Planning is complete, now comes the most cumbersome stage that is, preparing for the long and sensational Ladakh ride.
New to this blog ? checkout “Chapter 1 of, Ladakh – Ultimate journey to the land of sensational passes“.
WHERE TO START
As I prepared for this journey, my mind was a whirlwind of uncertainty. I found myself spiraling through a never-ending list of questions that every rider eventually faces:
- The Gear Dilemma: What are the absolute essentials to carry, and what is just dead weight?
- The Machine: Which motorcycle modifications are truly necessary to survive the high-altitude passes, and which are just for show?
- The Budget: How much funding is actually enough to cover fuel, food, and emergencies?
- The Currency Question: In an increasingly digital world, do I still need to stash emergency cash for the remote corners of the mountains?
- The Shelter Debate: Is it better to seek the warmth and culture of a local homestay, or should I brave the elements and set up camp?
- The Bureaucracy: Which specific permits are mandatory for entering Ladakh, and how do I navigate the paperwork?
The truth is, these questions are endless, but there are no right or wrong answers—only choices that define your own journey. I’ve seen riders pass me on bicycles carrying next to nothing, and others on massive adventure tourers loaded down like freight trains. I’ve seen locals conquer mountain passes on 100cc commuters while high-tech sports bikes struggled with the terrain.
The reality is that no setup is perfect. Whether you are a veteran or a novice, you will never have it all figured out on your first day. However, after thousands of kilometers on the road, I realized that the secret to a successful expedition doesn’t lie in the most expensive gear or the biggest engine. The answer to almost every challenge the road throws at you can be boiled down to three words: Keep it simple. The more complex you make your setup, the more things there are to break, lose, or weigh you down. Strip away the fluff, focus on the essentials, and let the ride be about the road, not the baggage.
How much money, I need FOR Ladakh trip ?
Ladakh can be travelled with least amount of money and sometimes even thousands of bucks are not enough. The first question is budget.
Budget depends on personal choices, you are ok with economy, necessities or absolute necessities. Same goes for Ladakh.
One can chose to stay in personal camps, homestays, hostels, budget hotels or luxury hotels / camps.
Cost of stay
- Personal camping – staying in personal tents and sleeping bag can cost cheaper. But, there is an element of risk involved in it. However, on higher altitudes temperatures are very low (in minus) that staying overnight in a tent could be life threathning.
- Homestays – This is the best option. It save money and provide traveller an opportunity to enjoy the local culture. The cost of homestay depends on region, availability and time of travel. However, Homestays are difficult to find on higher altitudes.
- Hostels – Ladakh have very limited availability of hostels almost next to nothing. However, few are only available in main cities like Leh.
- Budget Hotels – Availability of budget hotels is high in main cities. However, only homestays are available at some locations.
- Luxury Hotels – available only in main cities like Leh and are limited.
- Camps – Private camping sites are available at locations like Pangong TSO.
FUEL COST
Fuel cost depends on the type of vehicle, adventure bikes provided us a fuel economy between 25-30 Km/litre. A four wheeler would cost you more.
If you travel for 1000 Kms with a fuel economy of 25 Kms / litre and average fuel cost of 100 bucks. That will come somewhere around 4000 bucks. This calculation will change depending the cost of fuel and average of your vehicle.
In our case, we travelled 3500 Kms and that costed us somewhere around 14000 bucks of fuel.
THINGS TO CARRY
What all should be carried on a trip to ladakh? The answer is very simple, yes the answer is “keep it simple and light“.
RIDING Safety GEAR
- Helmet – The most important gear and a no compromise product. I prefer a ISI, ECE and DOT certified helmet. Which would cost between 4000+ INR, depending on the brand. The least you should go for an ISI mark helmet that would cost cheaper somewhere between 1500-3000 INR.
- Riding Jacket – Chose a jacket which could protect you from cold weather, irespective of in which month you are going to travel, there will be cold at high altitudes. Jacket with a inner layer and a outer rain layer is must. I prefer to wear a “Royal Enfield Nirvik” on my tours to mountains. It has all the protection one need including a chest protector. Ample of pockets. It gets too hot inside if the weather is hot outside, being the only dis-advantage of this jacket and ofcourse it is on the expensive side.
- Riding Pants – Not all riders prefer riding pants. But, like it or not, riding pants are must for a long distance rider. They provide protection from injuries, safeguard a rider from small objects coming towards the riders legs. I wear a “Solace” riding pant. To make the things less expensive, one can chose a knee guard, which would cost somewhere between 1000-3000 INR depending on the brand.
