bangalore to leh ladakh road trip by bike cost

A journey far and beyond: Road trip from Bangalore to Leh on a Royal Enfield.

On the 21st of August 2015 me and my wife Sumera Shariff, started a journey to explore India on a motorbike. The trip wasn't about the destination for us but the ride through the veins of India to feel the heartbeat of my incredible country. Bangalore to Leh on Royal Enfield motorbike... A journey far and beyond...

The route:-

Day 1 - Bangalore - Hubli - Goa , Day 2 - Rest Day, Day 3 - Goa - Ratnagiri - Mumbai , Day 4&5 - Rest Day, Day 6 - Mumbai -Surat - Kapadvanj , Day 7 - Kapadvanj - Modasa - Udaipur - Ajmer , Day 8 - Ajmer - Jaipur - Delhi , Day 9 - Rest Day, Day 10- Delhi - Chandigarh - Amritsar - Wagah - Amritsar, Day 11 - Amritsar - Jammu - Banihal , Day 12 - Banihal - Pahalgam - Srinagar , Day 13 - Srinagar - Sonmarg - Zoji La Pas - Dras - Kargil , Day 14 - Kargil - Fotu La Pas - Lamayuru - Nimmu - Leh, Day 15 - Leh - Khardung La Pas - Khalsar - Panamik - Diskit , Day 16 - Diskit - Hunder - Leh, DAY 17 - Leh - Shey - Karu - Chang La - Tangste - Spangmik - Pangong Tso, Day 18 - Pangong Tso - Leh, Day 19 - Leh - Karu - Gya - Tanglang La - Pang - Lachulung La - Sarchu, DAY 20 - Sarchu - Baralacha La - Zingzingbar - Jispa - Keylong - Rohtang Pass - Manali , Day 21 – Manali - Kullu - Mandi - Bilaspur - Chandigarh, Day 22 - Chandigarh - Delhi - Agra - Jhansi , Day 23 - Jhansi - Sagar - Nagpur, Day 24 - Nagpur - Adilabad - Hyderabad , Day 25 - Hyderabad - Bangalore.

Day 1 - Bangalore - Hubli - Goa

I Landed in Bangalore from Dubai around 4.30 AM although we planned to leave by 10.00AM we started our much awaited journey at 11.30AM. We stopped around 1.30 for lunch on the highway between Chitra Durg and Davangere . The ride until Davengere was pleasant and clear skies welcomed us but trouble is something unexpected and it struck us around 70 kms before Hubli, thunder storm with heavy rainfall we couldn't even find a shade or roof to save ourselves from getting drenched. An idea struck my mind, we were carrying a blue plastic sheet to wrap our luggage so i just parked the bike aside and we sat on the bike with the sheet covering us entirely, we sat that way for almost an hour until the rain gods showed some mercy and we continued our journey. It was almost sunset when we approached Hubli, although my wife insisted that we stay put in Hubli for the night but somehow i wasn't keen on stopping and thought that reaching the targeted destination will keep us on schedule. We left the AH47 to turn right after Hubli, it was drizzling and roads were wet and slippery and i was riding at a speed between 80 to 100 and we met an accident at a steep turn, my wife was thrown towards the road and i along with the bike fell off the road on stones and wet mud, the bike's headlight broke and i was struggling to get up since my right leg was under the bike and my wife couldn't gather strength to lift the bike single handedly then luckily there was a person passing by on another bike and my wife stopped him and asked for help and he was kind enough to help us out and we followed his bike's tail light since our headlight gave way and the roads were full of fog due to rain and i am still not sure how I managed to drive with the excruciating pain in my knee and hand. We reached Ponda around 12.30AM and on upon checking into the hotel room i realize the kind of wounds i had on me, fortunately my wife escaped with small bruises on her knee. We had carried a first aid box along and did the dressing and retired for the day.

Day 2 - Rest Day in Goa

Although the rest day wasn't scheduled, it was taken coz of last night's disaster, bike's headlight was broken and we discovered that one part of the baggage carrier was broken too so we packed our bags to leave to Panaji . We found the Royal Enfield Showroom with a service station attached but Goa being a laid back city the place was shut for lunch so went looking for a welding shop to get the carrier fixed. The carrier was fixed really quick and we headed back to the service station and left the bike and took a walk to a near by restaurant to satiate our hunger, we relished upon some prawn vindaloo and steamed rice. the bike was ready and my wife insisted that I visit a doctor to get a proper dressing done for the wounds and also take a tetanus injection so went looking for a clinic or a hospital and we were informed that everything is shut until 4:00PM for lunch I wonder what people in this city do in case of an emergency coz coming from a city like Dubai where such services are available 24/7 i was a bit astonished. We decided to check into the same resort in Baga that we have been staying during the last 2 visits and this was the 3rd year in a row. After leaving the baggage in the room we walked hunting for a clinic which upon reaching saw a long queue of patients awaiting their turn our plan to head to the beach after the visit was postponed indefinitely, it was already 8:00PM by the time we got out so we decided to have our dinner at the restaurant in the resort that we stayed. We had a nice candle light dinner, it was a karaoke night at the restaurant so i decided to croon a number for my wife as she had asked me for it since we got married and my wife was smiling ear to ear throughout.

Day 3 - Goa to Mumbai

We had two options to ride to Mumbai. One is the NH17 and the other route was the NH 4 which runs along the coast line from Goa to Mumbai. This route was longer than NH17 but we decided to take it because it had challenging roads and at the same time you could enjoy the beauty of Goa - Mumbai coastal line. NH4 distance between Goa and Mumbai is about 610Kms and the roads has sharp bends and curves where you need to ride in a very slow pace. Therefore, we started from Goa by 5:00AM so that by sunset we could reach Mumbai. Trust me! it was worth riding through that road. The roads were perfect to ride except few places here and there. The route has black and white sand beaches throughout, lush green mountains, straight stretches of roads, rivers and a lot of bridges to ride through, ferry crossing and more... If you are a rider, you should ride through this route at least once in a lifetime. We had our lunch in Ratnagiri, a place is very famous for black sand beaches and temples. We used the ferry to cross river in places called Jaigad and in Dabhol . This ferry crossings helped us to save almost 80Kms and it was worth the experience to cross the river in a ferry. It was about 2:00pm when we reached Dapoli and from there we had to cover a distance more than 200 km to reach Mumbai. We wanted to further ride through the coastal line road but it would have been difficult to reach Mumbai as per our schedule if we did that. We started to move away from the NH 4 and took the road connecting Dapoli - Kadivali - Mandangad -Goregaon and then took the NH66 Pen. It took about 3 hours for us to cover this distance. From Pen - Panvel - Mumbai made us tired because of the traffic we had to ride through. Finally at 6:30 in the evening we reached CST, Mumbai where we had our stay arranged.

Route: NH4 :- Baga - Anjuna - Shiroda - Vengurla - Malvan - Devgad - Ambolghad - Pawas - Ratnagiri - Ganpatipule - Jaigad - Guhagar - Dhabol - Dapoli - Kadivali - Mangangad - Goregaon - Pen - Panvel - Mumbai

Day 4 - Rest Day in Mumbai

A rest day in Mumbai was a must because it is one of the favorite cities of my wife and it was long since we both visited Mumbai. We got out in the afternoon to explore the city. Although i have been to Mumbai several times but never had a chance to see places in Mumbai. We decided to give rest for our Bike and took a taxi to roam around the city. We spent some time at the Gateway of India, Marine Drive and Haji Ali Dargah. Went to the famous Haji Ali Juice Center to taste flavors and then took a taxi back to the place we where staying. The next day we wanted to leave early as we planned to ride to Vadodara , Gujarat from Mumbai. So we finished all our packing before we dozed off.

Day 5 - Unexpectedly Held Up in Mumbai

As scheduled, we left the place in Mumbai at 6:00 in the morning. It was very cloudy and drizzling when we started. We wanted to ride through the Marine drive and take the skyline bridge to connect NH 8 to Vadodara. But it wasn't meant to be... Firstly the rain stopped us near marine drive for about an hour. it was pouring. Once the rain stopped, we continued through the Marine drive to take the skyline bridge. But unfortunately we couldn't take the bridge because the bikes where not allowed to ride through that bridge. We took the alternate route to connect NH8 then near Mahim Darga the unexpected happened. The bike broke down, it wasn't starting... I checked all the basic knobs of the bike to understand that the bike got some electrical problem. it was 8:00 in the morning and finding a mechanic at that time was difficult. i spoke to some of the locals there and got to know that there is a Royal Enfield service station just about 5 minutes away, near the Mahim Station. We pushed the bike until the service station and was lucky to have this place so close to where the bike broke down. We had to wait outside the service station for almost 3 hours because the service station opens at 11:00AM! It was very tiring and frustrating for us to be held up like that. Finally at 11:00AM the station opened and the mechanics started looking through the bike to find out the problem. I thought it will be fixed in an hour's time but i was wrong. it was 2:00PM in the afternoon and the mechanics were still trying to find out the root cause. We had our lunch at a place nearby. Now it seemed impossible to continue our journey as per the schedule. We decided to call it a day and stayed back in Mumbai to continue the journey the next day. My wife took a taxi and went back to place where we stayed yesterday. I stayed at the service station and finally at 5:00PM they managed to fix the bike. We ended up changing the entire electric cable set of the bike because it was impossible to find the root cause of the short circuit.

Day 6 - Mumbai to Kapadvanj(Gujarat)

It was not the route as per our plan. we had planned to ride to Vadodara from Mumbai. except 30-40 kilometers from Mumbai the highway was good until Surat. We stopped for a tea just about 15km before Surat. A small discussion with the locals at the tea shop helped us to understand the seriousness of the current situation all over Gujarat. We decided to ride further through the highway hoping that there will not be any problem from the protesters to the travelers but we where wrong! after another 10km ride, just before a toll gate we saw the vehicles taking a U Turn from the double lane highway! we understood that the situation is not right for us to ride further so we also took a U Turn and started to ride back. We really didn't know what to do at that point of time and we where just looking for a safe place to stop. luckily, we saw a police crime branch office on the opposite side of the highway and decided to go there to take some time out and think about the next plan of action to get out of Gujarat. We spoke to a few officers at the crime branch office and got multiple advises. they advised us to find a hotel on the highway and stay back in Gujarat until the things get settled. but i thought it was not an option right now because it could get you stuck in Gujarat for days. So i decided to check the alternative routes to get out of state. finally we found a route which was a longer route through the villages of Gujarat to reach Rajasthan . We rode almost 700km that day under the desperation to get out of Gujarat. We saw rallies taking place in and around the routes we took with very risky circumstances. At about 7:00PM in the evening we reached a village called Balasinor and stopped there for fuel and tea. We still had to cover another 120Km to enter to Rajasthan. We both were very tired due to the long journey so far but we had to push ourselves to a safe place before we rest for the day. luckily after speaking to the guys from the restaurant where we had our tea, we got go know that riding further is very dangerous and it was better to find a place to rest and ride early morning to get out of Gujarat. These guys where so helpful and kind that they helped us to find a guest house to stay over night in another village called Kapadvanj which was about 15Km away from that restaurant. it wasn't easy to check-in to that guest house because they where not ready to give the rooms due to the tension around. finally we manage to convince them and gave all our identity documents to hire the room for the night. We were tired till the toe, crashed and slept off like babies.

Day 7 Kapadvanj - Udaipur - Ajmer

While leaving Kapadvanj at 5:30 in the morning we had only one thing on our mind. "Getting out of Gujarat!". We had to ride through Madosa which is the most effected village in Gujarat due to the tension. With God's grace we managed to cross Madosa and the Gujarat-Rajasthan boarder without any problem. We felt so relieved and happy after entering Rajasthan. Rode all the way to white city ,Udaipur and had our breakfast moving around the city. Explored the Udaipur city palace overlooking the Lake Pichola, the grandeur and beautiful architecture left us awestruck. We also visited the vintage and classic car collection at the Udaipur Palace, since we reached Udaipur by 10 in the morning and finished having a look ar couple of places by 12.30 PM, we decided to ride till Ajmer before sun set and rest there. The roads where very good from Udaipur to Ajmer. Had our lunch on the way in the highway and reached Ajmer 5:00PM. Took a hotel room to stay over night. Got fresh and then visited the Ajmer Darga. Had dinner and got back in the hotel to switch off for the day.

Day 8 Ajmer - Jaipur - Delhi

As expected the roads where good from Ajmer to Jaipur. Reached Jaipur by 10:00 AM. By the day 8 we had already done 2600+ kilometers and It was time for the bike's service. We directly went to the Royal Enfield service station in Jaipur to get the scheduled service done. Dropped the bike at the service station and got out to explore the pink city, Jaipur in a auto rickshaw. Went through the old pink city gate of Jaipur to see the famous Amer Fort. It was a must visit place if anyone visits Jaipur. The fort was worth seeing. Then we headed back to the Service station to pick up the Bike. The bike was serviced and ready to ride further. 2:00 PM in the afternoon we started from Jaipur to Delhi. It was never expected to have such a bad highway to reach the capital of India! The road was dusty, polluted and the traffic was horrible! It took 7 hours or more to cover the distance because of the above mentioned reasons! It was planned to meet one of my very good friend, Arjun Sandhu. We used to work and stay together for years while we where in London , UK. It was almost after 8 years that we were meeting and i was so excited about it. He was so kind to arrange us a stay in his office space. It wasn't easy to find a hotel stay that night due to the Rakhi festival happening and moreover we just needed a place to crash after the tiring ride from Jaipur to Delhi. We reached his place by 10:00 PM, dropped the bags at his place and went for dinner with his wife Richa Sandhu and brother Anand Sandhu. After dinner we got back to the place he arranged for us to spend the night.

Day 9 - Rest Day in Delhi

It was 9 days since we started our ride and it was obvious to have so many dirty clothes to wash! i found a laundry nearby and took all the dirty clothes there for washing. There was another major issue which was disturbing our minds to ride further. Due to the 8 long days journey on a motorbike and being a pillion rider my wife developed severe pain in her spine, it was hard for her to bare it. I could see how badly she was struggling to manage on the motorbike. We moved out of Arjun's place and took a hotel room. it was very important for us to talk and decide how to go about further with the ride. finally we mutually decided that I will continue the ride from Delhi and she will take rest for the next couple of days and if the her pain settles then she will join me wherever i am or else she will take a flight back to Bangalore. Arjun had invited us for dinner out that night. Arjun, Anand and his sister Aradhika were there to have dinner with us. we had a great time with them. We cant thank them enough for the hospitality. They treated us like heroes! :-)

Day 10 - Delhi - Amritsar, Punjab

It was very hard for me to leave my wife and walk out of the hotel room to continue the ride. I was missing her presence throughout the ride. The bike was light now because of lesser baggage and no pillion. I was riding on an average of 80km. After Riding through some part of Haryana i entered Punjab. After entering Punjab I started feeling the happiness in the air. The people in Punjab was so welcoming and fun loving. I was stopped at so many places in Punjab by the locals just to ask about my trip and click pictures with me, I felt like a celebrity :-P . The roads where amazing to ride through i reached Amritsar by 4:00PM and rode all the way to Wagah Boarder to witness the parade. It was very hot and humid in Amritsar. The parade is one amazing event which every Indian must witness. I was pumped after the parade and I decided to carry an Indian flag on my bike for the rest of my journey.

After the parade I went near the Golden Temple in Amritsar and found a Place to stay overnight. Got fresh and went to visit the Golden Temple. I felt so welcomed by the people in the Temple because of their good gesture and kindness. Had dinner in restaurant and hit bed early.

Day 11 - Amristar, Punjab - Verinag, Jammu and Kashmir

I started the day by visiting the Jalianwala Bagh by 7:00 in the morning. It was impossible for me to leave Amritsar without visiting one of the most historical places in the Independence of India. It was hardly 5 minutes walk from the Golden Temple, spent some time at the Jalianwala bagh to pay respect to the martyrs. Started Riding from Amritsar towards Jammu just after breakfast. It didn't take much time for me to reach the Punjab - Jammu and Kashmir Boarder. I could see the Himalayan Terrains from far. From the time i entered Jammu and Kashmir, the entire landscape changed. i felt like i was riding in the Himalayas already. There were good and bad roads on and off and the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir slowly started to smile and welcome me. The Indian Army soldiers and trucks started showing up on the road more than the civilians and civilian vehicles. The air and the sky in Kashmir was so clean compared to the road i rode for the last 10 days. The roads were narrow with sharp bends and curves which made me ride slow, had my Lunch after crossing the city of Jammu. Whie having my lunch i realized that my phone network is no longer working after entering Jammu. The locals in Jammu told me that only the local sims or postpaid sims work in Jammu. i went to a mobile shop in jammu and bought a local sim card after giving the identity document copies. I called up my wife to inform about the new number. She told me that she was trying to get in touch with me to let me know that she is now ok and will take a flight tomorrow morning to Srinagar joining me to continue the ride with me. i thought i will be able to reach Srinagar before sunset but after riding through Udampur and Patnitop i managed to cross the Jawahar Tunnel near Banihal by 7:00PM only. This tunnel is the entrance to Kashmir Valley by road. There are two tunnels one in each direction of vehicle movement. Total length of Jawahar tunnel is 2.5KM. It takes 5 Minutes to cross the tunnel. Both ends of the tunnels are heavily guarded by security personals. After crossing the tunnel i realized that it is not possible for me to ride any further in the night because of the cold weather and road. So i decided to look for a place to stay over night. unfortunately, it was not the area i could easily find a place to stay. Finally i reached a truck halting place called Verinag. I got a matchbox sized room there to stay over night. Had dinner from the roadside dhaba and spent the night.

Day 12 Verinag, Jammu and Kashmir - Pehelgham - Srinagar

As my wife was expected to land in Srinagar by 12:00PM , I decided to ride to Pahalgam and then ride to Srinagar. It was definitely worth visiting Pahalgam. The landscape in Pahalgam is so beautiful and breath taking that it makes you dream about heaven. It was truly the heaven on Earth. The amount of military trucks and soldiers in that area are intimidating at times but when you look around and see the beauty of Pahalgam, it makes you forget the rest of the things around you.

I reached Srinagar by 1:30PM and by then my wife had already landed and took a cab to reach Lal Chowk. We directly went to the most famous Dal Lake and took a house boat to stay overnight. Took some rest in the afternoon and explored the Dal Lake and surrounding areas in a Shikara.

Day 13 - Srinagar - kargil

Just before we started to ride, the feel of taking on toughest Himalayan terrain was already kicked into our minds. We knew that the ride for the next one week is going to test us in all aspects. Having my wife back was a biggest boost for me to take on any challenge. We started early in the morning from Dal Lake. Rode through Sonamarg , the weather was perfect to ride. After passing a village called Wayul we saw the Sind river flowing for the first time. The green topped Kashmir Valley and the roads just before we reached Zozila Pass was just perfect. About 20km around Zozila Pass was bad. It was the first test on my ability to take on such roads. It was difficult for me to balance on those because i had a pillion rider and almost 40kgs baggage! but the machine i was riding was perfect for those roads and she was carrying us with ease. She started to make me fall in love with her.

We had a short stopover on top of Zoji La Pass to enjoy the beauty around. We were already 11,640FT above the sea level. Just after Zoji La Pas we noticed that there is a very dramatic change in the landscape. The greenery around us faded away and dry, dark brown mountains had taken over. The roads throughout from there on were good and bad on and off, especially in Baltal . As per the schedule we reached Drass town by lunch. Drass known to be second coldest inhabited place in the world! In peak winter the temperature there drops upto -60 degrees which impossible for humans to survive there at that time of the year. We saw so many families walking on the road, carrying all thier belongings on ponys. One family told me that they are going to Jammu because the winter is around the corner and it will not be possible for them to stay there. I asked them how long does it take to reach Jammu, they replied, a month by walk! This conversation with them made me realize how lucky and blessed we all are. We keep complaining for what we don't have and always want more. These people are showing us what is life is all about. Appreciate what we have and be thankful to life.

The Kargil war memorial was the next destination we stopped. was just 5kms away from Drass town. The memorial is beside the famous Tololing Hill. The memorial has a huge epitaph with names of all the officers and soldiers who died in war. The martyrs grave yard made me feel extremely respectful to Indian Army for putting their lives in front to save ours. Slowly the temperature started dropping as the evening approached. We reached Kargil town by 5:00PM and took a decent hotel room for the night to spend. The shops and restaurants in Kargil close very early. Because of that we only managed to find some roadside food to kill the hunger for the night. The hotel we stayed was on the shores of Suru River and the flow of the river was loud that we could hear throughout the night.

Day 14 - Kargil - Leh

The first major town we reached after leaving from Kargil was the Mulbek which has a Huge statue of "Future Buddha" known to be build in the 8th century on a single rock. just a few minutes ride from Mulbek we passed through the Namika La (12,198ft) which has breathtaking view around you. About 42Km from there we reached the highest pass on the Srinagar- Leh Highway which is the Fotu La Pas(13, 479ft). The next stop was at the Lamayuru village which is home to one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, dating back to the 10th century. Around the Lamayuru there is a very unique landscape known as the Moonland which gives you a feeling that you are standing on Moon. Further up we reached Nimmu Village, where we saw the famous confluence of Indus and Zanskar River. The Indus was was looking clean and green while the Zanskar was wild and muddy. After Nimmo the roads were pretty ok and straight until Leh. We rode through the magnetic hill and felt the magnetic force pulling the bike uphill. It was an experience which cannot be described but felt. It took another 45 mins for us to reach the Beautiful Leh Town. It was only afternoon when we reached Leh. So after checking in in a hotel I decided to go out and get some very important tools which we must for the journey ahead. The next few days we will be riding through one of the most difficult and remote terrains in Leh,Ladakh which is prone for bike breakdowns due to the uneven, slippery, rocky and muddy roads ahead. So i went out and brought some of the important tools to carry in case of any breakdowns, We had our dinner at the hotel we where stayed that night and went to bed.

Day 15 - Leh - Nubra Valley

This ride was a mixed bag of emotions. We started from Leh at 6:00AM. It was very cold and windy. The roads started pealing and fading away as we approached the uphill roads of the highest motorable road in the world. It was getting tougher every minute to ride further because of the deadly roads and the weather. After having stopped at North Pullu for permission to ride further the weather dramatically started to drop. For the first time in the journey I felt the biting cold. My hands where frozen inside and was very hard to ride on. The oxygen level was dropping every meter we go uphill and it was making difficult for us to breath. After fighting out hard finally we reached the highest point of the world's highest motorable road, The Kardung La Top (18,380 ft above the sea level). It was an amazing feeling to achieve that feat and thought me a very valuable lesson for life that "there will be always a lot of obstacles and reasons around to stop you from what you what to do or achieve in your life. But if you have the determination, passion and courage to overcome all these, then you can conquer anything and everything in life". within 5 minutes of time at Kardung La Top my wife developed altitude sickness and we left immediately. We rode away from Kardung La Top. Even though riding on the high altitude for the last 4 days and acclimatization to the weather, it didn't help her to stay stable in Kardung La Pas. This shows toughness of the Terrain we are riding on. After a careful ride downhill from Kardung La Pas we reached the South Pullu military base camp where military officers were serving free hot tea for the travelers. That one cup of tea really helped us to regain our breath and gave some heat in our body.

Riding further down we reached a place called Khalsar which is connecting the silk route to Pakistan and further to the china border is the most beautiful ride. It took us through the mesmerizing Nubra Valley which is known to be the gateway to Heaven. The low altitude landscape was breath taking!. We rode all the way till a village called Panamik which is famous for the hot water springs. Its really amusing to see and feel the hot water coming down the hill and still remaining hot in such weather conditions. The road from Panamik heads to Siachen Glacier Base Camp, but civilians are not allowed to visit there. So we turned back to Khalsar to go towards the Pakistan border, Turtuk . It was already 5:00 in the evening and we managed to get to a Diskit village before sunset, took a hotel there to rest for the night.

If you haven't been to Nubra valley while your trip to Ladakh, you are almost missing out on the heart of the Ladakh.

Day 16 Diskit- Hunder - Leh

We were dead tired due to the ride yesterday, so it took longer than usual to get back the energy to ride back to Leh. A place called Hunder is just about 14kms from the place where we were staying. Hunder is famous for white sand dunes and the double humped camels known as the Bactrian Camels. A ride on the camel through the white sand dunes is a must and is a wonderful experience. On our way back from Hunder to Leh we saw the 106 feet tall Buddha statue in Diskit. Now you know that you have to ride back through the roads you came yesterday to get back to Leh will create a physiological feeling in your mind which will make you prepared better for what to overcome. The ride back was quicker because of the awareness of the road conditions in that area. Relived the emotions once again what we went through yesterday. Except an hour delay in Kardung La Pas Due to landslide, rest of the ride was nothing dramatic than expected. We reached back in Leh before the sunset, took a room in the same hotel where we stayed the last time and went out in the evening to explore Leh market and have dinner.

Day 17 - Leh - Pan Gong Tso Lake

The route to Pang Gong Lake is not has challenging or scenic as compared to the route to Nubra Valley. After 35km ride from Leh you get the first deviation from a small town called Karu. You need to register your information at the Karu Military base to go further. After taking the next deviation from Skati, in 35km of ride we reached the 3rd highest motorable road in the world know as the Chang La Pass (17,688ft above the sea level). The weather and altitude was ok there comparatively to Kardung La Pas. After Chang La Pass the roads are bad on and off. From a place called Tangtse a deviation to smaller to Pan Gong Lake will motivate you that you are closer to the most beautiful lake in the world. the roads are good from Tangtse until the Lake. You get to see wild horses and Yaks while riding through that road. We started feeling little low after riding from Leh towards Pan Gong Tso Lake because the route was not as scenic as compared to the route to Nubra Valley. So we even started thinking that is it really worth to ride all the way just to see a Lake! oh boy we were wrong when we saw the first view of the Pangong Lake from far!!!! That view brought the smile and energy back in us to ride further. The spread of blue is endless, its a sight to behold. As soon as we reached, we started looking for the best place to hire tents to stay overnight. We found a very beautifully located tent setup just on the lake shore. We hired a tent there for the night, kept our bags inside the tent and went near the lake to feel the most perfect place on earth.

Although the tents that we hired we comfortable but there was no power at 10 PM since the lights work on a generator and are switched off. Although I managed to get a good sleep my wife was Terrified because the wind was blowing too hard which made her feel that it will blow the tent away, she kept waking me up at regular intervals since she is scared of darkness and it was pitch dark, nothing around was visible. That night for her was dreadful.

Day 18 - Pan Gong Tso Lake - Leh

I had mixed feelings while riding back from Pan Gong Lake to Leh. This will be the last ride for my wife as she was taking a flight from Leh back to Bangalore the next morning. It was not easy for a pillion rider to ride through one of the most dangerous terrains in the world. it speaks volume about the trust, confidence and belief she had in me as a rider to sit calm, steady as a pillion. She stood strong even at times when i felt it was difficult. She gave me the strength to ride on and to face all the obstacles that came on our way. I don't think this ride from day 1 would have been this smooth if she wasn't there with me.

Reached back in Leh early which gave us time to walk through the Leh Market once again and had dinner with a couple we met in Pan Gong Lake who are also from Bangalore. I met with another gentleman in Leh Market who is from Mumbai and he also joined us for dinner. After getting back in the hotel room we finished unpacking and packing her stuff separately as she was catching an early morning flight to Bangalore connecting Delhi.

A trip to Leh - Ladakh is not just a journey its an experience which will be cherished throughout your lifetime, it will leave a dent on your mind. A nostalgia will be remain forever.

Day 19 - Leh - Sarchu

After dropping my wife at the airport I took the road to Manali which is known to be the most deadliest road to ride. The best part was the guy whom i met in Leh joined me as a pillion rider to Manali. His name is Naresh and he joined me because he wanted to experience the Leh - Manali Highway once again as he traveled through that road 10 years back. He had his flight booked from Delhi to Mumbai, So he decided to ride with me until Manali and take a bus from Manali to Delhi.

We stopped in Karu for breakfast, filled the tank and also carried extra petrol in cans. we knew that this ride is not going to be that easy to complete. After moving out from Karu the roads started to disappear. These muddy roads were narrow and dangerous, trucks and buses pass through the road. You have to save yourself from falling a good few hundred meters down or getting rubbed against the mountain walls. It was clearly visible that the harsh winter is around the corner as some of the hills were covered with snow and the roads were wet and slippery because of the ice formation on shiny rocks which we were riding on. The uncertain weather conditions and horrible roads was making us ride even slower than expected. But above all these hurdles the enchanting valleys, rugged terrains, picturesque mountains and scenic landscapes was amusing and encouraging us to ride further.

We reached One of the highest mountain passes in the Ladakh region, the Tanglang La pass, which is the highest pass on the Leh - Manali Highway and the 2nd Highest motorable road in the world. You will be able to experience the feeling on riding above the clouds and approaching close to the doors to go out of sky. The way down from Tanglang La Pass was very steep and slippery. The weather was already below zero in the afternoon and it was dropping further as the time went by. We reached Pang by 1:00 PM and stopped there for lunch. The scenery of this place is breathtakingly different any other place in Leh - Manali Highway. There is one straight stretch road in Pang which is more than 20 km long! the ride though that road was truly amazing.

The next was the Lachulung La which welcomed us with the water crossing which has very unpredictable force of flow which can easily make your bike float and slip off and drop a certain to death. Luckily we didn't have to face the brute force of that water crossing because the flow is lesser during the afternoons. We were already feeling the brutal weather condition but the shadow games played by the sun and the mountain was entertaining us. The next 40km stretch through the Gata loops until Sarchu was the most difficult test of my physical and mental strength and the ability to overcome the obstacles in life. My hands and legs froze and I was not able to move them to ride the bike, my neck and back muscles were sore and my bones and joints started to pain badly. I wanted to get to Sarchu as soon as possible and find a place to rest for the night but it felt like ages to cover that stretch to reach Sarchu. Finally at 7:00 in the evening we reached a tent in Sarchu. i just got out of the bike and ran inside the tent to get some heat for my body because i was freezing to death! the temperature was dropped drastically during the evening and it was -10 or below while we reached Sarchu. The family which was mananging the tent gave us hot tea and some blankets to cover ourself to stop shivering. The shivering continued for about 15 minutes until the blanket and the tea started helping me to regain myself. They prepared and gave us a very nice dinner to kill our hunger. Straight after the dinner I got inside my sleeping bag and put more blankets on top of the sleeping bag to help me beat the cold. Naresh was also feeling the same but not to the level I was. He discussed the journey so far and try to close our eyes to get some sleep.

