Khardung La & Nubra Valley — Leh to Hunder SandDunes.
Distance
250 km
Duration
2 days
Climb
4,000 m
Khardung La & Nubra Valley — Leh to Hunder Sand Dunes.
One of the most legendary motorcycle journeys on the planet — riding over Khardung La (5,359m), once claimed as the highest motorable road on Earth, then descending into the high-altitude desert of Nubra Valley to reach the Bactrian camel-grazed sand dunes of Hunder. Open only May–October. Inner Line Permit required (obtainable in Leh).
Quick facts
SurfaceMixed
Distance250 km
Days2
Total climb4,000 m
DifficultyExpert
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2 days, 2 moods.
A suggested split across 2 days with 7 waypoints to discover along the way.
LehStart · Start in Leh (3,500m). Obtain Inner Line Permit at the DC Office before departure. Acclimatise for 2+ days before attempting Khardung La if arriving by air.
Khardung La (5,359m)Mountain Pass · Once claimed as the highest motorable pass on Earth at 5,359m. Stop only briefly — altitude here causes rapid breathlessness. Prayer flags, Indian Army canteen with hot chai.
Diskit MonasteryScenic Point · Oldest gompa in Nubra (14th century). 32m gilded Maitreya Buddha statue overlooks the Shyok valley. Drop-jaw dramatic siting on a hill above the river.
Diskit VillageOvernight · Overnight in Diskit (3,144m). Several guesthouses and dhabas. Lower altitude than Leh — sleep is easier here.
Hunder Sand DunesPhoto Spot · High-altitude sand dunes at 3,000m. Bactrian (two-humped) camels here are descendants of the Silk Road caravan trade. Best at sunrise or sunset.
Khardung La returnMountain Pass · Cross Khardung La heading south. The descent from the pass is dramatic — switchbacks down toward the Indus Valley.
LehEnd · End back in Leh. Celebrate with a warm meal in the old town. Total around 250km round trip.
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