Introduction

Ask any traveler, they will always say Ladakh is at the top of their bucket-lists. To make that dream come true, in the most amazing way possible, we have come up with a full-circuit Leh Ladakh Hanle Umling La Itinerary covering all the destinations accessible by road. Ladakh is not just a place, it's a dream, a home, an emotion. The very beauty of Ladakh lies in its tough accessibility making it one of the most undiscovered tourist destinations in India and a holy-grail for offbeat travelers. And in this Itinerary, we will be covering the most untouched and beguiling locations of Ladakh that have caught the spotlight by enthusiastic travelers in the past year. This Leh Ladakh full-circuit bike trip starts from Srinagar, where after spending the night gliding over the Dal Lake we will begin the next day by traversing through the iconic Zojila Pass to reach Kargil. Located at an altitude of 11,575ft, the pass offers a stunning view of the great Himalayas and connects Ladakh with Kashmir Valley. 

Situated on the banks of the Suru River (Indus), Kargil is the second-largest city in Ladakh, holding extreme historical significance as it was the site of the Kargil war back in 1999. After spending a night in Kargil, we will head toward Leh. En- route to Leh, we will be traversing through Namika La. At an altitude of 12,139 ft, it is one of the two high passes in the Zanskar range of the Himalayas that connects Leh with Kargil. Riding on this pass with the rugged landscape of mountains in the backdrop will make the drive not only memorable but also thrilling. We will also be traversing through the Lamayuru Monastery, one of the oldest and largest gompas in Ladakh housing 140 monks at present. It’s also prominent because the annual dance festivals are hosted in the monastery where all the monks come together to pray.  On our way to Leh from Kargil, we will also be passing through the highest point of Leh Srinagar, at an altitude of 13,478ft is the Fotu La Pass as well as the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers. The fascinating part about Sangam is that both of these rivers reflect different colors whereas Zanskar is more of muddy brown color and Indus is the perfect pristine hue of blue. 

The route to Leh from Srinagar also encompasses some of the best attractions of Ladakh like Gurudwara Patthar Ganj Sahib which is a place where Sikhs, as well as Buddhists, come together to pay their respects. The Gurdwara is dedicated to Guru Nanak Sahib and has an age-old legend associated with it, making it both spiritually and religiously significant. The Gurudwara is under the care of the Indian Army and people who come here to visit have to follow certain rules, one of them being that photography is prohibited inside the Gurudwara and hence, you have to witness the place of worship in person to understand its importance. Another must-visit place in Ladakh that you get to visit when you’re traversing through the Srinagar - Leh route is the iconic Magnetic Hill. Last but not least is The Hall of Fame, a museum dedicated to all the martyrs who lost their lives during the many battles that occurred after the partition along with the Kargil war that happened in 1999 is a reminder of the many sacrifices that the land of Ladakh has witnessed in the past. Finally, after traversing through all these iconic landmarks that make the road trip to Leh as fascinating as it is known to be, you’ll reach the heart of Ladakh where the local markets with their vibrant culture that is prominent in Leh will welcome you with open arms.  A local sightseeing tour of Leh is one of the highlights of this Ladakh road trip and covers many historical as well as culturally significant places. The first one is Shey Palace or Shey Gompa which consists of the second largest Buddha statue of Ladakh in its embrace.  The gigantic copper statue is gilded with gold and is 12 meters tall covering three floors of the monastery. Apart from the noted statue, the monastery also has many paintings adorning its walls as well as manuscripts that have been preserved for centuries now. 

The next halt is Thiksey Monastery which is the largest gompa in central Ladakh. Nestled at an altitude of 11, 800 ft in the Indus Valley, the monastery has the largest statue of Maitreya Buddha covering the same height as that of a two-storey building. Last but not least stop in the Leh sightseeing tour would be the Shanti Stupa, a white dome structure enshrined by the Dalai Lama himself. The structure has become a significant part of Ladakh and its heritage. It holds ancient relics of Buddha himself in its abode. Due to being located at such a high altitude of 11,841 feet, it also offers a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding landscape making it a delight to visit for tourists.  Although Leh is the heart of Ladakh, the land of high passes has many more beautiful gems that remain unexplored. One of them is Nubra Valley with the kind of beauty that leaves you awestruck. The best part about this mini road trip from Leh to Nubra is that you'll be traversing through  Khardung La pass which is one of the highest motorable passes in the world, with a staggering height of 18,379 ft. The pass is a gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. 

Adventure enthusiasts from across the world come on this pass to experience the thrill of riding their bikes at high altitudes. Nubra also offers you the chance to indulge in adventure activities like Double Hump Bactrian Camel safari, ATV rides, and more.  The next stop in this Ladakh bike trip from Srinagar is the pristine Pangong Tso, the saltwater lake freezes completely despite its saline nature and changes color according to the position of the sun, and is one of the most fascinating attractions of Ladakh..The beauty of this lake cannot be summarized by words and camping by its side, and enjoying the view of the starry night skies remains a dream of many travelers, and this road trip gives you the opportunity to live that dream.

After Pangong Lake, it’s time to go beyond the ordinary and discover off-the-beaten paths of Ladakh. From Pangong Lake, we begin our journey towards Hanle, India’s first dark night reserve and home to the Astronomical Observatory of India is literally heaven for stargazers and astro photographers who wish to capture the magic of this Universe. The roads go through Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary that boasts rare wildlife like Kiangs, Himalayan Red Foxes, rare species of birds and pashmina sheep.  The entire journey is extremely visually pleasing with the sun and shadows playing hide n seek with the mountains. After spending a night under the stars, we will finally begin our journey towards Umling La, World’s Highest Motorable Road perched at an elevation of 19, 300 ft. For those who crave the extraordinary, those who seek to feel the adrenaline rush and to those who dream of Biking, this is the place where all your dreams come true.

After a day of revving our engines at the top of the world and gasping at the stunning views from Umling La Summit, we will return back to Hanle and spend a well deserved rest filled night. The next day, we will head out to explore yet another bewitching location of this full-circuit Itinerary, Tso Moriri Lake. Less popular compared to Pangong Tso, and much more secluded, this lake is a part of the Ramsar Wildlife Sanctuary thus making it home to thousands of Himalayan marmots, birds like black-necked cranes and sometimes, even foxes. You can spend the day simply exploring the surroundings and capturing some amazing photographs.  The next day we will head back to Sarchu, via Puga which is home to hot water springs known for its medicinal properties. The entire drive is an extremely scenic one, making your heart skip a beat with every turn. En-route, we will also be stopping by a very lesser known lake of Ladakh - Tso Kar which is a gigantic salt water lake surrounded by salt mounds. The lake appears completely white and you can spot birds around its banks. After spending some time here, we will continue our journey crossing Moore Plains, a vast stretch of road popular amidst bikers and other passes like Nakee La and Lachung La.  The next morning, it's time to bid adieu to Ladakh and head back to Manali via the Atal Tunnel. We will enjoy a warm breakfast at Sarchu Campsite, enjoy the breathtaking views of the Canyon-like structures and board our tempo travelers for the return journey. After reaching Manali, we will spend the night relishing in the memories that will linger on in our thoughts for quite a while. The next morning, you can enjoy going on a leisurely walk around Manali’s sightseeing locations, shop at the Mall Road and by evening, board the bus to Delhi. 

Travelers are advised to spend the last day together, enjoying each other's company, exchanging their experiences and making sure they go back all happy and content. This brings us to the end of this Handle-Umling La Leh Ladakh Bike Trip Itinerary. Words can never be enough to suffice the beauty of this place, so come on, get your bags, put on your helmets and get ready to Ride!