A pride in the heart, the roaring sound of your motorbike, clouds of dust settling apart—you must be riding epic mountain passes in the Indian Himalayas. World-renowned for the series of highest motorable roads and unparalleled beauty, these routes are every rider’s dream. You must have conquered many terrains on your two-wheeler, but riding in the Himalayas is like an odyssey through nature’s grandest masterpiece.
If you are yet to explore the best of these legendary routes, let me introduce you to the top 7 Epic Mountain Passes in the Indian Himalayas, where a ride awakens the wanderer within. Discover the beauty of all these 7 passes that set this motorcycle tour in India across these Himalayan passes, truly unique and unlike any other ride on Earth.
1. Umling La Pass (5,798 m)- The Roof of India
Umling La, the highest motorable pass in the world, is situated at a staggering height of 5,798 meters (19,024 feet) above sea level and located in Ladakh’s Hanle region near the Indo-China border. It is not just another motorbike trip; it is an expedition that tests human endurance. Riding beyond Nurbu La and Chisumle, you will find yourself in a terrain where oxygen thins, winds scream, and a tranquil coolness wraps the mountains. Every rev of your engine will feel like an act of defiance against nature itself.
Built by the Border Roads Organisation under the Indian Army, this engineering marvel stands as a symbol of human courage and blessed beauty. Shades of ochre, sapphire, and snow blending into endless horizons make a surreal landscape all around. Riding here gives a feeling like stepping onto another planet, where silence roared louder than any exhaust note. After riding this epic Umling La Pass, you will not just conquer a road, but will earn a self-pride badge for conquering something truly extraordinary.
Route: Hanle – Chisumle – Umling La
Permit: Protected Area Permit from Leh (Special Zone)
2. Khardung La Pass (5,602 m) – The Dream of Every Rider
Every biker's dream for the Khardung La ride, the pass standing at 5,359 meters (17,582 ft), connecting Leh to the Nubra Valley, acts as a gateway into another world. As you throttle up from Leh, you will feel the altitude tug at your lungs and the excitement pulsating in your veins. Gateway to Shyok and Nubra valley, a ride to Khardung La Pass will take you through cold winds, shifting altitudes, and pure Himalayan adrenaline.
The road is a mosaic of gravel, ice, where Snow walls flank you as you climb higher. Each turn will unveil views that no photograph could ever do justice to. Surrounded by prayer flags and other riders cheering in joy, you will feel a surge of pride that only comes from chasing something bigger than yourself.
Himalayas Motorcycle Expedition Route: SHIMLA | TIRTHAN | MANALI | SARCHU | LEH | KHARDUNG LA | NUBRA VALLEY | PANGONG LAKE | HANLE | UMLING LA | LEH
3. Tanglang La Pass (5,328 m) – The Jewel of the Manali–Leh Highway
Motorbike Tour to ride Tanglang La, perched at 5,328 meters (17,480 ft) will give a feel where the world will begin to narrow down and speed up the heartbeat with the thumping sound of your engine. A place where every sigh of breath will feel precious. Riding through this pass on the Manali–Leh Highway will take you through the brown mountains, gradually turning into golden. As the sun climbs higher, ribbons of tarmac will start vanishing into misty horizons. Every bend will reveal a new painting- a fusion of silence, snow, and sky. The road to Tanglang La will test your patience, stamina, and eagerness for riding in the Himalayas.
4. Chang La (5,390 m) – The Frozen Guardian of Pangong
Chang La, the mighty guardian that stands at 5,360 meters (17,585 ft) on the way to Pangong Tso. The ascent will be deceptive, with some parts smooth and some like deadly. In one moment, there will be sunshin,e and in the next, a flurry of snowflakes will flake your visor. The cold here bites deep, but the views are worth every shiver. The Indian Army maintains a small post and offers hot tea. The mountains stood in silence, draped in white, as if guarding ancient secrets. Descending toward Pangong, you will get your first glimpse of its blue waters.
Read This: How to Ride in Indian Himalayas for best Experiences
5. Shinku La (5,091 m)- The Gateway Between Himachal & Zanskar
For a truly expeditionary feel, Shinku La is the king of passes- a wild gateway linking Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh through the untouched heart of the Zanskar Valley. Rising to around 5,091 meters, it’s one of the toughest and most thrilling motorable routes in India. The ride unfolds like a raw Himalayan movie—narrow tracks, glacial streams crossing your path, and cliffs so steep they seem to touch the sky. As you ascend, the lush greens of Lahaul slowly vanish, replaced by the stark, moonlike landscapes of Zanskar. The road literally cuts out of the mountain, hugging the roaring Zanskar River that rages below in full spate. Every turn tests your skill and nerve but rewards you with views so surreal they silence your mind. Shinku La isn’t a road for comfort; it is a road for conquest, where every kilometre feels earned and unforgettable. Explore Shinku La with the Spiti and Zanskar Valley Motorbike Expedition.
6. Kunzum Pass (4,551 m) – The Sacred Gateway to Spiti
The ride to Kunzum Pass, at 4,551 meters (14,931 ft), will be epic as it gradually transforms from pine-covered hills to a stark, cold desert. From Shimla’s cedar forests and apple orchards to Kinnaur’s rugged gorges, you will enter Spiti- a barren landscape with bare cliffs, turquoise rivers, and a silence that hummed louder than engines. A climb from Losar to Kunzum will test your endurance, where you will lose gravel, snow patches will melt, and freezing winds will slice through every layer.
At the summit, there is Kunzum Mata Temple, surrounded by 360° views of snow peaks and clouds floating at eye level. Take a stop to witness the tranquil beauty of Chandra Tal shimmering like a secret gem in turquoise green. Enjoy a ride to Kunzum Pass and Spiti with the Hidden Himalayan Odyssey adventure trip.
7. Sela Pass (4,170 m) – The Frozen Wonder of Arunachal
Riding to Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh felt like traveling through a dream painted in snow and silence. At 4,170 meters (13,700 ft), the road wound past misty valleys, crisp pine forests, and frozen lakes that mirrored the sky. Near the Sela Summit, you will find flakes of snow drifting gently across you like blessings from the clouds. The star attraction, Sela Lake, lay still and serene beside the road, half-frozen and entirely mesmerising.
To Sum Up
A Motorcycle Trip in Himalayas is like riding among giants with a wide stretch across 8800 metres and challenging to conquer with remote and tougher conditions. High-altitude, less oxygen, biting air, harsh temperature and unexpected weather are some obstacles. Winning over them and conquering the epic Himalayan passes can write a self-pride note in your adventure diary.