I was mentally and physically tired due to the most horrible ride of my life. I wanted to get some sleep so badly but there was something unexpected was waiting for me to experience. As the night went by the temperature dropped below -20 degrees and the wind blowing outside was so strong that it was literally shaking our tent and felt like we will fly away any minute. I was half asleep and started feeling something magnetic around me. I felt like someone is holding my neck so tightly and I struggling to breath. I could see myself in a dark, remote and empty land calling out for help. I wanted to wake up from my sleep but i was not able to. My neck was feeling so heavy and i was not able to move my hands and legs. Somehow i managed to open my eyes but around me was pitch dark and the sound from the wind hitting on the tent was triggering my fear to close my eyes to get some sleep. i really don't how i managed to get through that night but all i know was i lived and died every single minute of that night.

Day 20 - Sarchu - Manali

After the early morning tea we started our ride to Manali. It was very difficult for me to forget what i went through last night and ride with a fresh mind. It took sometime on the road for me to understand and put my concentration back on road other than what happened last night.

The next highest pass we pass through was the Baralacha La Pas which is surrounded the mountains of Pir Panjal and Himalayas. this place is also famous for the Suraj Tal Trek. ZingZing Bar is one of the highest roadside bars in the world. It was truly the most peaceful place in Leh Manali highway where i found myself back completely from the trauma i went through last night. Jispa was the next on the way and it had a charm of scenic stretch beside the Chandra river. The lush greenery and valleys around Jispa was telling me that the mother nature is calling me back home. The scenic views and the high mountain ranges was getting rich through the way from Jispa to Keylong and beyond. finally we started to go uphill to the famous Rohtang Pass which is the last Pass to complete before i complete the Leh - Manali Highway. Rohtang Pass is famous for the snow capped mountains but unfortunately it had melted and clearly the signs of global warming was visible. The next 50kms to Manali was filled with local tourists and vehicles from Manali. The downhill road were peaceful and the atmosphere brought back the thougts in my mind from last night and made me realize how lucky i was to be alive after riding through the most dangerous Himalayas for the last 10 days. It brought a strong belief in my mind that i can face and overcome any type of situation in life.

Day 21 - Manali - Chandigarh

It was time for the bike to go through the next major service done. I found the Royal Enfield service station on the old Manali hill top. The bike also has some minor issues which were expected after taking on the Himalayas. The mechanic fixed the bike and by the time we left from Manali, it was already 2:00PM. By the way, As planned, my pillion rider Naresh was suppose to take a bus from Manali to Delhi to catch his flight to Mumbai. But he said he prefer to ride with me rather than taking a bus. So we started from Manali and passed through Kullu and reached Mandi by 6:00PM. The Himachal roads where so welcoming and not so welcoming at times. The road and the traffic from Belaspur until Nalagrah was very bad due the number of trucks that run through that route. It was 11:00pm when we reached the center of Chandigarh city. Took a hotel room to spend the night.

Day 22 Chandigarh - Jhansi

Naresh had to catch a 1:30PM flight from Delhi. so leaving early in the morning was important. We left from Chandigarh very early and had our breakfast somewhere on the way. The roads were amazing. so we managed to reach Delhi by 11:00AM. I dropped Naresh to the nearest metro station and said goodbye to him. He was truly a friend to be around and the time we spent together riding definitely made us friends for life!

I wanted to ride as much as I could on that day because i wanted to get back home so badly and be with my wife and my lovely daughter. I took the Yamuna express highway from Delhi to Agra. the highway is good except the draw back of having less petrol stations and the access and exit from the ones available. I reached Agra by 2:00PM. The most interesting part in Agra was i didn't see the Taj Mahal even after riding few meters away from the Taj Mahal entrance gates! I think I am the only person in the history that visited Agra and did not see The Taj Mahal!. There was a reason behind it because I had promised my Wife that we will go and see Taj Mahal together.

I rode through Dholpur , Morena and Gwalior to get to Jhansi. The highlight of day was that i rode through 6 states of India in a single day! Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan and Madhya Pradesh(780KM). It was also the longest ride i did in a single day! Took a place in Jhansi to stay and decided to ride to Nagpur the next day.

Day 23 - Jhansi - Nagpur

Because of the long ride yesterday i slept off like a baby and got up late, by 10:00AM! Got fresh quickly and started to ride toward Nagpur. Had a quick breakfast on the highway and reached Sagar by 3:00 PM.The highway was good to ride, so managed to reach enter Nagpur city by sunset. Rested for the day.

Day 24 - Nagpur - Hyderabad

The highway AH43 was just the kind of roads i was looking for to get back home as i wished. riding through the villages of Madhya Pradesh and speaking to the locals i heard one thing in common from everyone.. NO RAIN! Global Warming indeed... reached Hyderabad city by evening and went out to taste the authentic Hyderabadi Biriyani. After taking suggestions from few people i went to a hotel they all recommended but the biriyani i had was not good as i expected it to be.

Day 25 - Hyderabad - Bangalore

I woke up early because of the excitement of getting back home by evening to be with my wife and daughter. Unexpectedly, i met with the Badminton superstar of India, Miss. Saina Nehwal and her father at the hotel I was staying. She was there for some documentary shoot. I spoke to her and her father for sometime and got some valuable inputs from her father to include in my next ride. It was really nice meeting with Miss. Saina and her Father.

I took the most amazing double line stretch of road from Hyderabad to Bangalore and the 570Kms done in 8 hours time! Met with a couple, Mr. Ali and his wife on the way who were driving back from Hyderabad to Bangalore after spending their weekend. We had small chat over a tea and he also helped me to get my phone battery charged in his car. The Bangalore city welcomed me back with a speeding fine of 300Rs :-) . Reached home by 6:30PM and the feeling I had when I saw my wife and daughter was something i cannot describe in words.

After 25 days of riding through the incredible India finally I have reached back in Bangalore where I started my journey on the 21st of August. 9,920 Kms Covering 15 states, 27 cities. Weather highest of 42•c to the lowest of -20•c. Riding through the seashores to 18,380 feet above from the sea level which is the highest motorable road in the world. Through high tech highways to unimaginably destroyed road which reminds you of the fine line between life and death every second while you ride through. Catching up with all buddies, making new friends, meeting all sort of people from different walks of life. Lush green Mountains, Hills, beautiful Himalayan terrains where each and every mountain looks different from each other in colour and size, paddy fields, dry lands, sand dunes, forests, lakes, rivers, sea and more... I cannot conclude this without mentioning about the machine i which took me through this journey. what an incredible machine! This trip wouldn't have been possible the way i described if the bike i rode wasn't good enough. This ride is definitely the best ever ride of our life and it will always remain the best of all for years to come. Remember... The ride never ends for a true rider...! until then take care , Ride Safe and

Signing Off...

THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED OUR JOURNEY!

We started our from our home on the 21st of August 2015

City Palace

THE PLACE WITH ROYALTY, HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA RESERVED

A NIGHT STAY IN THE HOUSEBOATS OF DAL LAKE AND EXPLORING THE FLOATING MARKETS IS A MUST DO IN SRINAGAR

Diskit - Turtuk Highway

A ROAD TO PAKISTAN BOARDER

Harmandir Sahib

WITH SAINA NEHWAL AND HER FATHER

Jallianwala Bagh

Jammu and Kashmir

HEAVEN ON EARTH

Kargil War Memorial

Khardung La

LIVING THE FEEL OF BEING ON TOP OF THE WORLD

A LAND OF MYSTERIES

Madhya Pradesh

ONLY ONE THING I HEART FROM EVERY SINGLE PERSON I SPOKE DURING MY RIDE..."NO RAIN FOR MORE THAN A YEAR"! GLOBAL WARMING!

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF JANSI AND NAGPUR

Royal Enfeild, Manail

Catching up with my friend, Arjun almost a decate

Nubra River

Nubra Valley

DOUBLE HUMP CAMELS IN WHITE SAND DUNES

MAGICAL AND THE MOST SCENICALLY BLESSED JOURNEY TO THE HOT SPRINGS OF PANAMIK

Bangalore-Hyderabad Highway

THE JEWEL OF INDIA

Panamik Hot Spring

Pangong Tso

The First Look!

Royal Enfield

Service done

The Lamayuru Monastery

Uttar Pradesh

Yamuna Expressway

Zojila Pass

Bangalore - Goa Highway

Goa to Mumbai

Crime Branch Office

A place where we stopped for a while because of the tensions and took some advis

Gateway Of India Mumbai

Rest Day in Mumbai

These Guys helped us to get a place to stay overnight

NH 4 - Goa to Mumbai

NH 4- Goa to Mumbai

A place where we got informations about the highly sensitive tensions in Gujarat

Mumbai to Gujarat - NH 8

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Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip by bike in 2023

• Updated December 2, 2023
• Posted in Road trips / Destination / Travel Guide
• By Kapadiya Bhautik

Are you an adventure lover and want an epic journey on two wheels?

The Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip by bike is a dream come true for any bike lover & traveler.

In this blog article, we will guide you through everything you need to know Before starting your dream journey from Bangalore which help you to make a memorable trip.

Table of Contents

Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip distance

Banglore to Leh Ladakh by road distance is around 3070 km which will take around 59 hours long driving. the distance can vary on which route you choose to travel.

Here are some route options with Distance in a table format;

Bangalore to Leh Ladakh route map

How do I take a road trip from Bangalore to Ladakh on a bike?

1. Planning:

• Decide on your travel dates and the duration of your trip. Ladakh is accessible by road from May to September, so plan your trip within this window.
• Via Manali: Bangalore → North India → Manali → Leh
• Via Srinagar: Bangalore → North India → Srinagar → Leh
• Obtain the necessary permits, such as Inner Line Permits (ILP) and any other special permits required for specific areas in Ladakh.
• Ensure your motorcycle is in excellent condition and has undergone a thorough checkup. Address any issues and carry essential spare parts and tools for repairs.

2. Packing:

• Pack your riding gear, including a full-face helmet, gloves, armored jacket, riding pants, and riding boots.
• Dress in layers to prepare for changing weather conditions.
• Pack camping gear if you plan to camp, including a lightweight tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat.
• Carry navigation tools such as a GPS device, maps, and a compass.
• Bring communication devices like a mobile phone with a power bank and, if possible, a satellite phone or communicator for remote areas.
• Pack non-perishable food items, reusable water bottles, a water purification method, and a first aid kit.
• Don’t forget personal items like toiletries, sun protection, and a Swiss army knife or multi-tool.

3. Route and Accommodations:

• Plan your route with attention to fuel stations and accommodations along the way.
• Pre-book accommodations if you have specific places in mind, but be prepared for limited options in remote areas.
• Expect the availability of budget guesthouses, campsites, and homestays in Ladakh.

4. Safety and Road Conditions:

• Follow road safety rules, especially on winding mountain roads.
• Check road conditions and weather updates regularly during your journey.
• Carry an emergency kit with essentials like a whistle, reflective tape, and an emergency blanket.

5. Enjoy the Journey:

• Be prepared for a challenging yet rewarding experience as you traverse stunning landscapes and immerse yourself in the culture of Ladakh.

Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip itinerary

Here is a detailed itinerary for the Leh ladakh road trip from Bangalore.

Day 1: Bangalore to Chikmagalur

• Distance: Approximately 320 kilometers
• Travel Time: 7-8 hours
• Budget Stay Option: Zostel Chikmagalur
• Website: Zostel Chikmagalur
• Popular Restaurants: Relish local Malnad cuisine at various restaurants in Chikmagalur.

Day 2: Chikmagalur to Hampi

• Distance: Approximately 350 kilometers
• Travel Time: 6-7 hours
• Budget Stay Option: Shanthi Guest House, Hampi
• Popular Restaurants: Try local South Indian dishes at nearby eateries in Hampi.

Day 3: Hampi to Pune

• Distance: Approximately 370 kilometers
• Budget Stay Option: Backpacker Panda Pune
• Website: Backpacker Panda Pune
• Popular Restaurants: Enjoy street food at Juhu Beach or dine at Britannia & Co. for Parsi cuisine.

Day 4: Pune to Mumbai

• Distance: Approximately 150 kilometers
• Travel Time: 3-4 hours
• Budget Stay Option: Backpacker Panda Mumbai
• Website: Backpacker Panda Mumbai

Day 5: Mumbai to Vadodara

• Distance: Approximately 400 kilometers
• Budget Stay Option: Hostel Mantra Vadodara
• Website: Hostel Mantra Vadodara
• Popular Restaurants: Taste traditional Gujarati thali at Mandap, or try local street food.

Day 6: Vadodara to Udaipur

• Distance: Approximately 250 kilometers
• Travel Time: 4-5 hours
• Budget Stay Option: Moustache Udaipur
• Website: Moustache Udaipur
• Popular Restaurants: Visit Ambrai for a lake-view dining experience and try Rajasthani cuisine.

Day 7: Udaipur to Jodhpur

• Distance: Approximately 260 kilometers
• Budget Stay Option: Zostel Jodhpur
• Website: Zostel Jodhpur
• Popular Restaurants: Savor the local flavors at Gypsy Restaurant or On the Rocks.

Day 8: Jodhpur to Bikaner

• Budget Stay Option: Bhairon Vilas Bikaner
• Website: Bhairon Vilas Bikaner
• Popular Restaurants: Sample Rajasthani snacks and sweets at Chhotu Motu Joshi Sweets.

Day 9: Bikaner to Amritsar

• Budget Stay Option: Jugaadus’ Eco Hostel Amritsar
• Website: Jugaadus’ Eco Hostel Amritsar
• Popular Restaurants: Don’t miss Amritsari Kulcha at All India Famous Amritsari Kulcha and try local Punjabi cuisine at Kesar da Dhaba.

Day 10: Amritsar to Srinagar

• Distance: Approximately 450 kilometers
• Travel Time: 8-10 hours
• Budget Stay Option: New Shaheen Hotel, Srinagar
• Popular Restaurants: Enjoy Wazwan cuisine in Srinagar, known for its delicious non-vegetarian dishes.

Day 11: Srinagar to Leh

• Distance: Approximately 420 kilometers
• Travel Time: 9-11 hours
• Budget Stay Option: Zostel Leh
• Website: Zostel Leh
• Popular Restaurants: Try local Tibetan and Ladakhi cuisine in Leh, including momos and thukpa.

Day 12: Explore Leh and its surroundings

• Take a day to explore Leh’s monasteries, markets, and nearby attractions.

Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip cost

Things to Carry on Bangalore to Leh Ladakh bike trip

Here are some things that you need to carry on while Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip.

• 📄 Valid driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement.
• 📃 Vehicle registration, insurance, and pollution certificate.
• 🆔 Aadhar card, passport, and other identification.
• 🔖 Obtain all the necessary permits, such as the Inner Line Permit (ILP) for specific areas in Ladakh, Rohtang Pass permit, etc.
• 🔧 Toolkit and spare parts.
• 🛠️ Tire repair kit.
• 🚗 Engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid.
• ⛓️ Chain lubricant and cleaning kit.
• 🏍️ Riding gear, including a full-face helmet, gloves, armored jacket, and riding pants.
• 🌦️ Layered clothing for varying weather conditions, including thermals, waterproof jackets, and warm clothing.
• 👢 Riding boots and rain covers.
• ⛺ Lightweight tent and groundsheet.
• 🛌 Sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
• 🍳 Camping stove and cookware.
• 🗺️ GPS or a reliable map.
• 🧭 Compass and paper maps as a backup.
• 📱 Mobile phone with offline maps.
• 📞 Mobile phone with a power bank.
• 🛰️ A satellite phone or a satellite communicator for remote areas.
• 🥪 Non-perishable food items.
• 💧 Reusable water bottles or hydration packs.
• 💊 Water purification tablets or a portable water filter.
• 🩹 Basic medical supplies, including bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and any personal medications.
• 😎 Sunglasses and sunscreen.
• 🧴 Toiletries and personal hygiene items.
• 🦟 Insect repellent.
• 💵 Sufficient cash and debit/credit cards.
• 💰 Emergency fund for unexpected situations.
• 🧲 Bungee cords and cargo nets to secure luggage.
• 🩹 Duct tape and zip ties for quick repairs.
• 🔦 Headlamp/flashlight with extra batteries.
• 🛠️ Swiss army knife or a multi-tool.
• 🔥 Firestarter or waterproof matches.
• 🗑️ Trash bags for waste disposal.
• 📷 Camera and extra batteries.
• 📹 Action camera for recording the journey.
• 🛄 Saddlebags, panniers, or top boxes to carry your belongings securely.
• 🌈 High-visibility vest and reflective tape.
• 📢 Whistle and signaling devices.
• 🌟 Emergency blanket.

Stay safe and enjoy your journey! 🏍️🌄🗺️

Best Places to visit in Ladakh from Bangalore

• Some must-visit attractions in Leh include Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, and Leh Market.

2. Nubra Valley:

• Located to the north of Leh.
• Nubra Valley is famous for its surreal landscapes, sand dunes, and the Diskit Monastery.

3. Pangong Lake :

• This breathtaking high-altitude lake is renowned for its ever-changing shades of blue.
• It gained fame from the movie “3 Idiots.”

4. Zanskar Valley :

• Zanskar is a remote and rugged region known for its adventure activities.
• Visit the town of Padum, explore the Phugtal Monastery, and embark on the challenging Chadar Trek during the winter months.

• A remote village near the Pakistani border, Turtuk offers a unique cultural experience.
• Interact with the Balti people, sample their cuisine, and explore the beautiful landscape.

6. Khardung La Pass :

• While en route to Nubra Valley, make a stop at Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world , for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

7. Magnetic Hill:

• Experience the unique phenomenon of a vehicle appearing to move uphill on its own due to magnetic forces.

Safety Guidelines for Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip by bike

Certainly, here’s a concise list of safety guidelines for your Bangalore to Leh Ladakh bike trip:

Bike Maintenance:

• Ensure the motorcycle is in excellent condition.
• Carry a toolkit, spare parts, and tire repair kit.
• Maintain the chain and use lubrication.

Safety Gear:

• Wear a full-face helmet, gloves, armored gear, and riding boots.
• Dress in layers for changing weather.
• Use high-visibility gear.
• Fasten helmet and gear securely.

Road Safety:

• Follow traffic rules and speed limits.
• Keep a safe distance and use hand signals.
• Avoid night riding.

Altitude Sickness:

• Acclimatize in Leh.
• Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol.
• Learn altitude sickness symptoms.

Health and Hygiene:

• Carry a first aid kit.
• Maintain personal hygiene.
• Stay well-hydrated and eat nutritious meals.

Weather Precautions:

• Monitor weather conditions.
• Use rain gear and sun protection.

Emergency Preparedness:

• Inform someone of your itinerary.
• Carry a satellite phone or communicator.
• Know the locations of medical facilities and police.

Route Planning:

• Plan your route and breaks.
• Be prepared for road closures.

Local Guidelines:

• Respect local customs and traditions.
• Drive cautiously, and be mindful of wildlife.
• Dispose of waste responsibly.

Prioritize safety on your memorable journey through Ladakh.

Preparing an important document and item checklist

Certainly, here’s a checklist for your Ladakh trip:

Important Documents:

• Valid Photo ID (e.g., Aadhar card, passport)
• Motorcycle Documents (registration, insurance, driver’s license)
• Permits (ILP, Rohtang Pass, etc.)

Travel Itinerary and Contacts:

• Travel Itinerary
• Emergency Contacts

Bike and Maintenance:

• Bike Toolkit
• Spare Parts
• Tire Repair Kit
• Engine Oil and Fluids
• Chain Maintenance

Personal Items:

• Riding Gear
• Layered Clothing
• Camping Gear (if camping)
• Navigation Tools
• Communication Devices
• Food and Water
• First Aid Kit
• Sunglasses and Sunscreen
• Toiletries and Personal Hygiene
• Insect Repellent
• Money and Cards

Miscellaneous:

• Bungee Cords and Cargo Nets
• Duct Tape and Zip Ties
• Headlamp/Flashlight
• Swiss Army Knife or Multi-Tool
• Firestarter or Waterproof Matches
• Emergency Supplies

Camera and Electronics :

• Camera and Extra Batteries
• Action Camera

Ensure you’ve packed all these items to make your Ladakh trip safe and enjoyable.

How much does it cost to visit Leh Ladakh from Bangalore?

Here are some Estimate Costs to visit Leh Ladakh From Bangalore By bike;

What is the best way to reach Leh from Bangalore?

The best and fastest way to reach Leh is by Flight which takes around 5-6 hours. there is some regular flight operating between Leh and Bangalore.

How many days will it take to go to Ladakh from Bangalore?

It takes around Continue 60 Hours to reach Ladakh From Bangalore. If you visit a major tourist attraction during a road trip then it takes around 10-12 days.

How much should a bike trip to Ladakh cost from Bangalore ?

A Bike trip to ladakh cost from Banagalore is around ₹30,000 to ₹40,000+. It depends on Your hotel’s choice, Restaurant choice, etc.

Which month is best for the Ladakh road trip?

The best time for a Ladakh road trip is from June to September .

Conclusion:

The Bangalore to Leh Ladakh road trip by bike is more than just a journey!

It provides you with a lifetime experience and a memorable journey. From Busiet Street of Bangalore to the peaceful environment of ladakh offer you a unique experience.

Enjoy your journey!

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Our Ladakh bike trip packages from Bangalore include road expeditions either from motorbike or mountain bike. No matter what you select, you will be rewarded with awe-inspiring scenes, breathtaking snow-capped mountains and pristine lakes. And we have Ladakh bike tour packages from Bangalore, especially for families, couples, and backpackers. All of our packages are an assortment of comfy accommodations, top-notch transport, activities, an experienced guide, meals, and pick-up drop from Leh airport. You can customize your Ladakh bike tour package from Bangalore if you are traveling in a group of upto 8 people (approx.). Even you can book any of our fixed departures Ladakh bike tour 2021 from our pre-planned Ladakh itineraries, with Go2Ladakh; these are just some of the wonderful experiences you should definitely relish in Ladakh. Browse the handcrafted itineraries listed down! Avail early bird discount today!

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A Leh Ladakh bike trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that every biker must undertake. The places to visit in Ladakh boast snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, stunning landscapes, and an unmatched culture that attracts bikers from across the globe. 

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About Leh Ladakh

The famous Magnetic Hill , the turquoise-colored Pangong Lake, the meeting of two mysterious rivers, the oldest and most revered monasteries in Ladakh , and the highest passes are just a few spectacular sights in the Ladakh bike trip route  as a whole. 

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Leh Ladakh Bike Trip: An Overview 

Part 1: planning the trip, 1.1 finest time to visit leh ladakh, 1.2 choosing the right bike, 1.3 necessary permits, 1.4 accommodation, 1.5 itinerary, one of the most popular route is: , part 2: safety and precautions, 2.1 acclimatization, 2.2 clothing and gear, 2.3 road conditions, part 3: sightseeing and places to visit, 3.2 nubra valley, 3.3 pangong tso, 3.4 khardung la, part 4: budget and expenses, 4.1 bike rental, 4.2 fuel expenses, 4.3 accommodation and food, 4.4 miscellaneous.

Average Budget = Petrol + Accommodation + Meals + Miscellaneous = ₹7000 + ₹8000 + ₹3500 + ₹2500 = ₹21,000/-

Thus, considering all the lower limits, an average budget for a 15-day  Leh Ladakh Bike Trip would be ₹21,000 per person.

Part 5: Safety Tips

5.1 pre-ride inspection, 5.2 safety gear, 5.3 altitude sickness, 5.4 weather conditions.

Always check the weather forecast before starting the ride.

Part 6: Environmental Conservation

6.1 leave no trace, 6.2 respect local culture, part 7: tips for a successful leh ladakh bike trip itinerary, 7.1 plan your route, 7.2 get the right gear, 7.3 rent a reliable motorcycle, 7.4 get in shape, 7.5 stay hydrated, 7.6 acclimatize slowly, part 8: best time for ladakh bike trip, part 9: permits and documentation.

In addition, it is essential to carry all the necessary documents, including a valid driving license, vehicle registration certificate, and insurance papers. It is advisable to keep the records in a waterproof bag or cover to protect them from the rain.

Part 10: Communication and Connectivity

Part 11: best bikes for a road trip to leh ladakh.

When choosing a bike for a trip like the  Leh Ladakh Bike Trip , travellers have always found it safe and beneficial to choose models of bikes that are simple to operate and maintain. The following five bikes are the finest for a trip to Leh Ladakh :

Royal Enfield-  The 350 CC or 500 CC engine on this Bike, regarded as the most fabulous Bike for a trip to Leh Ladakh , is powerful enough to save your life during a Leh Ladakh bullet trip .

Royal Enfield Himalayan-  The 400 CC Royal Enfield Himalayan’s powerful engine will make travelling on any rocky trek or off-the-beaten-path road effortless and hassle-free.

Bajaj Pulsar-  When compared to Bajaj Pulsar, no other bike has, by a long shot, been a success in India. The Pulsar, the second most popular Bike after Bullets, comes in 150CC, 200CC, and 220CC variations. Either one of these models may be your dependable travel companion on any excursion.

KTM Duke-  On roads like those in Ladakh, being a lightweight bike might be helpful. KTM can also be a fantastic option for a  Leh Ladakh Bike Trip  with their new engine variations of Duke 390 and Duke 250 models.

CBR 250-  Except for its Contigo tyres, which can be a little challenging to handle on the terrain in Ladakh in the event of a change in weather, this Honda Bike is a natural beauty. The Bike’s torque and FI technology may be put to great use and used for a larger purpose if the tyres can be replaced, which is a positive factor.

The organization of bike rentals has also taken the Bajaj Vikrant, Yamaha FZ, Yamaha Fazer, and Hero Impulse into account while choosing the best for  Leh Ladakh Bike Trip . Even though the engines on these bikes aren’t as powerful, they may accelerate quickly while moving (without breaking any laws).

Part 12: Leh Ladakh Bike Rentals

You are ready to embark on your  Leh Ladakh bike trip from Delhi  as soon as you provide valid photo identification, your driver’s license, ₹10,000 as the security deposit, and if you are under 25, a letter of permission from your parents.

The cost of renting a room in Manali varies from ₹1,000 to ₹8,000 per day, and the security deposit ranges from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000. Original copies of acceptable identification documents are also required.

In addition, you can pay a mechanic a daily rate to work on your Bike for the duration of your Leh Ladakh Bike Trip . To be on the safe side during the bike trip, remember to run the Bike through a test ride and test its capabilities to the absolute maximum.

Part 13: Best Leh Ladakh Bike Tour Route

The path from Srinagar to Leh is non-overlapping and is a complete circle. 

The  Leh Ladakh bike trip itinerary  from Manali circumnavigates the rough hilly terrain, provides better vistas and raises the difficulty and hazard levels.

Route 1: Srinagar to Leh and Back

Route Map:  Delhi → Jalandhar → Jammu → Srinagar → Kargil → Leh → Karu → Sarchu → Manali → Delhi

Distance Covered:  Approximately 2,295 kilometres. 

Route 2: Manali to Leh and Back

Route Map:  Delhi → Manali → Sarchu → Leh → KhardungLa → Nubra Valley → Kargil → Srinagar → Delhi

Distance Covered:  Approximately 2,569 kilometres. 

Route 3: Delhi to Leh and Back

Distance Covered:  Approximately 2,022 kilometres.

Part 14: 3 Locations to See While Biking Through Leh Ladakh

14.1 pangong tso.

Famous for:  Stunning location, beautiful scenery.

Location:  Stunning location.

Things to Do:  Camping, Stargazing, Ice Hockey/Skating, Capturing Amazing Pictures. 

14.2 Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Famous for:  Architectural marvels, ancient paintings & manuscripts, soothing ambiance, and serene vistas. 

Location:  Namgyal Tsemo, Leh district, ‎Ladakh‎. 

Things to Do:  Indulge in Meditation, Attend Prayers, and Explore the Intriguing History of the Place. 

14.3 Zanskar Valley

Famous for:  Picturesque location, snow-capped mountains, serene rivers. 

Location:  Zanskar, Kargil district, Ladakh. 

Things to Do:  Attend Monastery Festivals, Trekking, River Rafting, and Adventurous Activities.

Part 15: How to Prepare

• For everyone, having a sharp mind on sturdy shoulders is essential. Therefore, always wear a reliable helmet while riding, and keep one on hand.
• You should also bring your driver’s license and valid photo ID.
• You need one or two leather coats to combat the wind and savour the breeze.
• Carry sweatshirts, t-shirts, jeans, shorts, shirts, tracks, innerwear, socks, towels, handkerchiefs, and other required clothing items.
• Your feet won’t get cold if you have an extra pair of durable boots or trekking shoes.
• Add a pair of gloves to match your shoes.
• To safeguard your eyes, wear riding goggles.
• A first aid kit and a bike toolkit are essential items to have with you.
• Although you will undoubtedly have a GPS device, bringing a printed map for clearer navigation is still a good idea.
• Some additional items to bring are chargers, power banks, Bluetooth headsets, backup batteries, etc., for a Leh Ladakh Bike Trip to become truly memorable. 
• Always carry a torch even if you believe you won’t need it. Never assume that a need won’t come up.
• A high-quality camera is also required to capture beautiful views adequately.
• The amount of danger increases just by riding a bike. Therefore, always keep a Swiss Army knife on you for self-defense.
• One can easily hire camping gear, such as sleeping bags, cooking utensils, and tents, and then carry it according to their comfort level.
• Carry basic toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo sachets (to save a little space and quick disposable), face wash, liquid soap, moisturizer, cold creams, etc.
• Carry lots of sunscreen with the highest SPF possible to shield your skin from the sun.

Part 16: Qualifications for the Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

• You must ensure having a valid driving license and be older than 25. 
• If you wish to go on a Leh Ladakh road trip , you should have some great riding experiences, especially lengthy bike journeys. 
• Your complete Leh Ladakh bike trip itinerary requires a minimum of 6 individuals. 
• You must have a current driver’s license, photo ID provided by the government, proof of address, and photocopies of these documents at all times for your  Leh Ladakh bike trip from Delhi  to keep the journey completely hassle-free. 
• Along with their passport, foreign visitors must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by their home government. 
• If Indian national wants to visit a protected area in Ladakh, one must have an Inner Line Permit or ILP for  Leh Ladakh Bike Trip . 
• Foreign nationals must have additional special authorizations to visit Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri, etc.

Part 17: Why Ride a Bike in Leh Ladakh?

