Riding to Mig La and Umling La: The Spiti Valley and Ladakh Motorcycle Tour to the World's Highest Roads

There is one motorcycle route in the world that lets you ride to the highest road on Earth, cross a Guinness World Records certified pass, sleep under some of the darkest skies on the planet, and pass through a thousand year old monastery, all in the same trip. That route runs from the green foothills of Himachal Pradesh, through Spiti Valley, across into Ladakh, and finally up to Mig La at 5,913 metres. This is not the standard Manali to Leh loop. This is the complete Himalayan traverse, and it belongs on every serious rider's bucket list.

The 17 day Spiti Valley and Ladakh Motorcycle Tour is the most ambitious ride in our catalogue. It is also the most rewarded when you finish it.

The World's Highest Motorable Road Is Now Officially Mig La

For years, the title of world's highest motorable road belonged to Khardung La, then to Umling La. In 2023, that record was broken by Mig La Pass at 5,913 metres, or roughly 19,400 feet. Guinness World Records has officially certified Mig La as the highest motorable road on Earth. There is no higher road that a motorcycle can ride to, anywhere.

That single fact is why this tour exists. Every serious motorcycle traveller eventually wants to say they rode the highest road in the world. This is the tour that gets you there, on a Royal Enfield Himalayan, with full support.

Umling La at 5,883 metres, the second highest motorable road, is included on the same day. You ride both in a single 250 kilometre round trip from the ultra remote village of Hanle. Two world record roads. One unforgettable day.

Why Combine Spiti Valley with Ladakh Instead of Just Riding Ladakh

Most Ladakh motorcycle tours skip Spiti Valley. That is a mistake. Spiti is what makes this route the complete Himalayan traverse rather than just another Leh loop.

Riding straight into Ladakh from Manali gives you high passes and Buddhist culture, but the landscape stays similar throughout. The Spiti route changes character every single day. You start in green forests around Jibhi and the Tirthan Valley, then climb into apple orchard country in Kalpa where the Sutlej River cuts through the mountains. From there the land turns dry and dramatic through Tabo and Kaza, the capital of Spiti, before you cross Kunzum Pass into Lahaul and eventually Ladakh.

By the time you reach Leh you have already ridden through five distinct landscapes. When you then push on to Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Hanle, Umling La and Mig La, you have covered close to 3,000 kilometres across some of the most varied terrain on Earth.

Riders who have done both routes tell us the Spiti approach adds a week to the trip but doubles the experience.

The Route in Detail

The tour begins in Delhi with an arrival day and airport pickup. Day two is a 250 kilometre ride to Chandigarh, still on the plains, giving your body time to adjust to Indian roads and traffic before the mountains begin.

From Chandigarh you climb into the Himalayan foothills to Jibhi in the Tirthan Valley. This is one of the most underrated stretches of Himachal, quiet and green with waterfalls and old wooden temples. The next day takes you deeper into the mountains along the cliff hugging road that follows the Sutlej River into Kinnaur Valley, ending in Kalpa with its jaw dropping views of the Kinnaur Kailash peak.

The ride from Kalpa to Tabo is where the landscape changes completely. The green fades into the trans Himalayan desert, and you arrive at the Tabo Monastery, over a thousand years old and often called the Ajanta of the Himalayas for its ancient frescoes. From Tabo a short ride takes you to Kaza, the capital of Spiti Valley, passing the cliff perched Dhankar Monastery on the way.

The next stretch is one of the most demanding of the tour. From Kaza you cross Kunzum Pass at 4,590 metres into Lahaul, then push on over Baralacha La at 4,890 metres to Jispa. The following day you ride into Ladakh proper, crossing Taglang La at 5,328 metres and descending into the Rupshu Valley to the remote white salt lake at Tsokar.

From Tsokar it is a shorter ride to Leh across the More Plains, and then a rest day in Leh at 3,500 metres to acclimatise properly before the highest sections. This rest day is not optional. Riders who skip acclimatisation are the ones who get sick at altitude later.

The classic Ladakh section follows. Khardung La at 5,602 metres, the sand dunes of Nubra Valley, the mesmerising blue of Pangong Lake straddling the Indo China border. Then the ride pushes into the ultra remote Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary to Hanle, home to one of the world's highest astronomical observatories and some of the darkest skies you will ever sleep under.

