Essential Things You Must Carry On Your Leh Ladakh Bike Tour

Traveling to Ladakh by bike? If yes, read on, as this is THE guide for everything you need to carry on your Leh Ladakh Bike tour.

A bike trip to Ladakh seems great, but once you are on the road, reality hits you when you are not well prepared for what is about to come. This is not to scare you but to inform you that a Ladakh bike tour means encountering treacherous terrains with no ATMs, hospitals, fuel stations, mechanics, and no phone connectivity for miles. This calls for a solid backup plan!

Therefore, it is crucial to pack for the Ladakh bike trip carefully and efficiently. “what to carry for Leh Ladakh bike trip” checklist must be thorough to have all your essentials on the go. 

But don’t pack too much, or you won’t have a pleasant experience with all that baggage weighing you down.

Here’s a list of things to carry on your Leh Ladakh bike tour before you embark on this journey of a lifetime.

• Documents Required For Leh Ladakh Bike Trip
• Accessories For Leh Ladakh Bike Trip
• Clothes To Pack For Ladakh Bike Trip
• Other Important Items To Carry
• Carry Enough Cash
• Mobile Networks In Ladakh
• Prepare Your Medical Kit Properly
• Add These Eatables To The Shopping List
• Pack Your Photography Gear

Documents Required For Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

Before you begin packing clothes and other essentials, the first step is to check you have all the documents. Ladakh, as you may know, is a restricted zone due to the conservation policies to save the land and culture of Ladakh. Therefore, having the essential documents would be necessary for you. If not, then there is a possibility of you getting heavily fined. 

The major documents you must ensure to carry on Leh Ladakh tour by bike are –

• At least one legal government identity proof – Aadhar Card, Pan Card, Voter Card, or Passport.
• Driving license.
• Inner line permit (multiple copies).
• A printout of your itinerary.
• Passport-size photos.
• Phone numbers and addresses of your family and friends on paper.
• Medical insurance (if any).

Accessories For Leh Ladakh Bike Tour

Make sure you get your bike serviced in advance to avoid last-minute hassle. Here are some essential things required for Leh Ladakh bike trip. 

• A spare key for your bike in case you lose it
• A motorcycle tool kit
• Spark plug
• Spare fuse
• Clutch, brake, and accelerator cables
• Spare tubes for both front and rear wheels (in case the bike is not tubeless)
• Screwdriver set
• Chain links
• Foot pump and puncture repair kit
• Engine oil (approx. half litter)
• Bungee cords and nylon rope
• Petrol pipe to get petrol out of some other vehicle in case you run dry
• Driving license, RC, PUC, and insurance certificate. Carry original and photocopies.
• Headlamp bulb
• Rechargeable torch

Clothes To Pack For Ladakh Bike Trip

The weather in Ladakh keeps changing so much that one minute you will feel cold standing in the shade, and the next minute in the sun, you will be warm. Thus, you must pack clothes you can layer – not all should be woolen or cotton. This way you can take off your clothes if you feel warm. Avoid packing extremely tight clothes as it will be hard to layer them. 

If you are on a Ladakh summer trip, pack enough regular cotton clothes like T-shirts and jeans. You can also take thermals, light woolens, heavy windproof, and waterproof jackets. Gloves (if waterproof is possible), caps, and warm socks are also vital. As for the Ladakh winter trip, pack all the heavy woolens you have as the temperature drops to as low as -25°C. The best time to visit Ladakh depends on you.

Here is the list. 

• Cotton t-shirts
• Woolen socks and gloves 
• Hats or caps
• Light woolen jacket
• Heavy woolen jackets for winter
• Wind and waterproof jacket
• Handkerchiefs
• Thermal inners 

Footwear is as equally important as clothes and should be addressed while packing for Leh Ladakh. Sturdy and rigid-sole shoes are what you need to wear while riding a bike to Ladakh. Trekkers and hikers should also wear these shoes. These differ from what you wear when taking a flight or going to a movie. Google the best shoes for Ladakh and buy the top-rated ones. 

