Route files

Ladakh & Himalaya GPX Route Files

Ladakh Bikers publish the road line for every expedition we run as a free GPX file. Each one is split into one track per riding day, with an elevation value on every single point. The road geometry comes from OpenStreetMap and the elevation from SRTM terrain data — these are not hand-drawn lines between towns. Every file opens in Garmin, Komoot, OsmAnd, Ride with GPS and Gaia. They cost nothing; we ask for an email address so we can send you the file and answer questions about the route.

  • 18Routes
  • 12,020km of routed road
  • 277Named waypoints
  • 78,452Track points

Where should we send them?

One email address opens every route file on this page — you do not have to ask again for each one. We use it to send you the files and to answer questions about the routes. You are not signed up to anything.

We do not sell or share it. Privacy policy.

Visual Route Planner

LEGENDARY ROUTES ACROSS LADAKH

Click a route on the map, or pick one from the directory, to see where it runs and download its file.

Loading interactive map...

Route Directory

18
A Himalayan highway in Ladakh, the kind of road these route files describe
Every line in these files is a road we have ridden. Routed over OpenStreetMap, checked against the distance each itinerary advertises, and rebuilt whenever a road changes.

Every route file

Downloadable GPX route files, with distance, day tracks, waypoints and highest point.
ExpeditionRoutedDurationDay tracksWaypointsHighest pointFileDownload
Grand Himalayan Circuit 1,500 km21 Days6 tracks24 wpts 5,426 m 691 KB Get GPX →
Zanskar Traverse: Manali to Srinagar via Shinku La 1,230 km12 Days11 tracks29 wpts 5,042 m 590 KB Get GPX →
Manali to Leh Group Join-In Tour 1,090 km9 Days6 tracks19 wpts 5,348 m 465 KB Get GPX →
Leh to Leh 6-Day High Pass Group Tour 960 km6 Days6 tracks13 wpts 5,361 m 394 KB Get GPX →
Leh to Leh 8-Day Ladakh Bike Expedition 920 km8 Days11 tracks16 wpts 5,793 m 388 KB Get GPX →
Leh to Srinagar via Zanskar & the Suru Valley 870 km9 Days9 tracks19 wpts 4,485 m 378 KB Get GPX →

What is actually in the file

  • One track per riding day. Not one undifferentiated line from start to finish — you can load a single day, or see at a glance where a day begins and ends.
  • Elevation on every point. A GPX without it draws a flat profile, and a flat profile for a 5,000 m pass is the first thing an experienced rider notices.
  • Named waypoints that matter on the road. Pass summits, overnight halts, and the fuel stops — the last petrol pump before a remote section is marked, because that is where the decision gets made.
  • Real road geometry. Each leg is routed over the OpenStreetMap road network, then checked against the distance we advertise for that day. A file that disagreed with the itinerary would not be published.

Common questions

Are the GPX files free?

Yes. Ladakh Bikers publish GPX route files for our Ladakh and Himalayan motorcycle expeditions free of charge. We ask for an email address so we can send you the file and answer questions about the route — there is no payment, no account and no obligation to book.

Do I have to book a tour to get the route file?

No. The GPX route files are published for anyone planning a Himalayan motorcycle trip, whether they ride with Ladakh Bikers or independently. We would rather a rider checked our route against the map before deciding.

Which apps and devices open these GPX files?

They are GPX 1.1, the standard interchange format, so they open in Garmin (BaseCamp and on-device), Komoot, OsmAnd, Ride with GPS, Gaia GPS, Locus Map, Organic Maps and Google Earth, among others. No proprietary app is needed.

How accurate are the routes?

Each leg is routed over the OpenStreetMap road network rather than drawn by hand between towns, and every track point carries an SRTM terrain elevation. Before a file is published it is checked three ways: every waypoint must sit on a real road, the routed length must agree with the distance the itinerary advertises for that day, and the terrain elevation must agree with the altitude the tour states. A file that fails is not published.

Route files are rebuilt whenever an itinerary or a road changes. Road geometry is derived from OpenStreetMap and is available under the Open Database Licence; elevation is from SRTM terrain data.