Manali Leh Bike Trip 2023

Today, we start our journey on the Manali-Leh Highway. We’ll have an early start as we need to cross the mighty Rohtang Pass (3978 m) as it gets too crowded later in the day. We’ll ride through the beautiful Solang valley and traverse the Rohtang pass as we ride towards Jispa. 

As soon as we cross Rohtang, the landscape changes drastically as we enter the Lahaul and Spiti District. The rich green meadows fade away giving way to the fruitless barren slopes of the cold dessert. We continue on our journey to Jispa, passing through the charming mountain towns of Sissu and Keylong. We’ll arrive at our destination before the sun hides behind the mountains in the evening and have an adventurous overnight stay in tents.

We’ll be spending the night at an altitude of 4290 m, you’re required to stay fully hydrated by drinking a lot of water as it helps with the acclimatization process. Though today’s ride is one of the shortest on the expedition, the adrenaline level will still be high due to the challenging rugged terrain full of adventures.

We will continue on the Manali-Leh Highway towards Deepak Tal after crossing Darcha. From here, the road begins to climb steeply towards the treacherous Baralacha La (Pass) at 4890 m. We’ll negotiate Zing Zing Bar, and cross Suraj Tal, a spectacular emerald lake. After crossing the Baralacha La, take a break and enjoy a well-earned lunch near Bharatpur. Post lunch, we’ll continue on the same route to Sarchu.

As we ride along, the landscape changes dramatically along the way, and the Tsarap River can be seen carving and raging through the mountains on the left side. Reach Sarchu by evening and overnight stay in the tent at our campsite.

We’ll be crossing the three mighty passes – Tanglang La, Naki La, and Lachung La today.

After an early breakfast, we will start our journey towards Leh, the capital of Ladakh, situated at 11562 ft. This route comprises mesmerizing views of the landscape which will leave you spellbound in the cold desert. While riding to Leh, water streams/ Nala crossings are common, and the best time to cross them is early in the morning as the water level is lower.

We begin ascending towards Naki La (4769 m) shortly after leaving Sarchu, crossing the zig-zag loops, a sequence of 21 hairpin bends in a distance of only 7 km. As soon as we start descending from Naki La, the climb to another high pass, Lachung La (5059 m) begins. After descending from Lachung La, we arrive in Pang (4600 m), where we’ll have our lunch.

After passing through Pang, the terrain begins to transform as we enter the More Plains plateau stretching for 45 kilometers. We begin climbing the Tanglang La (5328 m), the highest motorable pass on the Manali-Leh Highway, as we near the end of the plains. Continue riding towards Leh along the bank of the mighty Indus River on the left after passing the third high pass of the day. Arrive in Leh in the evening and get a relaxing hot shower in the hotel and rest.

Today is a chill day. Enjoy a relaxing day in Leh after recharging your battery with a good breakfast and spend your time exploring nearby places from Leh.

Leh was the chief residence of the 14th Dalai Lama until 1959. It is known for its natural beauty and the generosity of the locals. After having a routine bike check-up, we’ll ride to Magnetic hill & Sangam and have a prayer at Gurudwara Patthar Sahib.

Later we’ll visit Shanti Stupa and stop by the Leh Palace to take in the magnificent panoramic views of the Stok Valley. From the top, you can see the Stok Kangri mountain range. Visit the market to do some shopping and experience some Ladakhi cuisine at one of the nearby eateries. Stay for the night at a hotel in Leh.

The most awaited day has come – the ride to the highest motorable pass – Khardung La.

We’ll continue our bike expedition after a very relaxing day in Leh and begin riding towards Nubra Valley through the Khardung La, the world’s highest motorable route at 5359 m.

The road to the Khardungla pass is well paved and tarred until you reach the checkpoint near South Pullu. After crossing the south Pullu, the road condition is not as good as it gets slushy with loose rocks.

After reaching Khardung La, take some amazing photos and get back on the road, as spending too much time on top of the pass is dangerous due to the high altitude and thinner air. After descending from the pass, we halt for a short lunch break before continuing on our route. We pause for a brief visit to the 32m high Maitreya Buddha statue in Diskit Monastery after riding for another couple of hours.

