Congratulations to Avisek Tunga who set a new Solo Unsupported W-E Trans Himalayan Attempt in the 18-49 Age-group, on a standard, non-fixed gear bike.

This is also a New Guinness World Record – Congratulations!

Trans-Himalaya Solo Self-Supported Cycling Expedition 2025

By Avisek Tunga, WUCA Member
Organized by Dquests Adventure Sports Academy

The Trans-Himalaya Solo Self-Supported Cycling Expedition 2025 began as a dream — to cross the entire Indian Himalayan arc, from Leh in Ladakh to Kibitho in Arunachal Pradesh, the first sunrise point of India.
 The goal was to complete this journey in solo self-supported style, carrying my own supplies, repairing my own bike, and enduring everything nature and terrain could throw at me — completely alone.

The Beginning – Leh, 23rd September 2025

I started from Leh (3385 m) at 4:27 AM, in darkness and freezing cold. The plan was to cross Taglang La and reach Debring, but my body refused to move beyond 5000 meters. Lack of acclimatization, excessive luggage, and biting wind forced me to stop early.
 That night, I slept alone in a roadside worker’s tent at 5100 m — a thin sleeping bag, no food except a few dry snacks, and temperatures below freezing.
 The wind howled through the mountains, and I realized — this journey was not about records. It was about survival, spirit, and persistence.

The High Himalaya – Cold, Wind, and Thin Air

The next few days tested every ounce of strength I had. I crossed Taglang La, Lachulung La, Nakee La, and Baralacha La — over 5000 meters of pure desolation.
 Mechanical failures began early — both my hand pump and electronic inflator failed near Debring, leaving me dependent on passing vehicles. I fell twice in the Moray Plains due to violent crosswinds. Nights were sleepless and cold; days were long and draining.
 Crossing Baralacha La felt like reaching the edge of the world — and when I finally descended to Manali after four days, I knew I had survived the hardest section of the expedition.

The Transition – From Ice to Fire

From the thin air of Ladakh to the warm, humid plains of Himachal and Punjab — it was a world transformed.
 At Manali, I serviced my bike, couriered back my winter gear to save weight, and set off again.
 Temperatures soared to 35°C. The road rolled endlessly through Bilaspur, Mandi, and Ambala.
 On Day 6, I rode 331 km, the longest stretch of the expedition — battling dizziness, vomiting, and exhaustion from the heat.
 That night, I slept by the roadside under open sky — body broken, but resolve stronger than ever.

The Plains – Machines Break, But Spirit Doesn’t

Entering Uttar Pradesh, my bike’s derailleur broke while climbing a flyover. It was the middle of the night, and I had no backup. I sat by the road for four hours, disassembled the drivetrain, and improvised a fix with guidance from friends over the phone.
 That moment defined the essence of being self-supported — no one to rescue you but your own willpower.
 Rains, headwinds, and fatigue slowed me, but I kept moving — Bareilly, Sitapur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, and then Bihar.

The Unexpected Detour – Into Nepal

Near Jogbani, heavy rain and flooding forced me off the Indian route. I crossed into Nepal, cycling through Biratnagar, Itahari, and Damak — muddy roads, poor visibility, and constant punctures. But riding through the Nepali countryside under monsoon clouds gave me a strange peace.
 Every kilometer felt earned.

The East – Forests, Floods, and Wild Roads

Crossing back into India through Siliguri, I entered North Bengal and the Dooars region.
 Floodwaters had washed away parts of the highway. I rode through Jaldapara, Buxa, and Chilapata, regions known for elephants and dense forests.
 The nights were dark, silent, and nerve-wracking. I slept on dhaba floors, sheltered under tea stalls, and woke before dawn to start again.

By now, fatigue was constant, my hands swollen from vibration, my stomach weakened by dehydration — yet the thought of reaching Kibitho kept me alive.

The Final Climb – To the Eastern Edge

From Assam, I entered Arunachal Pradesh through Tezu, Walong, and Dong — a route few cyclists ever take.
 The climb from Parasuram to Kibitho was brutal: steep gradients, broken tarmac, and over 3,400 meters of elevation gain on the final day alone.
 Fever and diarrhea had weakened me, but I shed all extra weight, carried only essentials, and pushed through one final sunrise and sunset on the mountains.

On 13th October 2025 at 8:23 PM, I reached General Bipin Rawat Dwar, Kibitho — India’s easternmost road.
 There were no cheering crowds, no cameras, just darkness, a border gate, and the wind. But that silence was everything — it was the sound of completion.

Reflections

In 20 days, 15 hours, and 56 minutes, I had crossed 3,570 kilometers, climbed 17,000 meters, and experienced the full breadth of the Himalayas — from the cold deserts of Ladakh to the tropical rainforests of Arunachal.

This was not just an expedition; it was a journey of endurance, patience, and humility.
 It taught me that the real mountain lies within — and that every kilometer on the road is a kilometer of self-discovery.

Submitted by:
 Avisek Tunga
 WUCA Member

Organizer & Rider – Trans-Himalaya Solo Self-Supported Expedition
 Organized by Dquests Adventure Sports Academy
 Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
 Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology
 📧 avisek.tunga@gmail.com