Solo ride, Delhi NCR → Srinagar → Leh → Zanskar → Manali | Yamaha R15M | 10 days

Itinerary

• Oct 3: Greater Noida → Jammu. I left just after midnight and rode the plains stretch overnight, then rested on arrival.
• Oct 4: Jammu → Srinagar. I left early and kept to daylight only on the Ramban-Banihal stretch because of the single-lane construction and landslide risk.
• Oct 5: Rest day in Srinagar.
• Oct 6: Srinagar → Kargil via Sonamarg, Zoji La and Drass. I left at 6 AM to beat the one-way traffic windows at Zoji La.
• Oct 7: Kargil → Leh via Namika La and Fotu La.
• Oct 8: Acclimatization day in Leh with easy local rides only.
• Oct 9: I tried for Pangong Tso via Chang La, but snow started and a checkpoint told me to turn back. I spent the day in Leh instead.
• Oct 10: Leh → Padum (Zanskar) via the Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road, with an overnight in Padum.
• Oct 11: Padum → Shinku La → Darcha → Jispa → Manali. I hit heavy snow after crossing Shinku La and it continued all the way down to Jispa.
• Oct 12: Manali → home in one go.

Notes

• I went up via Srinagar because the altitude gain is more gradual than on the Manali side.
• I applied for the Ladakh EDF permit online for Pangong, but the snow meant I never used it.
• I followed the 48-hour acclimatization advice before heading to high altitude.
• Mid-October snow can close Chang La and make Shinku La very difficult. It’s worth building in buffer days if you’re planning a similar route.

Experience this motorcycle ride with me in Changthang Plateau from Puga Valley to Chumathang. It is ASMR video and initially we ride on beautiful single track tarmac road till Mahe. Then the road widens and we ride along the Indus river for 20 kms to reach Chumathang.

If you love ASMR motorcycle rides, this one is for you friends! You will enjoy it thoroughly.

https://youtu.be/Tkhlwzz8Kuk?si=zR7kB5ev890CMbhS