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Ladakh blog — how to plan leh ladakh trip & suggested ladakh itinerary 15 days.

As soon as I sat down in the plane that would finally take me home, I closed my eyes and remembered my first journey in India. In the colorful pieces of Ladakh, I forever remember the small craggy roads and narrow, steep trails, the majestic snowy mountains, the stunning turquoise rivers bending between the narrow rocky banks, the strong winds blowing the Buddhist prayer flags (lungta), kind indigenous people I met… In that place, people quietly mingled with nature as if everything had been settled for eternity.

• Leh Ladakh bike trip itinerary — How to spend 6 days in Ladakh by motorbike?
• Leh Ladakh bike trip blog — Ladakh bike trip guide & tips for first-timers
• Ladakh trip cost per person from Delhi — How much does Ladakh trip by bike cost?
• What to buy in Ladakh? — Top 9+ souvenirs & best things to buy in Ladakh
• Ladakh travel tips — 11+ Ladakh tips & things to know before going to Ladakh

So, how to plan Leh Ladakh trip from Delhi, how to travel in Leh Ladakh and how to spend 15 days in Ladakh? Let’s check out our Ladakh blog (Ladakh travel blog, Ladakh trip blog) to find out the best itinerary for Ladakh from Delhi (Ladakh itinerary from Delhi, Leh Ladakh itinerary, Ladakh trip itinerary) on how to spend 2 weeks in the fairyland of India as well as how much does a trip to Ladakh cost, useful Ladakh travel tips before you go and which month is best for Ladakh!

I have never been to a place where I was as well prepared as I was to go to Ladakh. Partly because Ladakh is remote land in the far north of India, located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, where is considered the crown of India, and bordered by Tibet and Pakistan. Here, the media is limited, goods are not as much and available as the places I usually have been to. Ladakh already was deserted, very high altitude, the lowest place was 3000m above sea level but the highest pass even over 5000m. Knowing that my health was not very good, I did not know, if I could reach that altitude, how my health would be. Fortunately, after experiencing of 17 days there, there were no serious problems, except for the boundless appetite for “meat” and the absent-mindedness as a pregnant-like woman in the first few days when I returned home. Some of the little experiences I’ve recorded below for the next time and I hope it will help you on your upcoming trip to Ladakh :).

Which month is best for Ladakh?

The best time to come is from May to early October. The rest of the months, the weather is bad, the snow is thick, the temperature is down to -30 degrees Celsius, many roads will be banned, tourist areas, hotels, houses and shops will be closed.

Ladakh blog: Leh Ladakh itinerary

Here is my summary of my Ladakh itinerary from Delhi, I followed a tour and I think it would be the best itinerary for Ladakh in 15 days (approximately 2 weeks).

• Day 0 : Toulouse – Delhi
• Day 1: Delhi – Agra – Delhi (each way: 240 km, 5 hours)
• Day 2: Fly from Delhi to Leh, resting to get used to the altitude
• Day 3: Visit monasteries around Leh (Hemis, Thiksey, Leh Palace)
• Day 4: Leh – Chang La – Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake (200 km, 6 hours)
• Days 5 + 6 : Pangong – Tso Moriri (11 hours), Tso Moriri – Leh (8 hours)
• Day 7: Ride a motorbike in Leh, visit Stok, Matho, Starna monasteries

Day 8: Leh – Pasgo Monastery – Alchi Monastery – Lamayuru – Mulberk- Kargil (222 km, 8 hours)

• Day 9: Kargil – Suru valley – Rangdum – Lang Tso, Stat Tso Twin Lakes – Drang-Drung Glacier – Padum (240 km, 12 hours)
• Day 10: Sani Village, Karsha Monastery, Dzongkul Gompa Fortress
• Day 11: Trekking to Phuktal Monastery, through Cha village (12 km, 6 hours trek)
• Day 12: Trekking from Phuktal to Anmu, through Purney village (Purne, Purni) (13.5 km, 7 hours trek)
• Day 13 : Padum – Rangdum Monastery – Kargil (240 km, 12 hours)
• Day 14: Kargil – Zoji La – Srinagar (200 km, 6 hours)

Day 15: Srinagar – Delhi

• Day 16: Delhi – Toulouse

Leh Ladakh itinerary: How to go?

We bought a tour from a local tour agency for 15 days, from the time when we got off the plane in Leh to the time when we got to the airport in Srinagar. In the preparation, my friend made a detailed itinerary, then contacted the tour operators in Ladakh to ask for a quote, then bargain and choose. The 15-day tour included accommodations (or tent in Pangong), a private car with driver, daily breakfast and 2 dinners at 2 lakes. The hostel is very good, the room for 2 people, clean, with hot water (except stay in tents at 2 lakes), so the bathing is very comfortable and pleasant.

Link to the tour company that my friend booked at: http://www.triptohimalayatours.com/

You also can directly contact with the driver Kunga for my group. He is enthusiastic and drives very careful and is about to start his own company. Facebook: Skal Kunga Kndguys Aback , Whatsapp: +919469229149.

Tour prices vary greatly from company to company. There was a group of 4 people traveling on the same day with us and the per capita price was 3 times more expensive for a slightly shorter itinerary.

Ladakh travel tips: Prepare before you go

• Applying for a visa or e-visa. E-visa is cheaper, only 50 USD (price in 2019, has now increased to 80 USD), e-visa is valid for 2 months from the time of first entry, can go in and out twice. Applying an e-visa is very quick, only after 2 days to receive it. When you receive an email with an e-visa, you need to go back to the ETA page to print the visa sheet (the sheet with the photo, the confirmation email is not valid on arrival). With an E-visa you can only enter India by air. Arriving at Delhi airport, the queue maybe is short, but the wait will be a bit long. Link to apply for e-visa: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . Visitors in Hanoi or Saigon can apply for a paper visa, which costs $103 and is valid for 1 year, multi-entry.
• Buy a good type of travel insurance because this trip is going to the very very far, one of the most isolated places in the world along with risks and dangers.

Ladakh travel blog: How much does Ladakh trip cost?

You can refer the trip costs for a Leh Ladakh itinerary for 15 days as follows:

• E-Visa: $50 (price in 2019, now increased to $80).
• Travel insurance: $100.
• International airfare and 2 domestic flights: $550 + $150
• Day tour from Delhi to Agra including car with driver pick up and drop off at hotel: 8000 INR ($125) for 5 people.
• Tour for 2 weeks in Ladakh including accommodations (except a night in Phuktal), car with driver, daily breakfast, 2 dinners at Lake Pangong and Tso Moriri: $375 / 1 person, group of 10 people, sleeping in a double room.
• Porter cum guide to Phuktal Monastery from Anmu village (will go with group from Padum): 2400 INR ($38) / 1 porter.
• Overnight at a guesthouse at the foot of Phuktal Monastery: 1000 INR ($15) / 1 person. The guesthouse has only 4 rooms, there is no way to book in advance, anyone who comes early will have a room, otherwise can ask to sleep at the monastery or go back to Purney.
• Overnight at a hotel near Delhi airport: $30 to $50 / 1 good double room. With $50 you could stay at 4-star hotel.
• Eating, cooking, admissions: $150.

Total cost, excluding gifts: 1300 – 1400 USD / 1 person.

Ladakh travel blog: What to prepare for a Ladakh trip?

Bring enough for 15-20 days in autumn, late September, early October, if you stay in a place for a few days, for example in Leh, you can use a laundry service, so you can bring less clothes).

• 1 3-in-1 jacket with duck feather inner layer, windproof and waterproof outer layer, 2 layers can be separated.
• 3 merino sweaters (this is thin, light, cool when you need it, warm when you need it) or heattech.
• 3 breathable, quick-drying sport short-sleeve t-shirts.
• 4 pairs of socks.
• A hat or corset.
• 1 pair of thin gloves. I use tennis gloves, which are thin but have grip and hold the camera well.
• 3 light trek pants or skinny jeans, no need to wear thick pants because it’s not too cold.
• 1 wide cloth scarf, no need to be too thick to wear and block the sun.
• 1 pair of low-cut trekking shoes, the trekking route into Phuktal is not too thorny, so you can wear low-cut trekking shoes, not necessarily to wear high-cut shoes.
• 1 pair of flip-flops or bathroom slippers.

Our group suffers from the food in Ladakh because the people here are mainly vegetarian. If lucky can find an eatery with meat, it is also very salty and spicy, with a lot of curry, difficult to eat. However, if you just go around Leh, you don’t need to bring much food because here you can go to the market to buy chicken or goat to cook for yourself, the food sold at restaurants in Leh and around is also okay. Going towards Zanskar, the good food is harder to find and you can’t buy meat at markets, only eggs and eggs.

• Spices, soup powder, soy sauce in packs, small bottles.
• Noodles, vermicelli, snacks, instant porridge… (should bring many kinds of foods because you will have to eat continuously).
• Pork, shrimp (can make soups).
• Jerky beef, chicken, pork.
• Cured meat.
• Canned meat, pate, fish (I can’t find fish anywhere in Ladakh, so this dish is very rare).
• Herbal tea, ginger tea.
• Dried seaweed to make soup.
• Dried soup.
• Rice and glutinous rice to make sticky rice (if you like, because the rice in Ladakh is very hard and foul).

• Headache, runny nose, cough drugs.
• Diarrhea drug.
• Multi-vitamin tablets.
• Wound bandage (ego).
• Those who often get sick should bring medicine to prevent that disease.
• Sunscreen, the sun at high altitudes is very bright and harmful to the skin.
• Moisturizing cream for lips, face, hands, body.
• Nasal medicine to avoid nosebleeds at high altitudes and cold and dry weather: 5g tube of Bepanthen.
• Water purification tablets (if going on a trek, so that I don’t have to carry a lot of water for days, go anywhere, get spring water there), I use Micropur of Katadyn brand, bought in France for €11 / 100 tablets, can purify 100 liters of water (with a box of 50 tablets).
• Vitamins to increase brain blood circulations, start taking it 2, 3 weeks before going.
• Drugs for high altitude sickness. Below is the prescription the doctor wrote for me. However, if you want to use it, you should see a doctor for a prescription that is suitable for your health, not everyone can take anti-altitude medicine. These drugs, only use if you feel symptoms, don’t need to take them first:  Prednisolone 20 mg (2.5 tablets / day, suck in mouth in morning after breakfast, should not be taken in evening because the drug contains cortisoide causing difficulty sleeping), this dosage is for people weighing 50 kg. Or Diamox (Acetazolamide) 250 mg: If the above drug still does not help, then take this drug, maximum 2 tablets in the morning and afternoon.