Part 18: 3 must-have adventures, 18.1 royal leh palace.

Famous for:  Impressive architecture, massive walls, beautiful views. 

Things to Do:  Learn about history and photography.

18.2 Magnetic Hill

Famous for:  Gravity-defying occurrence, optical illusions. 

Things to Do:  Experience the phenomenon that defies gravity.

18.3 Drass Valley

Famous for:  High altitude trekking routes, tourist hotspots. 

Things to Do:  Trekking, Hiking, Camping, Adventurous Activities, Sightseeing. 

Part 19: Trip by Bike to Ladakh Price

The price also depends on the route you take for your bike tour through Leh Ladakh. It also includes the cost of the Leh Ladakh bike trip ‘s permits and other incidentals. Also, check the  Leh Ladakh bike trip route.

A  Leh Ladakh bike trip from Delhi  is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that every biker must undertake. The breathtaking landscapes, challenging terrain, and unique culture make for an unforgettable journey. However, planning such a trip requires careful consideration and preparation. 

This comprehensive guide provides all the necessary information and tips to help you plan and execute a successful  Leh Ladakh Bike Trip in 2023 . Remember to take the required safety precautions, respect the local culture, and leave no trace. Happy riding!

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• Leh Ladakh Bike Trip 2024: Everything You Need To Know From The Scratch

26 Mar 2023

Every biker, irrespective of gender, dreams of going on a Leh Ladakh bike trip once in their lifetime. While they dream of a flawless journey, the reality does come into contact with a lot of shortcomings. Having understood that bikers are bound to stumble upon a few barriers on a rugged landscape like that of Leh and Ladakh, we’ve put in our best efforts to collate every information in this blog that will help them encounter any such difficulties on the way.

Table Of Content

About leh ladakh bike trip, best time to visit leh ladakh on a bike trip, ideal duration for a bike trip.

• Leh Ladakh Trip Cost

Best Bikes For Leh Ladakh Road Trip

Leh ladakh bike rentals, best leh ladakh bike tour route, basic expenditure on leh ladakh bike tour.

• Places To Visit On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip
• Things To Do On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip
• Must Experiences

What To Pack

Why do a leh ladakh bike ride, eligibility for leh ladakh bike trip, tips for leh ladakh bike trip preparation.

Image Source

The old saying “there’s beauty everywhere, all you have to do is just look around” is true to the core when it comes to the mesmerizing Leh Ladakh travel. Offering scenic vistas of one of the trip to Leh Ladakh India is all about the feel of snow-clad mountains, rugged landscape, soaring peaks, dangerous routes, and roaring bike engines. In short, going on a Ladakh bike tour is all about the good vibes and the undying spirit of a rider.

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The best time to visit ladakh by bike  is from the months of June to September. These months enable the bikers to enjoy the tourist circuits of Ladakh , as much as they enjoy their Lahaul & Spiti trip. However, most of the riders love to kick-start their new year with this crazy bike trip as Ladakh offers magical vistas which can be cherished round the year except for monsoon season.

Depending on a lot of factors like the route you’ve taken, your entire schedule, and mainly the weather conditions, an ideal duration for a Leh Ladakh bike tour would span over a period of 15 days or more. Also, this duration is apt when one opts for Manali to Leh bike trip from Delhi.

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Ladakh Bike Trip Cost

First things first, you should figure out your budget. A lot depends on the vehicle you are selecting for your journey and the Leh Ladakh road trip cost would also vary on the accommodation and kind of food you choose to eat. Still, an average budget can be arrived upon considering basic factors such as accommodation, meals, and fuel. Hence, under normal circumstances, you will end up spending approximately ₹35,000 for a trip to Leh Ladakh on bike for 15-days. Your cost will also vary according to your Leh Ladakh bike trip route . This also includes the cost of permits and miscellaneous expenses for the Leh Ladakh bike trip .

Talking about the first things first, every biker must give his or her total attention to their first love, which is their bike. One must be very careful and picky when it comes to choosing their Leh Ladakh road trip bike. So whenever you’re choosing a bike for any road trip, make sure you go for suitability more than popularity. Consider it one of the most vital aspects of your Leh Ladakh bike trip plan!

Opting for the kind of bikes that one can easily handle and are easy to maintain, has always proven to be safe, and helpful for the riders for journeys like Leh Ladakh bike trip. Hence, the five best bikes for Leh Ladakh bike trip are:

• Royal Enfield – Considered to be the best bike for Leh Ladakh trip , it is a powerful bike with an engine of either 350 CC or 500 CC that is enough to be a lifesaver on a Leh Ladakh bullet trip .
• Royal Enfield Himalayan – With a strong engine of 400 CC, Royal Enfield Himalayan will make your ride smooth and hassle-free on any rugged trail and offbeat roads.
• Bajaj Pulsar – By far, no bike has been a hit in the Indian market when compared to Bajaj Pulsar. Being the most favored bike after the Bullets, Pulsar offers variants of 150CC, 200CC, and 220CC, either of which can be your trustworthy partner on any of the adventures.
• KTM Duke – Being a featherweight bike can be advantageous on roads like that of Ladakh. With the series of new engine variants of Duke 390, and Duke 250, KTM can be a good choice for a bike trip to Ladakh too.
• CBR 250 – This bike from Honda is indeed a stunner except for its Contigo tyres which can be a little tough to handle on Ladakh’s terrain in case of a change in weather. On the bright side, if the tyres can be replaced, one can put the bike’s torque and fi technology to great use, and a greater purpose.

Other top bikes for Leh Ladakh trip that the association of bike rentals has taken into consideration are Yamaha Fazer, Bajaj Vikrant, Yamaha FZ, and Hero Impulse. Though these bikes are not so heavy on the engine, they can surely pick up some speed (without breaking any rules) on the go.

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No bike. No worries. The bike rentals at Delhi and Manali are ever willing to offer you a ride on rent provided you submit all the required documents. In Delhi, Karol Bagh is the hub from where you can rent a bike for ₹900 per day. All you have to submit is a valid photo id proof, your driving license, ₹10,000 as the security deposit, and a consent letter from your parents in case you’re still under 25, and you are all set for Leh Ladakh bike trip from Delhi.

In Manali, the per-day rent charges range from ₹1000 to ₹1800 whereas the security deposit is between ₹12,000 to ₹18,000 along with the original copy of valid ID proofs.

Other than this, you can also hire a mechanic to take on the basis of daily wage for the entire duration of Leh Ladakh bike trip. Also, don’t forget by mistake also to run the bike through a test ride and test its abilities beyond limits to be on a safer side during the bike trip.

Considering Delhi as a base for Leh Ladakh bike trip route , Srinagar to Leh and Manali to Leh are the two main routes that offer the best road conditions and picturesque views. Srinagar to Leh route doesn’t overlap and forms a complete circle from end to end. Leh Ladakh bike trip route from Manali encircles the rugged mountainous landscapes, offers better views, increases the level of difficulty, and the level of danger.

Route 1: Srinagar To Leh And Back

Route Map: Delhi → Jalandhar → Jammu → Srinagar → Kargil → Leh → Karu → Sarchu → Manali → Delhi Distance Covered: Approximately 2,295 kilometres

Route 2: Manali To Leh And Back

Route Map: Delhi → Manali → Sarchu → Leh → Khardung La → Nubra Valley → Kargil → Srinagar → Delhi Distance Covered: Approximately 2,569 kilometres

Route 3: Delhi To Leh And Back

Route Map: Delhi → Manali → Sarchu → Leh → Khardung La → Nubra Valley → Kargil → Srinagar → Delhi Distance Covered: Approximately 2,022 kilometres

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Here is a list of expenditures that will guide you through a basic idea of the budget that you may expect from your Leh Ladakh bike trip:

Keeping petrol as the priority for a bike trip, an average, you’ll be covering a distance of 3500 kilometers. Of all the bikes that have been considered, the average mileage is that of 35 kilometers per liter. This means that you’ll be needing somewhere around 100 liters of petrol for which, you will roughly need an amount of ₹7000 to ₹8,000.

Accommodation

There are a lot of budget hotels in Leh Ladakh wherein one can find easy accommodation options within the range of ₹500 to ₹2,500 per person, on a double sharing basis, and including taxes (as per booking.com).

Hence, the rate for an average accommodation with the best amenities, comfort, and ratings, can cost you ₹500 to ₹2,500 per night per person depending on whether you want a budget hotel or luxury. Considering the lower limit, a 15-day trip will cost you a rough figure of ₹7,500 for accommodation. Let’s round it off to ₹8,000 per person.

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Similarly, the cost of food depends on the choice of the rider whether he or she prefers to eat at a dhaba or a restaurant. Eating at a dhaba may cost you ₹100 to ₹150 whereas dining at a normal and a bit upbeat restaurant may cost you about ₹400 to ₹500 per person on your tour to Leh Ladakh. Considering the lower limit, you’ll be spending close to ₹2,250 to ₹6,000 on meals. On average, you can keep ₹3,500 aside for meals.

Miscellaneous

It is a must to keep some amount of money aside for emergency purposes, shopping for souvenirs, or for permits. Thus, an amount of ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 is a must for every biker to spread it across the luggage or pockets and save it as a backup.

Average Budget = Petrol + Accommodation + Meals + Miscellaneous = 7000 + 8000 + 3500 + 2500 = ₹21,000/-

Thus, considering all the lower limits, an average budget for a 15-day Leh Ladakh bike trip would be ₹21,000 per person.

Please Note: We’re assuming you have a bike of your own as the budget doesn’t include the cost of bike rental. Hence, in case you plan on renting a bike, the budget would exceed by a minimum of ₹13,500 to ₹15,000 per bike for a minimum of 15 days.

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3 Places To Visit On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

Wondering what all attractions to cover on your Leh Ladakh bike trip 2023 ? Plan your itinerary around these best places to visit in Ladakh.

1. Pangong Tso

Popularly known as the Pangong Tso Lake , this natural marvel set in the lap of Ladakh is a must-visit tourist attraction on your Leh Ladakh bike trip. Located in the heart of Himalayas, the lake stretches at a distance of about 134 kilometres offering scintillating views in sync with the rustic mountains. The lake is so gigantic that sixty percent of the lake’s length lies in China making it one of the largest lakes in Asia.

Famous for:  Stunning location, beautiful scenery Location:  Stunning location Things to do:  Camping, stargazing, ice hockey/skating, capture amazing pictures

2. Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Much famed to be one of the famous monasteries in Ladakh , Namgyal Tsemo Gompa or Namgyal Tsemo Monastery is located right in the heart of Leh district. It is believed that Ladakh’s King Tashi Namgyal founded the monastery in 1430, that serves as a home to the famous golden statue of Maitreya Buddha. You can even have a glance at it from the top of Leh Royal Palace. If you are staying in the town of Leh, this is one of the best places to visit nearby.

Famous for:  Architectural marvel, ancient paintings & manuscripts, soothing ambiance, serene vistas Location:  Namgyal Tsemo, Leh district, ‎Ladakh‎ Things to do:  Indulge in meditation, attend prayers, explore intriguing history of the place

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3. Zanskar Valley

Hues of soothing blue and beautiful brown can only be witnessed at the famous Zanskar Valley which is surrounded by the massive snow-clad peaks on all sides. One visit to the bustling Valley is sure to leave you charmed forever. In winters, the river gets frozen giving adventurers a chance to do the famous Chadar Trek where people walk over the frozen ice for days.

Famous for:  Picturesque location, snow-capped mountains, serene rivers Location:  Zanskar, Kargil district, Ladakh Things to do:  Attend monastery festivals, trekking, river rafting, adventurous activities

3 Things To Do On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

If you want to get high on adrenaline, these are some of the exhilarating things you should consider doing on your Leh Ladakh bike trip.

1. Experience The Magic Of Nubra Valley

Serenity is what strikes one’s mind on reaching the renowned Nubra Valley . The valley is popularly known as “the valley of flowers” referring to the beautiful and colorful blooming flowers that are worth a visit to the Nubra Valley. It is one of the best-found treasures of Ladakh that you must definitely visit on your bike trip to Ladakh .

Famous for:  Mesmerizing beauty, orchards, monasteries, scenic vistas Things to do:  Camel safari, river rafting, cycling, photography

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2. Find Solace At The Shanti Stupa

Perched atop a hill, the famous Shanti Stupa is set at an elevation of whooping 4267 meters. Offering panoramic views of Leh, it is a must for the bikers to witness either sunrise or a stunning sunset from the Shanti Stupa. It is one of the best places to find peace and tranquillity. The stupa is blessed to be located amidst wondrous surroundings of nature. You may also find relics of old Buddhism culture inside the shrine.

Famous for:  Tranquil ambiance, cultural richness, fascinating history Things to do:  Enjoy photography, watch alluring views

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3. Test Your Riding Abilities At The Khardung La

Any biker who is planning a trip to Leh already has the ride to Khardung La on his list. Set at a heart-wrenching height of 18,379 ft. and located at a distance of about 40 kilometres from Leh, Khardung La Pass is one of the most dangerous motor-able roads in India. Challenging the bikers and the drivers in the face, your Leh Ladakh bike trip is incomplete without experiencing a ride through the “Pass of Lower Castle”. This is certainly one of the best places to visit on a bike trip to Ladakh .

Famous for:  Height, enthralling experiences, natural beauty Things to do:  Camping, biking, adventurous activities

3 Must Experiences

Don’t say you have visited Leh Ladakh unless you have had all these experiences on your bike trip. Every person visiting the region must strike these off their lists.

1. Royal Leh Palace

Considered to be a gem in the heart of Ladakh, the 17th-century royal Leh Palace was built by the famous King Sengge Namgyal. Standing tall at a height of about 9 stories, you can soak in the natural beauty of Leh’s whole town, Stok Kangri, Zanskar ranges, and Indus Valley from the roof of this elegant yet rugged palace.

Famous for:  Impressive architecture, huge walls, beautiful views Things to do:  Learn about history, photography

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2. Magnetic Hill

Feel the pull of nature and adventure at Magnetic Hill in Ladakh , a sorcery of nature. Magic and Magnetic Hill go hand in hand. Encircled by the Sindhu river on all sides, Magnetic Hills rise to a height of about 14,000 ft. and possess a unique kind of magnetic force that pulls the bikes and cars uphill. Sounds magical, isn’t it? Try it for yourself!

Famous for:  Gravity-defying occurrence, optical illusions Things to do:  Experience the phenomenon that defies gravity

3. Drass Valley

Famous for its natural hot springs that are blessed with medicinal benefits, Drass Valley is located in the heart of Kargil district, Jammu & Kashmir. Renowned to be the coldest hill station in India , Drass Valley strikes a perfect balance between the lush greens, soothing blues, and bold browns. The stark contrast of nature in the valley of Drass will make your jaw drop to the floor. Pay your homage to Indian soldiers at Kargil.

Famous for:  High altitude trekking routes, tourist hotspots Things to do:  Trekking, hiking, camping, adventurous activities, sightseeing

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Going on a bike trip is like hard-core backpacking through the roughest of mountains. It is an adventure trip to Ladakh which needs packing to be light yet all the basic requirements need to be carried along. Keep in mind the below mentioned Leh Ladakh bike trip preparation while packing your stuff.

• An intelligent head on strong shoulders is a matter of life and death for everyone. Hence, carry a sturdy helmet and put it to use all the time while you’re riding.
• Valid photo identity proofs and not to forget your driving license.
• One or two leather jackets are a must to glide through the wind and beat the breeze.
• Carry sweatshirts, tees, jeans, shorts, shirts, tracks, inner-wear, socks, towels, handkerchiefs, and other clothing items that you may feel necessary.
• Carrying an extra pair of sturdy trekking shoes or leather boots will keep you away from cold feet.
• Match your shoes with an extra pair of gloves.
• Riding goggles to protect your eyes.
• It is a must to carry a first-aid kit for yourself and a tool-kit for your bike.
• You’ll be equipped with GPS for sure but then carry a physical map for better navigation and clear routes.
• Charger, power banks, bluetooth headset, batteries for backup, etc. are a few other necessities to carry.
• Keep a torch with you, even if you think you don’t need it. You never know when a need may arise.
• A good-quality camera would be a necessity too to capture the breathtaking landscapes.
• Carry a Swiss Army Knife for self-defence since traveling on a bike increases the level of danger automatically.
• Camping tents, cooking utensils, sleeping bags, and other camping equipment can be easily rented whereas one can carry them as per their level of comfort.
• Carry basic toiletries of toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo sachets (to save a little space and easy disposability), face wash, liquid soap, moisturizer, cold creams, etc.
• Last but not the least, carry loads of sunscreen with maximum SPF to protect your skin from direct sunlight.

Image Credits: Naveen Sharma for Pixabay

Other than being an enthralling experience, a Leh Ladakh road trip is definitely going to be the most memorable experience. You will get to see Ladakh as it really is in its original flavor. Despite being on a bike trip, you can also choose to go for one of the most exquisite experiences i.e. camping in Leh . You can also choose to stay at luxurious Ladakh resorts , hotels, homestays and cottages. Coupled with the fact that you may also go for safaris, and adventure tours to explore this heavenly land.

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Image Credits: Avinash Patel for Pexels

Planning a Leh Ladakh bike trip plan and not sure about where and how to start? Here are the basic eligibility criteria for your trip. Be advised that it is extremely important to go through each and every criterion:

• You should be above 25 years of age with a valid driving license.
• We recommend that if you want to go on a Leh Ladakh road trip, then you should already have some nice riding experiences, especially long bike tours.
• There should be at least a group of 6 people for your entire Leh Ladakh bike trip plan
• You must carry a valid driving license, government-issued photo ID proof, address proof, and photocopies of these documents. 
• International tourists must carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by their home country along with their passport.
• Indian nationals do require an Inner Line Permit or ILP in case you want to visit the protected areas in Ladakh.
• Other special permits are required by foreign nationals in order to visit Pangong lake, Tso Moriri, etc.

It is believed that rules are meant to be broken and some of you may get the feeling of “your life, your rules” but then it is not at all advised to go on a bike trip with a wrong attitude.

• Breaking the rules on one of the most dangerous and highest motorable roads can be dangerous as death itself. Hence, for your own sake and safety, abide by the rules and follow them wisely.
• If you’re taking the route of Manali to Leh, it is recommended to carry extra jars of petrol apart from the full-tanks as there are only two petrol pumps on this route. On the contrary, the route from Srinagar to Leh has plenty of petrol pumps.
• It is advisable that you learn how to change a bike tyre in case your bike suffers any punctures. For the rest of the times, one can find many mechanics along the way on both the routes.
• Carry necessary medicines with you in case you, your partner, or your friends with whom you’re traveling suffer from altitude sickness.
• It is important to note that Leh only has connectivity from the leading operators of Airtel, BSNL, & Aircel. Riders who don’t have these connections do not have any other choice other than standing in the long queues of overcrowded STD booths or getting a connection from one of the above-mentioned operators.
• Though there are several ATMs at Leh, carry enough cash with you as the ATM you’ll find on Manali to Leh route is at Keylong.
• Applying for an Inner Line Permit will only cost you ₹200 and will give you access to remote places like that Tso Moriri, Chushul, Merak, Loma, Mahe, Hanle, and more. One can apply and get this permit from the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Leh from 9 am to 3 pm.

12 Astounding Treks In Ladakh That Need To Be On Every Hiker’s Bucket List

And that’s a wrap from us. Also, other than the bike tours, one can also explore this natural marvel by customizing amazing trip to Ladakh with TravelTriangle. As you embark on your journey, we hope you enjoy a safe and sound Leh Ladakh bike trip. Once you are there, do not use your smartphone. Instead, come back and do share a few words from the memorable journey you just took. 

For our editorial codes of conduct and copyright disclaimer please click  here . 

Frequently Asked Questions About Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

Is it safe to travel to Leh Ladakh during coronavirus spread?

Tourists are smart enough to think analyse the situation and then plan their travel. Travellers must maintain the safety precautions to stay healthy, stay hydrated and positive while travelling in COVID.

What are the vital documents required during the bike trip to Leh Ladakh?

You must carry a valid driving license, government-issued photo ID proof, address proof, and photocopies of these documents.

What is the age limit for the people who want to travel by bike to Leh Ladakh?

The minimum age of the tourist must be 25 years of age to opt for travelling by bike to Leh Ladakh.

What are some of the essential tips for travelling to Leh Ladakh by bike?

You must carry extra jars of petrol for an emergency, carry essential medication and carry enough cash as it may happen that you don’t find an ATM to withdraw cash. Apart from this, it is recommended to have enough food supplies in case of any emergency.

How far is Ladakh from Leh?

Ladakh is a region in Jammu and Kashmir that has been divided into two districts; Leh and Kargil. Leh is the capital of Ladakh, a land of high mountain passes.

Which is the coldest month of Leh?

The coldest month in Leh is January when the temperature plummets down to lower than -15 degrees Celsius. If you are visiting the destination during this time, make sure to carry enough woollen clothes.

What is famous in Leh Ladakh?

In terms of attractions, Nubra Valley, Magnetic Hill, Zanskar River, Pangong Lake and monasteries are famous in Leh Ladakh. Apart from this, Pashmina Shawl and traditional Tibetan items make for perfect souvenirs.

What should I buy in Leh?

Pashmina shawls, Mandala art &drawings, Tibetan handicrafts and handloom, silver jewellery, etc. are some of the things you should consider buying on your Leh trip.

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Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip Guide 2024: Highlights, Best Bikes, Itinerary, Routes & Cost

Table of Contents

Every biker in India has a dream of Leh Ladakh bike trip. I mean who did not? Every biker’s first love is their bike. It is such an adventurous feel that no one can turn their back to. One who has tasted it can never look back. 

A bike trip to Ladakh is on all of our bucket lists. So why not just make it happen?  As I have personally gone to Ladakh on a bike, I can tell you this feeling is truly magical, its beauty is beyond words. 

Leh Ladakh is a very unique place, it is one of its kind. The snow-clad peaks, barren lands, sand dunes, and snowfall mixed, everything about it is just so unique.

To help you get an idea of what you can expect in your Leh Ladakh bike trip, we will share as much information as we can. We will cover everything starting from routes for a bike trip to Ladakh, to the best bikes for Ladakh bike trip. 

About Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip

Ladakh bike trip is all about roaring bike engines, thrilling roads, snow-clad mountains, sand dunes, Pangong Lake, and nothing but mesmerizing landscape all around. We think everyone must experience a bike trip to Ladakh, it’s such a wholesome experience and much more than any other trip. It is more than just a trip.

Ladakh constitutes a large portion of Kashmir and is one of the union territories of India. The geographical location of Ladakh is different than any other part of the world. It is one of the very few cold deserts of the world. The weather is dry most of the year. The temperature during winter can fall as low as -40 degrees celsius. 

As you drive through the roads with acres of land surrounded by the Zanskar mountain range, it feels as if the mountains are talking to you. Witness one of the most gorgeous and toughest lands on earth.

Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip Highlights

• A bike trip to Ladakh can be anywhere between a 6 day to 18-day tour. Depending on the destinations you are going to cover and the route.
• Most of the Ladakh bike trips start from Delhi. The most famous destinations in Leh Ladakh bike trip to be covered are Kargil, Rohtang pass, Khardungla pass, Pangong Lake, and Nubra valley.
• Shopping at the famous Leh market is one of the most exciting parts of the journey. 
• Ride the thrilling Khardungla pass, and experience the wind gushing.
• Visit the heavenly Pangong lake, and enjoy the mesmerizing view of the endlessly flowing Pangong lake.
• Enjoy the fresh air and the meadows as you ride towards Kullu valley.

Best Time To Visit Leh Ladakh On A Bike Trip

The expedition of Ladakh bike trip is best during June to September. Although the road to Nubra valley and Khardungla pass been open throughout the year due to army clearance. But these roads are tremendously dangerous to tread during winters and monsoon. 

Also, the Rohtang pass is closed during the winter. It is not open for tourists until after April. So avoid going to Ladakh on a bike trip during winters at any cost.

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh on a bike trip is from June to September. Always prepare yourself for the worst condition, because the weather condition is becoming unpredictable due to global warming, climate changes, etc.

Best Bikes for Bike Trip To Ladakh

Now as we are talking about a bike trip to Ladakh, the bike deserves the limelight here. Your whole experience of this thrilling expedition will depend on your bike. Ladakh bike trip is the dream of many adventure lovers like us, but this can turn into a nightmare if you choose the wrong bike for the Leh Ladakh bike trip. 

First things first, you need a bike that is suitable for the trip and has a powerful engine. Experts recommend bikes that are easy to handle and easy to maintain. 

Here we will list out some of the best bikes for the Leh Ladakh bike trip:

• Royal Enfield Himalayan BS 4 and variants – The Royal Enfield Himalayan features a powerful 411cc torque engine. It was built by the company for the Ladakh trip. Its long-travel suspension setup, dual-purpose tyres, and large spoke wheels make it an outstanding performer off-road. No doubt the Royal Enfield Himalayan BS4 is one of the best bikes for the Ladakh bike trip.
• Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 – The Rcoyal Enfield interceptor 650 is literally a beast off-road. It features a 650cc parallel-twin moton engine. However, for the Ladakh bike trip, consider swapping the tires with dual-purpose tires.
• Bajaj Dominar 400 – This is another amazing tourer for the Ladakh bike trip. It has a 157mm ground clearance, great for off-road performance with a 400cc torque engine.
• Hero Xpulse – This is the best affordable bike for the Ladakh bike trip. But it is as capable as the most expensive ones in the list. It features a 200cc torque engine, with long-travel suspension and spoke wheels with dual-purpose tyres. The tall 220mm ground clearance is amazing for crossing rocky areas, and rivers.
• KTM Duke RC 390 – Lightweight bikes like this one is of great advantage especially for a bike trip to Ladakh. With its brand new RC 390 engine, it is one of the best bikes for the Leh Ladakh bike trip.

Available Petrol Pumps On The Highway To Ladakh Bike Trip

As petrol pumps are pretty scarce in the Leh region and as you ride up to Nubra valley, it is recommended you fill your fuel tank each time and also carry an extra container to refill the tank in case it needs refilling. 

Petrol Pumps on Manali to Leh- Ladakh Bike Trip

There are only two petrol pumps Manali and Leh. And the distance you will cover from Manali to Leh Bike trip is about 1130 km. While on a Ladakh bike trip, the average mileage of your bike would be somewhere near 35km per liter. So, let’s do the maths here, you will require at least 32 liters of petrol from Manali to Leh.

There are two petrol pumps on the Leh-Manali highway:

Petrol Pumps on Srinagar to Leh- Ladakh Bike Trip

Compared to the Leh-Manali route there are more petrol pumps in the Srinagar to Leh route. You will find at least 7 petrol pumps where you can refill your tank.

Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip Routes

There are several possible routes for the Ladakh bike trip. One can start from Delhi, or Manali, or even fly to Leh and start from there. If you are starting from Delhi, the most common route is via Srinagar. Delhi – Srinagar – Leh – Manali – Delhi. 

If you don’t want to take the route via Srinagar, you can directly start from Delhi or Manali and head towards Leh.

Delhi to Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip

Total Distance: 2200 Km (Approximate value)

Best time to Visit : June to October

Route Map : Delhi – Jammu –  Srinagar – Kargil – Leh – Hunder – Pangong – Karu – Sarchu – Manali.

You can rent your bikes from Delhi as well as from Srinagar. If you wish the rent your bike from Delhi onwards, you would reach Jammu via Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

Otherwise, you can also fly to Srinagar airport and rent your bike from Srinagar itself.

Day 1: Delhi to Jammu

The journey is of about 10 hours if you ride a bike. The bike trip from Delhi to Jammu distance is about 600 km.

Day 2: Jammu – Srinagar

The road that connects Jammu and Srinagar is mesmerizing, with pine forests on both sides of the road. You will come across several valleys and beautiful spots on the way. The distance from Jammu to Srinagar is about 300km.

Day 3: Srinagar

Now is the time to rent your bike if you haven’t already in Delhi. Then take a tour around Srinagar, visit the famous Dal lake, floating market, gardens, and various other tourists attraction in Srinagar. And get ready for the next day.

Day 4: Srinagar to Kargil

Start off your day with an astounding 203 km drive from Srinagar to Kargil. You should be able to reach there by 2 PM even if you start your journey from Srinagar by 9 AM. Then you have the rest of the day to yourself. Do not forget to visit the Kargil war memorial. 

Kargil is a beautiful place, it does not feel like a city. Taking a tour around the locals will surely give you some insights into their culture.

Day 5: Kargil to Leh

It is the day for the spectacular journey from Kargil to Leh. It is a breathtaking 210 km bike ride through Alchi, Lamayuru, and the magical magnetic hill. It will be a 4-hour drive, so you should be able to reach Leh by 12 pm. Then you can enjoy the day in Leh. Visit the famous Lamayuru monastery, Shanti Stupa, Thiksey Monastery, and many more spectacular locations.

Day 6: Leh – Khardungla – Diskit – Hunder

After enjoying yourself at Leh, prepare yourself for the Khardungla pass. It is the world’s highest motorable road for the general public at an altitude of 18,600 ft above sea level. The oxygen level is very low at this altitude, so if you feel like it, carry a portable oxygen cylinder with you. Relax and spend the night at Hunder.

Day 7: Hunter – Nubra Valley

Spend the next to explore Hunder and Nubra valley. Also, don’t forget to treat yourself to a camel safari and the view of endless sand dunes. Do not miss the famous Nubra valley. It is known for its scenic vistas, camel, monasteries, and orchards. Spend the night camping at Nubra valley under a sky full of stars or maybe some bonfire!

Day 8: Nubra – Pangong Tso

Bid goodbye to Nubra valley early. Nubra valley to Pangong Tso or Pangong lake is about 217 km. Entice yourself with the scenic panoramic view of the Pangong lake. You can get camps near the Pangong Tso, you can also find hotels. Go for whatever is suitable for you.

Day 9: Pangong – Karu

Ride side by side the Pangong lake and enjoy the view of its heavenly colors and crystal clear water to reach Karu via the Chang La pass. It is about 190 km from Pangong Lake, it would take about 5 hours to reach Karu.

Day 10: Karu – Sarchu

Now slowly we are headed towards Manali, and about to bid Adieu to Leh. Sarchu lies on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. It is a famous halt on the Leh-Manali highway. The ride is about 6hours. Enjoy this ride to the fullest, the bike trip feels fresh all of a sudden on this highway as you ride through the horizon, alongside the mountains.

