An adventurous journey of three travel buddies, riding to the uncharted lands of Hanle and Tso Moriri in Leh Ladakh Tour.

If you have previously been to Ladakh, and want to explore an unknown and non-commercial place, Hanle and Tso Moriri are the adventures waiting for you. Uncommon and rare, with no touristy crowds struggling to click pictures, this place is a secluded heaven in Ladakh. Join the journey and experience fascinating Leh Ladakh Tour with us.

We were three of us, on three powerful Royal Enfield Himalayan bikes. We chose this bike as it is one of the best cruiser bikes to ride on rough terrains like Ladakh. I would recommend that for your Leh Ladakh Tour you should go with Royal Enfield Himalayan for a smooth trip. I hope the following information will be useful for your upcoming Leh Ladakh Tour. This trip was in collaboration with tripver.com.

New Delhi to Leh

We took a flight from Mumbai to New Delhi and further from New Delhi to Leh. Many travellers believe riding from Manali to Leh cannot be compared to a flight from New Delhi to Leh. Even though I agree, the ride from Manali to Leh is marvelous but a flight from Delhi was also something we didn’t expect.

An extraordinary view of the snowcapped mountains from the clouds, is a vanilla delight. All the snow, the majestic Himalayas range is unbelievable. Additionally, since we had already visited Leh in the past, we were more excited to ride within Ladakh and explore apart from the well-known tourist places in this Leh Ladakh Tour.

Ride from Leh to Hanle

Hanle in Ladakh, is known for the Indian Astronomical Observatory which is the world’s second highest observatory in the world. This village is scarcely populated with small houses, which shelters tourists during the travel season. At an altitude of around 14,700 feet, this secluded piece of paradise is a land for extremists.

Distance

Hanle is located about 260 KMS from Leh. The road starts from Leh, goes through Upshi, Nyoma, Loma and ends at Hanle. You can note down these places to halt. It is about 100 KMS from Mahe village, and 50 KMS from Loma.

Weather

Since Hanle is on such a high altitude, it’s extremely cold to frozen in December to March. The roads are inaccessible during these months. However, from April to September, it is pleasant during the day and bearably cold in the nights. Since the only accommodation available are homestays, it would be suggested to carry adequate warm clothes for the night.

We visited this place in July and the temperature was very low, even during the day. The sun was warm, but the breeze was cool. The locals informed us that you cannot rely on the weather here, it has a mind of its own. And you have to see it to believe it, how the weather changes every few minutes.

Road Conditions

The journey to Hanle is extremely nice with beautiful landscapes all around but exhausting. We had never been to such a spectacular place ever before. The roads from Leh to Upshi were very smooth, the real ride starts after around 100 KMS. There were technically no roads, only rubble and stones with tire tracks to know where to ride.

You will need a permit to travel to Hanle and there are 2 check-posts on the way. These permits are not granted online, you can only get them from Leh DC office or Tourist Information Center.

Travel Program

We left at around 11 AM from Leh, and reached Hanle after 10:30 PM. Hence, make sure to leave from Leh as early as possible, because it gets pitch dark and the roads after Loma are uneven. It gets very tough to ride in the dark with unbearable cold.

You can spend 2-3 nights in Hanle. On day one, you will need rest after riding for 11 hours. On day two, you can visit the peaceful Hanle Monastery which bids a great view of the whole village. Around 10 KMS away is the Hanle Observatory. Photography is prohibited inside the observatory. The officer shows the operations of the place, and some images taken from the telescope. The endless pasture lands of Hanle, are perfect for a quiet walk.

In the nights, this place promises the most incredible view of the sky. The place is very scenic and feels out of the world.

Accommodation

The only kind of accommodation available are homestays and guesthouses. The rooms are decent with basic amenities, but the prices may differ depending on the footfall and seasons. Facilities like electricity, western toilets, hot water are a bonus.

There are a few houses closer to the observatory, renting out their rooms which may be higher in price.

Food is available only in the homestays or guesthouses. Do not expect any restaurants or hotels.

Afterthought

Keep yourself hydrated at all times. There are not many petrol pumps on the way, and the closest to Hanle is at Karu which is about 240 KMS from Hanle. Carry at least 2 extra tumblers of fuel to stay on the safe side.

Take proper rest in Leh, before starting your ride and in Hanle. Health is of utmost priority and listen to your body. Do not over-exert, as medical facilities are limited.

Hanle to Tso Moriri

Tso Moriri is one of the two most popular lakes in the Ladakh. It translates to Mountain Lake and is located at an altitude of over 15,000 feet above the sea level.

The lake is surrounded by high mountains, and never-ending horizon. It is an ideal travel destination for an offbeat rider.

Karzok Village near Tso Moriri

Distance

Karzok is a small village situated close to the Tso Moriri Lake. The villagers are mostly shepherds, who live in small houses. Dwellings are more as compared to Hanle. There are green patches of land at some parts unlike Hanle, which was only desert land. The sheep found here produce the famous pashmina wool, one of the most expensive varieties of textile.

Karzok is perfectly distanced from the lake to enjoy the excellent view of the gorgeous lake and mountains. The locals consider it sacred.

Weather

Even though the lake is absolutely stunning with beautiful mountains and bright sun, the cold is as extreme and harsh. It gets tremendously cold and you can barely stay outdoors after 10 PM.

The place is technically frozen from January to March, and the roads are accessible for tourists only after April when the snow begins to melt until October, when the winters creep in. Even slight rains are troublesome, because the weather is too cold to have wet clothes.

Road Conditions

There are 2 routes to get to Tso Moriri from Hanle. You will have to ascertain your route beforehand, as the permits will be granted accordingly. We went from Hanle to Tso Moriri via Mahe, and stayed at Karzok village.

Travel Program

After visiting Hanle, you can spend 2 nights at Tso Moriri. First night would be spent resting after the day’s ride. On the second day you can rest, have a nice Ladakhi breakfast and ride to the lake. You can easily spend a couple of hours by the lake, if the weather conditions are favourable. On the third day, you can leave for Leh early in the morning by 7-8 AM.

Accommodation

There are number of guesthouses and hotels available around Tso Moriri and Karzok, as it is a comparatively much travelled destination. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and necessary warm blankets are provided.

Since Tso Moriri lake is located on a wetland, it is tough to set your tent too close to the lake. There are a few camps nearer to the lake, offering an insane view in of the lake in the morning. You might also find some adventurists staying in camps around the lake.

Food is mostly made available in the homestays or guesthouses where you are staying. But you might find local food joints at Karzok village.

Afterthought

Since, there is no mobile connectivity at Tso Moriri, you get to enjoy nature’s adventurous delight without getting interrupted by phone calls and social media.

Tso Moriri is a high-altitude lake, and you must acclimatise well to deal with the low oxygen levels. Even though, there are medical facilities available at Karzok Village, you must ensure to acclimatise in your Leh Ladakh Tour.

Also, it is best you reach there before the sun sets, as it gets pitch dark and it would be tough to locate your camp or rooms. While the nights are pitch dark and cold, the mornings are as heavenly and unreal.

If you liked the blog and if it helped you in any way, please do share your thoughts. Let us know how did you enjoy our Leh Ladakh Tour. Also, if you have been to Hanle and Tso Moriri, we would love to hear your stories. And feel free to add any additional information for fellow travellers.

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