Other things

• Compact sleeping bag, no need to be too warm because in guesthouses have all blankets. I use Quechua’s FORCLAZ 15° LIGHT, which can be combined into a double bag, very compact, weighing just over 600 gr.
• 1 quick-drying microfiber bath towel.
• Thermal water bottle.
• Normal water bottle, at night you can pour hot water into it to hug to keep warm.
• Trekking water bag (if any).
• Sunglasses.
• Shampoo, conditioner packs.
• Wet tissue wipes body and other parts.
• Dry hand sanitizer.
• 1 roll of toilet paper in case something goes wrong.

• Wet makeup remover wipes.
• Sanitary napkins (in high mountains prone to early).
• Mini hair dryer for travel (if needed).

Ladakh blog: Where to exchange money?

The exchange rate at the end of March 2022

• In Delhi airport : $1 = 76 INR
• Near hotels next to Delhi airport and in Agra next to Taj Mahal: $1 = 80 INR, €1 = 83 INR
• In Leh airport : $1 = 79 INR

Below I summarize my Leh Ladakh itinerary for 15 days (2 weeks) which divided into 4 parts as follows.

Part 1: Agra

Day 1: delhi – agra – delhi (each way: 240 km, 5 hours).

I flew with Turkish Airlines from Toulouse and landed at Delhi airport (transiting in Istanbul) at 6am. My friends from Saigon arrived at 4am. After queuing for entry (I have already e-visa), I went straight to the door to get in the car to Agra in the pouring rain.

In Delhi, vehicles don’t seem to follow any rules. Each lane of motorbikes, cars, passenger cars, trucks, is crisscrossing each other. The rain was getting heavier and heavier, streaming on the glass, soaking the dusty road, forming a slippery brown mud. Many accidents, big and small, normal and serious were scattered over the distance of more than 200km until we reached Agra at past noon.

Agra is famous for having the Taj Mahal, which Karl Pilkington in “An Idiot Abroad” movie once described as “like a diamond in a turd”. That funny and sarcastic say prompted me to come here. There are three entrance gates to the Taj Mahal, of which the east gate is the most deserted. The entrance fee for foreigners is 1000 INR ($15.5). Buying tickets to the Taj Mahal first, you will get you free admission to the Baby Taj (Tomb of Itimah-ud-Daulah), one of Agra’s other interesting attractions.

Ladakh blog: Part 2: Leh, Lake Pangong Tso, Lake Moriri Tso

Leh Ladakh itinerary — Day 2: Leh

Returning to Delhi from the night before, this morning we boarded a plane to Leh, the heart of Ladakh. Delhi morning is still white clouds. Yet Leh welcomed me with the blue sky and golden autumn sun on my shoulders.

Leh is a lovely town that made me fall in love at first sight. Located at an altitude of 3500m, the air here has thinned a lot, made me struggle to breath after each step. All day today we have only one thing to do: Resting, take a gentle walk to get used to the thin air, avoid high altitude shock (with symptoms of shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, insomnia, worse will be vomiting, fainting).

Vegetables and fruits in Leh are many, freely to buying apples and apricots were in season. We came right during on the occasion of 9 days of local vegetarianism, so it was difficult to buy meat and the restaurants also only sell vegetarian food or a little bit of chicken. Wanting to cook for ourselves, we went to the only frozen chicken shop open these days located in the basement of Golden Bakery in the Main market area.

Best itinerary for Ladakh — Day 3: Monasteries around Leh (Hemis, Thiksey, Leh Palace)

Around Leh, there are many large and small monasteries, of which I like Thiksey the most with a beautiful view from the top of the monastery down to the valley that is turning golden in early autumn, surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains.

The sun was setting behind the mountains in western Leh as I climbed to the roof of the 16th-century fortress of Tsemo (Victory), above Leh Palace with simple, makeshift wooden ladders. The wind blew the lungta strings (Buddhist prayer flags), a little cloud drifted, and darkness fell over Leh.

Day 4: Leh – Chang La – Pangong Lake (200 km, 6 hours)

After the first night of having trouble sleeping because of the cold and the side effects of anti-altitude drugs in Leh, I slept a little better tonight. We left Leh for Pangong early in the morning. The road is more than 200km long but it takes more than 6 hours of continuous driving, going through 2 TCP (Traffic Check Point) to check permits and passports. The presence of Indian troops closer to Pangong Lake becomes more apparent as the area has remained a hotbed of hostilities with China until now.

The car passing the breathtaking curves of the road, taking us higher and higher. The leaves became more and more yellow, until the ground was covered with only a little moss, and then there were only gravel and stones. The air outside was getting colder and colder. The clock shows altitude of 4000m, 4200m then 4500m. I felt a little chest tightness when the car crossed the 4800m line. And then when the road seemed to be endless, the driver informed us that we were at Chang La (Southern Pass), at an altitude of 5360 m.

Stepping out of the car, I felt as if I was getting drunk and had to run a cross country. The wind seemed stronger, the sun seemed brighter, making me stagger and dizzy. At this altitude, a coffee shop was erected right next to 3 toilets built in a very “Ladakh” style. The concrete floor is carved a hole with the size as big as a brick in the middle, below is a deep mountainside that sucks in the wind, sitting here was extremely cool.

Through Chang La Pass, the car gradually decreased in altitude until the blue color of Pangong Lake – “Lake of the high green steppes” appeared. Pangong Tso is the largest saltwater lake in the state of Jammu & Kasmir at an altitude of 4300m above sea level. Close to the lake, a few restaurants were set up to serve tourists. Walking a little further from this area, only a few hundred meters, the lakeside was much quieter, almost empty. The lake is very long, wide and very blue, reflecting the mountains and the sky. I put my backpack and sat down in the middle of a strip of land by the lake. The cold wind and fresh air made me suddenly feel at peace.

The sunlight was not yet golden when the sun went down behind the mountain. The air was warm but suddenly someone’s hand was turned off.

Night falls, bringing with it the twinkling stars. Here the sky is high and clear, looking up I can clearly see the galaxy and sometimes a shooting star pass by, bringing a wish.

Ladakh blog: Day 5, 6: Pangong – Moriri Tso (11 hours), Tso Moriri – Leh (8 hours)

Early this morning I set off from Pangong to Tso Moriri. There is a straight road connecting the two lakes, but this road is close to the Chinese border, only Chinese and Indians can go. So, the car had to go around to check point Karu, right near Leh, making the journey will be 11 hours long.

This morning, after a tiring and cold night in Pangong, everyone in the car was asleep. I have more time to enjoy the view. The morning sun also makes the sky bluer. The mix of light and dark makes the scenery of mountains, lakes and streams more depth. Suddenly I found myself relaxing to the music, swinging along every curve of the pass. Before the vast and majestic natural landscape, with the height about to reach the top of 5300m, I dream with a bit adventure.

In this area, Indian troops are present everywhere. The road from Chang La to Leh is often congested because many army trucks go up and down, entangled with tourist cars, avoiding each other on the narrow stone road.

If the road to Pangong is mostly spectacular bends with a wide view of the valley on both sides of Chang La pass, the road to Tso Moriri is completely different, I personally find it a bit more romantic.

There are two ways to Tso Moriri.

Departure route: Karu – Chumathang – Tso Kiagar – Tso Moriri

Initially, the car followed the banks of the Indus River (Singee Tsangpo River), the leaves dyed yellow on both sides, making the scene both wild and charming. After riding for about three hours, the road gradually moved away from the river bank and got lost in the middle of the towering gorges. Then the car went uphill, back to the stunning bends but not as long and high as going to Pangong. At an altitude of about 4,600m, in front of me is a vast steppe, in the middle is Tso Kiagar lake. This season, the grass and moss have both turned light brown, highlighting the deep emerald water color. I love that emerald color, love the late afternoon sunlight, love the horses grazing freely, love the winding road along the lake that throws dust every time a car passes by.

Then Tso Moriri also appeared in front of me when the sun had completely set behind the mountains, leaving only one last halo.

Return way: Tso Moriri – Tso Kar (salt lake) – Tanglang la (5328 m) – Karu – Leh

The scenery on this way is more wild than the road along the Indus River yesterday. The car go through the desert. Tso Kar salt lake has a strange beauty, both thorny and lonely. The bends bring the car up to Tanglang La pass at an altitude of 5,328 m (there is also a sign that says it is the second highest pass in the world just like Chang La pass). On the other side of the pass, the brown mountain ranges stretch, connect, immense and attract the eye.

At the end of the road, the car took us back to the Indus river valley. I was going back to Leh. After a long and hard journey, returning to Leh was as warm as coming home!

Ladakh itinerary — Day 7: Motorbike ride in Leh, Stok Monastery, Matho, Starna

Today we spent a day traveling around visiting monasteries near Leh (Stok, Matho, Starna) by motorbike. Unlike Hemis, these places are quiet and peaceful, bringing the true purity of a religious site. I could stand all day at the top of Matho Monastery without getting bored, watching the Indus River valley turn golden in autumn, letting the wind from the snow-capped peaks blow my hair.

Starna Monastery, which people often call Tiger Temple, is located on a small ridge close to the banks of the green Indus river that bends as soft as a silk. Looking back from afar, Starna seems to have stepped out of a fairy tale, where the scenery is harmonious and emotions are at ease.

Ladakh blog — Part 3: Zanskar

This morning we left Leh, turning our faces one last time, Leh has become so dear since.

The road from Leh to Kargil with many small monasteries, somewhat older than the area around Leh, especially Alchi, built in the 11th century, inside there are many ancient statues and a quiet small garden, making anyone who come here to visit has a peaceful feeling, all fatigue and sorrow are all gone.