A lot of people actually prefer to stay at Jispa (between Karu to Sarchu) over Sarchu. It helps your body to acclimatize better. But there’s a lot of journey left for the next day.

Day 11: Sarchu – Manali

As you embark towards Manali from Sarchu, you will cross the famous Rohtang pass. You will also notice the environment is changing slowly as you move closer to Manali. Enjoy the delightful views of the mountains, fresh air, and the gushing Beas river. The distance between Sarchu to Manali by road is 210 km.

And if you want to stay at Jispa, then the journey would be about 337 km to Manali.

Day 12: Manali – Delhi.

The end to an enticing adventure! Say goodbye till the next time. Reach Delhi airport or your relevant location with lots and lots of memories.

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Manali To Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip 

Total Distance :  2300 Km (approximate value)

Best time to Visit : June to September

Route Map : Delhi – Manali – Sarchu – Leh – Khardungla – Nubra – Pangong lake – Tso moriri – Sarchu – Manali – Delhi.

In the route, you start from Manali and ride all the way to Leh via Rohtang pass, Pangong lake, Kardungla pass, Nubra valley, and Kargil. On this route of Manali to Leh bike trip, you will start your journey from Manali, and return back to Manali without having to visit Srinagar and Jammu.

Day 1: Delhi to Manali

Start your journey from New Delhi and head out on NH1. Enjoy the boulevard amidst the exciting pastures of farmlands. You can reach Manali by Bus, train, or flight, whatever is convenient to you. You can also rent your bike right at Delhi to begin your expedition.

Day 2: Manali – Sarchu

Start your day two with a nice healthy breakfast, and start early for the first chapter of your expedition to Sarchu. It is about 210kms by road. You will cross through the Rohtang pass to reach Sarchu. Ride through lush green valleys, the untouched serene beauty of Keylong and Jispa , and the mesmerizing Baralacha La pass .

Day 3: Sarchu – Leh

Begin your journey towards Leh for an enticing experience through Lachung La, Nakee La pass. Take a short break at Pang, here you will find many tea stalls and Dhabas to serve you hot steaming lunch. Enjoy your meal and get ready to ride to Leh by evening. Overnight stay at Leh. 

Day 4: Leh – Khardungla – Nubra

This is going to be the most enriching ride of the tour. You will ride through the world’s highest motorable road, Khardung La pass at 18,600ft altitude. Enjoy the scenic views of the SHyok river, Shyok valley, and Nubra valley. Enjoy the alluring views of white sand dunes and great panoramic vistas at Nubra valley.

Day 5: Nubra – Pangong lake

Get ready for the most beautiful lake in India, the Pangong lake. It has been featured in Bollywood movies like 3 idiots and Jab Tak hai Jaan. Relish each moment spent at Pangong Lake because this is one of its kind. There are many campsites near the lake, find yourself a comfy camp for the night and some bonfire.

Day 6: Pangong – Tso Moriri

Start early morning and begin your journey to the beautiful, calm, and sacred lake of Tso Moriri. On the way, you can visit Hanle, the world’s highest astronomical observatory. If you are a night sky lover or love exploring astronomy, then you should consider spending the night at any campsite at Hanle.

Day 7: Tso Moriri – Sarchu

This is a day full of adventure and fun. Refreshing wind and scenic vistas accompany you on your bike ride to Sarchu. You will reach Sarchu by evening. Spend the night at any hotel in Sarchu.

Day 8: Sarchu – Manali

Start off your day with lip-smacking breakfast. Visit the Solang valley. You can also indulge in adventure sports at Solang valley. There’s an array of options for adventure lovers at the valley like skiing, paragliding, snow scooter, etc.

And as you start your ride back to Manali, the journey full of memories comes to an end. 

Bike Cost To Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip

There are multiple factors on which the total Ladakh bike trip cost would vary. The most significant factor that decides your Leh Ladakh bike trip cost is the bike you choose. If you are renting a bike from Delhi or Manali, then be very clear about your budget and then choose a suitable bike. The bike rental for Leh Ladakh is approximately Rs. 1000-2500 per day .

The overall cost of the Ladakh trip would also depend on accommodation and food choices. The average Leh Ladakh bike trip cost for 10-15 days is Rs. 35,000 per person . 

Things To Carry During Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip

When you are going on a bike trip to Leh Ladakh, the list of things would be a bit different than when you are flying to Ladakh. In this article, we will try to list down everything a person should carry during a Leh Ladakh bike trip.

List of Essentials

• A good quality helmet
• Driving license
• Documents and permits required in Leh Ladakh region
• Government approved ID card
• Water-proof riding gear
• Hiking or trekking boots
• Nylon ropes to carry and hook things to your bike
• Thermal inner wears
• First-aid medical kit
• A spare pair of flip-flops
• Good quality sunglasses
• Sleeping bag
• Rechargeable torch
• Sunscreen (minimum 50 SPF)
• A lighter 
• Packets of maggi
• Snacks like biscuits, dry fruits, and cakes
• Extra pair of t-shirts, sweatshirts, handkerchiefs, and innerwear
• A detailed physical map of the route and a compass for emergency
• Basic toiletries

Places To Visit During A Bike Trip To Ladakh

Confused about what all destinations you should cover while your Ladakh bike trip? Because this is a one-time thing, and no one wants to miss out on anything. 

So, we have listed down all the places you must visit during your Ladakh bike trip.

Pangong Tso

Pangong tso or Pangong Lake offers a magical view of the endlessly flowing crystal clear water with mountains in the background. It is a must-visit for everyone visiting Ladakh. The lake stretches for about 134 km crossing the Indo-China border.

Shanti Stupa

This is a beautiful huge white structure situated on the hilltop of Chanspa built by Japanese Buddhists in 1991. It offers a great view of the city from the hilltop. The panoramic views under the clear sky are just mesmerizing.

Namgyal Tsemo Monastery 

Also known as Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh. It was founded by King Tashi Namgyal of Ladakh in 1430. It offers a breathtaking view of the countryside surrounded by the Zanskar range.

Lamayuru Monastery

It is situated at an altitude of 11,520ft. It is the oldest monastery in Ladakh. The monastery is located on the Leh-Kargil highway. The monastery originally consisted of 5 buildings, of which only one is surviving to date. It is now the permanent home to about 150 monks.

The lake is situated at an altitude of 15,000ft above sea level. Decorated by rugged mountains, crystal clear water, and enticing beauty, it is surely one of the must-visit places in Leh Ladakh.

Hemis Monastery

This Tibetan abbey is the greatest in Ladakh. It hosts one of the most captivating festivities in the world, the Chams the mystic masked dance. The festival is held in early June. It was built in the 11th century and was rebuilt in 1672. The monastery consists of several manuscripts and paintings.

The 19 storey high Leh palace is a true gem of the city. It was the home of the royal family of Ladakh till 19th century until the Dogra forces attacked Ladakh. The palace consists of a gallery consisting of real jewelry, crowns, and traditional dresses worn by the royal family. It also consists of real Chinese Thangka paintings over 450 years old. A bike trip to Ladakh would be incomplete if you do not visit the Leh Palace.

Khardung La Pass

Khardungla pass is one of the highest motorable roads in the world, situated at an altitude of 18,600 ft. The view from the pass will leave you speechless for sure. The stunning view of the misty mountains covered in snow looks magical from here. 

Zanskar Valley

The Zanskar valley looks like you are living in a dream. It looks like those magical dreamy landscapes with mystical mountains. The hues of soothing greens and blues decorate the Zanskar valley even more. This picturesque valley is a must-visit in Leh.

Nubra Valley

Nubra Valley is known for its scenic vistas, orchards, and camel safari. The spectacular view from the valley is a splendid experience in itself. You will also witness the two-humped camels, in contrast to the single hump camels in Rajasthan. During summers the valley is filled with greenery and flowers, no wonder why it is called the orchard of Ladakh.

Tips For Leh-Ladakh Bike trip 

• When you are going Ladakh on a bike trip, always keep in mind SAFETY FIRST. Do not try to do anything unnecessary that compromises your safety. The roads of Leh Ladakh are very dangerous. Its good for adventure only if you take proper safety measures.
• Carry extra fuel if you are taking the Manali Leh route via the Leh Manali highway. Because there are very few petrol pumps in the Leh to Manali highway.
• Network connectivity is really poor once you enter Leh region. Consider getting a sim of Airtel or BSNL before your trip.
• Always keep the first-aid handy. Accidents don’t come with a warning sign, it’s better to prepare for the worst.
• Consider carrying enough cash, because there are very few ATMs once you leave Leh. The last ATM is in the Leh market, and then the next ATM will be in Manali.
• Apply and carry the inner line permit beforehand to visit places like Tso Morir, Mahe, Chushul, etc

How to reach Leh directly?

If you want to reach Leh directly, the best way is to take a direct flight to the nearest airport to Leh, the Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport. The airport is well-connected to the major airports in India like Delhi, Kolkata, etc. From the airport, you can take a cab to reach your desired destination.  Leh is not directly connected via train. So, if you prefer to train, then you must reach Jammu, and then reach Leh via road.

What are the best bikes for ladakh trip?

For best experience up in the hills, a good bike is a must. Here are some of the best bikes for leh ladakh bike trip. – Royal Enfield Himalayan BS 4 and variants – Royal Enfield Interceptor 650  – Bajaj Dominar 400 – Hero Xpulse – KTM Duke RC 390

How long will it take to get acclimatized to Ladakh weather?

The average altitude of Ladakh is around 3,000 meters above sea level. So, if you live in plains, then this is a huge chance for your body to get acclimatized. This is the reason why people are not recommended to fly directly to Leh from the plains. Because you might feel sick. It is recommended to take the highway to Leh Ladakh, to give your body ample time to get acclimatized. Usually, you should be feeling fine after a day or so. If you continue to feel sick even after 2 days, then we would recommend you to consult a doctor.

Is the Ladakh trip safe for kids?

It is not safe for kids if you are traveling to Ladakh by bike. Because this is an adventurous trip, and hence, kids might not be very comfortable with it. Also, at high altitudes, kids might fall sick. If you are not going on a bike trip, kids can go.

What are the documents to carry during the Ladakh bike trip?

As Ladakh is a border region, you must carry all the important documents. You must get permits to visit certain places, for that you would require passport size photos. Here is a list of documents you might need during your Ladakh trip: – Driving license for bike – Passport size photos – Insurance certificate – Pollution under control certificate – Government approved ID card (like Aadhaar card)

What is the best time to visit Ladakh?

You can visit Ladakh all around the year, but if you are taking the Manali Leh road via Rohtang pass, do not travel during the winter months. The tourist season peaks from May till the end of October. The best time to visit Ladakh is May to October.

What is ILP (Inner Line Permit)?

ILP or Inner Line Permit is a permit issued by the Govt. of India that enables international tourists to visit certain protected areas for a limited period of time. Since September 2021, Indian citizens would no longer need any ILP . This is mandatory for everyone who is not a citizen of India. The ILP is valid for 15 days for international tourists.

What are the areas in Ladakh that require an Inner Line Permit (ILP)?

Certain protected areas of Ladakh require ILP. These places are Nubra Valley, Khardung La pass, Pangong lake, Tso Moriri, Hans Towns, Merak, Man, Nyoma, Loma Bend, Tyakshi, Turtuk, Chushul, Hanle, and Miner La.

Which network is available in Leh Ladakh?

Airtel and BSNL both work fine in Leh city. But as you move towards Nubra valley, the networks go weak. BSNL is still active in certain regions, but no other service provider network is available.

What is the oxygen saturation in Leh? Is it difficult to breathe?

As you go higher in altitude, the oxygen saturation falls significantly. You might feel difficulty in breathing at higher altitudes like Khardung La pass. But as you get acclimatized to the high altitude you should be fine. Do not get involved in any kind of strenuous exercise while traveling. Talk to your doctor if you have any breathing problems like asthma. 

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Leh Ladakh Bike Trip (6D/5N)

• Group Size: 8 - 12

Hello Bikers!

Few places on Earth don’t need a lot of introduction.

Situated at a height of 11000 feet above sea level in the rugged mountains of the Himalayas, Ladakh offers stunning landscapes and enthralling views for travelers.

It’s tough to explain the beauty of Ladakh. The extreme chill of the place is well complemented by the warmth of the Buddist community here. A Bike Trip to this dreamland will thrill and captivate you to its Monasteries, naked snow-clad Mountains, cold Desert, gravity-defying Hill, pristine Valleys, fast-flowing Rivers, and the best of all: a combination of the highest motorable Pass with insanely stunning Lake.

This road trip takes you to all the important attractions of Ladakh. At the same time, starting your bike ride from Manali will give you time to get acquainted with the high altitude and lack of oxygen.

Land of an ancient civilization and captivating people, Ladakh is both alluring and awe-inspiring. Nicknamed ‘Little Tibet’, this sparsely populated, absolute gem of a destination with it’s incredibly sweet and friendly locals is a treat to backpackers.

It’s time to witness the clear blue skies. It’s time to marvel at countless stars. It’s time to dream. It’s time to live it. All at the same time.

Come join Muddie Trails in this incredible journey to the Roof of the World.

Highlights of the trip:

• The Out of The World: Pangong Lake
• World’s highest motorable pass: Khardung La
• The dreamy Nubra Valley
• Hunder: Desert in the sky
• Double humped Camel Ride
• Giant Buddha statue of Diskit
• The gravity-defying Magnetic Hill illusion
• Sangam – Confluence of Indus & Zanskar rivers
• Thikse monastery and Shey palace.
• The serene Pathar Sahib Gurudwara
• Airport Pickup/Drop (fixed timings)
• Warm stay at Guest Houses and Swiss Tents
• Inclusive of Bike, Fuel, Tour Captain, Backup vehicle, Oxygen cylinder, Permits etc.
• Bike: Himalayan
• Fuel & Helmet
• Stay for 5 Nights on 3/2 sharing basis
• 5 Breakfasts
• 5 Dinners (Veg)
• Tour Captain (Educated, experienced, and fully-trained for any kind of emergencies)
• Mechanic/Technician with toolkit/spares
• Oxygen Cylinder
• First-Aid Kit
• 2 times Bonfire in the entire trip
• Permit for the restricted areas
• Once in a lifetime experience of Leh Ladakh by Bike.
• Riding gears like arm/knee bands, jackets etc.
• Any misc. expenses that are not in inclusions above
• Bike transportation charges if someone leaving bike on the way due to any reason.
• Any cost arising due to natural calamities like landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strike, war), or any other scenario not in control of Tour Captain (to be borne by the clients, who shall pay on the spot).

Day 1 - Acclimatization

• Altitude: 3600 meters (11600 ft)
• Once you deboard your flight at Leh airport, we will arrange a taxi to reach our guesthouse.
• Spend a relaxing day to get acclimatized to the high altitude of Ladakh.
• It is highly advisable not to move around today as travelers may suffer from dizziness, headache, or acute mountain sickness (AMS). Note that acclimatization is an important part of every Ladakh trip.
• You can still explore Leh market on foot in the evening if you wish (though its not recommended).
• Our operations manager will brief you about the incredible Bike trip of Leh ladakh.
• Overnight stay on cozy beds of the Leh guest house.

Day 2 - Around Leh - Shanti Stupa, Sham Valley: Sangam, Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahib

• Altitude: 4275 meters
• Bike assignment.
• Start time around 9 to 10 AM after having Breakfast.
• Today we will explore Leh and the surrounding attractions starting with Shanti Stupa – Buddhist White Domed Statue located on a hilltop.
• Head towards Sangam, the beautiful confluence of two mighty rivers: Indus and Zanskar. The Indus river originates from the Holi Mansarovar in Tibet, flows into Ladakh.
• Give a visit to Hall of Fame – every Indian’s pride.
• Head to Magnetic Hill – an optical illusion created by wondrous nature, where a slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope because of the surrounding terrain.
• Visit legendary Pathar Sahib where Guru Nanak Dev, founder of the Sikh religion, is believed to have conquered a demon. Spend some time in the warmth of Gurudwara built in the 15th century and sit down for a quiet meditation for few minutes.
• Head to the guesthouse  by late evening, finish Dinner and rest for the night.

Day 3 - Nubra Valley via Khardungla Pass, Diskit Buddha Statue, Hunder Cold Desert

• Max altitude: 5350 meters (17,800 feet)
• Start time around 9 AM
• Roadtrip to amazingly pretty Nubra Valley, known for its Ldumra (flower garden) via one of the world’s highest motorable passes called Khardung La.
• Enjoy hot Kawa tea and Maggy noodles at the top of the pass.
• Descend towards Diskit Monastery with 100 feet Future Buddha statue to get a stunning view of the valley.
• The road to Nubra valley will continue towards international LOC, till the base camp of great Siachen Glacier (which we cannot go) which is well protected by Indian Army.
• Stop by at Hunder which is also called ‘Desert in the sky’ to witness double-humped giant Camels. Want more? Take a Camel joy ride and make those cool reels for your Instagram. Hunder is also famous for its adventurous ATV rides.
• Explore sand dunes and reach our campsite of Swiss tents by evening.

Day 4 - Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso

• Altitude: 4250 meters
• Early morning start! Head out on a road trip to one of the prettiest places on Earth: “Pangong Lake”, driven by the free-flowing river Shayok at one end and giant mountains with amazing landscapes at the other end. You cannot help but keep your eyes out of the windows as we cross many streams and barren mountains special to Ladakh.
• Enjoy the stunning view of Pangong Tso with the purest & bluest sky in the background, pose for those photographs you have been longing for.
• Pangong is the only lake we share a border with China, with more than half in its control. You would have had a glimpse of it in the Bollywood 3 Idiots movie.
• Experiencing a change in colors of the lake during the course of the day by spending time here is so relaxing to the senses.
• Have long conversations for evening get together.
• Rest in the Swiss tents of Pangong or Homestay at Tangtse, which we would have pre-booked based on availability.
• Nights are usually very cold at Pangong/Tangtse because of very high altitude.
• Dinner and rest.

Day 5 - Pangong Tso to Leh

• Altitude: 3600 mt
• Wake up early, go for a walk by the Pangong to witness the breathtaking spectacle of Sunrise at Pangong lake.
• Start driving back towards Leh by another route via Chang La Pass which is 17300 feet above Sea level.
• En route, we will visit Thikse monastery and Shey palace.
• Get back to Leh guest house and say goodbye to our driver who has been with us past few days taking us through most rugged routes.
• Finish Dinner, and gather around for social gathering one last time at our stay.
• Overnight stay in Leh.

Day 6 - Return Home

• Check out of the guest house as per your flight timing. We will arrange 2 rounds of cab to Airport as written in “Basic Details” section.
• Take back memories of a lifetime. You will surely want to return to this magical place once again. But this first trip of yours will be etched in your memories forever.
• Till the next time, say  JULAY  to Ladakh.

What to Expect

• Trip start/end point: Leh Airport
• Vehicle: Himalayan

Things to carry

Basic Essentials

• Backpack (50-60 liter) with Rain Cover
• 2 water bottles
• Personal Medicines (if any)
• Original ID Card

Clothing Essentials

• Riding Jacket
• 2 pairs of Gloves (1 Woolen, 1 Bikers waterproof)
• Comfortable shoes / Gumboots
• Warm Inner-wears
• Woolen socks
• Handkerchief/towels,
• Track pants, Full sleeve T shirts

Personal Utilities

• UV sunglasses
• Sunscreen lotion (SPF 50+)
• Tooth Brush & Paste
• Quick Dry Towels
• Body Lotion
• Toilet Paper
• Camera/Go pro (if you wish)
• Crocin or Dolo 650 – ( Fever / High Fever )
• Combliflam – ( Fever + Reduce Muscle Pain )
• Zintac/Aciloc/Rantac/ Omez ( Acidity)
• Allegra ( Allergy )
• Disprin ( for headache, try not to use at high altitude. instead drink more water and rest. ** Symptom of AMS, DO NOT SUPPRESS)
• Antibiotics (Azithromycin) ( For infections. Do not take antibiotics when at high altitude. Descend if the problem persists)

What's next after booking your trip?

• Organizers will get in touch with you, or vice versa.
• Once minimum number of people book this trip (at least 4 members), Organizing team will give a green signal to book your flights.
• A Whatsapp group will be created for all the registered folks 5 days before the event.

Terms & Conditions

• The itinerary is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained. Travellers are not allowed to advice/instruct the Organizers (Driver or Trip Leader or Operations Manager) to change the itinerary.
• Cooperate with the Organizers in following the schedule set for the day (especially getting up and getting ready in the morning). This will ensure travellers won’t miss out on the real fun part that is traveling and visiting all places in itinerary.
• Every traveler is responsible for his/her for your own safety. Do not indulge in any illegal or silly activity that causes harm to self or fellow travelers.
• Do not wander into the forest away from the designated trail for treks. There may be snakes, scorpions, and dangerous animals.
• Unexpected situations: In rare scenarios, we might not be able to cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary because of unpredictable reasons like bad weather, landslides, wild animal presence, abrupt blocking of sites by the police/forest/local authorities, delay in travel because of an issue with our group itself, traffic conditions, etc. In most cases, if the time permits, the Organizers will take travelers to an alternative place. But in some cases, we may have to skip places altogether.
• No alcohol & smoking during travel, treks, and other outdoor activities. There would be a separate window and space (usually at night) to have these at the stays for interested people.
• Travelers are expected to respect each other and help one another. Avoid discussing sensitive matters like sex, politics, and religion/caste/race.
• Using foul or abusive language, eve-teasing, arguing with fellow travelers/Organizers, and/or involving in the physical assault will not be accepted and will stand a chance of being deserted by the group then and there.
• Every traveler is expected to digitally fill & submit a liability/waiver form given by the Organizers before the trip. This liability form will discharge Muddie Trails of any unexpected incident like injury/death/theft etc.

Cancellation Policy

• 80% refund if a cancellation request is sent 30 days before the trip start date.
• 50% refund if a cancellation request is sent between 29 to 15 days before the trip start date.
• No refund/postponing within 15 days of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, COVID, Accident, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
• No refund/postponing request will be entertained on the partial payment (advance) done to block your seat for the trip.

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Bangalore to Leh, Ladakh – A road trip to remember

“Some beautiful paths cannot be discovered without getting lost.” – Erol Ozan

People say that the journey is beautiful than the destination. In the case of this road trip, the journey and the destination is equally beautiful. If you are someone who loves road trips, this journey is for you. If you are someone who loves adventure, this journey is for you. If you are someone who has never been on a road trip, this journey is definitely for you.

In the past few years, for obvious reasons, the route from Bangalore to Leh, Ladakh has been very famous. It has to do everything with the large population of Bangalore being in love with bike rides and Ladakh being an ultimate destination for bikers in India. Also, statistically speaking you get a lot of traction on your social media posts on a classic bike, Ladakh roads or a picture of your road trip. Imagine its impact if all of these would be combined. Each and everyone on your follower list would be so jealous. Wouldn’t you love that? We sure you would.

Who knows, you might inspire a one or two to plan a road trip for themselves!

So, here we go, presenting a guide for you to follow when you embark on this exciting journey!

The first rule for visiting Ladakh is always being aware of the weather conditions there. Ladakh, the land of high passes, is renowned for its fickle-minded weather conditions. Considering technology, internet and communication is a little weak up there, you must be absolutely aware of what you are stepping into. We don’t mean to startle you, but being safe is always the first step towards having fun. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Remember to gear up well, with your winter clothes, jackets, gloves, helmet and other safety gear. Your trustworthy bike rental in Bangalore will advise you on this! Travel light, but travel right.

You would be taking the Srinagar route, so expect a lot of chilly winds and extreme weather conditions.

The second rule of taking a road trip to Ladakh is knowing your routes, pretty well. You start your journey on NH44 or NH48, whichever is preferable for you and ride along the way with sanity, because the distance is 3000 kms which would roughly take you about 65- 70 hours, including the bathroom, lunch, stretching, oh-look-a-pretty-sunset-let-me-instagram-it breaks!

So, as you commence on your journey, always remember your pit-stop states. For this route, it’s going to be Bangalore-Mumbai-Jodhpur-Amritsar-Srinagar. The first few hundreds kilometres would be you just admiring the city landscapes and battling pollution, but as you leave the city behind, the true flavours of the journey can be enjoyed. As you speed up, you will cross small villages, tempting dhabas (don’t forget to make a stop on one of the highway dhabas, they are truly the best). Majestic wildlife and 3000 miles later, you’d be in Srinagar. As we know, the beauty of this city is enchanting, you’d want to stay more and admire the beauty (you sure can if you have the time) but you have to make a move as soon as possible.

In the next phase of your journey, you’d be riding from the mesmerizing lanes of Srinagar to Kargil. You must bear this in mind that the roads are not great, but the view is. You have to take extra care of your bike, as a little off-roading won’t be really good for it. If it’s rent ed bike from Bangalore , we would advise you to stay on the good part of the road more. By taking the NH1 path, you’d have to ride for around 6 hours to reach Kargil. Take a night stop before this would be advisable as this phase is much more critical than the phase where you were crossing states on the highway.

That’s it just 200 Kms worth of ride more and you’d be in Leh, the beautiful city of Leh, as its rightly called. Once you are in Leh, get a good night’s sleep, You deserve it. The next day and visit the monasteries, stare at the mountain for hours, rejuvenate by the beach or make your feet wet in the river. You’ve made it there, now it’s your time to make the most of every moment.

The most famous places you can go to our Diskit Monastery, Magnetic Hill (Brake well here), Marka Valley, Pangong, Khardungla, Nubra Valley, pay your respect to the Indo-China border and seep in the fresh air of this alluring city, one last time.

When it’s time to go back, the road will feel narrower, the distance would feel longer and the time would feel slower. We would suggest you take a different route (via Manali) to keep things interesting!

Are you already sold on the idea? Then wait for the best season, find a perfect bike for you from Bykemania, Bangalore and ride along! Happy Journey!

Leh Ladakh Bike Adventure package from Bangalore 9 Nights 10 Days by Flight

₹ 26,820.00 ₹ 24,184.00, click to call us., call us at 08441973424.

• You can contact us for more offers.
• On Season and Long Weekend rates may vary.

9 Nights 10 Days Bangalore to Leh Ladakh itinerary by Flight

• Day :: 01 :: Get a flight from Bangalore to Kullu–Manali Airport ( 2140 Kms. ). Our representative from Local Manali will welcome you at Airport. You will be transfered to the Manali Hotel by Car. After Checkin rest. In evening you can visit for near by market. Overnight stay at Manali hotel.
• Day :: 02 :: Start from Manali to Jispa (150kms) by Bike. Reach via Rohtang Pass. Overnight Stay at Jipsa.
• Day :: 03 :: Start from Jipsa to Sarchu (120 Kms). Reach Sarchu via Baralacha La. Overnight Stay at Sarchu.
• Day :: 04 :: Start from Sarchu to Leh (251 Kms). Reach Leh via Lachung La. Overnight Stay at Leh.
• Day :: 05 :: Take the breakfast and Checkout from the Leh Hotel. Start for Leh to Nubra Valley ( 160 Kms 5 Hours ) and its excursions by Car. Overnight stay at Nubra Valley hotel.
• Day :: 06 :: Take the breakfast and Checkout from the Nubra Valley Hotel. Start for Leh from Nubra Valley by Car. Overnight stay at again Leh hotel.
• Day :: 07 :: Start for Sarchu from Leh. Reach Sarchu via Lachung La. Overnight Stay at Sarchu.
• Day :: 08 :: Start for Jipsa from Sarchu. Reach Jipsa via Baralacha La. Overnight Stay at Jipsa.
• Day :: 09 :: Start for Manali from Jispa by Jeep. Reach via Rohtang Pass. Overnight Stay at Manali.
• Day :: 10 :: Manali Hotel Checkout and Get a Flight from Manali for Bangalore. Reach at Bangalore with sweet memories of Tour.

Bangalore to Leh Ladakh Bike Adventure Package Special Inclusions

• Bike is included in the Package.

Get best and budget Adventure Packages from Bangalore here.

Bangalore to leh ladakh adventure package inclusions.

• Transportation from Bangalore to Leh Ladakh and Leh Ladakh to Bangalore
• Pickup and Drop from Leh Ladakh Airport/Railway Station/Volvo Stand to Hotel
• Welcome Drink on Arrival
• Accommodation on twin/double sharing basis
• Bed Tea, Breakfast and Dinner
• All Sight seeing By Taxi
• Including all Parking Charges, Toll Tax, Green Tax and Driver Stay
• All applicable taxes, entry fee and driver allowance

Bangalore to Leh Ladakh Adventure Package Exclusions

• Cost of lunches
• Any personal expenses, room service and special orders, mineral waters, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, porterage, tips, phone calls, laundry etc
• Any extra excursions or sightseeing apart from the above specified itinerary
• Camera fees, guide charges not included in the inclusions
• Medical and Insurance of any kind
• Any incidental and other expenses which are not specified in the inclusions
• Any Excursion/Activities

Get all best and budget Bangalore to Leh Ladakh Packages here.

Hotels/resorts/camps at leh ladakh stay.

• As per Iteniaray we have a lot of stays.

Bangalore is a city and a capital of the Indian state Karnataka. Officially, it is pronounced as Bengaluru. Sometimes it is also referred as the Silicon Valley of India. Bangaloreans generally prefers Leh Ladakh as their holiday destination. Various categories of packages from Bangalore are available with us. Budget, Standard and Luxury you can choose any from them as per your requirements. Leh Ladakh is easily accessible from Bangalore. Both cities are well connected with flight as well as by train. There is no need to worry about the traveling. In addition, it is an awesome place to visit during the vacations.

Leh Ladakh is an amazing destination for honeymooners, families, friends and corporates. There are lots of tourist attractions which will get you mesmerized. Bangalore has tropical savanna climate. The city experiences moderate climate whole the year. But somewhat heat waves in summer make uncomfortable to enjoy the vacations. So at this time Bangaloreans prefer to visit north Indian states. And Leh Ladakh is the place which is mostly visited by them. The city has enchanting and pleasant climate during the summers. That is the reason it is a most popular holiday destination among the Bangaloreans. Therefore, it is a must visiting place.

Bangalore to Leh Ladakh adventure package 9 nights 10 days by flight - FAQs

Leh Ladakh is a scenic region of India. To plan Leh Ladakh adventure trip for 10 days from Bangalore by flight choose best time to visit. Its mainly during May and September when the roads are reachable. Research and book flight to Leh. Arrange stays in Leh and other desired places in advance. Create a detailed plan with famous spots for example Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, and monasteries. Above all, balance thrill with resting days for adjustment. Meanwhile, secure permits for certain areas. Pack things like warm clothing, medicines and portable oxygen.

