Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Kolkata to Leh Ladakh – Complete Bike Trip Plan

 

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.

Recommended: July–August 2027
26–30 days
  • 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.

Ladakh+1

1. Complete route map

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Use two fingers to move the map
Use ctrl + scroll to zoom the map
All groups

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

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

Status: 3 November 2026
  • 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.

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