Thanks to its special geological structure, the area around Lamayuru is called Moonland. It is said that this place a few hundred years ago was located at the bottom of the lake, now it has dried up.

After a long day of traveling, we reached Kargil when the last rays of the day had disappeared. Kargil is a strange piece, a dark puzzle piece in the colorful picture of Ladakh. I came across a desolate city. It was only 6 or 7 pm on Saturday, most of the shops were closed, only a few restaurants remained, in the dim lights. Our driver, Kunga, explained that tomorrow is a major Muslim holiday (Muslims account of 90% of the city’s population), everything closes early, and tomorrow morning the whole city will be isolated completely.

In the only restaurant still open and selling meat, a popular eatery, a few Kargil people leaned down to eat, silent, austere glances bent over the table.

Ladakh trip itinerary — Day 9: Kargil – Suru Valley – Rangdum – Twin Lakes of Lang Tso and Stat Tso – Drang-Drung Glacier – Padum (240 km, 12 hours)

We left Kargil very early, before the city woke up, both to avoid being stuck here when the roads were blocked, and to reach Padum before dark. That day was a very long day, even though it was just over 240 km, it took us 12, 13 hours of traveling because the road was bad, there were many narrow sections like trails.

The bends took us to the high valley of Suru (Valley of Flowers) located between the rugged mountains, including the two highest peaks in region: the Nun and Kun, more than 7,000m above sea level. Surrounded by sharp mountains, covered with snow all year round, Rangdum is located in the middle of a vast basin, in what seems to be a lonely, solitary place, with nothing but strong winds and blazing sun.

The twin lakes of Lang Tso – Stat Tso and the Drang-Drung glacier are located on both sides of the Pensi pass (Pensi La), the gateway to the Zanskar valley. On the other side of the pass, towards Padum, the arid, rocky desert gives way to a more lively, cozy scene. Small villages nestled at the foot of the mountains, several long-haired black yaks roaming here and there. On the hillside, along the stream, the yellow leaves were caressing, warming a sunny autumn afternoon.

In Ating village, about 30 minutes by car from Padum, people were shooting the last arrow of the archery semi-final round as we passed. We all jumped out of the car, drank wine and sang together as if we had known each other for a long time. The Zanskar people welcomed us with warm arms. So, who wouldn’t love?

Leh Ladakh itinerary — Day 10: Sani Village, Karsha Monastery, Dzongkul Monastery

Padum lies in the heart of a vast valley, under the shadow of high sharp, serrated mountains covered with snow. Around here, there is no shortage of beautiful monasteries hanging on the mountainsides, peacefully standing for many generations.

I love Karsha Monastery the most, located across the valley from Padum. Squinting at the high mountains rising from Karsha, I felt so small in front of the vast but fierce nature. In the campus, the late afternoon sunlight left leaves shadows on the white walls with brown doorways. This place was so quiet, so lonely. Stopped for a minute, I just noticed the wind was blowing and the sun was lazily, sad and warm.

Ladakh blog Day 11 — Trekking to Phuktal Monastery, through Cha Village (12 km, 6 hours trek)

Standing in front of Phuktal in the dark purple afternoon, my friend said, “In a such place like this, if you don’t practice meditation, what can you do?”. The say made me laugh, forgetting even tired after a long trek of about 12 km, precarious at an altitude of 4,000m.

Phuktal is the oldest monastery in Zanskar, isolated from the outside world, and in my opinion, the most beautiful. Maybe I find Phuktal beautiful ten thousand times more because of the effort it takes to reach this place once. Leaving Padum at 6:30am, the car took me over a road of more than 30 km, poetic but unbelievably dangerous, arriving in Anmu at 9:10am. From here, the trek began gently, not too up, not too down, reaching Cha village after 2 and a half hours.

Leaving Cha village, a steep slope waited for us just as the sun was setting overhead. After that, the road gently sloped down, there were a few sections of rock falling close to the edge of the road, a bit difficult to go but no one had any serious problem.

From above, I dreamily watched the Tsarap River twist between two narrow gorges. The river was so clear, yet so green. The mountains was so high, yet so majestic. The afternoon sun touched the top of the mountain, melting into rays, making the water glitter, making the rock face pink. Why was it so beautiful, mesmerising!?

7 km from Cha village, it took us more than 3 hours to reach the guesthouse located at the foot of the monastery. Phuktal is located completely isolated, no phone signal, no internet. Here, just me and nature, we can forget all our troubles.

Day 12: Trekking from Phuktal back to Anmu, through Purney Village (Purne, Purni) (13.5 km, 7 hours trek)

The road from Phuktal to Anmu through Putney village is a bit longer (1.5 km) than the road through Cha village (on the other side of the river). This road is not as smooth as yesterday, up and down non-stop, across three small passes and two wooden suspension bridges over the Tsarap River. Leaving Phuktal at 6:50am, after 3 hours, I arrived in Purney.

Purney is located at the confluence of rivers. Just below, the turbid green Kargiakh River flows from the Shingjula Pass (Shingo La) into the clear flow of the Tsarap River. Purney is so beautiful this season, the endless yellow leaves on the mountainside, the small white houses are quietly nestled in the early morning sun.

Another 2 hours from Purney, I reached the second suspension bridge at 12am. The climb up from the river bank is very steep and full of crushed rock, it is not recommended to go down this road. If you want to trek Phuktal by two different routes, going through Cha village and back through Purney is the most reasonable.

Day 13: Padum – Rangdum Monastery – Kargil (240 Km, 12 Hours)

Kargil is an almost mandatory break on the 18-hour journey from Padum to Srinagar. The scenery of Zanskar in my eyes has gradually become familiar although everything is still beautiful on every bend. A strong wind swept over the mountainside today, swirling dust around the valley.

I went to Kargil tonight, I thought I was in another city, not as lonely as 4 days ago, the streets were bustling and busy again. Only the internet was cut off for all day without any reason.

Day 14: Kargil – Zoji La – Srinagar (200 Km, 6 Hours)

Today was our last day in the car. After over ten days of wandering, swaying on short distances but long in time, I was able to get used to the feeling of sitting on potholes, no longer sure I will miss it.

The road from Kargil to Sirinagar can be called smooth. The road has been paved to a large part, with only a few sections left unfinished or under repair. This road passes many military barracks, trucks and passenger cars follow each other. Referring to trucks, vehicles in Ladakh are very special. Most of them are decorated with elaborate colorful patterns, the words “Blow horn” are capitalized on the back, which my sister roughly translates to “Blow horn”.

Arriving in Srinagar, I found myself revived. How much fatigue after a long trip seemed to disappear when the beautiful small boat took me surfing on the calm and cool lake. Srinagar’s Dal Lake is very beautiful, although not as deep and blue as Pangong or Tso Moriri, but much more rustic and warm.

In a corner of the lake, wooden floating houses are anchored as accommodations for tourists. Small boats, hand-rowing, taking guests from floating houses to shore and go around. The afternoon sun spread down the golden lake surface. So serenity, tranquil, so peaceful.

Morning boat ride on Dal lake is also very interesting and lively. If you want to go to the local floating fruit and vegetable market, you will have to get up early because the market only opens from 5 am to 7 am.

This afternoon I went to the airport to return to Delhi, preparing for the long journey back home. Srinagar Airport is about 30 minutes by car from the city. I don’t know if it’s because Srinagar is still in the combat zone but I’ve never seen the baggage check so many times.

Near the airport, all passengers have to show their air tickets and get off the bus, check our belongings and do a first body check. Men can stay on spot, women have to go into a curtained box like a dressing room, private check.

Upon entering the airport, passengers have to present their tickets, check their belongings and check body a second time.

After queuing for checked baggage, passengers have to check their hand luggage and undergo a third body check. Then go to identify the checked baggage inside. Only suitcases that are identified and marked will be allowed bring on board.

At the boarding gate, after checking the boarding pass, the passenger is entitled to a fourth personal check-up, and any bag can be opened and checked again.

On the way to the plane, don’t put your boarding pass away because the flight attendants will check the boarding pass and passport twice more.

My plane transited in Jammu, close to the Pakistani border. Jammu airport is surrounded by a camouflage fence, along the runway there are armored vehicles waiting. When stopping at Jammu, after a part of the passengers disembarked, the airport staff went to open each carry-on luggage compartment, asking each of the remaining passengers who the remaining luggage belonged to. Seeing that they checked too closely, I was also a bit embarrassed. But hey, already sitting here, if we don’t know the reason, we don’t have to worry!

Ladakh travel blog — Part 4: Going home

When I staggered with each heavy step on the slope covered with dust and wind blowing, I wondered: “I have a cozy home, a warm bed and a soft mattress, why not enjoy it but bring myself here to do something for the extreme?”. Then at that moment, I remembered the people I met on the roads, the gentle smiles of the old women standing in front of their white houses with the brown door frames, the gentle eyes of the mothers holding their children, the innocent faces of children born in the wilderness, growing up like weeds. I also recall the moments when the blue lake appeared behind a bend, or when the sun rose and lit up the whole space bring vitality to everything, when two rivers of different colors merged into one. And from there, I know why I’m here. Every trip makes me happy twice. Once when I walked on a long road, when beautiful images filled my eyes and beautiful emotions filled my heart. And the other time is when I return, push the door to the house, where the people I love still waiting.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Leh-Ladakh-Zanskar you can refer to

• 10D9N Discover Ladakh, India from Singapore [All-Inclusive]
• 7D6N Ladakh Private Tour
• 6D5N Ladakh Private Tour
• 9D8N Chadar Frozen River Trekking Experience
• 11D10N Stok Kangri Summit Trek from Leh

Read more Ladakh trip blog: Ladakh trip blog — The journey to the fairyland of India and India guide here .

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Leh Ladakh Travel Guide (2024) – Explore the Unforgettable Land of High Passes!

By: Author Sophie Pearce

Posted on Last updated: January 1, 2024

Categories INDIA , JAMMU & KASHMIR

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

Julley from Leh! That means Hello in Ladakh and you’ll find that everyone here is itching to say it to you.