1: Bangalore to Leh Ladakh

Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayas, Ladakh stands as a testament to nature's grandeur, boasting towering peaks, azure lakes, and ancient monasteries. For Bangalore adventurers, embarking on a journey to Ladakh offers a thrilling escapade into the heart of the Himalayas. Here is an in depth guide on How to reach Ladakh from Bangalore by flight for adventure trip for 9 nights 10 days. As flying to Leh Ladakh from Bangalore is a convenient and efficient option in 2024. It provides an easy access to this remote region's awe inspiring beauty.

2: Flight from Bangalore to Leh Ladakh

The journey commences with a flight from Bangalore Airport to Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport. Several airlines operate flights on this route, offering travelers a variety of options to choose from. Select a flight for your adventure trip to Ladakh from Bangalore for 9 nights that aligns with your schedule and preferences. The Bangalore adventurers must take into account few factors such as departure times and ticket prices.

3: Booking the Tickets for your Adventure trip to Leh

After choosing the flight for 9 nights adventure trip to Leh from Bangalore by flight , its time to book the tickets. Remember to book the tickets well in advance so secure the availability mainly during the peak tourist seasons. Reach the airport on the chosen dates before the scheduled time for your adventure trip, for security check and boarding process. Board the flight and settle down on your assigned seats, planning for the thrills awaiting for you. The adventures going to Leh Ladakh from Bangalore can meanwhile enjoy the breathtaking views of the landscapes from above.

4: Acclimatization in Leh

Upon arrival in Leh, it is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude before engaging in strenuous activities. Ladakh's elevation can trigger altitude sickness in some individuals coming from Bangalore that is situated at a lower altitude. Go slow during your first day of adventure trip to Ladakh from Bangalore by flight for 9 nights 10 days. Make sure to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and allow your body to adjust to the thin air. Once acclimatized, You will be ready to embark on your adventure filled escapades in Ladakh.

5: Return Journey to Bangalore

As your adventure trip by flight to Ladakh from Bangalore draws to a close. It is time to bid farewell to this enchanting land and return to Bangalore. Follow the same process, reach Leh airport to catch your flight to Bangalore. Reflect on the unforgettable experiences you have had during your adventure trip in April2024 from Bangalore, Karnataka. Cherish the memories you have made, and start planning your next adventure in the wild and untamed landscapes of Ladakh.

Embarking on an adventure-filled journey through the rugged terrain of Leh Ladakh from Bangalore with a group of friends promises an unforgettable summer escape with flight for 9 nights 10 days. With the sun-kissed landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see, adventurers are treated to an array of thrilling activities and breathtaking vistas. From conquering mountain passes on two wheels to trekking through remote valleys, the opportunities for adrenaline-pumping experiences are endless for Bangalore travellers. Summer offers in Leh Ladakh from Bangalore cater to the intrepid souls seeking both excitement and solace amidst the majestic Himalayas. Picture-perfect camping spots beneath a blanket of stars, encounters with vibrant local cultures, and the chance to witness ancient monasteries perched on rocky cliffs add layers of depth to this unparalleled journey. With tailored packages designed to accommodate various preferences and budgets, the allure of Leh Ladakh beckons adventurers from around the globe to explore its untamed beauty in the company of cherished friends in 2024.

Leh Ladakh Packages from other cities

Leh Ladakh tour package from Delhi 9 Nights 10 Days by Flight

Leh Ladakh Bike Adventure package from Ahmedabad 9 Nights 10 Days by Flight

Leh Ladakh honeymoon package from Jaipur 9 Nights 10 Days by Flight

Leh Ladakh honeymoon package from Ahmedabad 9 Nights 10 Days by Flight

Leh Ladakh tour package from Agra 9 Nights 10 Days by Flight

Leh Ladakh Bike Adventure package from Indore 9 Nights 10 Days by Flight

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Leh Ladakh Bike Adventure package from Amritsar 9 Nights 10 Days by Car

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Hello, I am Kalpesh from Mumbai. Few days ago I completed my honeymoon trip of Leh Ladakh. My experience was really good. It is a beautiful destination in northern India. The region has pleasant climate and romantic weather. We have taken the Train to reach Leh. Hotel services was awesome. We spend the rest of the day at leisure. In evening, we went on the local walk. We got great experience from there. Furthermore, we enjoyed the famous dish of Leh Ladakh. Due to enchanting climate, lots of couples are also spotted there. In conclusion, it is a worthy site to explore.

Hi, I am Saurabh from Delhi. In last vacations, I have made the Ladakh tour with my friends. We reached there by flight. Our excitement was on the peak. Because till now we have only listened and studied about it. Now we are going to explore it in real. Since many years, it is a famous tourist destination. International travelers also enjoying there with their families and friends. Hence, it was proved that, Leh is also popular in abroad. Our enjoyment was increased from the landscape scenarios. We enjoyed the local food. Consequently, this destination proved paradise for us.

Hi, I am Aakash from Bangalore. Last week, we completed our adventure trip of Leh Ladakh. We enjoyed lots of adventure activities there. Like River Rafting, Trekking, Jeep Safari, Mountain Biking and even more. First of all, we has taken the train from Bangalore. Hotel was nice in budget package. Got complete support from the tour operator. For the reason that, we easily enjoyed every spot and every activity. Leh has given me the wonderful experiences to remember life long. All was amazing in all Manners. Therefore, it proves that Leh is a worth visiting site for adventure tour.

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A Short Guide To Plan Your Bike Trip To Leh-Ladakh

by middha on June 28, 2018

A biker’s haven – Ladakh has always beckoned the spirit of a true biker, amateur as well as experienced kinds. There is something about a trip to Leh-Ladakh that gets adventure seekers excited and energised.

Maybe it’s the magical mountain vibe or the sheer experience of the mystical roads that lead you to the destination. Ladakh has the highest motorable roads anywhere, a unique experience in itself. A bike trip to Ladakh is one of the most sought-after adventure experiences today.

Why is a Bike Trip to Ladakh so Popular?

Every biker will have a personal inspiration or a takeaway of their trip. We’ve listed the most likely reasons.

• Power-packed adventure: You can camp, trek, ride and enjoy the rush of the challenging routes, all on your bike.
• Camping in nature: The wilderness is all the more exotic with camping sites enroute that will fill you with a special sense of amazement.
• Off the beaten path: There is no itinerary when you’re on the road to Ladakh and the road itself is the destination.
• Soul-searching: Solo bike trips are best experienced on a road as spectacular as the one to Ladakh. An opportunity to feel at one with yourself and nature.
• Group trips: Biker gang, or a group of friends. This will be the most satisfying and enjoyable road trip you will take with your buddies.

Best Routes For A Bike Trip to Leh-Ladakh

There are two routes you can take for a bike trip. You can take the Srinagar route on your way to Leh and the Manali route on your way back (or vice versa). Those who do not belong to Delhi or Chandigarh and nearby cities, can get their bike shipped to Delhi and then undertake the expedition (recommended, unless you’re really experienced).

Khardung La Pass

• Srinagar-Leh Route: Upon crossing Jalandhar, this route passes through Srinagar, Sonmarg, Zozi La, Drass, Kargil, Mulbekh, Lamayuru, Saspol and then reaches Leh. The best spots to camp on this route are Drass and Kargil.
• Manali-Leh Route: Upon crossing Manali, this route passes through Rohtang, Keylong, Jispa, Baralacha La, Sarchu and Gya. The best spots to camp on this route are Keylong, Jispa, and Sarchu.

Best Time To Take A Bike Trip To Leh-Ladakh

The routes are closed for around 6 months during the year due to heavy snowfall and landslides. Manali to Leh highway usually opens mid-May and takes time to clear off initially. It generally closes by end of September. Anytime between June to September would be a good time for this route. The Srinagar route also opens anytime between mid-May to June and closes in November. July to November is an ideal time for this route. Check online to find out the exact time the routes open and wait for a good two weeks for the roads to clear.

• Fuel : Considering that your bike averages around 30 to 35 kms per liter, and the fact that the journey will be roughly across more than 3000 kilometers, fuel can cost anywhere between Rs.7000 (minimum)  to Rs. 10000 (maximum).
• Food : On a day, you could spend around Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 on your meals.
• Stay : Accommodation options range from Rs. 1000 a day to Rs. 2500 a day.
• Other expenses : Including permits and other miscellaneous expenses, keep a contingency expense of an extra Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5000.

Please note that the above does not include bike rentals. Those can range from Rs. 2000 per day to Rs. 4000 a day (rough estimate, actual prices may vary according to the renting vendor.)

How To Plan Your Bike Trip To Leh-Ladakh

• Plan your route.
• Get your Rohtang pass and other inner line permits online.
• Get your bike properly serviced.
• Book your Leh accommodation online after comparing tariffs.
• Check road conditions online before taking off.

What To Carry On Your Bike Trip

• Past Tandi on the Manali route, there are no gas stations, so be sure to fill up your tank in those areas.
• Keep license & registration, PUC, permits as well as other photo id proofs ready.
• Carry a printed route map.
• Chargers, power banks
• First Aid Kit (with prescribed meds for AMS)
• Rechargeable torches
• GPS with a charger
• Camera kit and gear
• Swiss army knife
• Helmet with protective visor
• Riding goggles
• Riding gloves
• Bandana/skull cap
• Riding jacket with thermal inners
• Lip balm & moisturizer
• Nylon rope & funnel
• Spare tyre & puncture repair kit

Tips While Riding To Ladakh

• Don’t showboat or perform stunts on the road or over speed, especially on tricky patches.
• Learn how to fix a flat tire if you don’t already know how to.
• Stay hydrated and take plenty of refreshment breaks.
• Wear brightly colored clothing so you are visible from a distance to oncoming traffic.
• Carry extra cash with you, for contingency’s sake.

Best bikes for a Ladakh Trip

Any decent motorcycle in good shape should be able to make the journey though, the Royal Enfield seems to be the weapon of choice for most serious riders heading to Ladakh. But don’t be discouraged if you don’t have one as most of the smaller motorcycles have no trouble keeping up too.

Popular Bike Tours To Ladakh

Recently, there has been an upsurge in Ladakh biking tours, and ample of private organizers and adventure travel companies have started offering curated bike excursions to the land.

You can try and participate in one of those if you want a readymade biking experience without worrying about the extensive planning. Popular trip operators, facilitators, biker groups and organizers are Adventure Nation, Victorians, Himalayan Motor Bike, The Dream Riders Group, Classic Bike Adventure India, India Motor Bike Tours, 365 Hops, Himalayan Rider, Aspen Adventures, Adventure 365, among others.

Bike Rentals For Ladakh

For those who do not wish to get their bikes shipped, or don’t have a bike of their own, find below renters online.

• Enfieldriders.com
• Bikerentalsmanali.com
• Wheelstreet.com
• Backpackclan.com
• Stoneheadbikes.com
• Tonybikecentre.com

Excited much? You will be once you start planning your trip and anticipating all the unexpectedly pleasant sights and surprises that you are bound to encounter on the bike trip of a lifetime. Bon Voyage! If you have any inputs or questions, use the comment box below.

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Ladakh Bike Trip Budget – Total Cost of Ladakh Trip by Bike

What will be the total cost of Ladakh trip by Bike? This is the first question that comes to mind when you plan a road trip that will see you covering hundreds of kilometers in several days? Will this be cheap? Definitely not but it does not have to be too expensive either. The trick is to get an estimate around your total Ladakh bike trip budget and then work towards reducing it. Read on to find out more.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide

Ladakh is a dream destination for almost everyone who owns a bike or any other two-wheeler in our country. But will I be able to afford it? This thought keeps a lot of people from turning this dream into a reality. And they are not wrong. Cost is the first factor considered  when we plan a vacation. It becomes of even more relevance when the journey is to a far off place like Ladakh and for a greater duration.

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Ladakh Bike Trip Budget

If you planned carefully, you can easily travel to Ladakh keeping your expenses within a budget. In this article, I will provide information on how you can calculate the total cost of Leh Ladakh bike trip. I will provide a sample itinerary, the most common one that will cover the majority of the tourist destinations in Ladakh. Then I will run it down day by day providing an estimated cost of a motorcycle trip to Ladakh.

I will make a few assumptions for the sake of this article. The first one is in terms of the itinerary. I will suggest the travel plan from Delhi and provide the cost breakdown accordingly. If you were starting from a different place, then the only change will be regarding the cost incurred on the first and last day, rest will be the same.

The cost estimate below will be from two points of view. The first one is that you are traveling solo and will bear the entire cost yourself. The second estimate will be that you are riding with a Pillion and the cost will be divided equally between both.

Acute Mountain sickness is one of the big concerns when you travel to a high altitude place like Ladakh. The itinerary below is keeping in mind that the gain in altitude should be gradual which is one of the biggest steps against AMS.

But then not everyone will be able to follow this plan completely. You may have to omit several days from this itinerary and make this a short trip. In this case, AMS can be a bit of a problem. To know what the symptoms of AMS are and how you can avoid it, please read How to Handle Acute Mountain Sickness in Ladakh .

Cost of Ladakh Trip by Bike

The six biggest expenses in your total cost of Leh Ladakh bike trip will be as mentioned below.

• Getting the bike ready

Accommodation

• Wear & Tear

Other than this, there can be some other personal expenses like cigarettes, alcohol, shopping, etc that you will know better and will have to calculate on your own. If you are buying shoes, jackets, gloves, etc, before the trip, that is a cost you will have to add to the estimate I am providing below.

The cost estimate I will provide below will also include the money that you will pay for these permits. In terms of accommodation and meals, I will provide an estimate of the minimum cost. This is open to a lot of change depending on your own preference of stay and food. But the amount here should give you an idea of how much you will spend at the least.

Also read: How to Obtain Inner Line Permit for Ladakh

 How much it will cost to visit Ladakh by a Motorcycle?

To answer the question above, the biggest cost of course will be petrol. If you were riding with a friend as pillion, this will get divided into two.

For the sake of this article, I will assume a minimum average of 25 kilometers per liter. I think that is the bare minimum that any bike will give here; even a Royal Enfield.

If your motorcycle gives a better fuel efficiency, I will still recommend that you still calculate keeping it on the lower side. Ladakh being all steep and challenging roads is bound to affect your bike’s mileage and it may not be as great as it was in the city or on the highway.

To calculate the total budget, the numbers that I am using for Petrol are Rs. 76.00 per liter. At the time of writing this article, the cost of petrol in Delhi, Srinagar, and Manali is around Rs. 72. In Leh however, it is at Rs. 80 per liter. So to average it out, I will assume a number of Rs. 76 per liter for the calculation below.

For meals, I am assuming a safe number of Rs. 400 per person per day. If you were on a budget then this is the maximum that the digit would go. Eating at Dhabas while riding, you can very well keep it well below this number. But then while staying at places like Srinagar, Leh, and Manali, you may choose to eat at a good restaurant which can be a bit costly. So as a safe number, I will assume Rs. 400 as total meal cost per day.

Also Read: Which is the Best Bike for Leh Ladakh Trip

Accommodation cost I will suggest depending on the place you are staying at the night; as per the itinerary. I will assume a number of Rs. 700 at a budget hotel for 1 room. You may find cheaper accommodation than this if you were lucky but I will keep it at a safe number of Rs. 700.

Bike Expenses

By this, I mean the money that you will spend on getting the bike ready, carrying some spare parts, and then getting it serviced again at the end of the trip. In total, I will suggest that you keep a total cost estimate of about Rs. 6000 for this.

Ladakh Trip Itinerary

To begin with, let me first post a sample itinerary that I will be using to help explain the cost incurred.

• Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
• Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
• Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Padum – Day 4
• Padum to Kargil – Day 5
• Kargil to Leh  -Day 6
• Leh – Day 7
• Leh to Diskit – Day 8
• Diskit to Leh – Day 9
• Leh to Pangong – Day 10
• Pangong to Leh – Day 11
• Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 12
• Tso Moriri to Pang via Tso Kar – Day 13
• Pang to Jispa / Keylong – Day 14
• Jispa / Keylong to Manali – Day 15
• Manali to Delhi – Day 16

I know, the plan seems a little too long but I kept it this way keeping in mind a few things. The first one is that it covers almost all the major tourist places in Ladakh, except for a few others.

The second is that the travel does not involve a hectic schedule and throughout these 16 days, you can travel at leisure. Some internal routes of Ladakh open a bit late than all the other routes which I have kept excluded from here. I will however explain those later in the article.

So In a way, you can follow this itinerary in any months when Ladakh is open and you can afford to ride around there on a bike.

Also read: How to Prepare your Motorcycle for Ladakh Trip

Ladakh Bike Tour Cost

Let us now take a look at the entire trip and calculate the total cost day by day.

Day 1: Delhi to Jammu

• Total distance: 590 kilometers, travel time of about 10-12 hours depending upon your speed and breaks.
• Fuel Cost: Rs. 1,793.00 and Rs. 896.00 per person if traveling with Pillion
• Meal Cost: 400 per person
• Accommodation at Jammu: Rs. 700 for a budget hotel. Rs. 350 per person if traveling with a pillion.
• Total Expense so far: Rs. 2,893 if solo; Rs. 1,646 if with Pillion

Also read: Clothes for Ladakh Trip: What to Pack

Day 2: Jammu to Srinagar

• Total distance: 270 kilometers travel time of about 7-8 hours
• Fuel Cost: Rs. 820 if solo and Rs. 410 if with Pillion
• Meal Cost: Rs. 400 per person
• Accommodation at Srinagar: Rs. 700 for a budget hotel. Rs. 350 per person if traveling with a pillion.
• Total Expense for the day: Rs. 1,920 if solo and Rs. 1,160 if with Pillion
• Total Expense of the trip so far: Rs. 4,814 if solo and Rs. 2,807 if with Pillion

Also Read: Sightseeing in Srinagar – What to Visit

Day 3: Srinagar to Kargil

• Total Distance: 200 Kilometers covered in about 6-8 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 608; With Pillion – Rs. 304
• Accommodation at Kargil: Rs. 1000 for a decent enough hotel. Rs. 500 per person if shared with a pillion
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 2,008; With Pillion Rs. 1,204
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 6,822; With Pillion Rs. 4,011

Also Read: Srinagar to Kargil – A Complete Travel Guide

Day 4: Kargil to Padum

• Total Distance: 230 Kilometers covered in about 8-10 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 700; With Pillion – Rs. 350
• Accommodation at Padum: Rs. 700 for a budget hotel. Rs. 350 per person if shared with a pillion
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,800; With Pillion Rs. 1,100
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 8,622; With Pillion Rs. 5,110

Also Read: Kargil to Padum Travel Guide

Day 5: Padum to Kargil

• Accommodation at Kargil: Rs. 1,000 for a budget hotel. Rs. 500 per person if shared with a pillion
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 2,100; With Pillion Rs. 1,250
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 10,720; With Pillion Rs. 6,360

Also Read: Sightseeing in Padum

Day 6: Kargil to Leh

• Total Distance: 220 Kilometers covered in about 6-8 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 670; With Pillion – Rs. 335
• Accommodation at Leh: Rs. 700 for a budget hotel. Rs. 350 per person if shared with pillion
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,770; With Pillion Rs. 1,085
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 12,500; With Pillion Rs. 7,500

Also read: List of Things you Must Carry for Ladakh Trip

• Permit Charges: Rs. 600 per person for 5 days
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,700; With Pillion Rs. 1,350
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 14,200; With Pillion Rs. 8,800

Also Read: Sightseeing in Leh City

Day 8: Leh to Diskit (Nubra Valley)

• Total Distance: 120 Kilometers covered in about 5-6 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 365; With Pillion – Rs. 183
• Accommodation at Diskit: Rs. 700 for a budget hotel. Rs. 350 per person if shared with pillion
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,465; With Pillion Rs. 932
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 15,655; With Pillion Rs. 9,728

Also read: List of Hotels & Guest Houses in Nubra Valley

Day 9: Diskit to Leh

• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 17,120; With Pillion Rs. 10,660

Day 10: Leh to Pangong Tso

• Total Distance: 225 Kilometers covered in about 7-8 hours
• Accommodation at Pangong: Rs. 500 per person
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,600; With Pillion Rs. 1,250
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 18,703; With Pillion Rs. 11,900

Accommodation at Pangong gets a bit tricky and can increase your Ladakh bike trip Budget. Camp Sites will charge you about Rs. 2000 – Rs. 3000 per person including means. A bed at Chadar tents will cost about Rs. 300 – 400 per person. Staying at a guest house at Spangmik, Man, Merak can cost you anywhere between Rs. 800 to Rs. 2000 so please calculate accordingly.

Also read: How to Plan a Trip to Pangong Tso

Day 11: Pangong Tso to Leh

• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,785; With Pillion Rs. 1,093
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 20,488; With Pillion Rs. 13,000

Day 12: Leh to Tso Moriri

• Total Distance: 220 Kilometers covered in about 7-8 hours
• Accommodation at Karzok: Rs. 1,000 for a budget hotel. Rs. 500 per person if shared with pillion
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 2,100; With Pillion Rs. 1,235
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 22,556; With Pillion Rs. 14,200

Also read: How to Plan a Trip to Tso Moriri

Day 13: Tso Moriri to Pang via Tso Kar

• Total Distance: 155 Kilometers covered in about 6-7 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 470; With Pillion – Rs. 235
• Accommodation at Pang: Rs. 300 per person
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,170; With Pillion Rs. 935
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 23,728; With Pillion Rs. 15,164

Day 14: Pang to Keylong

• Total Distance: 180 Kilometers covered in about 6-7 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 550; With Pillion – Rs. 275
• Accommodation at Keylong: Rs. 700 for a budget hotel. Rs. 350 per person if shared with pillion
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,650; With Pillion Rs. 1,000
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 25,375; With Pillion Rs. 16,188

Day 15: Keylong to Manali

• Total Distance: 115 Kilometers covered in about 6-7 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 350; With Pillion – Rs. 175
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 1,450; With Pillion Rs. 925
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 26,825; With Pillion Rs. 17,112

Also Read: Manali Leh Highway Travel Guide

Day 16: Manali to Delhi

• Total Distance: 555 Kilometers covered in about 13-14 hours
• Fuel Cost: Solo – Rs. 1,680; With Pillion – Rs. 845
• Total Expense of the day: Solo – Rs. 2,087 With Pillion Rs. 1,243
• Total Trip Expense so Far: Solo – Rs. 28,900; With Pillion Rs. 18,355

Tota Cost of Ladakh trip by Bike

So the total cost incurred for a leisurely bike ride of about 16 days, following the itinerary I mentioned above is as mentioned below.

• Total distance covered: 3,655 kilometers approximately
• Total Fuel Consumption: 150 liters approximately with a minimum average of about 25 kilometers per liter
• Fuel Expense: Rs. 11,100 if traveling solo; Rs. 5,550 if with pillion
• Meal Expense: Rs. 6,400 approximately
• Accommodation: Rs. 10,800 if traveling solo; Rs.5,800 if with Pillion
• Bike Expense: Rs. 6000
• Total Trip Expense for 16 days: Rs. 34,900 if traveling solo; Rs. 21,355 if riding with a pillion

I agree, this number looks a bit high for a budget trip. But think of it like this. A total of about 35000 for 16 days means around 2000 per day. That is the minimum anyway for any vacation anywhere.

You also need to consider the fact that this was a leisurely ride for 16 days covering all tourist areas. This number also is on a safer end. If you kept your expenses low, it will be rare if you ended up spending more than this. Depending on how many days you travel for, hotel, and meal choice, you can still further reduce this total cost.

Agham Shyok Road

This is the road that connects Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso. About 2 years ago, it was one of the most dangerous roads of Ladakh but after a lot of work by BRO, it is now smooth sailing all the way. Traveling on this road, you can easily make it to Pangong from Nubra in about 5-6 hours.

This will save a day in your itinerary as you will not have to go back to Leh anymore and can help reduce your Ladakh bike trip budget. It is about a 160 kilometers long stretch between Diskit and Spangmik. This way, you will not have to return to Leh on Day 9 and can reduce a day there. For more details, please take a look at How to go from Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso by Shyok Road .

Chushul Route

If you want to travel from Pangong to Tso Moriri directly, then the total distance covered between these two destinations will be about 300 kilometers with a night halt at Hanle. If you cover the entire journey in one day and do not go to Hanle, then the distance will be about 200 kilometers. I have mentioned further details on this route in the article below. For more details, please take a look at How to go directly to Tso Moriri from Pangong Tso .

Ladakh bike trip Budget from Other Cities

The estimate I provided above was from Delhi. If you were however coming from a different city, this cost may go up. For example, if you were coming from the southern or western part of the country, there will be additional costs involved.

This can be in the form of transporting your bike to either Srinagar or Delhi or Chandigarh. If you decided to ride it all the way from your own hometown, then the overall expense for all those days will get added to the cost I mentioned above.

I will give a rough estimate of some of the different cities to give you an idea.

• Ladakh Bike trip Cost from Bangalore: Rs. 35000 – Rs.40000
• Chennai to Ladakh Bike trip Budget: Rs. 35000 – Rs.40000
• Ladakh Bike trip Cost from Mumbai: Rs. 35000 – Rs.40000
• Kerala to Ladakh Bike trip Budget: Rs. 35000 – Rs.40000
• Ladakh Bike trip Cost from Manali: Rs. 12000 – 15000 if you are traveling on your own bike. Rs. 25000 if you are renting a bike from Manali.
• Ladakh Bike trip Cost from Kolkata: Rs. 35000 – Rs.40000
• Chandigarh to Ladakh Bike trip Cost: Rs. 20000 – 25000
• Ladakh Bike trip Cost from Jaipur: Rs. 25000 – Rs.30000
• Leh Ladakh bike trip cost from Pune: Rs. 35000 – Rs.40000

Please know that these numbers are highly dependant on a lot of assumptions and subject to change. But on an overall basis, your total trip cost will around these numbers only.

Which is the best bike for Ladakh?

There is really no best bike for Ladakh as such. Any bike that you own is good enough for Ladakh as long as it is well maintained and serviced before the trip. For more details, please take a look at Which is the Best Bike for Ladakh Trip ?

Can I rent a bike in Leh Ladakh?

Yes, you definitely can. You can either rent a bike for the Ladakh trip in Manali, Srinagar, or even Leh. For details, please take a look at How to rent a bike in Leh Ladakh .

Are rented bikes reliable?

This question is open to a lot of debate. Mostly the rented bikes are not reliable but it depends on who did you rent it from. Before you finalize the deal, make sure you have checked the motorcycle thoroughly and ensured there is no problem with it. Take the bike for a test ride as well for a couple of kilometers.

Which is the best month to visit Ladakh by Bike?

Anytime from June to September can be considered as the best time to ride to Ladakh. Both the highways from Manali and Srinagar will be open at this time. All internal roads in Ladakh will be accessible as well. For more details, please take a look at When is the best time to visit Ladakh .

How can I transport my bike to Ladakh by train?

I have covered this topic in great detail in another post How to transport motorcycle by Train in India that I will urge you to read.

Leh Ladakh Bike Trip Budget – Conclusion

I hope the information provided above on Ladakh bike trip budget was of help. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below and I will be happy to answer. You can also  follow me on Instagram  and chat with me live there or  subscribe to my YouTube channel  and ask a question there.

Vargis.Khan

Not much to write about me really except for that I love to travel around whenever I can and to wherever I can. This blog is just a small attempt to share my travel experiences with the world. Hope you like it !!!

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How to plan a trip to leh ladakh, srinagar leh highway status 2024 – 2025, zojila pass road status and condition 2024 –..., 47 comments.

Hi vargis sir, thanks a lot for such a detailed information. sir i am planning Leh Ladakh trip in April 2023 from 23rd april to 12th may. is it fine to visit this region in that time. also, i am planning this trip with a companion by my bike Himalayan bs4 model. my provisional itinerary is like this-:

day 1 Jaipur to Jalandhar and night stay dat 2 Jalandhar to Anantnag and night stay day 3 anantnag to shrinagar and day-night stay day 4 shrinagar to sonmarg and day-night stay day 5 sonmarg to kargil and night stay day 6 kargil to leh and day 7 stay at leh day 8 leh to hunder or turtuk day 9 turtuk to pangong and night stay day 10 pangong to upshi and night stay day 11 upshi to karzok and night stay day 12 karzok to sarchu and night stay day 13 sarchu to sissu and night stay day 14 sissu to manali and day-night stay day 15 manali to chandigarh and night stay day 16 chandigarh to jaipur

sir , kindly update me if there is any need to change and i really appreciate your valuable opinion. i have experience of done leh ladakh via manali one time with a group of my friends in 2019. also i want to ask that do we need to hire a backup vehicle for this trip with a mechanic and a helper . so we can leave our heavy luggage in it and enjoy our trip ! and could you know the cost of that also. i know i have too many expectations from you. but while reading your blog and plans i feel a brotherhood feeling with you so please help me regarding this.

Thank you for your kind words Vishal Bhai. Your itinerary is doable but I will recommend postponing it by a month. Plan in May so that you have a confirmation that Manali Leh route is open. It may still be closed around your travel dates. Maybe start by 12th May.

Hi Mr Khan Waseem khan here planing to travel in first week of June’24 with my friend on our Bullet 350 cc from Ambala to Manali Sarchu Leh Nubra Valley Pangong Lake Hanle Leh Kargil Srinagar Jammu, 12 days trip. We are working on every aspect of trip as we are travelling first time to ladakh. Need your help and guidance, please advice. Thank you

What would you like to know Bhai?

Can I go by pulsar 125 to this leh trip?

If it is a well maintained bike and you are riding alone, then yes

Hi Vargis, Could you please answer the following questions- 1) Could I drive a non-gear vehicle (Activa or Avaitor) with a pillion from Srinagar to Leh 2) Can I plan a Srinagar – Leh – Srinagar trip in 5 days (I don’t want to visit many places just want to experience riding). 3) If I plan a 5 day journey how much will it cost per person for a group of 4 people (you can assume suitable inputs – its a budget trip)

Hi Huzaifa – Please see the post below. Should clear your doubts.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/leh-ladakh-on-scooter/

Hi vargis! Can we do the whole trip on Fzs 150cc with a pillon we will manage for luggage by creating some side carriers and back!!! Please tell

road by bike in trip how is tha total amount in my trip

IM PLANNING TO GO LADAKH WITH CT100 AND MY FRIEND DISCOVER 125, I THINK ITS VERY HARD BUT I TRY MY BEST

Hii vargis sir I will plan to trip on baike jawa 42 , Rajkot to leh ,can you say this baike is perfect for ladakh . I will go in Jun 2021 . REPLY

You have nothing to worry about Kishan Bhai. Jawa is perfect for Ladakh. You will be on a fun ride.

