Guide

Manali To Leh Cycling Tour Highlights

  • Get on your bike and be ready for the most adventurous bike tour of your life riding via beautiful valleys and thililing routes
  • A perfect blend of adventurous, thrilling and cultural experiences, handpicked by Thrillophilia’s outdoor experts
  • Let the adrenaline rush pump through your veins as you drive through the world’s highest motorable passes like Khardung la and Lachalung la, Rohtang la, and Baralacha la.

Manali To Leh Cycling Tour Overview

About the Destination:

Ladakh is the emergent favorite of travelers, not just from India, but from the entire world. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains on all sides, the beauty of this place is unparalleled, and you will agree to that as soon as you set foot here. And despite being so far off and on the rain shadow side of the Himalayas, Ladakh is very well connected, especially the capital city of Leh. Apart from the main airport in the capital, you can arrive in Ladakh via road too, with highways coming in from Srinagar and from Manali, the latter being one of the most beautiful highways in the country.

And this is another reason why Ladakh is a favorite of adventure junkies. You can ride a bike till here, or can even cycle up to this beautiful land of Leh, some 11,400ft above sea level.


Quick info about Manali To Leh Cycling Tour:

Route: Manali - Marhi - Sissu - Jispa - Patseo - Sarchu - Pang - Tsokar - Rumptse - Leh - Khardung-La - Leh

Duration: 13 Days & 12 Night 

Start point: Manali

Endpoint: Leh

Passes Covered: Rohtang La (3879m), Baralacha La (4892 m), Nakli La (4800m), Lachalung La (5100m), Tanglang La (5350 m), and Khardung La (5602 m)

How to reach:

The tour starts from Manali. You can take a bus from Delhi. You can also fly from New Delhi to Kullu and take a bus from Kullu to Manali.

Manali To Leh Cycling Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Manali | The Unlimited Adventure

Day Highlights: Acclimatization ride to Naggar and Roerich art gallery (19 km away), Tibetan Bazaar, nature walks)

  • An overnight journey spanning 580 km to Manali
  • Get picked up from the bus station, and driven to the Ride Hotel.
  • After freshening up, take an early afternoon ride to Naggar and Roerich Art Gallery about 19 km away.
  • By evening, entertain yourselves with the sights of beautiful Fir and Pine forests while strolling around town.
  • One can also explore the Tibetan Bazaar and take a look at its authentic shawls, caps, jewelry, and all handloom, handicraft products made by the Tibetan refugees.
  • Retire for the night at the hotel your Manali to Leh by road tour begins tomorrow.
Day 2
Ride from Manali – Marhi (Uphill to camp at Marhi 35 km, 5 – 6 hour, Elevation 1250 m)

Day Highlights: Uphill cycling climb, verdant valleys and forests, Kothi village, Rohalla Falls, Marhi

  • Begin your day with breakfast and a ride around one of the most classic cycle routes in the world
  • Start by climbing through flower-laden valleys, Cedar, and Fir forests and cross numerous villages
  • Arrive at the village of Kothi and ride through hairpin curves to reach the Rohalla Falls
  • Post this, climb into a small valley at Marhi and camp there for the night
  • Overnight stay at the camp in Marhi
Day 3
Ride from Marhi – Sissu (53 km, 5- 6 hour drive, Elevation 1600 m)
  • Rise early and ascend some windy roads up to the mountains till you reach the peak of Rohtang La
  • Arrive at this bare pass, which is laden by snow for most parts of the year, by crossing the Pir Pinjal range and makes the prominent gateway to Ladakh
  • Climb downhill for 22 km till you reach Khoksar village and after a short detour, climb through meadows and little hamlets to arrive at Sissu
  • Overnight stay in the camp in Sissu
Day 4
Ride from Sissu – Jispa (‘Lahaul’ Sissu – Jispa 64 km, 6-7 hour Elevation 600 m)

Day Highlights: Lahaul Valley, Tandi, Chandrabhaga, Chamba Valley, Keylong, Jispa

  • Begin early from Sissu, nestled in the Lahaul Valley
  • Start cycling to Tandi, which is the meeting point of the rivers Chandrabhaga and Chenab and is thus known as the Chamba Valley
  • Leave Tandi and ascend to Keylong and after crossing a few uphill terrains, descend to Jispa about 37 km from Keylong
  • Overnight stay at camp in Jispa
Day 5
Ride from Jispa – Patseo (32 km ride, 3 – 4 hour, Elevation 500 m)


Day Highlights: Darcha (3235m), Patseo (3650m)

  • This is a day dedicated to acclimatizing to the climate and altitude of the higher Himalayas while traversing through verdant pastures to arrive at Darcha.
  • Here you can enjoy hot beverages at a local restaurant and then resume your uphill ride to Patseo.
  • This place which is alone tea house used to known as the venue of an annual fair for the Changpa nomads.
  • Overnight stay at Patseo
Day 6
Ride from Patseo – Sarchu (60 km ride, 6-7 hour, Elevation of 1400 m)

Day Highlights: Cross the second pass – Baralacha La Pass (4892 m), Barashigri, Chandrabhaga, and Mulkila, Killing Serai

  • This day will comprise of cycling through Himalayan terrains to Sarchu, the border between Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh
  • After a slow climb cutting through massive meadows after Zingzingbar, start your long climb to the peak of Baralacha La Pass where you can take in the serenity of the mighty Himalayas
  • The routes from Zanskar, Ladakh, Spiti, and Lahaul meet at this region thus giving it an appropriate name of Baralacha that means ‘a pass with crossroads’
  • This is also the viewpoint where you can marvel at the spectacle created by the snow-peaked mountains of Barashigri, Chandrabhaga, and Mulkila
  • It is from here where you can descend past Killing Serai to Sarchu
  • Overnight stay in the camps in Sarchu
Day 7
Ride from Sarchu – Pang (84 km ride, 8-9 hour, Elevation of 1200 m)