Leh is the super friendly mountain city that is waiting for you to visit them.

When you arrive here, either by bus or plane, you’ll be greeted by the most spectacular panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, ancient palaces, and Buddhist stupas.

It’s also a welcome paradise from the busy, dirty cities like Delhi and Rajasthan.

Here’s the ultimate Leh Ladakh travel guide including how to reach Leh, top things to do, where to stay, and what to eat!

The ultimate Leh Ladakh travel guide

Where is leh ladakh in india.

Leh Ladakh has an interesting mix of cultures and food as it’s on the border of China and its history is closely related to Tibet!

You’ll probably question what country you’re in a lot while you’re here and that’s the beauty of Leh.

What is the best time to visit Ladakh?

The best time to visit is actually in the monsoon season between June – September as Ladakh is a dry spot in a country of constant rain!

They also shut the road after mid-September so it’s best to visit before then or fly!

It’s beautifully sunny every single day at this time and everything almost looks saturated as you’re closer to the sun and higher up at 3,500 metres!

It’s also perfect weather for trekking and is what most travellers flock here for.

How to reach Leh Ladakh: flying vs. the road

There are usually two choices for approaching Leh Ladakh.

You can directly fly to Leh Ladakh from Delhi which is what most travellers prefer as you can skip the long bus journeys up through the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

But, this means that you cannot acclimatise very easily and you may suffer from altitude sickness and need a few days to adjust.

If you are prone to altitude sickness, you can get tablets to help with it. The other is to take the long bus journey from Manali to Leh.

This is the cheapest option and actually is not as dangerous as people make out.

Yes, the roads are crazy but the views are absolutely jaw-dropping and are worth the time spent alone.

You’ll pass through valleys, mountain passes, and waterfalls. There’s absolutely no sign of life around in many parts and it’s an experience you won’t forget.

For more information, check out my post ‘Travelling from Manali to Leh by road: all you need to know’.

Taking the bus from Manali to Leh

I took the 18-hour bus from Manali to Leh, which was actually 20 and we arrived in the middle of the night.

Our bus driver did a great thing by dropping us off in the backpacker district of Changspa where there are tonnes of guest houses. But, little were we to know that none would be open for business after midnight!

For a little while, we hung out with some other travellers from the bus in a bakery which turned into a bar late at night and just played the same Ed Sheeran song over and over again.

We had chai while deciding the next plan of action, which was basically to try every guesthouse in the area!

After a little while, we couldn’t find anywhere and a bar called KC garden offered for us to stay at their place for the night. It was an, which was used for group get-togethers and parties!

It had no windows, was freezing cold, and let in all the noise of dogs barking. However, it was a place to crash for the night and we had loads of blankets to keep warm.

It was really generous of him as he didn’t have to offer anything at all. He also didn’t charge which was really kind.

We were stranded in Leh Ladakh

The guy who owned the place said we could sleep in until noon, but when the workers came in the next morning at 7 am – they played really loud music so we would get up!

At first, it was just Buddhist chanting music which was actually really nice.

By 9.30 am, they upped the ante with techno music and that’s when everyone groggily got out of their sleeping places.

The next day, we had a chai together, thanked the guys at KC garden, and then went to try and find a room.

Where to stay in Leh Ladakh: Changspa 

We ended up staying at Hotel Asia which turned out to be the cheapest.

It was 500 a night with a shared bathroom, I hardly slept each night due to the light and noise but it did have hot water every single day!

With a view like this of the mountains, you can’t complain about £5 a night! For bookings see here.

The top things to do in Leh Ladakh

Most people use Leh as a base in Ladakh as it’s the main city with good connections to Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, and Srinagar in Kashmir.

But, there are lots of things to do in Leh Ladakh itself.

It is really gorgeous to explore too with an epic mountain range, historical palaces, and the iconic Shanti Stupa.

You can’t really get bored, even just if you gaze at the scenery around you.

This would probably be a good first point of call to start off your adventure in Leh. The ancient palace looks down on the rest of the city.

This was the home of Ladakh royalty and was modelled on the Tibetan Potala Palace in Lhasa.

Even though it was built in the 17th century and steeped in history, not many of the ancient artifacts of the royal family remain in the palace.

It’s nine floors of empty rooms save the antique pictures which hang on the walls.

The best part of wandering around this palace is actually the viewpoints from the rooftops!

You can get great panoramic views from all over the city. There aren’t really any restrictions on where you can go here so explore away!

Castle Tsemo

Castle Tsemo stands high on the hill above the Leh Palace.

To reach it in Leh Ladakh, you can get a taxi for around 250 rupees or take the steep winding trek uphill!

There are two parts to Castle Tsemo, a Buddhist temple, and the castle and the Namgyal Tsemo Monastery.

When you’ve caught your breath from the walk, take a peek inside at the beautiful golden Buddha which is perfectly preserved inside.

Next is a climb up the monastery, you’ll pay 20 rupees to head on inside.

At first, I thought this was awesome as it was so cheap, but then I realised that you had to head on up the rooftops of the monastery on these ladders from hell!

These weak, feeble ladders were not attached to the wall in any way and so it was a dodgy climb to the top!

Although these ones were low, the others were pretty much vertical!

Although the views were totally worth it, there was one problem – how was I going to get back down?!

I was petrified and my boyfriend literally had to place my feet on each step of the ladder.

When I got to the bottom, I literally couldn’t breathe haha!

I can laugh now, but I genuinely thought I was a goner. It’s totally ridiculous so if you’re afraid of heights, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Shanti Stupa in Leh Ladakh

The Buddhist Shanti Stupa was one of my favourite attractions in Leh Ladakh. It was donated by the Japanese, built-in 1991, and blessed by the Dalai Lama himself.

Although it is a 500 step walk to the top, the views and the stupa are so worth it! We arrived at around 10 am in the morning and there was literally no one around.

The best time to visit the Leh Ladakh Shanti Stupa is at sunset when the temperatures aren’t so hot and the sun creates a beautiful red glow on the mountains surrounding it.

There is also some really beautiful Buddhist chanting music which is broadcast live from the temple nearby.

When the lights go down on Leh Ladakh, the Stupa lights up and you can see the many stars which appear here due to the limited light pollution. It was magic.

When we visited in the evening time a government official was there, so naturally, some of the Kashmiri soldiers were here on guard.

One of them let me hold this! Stranger things have happened…

Before I got to Leh, I had this awful feeling there wouldn’t be anything around.

Most places in Himachal had a mall road, but I wasn’t sure about Leh.. luckily, I was proved very wrong!

There is a massive main market here which has everything you could wish for.

Restaurants, shops, supermarkets, chemists, the lot. So, don’t worry about getting access to the basics.

There were also these great little fruit and veg markets from the local farms here. The mini peaches, locally called aadu , were to die for!

Trekking Leh Ladakh and Day trips from Leh Ladakh

There are endless options for treks from Leh Ladakh that you can get involved with.

Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley were popular trips also which was a 2-day and 1-night stay.

There were 3, 4, 5 days, and even 20-day treks out of Leh. So, it will be down to personal preference if you wanted a guided trek.

There are a lot of treks that you can do self-guided also. Nubra Valley is around a 3-day trek each way which is supposed to be easy.

But bear in mind that there isn’t any phone signal here so you won’t have Google maps to help you!

Best to download a walking trail map beforehand or buy one from the local shops here.

Read more about day trips from Leh here

Multi-day sightseeing tours in Ladakh

There are many interesting multi-day tours  that can be organized from Leh.

The famous tours are the 2-day Indus river tour where you get the chance to visit some of the most impressive monasteries in Ladakh (Alchi, Likir, and Lamayuru among others), the 3-day Nubra valley tour via the famous Khardung La pass (the world’s highest motorable road) and the tours to the stunning high-altitude lakes of Pangong and Tso Moriri.

You will not find many buses in Ladakh that go to these places. One of the options is to hire a car with a driver, but the cost of transport is not cheap in Ladakh…

If you are a solo traveller or travelling in a small group, using a shared taxi is a great way to reduce the cost of the trip as well as its carbon footprint! 

Where to eat in Leh Ladakh: wonderland restaurant and bakery

The wonderland café was where I usually went for breakfast most mornings.

Loads of their breakfast combos come with coffee and apple juice!

It has a really nice relaxed vibe and an amazing bakery downstairs which offers some great doughnuts and pastries.

Also, If you’re a fan of falafel, these guys do the best I have tasted so far in India. It was light, crispy, and delicious!

World Garden Café

Serving up a huge range of international cuisines, the world garden café is an excellent place to eat at any time of day.

The guys here speak excellent English, are really friendly and the food is cheap and tasty.

This was one of my favourite places to eat in Leh, so don’t miss out!

Dust pollution in Leh Ladakh and harsh temperatures

As the terrain and surroundings are in quite harsh conditions (sometimes it looked like how I imagined Mars to be like) you’ll find it to be dry and dusty.

The pollution in Leh Ladakh was quite high around the main town and so if you have anything like asthma, you’re best to come prepared.

Most days I found myself using my scarf to protect my mouth, nose, and eyes from the dust.

As we’re closer to the sun here, you should always make sure you wear suncream.

When I visited in August, it was boiling hot every day and it was definitely summer clothes weather.

A lot of people had tiny dresses and shorts on which is a nice change from covering up but just make sure you don’t get sunburn!

Staying connected and WiFi in Leh Ladakh

As soon as I set off from Manali on the Rohtang pass my UK and Indian SIM phone numbers lost service and data. But, I thought when I got to Leh, it would come back – how silly I was!

There was absolutely no phone service in the whole town. I’m sure you could get a SIM from Leh if you have an unlocked phone, as most phone packages are regional in India.

This would mean you would lock into their own phone service here. But, for a few days, I just didn’t think it was worth it.

The wifi is also pretty bad and almost non-existent. Most cafés and restaurants offer wifi services but this wouldn’t work half of the time. In fact, on the first day we got here – there was no wifi in the whole town!

If I did get wifi, only certain apps would work like WhatsApp, which was perfect to tell my mum I was alive (mum’s always worry).