Will Xtreme 160 be okay?

Yes but go solo

Hi khan sir, i am planing to go solo ride to ladhak on october 2021 from banglore with my wife, is this safe?

Hi Charan Bhai – If you are an experienced rider and know how to handle mountain roads, then yes it is safe.

Hii vargis sir

I will plan to trip on baike Dominar 250 , Surat to leh ,can you say this baike is perfect for ladakh . I will go in Jun 2021 .

Hi Dhiraj Bhai – Yes, Dominar is good for Ladakh. Bike ki lower faring hata dena taaki vo damage na ho. Trip ke baad phir vaapis aake lagva lena

Hi Dhiraj Bhai – Yes, Dominar is good for Ladakh. Bike ki lower faring hata dena taaki vo damage na ho. Trip ke baad phir vaapis aake lagva lena

Hi Vargis ….. Traveling from leh to Manali ……I heard there is no petrol bunks ….is it real ….if yes …then how can I cover this 330 Kms stretch in one full tank …..my bike range 270 Kms …,….. And I’m a solo traveler …..can you give any solution

And can you tell what all documents I need to carry ?

You will have to carry spare fuel Dinesh. Which bike do you have?

Hello Vargis Just to cut the cost, can we find homestay very easily in turtuk, man/merak. hanle, korzok?? how much they charge? is it less than average hotel rent (like 700rs-1000rs hotel)??

Hi Chirag – Keep an average of Rs. 1000 – 1500 per day for accommodation in Ladakh. Even paying guest will charge you almost as much as a hotel or guest house.

Hlo vargis Am having a second handed cb250r is there any problem or any permission that the bike should be on my name?

Yes Vishnu. It must be registered in your name.

Hi Vargis, i am planning to go to leh ladakh by scooty. I am from Lucknow. Is there any special permission that i require to go by scooty??? Please tell me.

Hi Deepak – As long as it is registered in your name, you do not need any special permission.

Your posts are really informative. Thanks for sharing these posts. We are 2 people planning for Ladakh trip. its a budget trip. we are Planning from Hyderbad to Srinagar to Ladakh – Pangong Lake – Ladakh and back srinagar then Hyderabad. We are planning to hire a bike at srinagar and start our joutrney but to go to Pongong lake this hired vehicle is not allowed. can you please share your thoughts for this trip. TYIA.

Hi Naveen, that is correct. Your Srinagar rented bike would have to be left out parked at a hotel in Leh. For visiting Pangong, you will have to rent another bike in Le.

Hey dude… Really appreciate the pains you took for putting up all that info for us…… I am planning a trip next year with my bros and would like to travel to leh from srinagar and return from leh to manali…. I’ll possibly take a flight from delhi to srinagar and for returns i’ll take the manali to delhi route in a cab…. So is it possible to get bikes on rent in srinagar which we can drop off in manali…. Is there any tour operator who provides such service….or is there any other way to go about it….

Thanks Ankit. A lot of bike rentals will provide this service but will charge you an additional 10 – 15k for it

Hi Vargis, I am planning for a solo trip from Delhi- Manali-Leh- Manali-Delhi. Planning to get by Volvo till Manali and then rent a bike at Manali and then proceed towards Leh.

Do you think it will be fine if I start my journey in September First week, and complete it in 8 days.

Plan to go this way.. Delhi – Manali – Bus Manali—–> Leh Leh-> Nubra-> Pangong -> Tso Moriri -> Pang -> Manali

Also, I am looking for some middle place in Manali Leh Highway which is around 200 kms from both the places so that I get to stay for 1 day before reaching Leh from Manali. Could you help with that.

Regards, Vinod

1. Sep first week is a good time to visit Ladakh 2. 8 Days – What is your complete itinerary? 3. Middle place would be Sarchu

Below is the details itinerary I am planning for.

Date Day Activity Day 30th Aug Thur Leave for Delhi 0 31st Aug Fri Leave for Manali 1 1st Sep Sat Reach Manali 2 1st Sep Sat Stay in Manali 2 2nd Sep Sun Leave for Sarchu 3 2nd Sep Sun Stay in Sarchu 3 3rd Sep Mon Leave for Leh 4 3rd Sep Mon Stay in Leh 4 4th Sep Tue Leave for Nubra 5 4th Sep Tue Stay in Nubra 5 5th Sep Wed Leave for Pangong 6 5th Sep Wed Stay in Pangong 6 6th Sep Thur Leave for Leh 7 6th Sep Thur Stay in Leh 7 7th Sep Fri Leave for Sarchu 8 7th Sep Fri Stay in Sarchu 8 8th Sep Sat Leave for Manali 9 8th Sep Sat Take bus for Delhi 9 9th Sep Sun Reach Delhi 9

Any feedback/suggestions on this ?

Hi Vinod – Your itinerary looks great. If you can add another day then you can also cover Tso Moriri though.

4- Leh to Nubra 5- Nubra to Pangong via Shyok 6- Pangong to Hanle 7- Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) 8- Karzok to Pang / Sarchu 9- Pang / Sarchu to Leh

Thanks so far in answering questions. 2 more doubts.

1. As you can see above I am planning to travel in HP bike in Leh Ladakh region, will it be a problem since I will be returning in same bike.

2. If I get a bike at Manali and drop it off at Leh, how much extra will it cost me. Would you suggest this option?

1. Any bike rented outside Leh is only good to be brought to Leh city only. For local sightseeing in Ladakh, you will have to rent another bike locally. 2. If you take a bike from Manali and drop at Leh, it will cost you about 15k additional for that.

Thanks, that will be problematic and costly too. I want to cover Manali to Leh on bike and then Ladakh too on bike. Is there any other alternative to this.

Not really. You will have to give up Manali – Leh on bike plan or bear the additional 15k cost.

Okay Thanks. Will it make sense to travel directly to Leh without covering Manali- Leh on bike ? or does the extra payment of 15k is worth taking the cost…. I checked online with Manali Bike Rentals and they said that it is mandatory to pay for min 7 days to rent a bike from Manali so the total expense would be 1200*7 + 10000 (drop cost).

I got to know this route is the best part of the travel towards Leh – Ladakh.

Your opinion and suggestions please. 🙂

Yeah this is one of the best routes but not worth all that money. Better would be to focus on Ladakh for now and leave Manali Leh highway for another time. Maybe as a reason to visit Ladakh in future.

Hey Vargis, is there any way I can get JK10 bikes in Manali. Are you aware of such dealers who do this transportation or can help me with this, would be very helpful.

Hi Vinod – No that would be extremely tough to find and not available at all as far as I can tell.

I am planning solo trip on 13 July for 9 to 10 days from Delhi to manali and than Leh Ladakh. I will rent the bike from Manali which places should I go between Manali to Leh. And my budget is 22k

See this post please for a list of places to see on Manali Leh road.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/primary-attractions-manali-leh-highway/

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Dec 18, 2020

Live It Up  

Road Trip to Ladakh Guide For Beginners

A bike trip to Leh Ladakh is every motorcycle enthusiast's dream! The challenging terrains of the Himalayas that lead up to Leh Ladakh make it one of the best routes in India for a road trip plan. However, there are many things that you need to know before you venture out on a trip to Leh Ladakh on your bike. Right from picking the perfect bike that wouldn't give up on you in the middle of nowhere to the right paperwork that you need to carry with you, we have compiled a simple guide on how to plan a Leh Ladakh bike trip. You can go off-roading or even take as many pit stops as you want during your journey. But make sure that you carry the mentioned essentials as the intimidating Himalayas could challenge you with many concerns en route Leh Ladakh.

Be comfortable off-roading

Let's first understand what off-roading is before you make a decision. Off-roading is one of the most popular things that road trippers indulge in, especially during a Leh Ladakh road trip. You basically do not stick to a rigorous schedule when you're teaching Leh Ladakh from any part of Himachal Pradesh. The hilly state in India has one too many small and quaint villages nestled as Himalayas' best-kept secrets. You can actually explore these small villages by taking breaks from your road trips. You do not have to ride till you reach your destination continuously. It is one of the most preferred Leh Ladakh bike trip plans as it allows the rider to take the necessary break the gluteus and back require. Not to mention how part of the itinerary is to make new connections and off-road to new terrains. You might even manage to find easier routes to reach your destination as the locals know better.

Ensure that you carry medicines and supplies

One of the most important tips to follow on a road trip to Leh Ladakh is to ensure that you have packed a proper set of medical supplies. The roads leading up to Leh Ladakh aren't as friendly as you think. The wobbly terrains with uncharted roads and narrow paths often make it difficult for a cruiser to have a good trip. The chances of accidents or unfortunate events are also highly possible during a road trip to Leh Ladakh. Hence, you must carry your own medical supplies. The chances of receiving the best medical attention en route Leh Ladakh is tough, but as long as you have all the essential medicines and supplies, you wouldn't have to worry much. We also recommend that you take up a short course on how to treat accident wounds before you commence on your road trip to Leh Ladakh. It will help you tremendously and also make you more independent as you venture out.

Always carry toilet paper

Don't be surprised to read this point as proper western toilets and water are a luxury that not all of Himachal Pradesh can afford. In fact, the paths leading up to Leh Ladakh don't have public restrooms on the way. You will have to take nature's call in the wild, perhaps before you get back on your saddle to conclude your journey. Hence, it is essential that you carry your own toilet paper and perhaps save some water too. There might come times when you will have to camp in the middle of nowhere and use your survival skills to rest before you can get back on track for your road trip. Even some of the homestays and accommodation options in Leh Ladakh do not have tissues and toilet papers. Best to carry your stock.

Avoid referring to Google Maps

Google Maps is not the most reliable source of navigation, especially when you're backpacking across Himachal Pradesh. The roads leading up to Leh Ladakh are quite convoluted and confusing at times. Surely, if you have a group of people with some seasoned riders who know how to reach Leh Ladakh without the need for a navigation system, follow them. Or, carry a map of roads leading up to Leh Ladakh. It is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you are not lost. Plus, it would be easier to ask the locals too as you can show them the map. Google Maps tend to add to the confusion and sometimes even take you to some wrong roads.

Make pit stops to soak in the beauty of the surrounding

Don't be in a rush to reach your desired destination. Take short breaks and make the journey a memorable one. One of the biggest mistakes that people tend to make on their first road trip is to avoid pit stops and just head for the destination. You need to understand that the destination is not going to shift base and that you will eventually reach the place. But it is important that you spend your time making moments during your road trip count. While you're on your way, you could take a short break to have some lovely tea and Maggi noodles at one of the small stalls in the middle of nowhere.

Further, you can also take a photography break to soak in the gorgeous views of the Himalayas into your cameras. Further, you could meet some fellow motorcycle enthusiasts and opt for off-roading too. It would be a fun expedition, and you will have a great time too.

Don't be too dependent on the mobile network for directions

Mobile networks can give up as your elevation increases. When you're on a road trip to Leh Ladakh, the chances of your mobile network bidding farewell is quite high. We suggest that you download and keep all your required apps and documents, if you have found a proper Google Maps route to guide you through the roads, we suggest that you save it. Mobile networks can be super dicey in regions where they cannot erect network towers. Although BSNL is one of the very few networks to penetrate through the rugged Himalayan range, they might also not give the strongest 4G network and internet that you seek. Hence, we suggest that you do not depend wholly on your mobile network during your road trip to Leh Ladakh. Instead, you carry essentials such as an external map, a torchlight and write down important contact details on a piece of paper or a book.

Carry all the necessary paperwork

When you're travelling to Leh Ladakh via road, there are many documents and official paperwork that you need to carry with you. For road trips to Leh Ladakh, depending on the route that you choose, you will need to carry permit papers accordingly. If you are travelling from the Shimla - Kinnaur - Kaza - Spiti - Leh Ladakh route, you might have to cross through the Kunzum La Pass for which, you will require a permit from the government. Similarly, for those who choose to head to Leh Ladakh from Manali - Rohtang Pass, you will also require a permit from the government to pass the checkpoints. Similarly, it is also important that you carry your IDs and documents along with you to ensure that you do not get stranded in the middle of anywhere without a proper permit.

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Leh Ladakh Bike Trip | FREE Excursion to Chang-la Pass

Trip Highlights

Gear up for a thrilling bike ride experience through the rugged terrains of Ladakh, the land of high passes.

Enjoy camping amidst the valley of mountains under a starlit sky at night, majestic mountains, serene lakes, and vibrant culture, offering an unforgettable experience.

Visit the famous Magnetic Hill, a mysterious place that appears to defies the law of gravity, as where vehicles seem to roll uphill due to an optical illusion .

Feel a sense of achievement, as you ride across the Khardung-La Pass, the world’s highest all season motorable road offering stunning mountain views and thrilling adventure.

Know Before You Go

• Mobile Network: Only Postpaid network (JIO, Airtel, BSNL) is active in the region.
• Breakfast availability in hotel on last day totally depends on your departure timings.
• It is recommended to carry enough warm clothes and the right kind of shoes for the tour. The advisable baggage weight is 60 liters as you might have to carry the luggage to the backup vehicle, the accommodation, etc.
• Rates may fluctuate with any change in services/hotels. The difference in the cost shall be borne by the client in case of any amendment in the package due to an increase in the number of guests, hotel change, etc.
• The hotels are subject to their availability. In case they are not available, the travelers will be accommodated in a property of similar standard.
• Thrillophilia reserves the right to rearrange the itinerary due to any kind of disturbance that occurred (i.e weather condition, political condition or any others) without changing the total number of days and without compromising any service.
• Ladakh has one of the most difficult terrains in the country and the weather is harsh and unpredictable, the hotels and their facilities in Ladakh can not be compared with equivalent hotels in other parts of the country. They are more basic in nature but Ladakhi people carry the local warmth, which compensates for the star categories.
• Consult a physician before undertaking the tour. Carry basic medications and a first-aid kit during the tour.
• Rescheduling Policy for Private (Standard & Deluxe Package) & Group Bookings: 1) If rescheduling is made 7 days after the Booking Date till 15 days prior to the Date of Travel then 30.0% of the total tour cost will be charged as rescheduling fees. | 2) If rescheduling is made 0 days to 15 days before the Date of Travel then 100.0% of the total tour cost will be charged as cancellation fees. | 3) If bookings are made 15 days before the Date of Travel no rescheduling & modifications will be made.
• Rescheduling Policy for Private (Super Deluxe) & Hotel Specific Bookings: No modification or Rescheduling will be catered. A standard cancellation policy will be applicable for such cases.
• Force Majeure: In cases of force majeure events (e.g., natural disasters, political unrest, or other unforeseeable circumstances), [Thrillophilia] reserves the right to reschedule Tours & treks or offer alternative itineraries to ensure the safety and well-being of clients and staff.
• Cancellation After Rescheduling: Clients who reschedule their tours or treks but later decide to cancel will be subject to our standard cancellation policy. Any rescheduling fees paid will be non-refundable.

Additional Information

About the tour :

Get ready to make your dream of riding in Ladakh come true in the action-packed bike trip where one would be experiencing the fusion of thrill, serene beauty, and culture of the "Land of High Passes". The tour offers you a stay amidst a beautiful valley of mountains and a starlit sky at night. The unique thing about the Ladakh terrain is that it has mountains, forests, deserts, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls in one beautiful and dynamic geography.

Quick Info :

• Route: Leh - Sham Valley - Khardungla - Nubra Valley - Pangong - Chang La - Leh
• Duration: 6 Days and 5 Nights
• Start Point: Leh Airport
• Endpoint: Leh Airport

Inclusions :

• 500cc Standard, RE Himalayan, or KTM 390 Adventure Bike as per the variant selected
• Airport pick-up and drop-off as per your flight timings
• Accommodation at all locations on double (for couples and special requests) and triple-sharing basis in standard hotels and camps
• Buffet Breakfast and Dinner: Starting with Dinner on Day 1 and ending with Breakfast on Last Day as per itinerary
• Fuel for the whole trip as per the itinerary
• Assured Inner line permits and Ladakh Union fee
• Experienced tour captain on a bike
• Experienced mechanic for daily maintenance
• Basic spare parts change in the bike during the tour (front/rear tube, spark plug, clutch, brake wire, engine oil)
• A backup vehicle (SUV/Traveler/Bolero Camper) to carry your luggage and spare parts from day 3
• Standard-size helmet for the rider and the pillion
• Oxygen cylinder and Basic First-Aid during the tour
• Evening Bonfire (in Nubra)
• Driver expenses, toll tax, fuel, and parking charges

How to reach :

The easiest way to travel to Ladakh is by air. The nearest airport is Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) located in Leh. This airport is connected with many international airports in India, like Delhi. It also receives flights from Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, and other common destinations in India

Related Products

Ladakh tour faqs, is the ladakh bike trip safe.

Ladakh bike trip is one of the most exquisite trips in the world. Being the land of high passes and frozen lakes, it adds to some difficulty that challenges bikers and adventure junkies from all over the world. If you are a frequent biker and have a good mountain bike, this trip will be easy and more exciting for you. Our packages offer the best bikes, with a support vehicle and a dedicated crew to help you at every step. Therefore if you are a good rider, it is definitely a safe trip and a must-have experience.

Is the Leh Ladakh worth visiting?

What is the best time for ladakh bike trip.

The best time to visit for a Ladakh Bike Trip is from May to October, during this time all the winter snow starts melting resulting in clear and dry roads. The Sky is clear and the attractions are more scenic. In winters, the temperature is less than 0 degrees and it leads to breathing problems , frostbite and other issues. Therefore it is not suitable to go for a Ladakh bike trip in winters. Autumn and summer season is the best time, as there are a lot of festival celebrations in the town , which makes it more appealing for tourists.

What are the essential things to carry for Ladakh trip on bike?

What places are included in the leh ladakh bike tour package, what meals are included in leh ladakh bike tour package.

Irrespective of the Leh Ladakh Bike tour package you are availing, you will get the inclusion of two major meals i.e. Dinner and Breakfast. Both the meals will be served at your accommodation at the morning and evening time. There will be a buffet set up in the restaurant where you can self-serve your meal.

What kind of accommodation is included in the Leh Ladakh bike tour package?

Which are some of the good bikes for ladakh trip on the bike, how much does a ladakh trip on bike cost.

A Ladakh trip on a bike can be availed at the best prices at Thrillophilia. A Double Rider trip will cost INR 22950/- per person and a Single Rider trip at INR 28500/- per person. With your own bike, you can enjoy this trip at INR 16800/- per person only.

More on Ladakh Tourism

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• Rock Climbing
• Scuba Diving
• Wildlife Safari
• View All Tribes
• Ajeet Bajaj
• Amit Chowdhury
• Gayatri Sawhny
• Latika Rana
• Rajesh Kalra
• View All Gurus

activity guide

• Bungy Jumping
• Hot Air Ballooning
• View All Activity Guides

destination guide

• Lahaul and Spiti
• Lakshadweep
• Nubra Valley
• View All Destination Guides

NORTH INDIA

• Himachal Pradesh
• Uttarakhand

SOUTH INDIA

• Western Ghats

INTERNATIONAL

• South Africa
• United Kingdom

LAND ACTIVITIES

• Camel Safari
• Horse Safari
• Jeep Safari
• Mountaineering
• Motorsports
• Photography

AIR ACTIVITIES

• Bungee Jumping
• Paragliding

WATER ACTIVITIES

• River Cruising
• Family Outings
• Fixed Departures
• Weekend Getaways

` 39,999   ` 34,999   per person

Duration: 13 days, talk to an expert, 0120-6907340, 6 to 13 days leh ladakh bike tour packages - starting inr 12,999 - click here to explore packages.

Aptly known as ‘the Land of high Passes’ Ladakh is one of the most unique and enchanting regions of India. This sparsely populated, vast landscape is a dream destination for adventure lovers worldwide. The Leh Ladakh Bike Trip is an unprecedented chance to experience the charm of the region. As the expedition is two-week long, we will have ample time to explore this vast cold desert at a slow and relaxing pace. We will start our Leh Ladakh Bike Tour Package from Delhi , and those coming from outside the city, are required to reach here 24 hours prior to the departure time.

We have an array of fixed departure dates for you to pick as an individual. If you are a group of 8 persons or more, we can also arrange for a customized bike tour package. This itinerary has been well-researched and carefully formulated after looking back at several of our trips in the past. We even arrange for pick-ups and transfer of your personal motorcycles from and to wherever they are, respectively. On this motorbike trip to Leh Ladakh, you can choose to ride solo or with a pillion rider. Remember that your road journey will be strenuous, but picturesque. The bumpy, narrow, and winding mountain roads with blind curves, deep gorges, and ravines at numerous points will keep pumping adrenaline through your veins. All this will make you tired, but once you gaze at the amazing views, you will be immediately refreshed. Know more about other popular Motor Bike Tours in India . A must-read:  Beginner’s Guide For A Motorbike Expedition to Ladakh  

Itinerary for Leh Ladakh Motor Bike Expedition:

Day 00: Arrival in Delhi(216m) Arrive in Delhi on your own and meet the Adventure Nation team and your fellow riders in the evening. In order to provide you the information regarding the expedition, it is essential that you participate in an orientation session. After the session, the bikes will be allotted so you may take it for a spin and check if it’s aligned to your riding style. Later, you are to go to your accommodation (arranged by yourself)  and retire early as tomorrow is going to be an early start. Day 01: Delhi to Chandigarh(321m) | 260km  

Grade/Duration - Easy/Approx. 5 Hours Altitude Gain - 105m Highlights - Breakfast at Murthal  

Arrive at the decided location early in the morning and meet our team and your fellow riders. After a quick briefing, we flag off from Delhi and start riding on the National Highway 1. Today’s journey will take you through places like Panipat, Karnal and Kurukshetra. Arrive in the city beautiful and check in to your accommodation. Stay overnight in a hotel. Day 02: Chandigarh to Manali(2050m) | 280km      Grade/Duration - Easy/Approx. 9 Hours Altitude Gain - 1729m Highlights - Entering the Himalayas, Riding along Beas River  

After having an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and hit the road. Initially, we ride through the plains in the State of Punjab and after riding for a few hours, we enter the State of Himachal Pradesh, also known as the ‘Land of the Gods.’ We will pass through the towns of Bilaspur and Mandi. After crossing Bhuntar, the ride gets exciting as we ride along the Beas River until we reach Manali. Later in the evening, go out and explore the colorful lanes of Old Manali, if time permits. Stay overnight in a hotel. Day 03: Manali to Jispa(3200m) | 140km      Grade/Duration - Moderate/Approx. 8 Hours Altitude Gain - 1150m Highlights - Solang Valley, Rohtang La(Pass)  

Today, we are going to ride towards Jispa on the much-celebrated Manali-Leh Highway. Leaving early is pivotal as we need to cross the mighty Rohtang Pass (3978m) early in the day, before it gets too crowded. After crossing Rohtang, the landscape changes drastically as we enter the Lahaul and Spiti District. The lush green grasslands disappear and the barren slopes of the cold dessert take over. We continue the ride towards Jispa crossing the quaint mountain towns of Sissu and Keylong. Arrive at the destination early in the evening and have an adventurous overnight stay in tents. Day 04: Jispa to Sarchu(4290m) | 90km      Grade/Duration - Difficult/Approx. 6 Hours Altitude Gain - 1090m Highlights - Deepak Tal, Baralacha La, Riding along Tsarap River  

Keep yourself completely hydrated by drinking a tonne of water as we are going to spend the night at above 4000mt altitude. Today’s ride is one of the shortest rides of the expedition but the adrenaline level remains high as the terrain is full of adventure. After crossing Darcha, keep riding on the Manali-Leh Highway towards Deepak Tal. The road from here starts to ascend steeply towards the treacherous Baralacha Pass(4890m), negotiating Zing Zing Bar and crossing the stunning emerald lake, known as Suraj Tal. Just after crossing Baralacha, halt for some time and have some well-deserved lunch near Bharatpur. We continue our ride to Sarchu on the same road, although the terrain gets changed quite a bit along the way and Tsarap River is visible on the left side carving and raging through the mountains. Arrive in Sarchu later in the day and be prepared for a rather uncomfortable overnight stay in a tent. Day 05: Sarchu to Leh(3500m) | 250km       

Grade/Duration - Difficult/Approx. 8 Hours Altitude Loss - 1090m Highlights - Gata loops, Nakee La, Lachung La, Morey Plains, Tanglang La, Riding along Indus River  

Start riding after an early breakfast as today’s going to be a long but exciting day of riding. Water-Crossings are a common sight on the road while riding to Leh and the ideal time to cross them is early in the day. Just after leaving Sarchu, we start to ascend towards Nakee La(4769m), crossing the zig-zag Gata Loops which is a series of 21 hairpin bends within a span of just 7km. The descent from Nakee La is barely even finished and the ascent towards another high pass, Lachung La(5059m) begins. The descent from Lachung La brings us to the town of Pang(4600m) where we halt for Lunch. The landscape starts to change after crossing Pang and the plateau of Morey Plains starts and stretches for 45km. Closer to the end of the plains, we start climbing the Tanglang La(5328m), the highest motorable pass on the Manali-Leh Highway. After crossing the 3rd high pass of the day, continue riding towards Leh along the mighty Indus River on the left side. Reach Leh in the evening and relax in the hotel. Day 06: Rest Day in Leh Replenish your energies with a healthy breakfast and enjoy a relaxing day in Leh. The first half of the day is saved for a regular check-up of the bikes and the rest of the day can be spent visiting a few sightseeing places in and around the city. Stop by the Leh Palace and enjoy the splendid panoramic views of the Stok Kangri mountain range from the terrace. You may also choose to visit the Shanti Stupa and the local market to indulge in some shopping and try out the Ladakhi cuisine at the local eateries. Spend the night at the hotel. Day 07: Leh to Nubra (3048m) | 160km      Grade/Duration - Difficult/Approx. 7 Hours Altitude Loss - 452m Highlights - Khardung La, Diskit Monastery  

After a rather relaxed day in Leh, we continue our expedition and start riding towards Nubra Valley through what’s considered the highest motorable road in the world i.e. Khardung La(5359m). The road towards the pass is well paved and tarred till the checkpoint near South Pullu and after crossing the checkpoint, the road starts to get slushy with loose rocks on one side. Get yourself clicked after reaching Khardung La and hit the road quickly as it is not safe to spend much time on top of the pass due to the high altitude and thin air. We stop for a quick lunch after climbing down from the pass and then continue our journey. After riding for another couple of hours, we make a brief stop to visit the 32m high Maitreya Buddha statue in Diskit Monastery. Our arrival in the valley will be welcomed by the white sand dunes and the sightings of the double-hump Bactrian camels grazing. Stay overnight at the hotel/campsite. Day 08: Nubra to Pangong(4250m) | 260km      Grade/Duration - Difficult/Approx. 8 Hours Altitude Gain -1202m Highlights - Riding along Shyok River, Water Crossings   

After having breakfast, we start riding towards the most photographed destination in Ladakh, Pangong Lake. Despite the fact that we are not going to cross any high pass today, the ride should be quite interesting as we ride on the much less traveled road via Shyok. Most of our ride is going to be along the beautiful Shyok River and through the villages like Agham, Shyok, Durbuk, and Tangste. The road remains slushy along with some exciting water crossings and rocky terrain so being cautious is important. After crossing Durbuk, the last stretch of the ride is going to be along the lake. From the very first glimpse, the lake leaves an everlasting impression on the visitors. Get yourself photographed and just admire the wonder that is this shimmering blue lake. Overnight stay in tents.  Day 09: Pangong to Leh(3500m) | 150km      Grade/Duration - Moderate/Approx. 5 Hours Altitude Loss - 750m Highlights - Chang La, Druk White Lotus School  

Wake up to an enchanting sunrise over Pangong Tso and recommence your Ladakh expedition. Today we are going to ride the same route that we rode yesterday and after crossing Durbuk, we will start climbing the third highest motorable pass in the world, Chang La(5360m). After crossing Chang La, we halt for Lunch. After eating, we start our journey to Lah via Karu from where we start riding on the Manali-Leh Highway. Just before reaching Leh, we are going to pass through the Thiksey monastery and the popular Druk White Lotus School. There will be a short halt to explore the monastery and take some pictures. After riding for approximately an hour, we will arrive in Leh for the second time during the expedition. Stay Overnight in a hotel. Day 10: Leh to Kargil(2676m) | 220km      Grade/Duration - Moderate/Approx. 6 Hours Altitude Loss - 824m Highlights - Fotu La, Namika La, Lamayuru Monastery  

The ride from Leh to Kargil takes relatively less time as the roads are in pretty decent condition. We bid adieu to Leh and follow the mighty Indus River towards Kargil on the Leh-Srinagar Highway. The landscape is mesmerizing all along the way as we ride through a spectacular moonscape to reach Lamayuru, which is home to the highest located monastery in the region. Just after Lamayuru, we start the gradual climb towards the Fotu La(4108m) and after climbing down the pass we start the climb towards another high pass which is Namika La(3700m). Both of these passes are in the Zanskar range and take us into the Musbekh Valley. We pass through multiple picturesque villages en route to Kargil. Stay overnight. Day 11: Kargil to Srinagar(1585m) | 202km      Grade/Duration - Difficult/Approx. 7 Hours Altitude Loss - 1091m Highlights - Dras War Memorial, Zoji La  

Wake up the chilly Himalayan air and get ready for what is going to be one of the most incredible riding experiences. We check out of our accommodation and start riding towards the Kashmir Valley via Dras, which is regarded as the second coldest inhabited place on earth. Just before reaching Dras, we take a short break at the Dras War Memorial. After Dras, we start riding uphill towards Zoji La(3528m) and the views from the top are just indescribably beautiful. After crossing the pass we enter the breathtaking valley of Sonamarg which is a major tourist destination. Another couple of hours of riding through the valley take us to Srinagar. Stay overnight in a houseboat/hotel. Day 12: Srinagar to Pathankot (332m) | 330km      Grade/Duration - Easy/Approx. 10 Hours Altitude Loss - 1253m Highlights - Riding down Himalayas, Jawahar Tunnel, Syama Tunnel  

Today’s ride is going to take us through the stunning valleys of Kashmir to the plains of Pathankot in Punjab. Although the distance is rather long, the riding pace should be quite swift as we will be climbing down and the road conditions are pretty decent. On the way to Pathankot, we are going to pass through two of the biggest tunnels in the region i.e. Jawahar Tunnel(2.85km) and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel(9.2km). Arrive at the hotel and have a good night of sleep as tomorrow is also going to be a long day of riding. Day 13: Pathankot to Delhi (216m) | 485km      Grade/Duration - Easy/Approx. 11 Hours Altitude Loss - 116m Highlights - Lush Green landscape throughout   

Today marks the last day of this once in a lifetime adventure. We need to start as early as possible as the distance to be covered today is the longest on this 13-day expedition. The journey should be pretty uneventful as we are going to be riding on wide tarmac roads through the plains of Punjab and Haryana. Arrive in the capital by late evening and reach the very place where it all started from. Get photographed with the entire gang one last time on this epic voyage and bid farewell to your motorcycle and your fellow riders. Trip Ends.

