1-Week Ladakh Motorcycle Itinerary: Turquoise Lakes + Nubra Valley  

This post may contain affiliate links. This just means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you for helping them promote their product or service. I don’t endorse any services I don’t personally use or recommend.

So unlike anywhere else in India, that if you told me I was in China, Tibet, Pakistan, Bhutan, or Nepal, I would have to believe you. But that in itself is very Indian. The subcontinent is a sprawling mass of opposites woven together into one indecipherable country. My favorite quote about India is that “no matter what you say about this country, the opposite is also true.”

Visit only Kerala or Rajasthan, and you’ll have zero understanding of what life is like for someone in Assam or Himachal Pradesh. Ladakh is a breed all its own. A distinct culture tucked away in the folds of the world’s highest mountain ranges, slow to change, and absolutely lovely to explore on a motorcycle.  

While I aim for this to be a practical guide to motorcycling through the Ladakhi terrain. I can’t help but pepper in my rosy-glassed opinions of the people and places you’ll encounter throughout the region. I fell hard for Ladakh. Undeterred by the thin oxygen-deficient air, we planned a grand moto-loop that dips into the deep canyons with sheer granite walls and coasts over nearly a dozen high-altitude passes to reach the most expansive landscapes, turquoise lakes, and snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya.

If I had to choose, it might be my favorite motorcycle adventure to date. 

While it’s unlikely that you’ll see each and every destination I share in my upcoming blog posts on your first trip, we too left some areas for next time. These itineraries will help you maximize your time and energy in Ladakh. 

Disclaimer: Is This Completely a Motorcycle Guide?

Understandably, not everyone is keen on a motorcycle adventure. Nor should they be. Ladakh, while spectacularly beautiful, is also a difficult place to ride. You can easily hire a driver to explore the region from the relative safety of a car. You can also drive yourself, although this too is a little tricky thanks to the region’s permits (but I’ll get into that later).

While much of the information in this guide is geared directly to motorcycle travelers, those visiting Ladakh by other means will still appreciate the closely guarded itinerary information, like destinations worth visiting, excellent guesthouses, and roadside shops to savor delicious Ladakhi cuisine.  

Your 1-Week Ladakh Motorcycle Trip Guide

Before I get into the Nubra, Tso Moriri, and Pangong Valley moto itinerary specifics, let’s look at some important info you need to know.

First, Dispelling Bad Information on the Internet.

If you’re a foreigner, there is a lot of bad advice online about Ladakh. This is because the destination is visited mostly by domestic travelers. But because Ladakh is a sensitive region (militarily), it’s very different traveling here with a non-Indian passport. Here are the things I think need to be said.

Note: If you’ve read my other Ladakh Motorcycle Itinerary, you’ve already seen these cautionary tips. I just felt like they were important to repeat again here.

1. Do not rent your bike from Manali if you are a foreigner planning on traveling in Ladakh. 

While this is a super common thing for Indian tourists, it’s wildly complicated as a foreigner. This is because motorcycles rented in cities outside of Leh are not permitted to travel throughout Ladakh. Which poses a problem. Obviously. Add to that the highway from Manali to Leh is heavily trafficked, and you’ll start to see more than one reason this isn’t recommended anymore. While Manali is definitely still the overland gateway to Ladakh, you should take the bus or shuttle if you plan to travel overland from here. Trust me, you aren’t missing anything.

Note: I actually hated Manali. While once it had an air of secluded, quiet, hippy ambiance, it’s now become a popular weekend getaway for those in Delhi looking to party. This means the once quaint mountain town now has a late-night dance club and lots of drunk visitors.

2. You don’t *need* to go on a tour. 

While a guided tour is without a doubt the most popular way to visit Ladakh, you can (fairly easily) just rent a motorcycle and do the whole thing yourself. There are obviously pros and cons to each, and you should be a fairly competent rider/traveler to do it independently.

In either case, Ladakh Bike Rental is the only company I trust when it comes to tours or renting a well-maintained bike.

3. Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir are two distinct states, and you’ll need ample time if you want to cover both.

