Ladakh is the kind of place that doesn’t just show you the Himalayas—it dares you to ride them. When I signed up for a motorbike trip in Ladakh, I knew I was in for something wild. But I didn’t know it would end up being one of the most humbling, breathtaking, and downright intense things I’ve ever done on two wheels. Here’s what it’s like to ride across the highest roads in the world, with nothing but your Royal Enfield, a head full of altitude fuzz, and an open sky bigger than your ego.

Day One: Learning to Breathe Differently

The moment you land in Leh, you realise air is optional here. Even walking requires effort. So imagine hopping on a 200+ kg motorcycle and climbing toward Khardung La Pass, perched at a ridiculous 18,000+ feet above sea level.

You don’t conquer Ladakh. You adjust to it. Slowly.

The Ride to Khardung La: Where the Adventure Begins

The road from Leh to Khardung La is like a slow-motion video game on “hard mode.” Paved sections lull you into confidence, then it flips—loose gravel, freezing streams, potholes the size of inflatable pools. Oh, and occasional army convoys that don’t slow down for anyone.

But then you hit the top. Wind howling. Flags fluttering. Snow patches melting into nothingness. It’s not just the world’s highest motorable road—it’s a throne for the kind of rider who likes their freedom served raw and cold.

You don’t feel like a tourist here. You feel like a very confused god.

High-Altitude Riding: The Good, The Bad, and the Coughing

Riding at high altitude does weird things to your body. Your bike chugs. Your brain fogs. Your heart rate decides it’s on a treadmill. But it also sharpens your senses in the most primal way. Every twist of the throttle feels like a declaration of intent: “I exist. I came this far. I’m not done yet. You learn to read the landscape like a language: Where the rocks shift, where the wind picks up, where the road used to be last week before it got washed out.

Nubra Valley to Pangong: The Longest Shortcut You’ll Ever Love

After conquering Khardung La, the ride down into Nubra Valley and eventually over to Pangong Lake is something out of a fever dream. Sand dunes. Frozen rivers. Sky so blue it’s practically mocking the ocean. One minute you're dodging yaks, the next you’re sipping butter tea with locals who laugh at how sunburnt you are. I’ve never felt so far from home, and weirdly, never felt more myself.

What I Took Away (Besides Frostbite and Dust in My Teeth)

You don’t do a Himalayan motorcycle tour because it’s easy or trendy. You do it because it strips you down. It makes you face discomfort, risk, silence, and the occasional aggressive marmot. But you also gain something fierce: confidence, clarity, and the deep knowledge that when the world gets hard, you know how to keep your handlebars steady. Would I do it again?

Try stopping me.

Thinking of going on a motorcycle trip to Ladakh?

Here’s a tip: don’t overthink it. Pack light. Drink water. And respect the mountains—they were here before you, and they’ll still be here long after your phone battery dies at 17,000 feet.

But if you get the chance?

Ride it. Feel it. Earn the altitude.