There are internet cafés which you can use which are 90 rupees an hour. I actually quite liked not having wifi and being contactable. I’m a 90s kid, so I remember a time before the internet!

It just means that you have a few days to truly enjoy where you are. You’re not constantly looking at your phone, but actually appreciating the scenery and meeting people!

Sometimes, we get so caught up in social media that it’s refreshing to sign off. Get a map, read a book, and talk to people. There was a world before wifi, you know!

That’s my complete travel guide to Leh Ladakh, save it for later!

Leh Ladakh would be a place I would highly recommend travelling to if you visit India.

In fact, I would say it’s on my list of ‘must-sees’. It’s a beautiful mix of culture, colour, history, and scenery which will transport you into another world!

Make sure you put it on your list. If you’d like to read more about the beautiful surrounding areas of Ladakh, read my article ‘the absolute best off the beaten track Ladakh’!

Want to read more on the far North of India?

Manali to Leh by road, all you need to know

A guide to Manali, the hippie town in Himachal

Why you need to visit Shimla

Top things to do in Mcleodganj

A complete Bhagsunag waterfall guide

My complete Rishikesh travel guide

Visiting the Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh

Things to do in Amritsar

Mussoorie Hill Station guide

Wednesday 27th of December 2023

Many Indian’s primary wish to travel Ladakh by a road trip on their own bike. Definitely my dream also. Hope I will also achieve it.

Sophie Pearce

Thursday 11th of January 2024

Yess, it's an epic road trip to Ladakh by road. I have to admit I wouldn't do it again though and would fly haha! Sophie x

Tuesday 29th of August 2023

Wow, this destination looks absolutely breathtaking! Adding it to my bucket list for sure.

Wednesday 30th of August 2023

Hi Suman, totally agree! Leh Ladakh is an epic destination :) Sophie x

Neha Shinde

Thursday 11th of May 2023

Fantastic article. I am very pleased to say that your article is fascinating to read.I always find myself wanting to comment on it.You're doing an excellent job.Keep your writing up

Wednesday 28th of June 2023

Thanks Neha for your kind words. Sophie x

Wednesday 7th of December 2022

Ladakh is not a place where you can go without planning. You will have to consider all the do's and don'ts while deciding on the trip. From the right clothes, the right vehicle, comfortable stay, and places to visit, everything should be pre-planned so that one doesn't miss out on the site's vibe.

Thursday 8th of December 2022

Hi Kamalesh, completely agree with you! Sophie x

Esha Sawant

Tuesday 1st of February 2022

"Hello Admin, Intresting Article, you are doing a great job . Keep it up"

Hi Esha, thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the post :) Sophie x

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Accommodation

Leh ladakh road trip: an unbelievable drive in india.

This is Part 1   of our 5 part series on planning the ultimate road trip to Leh Ladakh in India. We will cover every aspect – itinerary, accommodation, packing, driving – of planning an unforgettable Ladakh road trip:

Read Part 2 – Leh Ladakh Road Trip II (Nubra, Pangong, and Manali) (opens in new tab)

Read Part 3 – Packing for a road trip to Leh and Ladakh (opens in new tab)

Read Part 4 –  10 Dos and Donts for a roadtrip to Leh-Ladakh, India  (opens in new tab)

Read Part 5 – Accommodation: Luxury Camping in Ladakh (opens in new tab)

As we make our way to Ladakh, lush meadows, Chinar forests, and apple orchards give way to barren landscapes illuminated by the glimmering sun. Monks are everywhere and monasteries dot the landscape – that’s when you know you’ve arrived in one of the most spectacular places on Earth!!

A road trip to Ladakh is no small feat- it is well and truly the stuff of dreams. Ladakh’s soundlessness, its cobalt blue skies, bright rainbows, and glistening lakes are pure magic.  This road trip boasts of iconic landmarks such as the highest motorable road in the world ( Khardung La );  some of the highest mountain passes in the world such as Zoji La and Tanglang La;  splendid scenic drives in remote regions, and some little known gems such as the kaleidoscopic More Plains , Lamayuru, and the hypnotic Gata Loops. It is truly a road trip like no other!!

Before the fun stuff and a day-by-day itinerary of our roadtrip to Ladakh, here’s a quick look at the logistics:

Here’s an overview of the route we followed over the course of 3 weeks. We drove from Delhi to Ladakh via Gulmarg. We drove back from Leh City to Delhi via Manali.

This self-drive road trip is only for experienced drivers who are comfortable driving in India and  skilled at driving in the hills. There are dubious roads, bumpy stretches, and unpaved mountain passes by the dozen (all details in the daily breakdown below). Having said that, if you enjoy driving and are fond of road trips, it truly doesn’t get better than this. Look at these panoramas and those crystal clear skies. Don’t forget to read our article on 10 Things to keep in mind while planning a road trip to Leh and Ladakh  before embarking on this road trip.

Try to stick to bottled/filtered water while you are in India. Stock up on water and also on non-perishable snacks including dried fruits, nuts, and cookies before the road trip. However there is no need to go overboard as hot food is plentiful, cheap, and easily available in India.

There are hundreds of dhabas (shacks) along the way, most of which cater well to vegetarian and vegan travellers. Expect to find paranthas (stuffed flatbreads) and sandwiches. As you begin to inch closer to Leh, you will start noticing a smattering of mok mok/momos (steamed dumplings), chowmein (an Indian take on traditional stir-fried noodles), and Maggi (Instant noodles) on menus. A meal at a roadside shack will rarely set you back by more than £5 (INR 500). There are also loads of mid-range and some truly exquisite restaurants in the bigger cities you’ll hit during this road trip. We’ve mentioned a couple of our favourites in the itinerary  below  🙂

The cumulative expenses depend on the kinds of hotels and restaurants you choose to stay and dine. As with every other country we visit, we chose quaint lil B&Bs for the days when we had to be on the road all day and just needed a place to crash at night and luxury hotels for languorous days that had to be spent in the same city. Besides accommodation and food, expect to spend approximately £120 (INR 12000) on fuel and £40 (INR 4000) on tolls and road taxes if you’re driving a rental car . This sum is a bit lower if you’re driving your own car.

Try renting a 4X4 for your road trip to Ladakh – this isn’t essential but it makes the ride easier. It is easy to rent a car in most major cities in India. As most of you probably know, driving in India is like nowhere else in the world. Roads are chaotic and lane driving is but a myth. Taking these things into consideration, it’s best to rent a car from an Indian rental company . Such companies understand the nuances of the Indian market well.

There are a number of car-rental companies in India. Here are a couple of things we kept in mind while renting a self-drive car in India:

• Make sure you opt for a company that provides unlimited mileage. A lot of companies offer a quote that includes limited mileage. Customers are charged an extortionate amount for every kilometre over the fixed mileage. This is never a good idea if you, like us, love taking detours and discovering offbeat gems along the way.

Keeping these things in mind, we rented a Scorpio from Myles Cars   for our self-drive road trip and the experience was seamless. We opted for their personalised service, which included a pick up/drop off at our doorstep (something we’ve seen only in India 🙂 ). Our car was in great shape and didn’t give us trouble as we drove through varied terrains, bumpy roads, and mountain passes. We drove it much more than we anticipated but paid no additional cost (thanks to the unlimited mileage clause!)

Now that the logistics are out of the way, let’s head to the fun stuff. Here’s a day by day breakdown of a road trip to Ladakh:

Day 1: Driving from Delhi to Patnitop

The first day’s drive through bustling Indian towns and cities and plains is perfect to acquaint oneself with driving in India. The drive from Delhi to Patnitop , a small hill-station in Jammu and Kashmir is long. It can take about 16 hours (although Google says 10 ;-)), so you might consider breaking it if you don’t enjoy long days on the road. In any case, always take frequent breaks especially if you are the only one driving.

Start early – we left Delhi at 4.30 am. We took the following route: Delhi-Karnal-Ambala-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Pathankot-Udhampur-Patnitop. This drive isn’t particularly scenic and there are frequent toll booths along the way. However the first 7-8 hours boast of great roads. Also, there are lots of service stations and public toilets along the way.

There is no shortage of restaurants. International chains – McDonald, KFC, Subway – seem to be extremely popular in the area. But if the weather’s conducive, we’d suggest taking a pitstop at a traditional Indian  dhaba (shack) for some North Indian grub.

Fight the impulse to follow your GPS blindly and try to stay on the highway as much as possible. For eg. our GPS took us through ‘shortcuts’ towards Gurdashpur and Binanagar. Instead of following the highway and driving towards Pathankot, we obeyed the GPS. This was the worst idea ever as roads were bad and in horrible condition. We ended up wasting 2 hours on an already long day!

Accommodation:

Patnitop is a small hilltop town that makes for a perfect pitstop for the night. There are a few hotels and resorts in the area. We chose to spend the night at Vardaan Resorts because it was recommended by a couple of locals.  Rooms are clean but dated and food is fresh. The view however is enviable. Waking up to this view made us really excited about the panoramas that lay ahead.

Day 2: Driving from Patnitop to Gulmarg

This is when the fun begins in real ernest. Almost as soon as you leave Patnitop, you will start spotting lush forests, meadows, glistening waterfalls, and blue skies. Apple farms start making an appearance and Kashmir’s sun-drenched panoramas put visitors in a good mood. At one point you’ll cross Jawahar tunnel and the moment you come out on the other side, you’ll be greeted to the first glimpse of the beautiful Kashmir valley.

The winding hilly drive from Patnitop to Gulmarg takes over 8 hours. Expect to make loads of stops along the way – rainbows play hide and seeks with red-cheeked kids in the countryside and Kashmir. Glowing and throbbing nature is at its best and most magical here in Kashmir.

Make sure your fuel is topped up when you leave Patnitop as gas stations start getting scarce at this point.

You could choose a hotel in Srinagar or Gulmarg. We chose to stay in a slightly secluded spot in Gulmarg – The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa was recommended to us by a reader and we’re so glad we chose it for our stay in Gulmarg. It’s a magical property, nothing short of splendid. Decadent rooms overlook snow-capped peaks and coniferous forests. On s haring a photo on our Facebook page , we found out dozens of our readers have stayed there in the past and all of them gush about it – so glad we aren’t the only ones! 🙂

Days 3-5: Gulmarg & surroundings

We spent 3 nights at The Khyber Himalayan Resort as we explored Gulmarg and its surroundings. It provided the perfect break from all that driving. Nature is extravagantly beautiful in this part of Kashmir.

