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Snow walls higher than a car on the Sach Pass road, below snow-streaked peaks

Great Himalayan Motorcycle Loop

17 nights · 18 days · Multi-destination

  • Motorcycle tour
  • Up to Khardung La, ~5,359 m
  • Mid-July – mid-September
  • Back-up vehicle
  • For experienced riders
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Overview

Every valley we work in, on two wheels. From Dharamshala we ride to Chamba and our Diwan Sachpass in Bairagarh, cross Sach Pass into Pangi, follow the Chandrabhaga into Lahaul and take the Manali–Leh road to Ladakh for Nubra and Pangong. Then back south to Chandratal, a night at our Spiti Villa in Kaza, and home through Kinnaur.

It runs only from mid-July, when Sach Pass is open, to mid-September, before the high passes start to close. A ride captain leads, and a back-up vehicle with a mechanic carries luggage, spares and fuel.

  • Sach Pass and the cliff roads of Pangi
  • A night at our own Diwan Sachpass before the climb
  • The Manali–Leh road, Khardung La, Nubra and Pangong
  • Chandratal, Kunzum Pass and a night at our Spiti Villa
  • Out through Kinnaur to close the loop
  1. DharamshalaStart
  2. BairagarhDay 2
  3. KillarDay 3
  4. LehDays 7–8
  5. PangongDay 10
  6. KazaDay 14
  7. DharamshalaDay 18

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Dharamshala to Chamba

    Night: Chamba

    Bike handover and a briefing, then west through Nurpur and up the Ravi to the old town of Chamba. A day of five to six hours on tarmac.

    Night stay
    Chamba
    Altitude
    Chamba, about 1,000 m
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2

    Chamba to Bairagarh

    Night: Diwan Sachpass, Bairagarh

    Up the Churah valley through Tissa, the last big fuel stop, to our hotel in Bairagarh. About 90 km, with a bonfire evening.

    Night stay
    Diwan Sachpass, Bairagarh
    Altitude
    Bairagarh, about 2,800 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  3. Day 3

    Over Sach Pass to Killar

    Night: Killar · Pangi

    An early start, past Satrundi and the snow walls to Sach Pass, at about 4,414 m, then down the narrow road into Pangi. About 76 km, slow going.

    Night stay
    Killar · Pangi
    Altitude
    Sach Pass, about 4,414 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  4. Day 4

    Through Pangi to Udaipur

    Night: Udaipur · Lahaul

    East along the Chandrabhaga on the cliff roads of Pangi. Pangi has no petrol pump, so the back-up vehicle carries fuel.

    Night stay
    Udaipur · Lahaul
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  5. Day 5

    Udaipur to Jispa

    Night: Jispa

    Past Trilokinath to Tandi, where we fill up, and on past Keylong to Jispa.

    Night stay
    Jispa
    Altitude
    Jispa, about 3,200 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  6. Day 6

    Baralacha La to Sarchu

    Night: camps at Sarchu

    Up to Baralacha La, at about 4,890 m, and down to the plains of Sarchu. About 85 km.

    Night stay
    camps at Sarchu
    Altitude
    Sarchu, about 4,290 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  7. Day 7

    Sarchu to Leh

    Night: Leh

    The Gata Loops, Nakee La, Lachulung La, the More Plains and Tanglang La, at about 5,328 m, then down to Leh. About 250 km.

    Night stay
    Leh
    Altitude
    Leh, about 3,500 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  8. Day 8

    Rest day in Leh

    Night: Leh

    Rest and acclimatise, sort permits and see the old town. Riders on our bikes switch to a Leh-registered bike for the next three days.

    Night stay
    Leh
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  9. Day 9

    Khardung La to Nubra

    Night: Nubra Valley

    Over Khardung La, at about 5,359 m, to Diskit and Hunder. About 120 km.

    Night stay
    Nubra Valley
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  10. Day 10

    Nubra to Pangong

    Night: camps at Pangong

    Along the Shyok river to Pangong Tso. About 160 km.

    Night stay
    camps at Pangong
    Altitude
    Pangong, about 4,250 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  11. Day 11

    Pangong to Leh

    Night: Leh

    Over Chang La, at about 5,360 m, and back to Leh, where you switch back to your own or our Himachal bike. About 160 km.

    Night stay
    Leh
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  12. Day 12

    Leh to Sarchu

    Night: camps at Sarchu

    South over Tanglang La to Sarchu. About 250 km.

