15 Best Motorcycle Road Trips in India (Every Biker's Bucket List)

India might be the best country in the world to explore on a motorcycle. In one lifetime of riding you can cross the highest motorable passes on Earth, trace a tropical coastline, climb dozens of hairpins into tea country and ride across a white salt desert. Here are fifteen road trips every Indian biker should do at least once.

Before you go: seasons, permits and road conditions change every year. Check the current rules and road status for each region before you plan.

The Himalaya

1. Manali to Leh

The legendary high-altitude ride: about 430 km over passes like Baralacha La and Tanglang La, through the Atal Tunnel, Keylong, Sarchu and the vast More Plains. Usually open from around June to September. Read our full Leh-Ladakh bike trip guide.

2. Srinagar to Leh

The other way into Ladakh, via Sonamarg, the Zoji La, Drass and Kargil. It climbs more gradually than the Manali route, which helps with acclimatisation, and it’s usually open for a longer season.

3. The Spiti Valley circuit

Shimla to Kaza through Kinnaur, then over the Kunzum La to Chandratal and Manali. Remote villages, monasteries and some of the most dramatic roads in India. See our Spiti Valley bike trip guide.

4. Zanskar

For experienced riders: one of the most remote valleys in Ladakh, with rough roads and huge distances between fuel. Plan it as an extension of a Ladakh trip.

5. Uttarakhand’s Char Dham roads and Chopta

Mountain roads through the Garhwal Himalaya, with Chopta and Tungnath as a quieter alternative. Avoid the monsoon, when landslides are frequent.

The Northeast

6. Tawang via Sela Pass

Arunachal Pradesh’s high road to Tawang, crossing the Sela Pass. Indian visitors need an Inner Line Permit (eILP). See our Northeast India bike trip guide.

7. Meghalaya loop

Shillong, Cherrapunji (Sohra), Mawlynnong and Dawki: waterfalls, living root bridges and crystal-clear rivers. Best from October to April.

8. Sikkim

Gangtok and the high roads beyond it, with some areas needing special permits arranged through registered operators.

The coasts

9. Mumbai to Goa along the Konkan coast

Skip the highway and take the coastal roads through Alibaug, Murud, Ganpatipule and Tarkarli: beaches, forts, ferries and seafood. Best from October to February.

10. Chennai to Puducherry on the ECR

The East Coast Road runs beside the Bay of Bengal past Mahabalipuram. An easy, beautiful ride and a classic first road trip. See weekend rides from Chennai.

11. Kerala’s coast and backwaters

From Kochi to Alappuzha and down to Varkala, with lagoons, coconut groves and some of the best food in India.

The hills of the south

12. Valparai’s 40 hairpins

The ghat road up to Valparai from the Aliyar side in Tamil Nadu has 40 numbered hairpin bends through tea estates and forest. Wildlife country: ride slowly and never after dark.

13. Kolli Hills’ 70 hairpins

One of the most famous twisty roads in India, climbing to Kolli Hills near Namakkal. Take it slowly; the bends are tight and steep.

14. Munnar and the Western Ghats

Tea gardens, misty mornings and endless curves. Combine Munnar with Coorg or Chikkamagaluru for a Western Ghats tour (see Bengaluru to Coorg and Chikkamagaluru).

The desert

15. Rann of Kutch and Rajasthan

Ride across Gujarat to the White Rann near Dhordo, then on through Rajasthan’s desert towns to Jaisalmer. Best in winter, when the salt desert is dry and white and the days are cool. Visiting the White Rann needs a permit, which you can get online or at the checkpost on the way. Carry plenty of water: distances are long and towns are few.

How to prepare for a long road trip in India

• Build up to it. Do a few 300–400 km days before a two-week trip.
• Service your bike before you leave: tyres, chain, brakes, clutch and battery.
• Carry your documents — driving licence, RC, insurance and PUC. Digital copies in DigiLocker or mParivahan are legally valid.
• Plan fuel stops in remote regions like Ladakh, Spiti and Kutch.
• Ride in a group for remote routes, with a lead and a sweep. See our group riding rules.
• Use our motorcycle touring checklist to pack.

Which one is on your list first?