Royal Enfield is offering adventure riders two ways to experience Ladakh, India, this September. It’s a three-day multi-sport gathering in Leh followed by an optional guided ride across some of the highest roads on Earth. The inaugural Royal Enfield Himalayan Basecamp opens September 4 at Chuchot Ground in Leh, Ladakh at 11,480 feet, and runs through September 6.
This is not a motorcycle-only festival, though it is a partnership with Ladakh and the Ladakh Bikers Union. Activities span motorcycling, 4WD overlanding, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting on the Indus and Zanskar rivers, rock climbing, bouldering, hiking, and paragliding. A high-altitude wellness component, including breathwork, cold exposure, and altitude recovery protocols, is built into the schedule. Specific events include a Navigation Challenge that sends riders into the Ladakh backcountry for an orienteering exercise, and a challenging Monastery Ride.
“The Himalayan Basecamp is a rendezvous point for all adventurers, regardless of whether they are driven by horsepower, willpower, or their own two feet,” said Royal Enfield Chief Brand Officer Mohit Dhar Jayal. “The program combines action, instruction, and a variety of expeditions that will take adventurers out of their comfort zone — and bring them back to base with a whole new set of skills and experiences.”
Sitting on a Royal Enfield Himalayan, Senior Editor Nic de Sena takes in the Himalayas.
Basecamp tickets start at ₹1499 (approximately $18 USD).
Riders who want more can add Moto Himalaya 2026. This is Royal Enfield’s guided ride on Himalayan 450s across the Ladakhi Himalayas. Batch 3 for 2026 runs from September 4–14, with the structure built around the festival. The first three days are acclimatization time in Leh, overlapping with the Basecamp. Riding begins September 7, the day after the festival closes.
The route covers nearly 1000 miles of tarmac, dirt, gravel, and high-altitude mountain roads. From Leh, riders head to Pangong Tso at 13,860 feet, then south to Hanle at approximately 14,700 feet, along tracks that border China.
From Hanle, the ride pushes to Umling La at 19,024 feet, one of the highest motorable passes in the world, and higher than the Everest Base Camp. The route then swings west through Sarchu, crosses Shinku La at 16,580 feet into the Zanskar Valley, passes through Padum and Zangla, and loops back to Leh. Riders camp under open skies at Hanle.
The $2500 fee for Moto Himalaya 2026 covers the Himalayan 450, lodging, and all meals.
For riders who cannot make September, earlier Moto Himalaya batches cover July 4–14 and July 18–28. Those dates do not include the Basecamp festival which only happens in September.
Taken together, the two events offer a natural two-week program: attend the festival, acclimate to altitude, then ride out into some of the most demanding high-altitude terrain on the planet.
Registration for the Himalayan Basecamp is open on the District ticketing website in India. You can register for Moto Himalaya 2026 on the Royal Enfield website.
Have you ever wanted to ride a real MotoGP track? Well, here’s your chance! Leod Escapes does all sorts of amazing European tours, including the incredible Munich to Mugello tour at the end of June, or you can try the Core of Catalunya or the Portimão Andalusia trips, both in October. These are incredible touring experiences with the very best that Europe has to offer. Fabulous accommodation, incredible food, and motorcycles! So for the trip of a lifetime, visit LeodEscapes.com, now.
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In our first segment, Don Williams and Nic de Sena chat about the latest Yamaha MT-07. The amazing motor in the Yamaha is mostly unchanged, however just about everything else with this bike has changed. Don and Nic have extensive experience riding this beast and you’ll hear both their likes and a couple of dislikes too.
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Our guest for this episode is Nikolas Lazos, a 15-year old young man from Melbourne, Australia who starting racing in the Supersport 300 category in Australian Superbike last year. Nikolas had an awful crash at the tail end of last year that put him out of contention for the Championship. Teejay chats with Nikolas about his journey so far, and the physical and mental challenges he’s facing coming back from injury.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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