My guides will all focus on Ladakh. There are no security concerns in Ladakh as it is separated from the Line of Control and the conflict between Pakistan and India. Jammu & Kashmir is where this conflict boils over from time to time, but I wouldn’t let that discourage you from visiting, as I have heard it is incredibly beautiful and conflict is still very rare.

4. Summer is not the only time of year to visit.

When we first visited Ladakh, I was under the impression that it was a summer-only destination. But that’s really only if you’re a motorcycle enthusiast intent on riding the Manali-Leh highway. You can fly into Leh year-round. Wildlife watching is best in Feb/March for most of the sought-after species, and it’s actually a popular year-round travel destination.

If I could go back to do it again, I would ride during April while the snow is still on all the high peaks and the crowds are low!

5. Many of the roads are paved as of 2025.

This doesn’t always make them easy. I will share which roads are dirt for all of my itineraries. 

6. Navigation is not a major problem here.

There is usually only one road, and it was always on offline maps like Maps.me or Gaia. In fact, we often just used Google Maps to get around. Unlike our previous travels in places like Mongolia, you don’t really ever have to worry about getting lost.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s plan your Ladakh motorcycle trip. 

Essential Information When Planning Your Ladakh Motorcycle Trip

Before I jump right into my Ladakh moto itinerary, let’s dig into some of the trip planning components that will keep you out of jail and sweeping past all the roadblocks in the region.

1. Group Tour or Go It Alone 

This is the first decision you will make when it comes to booking your Ladakh Trip. It’s also arguably the most important. I can’t make this choice for you, and obviously, both have their merits depending on your experience level and the kind of traveler you are.

Reasons to Go Alone

• You have lots of experience riding a motorcycle. A geared one.
• You are on a tight budget. You can usually get a reliable large (450cc) bike for around $43 per day.
• You aren’t interested in the social component and would rather stick to your own timetable.
• You want to stick to established tracks and avoid venturing too far off the pavement. I’m talking about regions beyond what is included in my blog posts.
• You are traveling in a small group or with other people who are also comfortable setting off without a guide. Traveling alone isn’t recommended.

Reasons to Join a Ladakh Bike Rental Tour

• You’re looking for insider access to fun off-road tracks and want to see what’s beyond my blogs.
• You are traveling alone or with two people on a single bike.
• You value getting information on monasteries, towns, and cultures that you wouldn’t get on your own.
• You’re okay traveling in a large(ish) group and like the idea of having people to chat with at the guesthouses each night.

2. Choose Your Motorcycle + Company Carefully 

A poorly maintained vehicle will not operate at 19,000 feet. It’s that simple. You also DO NOT want to be stranded on a cold high-altitude pass when a tire blows, when brakes fail, or a clutch cable snaps. In this remote region, scrimping on a cheap bike matters.

I only recommend Ladakh Bike Rental because I am comfortable with the quality of their gear, motorcycles, and service. They went above and beyond for me, helping to plan a route that we could do independently. I saw many broken-down bikes on the roads, and I was thankful that we weren’t one of them.

Be warned: As is customary in India, when a company is successful, others name their company essentially the same thing. Look for the blue logo featured on the website I linked here, when you are booking to be SURE that this is the company you are dealing with.

When it comes to bike choice, we went with a 450 cc Royal Enfield Himalayan because we were two people on one bike. If you are riding solo or a small human, you *could* opt for the older, smaller model. But do remember that you need a bike that can carry you over the high passes in low-oxygen atmospheres.

3. You Will Require Permits 

As I mentioned, Ladakh is a heavily militarized region of India. To travel in the Pangong Region specifically, you need permits. The company you rent a motorcycle from will help you to orchestrate these on your arrival. They cost around $15 and can be set up in just an afternoon.

You will need to travel with your passport and copies of these permits at all times.

4. High-Altitude Travel Requires Acclimatization

The city of Leh sits at 11,500 ft (or 3,500m), and even traveling by road, when I arrived, I felt like absolute shit. If you arrive by air, it’s likely to be worse. But as you travel through the region, it only gets higher. Every day passes stretch up to 16,000 ft, with the highest being 19,000 ft.

