Day 1

Leh Arrival

Land in the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport at Leh. We’ll pick you up and head to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day grounded. You will need this time to adjust to the altitude. Meet up with the crew and the rest of the group before the ride begins.

Day 2

Local Exploration

We use this day for a 120 km shake down on the NH-1. It is a chance to dial in your machine and gauge how your body responds to the altitude. We stop at places like the Indus and Zanskar confluence, the Magnetic Hill and the Pattar Sahab Gurudwara to get a feel for the local terrain. A necessary warm-up for what lies ahead

Day 3

Leh - Hunder

We cross our first high-altitude pass today: Khardung La at 17,582 ft. This climb is a test of your focus and your machine’s performance. Once over the top, the terrain opens up as we navigate the sand and silt of the Nubra Valley.

Day 4

Hunder - Pangong Tso

The terrain shifts as we ride across Shyok’s riverbed towards the high plains of the Changthang. This is a day of distance and dust. By late afternoon, we reach Merak: a quiet settlement on the far edge of the lake. It is a necessary break from the crowded sections of the shoreline.

Day 5

Pangong Tso - Hanle

We leave the shoreline and head toward Hanle. The pavement ends early. You will spend the day picking a line through sand, silt, and glacial streams. It is a thorough stress test for your machine’s suspension and your own stamina. By evening, we pull into Hanle: one of the highest inhabited settlements in the region.

Day 6

Hanle - Umling La - Hanle

We ride up to the highest motorable pass in the world today: Umling La. Perched at an altitude of 19,024 ft ASL, it is higher than the Everest base camp. At this height, it's less about "epic" views and more about the simple things like catching your breath back. After spending some time on the top we push towards Demchok - the last village on the edge of the border and make a quick dash back to Hanle.

Day 7

Hanle - Tso Moriri

A straightforward 4 hour jaunt across the Changthang plateau takes us to Tso Moriri. The lake is a deep-blue salt basin sitting at 14,800 ft. The isolation of the place makes the long, dusty ride feel worth all the effort. We stay for dusk when the light changes across the water, then settle in. No frills. Just the wind, the silence, and the cold.

Day 8

Tso Moriri - Leh

The return leg begins. We cut through the Changthang to join the Manila - Leh highway at Debring. From here, we climb Taglang La: a pass known for its unstable sections and sudden weather shifts. Once over the top, it’s a two-hour run down to Leh along the Indus. We end the day with a hosted dinner. Your final chance to sit around a table and swap stories before the gear is packed away.

Day 9

Fly Out Of Leh

Pack up your gear and get ready to head back home. The dust eventually washes off, but the lessons learned and the people you shared the road with stay with you. See you on the next one.