As we enter the Nubra Valley, located between the Karakoram and Ladakh Himalayan ranges, the white sand dunes and sightings of the double-hump camels will welcome and greet us. We’ll spend the night at the campsite.

Today, you’ll get to admire views of color-changing Pangong Lake.

After breakfast, we ride to Pangong lake, Ladakh’s most photographed destination.
Even though we won’t be crossing any high passes today, the ride is enjoyable and interesting as we travel through Shyok on a much less traveled road. The majority of our road trip will be along the scenic Shyok River, with some thrilling water crossings and rugged terrain, so caution is advised while crossing these streams.

The final stretch of the ride will be along the Pangong lake after crossing Durbuk. The Pangong lake makes an everlasting impact from the first glance. Take a snapshot of yourself and just marvel at the beauty of this glistening blue lake shared by India and China. It is the world’s highest saltwater lake, totally landlocked, and doesn’t drain into rivers or the ocean which makes it unique.

We’ll camp near the lake tonight and listen to the soothing waves as we fall asleep.

We’ll enjoy the beauty of the night sky and stargaze from the world’s highest observatory.

Wake up to a beautiful sunrise over Pangong Tso. After having our breakfast, we will ride to Hanle, a small village of only 200 families. For the first 30 kilometers, we’ll be riding alongside the Pangong Tso. The trip is a paradise for an adventure junkie with all of the offroading that would take us through Maan, Merak, and Chushul. Cross the Rezang La and pay homage to the Martyrs at the 1962 Indo-China War Memorial.

Hanle is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, the world’s second-largest observatory. The night sky view in Hanle is almost surreal, as you can see the galaxy with the naked eye. We’ll stay in homestay and have a hearty meal.

You’ll get to admire the mesmerizing crystal clear lake – Tso Moriri.

After breakfast, you’ll retrace the way to Puga Sumdo, where you’ll be treated to stunning views of the area’s hot springs, allowing you to appreciate mother nature’s untapped beauty. We’ll ride to Tso Moriri via Nurpa Pass (16,100 ft), passing through Loma Bend and crossing the Mahe Bridge.

Tso-Moriri is located at an altitude of 4552 meters on the Changthang Plateau. It is the largest of the high-altitude freshwater lakes with its borders entirely within India. Tso Moriri stretches for 26 kilometers and is 3-5 kilometers wide. The view of Tso-Moriri is breathtaking, the lake is surrounded by peaks that rise to over 6000 meters and is fed by many mountain streams.

This lake is home to several species of Marmots, Tibetan Ass, Great Tibetan Sheep, Bharal or Himalayan Blue Sheep, Tibetan Gazelle (Antelope), Snow Leopards, and Tibetan Wolf, that visit this lake.

Spend the evening admiring the surrounding mountain’s shadows and the changing waters of Tsomoriri Lake. Enjoy a delicious dinner while admiring the lake view from your Tso Moriri campsite.

We’ll ride the thrilling Gata Loops with 21 hairpin bends.

We’ll start the day amidst the beautiful mountains and Tso Moriri Lake and fill up on breakfast.

With your energy restored and your heart ready to take up more challenges, visit the Tso Kar lake, which is surrounded by lofty mountains where the elusive snow leopard can be found.

On our way back to Sarchu, we’ll cross Naki la (15,647 ft) and Lachung la (16,616 ft) and ride through the popular More Plains and Gata Loops of 21 hairpin bends and reach Sarchu by evening. Enjoy a delicious dinner at the Sarchu campsite.

Today, we’ll cross the mighty Rohtang La once again

After an early breakfast, prepare for the final day of this unforgettable bike ride and start riding towards Manali. You’ll be savoring every moment on your ride back. We’ll traverse the beautiful Rohtang La once more and reach Manali by evening. We’ll conclude our amazing journey and take back memorable moments and savor them for a lifetime.

Enjoy your breakfast and bid adieu to everyone and check out of the hotel.

You can explore the nearby cafes with your fellow riders, reliving and savoring the beautiful journey that started as a dream and has developed into more than just an accomplishment, a story for a lifetime.