You will need a minimum of 3 days in Leh before you start your motorcycle trip to avoid severe mountain sickness.

We took five and handled the altitude really well. Another key thing to note is that *if* you start experiencing headaches and fatigue, you should NOT ascend any higher. Take a day or descend if you’re sleeping at a high elevation to adjust. It’s also vitally important that you drink ample amounts of water (3L per day min) as you’re body uses more at high elevations.

Should You Take Diamox? Diamox is a commonly sold prescription drug that helps you to mitigate the symptoms of altitude sickness. It does not stop acute mountain sickness. If you rush your ascent, you will still feel like shit. That being said, some people do find that it helps them feel less miserable while acclimatizing at high altitude.

5. Know the Weather Possibilities 

The roads in Ladakh are open from mid-June (usually) to late-September or early-October. It’s all dependent on snowfall.

Here’s a quick look at what each month usually looks like in Ladakh.

• March: Still winter in this part of the world. If you’re planning a moto journey during March, you’ll have difficulty on passes and have to deal with snow often. Expect travel delays and closed roadways at times.
• April: Arguably, the best month for moto travel, although it can still be quite cold. This is the month you start to melt into spring. Blossoms galore. Weather is very unpredictable though and you might still have to deal with snow at the high-passes.
• May: While the Manali-Leh highway remains closed, this region really blossoms. It is a very popular time of year to visit with snow-capped peaks, so expect crowds.
• June: Still have snow-capped peaks and a mixture of hot/cold weather while staying relatively dry. The big issue is timing your trip when the road will for certain be open.
• July: Peak season, hottest month with temperatures soaring to nearly 90 degrees at times, lots of water crossings as the glaciers melt. Many local festivals.
• August: Another month of hot temps but less glacial runoff. This is a very popular time to travel despite being in the thick of monsoon season. Rain isn’t frequent, but it is a bigger possibility.
• September: Expect nearly no water crossings and very cold temps. You could also get snowfall as the month progresses.

6. Leh Will Function as Your Home Base 

I loved the town of Leh. You’ll likely get to spend quite a lot of time there depending on your itinerary. I recommend hitting most of the main attractions of Ladakh in two loops with a short break in Leh in between. I’ll get to all that later in the itinerary portion.

7. Always Bring the Ladakh Essentials 

Once you hit the road, you’re not going to find convenience shops and restaurants in between towns. It’s just you and the freshly poured pavement. So it’s vital you go into each day prepared.

• Prayer flags on the handlebars. This is a Ladakh tradition and is a wish for a safe journey.
• Sunscreen. You are on the roof of the world, and sunshine is HOT and strong.
• Repair Gear. If you’ve gone ahead and booked with Ladakh Bike Rental, it will be provided.
• Snacks. We liked dried fruits like Mango, which you’ll find in abundance in Leh.
• Water. Lots of it. We never traveled with less than 2 L per person. Assume you won’t have any until your destination. Having a Lifestraw Water bottle would be great.
• Offline Maps.
• SIM Card. More on that below.
• Protective Motorcycle Gear. I hope I don’t have to say this, but you need a protective jacket, a proper helmet, and thick pants, if not full moto gear, for this ride.

8. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT bring a Garmin GPS or Sat Phone of Any Kind 

I cannot emphasize this enough. India does not allow Garmin devices or any satellite phones in the country.

Fortunately, we just got our Garmin seized. But other travelers recently (and one we met on this trip) were arrested and charged with possessing the device at the airport when entering India. They had to then appear in court in Delhi a few weeks later and risked jail time. It’s a huge deal. Just leave it behind on this trip.

Yes, it’s an absolutely bonkers, stupid rule. But nothing you can do about that.

9. Start Your Day Early 

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, if you’re traveling in the early part of the season (June/July), snowmelt is a major concern. Throughout the heat of the day, the glaciers melt, and the nighttime snow melts from the peaks, flooding rivers. All water crossings become totally impassable by 4 PM. You need to reach where you are going before that time.