- Riding Gloves – Gloves definetely safeguard you from dust. They protect rider’s hands, which are mostly the first point of impact in any incidents as every rider trys to put their hands forward in an event of an incident. Ladakh has all types of weather and terrain. Therefore, ordinary and cold weather gloves are necessary. However, a cheaper option is to wear inner warm gloves inside ordinary riding gloves.
- Riding Boots – Pickup boots with protection on the toe, shin and ankle. Such boots would cost around 3000 INR or more depending on the brand. Whereas, high waterproof boots would be expensive, they start 7000 INR onwards. I wear an Orazo for my highway rides and a Falco Adventure on my long adventure rides.
APPARELS
- Sports / Trekking Shoes – Any sports shoes would work but, if you are planning for a trek then plan for treking shoes.
- Trousers / Shorts – Denims would be enough. Shorts can also be useful in case travelling in summer,, however it would not work on high mountain passes.
- Shirts / T-Shirts – T-shirts are ok, however shirts would be better to protect your self from harsh sun burn.
- Socks – Normal day to day socks
- Muffler – Could be required on high mountain passes and lakes.
- Gloves – Could be required on high mountain passes and lakes.
- Innerwear – Normal innerwears
- Base layers – Not essential, however useful.
BIKE ESSENTIALS
- Lighting – A nighteye as main light and add some auxilary fog lamps for highways.
- Leg Guard – A must to protect your feet from hot engine in case of a fall.
- Hand Guard – A must to protect you hands and clutch and brake levers from breaking on a fall.
- Lugguage options – Soft lugguage or hard lugguage panniers is up to the rider however, I prefer pannier for safety and free of mind purposes.
- Tyre Inflator – A must add-on as there are no fuel stations or mechanics at longer distances.
- Puncture kit – A must for tubeless as well as tube tyres.
- Tyre Tube – No availability of tubes for specialized adventure bikes therefore, it is good to carry one pair.
- Bike Parts – Must carry essential parts like clutch and throttle wires, spark plug, Disc pads, side stand springs etc.
VLOgging GEAR
- Action Camera – If you are fond of vlogging then you can carry it. I prefer an insta 360 x3.
- Photography Camera – Good to have for professional looking pictures otherwise, a phone camera would be enough.
- Extra Batteries – Do carry extra batteries for your cameras because batteries drain faster on higher altitudes.
- Powerbanks – Recommended however, not required unless you plan to visit distant locations and interested in private camping.
- Mounts / Pods – Carry extra mounts as nothing of such sort would be available in Ladakh. One can try luck in Leh.
CAMPING ESSENTIALS
Lots of people prefer to stay in their private tents. Although, it is great idea but, it can cost more as one require to buy camping stuff. Moreover, carrying camping stuff on a motorcycle makes it heavier which can cause issues on high passes and water crossings. Personally, I would not recommend carrying so much stuff for couple of days of camping. Lighter the better.
- Tent – A tent supporting sub zero temperatures is recommended. Buy one from Decathalon.
- Sleeping bag – If you are planning to camp near a lake or on a high altitude location the a sub zero degree sleeping bag is must. Buy one from Decathalon.
- Mattress – Normal yoga matt would work. However, for more comfort an air matress would be recommended.
- Cooking equipment – A butane gas can at least 2 and a cooking stove along with cooking and eating utencils. Buy these from amazon, as Decathalon misses on variety and is on expensive side.
- Furniture – Not required however, portable chair or stool could be handy. Buy one from Amazon.
- Camping accessories – tent light, torch, powerbank, extra blanket, hydration bag would be required.
OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF
- Medicines / First-Aid – Must carry essential medicines specially diamox for altitude sickness. However, first please consult your doctor. Do carry a first-aid kit.
- Tool kit – Bike tool kit along with puncture fixing kit would be essential.
- Restroom essentials – Toiletries in case planning for private camping. Not all homestays having bathrooms due to limited availability of water.
- Food – Light food like biscuits, noodles, ready to eat in case planning for private camping.
- Documents – Bike documents, DL, Insurance, Identity documents (at least a copy of all these)
- Permits – are discontinued in ladakh since 2023. But, do check before starting in case, planning to visit areas near border, may be permits are required.
- Rental Bike – Bikes are available on rent in Leh, do not rent a bike from outside Ladakh otherwise you will be stopped by the union and won’t be allowed to travel to passes. Always rent a bike only from Leh.
