Leh Ladakh is one of the most remote places in the Indian Himalayas. Each motorcycle enthusiast dreams of going on a Leh Ladakh bike trip once in their lifetime. But before fulfilling your dream of riding on this mighty Himalayan landscape, please read through this blog and make yourself 100% ready before the trip.
Section :
About Leh Ladakh Bike trip
Among the most visited places in the Indian Himalayas on motorcycles, Ladakh offers one of the world's highest motorable roads, the most dangerous terrain, and never-ending snowcapped mountains.
Best time for Leh Ladakh road trip:
At about 3300 meters above sea level, Leh Ladakh receives heavy snow during winter, making June through September the best time to visit. The best time for Leh Ladakh bike trips is from June to September since it is the summer season in the Himalayas, and the sky will be clear most of the time.
How much time is required for the Leh Ladakh bike trip:
A person can explore Leh Ladakh from either the Srinagar side or the Manali side, and both will require at least 10-12 days to complete the circuit. In contrast, people with fewer days can take a flight to Leh and make a five-day bike trip covering significant attractions in Leh. In contrast, few travelers who enjoy leisure experiences spend more than 30 days exploring the entire region at their own pace.
Leh ladakh trip budget:
The cost of your Ladakh trip budget depends on several factors, including the starting and ending points, the type of vehicle you choose, the number of days you plan to spend on your bike trip, the type of accommodation you choose, and whether you are traveling alone or in a group. It will all add up to your expense, so if you want to make a budget-friendly Ladakh bike trip, it will cost anywhere between INR 30,000/- and INR 60,000/- per person for a 12 days tour starting in Manali and ending in Srinagar. In addition to traveling in large groups, this includes standard accommodations or hotels. The cost of a 15-day Leh bike trip with a small group and luxury & boutique properties is around INR 1,00,000 to INR 1,50,000/- if you want a leisure and luxury experience.
Best motorcycle/four-wheel for Leh Ladakh road trip:
After choosing the number of days and the amount of money you can spend on your Leh Ladakh road trip, the next step is to choose the right vehicle. Those who want to travel by motorcycle in the Himalayas should use Royal Enfield. They are reliable and sturdy as well. Royal Enfield's 500cc and Himalayan motorcycles are the best. Choose a 4x4 or a car with higher ground clearance for the Leh Ladakh road trip if you want to choose any car.
Leh Ladakh bike trip route:
There are 2 major land routes to Ladakh, one will start from Manali and end in Srinagar, and another will start from Srinagar and ends in Manali.
Leh Ladakh route 1: Delhi – Manali – Keylong – Sarchu – Leh – Khardung La pass- Nubra Valley – Pangong lake – Leh - Kargil – Srinagar
Leh Ladakh route 2: Srinagar – Kargil – Leh – Nubra – Pangong Lake – Leh - Sarchu – Keylong – Manali – Delhi
Leh Ladakh route 3: Arrive at Leh by flight – Nubra valley – Pangong Lake – Local sightseeing – And departure from Leh by flight
Leh Ladakh route via Spiti valley bike trip: Delhi – Chandigarh – Shimla – Narkanda – Sarahan – Chitkul – Nako – Tabo – Kaza – Chandratal – Keylong – Sarchu – Leh – Nubra – Pangong lake – Leh - Kargil – Srinagar – Jammu – Chandigarh – Delhi (Longer route but it's a once in a lifetime trip)
Route for one who want to explore LADAKH'S all terrain and haven't deadline for days.
