Cycling the highest motorable road in the world, the Khardung La pass turned out be a steep, steep climb and one that we could not possibly do, at least not now. So we thought why not cycle downhill.

Before committing to a trip in the Himalayas, I had been meaning to cycle the Manali to Leh stretch which involved climbs totaling up to around 8,000m - almost the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest from sea level and atop barren Baralacha La pass.

We were in the phase of travelling where everything was exotic; every climb, no matter how tough and crazy it sounded, we had to do it, to cycle the highest motorable road in the world on the Khardung La stretch. And a Leh Ladakh bike trip was in order.

Once we arrived in Manali with barely there roads, landslides, deplorable conditions, we changed our minds.

It may have been beautiful and the landscapes afterall are the best places to see in Manali but the violent water crossings, abrupt landslides and swerving hair-pin bends required a careful consideration of what could have been at stake.

There’s a video of my cycling experience, towards the end of this post.

Also Read: Cycling in India: On The Leh to Srinagar Highway

Leh Ladakh Bike Trip: Cycling the Highest Motorable Road In The World

Here we were cutting short our trip and starting it off with Khardung La, cycling the highest motorable road in the world. We reached the bike shop at Summer Holiday in Leh where we had an array of Merida and TREK mountain bikes to choose from.

The plan was simple. We would be driven up to the pass with other riders from Leh to Khardung La covering 40km and we would roll down back at our own pace whenever we were ready.

Also, if you decided to do a proper cycling tour, you could check out this pre-arranged cycling tour version that takes care of everything from Srinagar to Leh.

Being a construction worker on the highest motorable road in the world is a fate I wouldn’t wish upon anyone

We could not have been more transfixed by the sight of the Himalayas and the little specs of green shrubs in Khardung La

Unending panoramic mountain sights. The view of the Himalayas on a two-wheeler is quite a sight to behold

It was a far cry from the roads that we experienced on the bumpy bus rides. Cycling downhill on the highest motorable road in the world was a pure treat as we took in the cold HImalayan air and stopped to gaze at the Stok range, something which we probably would not enjoy if we had chose to cycle uphill.

We came across cyclists who were unrelenting, wild-eyed and determined to reach the top. The slowness, steep inclines and pain were written all over their faces.

I wondered if the idea of hitch-hiking had crossed their minds, or they realised a bit of over-optimism may be good in the long run.

In stretches as barren as this, the only reminder that this was not that remote and perhaps the 21st century was when we had tourist jeeps and bullets starting their Leh Ladakh bike trip by revving up their engines every now and then.

Riding as far as we could to get a view of the Stok range while cycling the highest motorable road in the world

Curves, mountains and a green oasis. If only this was a permanent fixture in my life.

If you are interested on an adventure of any scale, I would urge you get on a bike, especially on the highest motorable road in the world.

Something so deeply satisfying about riding the roof of the world or the highest motorable road in the world and stopping to just take a look at the mighty Himalayas

Here’s a video of my highlights while cycling downhill

We reached the base in 3 hours (quite possibly the slowest) as we took a lot of time to stop and take pictures, while the fastest person to reach the base was probably in 60 minutes.

Most of them maneuvered their bikes with great skill, while I just took on the road with careful precision ensuring never to crash onto an oncoming vehicle on the sharp blind corners.

As I end this post, I am reminded of how entirely achievable it is to do something even if you find yourself measuring your achievements against others, or being fully unprepared (though it wouldn’t hurt to come back stronger to perhaps cycle uphill on the highest motorable road in the world or even better cycling in the Pamir highway!)

Even if you want a feel of riding, without struggling on the road for days, the long downhill ride can provide one of the best ways to admire the ragged peaks of the Himalayan ranges and use this time wisely to daydream especially on a Leh Ladakh bike trip. But frankly, with roads like this these, who needs to dream?

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