Armadillo Customs

20/07/2026

We are currently on day 10 👌🏍️

The Roof Of India – July 2026.

This extreme 15 day motorcycle adventure starts in Kufri, (Shimla) North India. We ride our 450 Royal Enfield Himalayans alongside the mighty Sutlej river and through the stunningly beautiful Kinnaur Valley.

It's then a long haul across the desolate and lonely high altitude desert of Spiti Valley. At times, we're riding for hours on end without seeing another soul.
It feels like another world up here.

China/Tibet is only 13 kms over the peaks on our right hand side.

On day 5, it’s onwards to Leh as we ride some of the highest motorable roads anywhere in the world at over 17,500 ft.

Our next target is to ride over the Roof Of India. This is the furthest northerly point that it's possible for us to ride.

We ride deep into the Zanskar and Pangi Valleys for some long gravel trails, spectacular glacier viewing and high altitude camping.
Preparing our evening meal while swapping stories around the campfire with a beer or two never felt so good.

Our accommodation varies from posh hotels, remote mountain lodges, basic homestays and tented camps.

This is not a ride for the faint hearted.
Nor is it to be confused with other tours.
It’s full on adventure at over 2,500kms.

It's just a few more early morning starts as we head back to Shimla and finish this epic ride.
This is what motorcycle adventure riding is all about.

Testing our limits and endurance.

You can follow our progress and track us live using this link: https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/nomadicknights and book this ride at: https://www.nomadicknights.com/himalayas-roof-of-india/

We'll see you on the road.
Cheers.

Alex, the team, and a motley crew of riders.

(PS. Aussies, Scots, Yanks, English, Norwegians, Kiwis, Irish, Tassies, Germans, Canadians, South Africans, Mexicans, Welsh, French, Indians, Danes & Swiss (We get everyone.)

20/07/2026

🇮🇳 ROOF OF INDIA – DAY 9: PADUM TO JISPA 🏍️⛰️

If the rest of the trip was breathtaking, this raises the bar once again.

We leave Padum and follow the spectacular Tsarap River, where the road clings to the mountainside and every bend reveals another unforgettable view.

One of today's highlights is the mystical Gumbok Rangam – a towering, stand-alone mountain rising to over 18,000 feet. Sacred to the local people and impossible to ignore, it's one of those places that makes you stop, take a breath and appreciate just how small we are in the Himalayas.

From there, the adventure continues as we climb to Shinkun La, another high mountain pass sitting at over 16,500 feet. At this altitude you'll notice the bikes working harder as the thinner air robs the engines of power, but that's all part of the experience.

The riding demands your full attention today. Narrow mountain tracks, incredible scenery and sheer drops remind you that this isn't just another motorcycle tour—it's a true Himalayan adventure.

By the time we arrive in Jispa, you'll have experienced another unforgettable day that very few riders in the world ever get to enjoy.

The higher you ride, the more unforgettable the journey becomes.

20/07/2026

🇮🇳 ROOF OF INDIA – DAY 8: KARGIL TO PADUM 🏍️🏔️

we left the beaten track behind and venture deep into the spectacular Zanskar Valley.

This is adventure motorcycling at its finest.

The route takes us through the stunning Suru Valley, over the breathtaking Penzi La Pass, and past the magnificent Parkachik and Drang Drung Glaciers. Around almost every corner is another view that makes you stop, switch off the engine and simply take it all in.

The riding is exactly what you'd expect from the Himalayas – flowing tarmac, dirt tracks, mountain passes and the inevitable water crossings. Every kilometre is an adventure.

If you've brought a camera or GoPro, today is the day to use it. You'll struggle to ride more than a few minutes without wanting to stop for another photograph.

By the time we roll into Paduml, you'll understand why so many riders say the Zanskar Valley is one of the most beautiful places they've ever experienced on two wheels.

Some roads take you somewhere... today's road becomes part of who you are.

20/07/2026

🇮🇳 ROOF OF INDIA – DAY 7: LEH TO KARGIL 🏍️⛰️

After a well-earned rest day in Leh, it's time to get back in the saddle.

Today's ride is one that surprises almost everyone. The roads are simply outstanding. Maintained by the Indian Army's Border Roads Organisation (BRO),they're some of the smoothest and most enjoyable roads you'll find anywhere in India.

As we follow the mighty Indus River, the scenery just keeps getting better. Sweeping bends, dramatic mountain landscapes, endless views and the freedom of the open road make this a day where the miles simply disappear.

Depending on the weather and timings, there may even be the chance to explore an extra stretch of incredible mountain road before arriving in Kargil

Many riders ask, “Why doesn't everyone know about these roads?"

Once you've ridden them, you'll be asking exactly the same question.

Day 7 isn't about surviving the mountains... it's about enjoying every single kilometre of them.

20/07/2026

🇮🇳 ROOF OF INDIA – DAY 6: LEH... A DAY TO EXPLORE OR REACH THE TOP OF THE WORLD 🏔️🏍️

After five unforgettable days crossing some of the most spectacular roads on Earth, today is all about choice.

Leh gives you the chance to slow down, soak up the atmosphere, grab a great coffee, wander the markets, enjoy a massage, or simply sit back and take in the incredible mountain scenery. It's the perfect place to recharge before the adventure continues.

But for those who want to push just a little further...

There's the opportunity to ride to the legendary Khardung La– the mighty "Top of the World" at 17,982 feet 🌍

This optional ride is short in distance but huge in experience. Travelling on locally hired motorcycles with our support team, you'll climb to one of the world's highest motorable roads, where every turn rewards you with breathtaking Himalayan views and a real sense of achievement.

Whether you spend the day relaxing in Leh or ticking Khardung La off your bucket list, Day 6 is one you'll never forget.

Adventure isn't always about covering miles... sometimes it's about standing on top of the world.

16/07/2026

DAY 5 | KEYLONG → LEH 🏔️🏍️

This was one of the biggest riding days of the entire adventure.

Leaving Keylong behind, we cross from Himachal Pradesh into Ladakh, climbing higher and higher into the Himalayas as we tackle some of the most famous mountain passes in the world.

Baralacha La. Nakee La. Lachung La. Tanglang La.

Snow lines, endless mountain roads and the vast emptiness of the Morey Plains make today feel less like a motorcycle ride and more like riding across another planet.

Then come the legendary Gata Loops— 22 twisting hairpins climbing high into the mountains, each corner bringing even bigger views than the last.

Long day? Absolutely.

Worth every kilometre? Without question.

By the time we roll into Leh, tired, dusty and grinning from ear to ear, we'll know we've experienced one of the greatest motorcycle roads on Earth.

16/07/2026

DAY 4 | KAZA → KEYLONG 🏔️🏍️

we rode through the spectacular Spiti Valley— a place often described as a world within a world.

Surrounded by lunar landscapes, towering glaciers and some of the highest mountain roads on earth, this is Himalayan adventure riding at its absolute best. The route throws everything at us: high passes, rocky tracks, water crossings, sand, mud, dust and narrow military bridges designed to keep even experienced riders fully focused.

Along the way we pass the legendary Tabo Monastery,standing proudly for over 1,000 years, while hidden caves in the cliffs continue to serve as places of meditation and solitude for Buddhist monks.

This isn't just a motorcycle journey. It's a ride through history, culture and landscapes that feel closer to another planet than anywhere on Earth.

The road to Keylong awaits.

Check out Roof Of India - July 2026 - Day 4 on Relive! https://www.relive.com/view/vE6JAQrEKgO