Grand Route Ladakh ( MANALI TO MANALI)
Manali - jispa - sarchu-pang-more plains-tso kar-tso moriri Karzok-kyagar tso-Mahe-Nyoma-Hanle-Umlingla pass-Hanle-Chushul-Merak-Pangong tso-Tagtse-Durbuk-Shyok valley-Agham-Khalsar-Nubra valley-Diskit-Hunder-Khardung la pass-Leh-Nimmoo-Khalsi. after Khalsi there are two differentt route lead the same destination but with different terrain
(1)Khalsi-Sirsir la-Singi la-Lingshed-Zanskar-Padum-purney-phuktal gompa-Kurgiakh-Shinku la pass-Darcha-Jispa-Manali
(2)Khalsi-Lamayuru-Fotu la pass-Nmika la pass-Kargil-Minjee-Gramthang-Lunchhay-Sanko-Sangrah-Tongul-Rangdum-Penzi la pass-DrangDrung Glacier-Phey-Phe-Sani lake-Padum-purney-phuktal gompa-Kurgiakh-Shinku la pass-Darcha-Jispa-Manali
Top places to visit on Leh Ladakh motorbike trip:
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake
Located at 4350 meters in the Changthang region of Ladakh, Pangong Lake is 134 kilometers long, extending from India to Tibet (Mainland China). We will cover Changla Pass, the third-highest motorable pass in the world when riding to Pangong Lake. 60% of the lake, which is 80 kilometers, lies in Tibet, while the rest resides in India. There are very few permanent villages in the Pangong region. In Spangmik or Merak on other end, you can visit Pangong on a day tour or overnight to enjoy the pristine blue saline lake. I recommend staying overnight to enjoy the pristine blue saline lake.
Nubra Valley:
The coldest desert is Nubra valley, situated next to Shyok and Nubra rivers. Diskit, Hunder, Panamik, and Turtuk are among the most important villages in Nubra Valley. Besides being close to Siachen Base Camp, Nubra valley is known for its double hump Bactrian camels and Diskit monastery and high altitude sand dunes.
Leh Ladakh local sightseeing:
Among the attractions are Thicksey Monastery, Shey Palace, Hemis Monastery, War Museum, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Likir Monastery, Alchi Monastery, and Indus-Zanskar Sangam,megnatic point.
Tso Moriri Lake
Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri or "Mountain Lake", is a lake in the Changthang Plateau,It is located approximately 219 km from Leh. The lake and surrounding area are protected as the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserv. The lake is at an altitude of 4,522 m (14,836 ft). It is the largest of the high altitude lakes entirely within India and entirely within. It is about 16 miles (26 km) north to south in length and two to three miles (3 to 5 km) wide.
Must recommend to take a night or two day stay at Karzok village just beside the lake and enjoy every shades of blue and vey positive and different vibretion at highest altitude village of Ladakh.On your trip to tso Moriri you can visit another two lake as well Tso kar and Kygar Tso.
Hanle and Umling
Hanle altitude 4,500 m is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory. The location of the village and the observatory are highly sensitive due to the close proximity of the Tibetan / Chinese border. India set up the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, a 2m gamma ray telescope at Hanle. Hanle's skies are among the darkest on Earth, attracting stargazing aficionados. The presence of the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle is a testament to its prime celestial observation conditions. A trip to Hanle isn't complete without spending a night marveling at the Milky Way and countless stars
Umling La is the highest paved road and mountain pass in the world, located in Ladakh, India, on the ridgeline between Koyul Lungpa and the Indus River near Demchok. At an elevation of 19,024 feet (5,799 m),at this point you are higher then base camp of mount everest.
Tips for Leh Ladakh bike trip:
Each rider must be above 21 years old with a valid Driving license.
One should have minimum riding experience on any motorcycle.
Must be fit and healthy to take such an adventurous trip
Always try to ride in a group instead of riding solo; it does not only give you a sort of confidence. Also, it will help you during uncertainties (However, if you are an experienced solo traveler, then it's not a problem. For first-timers group ride is the best and safest)
Know the terrain and weather info before you start the journey.
Choose the right motorcycle or Car for the trip which suits your riding style and should be good enough to ride on such harsh terrains.
Keep yourself well hydrated.
Read about Acute Mountain Sickness
Understand the culture of Ladakh and its people
And one last thing, respect nature, and nature will respect you back.