Get some inspiration from our amazing blog stories:

• Exploring Ladakh on a Motor Bike
• Why are Bike Trips to Ladakh so Popular
• Ladakh Motorbike Expedition: Chase Down the Road of Dreams on a Bike
• Motorbike Expedition to Ladakh: A Whiff of Thrill Amidst Beauty
• Check out these Amazing Motorbiking Routes for your Next Adventure

FAQs for Leh Ladakh Bike Tours:

1. What are the different routes to reach Leh?  Leh is accessible by road essentially from two different regions i.e. Kashmir Valley in west and Himachal in south. To get the best Ladakhi experience, one should enter from  Manali and exit in Srinagar or vice versa.   2. What is the ideal duration for a Ladakh bike trip? A bona fide Ladakh bike trip takes a minimum of 11 days if you want to experience all that this remote cold deserted region has to offer. There’s also an option of doing a Ladakh bike trip in 5-6 days if you fly in/out of Leh and cover places such as Nubra and Pangong. Although, flying in/out implies that you miss the adventures that the Manali-Leh Highway and the Srinagar-Leh Highway offer. 3. What is the ideal season to visit Ladakh? The open season for Ladakh is between June to September if you want to ride across all the high altitude passes such as Rohtang La, Baralacha La and Khardung La. 4. What type of clothing/gear is required for a Ladakh bike trip? Carrying the right kind of clothing is extremely important as you encounter all sorts of difficult weather/terrains ranging from humidity to biting cold and water crossings to snow-covered passes. The idea is to keep you warm and dry. Full body thermals along with a jacket are absolute necessities. A rain suit along with high ankle waterproof shoes/gumboots are to be carried. About the riding equipment, elbow guards and knee pads provide much-required safety apart from the helmet. 5. What are the must-see places during a Ladakh bike trip? Rohtang La, Baralacha La, Leh, Khardung La, Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Pangong Tso, Chang La, Tso Moriri, Kargil, Batalik, Zoji La, Srinagar. 6. What type of motorcycle is suited for Ladakh? The terrain on a Ladakh bike trip changes drastically in different locations. There should be enough power in the engine to manoeuvre through high passes and terrains such as slush, snow and even water crossings. Although Adventure Motorcycles are ideal, any motorcycle having a 200cc engine or above should do the job.  7. How good is the tourist infrastructure in Ladakh? Biking in Ladakh has become one of the most popular road trips in the world and that’s why the tourist infrastructure gets better every year. There are plenty of options available for accommodation/food throughout the entire biking circuit. Mobile reception is available only in the major towns so be prepared to be off the grid for some time.

Package Details

The dream ride motor bike expedition to ladakh, price (per person):   ` 39,999, duration:   13 days, cancellation policy   |   payment policy.

Package Price Details for Year 2023:

Total Distance:  Approx. 2800 KM

Documents to Carry : Passport size photographs  Original Photo ID ( voter card or passport ) Driving Licence If bringing your own bike, all documents related to your bike should be submitted along with insurance papers.  

• The check-in time is 12 noon/early check-in subject to availability of the room.
• We require a minimum strength of 6 riders to operate one group. We have the right to cancel the group if we do not get the minimum strength of riders in any group. 
•  If there are any additional expenses due to bad weather or any other reason beyond the control of the tour operator on account of a hotel stay, transportation, and meals, etc. extra bill will be raised. Neither Adventure Nation nor the participating partners/hotels will be responsible for the additional expenses.
•  Adventure Nation is not responsible for any change in itinerary due to reasons beyond our control like change in flight and train schedule, cancellation of flights/trains, political disturbances, natural phenomenon, etc
• If any group member wants to leave group in-between the tour then he/she has to pay the cost for transportation of bike from point of leaving the tour till Manali drop
• Group members would have to get own riding gear. Wearing a helmet, carrying a valid ID proof & Driving license is mandatory.
• All guests will be responsible for the safety and security of their own luggage. We will not be at all responsible for the damage/missing / lost luggage. So carry a small daypack bags to carry all expensive things with you. 
• Compensation for any damage/accident done by you during the tour to other property/person would be directly payable by you.

COVID 19 related Terms & Condition : Adventure Nation shall follow Covid 19 Protocols as per the government guidelines applicable to it. However, it is made clear, that the individual participants are responsible for maintaining all such protocols and guidelines that are applicable at his/her own level towards the prevention and spread of Covid 19. If any participants develop any symptoms around Covid 19, it shall immediately inform the Adventure Nation's team who shall then follow and adopt all such measures as it deems fit under the situation. Adventure Nation's decision shall be final and all participants shall abide by the above conditions to ensure safely of himself/herself and the people around.

Adventure Nation shall not be liable for any loss, cost, expense, damage, delay, missed connections, or any other consequential damages or losses which may be the direct or indirect result  of any actions taken by it as stated above.

Inclusions:

Exclusions:.

Section 01: Package without Motorcycle

• Accommodation in Hotels / Camps / Guest Houses on double/triple sharing from Day 01 to Day 12 (Double Sharing for couples)
• Meals - Breakfast and Dinner starting from Day 1 Dinner to Day 13 Breakfast.
• Services of the experienced trip leader and motorbike Mechanic
• Services of the backup vehicle for a group of more than 10 motorbikes
• First Aid kit and Oxygen cylinder at dispersal with the trip leader
• Inner Line permits worth Rs. 800/-
• Facility to carry luggage in a vehicle restricted to 1 Rucksack / Duffle bag of 60 Litres per motorbike

Section 02: Package with Motorbike

• Everything that is included in section 01
• Royal Enfield 350cc / 500cc motorbike
• Motorbike Fuel for the complete trip as per the itinerary
• Helmet for both rider and pillion
• Riding Gears for rider(Knee pads and Elbow guards are included in the package for the whole trip)
• Extra Fuel for back up

Section 03: Package with MUV

• Everything that is included in Section 01
• Transport in an MUV like Tempo Traveller / Toyota Innova / Mahindra Xylo / Mahindra Scorpio from Day 01 to Day 13 as per the group size
• Insurance; We recommend Adventure Travel Insurance.
• Personal expenses like Telephone, Laundry, Tips and Table Drinks, etc.
• Any Airfare / Rail fare other than what is mentioned in “Inclusions”
• Airport, Railway station or Bus stop pick up or drop
• The cost of any spare part will be used due to the accidental damage incurred when the motorbike is in the rider’s possession.
• The cost incurred to transfer or tow the motorbike in case it is dropped on the way.
• Vehicle servicing or maintenance cost
• Any lunch and other meals not mentioned in package inclusions
• Security deposit per motorbike of Rs. 10,000/-. As per the deposit policy (This is refundable at the end of the trip if there is no damage or spare parts used.)
• Parking and monument entry fees during sightseeing.
• Any cost incurred due to extension, change of itinerary due to natural calamities, road, blocks, vehicle breakdown, union issues and factors beyond our control
• Additional accommodation/food cost incurred due to any delay
• The cost for single sharing accommodation will be additional which needs to be confirmed prior.
• Anything that is not mentioned in the Inclusion section

Reviews for The Dream Ride Motor Bike Expedition to Ladakh

Awesome experience!

Go for it guys! It is the best possible choice if you are looking for bike trip to Ladakh. Had an awesome time with the group.

Value for money, food was delicious, and the team was excellent in handling the member and the bikes. No issues faced at all. Thanks for the adventure folks!

I travelled all the way from Kolkata just to experience the beauty of Ladakh in most adventurous way possible and it proved to be worth all the effort I made. Everything was perfect in terms of service and food.

2500 kms plus in 13 days of this Motorbike Expedition to Ladakh. Oh God, what an experience! I will never forget this ride. But you know what was the best part about this bike trip to Ladakh? The ride operators were so cool! and so approachable! The mechanics were very knowledgeable. The bikes performed well. And we rode them on such diverse kinds of roads so it was amazing that not even one broke down midway. Even while off-roading and river crossing, the whole thing was so much fun!!! I would do it again and again each year. Thanks, Adventure Nation for making this possible!

A bike trip to Ladakh is not the easiest of things to accomplish but all its difficulty fades away in the face of how satisfying it is when you finish the whole thing and not just that...even while you're on it, even while you're riding all the way to Ladakh you're feeling amazing no matter how hard the terrain looks like. And then there are particular moments in the bike trip that make you feel extra spectacular, especially camping in Nubra and looking at Pangong lake. Waking up to a sunrise at Pangong Tso is one of the best visuals to feast your eyes on! Thanks for this experience, Adventure Nation.

The most important part of a bike trip to anywhere is how much you can rely on the bikes. Because I have been on many bike trips before and twice to Ladakh, if your bike is giving you problems even after the test ride and getting it initially checked, then the trip is going to be tiring. That's why I wanted to make sure I go with the best guys. I booked this trek through Adventure Nation for a departure in August. Adventure Nation put us with the best bike trip operators in the game, thanks so much! Whole trip was so tension-free, thanks to that. The operators have been doing it for the longest time so they have an idea of what they are trying to do here! Thanks again!!!

My bike trip to Ladakh was my bachelor's trip as a last trip with the boys right before my wedding. To say the least, it was so good and so refreshing, it was the best thing I could've asked for. I LOVED everything about it. The rental bikes were great and in great shape to be driven down bumpy roads or good roads or river bed roads or off-roading altogether. And I had all these experiences on this trip! This one was such a delight, by the end we were already making plans to revisit. Thanks so much Adventure Nation for making this so special!

Almost a lifelong dream, this biking trip was so long due. Honestly, it will stay fresh in my memories for a long time from now. Loved the people that went with us. Almost ten of us were there. Out of which three were my friends who I had planned this trip with. Man, thanks for the amazing service. The bikes were in great shape and the food and the staying arrangement was also taken care of in the best way possible. This is why I chose you, Adventure Nation.

This is my first time on a biking trip but second time with Adventure Nation. Last time I went to Hampta pass trek. Had amazing fun there as well. This time it was a blast! It was so much fun with all the people including the staff that was with us to look after the bikes and our food and accommodations. I am still so excited. Never had a better experience.

We covered close to 2500 kms on our bike tour to Ladakh. The route we were given was great, because it covered most of the picturesque trails that we were hoping to ride through. We also camped along side Pangong Tso lake, which was definitely the best campsite. Remember to pack light because you will not need as much clothes as you will need biking gear and other necessary stuff. Also, get some experience of long bike rides before you do this because it will tire you a little sometimes. But we always stuck to the plan till the end!

Take the ride of your life but plan adequately before you decide to go. Better to book through an agency like Adventure Nation, because we were given a detailed itinerary and full mechanical support throughout. And you don't have to carry extra stuff like camping materials and all if you go with them. Also if you are going solo it is safer to go with these guys because you will definitely find some rider friends. Amazing trip. Ladakh is a beauty obviously, and the winds that touch you when you ride through it will give you a feeling out of this world.

I have made two trips to Ladakh before this. Once was on a vacation, and the other time was a biking trip. This time I booked through Adventure Nation along with two of my friends. What a fun time. Had amazing time there. The itinerary was great and we did not have to look around for accommodation and meals as it was all taken care of. Amazing! Thanks for the time.

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Cancellation policy.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation charges per person

30 days or more before departure: 25% of total cost 29 - 20 days before departure: 50% of total cost Less than 20 days before departure: 100% of total cost

IF WE CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR ADVENTURE HOLIDAY

We do plan the arrangements in advance. It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your travel arrangements. Occasionally, we may have to make changes due to Force Majeure Events and we reserve the right to do so at any time before or during the trip. If there are any changes, we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date before or during the trip based on the Force Majeure Events. We also reserve the right under Force Majeure Events to cancel your travel arrangements / offer alternative dates / revise the itinerary before or during the trip. Any additional cost incurred due to the above-mentioned reasons will have to be borne by the traveller himself. There shall be no refund to the traveller under Force Majeure Events.

Force Majeure Event shall mean and include any circumstance beyond the reasonable control of Adventure Nation, including without limitation, any act of nature or the public enemy, accident, explosion, fire, storm, earthquake, flood, drought, perils of the sea, casualty, strikes, lock-outs, labour troubles, riots, sabotage, terrorists acts, embargo, war (whether or not declared), governmental actions, delay in issuance or processing of Visa/permit, change of laws and regulations, orders, or decrees, or other causes of like or different character beyond the control of Adventure Nation.

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR ADVENTURE HOLIDAY PLAN

After you make full or partial payment, if you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way (e.g. your chosen departure date or accommodation), we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes must be in writing from the person who made the booking. All cost incurred due to amendment will be borne by the traveller himself.

Payment Policy

46 Days or more before date of departure: 25% of total cost. 31 - 45 Days before date of departure: 50% of total cost. 30 days before date of departure: 100% of total cost.

Important: The booking stands liable to be cancelled if 100% payment is not received less than 30 days before date of departure.

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Lovely Ladakh – Road Trip from Bangalore to Leh

We are a group of 7 college friends who did a Ladakh road trip from Bangalore, all by road, covering a distance of around 8,200 KM in19 days.

• Vehicles : Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Volkswagen Polo, Bajaj Pulsar RS200, Royal Enfield 500
• Team : Anish, Anshu, Meghdeep, Mohit, Pranjal, Prateek, Pretesh
• Time Period : June 6, 2018 – June 24, 2018
• College : IIT Kanpur

Day 1: Bangalore – Hyderabad – Nagpur (1100 Km, 18 Hours)

• Start Time: 4:30 AM
• Breakfast: Food Pyramid, Kurnool (9:50AM)
• Lunch: Moti Mahal Deluxe, Hyderabad (1:30PM)
• Dinner: Hotel Woodland (Oyo Flagship 525), Nagpur
• Refueling: 2 – 44.09L
• Toll: 17 (INR 1260)
• Arrival: 10:30 PM
• Stay Cost: INR 2000 (2 Rooms)

The plan was to start at 3:30AM but with slight delay, we reached with all the luggage near the car. It was a tough moment as we had a lot of loose items which would occupy a lot of space and trust me, it took us 30-40 minutes to pack the stuff in car. Thanks to Mohit and Anna for their superb stuffing skills.

A night before we also had to fit the tank bag on Prateek’s bike. We mistakenly ordered the tank bag thinking that Pulsar’s tank is metallic and tank bag would easily fit with its magnet but unfortunately fuel tank is made of plastic and Mohit did some jugaad to keep it in place.

The road from Bangalore till Hyderabad (infact till Nagpur) is a 4 Lane highway with few speed breakers but no bad patch. You can easily cruise at 100Km/Hr.

We reached Hyderabad at around 1PM where we met an old friend and had lunch. We almost spent 3.5Hours crossing entire Hyderabad as bikes are not allowed on Outer Ring Road and the service road is a nightmare, full of speed breakers.

After having lunch, we started again and reached Nizamabad around 4:30PM. From Nizamabad for the next 100Km, road is just perfect. There are few bad patched between Shankarapur and Adilabad.

To clear the doubt of few people, Hinganghat rail flyover is now complete and that section till Nagpur is now a proper 4 lane highway.

Nagpur approaching….

With lost time in Hyderabad and ghat section after Nagpur, we decided to stay in Nagpur itself. We booked an Oyo room and decided to sleep for atleast 4 hours before the next day. One of the most memorable dinners we had in the entire trip was in Nagpur where hotel served us a superb “khichdi” which we are not able to forget till now. Day 1 was a success and we slept peacefully.

Day 2: Nagpur – Chindwara – Agra – Mathura – Gurgaon (1087 Km, 17.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 4:00 AM
• Breakfast: Narsinghpur (8AM)
• Lunch/Snacks: RadhaKrishna Family Dhaba, Mathura (6:30PM)
• Dinner: Pretesh’s House
• Refueling: 3 – 75.29L
• Toll: 14 (INR 1125)
• Arrival: 09:30 PM

Starting a very long day with just 3 hours of sleep was supposed to be very tiring but the *excitement* defeated all the tiredness and we could beat all the North Indian heat very easily.

After driving through the beautiful ghat section after Nagpur, we decided to stop for breakfast at Narsinghpur.

For viewers’ information, there is a 20km patch of ghat between Nagpur and Chindwara & 50km ghat section between Chindwara and Narsinghpur. But thanks to MP Govt., all this is a well laid highway with almost zero bad patch. You can cover Nagpur and Narsinghpur stretch easily in 2-3 hours.

Too much heat 😐

The maximum temperature we saw in Baleno’s display system was 45 Celsius in Jhansi, UP. The stretch was very tough for Prateek as he was dehydrating very quickly. It was good to have Anish as a backup rider on bike while Prateek took some rest in the car and re-hydrated himself.

The disputed patch of 90kms between Jhansi and Gwalior took us 2 hours to cover and road was below average with a lot of diversions. Finally we joined Gwalior bypass and from that point, road was proper 4 lane. Once we entered Morena, all city traffic joined us on the highway and it wasted a good amount of time. We stopped at Morena toll plaza for having some sugarcane juice until we saw huge pileup of traffic at the toll plaza. To avoid overtaking that traffic, we rushed to our vehicles and left Morena. A piece of advice would be to not stop in Morena and cross it quickly.

Gurgaon reachable now….

Morena-Agra-Mathura section was a piece of cake and we were cruising at good speed until we stopped at Mathura as were very hungry and we just had some chips and sugar cane juice during the entire day.

The last 10km was not very good for us as Sohna Road had heavy traffic and Prateek’s mobile fell from his pocket. Unfortunately, it was driven over by multiple vehicles and we lost contact with him. After 15 minutes, we found him but it was sad to see his broken phone. We quickly started towards Pretesh’s home which was just 15 mins away.

We finally reached Gurgaon at our expected time and it was wonderful to meet Pretesh after so many days.

Meghdeep was supposed to land at 10:30PM but his flight got delayed and he reached at around 1AM. Anshu landed next day at 8:30AM.

• Narsinghpur-Lalitpur: 1 Hour 37 Mins
• Jhansi-Morena: 2 Hours 40 Mins
• Morena-Mathura: 2 Hours 35 Mins
• Mathura-Gurgaon: 2 Hours 20 Mins

Day 3: Gurgaon a.k.a Gurugram (Buffer Day)

This was our 1st reserve day kept for getting the vehicles serviced for the upcoming challenges. Anish had to pickup up his rented Royal Enfield 500 from Stonehead Motorcycles (INR 1500/Day) in East Delhi. I got Baleno serviced at Nexa Exclusive Workshop in Sector 16, Gurgaon.

Polo had already been service while Pulsar was serviced at the nearest Bajaj Service center.

Service Cost: Pulsar – INR 710(3 Hours); Baleno – INR 1627(4 Hours)

Day 4: Gurgaon – Ambala – Ludhiana – Pathankot – Udhampur (679Km, 14.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 4:20 AM(Pretesh’ House) 5:30AM(Friends Place in Delhi)
• Breakfast: Multani Vaishno Dhaba, Ambala(9:30AM)
• Lunch: Apna Dhaba, Pathankot (4 PM)
• Dinner: Hotel Dolphin, Udhampur
• Refueling: 1 – 33.92L
• Toll: 8 (INR 650)
• Arrival: 08:11 PM
• Stay Cost: INR 5000 (3 Rooms)

The very first thing we did was get the luggage packed in the car earlier night as it became a painful task the other day when we left from Bangalore.

As planned, we started on time from Gurgaon and we had to meet Gaurav (college friend and Pretesh’s cousin) in Delhi. We reached his place and after a quick hangout, we started from Delhi at around 5:30AM towards Banihal.

We had our very first snacks break at Panipat (7:15AM) where a thought struck us (seeing that everyone was noticing BLR-LEH-BLR on Baleno and giving thumbs up!) that we should also get something written on Polo. This is where skills of Mohit becam helpful as he designed “जी Leh” using paper and cellotape.

We then started again and drove continuously until our breakfast break at Ambala. We had amazing “Paranthas” with huge portions of butter (after all it was Punjab we were about to enter).

Enfield problem 🙁

Our next stop was unintentional and it was because Enfield had no engine oil left. Thanks to the poor condition we got it from Stonehead bikes. We found a repair shop nearby and got the oil changed.

The next stop was after a bad section of road in Ludhiana where we found 2 ft. water overflowing on the highway and traffic pileup nearby. Prateek couldn’t avoid his shoes from getting into the water and we took a fuel break so that he could get them changed.

By now, we realized we have lost some time and it would be tough to reach Banihal. Time now was 1:30PM.

We started again and drove until we opted to have some meal. This was after crossing Pathankot city at Apna Dhaba just before the J&K border. We had some heavy lunch and the food was really tasty!

The excitement was boiling as we were about to enter J&K and that too by our own vehicles. The entry point was Lakhanpur and the time was 5:28PM. Interestingly, there was no checking done for our vehicles. We had a quick photograph session just after where we decided that we would stop at the junction of roads going towards Jammu and take shortcut towards Udhampur.

Into J&K Now…..

Jammu road was longer in terms of driving time but had a better tar. We inquired from the forest officials about the shortcut and they said that we should prefer this road as we would reach earlier, locals use this road and road condition is good.

BUT “goodness” was relative and road was not very good. Still we saved a lot of time as we reached Udhampur earlier than expected time from Jammu route.

This short route to Udhampur was both a good and a bad decision as it saved a lot of driving time but had a large number of bad patches. Our target was to reach JKTDC Hotel in Banihal where we had a booking but to avoid night driving we decided to stay at Udhampur (Hotel Dolphin).

Day 5: Udhampur – Chenani Nashri Tunnel – Srinagar – Sonamarg – Kargil (416Km, 15 Hours)

• Start Time: 6:15 AM
• Breakfast: Vaishno Dhaba, Peerah
• Lunch: Zojila Pass
• Dinner: Al-Kareem Guesthouse, Kargil
• Refueling: 2 – 34.26L
• Toll: 2 (INR 120) + Kargil Entry Fee(Rs 50)
• Arrival: 08:30 PM
• Stay Cost: INR 5840 (2 Rooms with Extra Beds) including Breakfast and Dinner

After good night sleep, we woke up around 5AM. We took around 1.5 hours in the entire trip to get ready. We got refueling done at a fuel bunk nearby and left for our destination Kargil.

The very first thing we were excited about was to cross the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel.

Thank God! It was there as it saved almost 3 hours of our driving time skipping Patnitop altogether.

We reached Peerah at around 7:40AM and decided to have breakfast there itself. It is famous for Rajma Chawal. Prateek’s colleague in the office told us about a famous dhaba in Peerah. Hence, once we reached Peerah, we went straight into that Dhaba. And worth mentioning, we never ever can forget the Rajma Chawal that we had. *delicious*.

We started again and soon crossed Banihal. It was not a good feeling to see the JKTDC hotel which we had booked. Infact they called us the previous day to confirm if we are coming and kind of motivated us to stretch. Next on this stretch was the old Jawahar Tunnel which I was crossing for the second time. In my previous trip with family, I crossed this tunnel and it took around 1 hour to cross it. This time it was smooth sailing and thus we entered the so called disturbed part of Kashmir.

We were anxious of not getting into any kind of “bandh” or “stone pelting” and rushed to cross Srinagar.

The Deadly Zojila Pass is next….

We stopped for a photo session at Dal lake (~2PM) followed by a refueling at Indian Oil bunk just outside the city. Thanks to fueling person, we wasted a lot of time in arguing with him that we had paid him for all the vehicles but he was no trusting us. Though we agreed at that time that we didn’t pay him for one of the vehicles but we still feel, we paid him extra. In all this debate, at the back of our mind we had a confusion of closing time of Zojila Pass. We thought it would close by 5PM. Hence we rushed to cross Sonamarg so that we could start ascending Zojila as soon as possible.

We started ascending Zojila at around 5PM and it took us 1.5 hours to cross it completely including the photo break of around 30mins.

Just after crossing Zojila, we had a long break to eat something as we didn’t have any lunch and everyone was very hungry.

Awesome road!!

The road between Zojila and Kargil is like a runway, no potholes and proper 2 lane highway between the hills. We soon reached Kargil war memorial and time was around 7:45PM. Since we missed visiting the memorial as it had already closed, we decide to come back again after visiting Zanskar as it would be a small detour while going to Leh.

It took us around 1 hour 30 mins to reach our guesthouse, Al-Kareem in Kargil which we had booked on Booking.com. We already informed them about our arrival and hence they had prepared the dinner for us (both Veg and Non Veg). We ate like anything as if we were hungry for days.

The day was all scenic drive across various terrains and our first pass, the killer pass, Zojila.

Day 6: Kargil – Near Rangdum – Sankoo (111Km, 11.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 9:10 AM
• Breakfast: Al-Kareem Guesthouse, Kargil
• Dinner: Goba Guesthouse, Sankoo
• Refueling: 1 – 13.34L
• Stay Cost: INR 4540 (2 Rooms with Extra Beds) including Breakfast and Dinner

Late start, that is what you would say!

We realized it later in the day. We could have started earlier and made it BUT!

Today, we planned to reach Padum, the headquarter of Zanskar which was about 227km and we expected to reach in 10 hours. This estimation was because till today, we had been on time and our estimations were working perfectly.

We got Royal Enfield checked up in a nearby shop and tyre pressure was corrected by the inflator which we carried from Bangalore.

We then went for a refueling and reached Sankoo in no time as road was perfect. Time was around 11AM and we thought everything is going good.

Break for a while!

We had a small break with local kids and then started again. We then stopped at Panikhar and time was 1:30PM. Nallahs had started coming and since they were our initial crossing, we were extremely careful. Road had become terribly bad by now. We also decided to stop at Rangdum for tonight as Padum was unreachable and incoming vehicles warned us about the nallahs coming ahead.

After traveling for some time we reached Suru Valley at 4:30PM. We stopped at a small stupa and realized it would be late to reach Rangdum but then we were just 30Kms away, time was 5PM and on the right was Nun-Kun Peak. We took some photographs as Rangdum was reachable.

As soon as we started again, we hit a Nallah. It was deep but could have been crossed by car. We also saw a truck coming and could estimate the depth from its submerged wheels. Seeing it, bikers became terrified and it was logical as bikes would have got stuck.

Everyone was upset as Zanskar now seemed just a dream. We were hoping if someone could help us cross the nallah but no one was there.

Should we return back now?

Now the biggest dilemma was that where should we go as it would get dark in 1.5 hours and both ways there was no place to stay. It already took us 7 hours from Kargil if we remove breaks. So only option was to find a village and stay with someone. The Truck wallah told us about a village 1 hour from this point towards Kargil. So we started in hope of finding that village but couldn’t find it. On top of that, both the bikers were way ahead and were supposedly missing.

We started driving fast and were covering greater distances in no time. Then came a junction, we came from the other side but google was now suggesting a different way. Only thing creating problem was that which route did the bikers take? We were hoping that they target Kargil rather than stopping at some way in between as without network connectivity it would be very difficult to find them.

After taking the Google suggested route, we became anxious as we started gaining height and we were unsure where this route would take us. Thankfully a JKSRTC bus came and we became confident that we are on the right track. But still no sign of the bikers. After driving for half an hour, we saw a person stopping us but we didn’t. Then again a tractor stopped us to tell that 2 bikers are waiting for you ahead. Thanks God, we found them and it was an emotion which cannot be expressed in words. We still were targeting Kargil and luckily this new route was much better and wider. We reached Sankoo and bikers were very tired, so we decided to stop there itself.

All’s well that ends well!!

It was a wise decision to take a u-turn before Rangdum as if we would have tried and anything gone wrong could have screwed up the whole trip.

We reached Sankoo at around 8:30PM and luckily found a very good guest house. The aunty over there prepared dinner for us and a tiring and insightful day came to an end.

Learning: Do not trust Google blindly infact avoid Google and just follow road signs. Google gives faulty time of arrivals and sometimes even wrong routes.

Day 7: Sankoo – Kargil – Drass War Memorial – LOC – Mulbek (194Km, 13.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 8:05 AM
• Breakfast: Goba Guesthouse, Sankoo
• Lunch: Tololing Inn, Drass War Memorial
• Dinner: Paradise Guesthouse, Mulbek
• Refueling: 0 – 0.0L
• Stay Cost: INR 4800 (2 Rooms with Extra Beds) including Dinner

It was more like a reserve day for us as we had missed Zanskar. So utilization of this was the utmost priority and we did it perfectly well.

We first left for seeing a famous Buddha Statue in Sankoo as suggested by the landlady of the guest-house we stayed in. The statue apparently was not properly located on Google maps and we had to walk to and fro until we found that we already crossed it. It is on a narrow trail and embedded perfectly in the rocks. We clicked some photos and left directly for Drass War Memorial.

We left Sankoo finally at around 10AM and reached war memorial at 12:15PM. For me, it was one of the most memorable moment of the trip. Paying homage to those who give their lives for our future is a very small thing we can do for them.

Kargil War Memorial #proud

We could relive the Kargil war and sacrifice of our heroes by visiting this place. You could see the evidences of Pakistan NLI’s involvement in the war and how they disowned their own soldiers. All of us sent Postcards to our homes form this place which is essentially a contribution of small amount for maintaining the memorial.

We then had our lunch at a small restaurant besides the memorial itself, planned what to do next and decided to head for the guesthouse in Kargil to pickup our luggage which we had left intentionally while leaving for Zanskar and then head towards Mulbek to stay that day. We reached there in quick 1 hour and had some tea.

The guesthouse owner suggested us to visit the LOC view point which was half an hour away from Kargil. I wanted to visit this place which no one wanted initially as we were late but then everyone agreed to it. We located the place on Google Maps and started in no time.

LOC for the first time 😀

The road towards this view point is well paved but steep. You would almost gain an altitude of 2000 ft. in few minutes. We reached the topmost point which is a village where you have to make entry and park your vehicles. It started raining heavily and we took shelter in an army portable compound where the officer described the place very well.

