the bike. Knowing and being comfortable with your bike is necessary to really be “One” on the road. Also ensure you are always in full riding gear. Safety is always first!
Altitude Sickness is a real thing, don’t take it lightly
Many riders or travelers who frequent Spiti Valley will say that there is no need to take AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) medicines like Dimox. That is not necessarily true. Each person’s body responds differently and often with repeated visits gets used to the lack of oxygen. People can die of AMS and even if not that extreme, why would you want to spoil the adventure by laying in bed sleeping and feeling uncomfortable riding your bike. Speak to your doctor and start taking Dimox tablets 2 days before the trip, drink lots of water, walk slowly & carefully to avoid overexertion. Don’t run or panic if a fellow biker falls. Remember, you can’t help him if you are out of breath.
Get ready to be amazed
You can travel through Spiti Valley many times and each time it is going to amaze you. The vastness of the valleys, the towering Himalayas, the colorful & bare mountain sides and of course, the extreme terrain and locations where the villages prosper. The remote monasteries in the middle of nowhere will make you wonder at the Spirit of Man and how people can be happy & satisfied in the most remote corners of the world.