The best motorcycle routes in India, ranked and broken down by distance, difficulty, permits and season, from someone who has ridden most of them.
By JT, founder of Really Big Bike Ride. I’ve ridden India for eight years, solo and guided, and now run small-group motorcycle tours through the Himalayas. Last updated July 2026.
TLDR
The best motorcycle routes in India: Leh-Ladakh for the bucket-list Himalaya, Spiti Valley for something rawer and quieter, Kashmir’s Zoji La route for culture and altitude combined, Rajasthan for forts and desert on easier roads, the Goa-Gokarna coast for a gentle winter loop, and North East India for the ride almost nobody else has done. Six routes, one country, wildly different rides.
- Ride Ladakh guided . 14 days, from around £3,950.
- Ride Spiti guided . £3,950, September only.
How I ranked these
Scenery, road quality, permit hassle, and how much the route rewards the effort. I’ve personally ridden the Ladakh, Spiti, Kashmir and Rajasthan routes. The Goa-Gokarna coast I’ve ridden more times than I can count, it’s close to home. I cycled North East India in 2016 and loved it. I’ve researched thoroughly a motorcycle route and plan to ride it in the coming season.
1. Leh-Ladakh Circuit
| Distance | Approx 700-1,000 km round trip from Leh, more from Manali |
| Duration | 14-21 days |
| Difficulty | Moderate. High passes, manageable surface, better infrastructure |
| Best season | June to September |
| Permits | Inner Line Permit for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri. Straightforward for Indian nationals online. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit through a registered agent, not available independently |
Delhi or Manali to Leh, then out to Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, and back. This is the ride most people picture when they picture India on a motorcycle, and it earns that reputation. Sand dunes with snow peaks behind them, turquoise lakes at 4,300 metres, monasteries stuck to cliff faces.
The Atal Tunnel now bypasses old Rohtang Pass entirely, permit-free, cutting hours off the approach from Manali. The high passes themselves are only open June to September, the rest of the year the road is closed by snow.
This is the route behind my Great Himalayan Motorcycle Tour, 14 days, from around £2,950, guided.
2. Spiti Valley Loop
| Distance | Approx 400-500 km, Manali to Kaza and on to Shimla |
| Duration | 10-14 days |
| Difficulty | Hard. Narrow, remote, technical sections, fewer bail-out options |
| Best season | September (my tour runs this month specifically) |
| Permits | Restricted-area permits apply to parts of the valley near the border, arranged locally or through a guide |
Manali to Kaza via Kunzum La, through Tabo, Nako and Kalpa, back to Shimla. Smaller than Ladakh, rawer, and quieter. A high cold desert between Tibet and the rest of India.
My own route adds the Pangi and Sach Pass crux, the technical, genuinely remote section most Spiti loops skip entirely. If you want the difference between Spiti and Ladakh spelled out properly, I’ve written a straight comparison of the two.
I run this as the Great Spiti Valley Motorcycle Adventure, £3,950, capped at 10 riders, September only.
3. Kashmir and the Himalayan Kingdoms
| Distance | Approx 400 km, Srinagar to Leh via Zoji La |
| Duration | 14 days |
| Difficulty | Moderate to hard. Zoji La is narrow and exposed, the rest is manageable |
| Best season | June to September |
| Permits | Standard Ladakh Inner Line Permits apply once you cross into Ladakh proper |
Srinagar to Leh via the Zoji La pass, through Kargil and Lamayuru’s ancient monasteries. Two completely different worlds in one route: Kashmir’s green valleys and Dal Lake, then Ladakh’s Buddhist high desert.
I led a custom trip through here with two friends and it remains one of the best rides of my life. Read the full Himalayan Kingdoms trip report if you want the day-by-day.
4. Rajasthan Desert Ride
| Distance | Approx 1,000-1,200 km, Jaipur to Jaisalmer and back |
| Duration | 10-14 days |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate. Flat, hot, good tarmac, no altitude |
| Best season | October to March |
| Permits | None beyond your standard licence and IDP |
Jaipur, Pushkar, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Bikaner. Forts on hilltops, camel trains in the Thar Desert, palaces that look unreal in person. No altitude, no technical riding, just heat, distance and colour.