The other major reason is that sometimes things go wrong on the road, there is construction, or you just generally take longer than you think due to many photo stops. This is why it’s always best to be on the road by 7 AM.

10. No Need to Book Homestays in Advance 

The only places that fill up in advance are the high-end ones. If you’re planning on staying in guesthouses (which I highly recommend), it’s best to book upon arrival. The truth is, you never know if you’ll make it to the town you intended to, and this way, you can be more flexible.

To find the best homestays (aside from reading this blog), I highly recommend using Google Maps rather than booking platforms, as 99% of them are not listed on Booking.com or Agoda.

11. Get Your Airtel SIM in Leh

There are only two SIM networks in Ladakh. Airtel works the best and is easiest to get set up. You’ll find it in Leh town square. You will need to bring your passport.

If you get a SIM card outside of Leh/Ladakh during your travels through India, it will stop working in Ladakh.

You need to get it here, as they do something to register it with the military. A SIM is vital for traveling out here, and Airtel actually had excellent coverage, so we felt more comfortable traveling independently in case of an emergency.

12. A drone is allowed in Ladakh 

I saw conflicting information on this, so allow me to clear it up. Drones are allowed in Ladakh. There are clearly posted signs near all military installations where you are not allowed to fly, but you’ll have no problems using it anywhere else.

Do keep in mind that predominantly Muslim communities like Kargil and Turtuk regard drones with more suspicion, as they don’t want themselves photographed. So always be respectful.

Your 1-Week Ladakh Motorcycle Itinerary: Nubra Valley & the Lakes Region

I’m going to share two detailed loops in separate blog posts. While this loop is longer, has a far higher density of passes, and requires that you sleep in more high elevation places, it is also more paved, well-traveled, and generally considered “easier”. We chose to do this loop second during our time in Ladakh because we wanted to give ourselves more time to acclimate before sleeping at 14,000 feet. 

If you’re only going to do ONE route, you should note that this is the route that 99% of travelers choose. Personally, I preferred our Zanskar Valley loop for the unique terrain, challenging rides, and spectacular monasteries. Please do both. 

Day 1: Leh to Turturk 

• KM to Travel: 200, usually takes around 6-7 hours.
• Noteworthy Passes: Khardung La (second-highest motorable pass in the world, 17,900 ft)
• Sleeping Elevation: around 10,000 ft
• General Road Conditions: Pavement. There are a few portions of road between Hundar and Turtuk that are under construction, and because of this, they are dirt and loose dust in sections. The road beyond Hundar also narrows significantly, but it is mostly paved.

Turtuk is a lovely green oasis in an otherwise grey, granite landscape. The town is absolutely lovely. It’s tucked back from the road and hard to access by vehicle, so expect to do some exploring on foot. You must eat your way through this area, as the Balti cuisine is unique and super fresh. Expect buckwheat, apricots, and mulberries when you visit in the summertime.

This is also only 5 miles from the Pakistan border. The culture here is Muslim, and if you’ve had the pleasure of visiting Pakistan before, you’ll probably immediately notice the similarities.

Sights Along the Way 

• Khardung La. There are numerous viewpoints looking out over Leh (including Khardung La itself) worth stopping at.
• Hundar Sand Dunes. These are roadside, and you’ll be spending a day in Hundar later, so don’t waste time here.
• Turtuk Monastery. One of the many places to see within Turtuk.
• Balti Heritage House. Balti culture is very important in this region.

Where to Stay in Turtuk

I had done a deep dive on Google, trying to find a local guesthouse with excellent reviews. But when I arrived in Turtuk, I realized that most of them were closed or difficult to access (despite us traveling in July/peak season). If you’re riding a motorcycle, the best budget option is without a doubt Ashoon Guesthouse. It’s right on the road and has secure moto parking. The food at the guesthouse is extraordinarily overpriced, considering the array of incredible Balti restaurants in town, so definitely eat out.

If you have a larger budget and prefer to stay in a lovely local home with home-cooked Balti meals straight from the garden, I recommend ISU Homestay Turtuk.