You could just pick up your car, pack a picnic basket, and find an idyllic picnic spot just about anywhere. Alternatively you could go for a hike , one that’s as easy or strenuous as you want it to be, through Gulmarg’s magical woodlands. Don’t forget to hop on the Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest operating cable cars in the world . The first level of the gondola ride is passable but the views of the Himalayas from the second level are splendid. Highly recommended. Tickets cost £16 (INR 1600). Go prepared for LONG queues 🙂

Day 6: Driving from Gulmarg to Kargil

Finally it was time to leave the serene environs of Gulmarg and head to faraway hills. The drive from Gulmarg to Leh cannot be covered in 1 day, so it’s best to cover it over 2-3 days. Kargil is the perfect pitstop if you decide to do this stretch over 2 days.

This drive is one of the most scenic drives so far. Expect glacier views at Sonmarg, little streams at Drass, herds, cheery shepherds, flocks of sheep, and seductive stretches of countryside. At Zoji La (Zojila Pass), one of the bottlenecks along the way, roads are dubious but stunning views abound. Snow-laden panoramas are everywhere to be seen so it’s hard to get annoyed at the bad roads or traffic jams.

Start early. The drive from Gulmarg to Kargil is just 250 kilometres long but it took us 12 hours because the mighty Zojila Pass is always jam-packed and the roads on this stretch are in bad shape. To add that, there was a protest in one of the villages on our way and the villagers had blocked all traffic for a couple of hours. Always stay prepared for things like these when driving in India 🙂

It being peak season we were unable to find any hotel in Kargil for the night. Finally, after over 2 hours of first pulling into Kargil, we found a dingy room at a local guesthouse. We were grateful for the beds at the end of a long day but we can’t recommend the place. I won’t get into the nitty-gritties but let’s just say we were very glad to get out of there next morning! 😉

Day 7: Driving from Kargil to Leh City

The military presence in this area can’t be glazed over. You will spot soldiers everywhere – this is because of the volatile political situation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Scenery wise, this stretch of road is spectacular ! In fact, it is so scenic you will want to stop every 5 minutes especially as you inch closer to Leh. As we made our way to Ladakh, we could see lush meadows, and Chinar forests giving way to barren landscapes illuminated by the glimmering sun. Monks could be seen everywhere and monastries dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see – that’s when we knew we had arrived in Leh!!

Some of the places that are worth stopping on the way are Lamayuru village (mid-way between Kargil and Leh), Alchi, and the famous (and much hyped) magnetic hill .

Start early with lots of time on hand and stop to absorb the scenery every 20 minutes 🙂 Have lunch at Lamayuru to break your journey and enjoy the peaceful vibe at the monastery.

Leh City has loads of guesthouses and hotels to suit every budget. Choose one that gels with your travelling style – just make sure the hotel offers parking (as you will need to leave your rental car here while exploring Nubra Valley & Pangong Lake), rooms are heated, and it has oxygen supplies should you need them.

Since we had to spend quite a few days in Leh city, we chose the luxurious Chamba Camp Thiksey . It overlooks the gorgeous Thiksey Monastery, far from hustle-bustle of Leh City. Glamping is the only way to stay next to some of the most remote panoramas of the world in such luxury. We’ve been glamping in loads of places around the world but I’ll say this – nowhere has it been more decadent or scenic that in India. We loved waking up in our decadent tent at The Ultimate Travelling Camp, nestled amidst snow-capped mountains and spending languorous days absorbing Leh’s natural beauty, with cappuccino on call 🙂

Days 8-10: Explore Leh City and surroundings

There are loads of things to see in Leh City.

• Explore Shanti Stupa , a Buddhist stupa located on a hilltop
• The  Old Town of Leh also makes for a fascinating self-guided walk – explore its crumbling houses, the buzy marketplace, and Leh Palace
• Leh Palace offers great views of Leh City but for truly spectacular views of Leh City, head to the neighbouring  Namgyal Tsemo Monastery
• Outside the city, Thiksey Monastery and Hemis Monastery offer an insight into the Buddhist way of life. It’s easy to spend hours at each monastery – exploring rooms, marvelling at staircases, and talking to monks. Don’t miss the early morning call to prayer and prayer ceremony at Thiksey Monastery.

All these historical and cultural sites draw visitors. However here in Leh City, the landscape is the real draw – you could stop just about anywhere and be treated to a special view.

Take it easy on your first day in Leh City and give your body time to acclimatize to the altitude. If you’re on a road trip, chances are you will adjust pretty quickly because the ascent to such high altitudes has been gradual. However the difference in altitude might hit you harder if you’ve flown straight to Leh City. In any case, refrain from consuming spicy/heavy food or alcohol for the first couple of days. Have loads of water and keep yourself well hydrated.

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140 thoughts on “ leh ladakh road trip: an unbelievable drive in india ”.

This is Amazing and extremely helpful. Thank you for the detailed post .

Thanks Ananya – so glad you found it useful 🙂 We wanted to pen EVERYTHING that could potentially help someone planning a trip to the area! 🙂

More than just a tour guide, its extremely helpful for people like me who are planning a trip to Ladakh.

Thanks Suyash – it took us SO long to put all this information about a roadtrip to Ladakh together in one post but your comment just made it all worth it 🙂

Hi Savi/Vid,

I have been following your page from quite a while now. I love to read your experiences and struggles in a trip. I have been struggling from last few months to plan my honeymoon trip from April 20th. It would be great if you can help us with some inputs. We are planning a road trip to Ladakh from Manali. Is it a good option for honeymoon purpose, as we both like road trips, that’s why we thought this could be a good option. We are planning a 10 days trip from Manali to Leh and vice-versa.

Plz share your inputs also if you have any other suggestions than Ladakh, we are open for suggestions.

Plz help in the same, we are planning a decent honeymoon trip within India as we are not interested in Maldives, rest most of the countries have not opened there borders yet.

Waiting for your reply.

Hey Shivani – if you choose nice accommodation Ladakh can make for a good honeymoon 🙂 If you want someplace warmer with nice honeymoon-friendly hotels you can also choose Kerala

Such a awesome journey it look like .. I been there many a times but seems like life got refreshed after reading your words with awesome pictures … Much useful link .. In august I am Going again . Will Try all the places which U guys mentioned . Thanks 4 the post .

Thanks a ton Harkaran – so glad you enjoyed our guide to driving in Ladakh 🙂 We’re not surprised you keep going back to Ladakh – Have fun in August & don’t forget to send us photos

Stunning pictures. After reading this post, I am so looking forward to my trip to Ladakh! <3

Thanks Deepika – we hope you have an amazing time in Ladakh. Do try to check off some of the lesser known sites (Lamayuru, More Plains etc) too 🙂

Hi guys.. Wonderful writing & you guys make my mind to go & see such a beautiful place in India.. Photos are amazing. Hope you had great time there

Hey Manoj – it’s awesome that we managed to persuade you to go and drive around Ladakh. We promise you you’ll love it 🙂

I was 4 when I was left behind due to my acute asthma in 1986 by mom and Bro to joindad in Ladhak serving the Indian army.At this time this little gem wasn’t known to the world.But I grew up on stories from the valley and have been wanting to go there since I was 4. Last year after a lot of convincing my husband took me upto Srinagar, Sonamarg and Zozilla pass. I had to call dad then to salute him to serve the nation at the toughest battlefield and also assure him my asthma was doing just fine. I have been holding up Leh because I wanna drive up there and not fly so I acclimatise well.Your post is just what was needed. Thank You ?

Hey Kamakshi – you’re welcome. As we mentioned, Savi’s bronchitis held up well in Ladakh. We’re sure you’ll be fine and would love it 🙂 Just make sure you book a hotel with oxygen supplies and don’t try to pack in too much in your schedule. Hugs from us

Awesome blog, have been on two treks in Ladakh (personally count it among my favourite destinations, though obviously there is a lot of world left to explore) but your snaps are brilliant and a road trip looks like a pretty interesting prospect for a 3rd visit. Do visit the Tso Moriri if you ever go again. Long drive but personally thought it was way better than Pangong…

Thanks Uday – you should definitely try driving to Ladakh. We’ll be back for Tso Moriri but thought we’d recommend it to our readers anyway – we heard SUCH great things about it 🙂

Stunning pictures, great writing and truck load of information. Thanks for such a detailed post. Definitely bookmarking this series for our future leh travel plan. I have to ask, do you guys had any issue with self-driving in and around kashmir and ladakh? I keep hearing there are lot of taxi union issues, any comments.

Hey Krithika

Thanks a ton – glad you enjoyed the post 🙂 Driving in Kashmir and Leh City isn’t a problem but the taxi union is quite strong in Ladakh – we’ve written all about it (and how we dealt with it( in days 11 -15 of our itinerary here: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/india/epic-road-trip-leh-ladakh

Guys, it seems like an awesome journey! I’m just speechless. 🙂 The views like those make it all worth it. I’ve been wanting to go to Leh since forever. I think this post will help a lot! 🙂

Thanks a ton Ramya – hope you make it there super super soon. A roadtrip to Ladakh is truly dreamy 🙂

Absolutely stunning views and informative blog post. Can I just ask what camera you’ve used for these pictures?

Keep doing what you are doing!

Thanks a ton Harshitha 🙂 We use a Nikon D610 for all our photographs – we’ve written a detailed post on our travel and photography essentials: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/featured/travel-photography-essentials

Thanks v much Savi! Really appreciate your response, it’s been really helpful.

Btw, i just turned on notifications on your insta account! Great pictures you guys ?

