For adventure enthusiasts, a Leh Ladakh Bike Trip is the ultimate destination for a great motorbiking experience. Riding through the ‘Land of High Passes’ and experiencing the breathtaking beauty of the place is something that can absolutely not be put into words. Besides all this, taking a bike tour to Ladakh is not an easy task. It requires a great amount of mental and physical preparation. Take a look at the guide below on all tips to follow before planning a Leh Ladakh Bike Trip.
Tips for planning a Leh Ladakh Bike Trip
1. Weather
The best season to visit the place is from months June to September to take a Leh Ladakh bike trip. If you choose to travel during this time you will get the opportunity to pass through the various passes which are generally open during this time. Although, there are travellers who have chosen to take up a journey during monsoon and winter it definitely has made their journey harder than usual.
2. Choosing a Bike
The next most important thing that you need to understand is choosing the right bike for your Leh Ladakh Bike trip as you will be riding on some of the most dangerous roads in India. Pick a bike that does not compromise your safety and is the best fit for the roads of Leh Ladakh. Some of the best bikes that you can choose for your Leh Ladakh trip are as follows.
- Royal Enfield (350cc and above)
- Royal Enfield Himalayan
- KTM Duke
- CBR 250 (without the Contigo tires)
3. Biking Gear & Equipment
After choosing the right bike, it’s time to choose the key biking components and parts that you need to carry in case of any breakdown. These parts include the following.
- Extra Bike Key
- Extra Chain Lock
- Spare Tyre
- Spare Bungee Cords
- Spare Clutch
- Accelerator Cable
- Chain Lubricant
- Extra Engine Oil
- Extra Headlight Bulb
- Extra Tire Tube
Carrying these things will ensure that you are fully prepared. Apart from these, you will also need some protective gear for your safety such as:
- Helmets
- Knee & Elbow Guards
- Waterproof gloves
- Good pair of Shoes
- Riding jacket
- Sunglasses
Along with carrying the above-mentioned gear and equipment, make sure your bike is serviced well before the journey.
4. Acclimatize to avoid (AMS) Acute Mountain Sickness
Acclimatization is one of the most crucial things every rider needs to do before making your Leh Ladakh bike trip plan as it is situated at very high altitudes. It is advised that you should rest for at least 2 days after you reach Leh. After resting, make it a point to slowly start your journey as your body adjusts to the height and acclimatizes. Besides this make sure that you drink enough water but don’t overdo it as it can also make your health suffer. Also, don’t forget to carry your medicines to avoid AMS.
5. Choose the best route
There are 2 main routes that you can take to reach Leh. The most popular one is through the Manali-Leh highway while the other one takes you through Srinagar to Sarchi and Upshi, which is considered to be less difficult and is preferred by many riders as well. Following are these two main routes in detail especially for the riders taking the bike tour to Ladakh from Delhi.
Route 1 with a total distance of around 2300 kilometres
Delhi – Jalandhar – Jammu – Srinagar – Kargil – Leh – Sarchu – Manali – back to Delhi
Route 2 with a total distance of around 2000 kilometres
Delhi → Manali → Sarchu → Leh → Khardung La → Nubra Valley → Kargil → Srinagar → Delhi
6. Permits & Documents
For your bike tour to Ladakh, you need to have with you Rohtang Pass Permit for visiting Rohtang La and if you are planning to take a Leh Ladah Bike trip then you need to acquire Inner Line Permit (ILP). This travel document issued by the Government of India allows you to travel to the following areas.
- Nubra valley
- Khardung La
- Pangong Tso
- Tso Moriri
- Dah and Hanu Villages
- Man
- Merak
- Nyoma
- Loma Bend
- Turtuk
- Tyakshi
- Chusul
- Hanle
- Digger La
- Tangyar (for trekking purposes only)
Do remember to check for the latest updates on permit-related news and information as it seems to change according to the political climate near Jammu and Kashmir.
7. Carry Cash
Ensure that you carry enough amount of cash with you as there are very certain points where you can find ATMs.
8. Carry Fuel
Make sure to carry fuel with you in order to avoid any inconvenience..
9. Connectivity
Only a few network service providers work in Ladakh, make sure that you have the right one so that you can update your loved ones from time to time.
10. Cost of your Trip
Make sure that you plan your trip carefully as the overall cost of your bike trip depends on a lot of factors such as your choice of a bike, food, accommodation, and duration of your stay. Don’t forget to include the cost of any unforeseen difficulties that may arise.
Once you have made up your mind to take the Leh Ladakh bike trip make sure to check weather conditions, your health condition, equipment and gear, and all the other above-mentioned requirements while planning your journey.
