Ladakh is considered to be the land of high passes and it is one of the most enchanting regions of India that attracts all the diehard adventure lovers. Being sparsely populated, it offers its vast landscape to the adventure seekers to use it as their arena for thrill. Heading out to this place on a bike trip, you will be able to enjoy an unprecedented charm of the himalayan region. In general the bike trips to Ladakh are curated for at least a week or more in which one gets ample amount of time to explore the wide spread cold desert at a relaxed pace.
Best Time:
The best time to head out on a bike trip to Leh Ladakh would be from the month of June to the month of September. At this time most of the mountain passes are open so that you can enjoy the tourist circuits of Ladakh. The best part of planning a trip in this phase of the year is that you will be able to enjoy the magical vistas and alluring valleys.
Ideal Duration:
In general the span of a Leh Ladakh bike trip is about a period of 15 days. This is mainly influenced by the weather conditions on the hills. Most bikers start their road trip from Manali to Leh from the capital city, Delhi.
Best Rides:
Taking a tough machine for those challenging and rugged roads is a must. You should make sure that you are very careful with your bike as it plays an important role in all these adventure activities. In general bikers go ahead with bikes that are reliable and are capable of sustaining the tough roads as well as the atmospheric conditions of the high mountain passes. Normal bikes face a problem at higher altitudes due to shortage of oxygen and this is in reality an issue for all internal combustion engines. You can choose to go with Royal Enfield bikes that gets powered starting from a 350 cc mill, Bajaj Pulsar Series known for their smoother and hassle free rides, KTM Duke bikes popular for being featherweight and popular grunt, and Honda CBR bikes known for their immense torque and fi technology. You can also wish to take bikes and gears on rentals from a number of vendors for your trip.
Leh Ladakh Bike Trip Route:
There are a number of routes that you can take to reach the hills and give you a taste of what biking on highest motorable passes are in reality. Here are some of the routes that you can take as per your taste:
- Route 1: Srinagar – Leh And Back
- Delhi – Jalandhar – Jammu – Srinagar – Kargil – Leh – Karu – Sarchu – Manali – Delhi
- Total Distance to be Covered: 2,295 kilometres
- Route 2: Manali – Leh And Back
- Delhi – Manali – Sarchu – Leh – KhardungLa – Nubra Valley – Kargil – Srinagar – Delhi
- Total Distance to be Covered: 2,569 kilometres
- Route 3: Delhi – Leh And Back
- Delhi – Manali – Sarchu – Leh – KhardungLa – Nubra Valley – Kargil – Srinagar – Delhi
- Total Distance to be Covered: 2,022 kilometres
Top places to visit in Leh Ladakh:
- Pangong Tso
Pangong Tso happens to be one of the most sought after natural marvels that is located in the lap of Ladakh and is popular for its scintillating views of the rustic mountains. During your visit to this place, you will get to witness one of the largest lakes in Asia.
- Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa happens to be one of the famous monasteries in Ladakh that was founded in the year 1430 and it is the home to the famous golden statue of Maitreya Buddha.
- Zanskar Valley
Zanskar valley lets you enjoy the unprecedented views of the massive snow clad peaks on all sides. A visit to this charming place will also get you a chance to enjoy the famous Chadar Trek which is popular for its hiking tour on frozen ice.