Other Important Items To Carry 

Right now, you might have some items worth carrying, but they are not easily available on the road and might come in handy. They can save you during a crisis. So, pack a complete travel kit. Here is the list of things to carry for Leh Ladakh bike trip – 

• Good pair of sunglasses
• Lip balm with SPF to protect your lips
• Sunscreen with a high SPF
• Multiplug extension cords
• Woolen and leather gloves 
• Power bank
• Candles, lighter, and matchboxes
• Flashlight
• Muffler or balaclava
• Reusable water bottle
• Backpack or carry bag
• Hand sanitizer
• Wristwatch
• Safety pins
• Bag locks
• Swiss knife
• Tissue rolls 
• Deodorants
• Moisturizers 
• face wash 
• Toothpaste 
• Shampoo 

Carry Enough Cash 

Facilities like ATMs will not be readily available on this journey. So carry extra cash to spend the night in hotels and pay for the food. Ladakh has no ATMs, and Leh is the closest city to get cash. So, kiss goodbye to your credit and debit cards in Ladakh. 

Mobile Networks In Ladakh

Only postpaid connection of BSNL works in Ladakh. If you travel to Ladakh from Delhi, Srinagar, Manali, or any other location, get a BSNL postpaid connection to avoid inconvenience. Also, Leh has other networks, but a BSNL one will be the best in Ladakh.

Prepare Your Medical Kit For Ladakh Bike Tour

Ladakh’s altitude is over 3,000 m (9,800 ft); thus, AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) in Ladakh is quite common. The weather changes quickly, which can lead to sickness. And without proper medicines, your body can experience severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Also, accidents come unannounced, and you need to be prepared for them. A first-aid kit will be a great help in these situations. Before you hit the road, consult your doctor and tell him to prescribe medicines to carry for Leh Ladakh trip, like AMS medicines. 

Add These Eatables To The Shopping List

While preparing the shopping list for Leh Ladakh, add dry fruits like almonds, cashews, and raisins. Also, keep some energy drinks that will boost your energy when needed. Chocolates will also be beneficial. Ladakh has a few shops where you can buy all this easily. Get it from Leh or Manali/Srinagar, whichever route you choose.

If you follow a vegetarian diet and cannot eat utensils in which non-veg has been cooked, carry a pan, disposable plates, and spoons. 

Here is a list of Leh Ladakh bike trip requirements for eatables.

• Coffee pouches
• Packets of Maggi or cup noodles
• Teabags
• Fresh fruit or packed fruit
• Sugar-free for diabetic people or those who don’t take sugar
• Chips 

Pack Your Photography Gear For Ladakh Bike Tour

If you plan on clicking beautiful images for your collection, here are some items you must have.

• Charges
• Extra batteries
• Powerbank
• Filters
• Rain cover
• Tripod
• Extra memory cards
• Lamps for night photography

However, consider precautions when visiting in cold weather, as your laptop can get frozen in extreme weather at such a high altitude. Just like humans, laptops also have to acclimatize. So carrying a waterproof bag will be beneficial. J

Ladakh bike trips are one of the most challenging trips of your life, and this guide will prepare you for it! This guide to “things to carry on Ladakh bike trip” will help you plan your trip efficiently. Use this post as a checklist when packing for a bike tour to Ladakh. 

Are you ready to hit the road for the most adventurous rides? If yes, book Ladakh bike tours with Indian Holiday. Our packages include meals, transfers, hotels, and sightseeing tours so that bikers can have a hassle-free experience. For more details about the tour, connect with our travel experts today!

Manmeet Kaur

A writer by profession and a storyteller by heart, Manmeet has a passion for traveling and treating her taste buds to different cuisines. Besides, she loves to binge-watch movies and series every now and then. She is also an avid reader, which keeps her engaged.