    Night stay
    camps at Sarchu
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  13. Day 13

    Sarchu to Chandratal

    Night: camps near Chandratal

    Over Baralacha La, down to Khoksar and up the gravel road past Batal to the camps near Chandratal.

    Night stay
    camps near Chandratal
    Altitude
    Chandratal, about 4,300 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  14. Day 14

    Kunzum Pass to Kaza

    Night: Spiti Villa, Kaza

    Over Kunzum Pass, at about 4,550 m, and down the Spiti valley, with a detour to Key Monastery before our Spiti Villa. Fill up at Kaza.

    Night stay
    Spiti Villa, Kaza
    Altitude
    Kaza, about 3,650 m
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  15. Day 15

    Dhankar and Tabo to Nako

    Night: Nako

    The cliff-top gompa at Dhankar, the old monastery at Tabo, and out of Spiti past Sumdo to Nako.

    Night stay
    Nako
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  16. Day 16

    Nako to Kalpa

    Night: Kalpa

    Down the hairpins to Khab and along the Sutlej to Kalpa, facing Kinner Kailash. About 105 km.

    Night stay
    Kalpa
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  17. Day 17

    Kalpa to Narkanda

    Night: Narkanda

    The cliff roads of Kinnaur down to Rampur, then up to Narkanda.

    Night stay
    Narkanda
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
  18. Day 18

    Narkanda to Dharamshala

    Trip ends in Dharamshala

    Through Mandi and back to Dharamshala, about 250 km, where the loop ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast

The pass can close at short notice. We keep a spare day in hand and confirm road status the evening before each crossing.

What’s included

Included

  • A ride captain who knows the route
  • Back-up vehicle with a mechanic, spares and your luggage
  • Stays as listed, twin sharing
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Permit help and route briefings each evening
  • Help on WhatsApp throughout the trip

Not included

  • Motorcycle hire (ask us, or ride your own bike)
  • Fuel for your motorcycle
  • Lunches, snacks and personal expenses
  • Riding gear and travel insurance
  • Extra nights caused by road closures
  • Leh bike hire for Nubra and Pangong, and Ladakh permit fees

Where you’ll stay

Also a night at our own Spiti Villa in Kaza. Hotels in Chamba, Leh and Kalpa, guesthouses in Pangi, Lahaul and Nubra, and camps at Sarchu, Pangong and Chandratal.

Before you go

  • Licence

    A licence with a motorcycle category. Foreign riders also need an International Driving Permit that covers motorcycles, plus a passport and visa.

  • Riding experience

    You should be comfortable on gravel, water crossings and long days in the saddle. If you are new to mountain roads, start with a shorter ride.

  • Fuel

    Pumps are far apart above the tree line. The back-up vehicle carries spare fuel, and the ride captain tells you where to fill up each day.

  • Gear

    A full-face helmet, riding jacket, gloves and boots, rain gear, and warm layers for the high passes even in summer.

  • Altitude and permits

    You cross passes above 5,300 m and sleep above 4,000 m several times. Protected areas such as Nubra and Pangong need a permit for foreign nationals and fees for everyone; foreign nationals also need an Inner Line Permit for Kinnaur. We arrange both.

  • Bikes hired outside Ladakh can’t be used for sightseeing there under local union rules, so riders on our Himachal bikes switch to a Leh-registered bike for Nubra and Pangong. Your own bike can carry on.
  • Sach Pass and the Pangi road can close at short notice. If they do, we ride to Lahaul through Manali instead.

FAQ

Who is this ride for?

Experienced riders who are happy on narrow gravel, stream crossings and long days. Sach Pass and the Pangi road are among the hardest roads in Himachal. If this is your first Himalayan ride, start with our Spiti tour.

Why only mid-July to mid-September?

Sach Pass usually opens around July, and the passes on the Manali–Leh road and Kunzum start to get snow from late September. That leaves about two months when the whole loop is open.

Can I use a hired bike for the whole loop?

Yes, everywhere except the Nubra and Pangong days, when local rules in Ladakh mean riders on bikes hired outside Ladakh switch to a Leh-registered bike. Your own bike can ride the whole loop.

What if Sach Pass is closed when we get there?

We keep a spare day in hand at Bairagarh. If the pass stays shut, we ride round through Manali to Lahaul and pick up the route at Jispa.

Worth reading first

Read our cancellation policy before you confirm.

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