One of the most iconic motorbiking trips in India is the Leh Ladakh bike trip. This odyssey takes you to some of the most starkly beautiful terrain in all of India. When on the bike trip to Leh, you’ll be seeing high altitude passes, snow-capped mountains, cold deserts, silent monasteries and mysterious cultures. You will ride through beautiful stretches of landscape, meet reclusive locals, and see raging rivers as you travel through. At the end of your Leh Ladakh bike trip, this stark landscape will be a part of you forever.
Leh Ladakh bike trip: Short bike trips to Leh
Some bike trips to Leh start at Leh itself. You’ll have to arrive a day or two early to ensure that you are fully acclimatized. On your first day, take it easy and drink plenty of fluids. After that, you'll set off to Lamayuru, the moonland of Leh, with craggy peaks and colours of grey and ochre. Your ride through the beautiful Leh landscape offers you plenty of glimpses into the life here. You'll ride across long stretches of bare landscape, and see raging rivers that cut across it. You'll see camels with double humps, the cold desert village of Hunder; you'll meet reclusive locals and maybe try a cup of hot butter tea with them.
Leh Ladakh bike trip: Himachal to Leh
The Manali-Leh route is a pilgrimage for bikers, and you'll know why once you experience it. This Leh Ladakh motorbiking trip starts in the green valleys of Manali, with blooming flowers and apple orchards. As you ride, the lush greenery gives way to the weather-bleached landscape of Ladakh. You'll be crossing rivulets created by melting glaciers, navigating rocky patches, visiting silent monasteries, and exploring some of the most spectacular parts of India. From Rohtang Pass to Khardung La, from Gata Loops to Tanglang La, ,and from the picturesque Pangong lake to the scenic Nubra Valley, this bike trip to Leh takes you through the most iconic landmarks of the Trans-Himalayan route.
Leh Ladakh bike trip: Long distance bike trips to Leh
Some longer itineraries for bike trips to Leh offer an odyssey that takes you from the flat landscapes of Delhi or Chandigarh, up into the mighty Himalayas, across some of the most extreme landscape that the country has to offer.
A popular route for this is the following: Manali, Jispa, Sarchu, Leh, Khardung La, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Leh, Lamayuru, Kargil, Sonmarg, Srinagar.
On this bike trip to Leh and Srinagar, you’ll thunder through some of the highest motorable passes and roads in the world, including Khardung La and Baralacha La. After that, you'll ride onwards to Pangong Lake and the Nubra Valley, seeing views that you'll never forget. As you cross into Kargil, and head to Srinagar via Sonmarg, you'll feel like you've stepped into a movie set. Most bike trips to Leh with this itinerary end with a visit to Dal lake, and maybe even a night in a houseboat.
Best season for bike trips to Leh
If you’re heading out for the Leh Ladakh bike trip, you’ll be going during May or June. For the rest of the country, try to stick to the winter months when the weather is cold. You’ll stay comfortable for long hours of riding, and your bikes won’t overheat.
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