A friend of mine described it best: “It’s like Mad Max meets Lawrence of Arabia.” That’s the trip. Good for riders who want the culture and the photographs without the mountains.
5. Goa to Gokarna Coastal Ride
| Distance | Approx 150-200 km one way |
| Duration | 3-5 days |
| Difficulty | Easy. Coastal roads, some hill sections, forgiving surface |
| Best season | November to February |
| Permits | None |
Jungle backroads, clifftop views, sleepy beach towns. The shortest route on this list, and the one I’ve ridden the most, I live in Goa. It’s the easiest way into Indian motorcycle touring: warm, forgiving, and over in under a week if you’re short on time.
6. North East India
| Distance | Approx 800-1,000 km, Guwahati through Shillong to Tawang |
| Duration | 14-21 days |
| Difficulty | Hard. Remote, permit-heavy, unpredictable roads and weather |
| Best season | October to April, avoiding the monsoon |
| Permits | Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals entering Arunachal Pradesh, straightforward online. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit through a registered tour operator, minimum group of two, processing can take 4-6 weeks, and some border areas (including Bum La Pass) are off-limits to foreigners entirely |
Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunji, Kaziranga, Tawang. The last frontier of Indian motorcycle touring. Fewer riders than anywhere else on this list, more genuine adventure, and permit paperwork that rewards planning ahead.
Honest flag: unlike the other five routes, I haven’t ridden this one myself yet, it’s researched thoroughly and on my list, not first-hand. If that matters to your decision, weigh it accordingly. I’ll update this section the day I’ve actually done it.
Which route should you ride?
First big motorcycle trip in India: Leh-Ladakh. Iconic, well-supported, and forgiving enough for a first-timer with the right prep.
Done a big mountain trip before, want it rawer: Spiti Valley. Technical, remote, and quieter than Ladakh will ever be again.
Want culture and altitude in one trip: Kashmir and the Himalayan Kingdoms. Two regions, one route.
Want heat, colour and easier riding: Rajasthan. No altitude, no technical roads, still unforgettable.
Short on time or new to touring generally: Goa to Gokarna. A few days, low risk, still properly good.
Want the road less travelled and don’t mind the paperwork: North East India. Go in with your permits sorted and your expectations set on remote.
Best motorcycle routes in India: frequently asked questions
What is the best motorcycle route in India?
The Leh-Ladakh circuit is the most popular and iconic motorcycle route in India, with high mountain passes, lunar valleys and turquoise lakes. Spiti Valley is often rated the best route for riders who’ve already done a Himalayan trip and want something rawer and less crowded.
What is the hardest motorcycle route in India?
Spiti Valley, particularly the Pangi and Sach Pass section, is one of the most technically demanding routes in India: narrow, remote, and with few places to bail out if something goes wrong. North East India is a close second, mainly due to unpredictable weather and permit complexity rather than the riding itself.
Do I need permits to ride a motorcycle in India?
It depends on the route. Ladakh and Spiti require Inner Line Permits for restricted border areas, straightforward for Indian nationals online, more involved for foreign nationals, who need a Protected Area Permit through a registered agent. Arunachal Pradesh in the North East requires similar permits for both Indian and foreign travellers. Rajasthan and the Goa-Gokarna coast need no special permits.
What is the best time of year to ride these routes?
Ladakh, Spiti and Kashmir are best June to September, when the high passes are open. Rajasthan, Goa-Gokarna and North East India are best October to March or April, avoiding both the Himalayan winter closure and the pre-monsoon heat.
Should I ride these routes solo or with a guide?
Solo works well for lower-altitude, lower-permit routes like Rajasthan or Goa-Gokarna. For Ladakh and Spiti specifically, a guide removes a lot of the risk around altitude, permits and remote breakdowns, particularly for a first Himalayan trip. I cover the guided-versus-DIY decision in full on my India by motorcycle hub page.
Ride one of these with me
I guide two of the six routes on this list myself, the two I’d argue reward the effort the most:
For the other four, my India by motorcycle hub has the full planning detail, bike reviews and trip reports to get you started.
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