The 474 km long highway begins from Manali and is normally open from June 01 and officially closes on September 15 every year in practice it remains motorable till the end of October (‘official’ means that the Indian government won’t airlift you if you get trapped in snow).
A Motorbike Expedition from Manali to Ladakh is not a regular road trip where you travel from one point to another. There are so many factors to be considered before embarking on this epic adventure. This motorbike expedition to Leh Ladakh is filled by so many different kinds of obstacles which is the very reason adventure lovers prefer to go to Leh by road and not by taking a flight. From riding on high altitude passes to crossing rapid water crossings, you encounter so many challenges but the sheer adventure of it is what makes it rare and special. Over a period, you get a chance to experience pretty much everything that Ladakh has to offer.
Manali
Manali is a resort town nestled in the mountains of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh near the northern end of the kullu Valley in the Beas River Valley. Nestled in between the snow-capped slopes of the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges, Manali is one of the most popular hill stations in the country.
Jispa
Jispa is a quiet little hamlet in the Lahaul district of Himachal Pradesh, and there are abundant camps in Jispa for exploration. Perched at an altitude of 10,500ft. and sitting 120 km from Manali, Jispa is also an important stopover (for rest and better acclimatization) on the long.
Leh
The capital of the Ladakh district, Leh is towards the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir. It is perched at a height of 3505 m above sea level. The region is watered by the Zanskar River, which flows into the Indus River just below. The Stok mountain range lies just south of Leh, towards the north one can find the snow-capped Ladakh range.
Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley is also known as Ldumraâ which means Valley of flowers is located in the north east of Ladakh Valley. Nubra is a cold dessert at high altitude with minimal vegetation. Diskit Monastery is the ancient monastery with remarkably large structure in Nubra.
Pangong Lake
Situated in the midst of the Himalayas, the lake lies at the Indo-China border with part of the lake in India and the rest in China. Villages around Pangong reflect the rich Buddhist culture that the people have imbibed over time A unique feature of the lake is that it does not remain blue throughout the year or even the day, rather it changes colours from azure to light blue to green and grey too!