Leh-Siachen-Leh (9 Days)
An unforgettable 9 days exploring Ladakh like a local. Ride the Nubra valley to the Siachen War Memorial, then on to Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri.
By booking you agree to our Terms & Conditions
AT A GLANCE
- Distance
- 1100 km
- Duration
- 9 Days
- Highest point
- 4,522m
- Starts
- Leh
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Passport access
- Some segments are open to Indian nationals only Details in the access notice at the end of the itinerary
- Motorcycle
- Royal Enfield, fuel included on group departures
- Accommodation
- Hotels and camps, twin-sharing
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner on riding days
- Permits
- Inner Line or Protected Area permit processed for you
- Riding gear
- Helmet, jacket and knee guards — gloves not included
EXPEDITION PHOTOS
Expedition Route Map
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Download the GPX for this route
Free GPX 1.1 file — 730 km of routed road in 5 day tracks, with 11 named waypoints and an elevation value on every point. High point 5,360 m. Opens in Garmin, Komoot, OsmAnd, Ride with GPS and Gaia.
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival in Leh (Acclimatization Day)
Arrival at Leh Airport, meet expedition team. Bike check and rest. Return to Leh by evening.
Leh – Sham Valley – Leh
After breakfast, ride towards Sham Valley following the Indus River. Visit Sangam, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, and Hall of Fame.
Leh – Nubra Valley via Khardung La
Early start to cross Khardung La (5,359 m). Descend into the lush Nubra Valley. Visit Diskit Monastery & Maitreya Buddha, and ride among double-humped Bactrian camels at Hunder Sand Dunes.
Nubra (Hunder) – Siachen War Memorial – Sumur
Early morning ride up the Nubra valley towards the Siachen sector, through remote villages and military zones, to the Siachen War Memorial at Partapur (3,090m). The glacier and the army base camp beyond it are a closed military zone, so the memorial is where the road ends for us. We continue to the Panamik hot springs and on to Sumur village.
Sumur – Pangong Lake
One of the most adventurous riding days. Ride through raw terrain, river crossings & dramatic landscapes along the Shyok River route to reach Pangong Lake.
Merak – Hanle (Via Demchok Route)
An adventurous and less-explored route towards Hanle via Demchok Route. Cross Nurbu La Pass and Umling La Pass (one of the highest motorable passes in the world).
Hanle – Tso Moriri (Via Chumur & Silsila La)
After breakfast, depart for Tso Moriri Lake across open Changthang plateau — no settlements, no fuel, no phone signal for 90 km. Spot nomadic Changpa settlements and cross Silsila La Pass.
Tso Moriri – Leh
Early morning visit to the lake. Ride to Tso Kar Lake, Puga Valley (geothermal springs), Korzok Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, and Shey Palace. Return to Leh by evening for a farewell dinner.
Departure from Leh
Expedition ends with lifetime memories. Transfer to Leh Airport after breakfast.
IF YOU HOLD A FOREIGN PASSPORT, READ THIS FIRST
Part of this route is inside a restricted border zone that India does not open to foreign nationals — no permit, no agency and no fee changes that. Other operators sell these segments to overseas riders anyway. We would rather lose the booking than have you turned back at an army checkpost.
- DemchokDay 6Indian nationals only
We re-plan this day for you and confirm the replacement route in writing before you pay a deposit.
- Umling LaDay 6Indian nationals only
The Hanle programme in this itinerary — the observatory, the monastery ridge and the dark-sky night — is open to you on a Protected Area Permit and runs as written. The out-and-back to the Umling La summit does not.
Open to you on a Protected Area Permit: Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Hanle. Hanle needs a minimum of two foreign nationals on one permit, a stay in a registered Astro-stay, and printed copies for every checkpost — all of which we arrange as a registered Leh agency. Full permit rules for foreign riders
OR RIDE SOMETHING WITH NOTHING CLOSED ON IT
If riding the whole itinerary as written matters more to you than this particular pass, these run to a similar length and a foreign passport covers every kilometre of them — no substituted day, no checkpost turnaround.
Leh to Srinagar via Zanskar & the Suru ValleyZanskar Valley ExpeditionLeh to Leh Zanskar Circuit via Shinku La Why experienced groups pick Zanskar →Frequently Asked Questions
The maximum altitude reached on this tour is 4,522m. We ensure proper acclimatization and carry emergency oxygen on all group tours.
Yes. Every permit the Leh-Siachen-Leh (9 Days) needs is arranged and included in the package price — a Protected Area Permit for foreign passport holders, an Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals, plus environmental fees. You send us passport and visa copies; we process them at the Leh magistrate's office. One thing a permit cannot do: Demchok and Umling La are inside a restricted border zone closed to foreign nationals outright, so no PAP is issued for them at any price. If you hold a foreign passport we re-plan those days and confirm the replacement in writing before you pay a deposit.