From Hanle the biggest day of the tour begins. You ride to Umling La at 5,883 metres, then continue to Mig La at 5,913 metres. Time at the top is short because the air is thin and the weather changes quickly, but the achievement lasts forever. You then return to Hanle for the night. The final ride back to Leh covers 275 kilometres of the same stunning terrain in reverse, and the tour concludes with a flight from Leh back to Delhi.

The Cost of the Tour

The full 17 day Spiti Valley and Ladakh Motorcycle Tour is priced at USD 2,900 per rider. Pillion riders are USD 1,440. Single room supplement is USD 470 extra for riders who want a private room throughout.

In Euro that works out to approximately 2,690 for the rider and 1,340 for the pillion. In Pound Sterling it is approximately 2,300 and 1,140. Australian dollar pricing comes to roughly 4,370 and 2,170. These are guideline conversions based on typical exchange rates.

A minimum 30 percent deposit confirms your booking. The remaining balance can be paid in three instalments or in cash on arrival in Delhi. We accept PayPal and international bank transfer for the deposit.

What the Price Covers

The USD 2,900 covers sixteen nights of accommodation in double or twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner included throughout. A Royal Enfield Himalayan is provided for the entire tour, which is genuinely the right motorcycle for this terrain. It handles the passes, the gravel, the river crossings and the altitude in a way that no other bike in India does.

A one way economy flight from Leh back to Delhi is included, which saves you a difficult two day ride back through the same passes at the end of the tour. Fuel for the entire journey is covered. All inner line permits, which are mandatory for riders visiting Nubra, Pangong, Hanle and the Mig La sector, are handled by us before you arrive. A backup vehicle follows the group throughout with luggage, spare parts and space for any rider who needs to sit out a section. A dedicated mechanic travels with the group. All airport transfers in Delhi are included.

Exclusions are lunch, drinks, personal travel and medical insurance, monument entrance fees and tips. Realistic all in budget for a rider on this tour is between USD 3,300 and 3,700 depending on insurance and personal spending.

Departure Dates for 2026

We run four departures on this route each year, all timed for the summer riding season when the high passes are open.

The 2026 dates are 12 to 28 July, 18 July to 3 August, 15 to 31 August, and 18 September to 4 October.

The July and August dates are the peak season with the best weather and the most stable road conditions. The September departure runs later in the season, quieter, with dramatic autumn light and fewer riders on the passes. All four departures have a maximum group size that we cap deliberately to keep the experience personal.

Riders typically book four to six months in advance because inner line permits and flight tickets need to be arranged well before departure. The July departures usually fill first.

The Best Season to Ride Ladakh and Spiti

The riding season for the full Spiti to Ladakh circuit runs from mid June to early October. Outside this window the high passes are closed by snow and simply cannot be crossed on a motorcycle.

Within the season, mid July to late August is the sweet spot. The weather is stable, the passes are clear, and the mountain streams that cross the roads are manageable rather than dangerous. Early July can still have snow on the higher passes. Late September is stunning but cold, with sub zero nights in Hanle and Nubra.

If you are travelling from a country where summer heat pushes you to escape to the mountains, this tour lines up perfectly with the July and August school and work holiday windows. Riders from the UK, Germany, Australia, the USA, France, Italy and across Europe make up the majority of our groups on this route.

What You Need to Bring

We provide the Royal Enfield Himalayan, the backup vehicle, the mechanic, fuel and all permits. You need to bring a valid passport with at least six months of validity, an Indian tourist visa arranged before you fly, and an International Motorcycle Driving Permit. The permit is mandatory. Your home country motorcycle licence alone will not be accepted at the checkpoints.

Riding gear is essential. Helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, knee and elbow protection. The temperature swings are enormous on this tour. You can start the day at 25 degrees Celsius in a valley and be at minus 5 degrees at a pass four hours later. Layering is the only strategy that works. Bring thermal base layers, a fleece or down mid layer, and a proper waterproof shell.

