a high-altitude ride where oxygen is optional and views are mandatory
We ride on the Roof of India on Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles across the fabled high passes, from the Indus valley to Nubra dunes, turquoise lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, remote villages and army outposts that feel like the edge of the map. It’s not a sightseeing tour. It’s a proper motorcycle expedition with support crew, backup vehicle, oxygen if you need it, and stories you’ll be telling until someone begs you to stop. Welcome to riding at its most ridiculous and most rewarding.
This is not a loop you casually knock off over a long weekend. This is a carefully designed high-altitude motorcycle expedition that strings together Ladakh’s most legendary valleys, lakes, monasteries and mountain passes — while respecting altitude, weather, and human limits.
Zoom in. Tilt the terrain. Follow the climbs and descents. This interactive route shows you exactly where we ride, rest, gasp for air, and occasionally wonder who convinced us this was a good idea.
Ladakh’s history is a tug-of-war between kingdoms, monasteries, invasions, trade routes, and the relentless geology of the Himalayas. Every village has stories older than most countries. Every monastery has monks more flexible than your hamstrings.
Expect chanting, butter lamps, stories of ancient kings, prayer wheels, chai stalls, and wisdom delivered by people who’ve lived at altitudes your lungs consider impolite.
Ladakh sits between 3,300–5,500 metres (10,800–18,000 ft), which is high enough to make your fitness app cry. Days can be warm, nights can be arctic, and weather can switch moods faster than riders waiting for chai.
You’ll see deserts that look like Mars, lakes that look photoshopped, and skies so big you’ll start questioning your place in the universe. Bring layers. Bring humility. Bring lip balm.
Ladakh’s roads range from silky tarmac to “creative interpretations of what a road might be.” You’ll tackle gravel, water crossings, broken edges, construction zones, the occasional herd of goats, and the classic “is this really the way?” moment.
Modern Ladakh is a blend of monks, young adventure-seekers, and locals who’ve mastered the art of being unfazed by chaos. You’ll learn quickly: the mountains don’t care… but the people will take care of you anyway.
Welcome to Delhi — vibrant, loud, and delicious; where aromas, colours, and crowds form the world’s most efficient assault on your senses. Exactly the warm-up your senses need before Ladakh. Airport pickup, hotel check-in (4–5★) Evening: Gala Welcome Dinner. You meet the crew, other riders, and your future adventure family. The jokes start early; the bragging rights start later.
ELEVATION: 700FT
A spectacular flight over the Himalayas drops you into Leh at 3,500 m. Hotel check-in, gear check, and altitude acclimatization. Evening briefing, bike allocation, and a short walk to the market for momos and chai. Early night recommended.
ELEVATION: 700→11500FT
Gentle ride around Leh — Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Indus–Zanskar Confluence — just enough to wake up the bikes and the riders. Final gear check, final instructions, no heroics.
ELEVATION: 11500→10600→11500 FT | DISTANCE: 50 MILES
The legendary climb to Khardung La, one of the world’s highest motorable passes. Views big enough to make your problems feel small. Photo stop, then descend into Nubra’s wide valley, monasteries and dunes. Desert, mountains and double-humped camels in one frame.
ELEVATION: 11500→17500→10200 FT | DISTANCE: 75 MILES
Ride to Turtuk, a village with Balti culture and a unique history. Narrow valleys, apricot orchards and stories of a frontier most people never see. Explore Diskit monastery and Hunder dunes, with its double-humped camels, en route.
ELEVATION: 10200→9800→10200 FT | DISTANCE: 150 MILES
Remote, dramatic route following the Shyok river. Gravel, water crossings and scenery that looks fake. End the day at the legendary Pangong Tso, shining shades of blue during the day, like someone turned up the saturation slider to illegal levels, and freezing by night.
ELEVATION: 10200→14200 FT | DISTANCE: 100 MILES
The mountains stop being polite. You leave Pangong’s postcard blues behind and climb straight into thin air and bad decisions—Chang La, one of the highest motorable passes on the planet. The road is equal parts broken, beautiful, and borderline offensive to your suspension. Prayer flags snap in the wind, glaciers glare at you like you don’t belong, and the oxygen quietly packs up and leaves. You roll back into Leh dusty, grinning, slightly hypoxic, and absolutely convinced you’ve earned your dinner.
