Crazy Himalayas 2026 Episode 12

In this video, we ride from Pangong Tso to Hanle. We start at the beautiful blue lake, which stands out sharply against the brown hues of the mountains and the snow-capped peaks. The light is clear, the air thin, and the lake lies still. Eventually, we have to leave it behind and drive into the desert. A rain shower hangs in the distance, so we put on our rain gear. Fortunately, it doesn't last long: the sky clears and the colors of the landscape come to life again. Although the surroundings don't change much, the drive is never boring. The shapes of the mountains, the lines in the sand, and the soft hues of the desert remain different every time. Almost no people live here. Very occasionally we come across a small village, but otherwise, it is empty and quiet. We ride parallel to the Indian-Chinese border, a desolate strip of land where the wind has free rein. At Rezang La, we stop at the war memorial. In 1962, a short war raged here between India and China. 1,400 soldiers lost their lives. The Indians commemorate the events at this spot, right next to the Chinese border. It is impressive and silent — a moment that lingers. We ride on through the desert. At one point, a small whirlwind rages across the plain. The sand swirls upwards, crosses the road, and disappears just as quickly as it arrived. A strange, almost surreal sight in this empty world. Eventually, we reach Hanle, at the foot of snow-capped mountains. The valley opens up, the air is clear, and it feels as if we have arrived at one of the most remote and beautiful places in the Himalayas. A special drive through a silent, colorful desert that ends in one of the most impressive valleys of Ladakh.