Ladakh & Manali: 11-Day Himalayas Motorbike Tour via Khardung La

Summary

Riding Himalayan passes, cold desert winds and tea breaks in Ladakh

You’ll ride across Himalayan mountain passes from Manali to Leh with a local guide handling logistics and backup support. Expect chai breaks at dizzying altitudes, camping by Pangong Lake under shifting skies, and moments of pure silence above tree line. This journey isn’t just about riding—it’s about feeling small (and alive) in Ladakh’s wild spaces.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Delhi to Bhuntar by bus

• Board overnight Volvo bus to Manali

Day 2 — Arrival and local sightseeing in Bhuntar

• Meet Expeditions Guide at bus stand
• Transfer to hotel and rest
• Receive motorbikes from guide
• Local sightseeing around Bhuntar
• Return to hotel for dinner

Day 3 — Ride from Bhuntar to Jispa

• Start journey after breakfast
• Stop for photos in Manali
• Stop for photos at Atal Tunnel
• Lunch stop at Sissu
• Stop for petrol at Tandi village
• Arrive and stay overnight in Jispa

Day 4 — Jispa to Padum with stops

• Stop at Darcha for document check
• Pause at Shinkula Pass for views
• Overnight stay in Padum

Day 5 — Padum to Lamayuru ride

• Breakfast in Padum
• Ride 332 km to Lamayuru
• Cross Singga La pass
• Overnight stay in Lamayuru

Day 6 — Lamayuru to Leh and sightseeing

• Ride 127 km to Leh after breakfast
• Explore Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahib, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace
• Acclimatize and rest
• Visit Leh local market
• Overnight stay in Leh

Day 7 — Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung-La

• Ride to Nubra Valley via Khardung-La pass
• Stop for photos and videos
• Tea break
• Visit Diskit Monastery and Hunder Village
• Camel ride on double-humped camels
• Lunch
• Overnight stay in Nubra Valley

Day 8 — Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake

• Ride 180 km along Shyok River
• Stop for tea
• Stop for lunch
• Photoshoot at Pangong Lake
• Overnight stay at Pangong Lake

Day 9 — Pangong Lake to Hanle journey

• Breakfast at Pangong Lake
• Ride to Chushul village
• Visit Rezang La War Memorial
• Stop for photos and tea
• Stop for lunch
• Overnight stay in Hanle

Day 10 — Hanle to Leh via Khardung-La

• Breakfast in Hanle
• Ride to Leh via Khardung-La pass
• Stop for photos at highest motorable road
• Lunch back in Hanle
• Overnight stay in Leh

Day 11 — Departure from Leh to Delhi

• Farewell to fellow riders
• Overnight journey to Delhi

Top questions

How long is the Ladakh motorbike tour from Manali?

The tour lasts 11 days from Delhi/Chandigarh to Leh via Manali.

Do I need prior biking experience for this trip?

You should have moderate fitness and basic riding skills; terrain can be tough.

What are some highlights of this Ladakh bike tour?

Khardung La Pass, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Rezang La War Memorial, Sissu village.

Is hotel pickup included in this Himalayas motorbike tour?

Yes, pickup is included from Delhi or Chandigarh by Volvo bus to Manali/Bhuntar.

Are meals provided during the expedition?

Dinners are included at hotels or camps; lunches are often local stops along route.

What kind of accommodation can I expect?

You’ll stay in hotels, guesthouses or wooden cottages (twin-sharing basis).

Is there backup support during the ride?

A backup vehicle carries luggage/mechanic from day 3-10; extra fuel included too.

Can travelers with health issues join this trip?

This tour isn’t recommended for those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Your journey includes pickup from Delhi or Chandigarh by overnight bus, all environmental permits and fees handled by your local guide, twin-share stays in hotels or guesthouses along the route plus backup vehicle support with mechanic from day three onward. Extra fuel is covered for remote stretches; dinner each night is provided—sometimes simple hotel fare, sometimes around a campfire near Pangong Lake—with plenty of tea breaks along those wild Himalayan roads.

What’s the experience like?

We kicked off the Ladakh motorbike tour just after a groggy overnight bus ride—Delhi’s chaos still ringing in my ears. The first real breath of Bhuntar air felt sharp and cold, almost medicinal. Our guide, Vikram, met us at the bus stand with a grin and hot chai that tasted like cardamom and dust. The bikes lined up outside the hotel looked tougher than I’d expected. There’s this weird moment when you swing your leg over a Royal Enfield for the first time—half excitement, half “what am I doing?” But after a quick loop around town, it started to feel right. Dinner that night was simple dal and rice, but honestly, it hit different after a day on the road.

The next few days blurred into a mix of roaring engines and sudden silences—like when we stopped at Shinkula Pass and everything went quiet except for the wind scraping over rocks. At Sissu village, we ate lunch sitting cross-legged on a woven mat while an old woman handed out steaming momos and laughed at our Hindi (I think I said “thank you” wrong). Riding through Tandi meant stopping for petrol in what felt like the last outpost before Mars. Sometimes the roads were more suggestion than reality—patches of gravel, icy water crossings that soaked my boots through before noon. But then you’d turn a corner and there’d be sunlight bouncing off snow peaks so bright you had to squint.

Khardung La was… well, it’s hard to explain unless you’ve been up there. The air is thin enough to make your head swim but somehow everyone found energy for photos and jokes about “world’s highest selfie.” Our guide kept checking on us—“Drink water! Don’t rush!”—and handed out sweet tea at every stop like it was medicine (maybe it is up there). Nubra Valley felt almost otherworldly; double-humped camels wandered past as if they owned the place. We camped near Pangong Lake that night—the water really does shift colors every hour or so—and I woke up shivering before sunrise just to watch pink light creep across the surface. Still think about that view sometimes.

By Hanle, most of us were sunburned and grinning for no reason except maybe relief or pride—or both? We visited Rezang La War Memorial in silence; even the wind seemed quieter there. The last stretch back to Leh was bittersweet—I wanted one more day on those wild roads but also couldn’t wait for a shower that lasted longer than three minutes. Saying goodbye felt strange; we’d all started as strangers but ended up swapping stories over greasy parathas like old friends.