Thanks a ton Harshitha 😀

Hey! I have been waiting for this post, so that I can make notes before I leave for my trip:) Loved the post and the pictures are incredible as always:) Thanks for taking out time to answer all my queries with regard to the accommodation at Leh, Nubra and Pangong. I have made bookings at the same stays at all 3 locations 🙂 Leaving on 17th July, so excited. Thank you so much 🙂

Hey Chinar – that’s awesome. You MUST send us photos when you visit Leh & Ladakh. We’d love to share them with our readers 🙂 Hope you found all the information you wanted – feel free to drop us an email if you need anything else

finally , the itinerary is out. Covers all bases , but just wanted to ask for someone not going by car to leh , what all can be done using motorbikes and what will need a taxi? was planning to take taxi for Nubra valley and Pangong and Motorbike for Leh local??

Hey Gaurav – you can refer to days 11-15 to see what we did but I think what you have in mind is great. In fact you can even cover Nubra and Pangong by bike but do be warned, the roads are really steep and in bad shape. However we did see a few bikers covering the route themselves 🙂

Thanks , taking lots of cues from u guys , hope we end up as much fun as u guys. Cheers.

Awesome Gaurav. Have fun and send us photos from you trip to Ladakh 🙂

Best post of yours till date.. such detailed write up and envious pictures to match up with it..3 weeks in Heaven i should say.. keep rocking guys..

Thanks a ton Madhu – so glad to hear you found it useful 🙂

just wat i needed, have been waiting since the day ur first post abt Ladakh came uo… its just my dream destination. Being suffering from chronic disorder its just scares me out listening the stories abt the place but the moment i see any pic of leh ladakh it seems this is wat i wanna do. And ur pictures, they motivate me to the T. they just scream out saying “Come fall in love with me”…just get goose bums seeing god’s beautiful creation and to witness it would be something else. great job guys love love love you. BIG HUGS AND KISSES TO U.. stay blessed and KEEP LIVING.

Thanks a million Prachi – It’s easy to get medical attention, especially in Leh City. You should make a short trip just to test the waters 🙂

Yup this is on my top priority list now. And next to top is meeting you guys. you truly are big time INSPIRATION. just WAITING FOR MY BIG FAN MOMENT. 🙂

Aww thanks Prachi – I hope our paths cross somewhere around the globe super soon 🙂

What time of the year did you take this trip? Want to plan one in April, advisable?

Hey Vamshika – we went in July. In April some roads are still snowed under, so do check before going. Or you could fly to Leh City and you’ll explore it from there 🙂

You guys are lucky to have made it just before the ban on self driving cars in Ladakh region.

Hey Sam – we didn’t. We drove to Ladakh and back from Ladakh but rented a taxi to explore Ladakh while we were there. Please see days 11-15 for this!

Great post, even greater pics! Surely gonna use this if and when I plan an epic road trip to Ladakh. Btw, you guys look amazing in all of the pics!

@Vid: If possible, could you write a post on your photography workflow? How you manage the RAW files, what softwares you use etc? I have read about your travel photography gear but was curious about the workflow.

Thanks for the tonne of info already 🙂

Regards, Anu

Hey Anu – thanks a million 🙂 Sure I’ll definitely pen a post on that. I have a few huge HDDs (couple of TBs each) to store RAW files and I use Lightroom to edit photographs

Omg!! My husbanhuhas always been dying to be here and I have been researching the areafor quite some time now but reading all of your series I am also desperately wanting to be there. So beautiful described! This is definitely on top of my list now! Thanks for the traveling goals..

Hey Sneha – so happy to hear you enjoyed reading about our roadtrip in Ladakh 🙂 Hope the two of you make it there soon 🙂

It’s so beautifully written that sitting on my bed feels like driving on the panoramic Leh and Ladakh road.You two are inspiration for me!!

Thanks for that Upasana – this took so much time to put together but your comment just made it all seem worthwhile 🙂

Wow..I mean wow..Reading this was like traveling to Kashmir . And the pictures are so beautiful. Loved reading ! Sorry for all the exclamation marks but I am awed.

Thanks Khushboo – so happy to hear you enjoyed both the text and words- yay 🙂

Great travelogue. I haven’t seen northern India but now I won’t be able to stay away. Thanks!

This was our first road trip to The Himalayas and it did not disappoint 🙂 You should definitely head over!

Thanks for such detailed and helpful posts and for not saying that driving in India is too crazy to attempt – I drive here everyday and love it! I think once you understand the culture and drive like an Indian it’s not too unsafe. I’d love to try this road trip on a car or a bike. Thanks for the self drive car hire tips and stunning photos too!

Hehe Anna – driving in India is a different ballgame altogether but it’s definitely doable and a lot of fun. Would love to hear from you after you attempt a roadtrip to Ladakh – have a feeling you’ll love it 🙂

Your post reminded me of my CEAT tyres sales trips in punjab and jammu. Gt road and beyond. 20 yrs back.

Extremely beautiful Photoes…

Thanks a ton Hardik 🙂

Amezing clicks! Which month u did it? how was weather? any rain?

We went in June and the weather was amazing. We didn’t encounter any rain 🙂

You guys r just superb!!.. Seeing u travel makes me leave everythng nd jst go by d flow lyk u guys do U both are such full of positivity nd full of lyf dat it makes us believe all d more in everything u do

Dear Anubhuti, you are too kind and generous in your appreciation. We are really humbled by your words.Thanks so much and we hope you also get a chance to travel around the globe and explore everything for your self 🙂

You Guys Are Doing Awesome Work. Keep Exploring!?

Thanks a ton Meet 🙂

I heard you could do go through Ladakh by road these days. Walked from Lamayaru to Darcha (took almost a month) and then bus to Manali 30 years ago! Memories. Time to go back.

Hey Steven – Walking from Lamayaru to Darcha sounds like one incredible adventure. Love the sound of it. You should definitely re-visit Ladakh – you’ll be surprised at just how much things have changed 🙂

I just checked the route – been trying to match my old photos to Google maps! We walked quite a bit further, over the Shingo La (I remember that) into Himachal Pradesh and we must have hit the road at Keylong. It appears many of the gompas are still only accessible by foot – Photoskar, Lingshed, Lingshot, and some others. There is now a new gravel road up to Phuktal north off the Manali road. Did you get up there? That is a truly incredible and memorable place, thousands of years old. I also remember as it was an easy 40 mile river valley walk from Padum, so on a road trip could be done from Padum in a couple of days. Lamayaru to Padum was about 2 weeks of daily mountain climbs – still walking only.

Hi, Which month did u travel?..Love the season colors..

Hey we travelled during summer (June)

Hi, I really wanted to know about the weather there in May.We are planning in last week of May this year.there will three kids in the group. TIA

May is a great time but sometimes the snow hasn’t melted and many roads are not open. So check for updates before leaving

It is a very advantageous post for me. I’ve enjoyed reading the post. It is very supportive and useful post. I would like to visit the post once more its valuable content. Thanks a lot for this beauty Enjoying article with me. I appreciate it very much!

We are a group of 3 engineering students from Mumbai and we have been dreaming of going to Leh Laddakh since our freshmen year! Thanks to your blog we are finally planning a bike trip to Leh from Delhi and back this year. Kudos to you guys for inspiring people like us. We shall make full use of your suggestions. Keep up the great work and wish you luck for your future endeavors.

Hey Rohith,

thanks a lot for your message. Hope you guys had a great road trip to Leh Ladakh – do share photos with us if you get a chance 🙂

Hey there ! Every time I surf thru https://www.bruisedpassports.com , I’m in awe of you both. Cheers guys ! Now coming on to the important point, how much did it cost for the entire trip. Plus would like to have your advice on the following route we intend / plan to take – delhi to Srinagar (via flight) to leh ladakh to manali / Jammu (via road) and fly out of delhi. Would we be doing justice to the scenic beauty of Leh Ladakh. Secondly, what time of the year does it opens for civilians, which month onwards

Best Sripat

Yes your itinerary will be doing justice to the beauty of Leh Ladakh. Costs will vary as you’ll have to hire a cab from Srinagar to Leh to Manali/Delhi. We rented a car and drove from Delhi back to Delhi. You will be taking flights. So it’s difficult for us to tell you the estimated cost for your trip 🙂

It usually opens May onwards but that varies year on year so best to check that closer to your trip

Hi Guys . We are planning to do a road trip from Delhi to Leh , but i am hearing all scary stories that a rental Car ( yellow/black board) should be avoided as the locals don’t let u pass after a certain point ? Is this true ? Most of the folks are advising us to take flight to Leh . What do you suggest?

Hey you can only drive till your hotel in Leh in a rental car. Beyond that, (say for Nubra / Pangong etc.) you have to take a local taxi. Nothing to worry about. Taking a flight to Leh is also not a bad idea – to be honest Delhi – Patnitop drive was quite bleh and I’d rather skip that. That said, Kargil – Leh and Leh – Jispa are some of the most stunning drives so if you fly to Leh and back you’ll be missing those 🙂

Loved your post. Is the road trip doable with kids?

Thank you 🙂

I believe it’s best to take a doctor’s advice on that as many people suffer from altitude sickness in Leh and it might not be good for kids

Hi Your post is great.. Its detailed and covers all the bases.. I have read and heard that self-driven cars from Myles and the like are not allowed beyond a point in ladakh as the local car hires do not allow you to use ur rented vehicle. I am planning for a similar trip in July by renting a car from one of these app based rental services. Need your input on this. Should I go for it or look out for other options?

Hey Aditya,

Yes, you’ll only be allowed to take the car to Leh. For Khardung-La, Nubra, Pangong lake etc., you will have to hire a local car.

Can we plan a trip in July ion leh?

Yes in fact July is one of the most popular months to do a road trip to Leh Ladakh 🙂

Hi we are planning to visit leh ladakh during aug.. wanted your suggestion on where should we stay- at nubra valley or at diskit because i’ve heard all monastriea are closer to diskit but dunes are closer to nubra.. bit of confused over there. Also, have been reading articles about altitude sickness at leh. I’ve never felt any such sickness before while travelling to hill stations..should I be worried this time?

Hey one can never predict altitude sickness, so we can’t say anything. You’ll just have to wait and watch. As a precaution, do spend 1-2 days getting acclimatised to the altitude before starting to explore. We’d say Diksit is a better option 🙂

The photofeature of the Manali-Leh Ladakh road trip is just mesmerizing. Definitely have to give it a try.

