Ask any rider who has been to Ladakh about the big passes and two names come up straight away: Khardung La and Umling La. Both are bucket-list rides, but they’re very different experiences. If you’re an Australian rider trying to decide which one to aim for, this guide compares them side by side and helps you pick the tour that suits you. And if you take on Umling La with us, there’s a bonus: every rider who rides Umling La, on any of our five tours, receives an Umling La completion certificate.
We’re D’Himalayan Riders, an Australian-led Himalayan motorcycle tour company based in Melbourne, VIC, riding Ladakh every season with our local crew.
Khardung La at a glance
Khardung La sits just north of Leh, on the road to the Nubra Valley. At about 5,359 m it’s one of the most famous high passes in the world, and for decades it was promoted as the highest motorable road. The ride up from Leh is short, roughly 40 km, with a mix of tarmac and rough patches near the top. It’s busy in season, with army trucks, taxis and other riders, and the summit is a popular photo stop.
For most riders, Khardung La is a great first taste of real Himalayan altitude. You can ride it early in a tour, spend a short time at the top and drop down into Nubra the same day.
Umling La at a glance
Umling La is in a different league. At 5,798 m (about 19,022 ft), it’s a Guinness-certified record (2021), more than 400 m higher than Khardung La. It’s in the remote Changthang region of eastern Ladakh, near Hanle, far from Leh and the usual tourist circuit. The roads there mix good tarmac with broken sections, gravel and the odd water crossing, and there are very few services along the way.
Reaching Umling La takes several days of riding, which is exactly why it feels like such an achievement when you get there.
Umling La vs Khardung La: the key differences
- Altitude: Khardung La is about 5,359 m. Umling La is 5,798 m, where there’s roughly half the oxygen you have at sea level.
- Remoteness: Khardung La is a short ride from Leh. Umling La is days from the nearest town of any size.
- Riding difficulty: Khardung La suits experienced road riders. Umling La suits confident adventure riders who are happy on gravel and broken roads.
- Crowds: Khardung La is busy in season. At Umling La you may have the summit almost to yourselves.
- Bragging rights: both are famous, but very few riders anywhere can say they’ve ridden to Umling La, a Guinness-certified record (2021).
Which pass should you choose?
Choose a tour built around Khardung La if this is your first high-altitude trip, you want shorter riding days, or you’d like more time around Leh, monasteries and Nubra. Our Ladakh Classic Ride is a good fit here, and it still visits Umling La with a gentler start.
Choose the Umling La Extreme Ride if you’re an experienced adventure rider who wants the Aryan Valley, Zanskar, Shinku La (5,091 m), Hanle and Umling La in one trip. Most days run 4–8 hours in the saddle, and the longest run up to 12–14 hours including stops, so it’s not for a first ride on dirt.
The good news is you don’t always have to pick one. Several of our Ladakh tours include both passes.
Altitude and safety on both passes
Whichever pass you aim for, the tour is built around acclimatisation. The Umling La Extreme Ride starts in Leh (about 3,500 m) with a rest and acclimatisation day, then builds in lighter days before the highest days. Our backup car carries oxygen support and first aid, and our crew keeps a close eye on every rider. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol, and tell the ride captain early if you have a headache, nausea or feel unusually tired. Please see your GP before you travel.
Inner Line Permits are needed for eastern Ladakh, including the Hanle and Umling La area. We arrange them for every rider as part of the tour.
What’s included on our tours
- Motorcycle (Royal Enfield Himalayan series)
- Riding gear (helmet, gloves and jacket)
- Accommodation
- Airport transfers
- Ride captain
- One backup car with mechanic
- Bike fuel
- Meals
- Oxygen support
- Inner Line Permits
Not included: international and domestic flights, travel insurance (mandatory for all riders) and riding boots.
For a full overview of the ride, permits and getting there from Australia, read our Umling La motorcycle tour guide for Australian riders.
When you ride Umling La on any of our five tours, you’ll head home with an Umling La completion certificate to mark the ride.
Ready to ride Umling La?
The Umling La Extreme Ride is 14 days from Leh, from AUD $3,935 solo rider or AUD $3,364 twin-share, per person. A tour needs a minimum of 5 riders to run. To thank our early supporters, we’re running a First Riders Offer: 10% off with the code FIRSTRIDERS10 for bookings made by 31 January 2027.
Questions? Get in touch with our Melbourne team:
- Email: booking@dhimalayanriders.com.au
- WhatsApp: +61 452 337 260
Julley – see you in the mountains.
More planning guides: Riding Ladakh in 2027 · 2027 tour costs in AUD · All tours