So we could see 4 different peaks, of these, 3 were Indian and 1 was Pakistani, There were small bunkers from both the sides which could only be reached by climbing the hills. The temperature at the top reaches -40 C in winters. There is a small village in the valley which was capture by India in 1999 Kargil war and handed over to Pakistan again when they appealed in UNO to hand it over to them. Now at the mercy of Indian army is this village situated, surrounded on 3 sides by Indian Army. We spent good half hour over there and started for Mulbek after that as it started raining heavily.

Pakistan check-post

There is a small stall just before the actual point who rents binoculars to look at all the Indian and Pakistani check-posts closely. We borrowed 3 and could now visually connect what the officers told to us. We could see all the bunkers on top of the hills. Unfortunately, Mohit and Pretesh were ahead of us, we tried to stop them using horn and dipper but they didn’t stop. They missed this binocular experience.

When we started descending, Prateek’s Pulsar was skidding a lot and it was because of the type of tyre it had while Anish was moving quite swiftly.

We met them Mohit and Pretesh at the foothill and made them jealous about the experience we had. We reached Mulbek at around 9:30PM after a good drive on a wonderful road and stayed at a road side guesthouse. For initial half an hour, it was tough to find a place to stay but then we located this guest-house which is directly in front of Mulbek Gompa. The owner provided us with the dinner and it was a relieving sign as we were very hungry. We quickly slept after having dinner.

Day 8: Mulbek – Leh (198.8Km, 11.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 7:15 AM
• Breakfast: BudhKharbu
• Dinner: Punjabi Kitchen, Leh
• Arrival: 06:50 PM
• Stay: Raybo Hostel, Leh INR 3500 (7 Beds) including Breakfast

More of a relaxed day, so we wanted to spend enough time at various places en-route. The very first stop was directly in front of the guesthouse, i.e., Mulbek Gompa. Being in Buddhist region now, we rang the prayer bells for the first time which was one of a kind experience.

We then moved in the direction of Leh and the crossed our 2nd Pass of the trip, Namik La.

Once again, 20 mins break for photography. After driving for an hour, we stopped at a Punjabi dhaba in Budhkharbu for having breakfast. This break was almost an hour followed by a straight drive till Fotu La, highest pass on Srinagar-Leh Highway.

We then reached Lamayuru Monastery at around 11:40AM where we spent almost 1.5hours. Apparently a festival was going on at the monastery and it was the last day of the festival. We were lucky to have witnessed atleast 1 festival in Ladakh. We did some live video streaming on Facebook and Instagram. Airtel was rocking here with a good and stable 4G connection.

Nimmu Confluence

Post that we stopped at Nimmu Confluence which is basically a confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers. One can see the clear difference in water colors from this point. At this time of the year, Indus was bluish while Zanskar was muddy. We spent good 1 hour around the confluence until we realized that we would get late in reaching Leh. Photographs are attached below.

Next in the list was Magnetic Hill which few people in the group were confused that it is not an illusion but some magnetic effect which pulls vehicle! Though the illusion cannot be easily realized by standing on road or on bike. The best way to feel it is seeing in the rear view mirror of the car. I took various people in the car to make them feel what the illusion is all about.

After a quick break, we left again for Leh. We also stopped at Gurudwara Pathar Sahib which was very close to Leh. We had a quick darshan at the gurudwara (maintained by India Army), had some suji halwa and tea, clicked photos and left again.

Leh FINALLY!!!!

We reached the entry point of Leh at around 6:30PM and it was a great feeling as our first half of BLR-LEH-BLR was now complete :D.

We reached the Raybo Hostel at around 6:50PM and it was relaxing to have reached on time.

While transferring the luggage from the cars to the hotel, we could feel the shortness of breath and yes we were at 11,500ft! We finalized the plan for the next few days as Anish had to rent a new bike here in Leh and he would rent accordingly.

A word of caution for all the readers out there – If you have rented a vehicle from outside Leh(even Srinagar, number has to be JK10), you have to rent a new vehicle from Leh otherwise taxi union people wouldn’t let you roam around in or outside Leh. They have check-posts on Leh-Pangong and Leh-Nubra roads. If vehicle is in your or your parent’s name, then you don’t need to worry about.

We decided to rent the vehicle next day and then leave for Tso Moriri the day after. We would deposit the vehicle and pick our Delhi’s Royal Enfield while we cross Leh after Nubra.

All of us had dinner at a restaurant nearby and slept.

Our next night stay in Leh was at Hostel Lavie.

Day 9: Leh (Buffer Day)

• Lunch: Gesmo Cafe (01:15PM)
• Dinner: Himalayan Cafe, Main Market, Leh
• Refueling: 1 – 37.15L
• Stay: Hostel Lavie (INR 350 per person including Breakfast)

We divided ourselves in 3 groups – Anish and Prateek went for the bike service and picking up the new bike. I and Meghdeep went for getting the permits signed. Mohit and Pretesh went for the service of both the cars. For Maruti Service, you can visit Druk Auto Zone. For other cars, there is a big area near Indian Oil which has a large number of workshops.

Permit Info

• Permit Stamp Location: Tourist Information Center, Taxi Stand, Leh (34.1638788,77.5848806)
• Cost: INR 560/person
• Areas Included: Hanle, Tangtse, Nubra, Pangong, Chushul, Shyok

Don’t go to the DC office as they would redirect you to the above location.

You can register for a permit on http://www.lahdclehpermit.in/ . Remember to register for a group permit if you are not traveling alone as it would save time as well as you don’t need to have a printout for each person. The office at the TRC initially asked us to get a group permit as we had separate permits on everyone and they would have to sign on 28 copies (7 for each person and 4 locations). There is a photocopy shop just next to the TRC and they were charging Rs 100 per person extra for the permit.

So we decided to request the officer once again and this time she agreed. It took her some time but she did it for us. Remember to reach TRC as early as possible.

We met a few people who told us horrific stories of what happened at ZingZingBar nallah a few days ago. 3 bikes got washed away because of the sudden increase in water level due to cloud burst. The villagers warned the bikers not to go but they ignored. Thankfully they were alive.

Similarly there was a landslide near Panamik village which has led to closure of that route.

Day 10: Leh – Upshi – Chumathang – Tso Moriri (215.5Km, 11 Hours)

• Start Time: 7:00 AM
• Breakfast: Upshi (07:55AM)
• Lunch: Chumathang (01:00PM)
• Dinner: Nomadic Tent, Tso Moriri
• Arrival: 06:00 PM
• Stay: Nomadic Tent (INR 8200 including Dinner and Breakfast)

It was time to explore Ladakh now and our very first destination was Tso Moriri. It is the largest high altitude lake which is entirely in India. But the concern was regarding the road, how bad it is and do we have ample time to reach. We started well on time and directly stopped at Upshi covering around 50 Km in 50 mins.

We had some breakfast at one of the dhabas in Upshi. Apparently this was the last point till Airtel works. After this it was all no network or BSNL only. We had Paranthas in the breakfast and spent close to an hour here.

Our next break was one for a photograph close to blue colored Indus which was somewhere between Ikpadok and Kiari (33.691971,77.977321). The road till here was good and we covered another 30Km in just half an hour.

After the previous break of 30 mins, we started again for Tso Moriri. We were targeting to have lunch at Chumathang which was supposed to be the only place where we would find something.

We next stopped again for a photo break after 47 Km. There were good and bad patches but road was much better than what we expected.

Lunch Break 😀

We reached Chumathang at around 1PM for lunch!

After starting again, we stopped for the permit verification at a J&K Police Check-post (33.255646,78.431685) which was at the junction of road going towards Nyoma and towards Karzok.

The road from this point was not very good and we were driving at an average speed of 20Km/Hr.

We were astonished to see a beautiful lake just 30Km before Tso Moriri, which was Kyagar Tso (3:30PM).

We spent good 1 hour at the lake to capture some of the most amazing photos of the trip.

After starting from Kyagar Tso, road became terrible and it took us around 2.5 hours to cover 30 Km. There was one ITBP check-post just before the lake.

Since we had no advance bookings, so we had to roam around few places to confirm the rates and we finally stayed at Nomadic Tent which turned out to be a better option.

We had a wonderful evening tea and then we walked towards the lake which was just opposite to the tent. We also spotted a fox and few Tibetan Mastiff close to the lake.

Post that we had our dinner which was a tasty buffet and the main chef became very good friend of ours. He also suggested where we should stay at Pangong. He cooked a very tasty dinner including soup and rotis.

BSNL was working here in Tso Moriri.

Day 11: Tso Moriri – Nyoma – Merak(Pangong) (191.6Km, 10.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 9:00 AM
• Breakfast: Nomadic Tent, Tso Moriri
• Lunch: Gandpa (02:30PM) +122Km
• Dinner: Homestay, Merak
• Arrival: 07:45 PM
• Stay: Merak Homestay (INR 5500 including Dinner and Breakfast)

 The day started with the first snowfall of the trip. It was really a mesmerizing experience, all nearby peaks covered with fresh snow. We had a quick breakfast, checked tyre pressures and cleaned the vehicles. We also realized that there is another group of tents just on the opposite side of Lake (East) and road till there would have been much better.

And we started!

We again had to trace back till the J&K Police check-post where we had shown the permit. The road till ITBP check-post is horrible. You cannot driver at more than 10Km/Hr. We had to stop as a Scorpio group from Haryana who asked for help. They had flat tyre and their stepney was also flat. There was no puncture shop nearby. We tried to inflate their tyre and it took almost 15 minutes as tyre was very large. They wanted to borrow our inflator but we couldn’t lend them as we still had a lot of distance to travel. It would have been a nightmare for them as they also didn’t have puncture repair kit.

Anyways we couldn’t help much and we started again until we stopped for a photo break besides Tso Moriri.

We slowly and steadily reached the J&K post and we did our second entry over there and changed the direction towards Nyoma bend. The road was much better now. The landscape also started changing and it was as typical as we see in photos of ladakh online. There were sand dunes, blue Indus river and small green patches. Overall it was ladakh as we imagine now!

We next stopped at Hanle bend where road diverges towards Hanle and Spangmik. The ITBP checked our permits and we had a small and interesting conversation with them. They suggested us to refill our water bottles as we wouldn’t find any drinking water till Pangong.

Thereafter, we stopped for lunch at Gandpa (2:30PM). From here Pangong was around 85Km.

But then there was no tar road and we had to drive on trails of sand and mud. This was truly a very new experience. You have to be careful here as we had read at few places that people take wrong trails and cross China border. Have a sense of directionality with the help of Google maps.

We also tried drifting the car a lot of times which was amazing. Pretesh got stuck 2 times in the loose sand. So we had to push the vehicle. Bikers were literally abusing us as we had splashed large amounts of sand while drifting. Driving fast here was causing difficulty for the bikers, so we had to be slow. It was very tough riding on the bike at this stretch especially for the Pulsar.

Pangong on the right…

We eventually reached the road when Pangong came on our right side at around 6:45PM and decided to stay at Merak where we reached at 7:30PM. There was a homestay where we negotiated and stayed. Pangong was just 100m from us!

From the roof, you could enjoy the clear night sky. All the planets of the solar system till Saturn are visible in ladakh region. Today was one of the interesting day in terms of driving as I drove in sand for the first time in my life.

Day 12: Merak(Pangong) – Shyok – Hunder(Nubra) (194.6Km, 11.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 8:15 AM
• Breakfast: Merak Homestay
• Lunch: Dreamland Restaurant, Spangmik-Durbok Road (+37Km) – 12:40PM
• Dinner: Shizling Homestay, Hunder
• Refueling: 2 – 39L
• Arrival: 07:20 PM
• Stay: Shizling Homestay, Hunder (2 Rooms, INR 5000 including Dinner and Breakfast)

We started the day with a plan to reach Spangmik village in Nubra which is famous for hot springs. The day would also see moving into the Karakoram range. We started a bit late but had breakfast in the homestay itself. Pangong was on our right and the road was a trail of sand, stones and small rocks.

We soon reached Spangmik, where the majority of the tourists stay and we thought to stockup water bottles in the car until we came to know that each bottle is double the price, i.e., Rs 40. Hence, we just took 2 bottles, had a photo session and left. We soon reached the famous “3 Idiots” photo spot which has become commercialized and they charges INR 50 for each photo with the scooter and the bench.

Away from Pangong

The road became better as we moved away from Pangong and sand started coming on the road. Anish was driving infront of me and I could see him slipping on the sand. Then came a very big pile of sand and I intentionally slowed down so that I could cross it with good momentum. But Anish slowed down and I had to brake which got me stuck in the sand as axle was now caught in the sand pile and wheels became free. Soon traffic started piling up and few people came to help us. With a push in the reverse direction, I again came back at speed and crossed it easily this time. This helped a lot of vehicles cross that sand pile as with the help of my axle, sand got spread all over.

We met a uncle in an army vehicle who gave us water and hajmola candies 😀

We reached a restaurant called Dreamland (12:40PM) where Jab Tak Hai Jaan was shot where we had paranthas and refueled the vehicles with the petrol cans. This place was 27 Km before Tangtse.

We reached Tangtse at around 1:30PM where we got our permits checked and from there Karakoram range started. We started ascending quickly and could see the beautiful Shyok valley (2:50PM). The road today was very good till now. Though we got stuck couple of time when Army convoys were coming.

The road before Khalsar is very bad and full of big pebbles. One has to be careful here.

We reached Khalsar at around 5:45PM and road was just awesome now. All of us decided to go to Spangmik next day if we have time as we came to know from the locals that road may be closed because of the landslide which happened few days ago. We went in the direction of Diskit and road was perfect for an evening drive. On the way, we saw sand storm as well.

We reached Diskit at 6:50PM and refueled at Diskit Indian Oil bunk. We skipped Diskit and went to Hunder instead. After struggling initially, we found a very good home stay at reasonable price.

This was the end of a wonderful day!

Day 13: Hunder – Turtuk – Hunder (246.6Km, 12.5 Hours)

• Breakfast: Shizling Homestay, Hunder
• Lunch: Ashoor Cafe, Turtuk (+147Km) – 4PM
• Refueling: 0 – 0L
• Arrival: 08:45 PM
• Stay: Shizling Homestay, Hunder (2 Rooms, INR 3500 including Tea)

The day was more of a relaxed day as we just had to visit last Indian village that was with Pakistan till 1971, i.e., Turtuk

We started a bit late but then we knew that road was very good. We had already driven on some of the bad roads till date and this would be a smooth ride for us. But with over confidence comes trouble!

There was a small wooden plank with few nails lying on the road and Pretesh drove over it avoiding any tyre contact. Unfortunately, Anish drove over it and he realized immediately that his tyre got punctured by the nail protruding out from the plank. We stopped to check and we could listen the strong air gushing out of the tyre. The place was right opposite to the Thoise defense base.

RE’s tyre was a tube one and hence would take some time. If it would have been tubeless, we could have fixed it immediately. We luckily had some saved Youtube videos for puncture repairing and we started repairing it. Anish, Mohit and Pretesh led the whole effort. Prateek, unfortunately, got separated from us and he didn’t stop.

I and Pretesh went till Hunder again (19Km) to find any shop but we didn’t, so we came back and decide to try ourselves. I also drove almost 15Km in direction of Turtuk to find Prateek but couldn’t.

Finally…

We were able to fix the puncture after 2 hours (the rubber patch was bad and we it wasted a lot of time). After fitting the tyre in the tube, we started filling air but tyre didn’t inflate even after several minutes. We realized something was wrong and hence I and Anish took the tyre and drove to Diskit where there was 1 puncture shop, just besides Indian Oil. This is probably the only puncture shop in Nubra (Hunder, Diskit and Thoise).

There was a long waiting at the shop so it took us almost an hour to get the puncture repaired. The puncture shop person told us that we fixed the 1st puncture very well but did a 2nd puncture in the process. Meanwhile, we came to know that Prateek had reached Thoise where everyone else was there. This was a good news and thanks to BSNL for providing network connectivity in such remote places. Everyone felt that Prateek should have halted if he didn’t see us for some time. He was like 50 mins ahead of us when he stopped!

We started for Turtuk at around 2:15PM and reached there at around 4PM. I and Anish felt we should first visit LOC at Turtuk and then eat something but everyone else was of the other opinion. So we had our lunch and by the time we reached LOC view point (20 mins from Turtuk) it was closed. Closing time was 5PM.

Tussle in Turtuk

We talked to the officer over there and he explained the story of 4 villages including Turtuk which was captured by India in 1971 and about the landscape of Turtuk. It serves as the gateway to Siachen basecamp and one could easily spot Pakistani peaks from the viewpoint. To clarify, LOC doesn’t have fencing in general and there is no clear demarcation of the boundary. There is a very good army canteen at Turtuk, cheap and good food!

We clicked few photos and left again for Hunder. The plan was to stay at the same place as previous night. We finally reached Hunder at 8:45 PM.

Day 14: Hunder -Khardung La – Leh – Pang (285Km, 14 Hours)

• Start Time: 6:30 AM
• Breakfast: Khardung Village – 8:30AM
• Lunch: Upshi – 2:40PM
• Dinner: Tent @ Pang
• Refueling: 1 – 23.85L
• Stay: Roadside Tent @ Pang (1 Big Room, INR 2300 including Dinner)

The day had finally come when we would be crossing Khardung La, aka, Mecca of Road Travelers.

We started on time today as we had a lot of things to do in Leh; a) Return Rented Bike b) Pickup old bike c) Refuel all vehicles d) Polo’s clutch smell check e) Cash

and we had to move as close as possible to Manali, i.e., reach either Sarchu or atleast till Pang.

We started on time and quickly reached Khardung village in just 2 hours. The road was just awesome and no bad stretch. We stopped for breakfast and ate paranthas (again :p). It was very cold outside and it started raining as well. After the breakfast, we started again at around 9:30 AM.

Khardungla Top approaching….

The rainfall gradually got converted into snow and I started getting “ice ahead” warnings on Baleno instrumentation. The temperature dropped to -3 Degrees. We stopped for few photo clicks and kept moving. For some reason, Pretesh complaint of Polo not getting proper pickup, so I was moving ahead of him. In the course of time, Anish and Prateek got separated.

We reached Khardung La top at around 11 AM. The dream had come true!

We saw Prateek but then he disappeared again. There was lot of traffic at Khardung La top was if everyone in Ladakh was there only.

We quickly clicked photos and left for Leh assuming we would meet Anish and Prateek in Leh only.

Unfortunately, road after Khardung La top for 5-10 Km is very bad and narrow at few places. This led to a huge traffic jam in which we got stuck for almost 40mins.

Back to Leh…

We reached Leh at around 1:30PM and we got a call from Anish that they have returned the bike and picked up the old one. So we decided to meet at Indian Oil fuel bunk where there was a cash machine as well. We got all things done in Leh and decided to reach Pang for the day.

 We drove for 50 mins and reached Upshi quickly. Again we stopped at the same dhaba for lunch where we stopped while going to Tso Moriri.

There we met a biker coming from Manali who told us that ZingZingBar nallah is now fine but road after Pang is very bad and we should leave as early as possible from Pang.

We quickly left for Pang at around 3:30PM and reached Tanglang La top at around 5:50PM. Road till now was good except that outside it was too cold due to fast winds. We had some Tea at the top where we met a group of bikers from Bangalore.

Tanglang La onwards….

We started from Tanglang La again at 6:30PM and soon reached More Plains where Prateek switched with Pretesh and Mohit started driving Polo. Prateek wasn’t prepared for that much cold and hence came inside car.

For the first time in my life, I defecated in the open, behind a rock.Hell of an experience!

We reached Pang at around 8:30PM and were surprised to see that there is literally nothing to stay except few tent like structures made of wood where lorry drivers sleep.

Where to stay?

We enquired from the driver of an Indian oil lorry and he suggested us to stay in those tents only as road ahead was bad and it was night already. We got a big room in one of the tents and few thick blankets. The aunty prepared fresh dinner for us and we felt good as finding good food in such a remote place was less expected.

We also met a group from Mathura who had AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) symptoms. We gave them Diamox and asked them to take rest. They were totally unprepared while leaving from Mathura and were literally not carrying proper winter clothes. They were also going to Manali and they said to wake them up as well the next day when we would leave.

The day was finally over!

Day 15: Pang – Jispa – Keylong – Manali (301Km, 16 Hours)

• Start Time: 5:05 AM
• Breakfast: Sarchu – 8:30AM
• Lunch: Snacks @ Darcha – 12:15PM
• Dinner: Sparsh Resort, Manali
• Arrival: 09:00 PM
• Stay: Sparsh Resort, Manali (3 Room, INR 5000)

We planned to start at 4:30AM but eventually started half an hour late. Everyone slept with their jackets on and were almost ready to go. The bathroom was kind of unusable and there was no electricity as well. We didn’t even brush!

The day was interesting as we had to cross ZingZingBar nallah and Pagal nallah.

The Mathura group also started at the same time and were happy as Diamox did wonders to them.

The road became terrible as we had expected. We crossed Lachung La at around 6:05AM and later Nakee La at around 6:45AM.

Sarchu break

We stopped for breakfast at Sarchu and this was almost an hour break. This was a must break to get fresh for the day 😛

We started at around 9:30AM and soon entered Himachal Pradesh. There is a check-post at the border where you have to make an entry. We soon reach Baralacha La (10:40AM). The landscape here was very different as you can see in the pics below.

We kept crossing nallahs, few were easy and few were difficult but made easy by us :D. Baleno’s large tires were very helpful to driver on bad roads with water crossing and big stones.

We stopped for snacks break at Darcha where we enquired about the ZingZingBar and Pagal nallahs.

ZingZingBar Nallah

ZingZingBar nallah had lot of water but maneuvering was not that tricky. On the other side, Pagal nallah was easy to cross. We soon reached Tandi (1:40PM) where bikes were refueled and now our expectation was that we had crossed all the nallahs. But the game was still not over.

The toughest nallah we faced was while ascending Rohtang pass. That was a serious challenge and we faced no big issues except 1 underbody hit. The time was around 3:30 PM.

Rohtang from Leh side is terrible as roads are all broken, there are big boulders, traffic and steep slopes. All bad things put together made the driver very slow.

Down to Manali

We started descending Rohtang pass at around 4:20PM and were shocked to see a huge traffic jam. The local taxi drivers told that it would take another 5 hours to reach Manali which was less than 40kms away. Meanwhile, we decided that Anish and Prateek should reach Manali and take rest, may be find some place to stay as well. Bike could easily cross the jam.

The jam started clearing in an hour and we entered Manali at around 8PM. We met Anish and Prateek just at the foothill and they had their dinner.

We did a booking on Booking.com and reached the hotel at around 9PM. It was very close to Manali-Kullu highway. We had our dinner and finished the day.

Day 16: Manali – Kullu – Ambala – Gurgaon (585Km, 15 Hours)

• Start Time: 6:05 AM
• Breakfast: Mandi- 9:45AM
• Lunch: Snacks @ CCD, Ambala- 4:50PM
• Dinner: Pretesh’ House
• Refueling: 1 – 31.97L
• Arrival: 09:05 PM
• Toll: 6 (INR 335)
• Stay: Pretesh’ House

We were supposed to start at 5AM but got delayed by almost an hour. This was a personal learning from the trip that bathroom becomes a blocker in the morning(:P) and just thinking that I would just take 15mins doesn’t work.

Anyways, we got the air pressure checked in all the vehicles except RE as the valve was not fitting properly. So Anish went to a nearby fuel bunk to get it checked.

The road till Kullu is not that good and there are small potholes which break the speed. Also, we found few points where some work was going on and hence led to a delay in reaching Mandi where we had our breakfast. Time was around 9:45AM and we had traveled 100Km in 3.5 hours.

Too much traffic 🙁

One problem in leaving late is increased traffic until you reach highways which became a cause of concern for us.

RE had a problem with the brakes and because of that Anish fell down once. We got it repaired at a local shop.

I got a bit frustrated with the traffic after reaching Bilaspur and that too on the hills, so I decided that I would now stop only in Gurgaon. Anshu and Meghdeep joined in and we next stopped directly at Ambala (4:50PM) for having snacks. The next break was a water break at around 7PM at Delhi entry and then directly at Gurgaon.

The other vehicles reached Gurgaon around 10:30PM.

Day 17: Gurgaon (Rest Days)

• Refueling: 1 – 35.27L

This was our 3rd reserve day kept for getting the vehicles serviced for the long stretch before Bangalore. Anish had to drop his rented Royal Enfield 500 from Stonehead Motorcycles in East Delhi. I got Baleno serviced at Nexa Exclusive Workshop in Sector 16, Gurgaon.

Service Cost: Baleno – INR 1704(4 Hours)

Day 18: Gurgaon – Mathura – Chindwara (910Km, 15.5 Hours)

• Start Time: 5:00 AM
• Brunch: Gwalior- Shubhim Retreat 10:20AM
• Dinner: Dhaba @Chindwara
• Refueling: 1 – 33.73L
• Arrival: 08:20 PM
• Toll: 13 (INR 1045)
• Stay: Hotel Kusum Residency, Chindwara (2 Room, INR 2822)

We started on time as decided as we had a good idea of the roads this time. Hence, we were gliding this time after coming from such bad roads and reached most of the places as expected. We crossed Morena and Gwalior-Jhansi stretch in no time. There was a lot of heat outside, so Anish and Prateek kept switching regularly. After Lalitpur, we also encountered rain and it was a good feeling.

Unfortunately it started raining as we crossed Narsinghpur and riding on bike became difficult. We also had to cross 30Km ghat section. So we took a call to stay in Chindwara itself. We had dinner at a Dhaba and meanwhile booked a hotel on Booking.com

Day 19: Chindwara – Nagpur – Adilabad – Hyderabad – Bangalore (1237Km, 19 Hours)

• Lunch: Sarang Food Court, Nizamabad – 11:35AM
• Dinner: Food Pyramid, Kurnool – 5PM
• Refueling: 3 – 79.5L
• Arrival: 11:45 PM
• Toll: 19 (INR 1405)
• Stay: HOME 🙁 🙂

Today was going to be one of the longest days in our life on vehicles and hence challenging. We quickly reached the Ghat section and had a small snacks break to have some Tea., then crossed Nagpur followed by Hinganghat (7:30AM). We were taking short breaks and hence were quite fast today. Soon we entered Telangana.

Next stop was at Nizamabad at a Rajasthani restaurant. We also decided that this time Prateek and Anish would go through Google suggested fastest route for bike while I would go through ORR and would meet at the junction. This proved to be a good strategy for us. While Prateek took around 1 hour and 10mins to cross, we crossed Hyderabad in whopping 39Mins.

We stopped again at Food pyramid to eat something as we were very hungry. Food pyramid has become our favorite break-spot. This was my 4th break at Food pyramid.

We entered Karnataka at around 10:05PM and soon reached Bangalore.

A big relief as we didn’t face any issue and were back home.

A successful and memorable trip comes to an end!!!!

Quick Tips and Suggestions

Saving time.

• Leave as early as possible in the morning (max before 8AM) to avoid a hectic day and save ample time for photographs
• Avoid taking bath daily as it wastes time and come on you are
• Save offline videos from YouTube for fixing punctures, cleaning air-filter, towing car, jump-start, etc. Learn about your vehicle in detail!traveling, forget hygiene for some time
• Pack minimal items as you have to pack and unpack a lot of times during the trip and it would be a tiring and time-taking job unless you have less items
• Leh taxi union doesn’t allow any rented vehicle outside Leh (including J&K vehicles). In other words, only JK10 rented vehicles are allowed in Nubra, Pangong and Tso-Moriri
• Top-up fuel every time you find a fuel bunk unless you are aware of the next one
• Cross all dangerous nallahs (e.g., pagal nallah, zingzingbar, etc.) before noon as water level starts increasing after noon
• Carry a BSNL Postpaid SIM as only postpaid networks work in J&K. In Ladakh, only BSNL postpaid works in most of the areas except Leh region.
• Stay for atleast 1 full day in Leh to get acclimatized to high altitude and get the permits ready
• Forget internet as soon as you leave Leh
• Booking.com is quite handy for booking accommodations as you don’t have to pay while booking
• Stay in a hostel in Leh as you would meet a lot of travelers from across India
• Know the sunrise and sunset time to plan your day
• Leh-Manali CANNOT be done in 1 day unless you start at 4AM in the morning
• Drink only mineral water and carry reserve water, you may not find one for several hours
• Start taking Diamox as soon as you are above 9000 Ft and put few drops of parafin in the nose every morning. Parafin prevents nose bleeding due to dryness.

Car Checklist

• Car Tow Cable
• Tissues, Napkins, Extra Cleaning Clothes
• Windshield Fluid
• Puncture Repair Kit
• Offline Map Location Update
• Plastic for Seat in case person is wet
• Gloves for Dirt
• Water Bottles/Camper 5L
• Car Mats Other Than Cloth Mats: Rubber mats
• Spare engine oil
• Glass Breaker/ Seat Belt Cutter
• GoPro Holder
• Oxygen Cylinder
• Oil Pouring Funnel
• Nitrogen and Pollution check
• Fastag Recharge
• Duplicate Keys
• Jump Start Kit
• Double sided tape

Medicine Checklist

• Diamox (Most Important)
• Paracetamol
• Azithromycin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Roxithromycin
• Entroquinol
• Metfal Spas
• Multi Vitamin
• Crepe Bandage
• Cough Syrup

Cloth Checklist

• Thermals – top and bottom – 2 pairs
• Woolen Gloves
• Normal Socks
• Woolen socks
• Underwears – 5-10
• Shoes Sandals
• Sunglasses UV
• Handkerchief

General Checklist

• Phone Charger
• Laptop for Photo Backup
• Hard Disk for GoPro
• BSNL Postpaid SIM
• Google Offline Map
• Disposable bags for garbage/laundry
• Moisturiser
• Offline Youtube videos of vehicle checkups and basic repairs
• Hand Sanitizer
• Nail Cutter
• Power Extension
• Facewash, shampoo
• Toothbrush, ToothPaste
• Passport Size Photos
• Newspaper and Polythene
• Printouts of Vehicle Documents, ID Cards, Booking and Permits
• Ziplock bags
• Toilet paper
• Leather gloves or biking gloves
• Gum boots for bikers

Coverage in Media

• https://www.rushlane.com/maruti-baleno-owner-impressed-with-the-car-12274159.html
• https://www.rushlane.com/bajaj-pulsar-rs-200-road-trip-leh-ladakh-12278170.html

Published by Pranjal

View all posts by Pranjal

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