ELEVATION: 14200→17500→11500 FT | DISTANCE: 100 MILES
This ride throws history, geology, and altitude at you in one long, glorious punch. You carve past the moon-scapes of Lamayuru, cross not one but two high passes, Fotu La and Namika La, and drop into Drass, one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth. The Kargil War Memorial stops the jokes cold for a moment, grounding the ride in sacrifice and silence. By the time you reach Kargil, you’ve ridden through ancient monasteries, modern history, and some of the most dramatic terrain Ladakh can throw at a motorcycle.
ELEVATION: 11500→13500→8800 FT | DISTANCE: 135 MILES
This is the long way home—and the better one. You peel off toward Batalik, ride tight valleys that feel watched, punch over lonely heights of Hamboting La high pass, then cruise back into civilization via Magnetic Hill where physics messes with your head. Quiet roads, big history, zero nonsense. By the time Leh shows up, you’ve earned it.
ELEVATION: 8800→13300→11500 FT | DISTANCE: 160 MILES
You say goodbye to the Roof of the World, trading prayer flags and thin air for a spectacular flight back to Delhi. By nightfall, the mountains are behind you and the music is loud—time for a no-holds-barred farewell party. Boots off, stories on repeat, and a proper send-off to an expedition well earned. You leave with memories, dust in your boots and at least three new stories nobody at home will believe.
ELEVATION: 11500→700 FT
Breakfast, airport drop, emotional goodbyes, heartfelt promises to ride again…
and a strong chance you’ll book the next expedition within a week.
ELEVATION: 700 FT
Royal Enfield Himalayan or similar motorcycle
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner – beverages excluded)
Twin-share accommodation: 4–5★ hotels in Delhi; best-available 3★ hotels, guesthouses & camps in Ladakh
Airport transfers in Delhi and Leh
Support vehicle for luggage & backup
Experienced ride leader(s)
Professional mechanic & essential spares
Personalized expedition T-shirt / Hoodie
First-aid kit, pulse oximeter & emergency oxygen (group use)
Gala welcome dinner (Day 1) & farewell party (Day 10)
LIABILITY INSURANCE for delays and cancellations
International airfare
Domestic flight (Delhi ↔ Leh) unless specifically bundled
Indian visa fees
Personal travel insurance (mandatory)
Beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic)
Personal riding gear (helmet, jacket, boots, gloves, etc.)
Motorcycle damage beyond normal wear & tear
Personal expenses, laundry, room service
Tips (optional)
We’ve answered the most common ones here →
You want big-altitude riding where passes like Khardung La / Chang La are the day’s “hello,” not the day’s “help.”
You can respect acclimatization and understand that strong lungs don’t negotiate with thin air.
You’re comfortable with mixed surfaces: good tarmac → broken patches → gravel → water crossings → the occasional “why is this a road?” section.
You like remote landscapes where the reward is silence, scale, and space—not cafes every 20 minutes.
You can stay calm when plans flex because snow/closures decide the calendar more than we do.
Cold nights, dust, and basic high-altitude realities make you miserable.
You dislike long stretches with limited services and fewer “easy exits.”
You’re planning to ride like it’s sea level (altitude will correct that attitude quickly).
You need certainty on dates/routes in shoulder season—because passes can be blocked or reopen late depending on snow.
If reading this made you nod instead of hesitate, you’re probably in the right place.
If this sounds like your kind of madness, the next step is simple. Send us an enquiry and we’ll confirm dates, availability, and whether this expedition fits your riding experience and expectations.
Pricing is Based on Group Size, Room Preference, and Rider Options. We Quote Transparently After a Short Conversation to Ensure the Tour Fits You.
Partners, spouses, or friends who don’t want to ride can still be part of the journey. Book a seat in the support vehicle, or Self-drive an SUV alongside the group (where road conditions permit)
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