Explorer
Himalayan High Passes Motorcycle Expedition — Umling La, Mig La & Zanskar | 19-29.08.2027
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The base price includes the rental of a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 motorcycle.
TOUR DESCRIPTION:
Ride beyond the standard Ladakh loop.
Over nine riding days, this Leh-to-Leh motorcycle expedition crosses Ladakh, remote Zanskar and the Changthang Plateau on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. We ride broken mountain roads, gravel, river crossings and exposed high-altitude tracks, reaching Umling La and attempting Mig La if permits, border restrictions and conditions allow.
The group is limited to ten riders. A Polish and English speaking MotoBirds tour leader, local road captain, motorcycle mechanic, support vehicles, spare motorcycle, oxygen provide the backup required this far from the ordinary. Motorcycle rental, accommodation, meals and required permits are included—leaving you to concentrate on the riding.
A high-altitude motorcycle journey for riders who want more than a famous road and a stamp in their passport.
This expedition takes you deep into the Himalayas, following a continuous loop through remote valleys, high mountain passes, and rarely visited regions. Instead of rushing between landmarks, the route is designed to flow with the terrain, building altitude gradually and allowing time to ride, recover, and truly experience life in the mountains.
Every element of the journey — distance, rest days, accommodation, and support — is built around one goal: letting you ride strong and safely in one of the most demanding environments on Earth.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This tour will be enjoyed by experienced adventure riders who are looking for a meaningful challenge rather than an easy win. The main challenge for riders is the altitude.
WHAT MAKES THIS EXPEDITION SPECIAL?
Many Himalayan tours visit high passes. Very few connect them into a complete, coherent journey. In addition (weather allowing), We plan to reach Umling La and attempt the newly completed Mig La road (5,913 m), subject to military authorisation, permits, road opening, weather and local conditions.
What sets this expedition apart:
- A true circumnavigation, not a return-the-same-way route
- Carefully planned altitude progression to reduce risk and fatigue
- A balance of challenging riding and more relaxed days
- Remote regions that most tours simply skip due to logistics
- A focus on riding quality, safety, and experience, not daily mileage
This is a tour built by riders, for riders — with no unnecessary filler days and no rushed sections.
Altitude & acclimatization
Altitude is taken seriously on this expedition. The route is designed to:
- Gain elevation progressively
- Include acclimatisation stops and lighter riding days
- Avoid sudden jumps that increase risk
Most nights are spent above 3,500 m, with several passes exceeding 4,000 m. You’ll receive clear guidance on hydration, pacing, and warning signs, giving you the best chance to enjoy the ride rather than fight the altitude. The car has an oxygen cylinder should it be requIred.
CULTURE & LANDSCAPE
This journey is as much about landscapes & culture as it is about riding. Along the route, you’ll experience:
- Ancient monasteries and prayer-flagged mountain passes
- Villages shaped by isolation and high-altitude survival
- Vast, silent landscapes where distance is measured in hours, not kilometers
- The world’s highest passes
- A Polish guide that speaks English and has a deep understanding of local culture.
Nothing is staged. These are working roads, lived-in valleys, and real communities — encountered naturally as part of the journey.
Ready to join?
DETAILS OF THE TOUR
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Umling La—and an Attempt on Mig La: Ride to Umling La, officially recognised as the world’s highest motorable road at approximately 5,798 metres. Then attempt the newly completed Mig La road, reported at approximately 5,913 metres.
- The new road across Zanskar: Follow the extraordinary Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, the new trans-Himalayan connection linking Zanskar Valley with Darcha and the Manali route. Recently constructed sections, river valleys, exposed mountain roads and the crossing of Shinku La make this one of the expedition’s wildest stages.
- Gonbo Rangjon: Zanskar’s Sacred Mountain: Ride beneath Gonbo Rangjon, a solitary rock peak rising dramatically above the Kargyak Valley. Considered sacred by the people of Zanskar, it is one of the most powerful landscapes encountered during the expedition.
- Eleven Days Among the High Passes: Cross a succession of legendary Himalayan passes, including Sirsir La, Singge La, Shinku La, Baralacha La, Nakee La, Hora La, Kaksang La and Chang La. Each brings a different combination of altitude, changing surfaces, unpredictable weather and immense mountain scenery.
- Four Great Himalayan Lakes: Discover four remarkable high-altitude lakes: the salt-rimmed Tso Kar, vast Tso Moriri, remote Kiagar Tso and the unmistakable blue waters of Pangong Tso. Their colours and surrounding landscapes shift constantly with the light, weather and altitude.
