Comfortable on any bike
Mostly paved, with broken patches, gravel and the odd stream across the road. If you ride confidently at home, you are ready; we brief the whole convoy on loose surfaces and water crossings before setting off.
Riding Guide
Ladakh & Spiti Riding Guide.
Everything we would tell a friend before their first ride over the high passes: when to go, how high it really gets, what your body will notice, and the paperwork, in plain English.
Pick a Route
Four Routes,
Side by Side.
Every raid starts and ends in Manali. The difference is how far you go, how high you climb and how rough the road gets.
| Route | Length | Highest point | Difficulty | Best for | From, per rider |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiti Valley | 8–9 days | 4,551 m (Kunzum La) | Moderate | A first Himalayan ride: quieter roads, cliff-top monasteries, lower passes | $3,100 |
| Ladakh + Umling La | 10–11 days | 5,799 m (Umling La) | Extreme | Riders with high-altitude miles behind them who want the top of the map | $3,300 |
| Zanskar + Ladakh | 12–14 days | 5,328 m (Tanglang La) | Moderate–Extreme | The emptiest valley in the range, then the big Ladakh passes | $4,200 |
| Spiti + Ladakh | 15 days | 5,328 m (Tanglang La) | Moderate–Extreme | Two weeks off and a wish to see both valleys in one convoy | $4,299 |
Long days, rough roads
More hours in the saddle, longer stretches of broken road and time above 5,000 m. Some off-road or high-altitude riding behind you is expected, and we check it before confirming your seat.
The highest roads we ride
Remote country far from towns, very thin air and cold mornings at the top. We confirm your riding experience before we confirm your seat.
When to Ride
When the Passes
Are Open.
The high roads are a summer affair. Snow closes the passes for around half the year, so every raid runs between late spring and early autumn.
Early season
The Manali–Leh highway usually reopens in May or June once the snow is cleared. Expect walls of snow near the top, icy mornings and cold, fast water crossings.
Monsoon months
Ladakh sits in the rain shadow and stays mostly dry, but the monsoon reaches the Himachal side. Landslides around Manali and Lahaul can hold traffic up for hours, which is why a pass day can move.
Clear and crisp
Often the most settled month: the monsoon has moved on, skies clear and the light turns sharp. Nights above 4,000 m get properly cold.
Closing time
Kunzum La and the Manali–Leh highway usually close between October and November as the snow returns. Late dates depend on that year's weather.
The High Passes
How High
You'll Ride.
These are the surveyed heights. Some summit signboards show bigger numbers, so don't be surprised if your photo at the top disagrees.
| Pass | Height | Where it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohtang La | 3,978 m | Manali to Lahaul | The old way over; the 9 km Atal Tunnel, open since 2020, now runs underneath it. |
| Pensi La | 4,400 m | Suru valley to Zanskar | The gateway to Zanskar from the Kargil side. |
| Kunzum La | 4,551 m | Lahaul to Spiti | The highest point of the Spiti Valley road; open roughly June to October. |
| Baralacha La | 4,890 m | Lahaul into Ladakh | The first big pass on the Manali–Leh highway, and often the most snowbound. |
| Lachulung La | 5,059 m | Manali–Leh highway | Its stone marker says 16,616 ft; the survey says 16,598 ft. |
| Tanglang La | 5,328 m | Manali–Leh highway | The highest point on the highway, and the top of our Spiti + Ladakh and Zanskar + Ladakh routes. |
| Khardung La | 5,359 m | Leh to Nubra | The famous sign claims 5,602 m; the surveyed height is lower. |
| Umling La | 5,799 m | Near Hanle, eastern Ladakh | The summit sign reads 19,300 ft. It was the world's highest motorable road from 2017 until nearby Mig La (5,913 m) took the record in 2025. |
Which passes a raid crosses depends on its route. Ask us for the plan of any departure and we'll send it.
Altitude
Thin Air,
Handled Properly.
Leh sits at about 3,500 m and Kaza at about 3,800 m, so you are high before you reach a single pass. Most riders feel it at first: a headache, short breath on stairs, a restless first night. That is normal. What matters is climbing gradually and saying something early.
- Climb in stages. Our routes gain height over several days, never in one push.
- Drink more than you think. Dry mountain air takes water out of you faster than you notice.
- Skip alcohol for the first days high up, and eat and sleep well.
- Tell the medic early. A mild headache is easy to deal with; one you have hidden for two days is not.
- See your doctor before you book if you have a heart or lung condition, or have had altitude sickness before.
When to stop and go down
A severe headache that painkillers don't touch, confusion, unsteady walking, or breathlessness while resting are signs of serious altitude sickness. The fix is to descend. On our convoys that call belongs to the medic, who rides with every raid, checks every rider's oxygen level twice a day, and carries oxygen in the support vehicle.
Permits & Papers
The Paperwork,
Made Simple.
Border-area rules differ for Indian and foreign riders, and they change. We check the current rules for your route and handle the applications; you send scans of your documents about six weeks before departure.
Lighter than it used to be
No Inner Line Permit is needed for Ladakh any more, only an online environment fee, which we arrange with your permits. Spiti needs no permit for Indian citizens. Carry a photo ID such as a passport, Aadhaar card or voter ID for the checkposts.
Protected Area Permits
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for several parts of Ladakh, issued through a registered agent in Leh, usually for groups of two or more. Some areas near the border, including the Hanle and Umling La region, may be closed to foreigners altogether, so we confirm your route before we confirm your seat. The main road from Manali to Kaza needs no permit.
Documents to bring
- Passport, and an Indian visa if you are not Indian
- Your motorcycle licence, plus an International Driving Permit if it was not issued in India
- Travel and medical insurance; check that it covers motorcycling at high altitude
- Passport photos and photocopies for the permits
What to Pack
What Goes
in the Bag.
Cold-weather riding gear comes with every raid, so tell us your size when you book. Here is what to bring yourself.
Riding kit
- A helmet you have already worn for a full day
- Armoured jacket and trousers
- Two pairs of gloves, warm and light
- Boots that cover the ankle
Layers
- Two sets of thermal base layers
- A fleece or down jacket for the evenings
- Warm hat, neck buff and thick socks
- Comfortable shoes for camp
Easy to forget
- High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm: the sun at 5,000 m burns fast
- Sunglasses or a tinted visor
- Your own medicines, in their original packs
- A power bank and charging cables
The full packing list for the next departure is on the Next Departure page.
Heights, seasons and permit rules were checked in October 2026 against Leh–Manali Highway, Kunzum Pass, Bara-lacha la, Lungalacha La, Taglang La, Khardung La, Umling La, Mig La, Pensi La and Tourism in Ladakh. Permit rules change; we confirm them for every departure.