Compare Motorcycle Tour through Ladakh by Two Wheeled Expeditions

Day 1: Delhi

A day of chill time and an opportunity to explore this fascinating city of 19 million. Our day also includes the perfect introduction to motorbiking in India: An early morning bicycle ride through old Delhi including breaks for masala chai and a breakfast of the most delicious lamb curry you’ve ever tasted. The evening before our departure, a group meal at one of Delhi’s best restaurants will allow us to develop the bonds that will become stronger with every mile.

Day 2: Delhi - leh

A flight from Delhi to Leh at the crack of dawn places us in this picturesque mountain town by late morning. At 14,500 ft, our brains may be eager to ride out but our bodies need a day to acclimatize and get used to the thin air. We will spend our time walking through the charming old town and take in the panoramic view from Leh Palace. You will also be introduced to your two-wheeled friend for the next 12 days and have a chance for a quick familiarization ride. two wheeled expeditions

Day 3: Leh - lamayuru

Today we snake our way to our first mountain pass, Fotu-La, and then into the lunar landscape of Lamayuru. After a fulfilling day of riding we settle into our guesthouse with a perfect setting overlooking the valley and the extraordinary Lamayuru Monastery.

Day 4: Lamayuru - temisgam

Gravel switchbacks, river fording, snow-capped peaks are the order of the day. We’ll spend the night in a beautiful hotel nestled in a lush green valley with the dizzying Tingmosgang Monastery towering overhead.

Day 6: Leh - hunder

Riding out of Leh early, we head for the mother of all passes, Khardung-La. At an elevation of 17,582 ft, altitude sickness is a real danger so we’ll only remain long enough to drink in the awe-inspiring reality that you are over a half-mile higher than the highest summit in the contiguous United States. The ride down the backside of the pass toward Hunder is pure motorcycling bliss. The gravel has been replaced with a smooth ribbon of tarmac and the sweepers have no end as we descend to a more manageable 10,000 ft. and our rest stop for the night, the tiny village of Hunder.

Day 5: Temisgam - leh

After a visit to the monastery, we wind our way back down to our home base in Leh. A night to unwind and grab a meal in the town allows us to prepare for the next stage of our expedition.

Day 7: Hunder - sumur

Today is less about testing your off-road prowess and more about soaking up the beauty of the Nubra Valley. A high desert valley on the Tibetan Plateau, the region lies at the nexus of the Siachen Glacier to the north, the famous Karakoram Pass and the Chinese frontier and offers some of the most jaw-dropping vistas of the southern Himalaya.

Day 8: Sumur - leh

Although barely over 100 miles in length, the rolling and twisting gravel roads over the 16,000 ft Wari La Pass will take almost the entire day and as with every other high Himalayan pass, will evoke an abundance of ‘holy f**ks’ inside your helmet at every turn. We arrive in Leh in the late afternoon and recharge for the night before our final excursion, this time for the surreal mountain lakes Tso Kar and Tso Moriri.

Day 9: Leh - tso kar lake

The morning’s ride over gravel, dirt and broken tarmac is a fitting preamble to what awaits. Tso Kar lake may be as off the beaten trail as you will ever experience. No man made structures surround its banks, no recreational craft ply its waves: it’s quite frankly a place that is the definition of an austere landscape – an infinity of mountains, glaciers and pristine waters fill your view. A night of glamping and a party around the bonfire awaits us.

Day 10: Tso kar lake - tso moriri lake

Our last night on the road takes us to Tso Kar’s much larger sister, Tso Moriri. If you somehow managed to miss capturing your ‘money shot’ during the rest of our ride, turning your camera on Tso Moriri and the 20,000 ft peaks surrounding it will be a slam dunk. We camp in the village of Karzok for the night and will have ample time to visit some the areas nomadic herders to gain some insights into their very lonely way of life.

Day 11: Tso moriri lake - leh

The grand finale? 150 miles of winding mountain roads surfaced with every material imaginable. As we descend, tarmac resumes its reign – just in time for the most beautiful Himalayan sweepers. We arrive at Leh in the early evening, put our Enfields to bed and head into the town for a celebratory meal and several rounds of drinks.

Day 12: Leh – delhi

A morning flight puts us back in Delhi by lunchtime. The day is yours to finalize shopping, sightseeing or just getting used to air laden with oxygen