- The Remote Changthang Plateau: Ride across the vast Changthang plateau through Mahe, Nyoma, Chushul and Hanle. This sparsely populated border region is a world of open horizons, nomadic settlements, wild kiang and roads stretching towards the Tibetan Plateau.
- Gata Loops and the Manali–Leh Highway: Climb the 21 hairpin bends of the famous Gata Loops before crossing Nakee La and Lachulung La. Beyond them lie the high-altitude More Plains—one of the most memorable and cinematic stretches of the Manali–Leh Highway.
- Zanskar Valley: Enter one of the most isolated regions of the Indian Himalayas. Zanskar delivers narrow mountain roads, Buddhist villages, river crossings and raw landscapes that remained difficult to reach until the opening of the new road towards Darcha.
- Ladakh’s Buddhist Heritage: Visit some of Ladakh’s most celebrated Buddhist sites, including Alchi, Lamayuru and Thiksey monasteries. These ancient complexes add a cultural dimension to the expedition, revealing a region shaped as much by Tibetan Buddhism as by its mountains. Your guide is very knowledgeable and will help you understand the local culture.
- Leh and Hanle: Begin and finish in Leh, Ladakh’s historic high-altitude capital, with time to explore its bazaar and surrounding monasteries. Deep in eastern Ladakh, reach Hanle—an isolated settlement known for its clear skies and high-altitude astronomical observatory.
- Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: Ride the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, included as standard. Its manageable size, long-travel suspension and mountain-road character make it well suited to Ladakh’s mixture of asphalt, broken roads, gravel, steep passes and unpredictable surfaces.
WEATHER:
Himalayan Weather: Four Seasons in One Riding Day
If you don’t like the weather in the Himalayas, wait a few hours—it will probably change. The immense altitude and complex geography of Ladakh, Zanskar Valley and the Changthang plateau create different microclimates from one valley to the next. A morning can begin beneath a flawless blue sky, only for cloud, cold wind or rain to arrive several hours later. Conditions can also change dramatically during a single climb from a sheltered valley to a pass above 5,000 metres.
Our expedition takes place in August, generally one of the most favourable periods for motorcycle travel in the Indian Himalayas. Even so, mountain weather can never be guaranteed. Riders should be ready for intense sunshine, strong ultraviolet exposure, sudden cold winds, rain or sleet, and cold nights. The highest passes may feel close to freezing even when the valleys below are warm.
Bring equipment that can be layered quickly and expect to use both summer and cold-weather riding gear—sometimes on the same day. In the Himalayas, preparation matters far more than the forecast.
MOTORCYCLE GEAR:
Dress for safety
Choosing and wearing suitable protective riding gear is each rider’s individual responsibility. Every participant must bring their own. For this expedition, we strongly recommend adventure or hard-shell enduro boots with solid ankle, shin and impact protection. Soft touring or urban boots are not well suited to the rocky surfaces, rough roads and technical sections encountered in the Himalayas.
LUGGAGE:
Travel Light, Travel Well
In the Himalayas, every unnecessary kilogram eventually becomes someone’s problem. Pack light and bring only what you genuinely need. Each participant may bring one soft, waterproof travel bag weighing no more than 20 kg. Hard suitcases and oversized wheeled luggage cannot be accepted because space in the support vehicle is limited.
Your main luggage will travel in the support vehicle and may not be immediately accessible during the riding day. Use one compact, soft-sided and preferably waterproof soft bag. Hard suitcases and oversized wheeled luggage are not suitable because storage space in the support vehicle is limited.
Carry a small waterproof bag on the motorcycle for the essentials you may need during the day: water, an extra layer, waterproof gloves, sunglasses, sun protection, medication and personal documents.
Laundry will be possible at selected accommodations, so there is no need to pack fresh clothing for every day.
Fewer belongings mean quicker departures, easier hotel changes and more space for everyone’s equipment.
IMPORTANT, REMEMBER:
Visa for India: Each participant is responsible for obtaining the tourist visa or e-Visa required for their nationality. Passport and entry requirements can change, so check them well before departure and apply through the official Indian Visa Online portal.
Motorcycle Licence, International Driving Permit & passport: Every rider must bring:
- Their original, valid national motorcycle licence covering the category of motorcycle used on the tour
- A valid International Driving Permit for India—the 1949 Geneva Convention version
- Their passport must have minimum 6 months validity and at least 2 blank pages
The IDP does not replace your national licence: you must carry both throughout the tour. A participant arriving without the required documents may not be permitted to ride.
