Ladakh Motorbike Expedition: Manali to Leh 11-Day Ride

Ride the Highest Passes in the World: 11 Days on Two Wheels to Ladakh

You ride five of the world's highest mountain passes over 11 days, starting from Delhi and ending at Pangong Lake. The expedition includes hotel stays, all permits and fuel, a backup vehicle carrying luggage and a mechanic, and an English-speaking road captain who handles the route. You arrive back in Delhi on the final night, having crossed the cold desert and ridden alongside the Shyok River and the Zanskar.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Delhi to Bhuntar by bus

• Board overnight 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
• Photo stop at Atal Tunnel
• Lunch stop at Sissu
• Petrol stop 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 and Pathar Sahib Gurudwara
• Visit Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace
• Explore 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
• Overnight stay in Nubra Valley

Day 8: Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake

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

Day 9: Pangong Lake to Hanle journey

• Ride 150 km to Hanle after breakfast
• Visit Chushul village
• Explore Rezang La War Memorial
• Stop for photos and videos
• Tea break
• 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

The experience

You're standing in Delhi, and in a few hours you'll board an overnight Volvo bus toward Bhuntar. By day two, a motorbike is waiting for you. This 11-day Ladakh motorbike expedition isn't a casual ride. It's a test of nerve and endurance across five major high-altitude passes, including Khardung La at 18,000 feet and Singga La at 5,009 meters. The route takes you from the Himalayas through Nubra Valley's cold desert, along the Shyok River, and finally to Pangong Lake, where the water shifts color with the light and the road ends at the edge of Tibet.

After you arrive in Bhuntar on day two, your expedition guide meets you at the bus stand. You get the bike that morning: a chance to ride local terrain around Bhuntar and feel how the altitude and mountain roads handle before the serious climbing starts. Day three takes you to Jispa through Manali and the Atal Tunnel, with stops at Sissu for lunch and Tandi for fuel. The riding is real: 80 percent off-road and 20 percent on-road by the time you reach Padum on day four, with 332 kilometers and 9 to 10 hours in the saddle. A backup vehicle carries your luggage and a mechanic from day three onward, so you ride light and someone handles the spares (tubes, spark plugs, brake pads, clutch plates) if the altitude or the road tears something loose.

Leh arrives on day five after a 127-kilometer ride from Lamayuru. You spend the day acclimatizing, walking the local market, visiting Magnetic Hill and the Shanti Stupa. Then the expedition splits open: day seven takes you north to Nubra Valley over Khardung La, where you can ride double-humped Bactrian camels and see the 108-foot Maitreya statue at Diskit Monastery. Day eight is 180 kilometers to Pangong Lake along the Shyok River: six to seven hours of riding with the water changing color as you approach. You camp on the bank. Day nine loops south to Hanle, passing through Chushul village and the Rezang La War Memorial, a solemn stop that marks the 1962 India-China war. Day ten brings you back over Khardung La one more time to Leh, where you can grab that hot tea at the army canteen at the world's highest motorable pass. On day eleven, you board the overnight bus back to Delhi.

An experienced English-speaking road captain leads the group throughout. The tour includes all accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, environmental and permit fees, backup fuel, a first aid box and oxygen cylinder, and spare parts changes during the ride. You need moderate fitness and comfort with high altitude. This is not a guided sightseeing tour, it's a motorbike expedition where the road and the elevation are the point.

What’s included

• Your 11-day expedition includes all hotel, guesthouse, and cottage accommodation on a twin-sharing basis.
• an experienced English-speaking road captain.
• environmental and permit fees.
• a backup vehicle carrying your luggage and a mechanic from day three through day ten.
• extra fuel for backup.
• a first aid box and oxygen cylinder.
• and all spare parts changes needed during the ride, including tubes, spark plugs, brake pads, clutch plates, engine oil, and brake and clutch wires. Overnight bus transport from Delhi to Bhuntar on day one and the return journey to Delhi on day eleven are included.

Options for this experience

2 options

Single RiderGuide in English or Hindi · Available from 13 Jun 2027Accommodation in hotels or camps, lasting 11 days, with breakfast and dinner included, covering Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, on a Royal Enfield Himalayan 411. Starting point: Bhuntar, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Single rider on a 452cc Royal Enfield.Guide in English or Hindi · Available from 13 Jun 2027Accommodation in hotels, camps or cottages, lasting 11 days, with breakfast and dinner included, covering Himachal and Ladakh in India, on a Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc. Starting point: Bhuntar, Himachal Pradesh, India.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 13 Jun 2027

AgesAdult (20 to 85 years) · Under 20: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Audio guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Motorbike Expeditions Ltd

Is this one for you?This expedition suits riders who want to test themselves on the world's highest passes and remote mountain terrain with the logistics and safety net of a guided group. The backup vehicle and mechanic are what make 11 days of high-altitude off-road riding manageable without leaving you stranded.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many days is the Ladakh motorbike expedition?

11 days total, including overnight bus travel from Delhi to Bhuntar on day one and the return journey on day eleven.

What is the highest pass on this motorbike tour?

Khardung La at 18,000 feet, which you cross twice, once on day seven heading to Nubra Valley and again on day ten returning to Leh.

Is accommodation included in the tour?

Yes, all accommodation is included on a twin-sharing basis at hotels, guesthouses, and wooden cottages throughout the 11 days.

What happens if my bike breaks down during the ride?

A backup vehicle carries a mechanic from day three to day ten, and spare parts (tubes, spark plugs, brake pads, clutch plates and engine oil) are included in the tour.

How long is the riding each day?

Riding duration varies. Day four from Padum to Lamayuru is 9 to 10 hours covering 332 kilometers. Day eight to Pangong Lake is 6 to 7 hours covering 180 kilometers. Other days range from 3 to 4 hours to full-day rides.

What is included in the tour price?

Inclusions are accommodation, backup fuel, first aid box and oxygen cylinder, a backup vehicle with mechanic (days 3–10), an English-speaking road captain, environmental and permit fees, and spare parts changes during the ride.

When do we visit Pangong Lake?

Day eight of the expedition. You ride 180 kilometers along the Shyok River and stay overnight on the bank of Pangong Lake in a wooden cottage.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

The tour requires at least moderate physical fitness and comfort with high-altitude riding. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.