Introduction 

From the verdant hills of Himachal Pradesh to the beige sand dunes and mountains of Ladakh, from the vibrant hues of flowers growing in Manali to leh bike trip , as you travel further along the highway on your bike, you will be blessed with views that will sweep you off your feet. The azure rivers and the snow-capped peaks are the perfect backdrop to all your pictures and are a treat for your sore eyes. During these 11 days, you will be covering a distance of more than 450 kilometers at an average elevation of 13000 ft. 

Trip Itinerary 

Day 1 : Reach Manali either by air (Kullu Manali Airport), by rail ( Joginder Nagar Station) or by road. For all three options, buses provided by Himachal Tourism Road Corporation are available. Visit tourist spots and local markets for the rest of the day. Retire to your respective hotels for the night.

Day 2 : Manali to Jispa covering a distance of 140 kms crossing Rohtang La Pass and Atal Tunnel.

Day 3 :Jispa to Padum (Ladakh) through the Shingo La Pass.

Day 4 : Padum to the capital city of Kargil covering a distance of 240 kms.

Day 5 : Kargil to Leh in roughly 4-5 hours.

Day 6:Leh to Nubra Valley through the Khardung La Pass. 

Day 7: Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake and Tangtse Village.

Day 8: Pangong Tso to Leh, at a distance of 158 kms.

Day 9: Leh to Sarchu through More Plains and Gata Loops. You will also cross the twin passes of Lachung La and Nakee La.

Day 10: Return to Manali after crossing the Baralacha La Pass.

Day 11: Explore the vibrant culture of Manali and head to your departure destination.

Manali to Leh : Explore the beauty of the landscape.

First Leg of the Journey: The journey starts from the picturesque hill station of Manali nestled in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. This place provides a mesmerizing view of the mighty Himalayan ranges and the gushing Beas River. A little further ahead of this town is the scenic Solang Valley which is adorned by verdant meadows and grasslands. To reach Jispa, you will have to cross the Rohtang Pass which serves as a bridge between Kullu and Lahaul Valley. It is a beautiful location as you can get an unobstructed view of the Pir Panjal range. As you travel along the glistening Bhaga river, you will reach the village of Jispa. You could spend a day exploring the lush grasslands and surrounding natural attractions. As you proceed towards Ladakh's Zanskar Valley, you will have to cross the Shingo La Pass which offers breathtaking views of the snow-covered peaks and natural crystal, the Drang Drung Glacier. When you arrive at Padum along the banks of the River Zanskar, you will be captivated by the lush meadows and the flowing rivers, set against the barren mountains. Once you proceed towards Kargil, you will encounter slightly rough terrains but the vistas compensate for it. You will also be blessed with enchanting visuals of the Zanskar Range during your journey.

Second Leg of the Journey: From Kargil you will head towards the town of Leh situated at an altitude of 3500 meters. On the way, you will pass by dense alpine forests which will soon transform into barren cold deserts filled with sand dunes. Since Leh is a popular tourist destination, there are more signs of civilization as compared to the other regions but nevertheless, the views are amazing , especially from the Leh Palace which offers a panoramic picture of the entire town and surrounding peaks. As you proceed towards the 'Orchard of Ladakh', the Nubra Valley, you will have to pass the world's second highest motorable pass, the Khardung La pass. From this point onwards, the colour scheme changes from green to beige as you enter the cold desert of Ladakh. Surprisingly, when you reach the Nubra Valley, the landscape turns green again. This picturesque location was initially called the valley of flowers or 'Ldumra' because of its vibrant wildflowers and lush meadows. That being said, as you explore nearby areas, you will get to experience camel rides amidst the magnificent sand dunes. You could  also visit the quaint Shyok Village along the gushing Shyok River, famous for the Diskit Monastery. The following day, you will be visiting the Pangong Tso (Lake), the world's highest saltwater lake. The most unique feature of this lake is that it changes colours from crystal blue to turquoise to red or sometimes golden. In contrast to the barren mountains in the vicinity, it appears like a precious gemstone. As you head back towards Leh, you will be traversing the Chang La Pass, a challenging stretch of this trip but the accompanying visuals ease the mind.

Third Leg of the Journey: The journey from Leh to Manali will now take you through Sarchu, situated on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. It is adorned by rocky ridges and barren lands which are occasionally cut by rivers. To reach Sarchu, you will have to cross the highest point of this entire stretch, the Tanglang Pass. Further down the road, you will encounter the natural rollercoaster consisting of 21 hairpin bends, the Gata Loops and the twin passes of Lachung La and Nakee La known for their rock formations and cliffs. After crossing these challenging terrains lies a vast expanse of a straight road through hills and meadows called the Table-top of the Earth, the More Plains. Towards the end of the journey, you will come across the Baralacha La Pass, a beautiful location adorned by glacial lakes and the flowing Chandra river. As you return to Manali, explore the vibrant culture of the place.

Conclusion 

The bike trip from Manali to Leh is every adventure enthusiast's dream. That being said, there are so many natural landforms on the way that you can help but be mesmerized by the beauty of this Himalayan region. Therefore, ensure to keep your camera rolls ready!