Altitude and Tour Difficulty: This expedition reaches extreme elevations, with several riding days above 5,000 metres. The 8/10 difficulty rating primarily reflects the altitude, remoteness, long riding days and changing road conditions. It does not mean that this is a technical hard-enduro tour. However, cold, fatigue and reduced oxygen can make otherwise manageable roads considerably more demanding.
Anyone who feels unwell must inform the tour leader immediately and must not attempt to hide or ignore symptoms. We carry an oxygen cylinder for emergency support, but supplementary oxygen is not a substitute for acclimatization, descent or professional medical treatment when required.
The sun is exceptionally strong at altitude. Bring high-factor sunscreen, ultraviolet-protective sunglasses, lip balm with sun protection and adequate drinking water.
Flights to and from Leh: Book the earliest available morning flight when travelling both to and from Leh. Weather, temperature and mountain winds can disrupt later flights, sometimes causing delays or cancellations.
When leaving India, allow a generous buffer before any connecting international flight. Do not book a tight same-day connection from Leh, as MotoBirds cannot accept responsibility for missed onward flights caused by weather or airline disruption.
MAXIMUM ALTITUDE:
5,913 m (Mig La)
meters above seal levelDAY BY DAY TOUR PROGRAM
DAY 1: Arrival in Leh
Welcome to Ladakh. Arrive in Leh, the high-altitude capital of the region, and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is deliberately unhurried, giving your body time to begin acclimatizing at approximately 3,500 metres.
Explore Leh Bazaar, rest at the hotel and take in your first views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. In the evening, meet the expedition team for the route briefing and motorcycle introduction.
DAY 2: Leh – Alchi – Lamayuru
The Himalayan motorcycle expedition begins along the Indus River Valley. After collecting the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 motorcycles, we leave Leh and ride west through a landscape of barren mountains, green river oases and ancient Buddhist settlements.
Visit Alchi Monastery before continuing towards Lamayuru, one of Ladakh’s oldest and most celebrated monastic sites. The final approach crosses the extraordinary eroded formations known as Lamayuru Moonland.
DAY 3: Lamayuru – Sirsir La – Singge La – Padum
Leave the main Ladakh highway and enter the remote mountain country leading towards Zanskar Valley. The route climbs across Sirair La and the much higher Singge La, passing isolated villages, narrow valleys and exposed sections of mountain road.
Expect broken surfaces, steep climbs and sections where the journey is dictated by the terrain. We eventually descend through the Zangla area and continue to Padum, the historic centre of Zanskar Valley.
DAY 4: Padum – Gonbo Rangjon – Shinku La – Jispa
Today we follow the spectacular Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road—the new trans-Himalayan connection linking Zanskar Valley with Darcha and the Manali route. The road passes beneath Gonbo Rangjon, a striking solitary rock peak considered sacred by the people of Zanskar. From there, we climb towards Shinku La at approximately 5,091 metres before descending into Himachal Pradesh and continuing to Jispa.
It is one of the expedition’s wildest days: remote valleys, river crossings, recently constructed roads and immense Himalayan scenery.
DAY 5: Jispa – Baralacha La – Gata Loops – Tso Kar
Ride north on the legendary Manali–Leh Highway, beginning with the climb to Baralacha La at approximately 4,890 metres. Beyond Sarchu, the road twists through the famous 21 hairpin bends of the Gata Loops.
We continue across Nakee La and Lachulung La before emerging onto the vast More Plains. The day ends beside Tso Kar, a remote salt lake surrounded by open grasslands and stark mountain ranges.
DAY 6: Tso Kar – Tso Moriri – Kiagar Tso – Hanle
A long and spectacular riding day through the Changthang plateau. From Tso Kar, we cross a landscape of salt flats, hot springs and high-altitude pastureland on the way to Tso Moriri, one of Ladakh’s largest and most beautiful mountain lakes.
We also pass the smaller Kiagar Tso before turning east through Mahe, Nyoma and Loma. Wild kiang, nomadic settlements and enormous open horizons accompany us towards Hanle, one of India’s most remote inhabited regions and home to a renowned high-altitude astronomical observatory.
DAY 7: Hanle – Umling La – Nyoma
Today we ride towards one of the defining objectives of the expedition: Umling La.
At approximately 5,798 metres, Umling La holds the officially measured Guinness World Record for the highest motorable road. The thin air, exposed terrain and immense scale of the surrounding mountains make reaching the pass a serious high-altitude achievement.
