Leh to Umling La & Tso Moriri

Overview

A 10-day ride that starts and ends in Leh and takes in the best of eastern Ladakh on a Royal Enfield Himalayan. Cross the Khardung La to Nubra and the Balti village of Turtuk, ride the Shyok road to Pangong Tso, then head through Changthang to Hanle and the Umling La (5,799m), the highest motorable road in the world. From the high lake of Tso Moriri, follow the Indus back to Leh past the hot springs of Chumathang.

Gallery

Support vehicleRiders and support vehicle – Srinagar to Manali Bike TripShyok roadRoadside stop on the Shyok roadLandscapeHighway into LehLadakh roadsOn the open road – Bike Trip

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 01

   Leh arrival

   Arrive in Leh (3,500m) and spend the day resting to acclimatise. Overnight in a hotel.

2. Day 02

   Leh local ride to the Sangam

   A short ride west to the Hall of Fame war museum, the Magnetic Hill, where vehicles seem to roll uphill, and the Sangam, where the Indus and Zanskar rivers meet in two colours. If time permits, visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, then finish at Shanti Stupa for views over Leh. Overnight in a hotel.

3. Day 03

   Leh to Hunder (Nubra Valley)

   Ride over the Khardung La (5,359m) to the Nubra valley, where desert, mountains and river meet. See the Bactrian camels on the Hunder dunes and the 32m Maitreya Buddha at Diskit, Nubra's oldest and largest monastery. Overnight in a camp or guesthouse.

4. Day 04

   Hunder to Turtuk and back

   Ride along the Shyok river to Turtuk, a Balti village that was under Pakistan's control until 1971. Its language, culture and landscape of narrow valleys and apricot orchards are unlike anywhere else in Ladakh. Return to Hunder by evening.

5. Day 05

   Hunder to Pangong Tso

   The most remote ride of the trip, along the Shyok river road with water crossings, dry riverbeds and stretches of road that barely exist, to the shores of Pangong Tso. Overnight in a lakeside camp.

6. Day 06

   Pangong Tso to Hanle

   Catch sunrise over the lake, then ride south through Chushul to the Rezang La war memorial, which honours the soldiers of the 1962 war. Cross the high passes of Changthang to Hanle, a small village known for its monastery and the Indian Astronomical Observatory, one of the highest in the world. Overnight in a guesthouse.

7. Day 07

   Hanle to Umling La and back

   Ride through some of the most remote country in the world to the Umling La (5,799m / 19,024 ft), the highest motorable road on earth, then return to Hanle by the same route. Overnight in a homestay.

8. Day 08

   Hanle to Tso Moriri

   Ride to Nyoma, cross the Indus at Mahe Bridge and continue via Sumdo to Tso Moriri, a high-altitude lake ringed by snow peaks. Visit Korzok monastery above the lakeshore. Overnight in a camp.

9. Day 09

   Tso Moriri to Leh

   Ride back down to Sumdo and cross the Indus at Mahe Bridge, then follow the river north through Chumathang, known for its hot springs, and Upshi to Leh, about 215 km and 7 hours in the saddle. Overnight in a hotel.

10. Day 10

    Departure from Leh

    Check out after breakfast and head to Leh airport for your onward flight.