Friends, Bikes and Adventure in Leh Ladakh with Thrillophilia
This Ladakh trip was the kind of adventure I used to daydream about when I was 16—one that now feels like it was pulled straight out of my wildest dreams. My dad used to talk about Ladakh as if it were a mystical land, especially a bike trip to those daunting roads with his friends.
Well, Dad, I finally did it, and let me tell you—it was beyond anything I could have imagined.
Let’s rewind to the beginning, though. My bike gang and I—12 of us—finally made this trip happen in August 2023. After a few hiccups with our first booking (we don’t talk about that tour company anymore), I switched to Thrillophilia, my tried-and-tested adventure saviour.
And thus began the most unforgettable trip of our lives.
The Ride of a Lifetime
We flew to Srinagar with bright eyes and buzzing excitement. The plan was simple—ride from Srinagar to Kargil, our first stop. We geared up, hopped onto our bikes, and revved those engines.
The feeling of freedom hit us right away, and we sped off into the great unknown, laughing at how ridiculously cool we felt.
Somewhere along the winding roads, we stumbled upon a tiny dhaba perched on a cliff’s edge. It had just rained, and the mist made everything look like something out of a fairy tale. Sneha, our queen of dramatic statements, stood right at the edge of the cliff and yelled, “I’m the king of the world!” like she was channelling her inner Leonardo DiCaprio.
By the time we reached Kargil, night had fallen. Kargil was quiet, peaceful, and the perfect place to rest after that adrenaline-filled day. We celebrated the first day of our trip with a simple dinner and lots of stories, mostly revolving around who almost crashed into what on the way.
Typical biker talks, you see…
Discovering Leh, Meeting Strangers, and Making Friends
The next morning, we rode from Kargil to Leh. And oh boy, that stretch was pure magic. The roads seemed endless, surrounded by barren mountains and skies that stretched forever. I remember thinking that I’d seen Ladakh in photos, but nothing could prepare me for the real thing.
Halfway to Leh, we met another group of bikers who had just finished their own Ladakh circuit. They were a mix of people from different parts of India, and we hit it off instantly. One of them, Arjun, had the best stories about riding through sandstorms in Jaisalmer. “If you’ve survived a sandstorm on a bike,” he said, “Ladakh is just a breeze.”
We spent the next few hours riding together, swapping stories over tea stops and sharing laughter like old friends. There’s something about the roads in Ladakh that makes everyone feel like family—no one is a stranger here.
The Valley That Stole Our Hearts (and Our Breath)
The next day was all about exploring Sham Valley. It was quieter compared to other days, but in a way, it was perfect. The vastness of the green fields, surrounded by mountains, was surreal. We visited the Alchi Monastery, which was serene and beautiful, but it was the calm that hit us more than anything.
I remember we stopped by the Indus River for a while just to take it all in. The peacefulness compelled us to reflect…
and it was one of those moments, where our eyes and soul spoke louder than we ever could.
Conquering Khardung La—And Maybe a Fear of Heights
August 15th was Independence Day, and what better way to celebrate freedom than by riding up one of the highest motorable roads in the world? Khardung La.
Just saying the name still gives me chills. The ascent was no joke—sharp turns, icy patches, and a dangerous drop on one side. But when we reached the top? The world below us felt like it had shrunk.
Sneha, who had been terrified of the ascent, said, “If I made it up here, nothing can scare me now.” That was before she looked down. Then came the screams and so it went on for the next 5 minutes…
Dancing with the Stars
If there’s one thing that every Ladakh traveller talks about, it’s Pangong Lake. And trust me, it’s everything they say and more. As we rode towards the lake, we started to get glimpses of the famous blue water shimmering in the distance.
When we finally arrived, it felt like stepping into a postcard that had somehow come to life.
That night, we set up camp by the lake. And while the beauty of the lake was unbeatable, it was what happened around the campfire that made this night unforgettable. One of our friends, who had been carrying his guitar the entire trip (no idea how he managed that), started playing songs while the rest of us tried (and failed) to sing along.
At some point, we ended up doing impromptu dance-offs, and let me tell you, dancing on rough terrain with layers of clothes is not easy.
There was one moment when we all looked up at the sky, which was blanketed in more stars than I’d ever seen in my life.
The Final Challenge
The final day marked the last challenge of our journey as we rode from Pangong to Leh via Chang La. The road was difficult with rough terrains, but by now, we were seasoned bikers—at least, we liked to think so.
Chang La tested our endurance, but reaching the top felt like a victory. We stood there, catching our breath, realising that this trip was coming to an end, and none of us were ready to let it go.
By the time we rolled back into Leh, there was a quiet sense of accomplishment mixed with sadness.
WE HAD DONE IT—we had survived Ladakh’s wild roads, faced our fears, and made memories we would talk about for years.
Farewell, Ladakh—For Now
Our departure was bittersweet. Ladakh had been everything we had hoped for and more.
The landscapes, the roads, the people we met—all of it had made this trip one for the books. As we boarded our flight back to Mumbai, I realised that Ladakh wasn’t just a place—it was an experience, one that had changed us all in ways big and small.
This is the trip of my life and honestly, the pictures do not do half the justice of what we saw. It was surreal, a different planet altogether. I can’t wait to go back to the magical place that Ladakh is.
Read More: Thrillophilia Leh Ladakh Bike Trip Reviews