Where to Eat in Turtuk

• Begum’s Kitchen. #1 choice. Delicious local Balti meals straight from this woman’s garden.
• The Balti Kitchen. One you’ll have to walk to, but also offers delicious Balti meals.
• Rustic Edge Restaurant. Nice outdoor seating and a wide array of food, all very healthy and delicious.

Option to Extend: Consider adding one day to spend more time in this unique Nubra Valley region. Since the drive to reach here is long, independent travelers will appreciate the time to actually explore the small town. 

Day 2: Turtuk to Hunder

• KM to Travel: 85 KM, should take you no more than 2-3 hours.
• Noteworthy Passes: None.
• Sleeping Elevation: about 10,000 ft.
• General Road Conditions: Pavement. You’ll be backtracking the route you came through yesterday. So you have seen all these roads before.

Generally, I was unimpressed with Hunder. It gets the most tourism in the area, and so the town is little more than hotels. The zipline looked wildly underwhelming (there was a man just sitting on it stuck in the center when we passed), and if you’ve seen dunes before, these probably won’t impress you. That being said, Hunder is a desert, and at 10,000 ft, it is also one of the highest elevation deserts in the world. It’s also a good place to take a break because tomorrow’s drive is nice and long.

Where to Stay in Hunder

There is certainly no shortage of choice. I would highly recommend choosing a property on the eastern side of Hunder as it’s far greener and more pleasant. We stayed at Riverside Resort because it had excellent little rooms (and we needed a break, being on day 10 of the trip for us) and a pool! It’s not the easiest to reach, so be sure to ask them for directions if you book by phone. The pool was actually swimmable (and very cold).

Where to Eat in Hunder

• The Bonfire Restaurant was the go-to in town. The menu was HUGE and everything was good. They also have beer.
• The Ldumra Kitchen Cafe + Resto. While I didn’t get the chance to eat at either of these next two restaurants, they were on my list to check out. Be warned that their hours are a little weird.
• The Chuli.

Day 3: Hunder to Pangong Lake

• Route Options: Shyok River Valley or Wari La Pass, either way will take 8-ish hours
• KM to Travel: 200 (Shyok) or 260 (Wari La)
• Noteworthy Passes: None if Shyok, Wari La (17,400 ft) + Chang La (17,600 ft) if Wari La route.
• Sleeping Elevation: 14,000 ft
• General Road Conditions: 50/50 if you take the Skyok River, lots of water crossings, and generally a very rough route for non-experienced riders. Lots of pavement if you take the Wari La route.

There are two very important pieces of information you need for today’s route.

1. You NEED to get petrol in Diskit.

You should fill up your extra tank as well. You will have very limited opportunities to get petrol from here on out. I will mark them clearly in the blog post.

2. There is a vital turn to take toward Agham off the main road.

On Maps.me, it automatically puts you on the correct route, but it’s labeled “Junction 11, 14 km to Agham” and the road itself is labeled “Wari La – Nubra Valley”. This is the route to take regardless of whether you are taking the Shyok River Route or Wari La. It deviates at Agham.

Today’s drive is long and beautiful.

Which Route Is Best? 

This is a fork that is usually determined by the weather. Water, actually. The Shyok River route is extraordinarily scenic AND the shorter way. So why would you take Wari La? Well, the Shyok River route also has a tendency to flood as the river spills over its banks and can quickly become impassable thanks to gushing water crossings. If you’re traveling in July or early August, you will likely not be able to take the Shyok River route. After the peak heat of summer has dissipated (and the glaciers have done their melt), then the route will re-open.

You will need to go to the Agham coffee shop and ask the owner if the route is open, unless Gurmat at Ladakh Bike Rental or your homestay the night before had up-to-date information to inform you about. It’s at this coffee shop that the road deviates.

The good news is that the route via Wari La, while longer and summitting yet another high pass, is also spectacularly beautiful. So you’re not missing anything either way.

