# Ladakh Motorcycle Tour from Dharamshala Multi-destination · 10 nights · 11 days · Motorcycle tour · Up to Khardung La, ~5,359 m · Mid-June – mid-September · Back-up vehicle The classic ride to Ladakh, from our hotels in Dharamshala. We cross the Atal Tunnel, Baralacha La and Tanglang La on the Manali–Leh road, take a rest day in Leh, then ride Khardung La to Nubra and the Shyok road to Pangong before heading home the same way. A ride captain leads, and a back-up vehicle with a mechanic carries luggage, spares and fuel across the long stretch without pumps between Tandi and Leh. ## Highlights - Baralacha La, the Gata Loops and Tanglang La on the Manali–Leh road - A rest day in Leh to acclimatise - Khardung La and the sand dunes of Nubra - Pangong Tso and Chang La - Back-up vehicle, mechanic and spare fuel all the way ## Day-by-day itinerary 1. **Dharamshala to Manali.** Night: Manali. Bike handover and a briefing, then about 240 km through Mandi and up the Beas to Manali. 2. **Atal Tunnel to Jispa.** Night: Jispa. A short day to start acclimatising: through the Atal Tunnel into Lahaul, past Keylong to Jispa. Fill up at Tandi, the last pump for about 365 km. About 90 km. 3. **Baralacha La to Sarchu.** Night: camps at Sarchu. Up past Zing Zing Bar to Baralacha La, at about 4,890 m, and down to the plains of Sarchu. About 85 km. 4. **Sarchu to Leh.** Night: Leh. The big day: the Gata Loops, Nakee La and Lachulung La, the More Plains and Tanglang La, at about 5,328 m, then down the Indus to Leh. About 250 km. 5. **Rest day in Leh.** Night: Leh. Rest and acclimatise. Permits for Nubra and Pangong, the old town, Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace. Riders on our bikes switch to a Leh-registered bike today. 6. **Khardung La to Nubra.** Night: Nubra Valley. Over Khardung La, at about 5,359 m, and down to Diskit and the dunes at Hunder. About 120 km. 7. **Nubra to Pangong.** Night: camps at Pangong. Along the Shyok river to Pangong Tso, with the lake changing colour through the afternoon. About 160 km. 8. **Pangong to Leh over Chang La.** Night: Leh. Back to Leh over Chang La, at about 5,360 m. Switch back to your own or our Himachal bike in the evening. About 160 km. 9. **Leh to Sarchu.** Night: camps at Sarchu. South over Tanglang La and across the More Plains to Sarchu. About 250 km. 10. **Sarchu to Manali.** Night: Manali. Over Baralacha La and back through the Atal Tunnel to Manali. About 220 km. 11. **Manali to Dharamshala.** Trip ends in Dharamshala. Down the Beas through Mandi and back to Dharamshala, about 240 km, where the trip ends. 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. ## 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 ## 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:** Leh is at about 3,500 m and the passes go above 5,300 m, so the rest day in Leh matters. Protected areas such as Nubra and Pangong need a permit for foreign nationals and fees for everyone; we arrange them in Leh. ## Frequently asked questions **Can I ride a bike hired in Himachal around Ladakh?** Not for sightseeing. Local union rules don’t allow bikes hired outside Ladakh on the Nubra and Pangong days, so riders on our bikes switch to a Leh-registered bike in Leh and switch back for the ride home. Your own bike can carry on. **How high does the ride go?** Khardung La is at about 5,359 m and Tanglang La and Chang La above 5,300 m. You sleep at Sarchu (about 4,290 m) and Pangong (about 4,250 m), so we climb in stages and take a rest day in Leh. **When can I ride to Ladakh?** From about mid-June, when the Manali–Leh road opens, to mid-September. Snow can close the passes at either end of the season, so we keep the plan flexible. **Do I need permits for Ladakh?** Protected areas such as Nubra and Pangong need a permit for foreign nationals and fees for everyone. We sort them out in Leh on the rest day. Price: quoted with your itinerary. No payment on this website. Enquire on WhatsApp: +91 76500 90909. --- Canonical page: https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/ladakh-motorcycle-tour-from-dharamshala Source: Himalayan Brothers (https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/). Summary for LLMs: https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/llms.txt