Day Highlights: Brandy nallah, Whisky Nallah, Gata Loops, hairpin curves, Nakli La (4800m), Lachalung La (5100m)

  • This will entail the longest period with your cycling tour from Manali to Leh, so begin early in the morning
  • Start off by ascending for about 38 km across the plains of Sarchu past Brandy Nallah and Whisky Nallah to the bottom of the Gata loops
  • You will traverse through some 22 amazing hairpin curves and after reaching the summit of the loops, you will have completely climbed 500 meters to reach the Nakli La
  • Post this, make a short descend and ride uphill through winding routes to arrive at the Lachalung La
  • Pass through the Zanskar range and cut through marvelous rock formations on your route before entering Pang
  • Overnight stay in the camp in Pang
Day 8
Ride from Pang – Tso-kar (57 km ride, 4-5 hour ride, Elevation of 400 m)

Day Highlights: Mori Plains (4700 m), Rupshu, Tso Kar Lake, Chandpas, Kiang

  • Begin your day with a short climb to the Mori Plains after which you land at Rupshu, also known as the high altitude desert of the Tibetan plateau
  • This area provides shelter to the Changpa tribes, Tibetan shepherds who dwell in tents made of Yak hair
  • After crossing this region, make your way along a sandy track to Tso Kar Lake where you can set up camp for the night near Pongunagu
  • Translated as ‘White Lake’, there are white deposits of white salt around this water body of Tso Kar Lake which explains the reason behind its name
  • You can head towards the camp which is only a few kilometers from the lake
  • Here you can come across ‘Kiang’ or wild arses, who roam around the surrounding hills, as well as birds
  • Overnight stay at the Camps near Tso-kar lake
Day 9
Ride from Tso – Kar – Rumptse (80 km ride, 6-7 hour, Elevation of 900 m)

Day Highlights: Tanglang La Pass (5350 m), Karakorum Mountains, Rumptse

  • Entailing a long day of cycling, start from Tso Kar and cross the last pass of the tour which is also the second-highest motorable pass in India, the Tanglang La
  • Bid adieu to the scenic areas of Tso Kar and cycle to the top of the pass where you can enjoy the mesmeric views of the Himalayas and Karakorum mountains
  • Take some rest here and continue on downwards to the first village since Lahaul’s Sissu
  • Overnight stay in a camp in Rumptse
Day 10
Ride from Rumptse – Leh (82 km ride, 7-8 hour, Elevation of 450 m)

Day Highlights: Kyamnar River, Upshi, Hemis monastery, Buddha statues, Karu, Tikse, two-storey statue of the Future Buddha, Shey palace, Choglamsar, Leh

  • Make an early start and ride following the Kyamnar River all the way to Upshi.
  • This is where you can join the Indus Valley which takes you to Leh.
  • You can take a diversion to pay a visit to the Hemis monastery, which is one of the largest and richest of all Ladakhi monasteries.
  • To reach this place of worship, climb 7 km after which you can visit ancient temples and priceless Buddha statues.
  • Cycle down to the main road by following the mighty Indus River till you cross Karu and reach Tikse where a beautiful monastery of Shey palace awaits you at the hilltop.
  • If time allows you, make a quick ride up to the monastery containing a two-story statue of the Future Buddha.
  • Surpass the Shey Palace and cycling through easy routes to reach Choglamsar which plays shelter to several Tibetan refugees and head onwards to Leh.
  • Here you can check into a hotel for the night.
  • Overnight stay at hotel in Leh
Day 11
Relaxation Day

Day Highlights: Leisure, Option of either heading to Pangong Lake or going rafting on Indus or rafting on Nimmu

  • Spend this entire day in leisure, by either making day trips to Pangong Lake or going rafting on the Indus
  • The other option is to cycle down to Nimmu and engage in some rafting sessions there
  • The day is for you to take some rest and get acclimatized to the weather
  • Overnight stay at the hotel in Leh
Day 12
Ride from Leh – Khardung La – Leh (80 km ride, Elevation of 2100 m)

 Day Highlights: Khardung La Pass (5602 m), Karakorums, Ladakh and Zanskar mountains

  • Begin with an early breakfast and leave from Leh with a packaged lunch
  • Ride around 6 hours to the peak of the pass where you can get mesmerized by the magnificent views of Leh
  • While the first half of the ride will be on tarmac, the last half will be on rough terrains
  • Get enchanted with the amazing sight of the Karakorum and Ladakh as well as Zanskar mountains
  • Make a quick stop here and cherish the views post which you can continue riding downhill to Leh where you can spend the night
  • Overnight stay at the Hotel in Leh
Day 13
Drive from Leh
  • After a hearty breakfast, bid adieu to the splendid environs of Leh and depart for your onward journey
  • Your bicycling tour from Manali to Leh cycling tour ends here

Select Package Options

Price Includes
  • Transfers

More Details about Manali To Leh Cycling Tour

Things To Carry for Manali To Leh Cycling Tour

  • Caps
  • Warm clothes
  • Head torch
  • Mosquito & insect repellent
  • Walking shoes
  • Water bottle
  • Extra pair of socks
  • Biking gears
  • Back pack (50-60l)
  • Toilet paper & wipes

Tour Difficulty for Manali To Leh Cycling Tour

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