Motorbike rental in Leh, Ladakh

A rugged land, known for being home to some of the world’s highest roads, Ladakh is the dream destination for an adventure off the beaten track. This Indian region, nestled in the Himalayas, offers a variety of landscapes and wide-open spaces simply waiting to be explored. Interspersed with dizzyingly high summits, reaching up to 8,000 m, Ladakh is spread out across magnificent lunar landscapes and deep valleys, carved out by erosion. From Tibetan monasteries perched in the mountains to small remote villages set in the valleys, visiting Ladakh is a journey back in time!

Designed like a roadbook, and illustrated with a multitude of maps and photos, EXPLORE LADAKH is both a tool and guide for independent travellers who wish to discover, understand, and explore Ladakh. We offer in this book a selection of 12 unexplored trails, to discover by motorbike, 4×4 or bicycle.

Before choosing your motorbike, it is important to know the condition of the roads and tracks you will take.

The roads between Manali, Leh and Srinagar (via Kargil) are paved and well-maintained. The road to the the Nubra Valley via Kardung La Pass is also paved.

Apart from these routes, you will ride on more or less well maintained mountain tracks. Some tracks are in very good condition because they are regularly maintained by the army, but not all of them. Landslides are frequent and stones can be found on the roads. There are many fords, especially during the spring snowmelt.

Bear in mind that you will be on some of the world’s highest roads. The gradient on these routes can occasionally reach 30% so a powerful motorbike is highly recommended. Don’t forget that on top of your own weight you need to add the weight of your gear, equipment and fuel reserves, which will quickly load and slow down the motorbike.

Bear in mind that the conditions can be extreme due to snow and a slippery road surface, especially on mountain passes. The majority of the routes are on stony or sandy tracks, so a trail bike is highly recommended.

As a general rule, be careful and never drive at night.

Due to increasing demand, the local authorities have decided to introduce tighter controls on motorbike rental in Ladakh.

The rental prices are regulated, fixed and non-negotiable. Above is the list of motorbikes which you can find in rental agencies in Leh, along with the price per day for 2022. In July and August, we recommend you reserve in advance.

Confronted with these different possibilities, our choice for exploring Ladakh went naturally to the 411 cc Royal Enfield Himalayan. This latest model is perfectly adapted for the routes we outline in the book. With suspension designed for off-road riding and off-road tyres, we chose this motorbike so as to have no constraints when it came to exploring. There are two models of the Himalayan: 2016, 2018 and 2021. We strongly recommend going for the 2 latest model as it has a new fuel injection system which allows the motor to work better at high altitudes.

Safety check

Before hitting the road, it is important to perform several safety checks on your motorbike! The first thing is to check the state of the tyres; which should still have ample tread bars. Check their pressure and adjust it as required before setting off. If you are riding with a pillion then slightly deflate your tyres. Next, make sure to check the oil level (even if you are going to travel with a supply of oil), the condition of the brake pads and the chain. As a general rule, always check everything to do with the transmission (tension, tuning and lubrication need to be perfect). Finally, check the suspension carefully. If it is possible to adjust it, do it as part of the agreed additional charges.

Fuel management

There aren’t a huge amount of service stations. You can find them on the general map of the book EXPLORE LADAKH. Allow for carrying two 5 litre cans of fuel. In general, you can ride 25 or 30 km per litre of fuel. This gives you about 625 km of self-sufficiency if you are riding the Himalayan 410 with two 5-litre cans.

Fuel consumption varies according to the model of motorbike. The rental agency will be able to give you the most accurate information for each motorbike.

Inner Line Permit

Access to certain areas of Ladakh is restricted for visitors. In order to be able to access these areas (where most of the routes described in this book are located) you must apply for an Inner Line Permit. Visitors will also need to get hold of a Protected Area Permit. Please find all the informations about this special Permit and the map of restricted areas in this article : How to get the Inner line Permit ?

Most of the bike rental agencies are located in Leh. Please note that it is forbidden to ride in Ldakh with a bike rented outside Ladakh (like Manali for example). Here is a selection of very serious and professional bike rental companies in Leh.