Understand your vehicle
Get your vehicle service done
Gain knowledge about repairs
Is the Ladakh tour safe to do?
Yes, riding in the Himalayas is always once in a lifetime experience, and one cannot deny that, but however, you should be very cautious while riding on these terrains. It will be very tough in some stretches if you are not well prepared or are part of a group ride. Don't jump to conclusions quickly; do your homework well, study enough blogs, and get practical exposure to riding motorcycles and maintaining them. Besides that, Ladakh is one of the safest places in India to travel; people are humble and helpful. They are the one who comes first when you strike due to landslides or any health issue. Remember one thing Never hurt their cultural feelings, and don't insult their terrain. They are compassionate about Ladakh and its culture.
Money, Banks, ATM, and Currency conversion:
Leh being the headquarters of the Ladakh region, you will get a few sound banks and ATMs which work round the year, but however, sometimes it may interrupt due to bad weather conditions and heavy snowfall. There are at least 5-6 ATMs available in Leh town.
There are plenty of currency exchange centers in Leh, but get in touch with your travel guide or hotel reception for better currency conversion, and they can get a good deal.
But at first place carry musch cash as you can for your safty.
Mobile connectivity and Internet:
Only postpaid sim cards will work outside of J&K and Ladakh regions. You can get prepaid sim cards in Leh on arrival. But there is always a restriction on buying a local sim card since it is closely located in border areas. Only BSNL, Airtel, and Jio work in Ladakh. Apart from Leh, no other regions like Nubra or Pangong will get a proper network. It depends on the weather condition.
Internet connectivity is also fluctuating. Always have seen that sometimes there is no internet or phone connectivity for weeks. So better be prepared for a complete disconnect from other parts of the world!!!
conclusion get your postpaid sim card and it will work in majority area of Ladakh now days
Altitude Mountain Sickness or AMS:
Because of Ladakh's altitude, Altitude sickness is one of the most common problems during travel. The cause of AMS is the lack of oxygen, and our body won't be able to adjust to that altitude so easily.
Headaches, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and giddiness are common symptoms of AMS. Severe symptoms include shortness of breath and vomiting, even when sitting or not doing anything.
Avoiding AMS is pretty simple if you follow the instructions of your Travel guide on the Leh Ladakh bike trip. The primary thing is to avoid climbing the mountains quickly, take time and gradually increase your altitude, and Drink at least 3-5 liters of water daily. This will keep you hydrated. Avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol for at least for first few days till your body gets acclimatized. Avoid having heavy dinners and non-veg during the night because heavy food will trouble your metabolism, and most of the oxygen in your body gets used to digest the food inside the body. If primary symptoms occur, start taking Diamox tablets one per day after breakfast and take another after dinner.
Mountain passes in ladakh trip
Manali to Leh
Rohtang la - 3978m
Baralacha la - 4850m
Naki la - 4739m
Lachulung la - 5059m
Tanglang la - 5328m
Shrinagar to Leh
Zoji la - 3528m
Fotu la - 4108m
Namika la - 3700m
Leh to Nubra valley
Khardung la - 5359m
Leh to Pangong lake
Chang la - 5360m
Eastern Ladakh Hanle side you can make
Umling la - 5799m
at this point you are standing higher then mountain everest base camp
Pangong lake to Tso Moriri/Hanle
@Via Chuchul to Nyoma to Mahe
Rezang la - 5199m
Tsaga la - 5300m
Namshang la - 4960m
@Via Chushul to Mahe
Thato la - 4815m
Kaksang la - 5437M
Namshang la - 4960m
Tso moriri/Puga to Tso Kar/Meroo/More plains
Namshang la - 4960m
Pologongka la - 4972m
Leh to Zanskar/Padum
Singi la - 5091m
Sirsir la - 4804m
Zanskar to Kargil
Pensi la - 4400m
Zanskar to Manali
Shinku la - 5090m
Manali to Kaza spiti
Kunzum la - 4551m
Kommentare