Dubai: An Emirati woman biker is on top of the world after riding through the world’s highest motorable road, Umling La, located in Ladakh of India.
As the highest paved road and mountain pass in the globe, Umling La lies on the ridgeline between Koyul Lungpa and the Indus River near Demchok at an elevation of 19,024 feet or 5,799 metres.
Speaking exclusively to Gulf News, Nora AlJassasi, said, “It was a big leap towards self-actualisation. To think of doing something, work for it and make it happen – that is extremely satisfying.”
Nora, who was part of seven-day group expedition, said, “It was great fun. I had not anticipated the off-road challenges, but I did remarkably well and it felt very good. The ride was rigorous and adventurous at the same time.”
A financial analyst in Dubai, Nora said she was into equestrian sports earlier but took to motorcycling in the summer of 2021.
“I actually started from scratch, and enrolled into a school to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I must admit that it was initially a struggle. But I persisted and managed to get my first bike by March 2022,” she said.
Rally racer
A proud owner of a Honda Africa Twin, Yamaha MT09, an Enduro dirt bike Yamaha WR450F and a Canam Maverick X3 race buggy, she said she enjoys being not only an adventure biker covering the globe but also a rally racer.
“I take part in GCC rallies as a driver,” said Nora, who is currently in Qatar for a rally.
“Travelling around the world and exploring the off-road terrains on the motorcyle are an all-time thrill. I have been to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, Germany, Luxemburg, France, Belgium, Italy and India on these tours so far. I have also taken my own bike to the GCC countries” she shared.
Biggest milestone
Understandably, it was the Himalayan adventure that proved to be one of her biggest milestones.
“I reached the world’s highest motorable pass on a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, a bike named after and made for the Himalayan region. It was a tall, heavy bike, with a mid-power range. But it did well in the off-road terrains, earning its name and title,” she said.
For bikers like her, Umling La is a bucketlist destination. It is the equivalent of the Mount Everest for those on the motorcycle.
Challenges aplenty
Not for the faint-hearted, the pass is meant only for the seriously adventurous. “We had to acclimatise ourselves for what lay in store for three days. There are so many challenges one needs to overcome there. For one, the harsh weather, with its sharp temperature dips. At that high altitude, oxygen levels also drop. I experienced constant headaches and heavy breathing at night. These side effects are common. The place is also a highly restricted area, so one needs to be extremely careful. One needs to be very fit and adapt to the climate conditions before venturing out,” she explained.
“But once you prepare yourself and manage to make your way up the highest point with due care, it’s a surreal feeling. The sense of achievement is pure ecstasy.”