Yes. We publish the full Leh-Siachen-Leh (9 Days) route as a free GPX 1.1 file covering 730 km, split into 5 separate tracks — one per riding day — with 11 named waypoints for every pass, fuel stop and overnight halt. Every track point carries an elevation value, so the climb profile is real rather than flat. The road geometry comes from OpenStreetMap and the elevation from SRTM terrain data. It opens in Garmin, Komoot, OsmAnd, Ride with GPS and Gaia. Download it from the route map section of this page by entering your email address.
Not all of it. Demchok and Umling La lie inside a restricted border zone that India keeps closed to foreign passport holders, including NRI and OCI cardholders. No Protected Area Permit is issued for those sectors, so any operator offering them to an overseas rider is selling a ride that ends at an army checkpost. What is open to you on a Protected Area Permit: Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Hanle. Hanle carries conditions — a minimum of two foreign nationals on one permit, a stay in a registered Astro-stay, and printed copies for every checkpost — and we handle all of it as a registered Leh agency. We re-plan the affected days for foreign riders and confirm the replacement route in writing before any deposit is taken. If riding a published itinerary in full matters more to you than this particular pass, our Zanskar expeditions cross no restricted sector at all — the 9-day Leh to Srinagar via Zanskar & the Suru Valley, the 8-day Zanskar Valley Expedition, the 10-day Leh to Leh Zanskar Circuit via Shinku La are all open to a foreign passport end to end, with nothing substituted.
Yes, every guided expedition is accompanied by a professional Ladakhi tour leader and an experienced local mechanic to handle any high-altitude breakdowns.
RIDE FOOTAGE
What's Included
- ✓ Royal Enfield Motorcycle (with fuel for group tours)
- ✓ Professional Tour Leader & Local Mechanic
- ✓ Support vehicle for luggage & medical gear
- ✓ Riding gear — helmet, jacket & knee guards
- ✓ Accommodation on Twin-Sharing Basis (Hotel/Camps)
- ✓ Breakfast & dinner on riding days — vegetarian set menu on group departures
- ✓ Inner Line Permits & environment fees
- ✓ Oxygen cylinder & emergency medical kit
What's Excluded
- ✗ Airfare to/from Leh
- ✗ Personal travel & medical insurance
- ✗ Refundable bike security deposit
- ✗ Lunch on all days
- ✗ Riding gloves — bring a pair that fits you
- ✗ Tips, laundry, telephone calls, alcohol
- ✗ Damage costs to the motorcycle during transit
Key Highlights
- ⛰ Siachen War Memorial, Nubra
- ⛰ Umling La Pass
- ⛰ Hanle Observatory
- ⛰ Pangong Lake
- ⛰ Tso Moriri
- ⛰ Khardung La
International Rider Safety
⛰ High Altitude Protocol: This expedition crosses passes up to 17,580ft. We include 48 hours of acclimatization rest in Leh and carry portable oxygen cylinders, oximeters, and trauma kits in our backup vehicle.
🛂 Visa & Permits: We secure all Restricted Area Permits (PAP) and provide official booking confirmation letters for your Indian Tourist Visa application.
🧥 Riding Gear Provided: We supply helmets, riding jackets and knee guards at no extra cost, so you do not need to fly them in. Gloves are the exception — they are not included, and a borrowed pair that does not fit is worse than none at 5,000 m. Bring your own.
Helpful Guides For International Riders
As an international tourist, there are unique permit requirements, money logistics (cash vs. international cards), and SIM card rules in Ladakh. Please read our detailed guides before your trip:
- 📋 Protected Area Permits (PAP) Guide - Understanding group requirements and restricted zones.
- 💳 Survival Guide: Cash, SIMs & Flights - Vital advice on network coverage and money exchanges in Leh.
Travel Insurance — Strongly Recommended
We strongly recommend all riders, especially international tourists, to carry comprehensive travel and medical insurance that covers:
- High-altitude medical evacuation
- Adventure sports / motorcycle riding coverage
- Trip cancellation & delay due to weather or road closures
- Personal accident & liability coverage
⚠️ Ladakh Bikers does not provide personal insurance. Riders participate at their own risk. Ensure your policy explicitly covers motorized two-wheeler activity.
No Hidden Costs Guarantee
We believe in 100% transparent pricing. Your refundable security deposit (cash or UPI) is returned in full immediately upon vehicle drop-off in Leh. No inflated damage claims, no surprise deductions.
30-Point Mechanic Check
Every Royal Enfield is personally inspected by our lead Ladakhi mechanics before being handed over. We guarantee brake pad health, chain tension, and high-altitude carburetor tuning.
DIRECT B2C LOCAL OPERATOR
Official Registration: Aryan Ladakh Tour & TravelBook directly with native Ladakhi mountain leaders on Karzu Rd, Leh. Zero middlemen or agency markups. Verified Google Business profile with 5.0 ★ (170+ Customer Reviews).
Verify Google Business Map Profile (5.0 ★)