Sights Along the Way 

I’m going to share the *sights along the way* if you were to take the Wari La route, as most travelers do, and it’s the route we took. If you take the Shyok River, there aren’t any particular sights; it’s just a nice scenic drive.

• Wari La Pass. This area is stunning. The whole drive will be beautiful.
• Sakti Town. You have to get your permits checked here anyway so you might as well stop for lunch. Food is delicious and cheap.
• Chemre Gompa. If you have the time here, pop over to see this cliffside monastery. It’s very impressive. It’s a slight deviation from the route you should be taking.
• Black Crane Wildlife Viewing Area. A good place to see yaks, marmots, and more.
• Pangong Lake. There are loads of stunning viewpoints to take in the bright blue color of the lake.

Where to Stay in Pangong: Merak 

Marzee Homestay Merak. Three hundred 5-star reviews don’t lie. But let’s start with why you should stay in Merak rather than Spangmik or the other towns alongside the lake. Merak is smaller, prettier, more spread out, and protected from the howling wind that’s common here. While 99% of group tours go to the other towns, Merak is the clear winner.

Marzee Homestay is by far the most comfortable place to stay in the area, the hosts are super sweet, the meals are delicious, and they are one of the only places that offer wifi.

Note: Weirdly, despite being the most well-traveled region in Ladakh, Pangong Lake is one of the few places you will not have internet with your Airtel SIM. This makes the wifi connection here extra important.

Day 4: Pangong Lake to Hanle via Changsang Pass

• KM to Travel: 200
• Noteworthy Passes: Satatha La (16,600 ft), Kaksang La (17,700 ft), Yaye La (15,800 ft)
• Sleeping Elevation: 13,500ft
• General Road Conditions: 50/50. If you opt for the scenic pass route, you can expect pavement that is degraded in a lot of sections. It was all paved at one point.
• Route Options: Changsang Pass or Loma Shortcut to Umling La  

Which Route is Best? The Umling La Question.

Let’s talk about some route options. First, we need to decide…do you want to visit Umling La? Umling La is the highest motorable pass in the world. At 19,050 ft or so, it’s a wild feat. It’s really just that, though, a feat. The views of Umling La are nothing that you haven’t experienced, and it’s a super popular place with Indian tour groups, meaning it won’t be peaceful either. Still, most people want to say they have been to Umling La if they have come this close.

Important info for foreign tourists! You should always check with Ladakh Bike Rental to see if Umling La is even open to foreign visitors at the moment. There is a military base (I marked on Maps.me) where it’s not uncommon for foreign passports (not Indian) to be turned around due to unrest or some other undetermined reason in the region. While we were there, it was constantly in flux, whether it was open or closed.

If you do want to visit Umling La, you have two options.

1. Ride the route I recommend over Changsang Pass for its iconic mountain scenery and end the day in Hanle. From Hanle, do a day trip to Umling La, which again ends in Hanle.
2. Skip Changsang Pass and take the Loma Shortcut via Umling La that ends in Hanle. This cuts an entire day of travel off your itinerary and gets rid of all backtracking. But you will miss Kaksang La and the scenery that comes with it.

If you decide to take the “Loma Shortcut” you’ll travel via: Merak > Chushul > Tsaka La > Loma > Dungti > Koyul > Chishume Post > Umling La > Hanle (205 km) 

If you shoot me an email, (geena.truman@gmail.com) I will send you my Maps.me pins, and it’s the dark orange route! I am going to continue this blog post as though you chose option 1!

Where to Stay in Hanle 

With either route, you should be ending your day in Hanle. There are plenty of options as you roll into town here, and I recommend using Stargaze Cottages as a backup.

Bailout Option: Padma Homestay Nyoma (Nyoma)

On the other side of the spectrum, if you CANNOT make it to Hanle in a single day after taking Kaksang La or something like weather has slowed you down, then you can stay in Nyoma after Merak (Pangong Lake).

Obviously, if you’ve chosen to take the Loma shortcut via Umling La, this is not info for you.

If you can’t make it all the way to Hanle after crossing over Changsang area, Padma Homestay is an affordable, comfortable option to break up the journey.