Sunscreen and lip balm matter more than you think. The UV at 5,000 metres is brutal even on cool days. Sunglasses with proper UV protection are essential. Personal medications, altitude medication if you use it, and cash in USD or INR for personal expenses. ATMs disappear once you leave Leh, so carry enough cash for the second half of the tour.

What Riders Ask Most Often About This Tour

The single most common question is whether the riding is too technical for someone who has not done the Himalayas before. The honest answer is that this route demands solid riding skill and previous experience with adventure or off road conditions. It is not a beginner tour. Long days at altitude, gravel and sand sections, river crossings, and sustained riding above 4,500 metres all take a physical and mental toll. Riders who have done Ladakh, Spiti or high altitude tours elsewhere will find this manageable and rewarding. Riders whose experience is limited to European or American highways will find it genuinely hard.

Altitude sickness is the second concern. The tour is designed with gradual acclimatisation. You do not fly straight into Leh at 3,500 metres and then push higher immediately. You climb slowly through Kalpa, Tabo and Kaza before crossing into Ladakh, and the rest day in Leh is protected. We carry oxygen and altitude medication in the backup vehicle throughout. Riders with prior altitude experience do best. If you have never been above 3,000 metres, arrive a day or two early and rest.

Fitness matters but not in the way people expect. You are sitting on a bike, not climbing mountains. But long riding days at altitude will drain even fit riders. If you can walk 10 kilometres comfortably at home, you will manage the physical demand. Cardio fitness helps with the altitude.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is the right bike for this route. It handles the terrain, the weight, the fuel range and the mechanical demands of the high passes better than any other motorcycle available in India for touring. If you have ridden BMW GS, KTM 390 Adventure or similar bikes at home, you will adjust to the Himalayan within an hour of leaving Delhi.

If you cannot ride a specific section due to weather, altitude, mechanical issues or fatigue, the backup vehicle always has space. There is no pressure to push through anything you are not comfortable with. Many riders skip one or two of the hardest days and still complete the tour. Every rider makes it to Mig La if they want to.

Pillion riders on this tour are welcome and common. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is comfortable for two on long days, and the pillion cost of USD 1,440 makes this an accessible option for couples travelling together.

Why This Tour Ranks Higher Than a Standard Ladakh Ride

Anyone can offer a Manali to Leh motorcycle tour. Hundreds of operators in India do exactly that. What makes this specific tour different is the combination of three things.

First, the Spiti Valley section adds a week of variety that a straight Ladakh tour simply cannot match. The cultural depth of Tabo, Dhankar and Key monasteries, and the visual contrast between Kinnaur greenery and Spiti desert, changes the entire experience.

Second, Mig La and Umling La are the ultimate achievement in high altitude motorcycling and few operators run the full Hanle sector properly. The permits, the remote logistics, the backup vehicle capable of reaching Mig La, and the local knowledge to time the ride correctly all require experience most operators do not have.

Third, the tour is designed for the international rider from day one. Flight included from Leh back to Delhi. Airport transfers included. Permits handled for you. Support vehicle throughout. English speaking road captain. USD pricing quoted upfront with no hidden extras.

We have been running Himalayan motorcycle tours since 2006. Our riders on this route have come from the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, the United States, France, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Sweden. The tour has run every summer for years and continues to be one of our most requested trips.

Related Tours You May Also Consider

If the full 17 day Spiti and Ladakh circuit is more than your holiday schedule allows, you may prefer the shorter Ladakh only Himalayan Motorcycle Tour, or the Mig La Pass Expedition which focuses on the world record pass without the Spiti prelude. Riders who want to combine motorcycle touring with the Taj Mahal often add the Golden Triangle before or after this ride.

Ready to Ride the World's Highest Road

Mig La at 5,913 metres. Umling La at 5,883 metres. Two Guinness World Records. Sixteen nights in the highest terrain rideable on a motorcycle. This is not an ordinary holiday. This is the ride you will describe for the rest of your life.

To book or ask questions, message us on WhatsApp at plus nine one nine eight seven one three two seven nine seven seven. We reply within an hour even across time zones. You can also email info at motorcycletoursindia dot com or call plus nine one nine eight one one three two three six seven six.

Spots on the 2026 departures are limited and going fast. If Mig La has been on your list, this is the year.