Kolkata to Leh Ladakh – Complete Bike Trip Plan
Kolkata se Leh ki motorcycle ride India ki longest and most adventurous road trips mein se ek hai. Is journey mein West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir aur Ladakh cover honge.
My recommendation: Jaate waqt Srinagar route lo aur return mein Manali route, taaki dono Himalayan highways ka experience mile.
One-way distance: Approximately 2,500–2,700 km.
Round-trip distance: Approximately 5,500–6,000 km with Ladakh sightseeing.
Recommended duration: 26–30 days.
Route: Kolkata → Varanasi → Agra/Delhi → Amritsar → Jammu → Srinagar → Kargil → Leh.
The Kolkata–Leh distance varies by route. One published route estimate gives approximately 2,450–2,600 km.
1. Complete route map
2. Day-wise itinerary – 28 days
Kolkata to Leh – 9 days
Day | Route | Approx. distance |
|---|---|---|
1 | Kolkata → Dhanbad | 260–280 km |
2 | Dhanbad → Varanasi | 400–430 km |
3 | Varanasi → Lucknow | 315–330 km |
4 | Lucknow → Agra | 330–350 km |
5 | Agra → Delhi | 230–240 km |
6 | Delhi → Amritsar | 450 km |
7 | Amritsar → Jammu | 215–230 km |
8 | Jammu → Srinagar | 270–290 km |
9 | Srinagar → Sonamarg → Drass → Kargil | 200–210 km |
10 | Kargil → Lamayuru → Leh | 215–220 km |
Ladakh sightseeing – 9 days
Day | Route / activity | Approx. distance |
|---|---|---|
11 | Leh – rest and acclimatisation | Local |
12 | Leh – second acclimatisation day and local sightseeing | Local |
13 | Leh → Khardung La → Nubra Valley | 120–130 km |
14 | Nubra → Turtuk → Nubra | 160–180 km |
15 | Nubra → Pangong Lake | 170–200 km |
16 | Pangong → Chang La → Leh | 160–170 km |
17 | Leh → Hanle | 160–170 km |
18 | Hanle → Tso Moriri | 150–190 km |
19 | Tso Moriri → Leh | 220–240 km |
Return – 9 days
Day | Route | Approx. distance |
|---|---|---|
20 | Leh → Sarchu | 250–280 km |
21 | Sarchu → Jispa → Manali | 220–250 km |
22 | Manali → Chandigarh | 290–310 km |
23 | Chandigarh → Delhi | 250 km |
24 | Delhi → Agra | 230–240 km |
25 | Agra → Lucknow | 330–350 km |
26 | Lucknow → Varanasi | 315–330 km |
27 | Varanasi → Dhanbad | 400–430 km |
28 | Dhanbad → Kolkata | 260–280 km |
Note: This is a riding-heavy schedule. Keep 2–3 extra buffer days if possible. You can also remove Hanle and Tso Moriri if you want a less demanding trip.
3. Places to explore
Kargil War Memorial
Nubra Valley
Pangong Lake
4. Approximate trip budget
One rider, own motorcycle, 28 days, budget accommodation.
Expense | Estimated amount |
|---|---|
Petrol | ₹20,000–26,000 |
Accommodation | ₹18,000–28,000 |
Food | ₹17,000–22,000 |
Bike servicing and repairs | ₹5,000–8,000 |
Permits and miscellaneous | ₹3,000–5,000 |
Total | ₹63,000–89,000 |
Keep an additional ₹15,000–20,000 for emergencies. Actual petrol costs depend heavily on your bike's mileage and total detours.
5. Road status and best season
The Manali–Leh highway is officially closed for winter.
Srinagar–Leh is also seasonal; the Zoji La section is particularly weather-sensitive.
The Ladakh PWD road-status page shows a 2 November 2026 update, but the status fields are blank. Do not treat this as confirmation that the highway is open.
Home+1
For 2027, target July or August, but confirm opening dates and traffic restrictions before leaving Kolkata.
Official information:
6. Motorcycle preparation
For a 5,500–6,000 km expedition:
Complete servicing before departure.
Carry a puncture repair kit, inflator, basic tools and spare cables.
Check tyres, brake pads, chain, battery and clutch.
Carry rain gear for the eastern plains and warm layers for Ladakh.
Plan fuel carefully beyond Tandi and around remote Ladakh routes.
Acclimatise in Leh for at least 48 hours before higher-altitude sightseeing.
Check permits for restricted areas such as Nubra, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri.
