Ladakh Trip - June 2026

During our ride to Dharchula last year when we were on our way for the 'Panchachuli Trek', my fellow rider and course-mate Col Rakesh Singh Sidhu had jokingly remarked what special activity could be planned for 2026 when both of us would be 70 years old. I had responded that we would ride to Mig La pass in Ladakh which was being touted as the world's highest motorable road at 19400 ft above sea level. This title had earlier belonged to Umling La which at 19024 ft is now on second place.

We decided to visit Ladakh in June this year when the passes would be open after the snow melted. Just as our preparations were underway, we came to know that Mig La would not be open for tourists this year as a major portion of the road had been damaged during the winter. This was a dampener for our grand plans to celebrate 70 years of existence on earth.

It was then that we decided to ride through the maximum number of high altitude passes above 5000 metres and in the process try to set a new record. As per the Limca Book of Records the most passes over 5000 mts covered in a single expedition were 8 passes. We were aiming for 9 passes.

Our journey started on 15 June 2026 with a sendoff from Doon International School, Riverside Campus Pondha at 0600 hrs. We returned back to Dehradun on 24 June 2026 at 1200 hrs after successfully riding through 10 mountain passes above 5000 mts. It was a hectic trip full of adventure, nail-biting escapes and adrenaline rush aplenty. On an average we rode over 300 kms per day which at times took 12 to 13 hours while negotiating some of the most treacherous terrain in Ladakh. Riding through those 10 passes took 5 days while the entire trip lasted 10 days. It was a rushed affair as we could not be out of station (Dehradun) for a longer period owing to prior commitments. Limca Book of Records had an exhaustive pre-expedition check to be followed and detailed records to be maintained during and after the ride. One important condition was that a mountain pass once crossed could not be crossed back for proceeding to the next pass unless there was no road beyond that pass. This required a lot of attention for the route to be followed during preparation of the itinerary. 

The total mileage clocked was 3189 km as per my bike's odometer. We have submitted our claim to the Limca Book of Records and await their confirmation post scrutiny and verification at their end. In case approved, the same will be published in the 2028 edition of LBR. Notwithstanding this aspect, the ride will be etched in our memory for a long time for having dared to attempt it at the ripe young age of 70 years and that too without any acclimatization for high altitude.

Photos of the various passes covered are as follows:

                           Khardung La - 5,359 mts (17,982 ft) 18 Jun 26 - 0820 hrs

                             Wari La - 5,312 mts (17,428 ft) 18 Jun 26 - 1219 hrs

                             Chang La - 5,360 mts (17,590 ft) 18 Jun 26 - 1521 hrs

                            Kaksang La - 5,438 mts (17,841 ft) 19 Jun 26 - 0958 hrs

                            Photi La - 5,524 mts (18,124 ft) 20 Jun 26 - 0713 hrs

                           Umling La - 5,799 mts (19,024 ft) 20 Jun 26 - 0940 hrs

                            Nurbu La - 5,310 mts (17,328 ft) 20 Jun 26 - 1230 hrs

                            Salsal La - 5,201 mts (17,063 ft) 21 Jun 26 - 0810 hrs

                          Tanglang La - 5,328 mts (17,480 ft) 22 Jun 26 - 1038 hrs

                          Lachung La - 5,059 mts (16,600 ft) 22 Jun 26 -1308 hrs