After photographs at the pass, we descend through the stark eastern Ladakh wilderness and continue to Nyoma.
DAY 8: Nyoma – Mig La Attempt – Nyoma
The expedition’s highest objective awaits: the newly completed road across Mig La, reported at approximately 5,913 metres.
Access to this sensitive border region is controlled and cannot be guaranteed in advance. Our attempt will depend on military authorisation, permits, road opening, weather and local conditions. If access is granted, this becomes the highest and most exclusive riding day of the expedition. After the attempt, we return to Nyoma for a second night.
DAY 9: Nyoma – Hora La – Kaksang La – Pangong Tso – Tangtse
Ride deeper into the Changthang wilderness on remote roads leading towards Pangong Tso. The route crosses Hora La and the formidable Kaksang La, rising to approximately 5,436 metres, before descending through the Chushul sector.
Pangong Tso finally appears between the mountains—a vast ribbon of deep blue water extending across the India–China border. We follow the lakeshore before continuing to Tangtse for the night.
DAY 10: Tangtse – Chang La – Thiksey – Leh
The final riding day delivers one more major Himalayan pass. From Tangtse, we begin the sustained climb towards Chang La, reaching approximately 5,360 metres before starting the long descent towards the Indus Valley.
On the return to Leh, we visit Thiksey Monastery, one of Ladakh’s most impressive Buddhist monasteries. The expedition finishes back in Leh with time to celebrate eleven extraordinary days across the Himalayas.
DAY 11: Departure from Leh
After breakfast, transfer to Leh Airport for your onward flight.
You leave Ladakh having crossed Zanskar Valley, the Changthang plateau and some of the world’s highest motorable mountain passes—an expedition shaped by altitude, isolation and the unpredictable character of the Himalayas.
The published itinerary describes the intended expedition route. Border restrictions, military instructions, landslides, road closures, weather and other local conditions may require the tour leader to modify the route.
YOUR OPINIONS
FROM GOOGLE
Google rating score: 5.0 of 5,based on 47 reviews
PRICE INCLUDES:
MOTORCYCLE
4X4 CAR
GUIDE
SUPPORT CAR
MOTORBIKE MAINTENANCE
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
TRANSPORT TO/FROM THE HOTEL
PERMITS
ACTIVITIES
Scheduled visits and entrance fees for Alchi, Lamayuru and Thiksey monasteries are included in the tour price.
INSURANCE
- Basic travel insurance.
- Tourist Guarantee Fund fee.
- Tourist Support Fund fee.
IMPORTANT: For an additional fee, there is an option to independently extend the insurance within the Signal Iduna Safe Travels and/or Global Rescue partner offer. The price of the tour includes basic travel insurance.
WELCOME PACK
PRICE NOT INCLUDES:
Personal Choices and Expenses
To keep the tour price clear and transparent, the following services and expenses are paid separately:
- International and domestic flights to and from Leh. Do not purchase airline tickets until MotoBirds confirms that the minimum group size has been reached.
- Tourist visa or e-Visa for India, if required for your nationality.
- Passport, national motorcycle licence, 1949 International Driving Permit and other personal documentation costs.
- Tests and vaccinations, if required.
- Personal motorcycle clothing and protective riding equipment.
- Motorcycle fuel.
- US$500 refundable motorcycle security deposit, payable in cash at the start of the tour. If damage to the motorcycle exceeds the deposit, the rider must pay the difference.
- Medical treatment, evacuation, rescue or repatriation expenses exceeding the limits of the basic MotoBirds travel insurance included in the package.
- Optional additional insurance or Global Rescue membership.
- Lunches and dinners in Leh.
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and other personal purchases.
- €600 single-room supplement, subject to availability. Single occupancy cannot be guaranteed at the family homestay or certain remote camps.
- Individual airport transfers outside the official tour dates: €30 per person.
- Additional accommodation outside the official tour dates. An extra night in Leh can be arranged for €90, including one airport transfer.
- Optional activities, attractions and entrance fees not specified in the itinerary.
- Tips and gratuities.
DEPOSIT FOR THE MOTORCYCLE:
A refundable security deposit of US$500 per motorcycle is required and must be paid in cash on the first day of the tour. The deposit will be returned after the motorcycle has been inspected, provided no chargeable damage has occurred. The deposit does not limit the rider’s financial responsibility: if the cost of repairing damage exceeds US$500, the rider must pay the difference.