If you don’t have any interest in seeing Hanle OR Umling La, then I recommend you stop here in Nyoma and then continue on to Tso Moriri.

Fuel: Nyoma is also the only other petrol station in this region. You should definitely make sure you have gassed up here.

Day 5: Umling La Day Trip

• KM to Travel: 140
• Noteworthy Passes: Photi La (18,000 ft), Umling La (19,000 ft)
• Sleeping Elevation: 14,000 ft
• General Road Conditions: Paved (mostly)

If you did not opt to take the Loma shortcut through Umling La and still want to see Umling La, then a day trip from Hanle is your best bet. Yet another reason to extend your time in Hanle.

Option to Extend: Hanle is a speck in the middle of nowhere. While the drive to reach here is lengthy, Hanle is a little more about the destination than the journey. The town is a “dark sky certified area” with the best stargazing and night photography in the region AND a wildlife haven for species like the Snow Leopard, Argali Sheep, and Pallas Cats. If you’re an animal lover like me, I would extend for at least one day here in Hanle and hire a guide for a chance to spot the rare and elusive wildlife that call this region home. 

Day 6: Hanle to Tso Moriri via Nyoma

• KM to Travel: 150
• Noteworthy Passes: Nakapoding La (16,000 ft)
• Sleeping Elevation: 15,000 ft
• General Road Conditions: Mostly Paved. While the Tso Moriri region is very remote, it was also all paved at one point.  

This will be a little bit of a back-track if you have come via Kaksang La. You have to return to Mahe and then deviate toward Karzok. The route you can plot on Maps.Me looks like Hanle > Nyoma > Mahe > Sumdo > Karzok. Karzok is the best town to stay in for exploring the Tso Moriri region.

If you’ve done the Loma Shortcut…this will all be new to you!

Petrol: Don’t forget to gas up in Nyoma! This is the only petrol station until you are nearly back to Leh.

This portion of the route is STUNNINGLY beautiful, remote, and unspoilt. Be sure to check out the other lakes you pass along the way and revel in the natural beauty of the area.

Where to Stay in Tso Moriri

Confession: We didn’t make it to Tso Moriri thanks to some really poor weather conditions. Because of this, I don’t have a specific recommendation. We had our eye on The Milky Way Guesthouse or Snow Leopard Cottage, but I recommend checking out the reviews on Google Maps (this is the best way to find places). Tso Moriri is super remote, so expect very basic facilities.

Day 7: Tso Moriri to Leh

• KM to Travel: 230
• Noteworthy Passes: Pologonka La (16,300 ft), Tanglang La (16,900 ft)
• Sleeping Elevation: 12,000 ft
• General Road Conditions: Mostly pavement, really good pavement once you reach Highway 3 (Leh-Manali highway)

It’s probably going to be a long day today, but that’s the best way to wrap up a successful motorcycle trip. Fortunately, the route is all paved, so while long, it’s not a rough road.

Be sure you take the route that goes past Tso Kar and connects with Highway 3 at Debring.

Sights Along the Way 

This part of the route is actually really good for things to see! Here are just a few of the attractions that you’ll pass, so be sure to leave early so you have time to stop at some of them.

• Puga Hot Spring + the Mud Volcanoes.
• Tso Kar. Stunning lake.
• Stakna Monastery. Another pretty sight along the way.
• Chemri Gompa. This one involves a very small deviation (in fact, you *might* have seen it if you took the Wari La route), but if not, it’s worth the quick trip even if you just see it on the cliffside.
• Thiksey Gompa. One of the most impressive and beautiful monasteries in the region.

Where to Stay in Leh

There is no shortage of places to stay in Leh. These were the three top choices for us.

Map of Your 1-Week Ladakh Motorcycle Itinerary

 Here’s a quick screenshot of my Maps.me Map. Unfortunately, embedding maps.me on my website is impossible, so in order to have the map yourself, you have to shoot me an email at geena.truman@gmail.com, and I will forward it on to you.

Save This 1-Week Ladakh Motorcycle Itinerary For Later!