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh would probably be like in mid-December and Jan starts it is one of the most charming places to see I have visited there for like 3 days and 4 nights, food is also delicious. thanks for the wonderful article.

Yes we’d love to visit Leh Ladakh in winter months 🙂

Excellent blog writing with beautiful photography enjoy reading such a nice blog. Thank you for sharing.

I have read this article this is such an amazing place for hill lover. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for your detailed report!

Would you recommend doing this trip in July? We are a European couple who loves roadtrips and I have seen so many beautiful videos of this region but I don’t know if it’s not too dangerous to drive the roads?

Hey there – would’nt recommend driving yourself if you haven’t driven extensively in India before this 🙂

Hey Savi and Vid,

Amazing Post and beautiful pictures!!! I was planning on visiting Leh-Ladakh end of June and this article is undoubtedly the best one I have come across. Could you please let me know when (which month) did you visit?

Hi Sharanya,

We drove to Leh Ladakh at the end of May / beginning of June 🙂

Ladakh is a standout amongst the most attractive tourist destinations on the planet. It has amazing natural magnificence and beautiful scenes which impress visitors. Thanks for the amazing post with a great picture.

That’s right!

What an amazing experience you had in this road trip. I am eagerly waiting for mine, and yes your 10 Tips for planning trip to leh ladakh would be so helpful to us. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

Great – enjoy your road trip to Ladakh 🙂

Hi We are family of 3. Myself, my husband and our 3 year old daughter. Could you pls tell me which is the best time of the year to visit Leh Ladakh. We plan to make a road trip.

We went in May/June and it was great. You do have to check the road conditions though as they vary from year to year. July/August is better but also more crowded and risk of high rains.

Hello Vid and Savy,

Your article is awesome and the photos are just incredible, that’s the best pictures I’ve ever seen of Ladakh! I’m travelling to Ladakh next year with my girlfriend, I can’t wait to be there 🙂

We are motivated to follow a similar itinerary as yours, renting a car from Delhi. However, we are wondering if this still possible. First because of the situation in Kashmir, could there be additional restrictions for foreigners? We are also unsure if it’s possible to drive a rental cat in Ladakh. On this website ( https://www.leh-ladakh-taxi-booking.com/contact-us ) it says that tourists are not allowed to drive in Ladakh and that it is compulsory to have a driver. Is it true? Is there a difference between foreigners and Indian tourists when travelling in Ladakh? Where to find the official rules?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Damien from France

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. In general, self-drive rental cars can be driven to get to Leh (capital), but you can’t drive rental cars to get to say Nubra valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri etc. To get to these places you need to hire a local driver.

Have you driven in India before this? It can be a very challenging experience for someone who has never driven in India. Also, as you pointed out, the current situation in Kashmir might not be favourable for a road trip via the Srinagar route.

There is a difference between foreign tourists and Indian tourists when in Ladakh e.g. you will need to get additional permits to visit Nubra/Pangong/Tso Moriri. There was a website http://www.lahdclehpermit.in/ for issuing permits online but I just noticed (June 2020) it’s not issuing permits online (this might change as they must be revising rules etc. after the situation in Kashmir last year)

Do keep us updated. It’d be interesting to see what you do. Any other questions, just mention them here.

Nice coverage of the place. I really like to this article its very interesting and informative. Thanks for your amazing travel guide and your photos are mind-blowing.

This is really a lot helpful. Me and my friends are planning a trip soon. Is Maruti Suzuki XL6 a good choice to drive for the trip? Plz reply

Yes it should be a decent choice for driving in Ladakh 🙂

Thanks for sharing very nice planning. Hire the best self-drive cars in Coimbatore we are here our name Cars2u all brand cars and pick your favorite color cars2u is the best choice, No1. service providers, cheapest self-driving cars in Coimbatore visit our web page. choose your favorite cars all times available free doorstep delivery

Thank you so much for this content. You discussed very interesting things in this blog. I also have a great experience on Delhi to Leh trip. Checkout my content, hope you like it.

Amazing clicks Savi. The narration is really flowing, made me relive the journey. Thank you!

Nice blog post with wonderful pictures. I’m from ladakh and I really enjoyed your blog post like watching your trip on the screen like a movie. Your stay in Kashmir was very short..there are other great tourist attractions in Kashmir.

Your Delhi to a leh-Ladakh road trip is so Amazing. Really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure you this would be beneficial for most people.

Super excellent blog writing with beautiful photography enjoy reading such a pleasant blog. many thanks for sharing.

Brilliantly scripted, well presented with the right balance of information and story telling and of course, your landscape photographs have taken this narrative to a different orbit altogether. Thank you guys for sharing your experiences in such a wonderful manner. I am sure there will be a lot fence sitters falling on the side of doing ” Life mein ek Bhar ” trip. A small clarification though, You mention that this trip was in End May / early June. May i know which year?.

Very informative for our journey. What you provided is very vibrant if somebody wants to take a digital tour at the destination. The pictures are mesmerizing and could easily grasp anybody’s interest towards the destination. You had covered all popular places in Ladakh but I’m a little bit eager to know about the off-beat destinations in Ladakh which would be very fascinating for me. Your content is much initiating towards any traveler who is planning for Ladakh trip. I’m convinced that this Ladakh itinerary can brought up anyone’s interest. Keep on travelling.

OMG… What a trip you had guys… it’s amazing… Fabulous… fantabulous … am just dying to follow the same path you did during your entire Ladakh tour from Delhi and the pictures… are just awesome, mind-blowing boss… Thank you guys for this lovely travel guide to Ladakh. Kudos …

Your article was very good, and you have given very good information in this article. I regularly read all the articles on your website

Wow! Such a wonderful article with beautiful pictures, everything is described in detail. The entire article is full off valuable information & tips which will definitely help and encourage all the fellow travelers to plan it more efficiently. Leh Ladakh is one of my dream destinations . I am planning to visit there since long but due to this pandemic it has been delayed. Your article has again increased my passion and I am more excited to feel the breath taking beauty of Ladakh region with my own bare eyes. The Hotels and accommodation you have suggested will surely help me to plan my trip more efficiently. Thank you for sharing your experience and depth knowledge on the sector.

I really enjoyed reading your post. This is a very nice article for traveling and It was an amazing blog I really like it, all pics are very beautiful. Thanks for sharing this article. You can visit us if you need any travel regarding help, we love to do bike adventures

After reading your article, I checked out your website, and i really like your post. It looks massive and pretty cool. It offers a lot of awesome things

I really enjoyed reading your post. This is a very nice article for traveling and It was an amazing blog I really like it, all pics are very beautiful. Thanks for sharing this article.

While reading your post I was virtually on a Ladakh trip. You explained each and everything day to day very beautifully. It is very informative, could you please explain the exact cost breakup of the rented car to and fro Delhi.

It was roughly around 3K per day (unlimited kms) and we had to pay the state road tax ourselves when crossing different states

Hey Savi, The blog you shared has helped me to plan a trip with my friends, the images you have shared are so much tempting. Ladakh is a wonderful beauty. I am planning for a Ladakh Motorcycle Tours with friends, hope it turns out as planned. Thank you for sharing the information, just loved it!

Hey Savi, You’ve accomplished a great job. I’ll definitely share it with my friends and suggest it to my acquaintances. I’m certain that they’ll benefit from this website.

Waoo, well written …keep it up, I also did Chadar Trek

Hey, loved reading the blog! Can you also tell which month you went? Or any suggestion on best time to visit Leh Ladakh?

HEy we’ve been in both summer and winter and it’s beautiful. But if it’s your first time, we would suggest June-July

welldone. i will go there next year.

I really enjoyed your post. This is a very nice article for traveling and It was an beautiful blog I really like it

Found your post interesting to read. Good Luck for the upcoming update.This article is really very interesting

Can you recommend a good driver for 19 June-6 July 2023 for me and my wife. I have detailed itinerary with hotels booked. Cannot find a driver with an email address, so that all intinerary can be sent and proce quoted.

Paweł/Kraków/Poland [email protected]

Found your post interesting to read. Good Luck for the upcoming update. This blog is really very interesting.

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Fantastic article. I am very pleased to say that your article is fascinating to read.I always find myself wanting to comment on it.You’re doing an excellent job.Keep your writing up

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This is very well detailed blog about Leh Ladakh road trip itinerary. It will help many travelers to plan a Leh Ladakh trip. Leh Ladakh has a magnificent beauty which is worth visiting. i am planning for a trip to Leh Ladakh with my family can you please share what are the best months to visit Leh Ladakh.

Very well written article, i love to read it. The article is very helpful for the people who are looking for a Leh ladakh road trip. Leh ladakh is one of the beautiful region which has a natural majestic beauty. When i visited there, the experience was quite wonderful. If you are planning to visit Leh ladakh this article will help you plan your trip to Leh ladakh.

You’ve made some good points there. I am glad thatyou just shared this helpful information with us.Thank you for sharing

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Leh ladakh road trip is a beautiful experience. This article will be very helpful for the people who are looking for a road trip to Ladakh. This article provides detailed itinerary for Ladakh road trip. Thank you for this great information.

Great Trip Leh Ladakh This is a very helpful knowledge for the peoples Amazing Road trip leh Ladakh.

Many Indian’s primary wish to travel Ladakh by a road trip on their own bike. Definitely my dream also. Hope I will also achieve it.

Got our travel rout sorted after reading this post. Thanks it was of great help.

Your guidance is so much helpful for us. Thank you for your share. keep it up.

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Beyond Wild Places

Your guide to the wilder side of life

A Complete 10-Day Leh Ladakh Itinerary

A trip to Ladakh is undoubtedly on many intrepid travellers bucket lists. The mystical Indian Himalayan region is still one of the most underrated places on earth. Despite it being a very remote corner of the Indian subcontinent, you’ll be surprised that you can see a lot in a short time with this Ladakh itinerary.

Over 10 days, you can visit the famous Pangong Lake, ancient monasteries of Hemis and Lamayuru, the former Silk Road trading route of Nubra Valley, and crumbling palaces with panoramic views over the arid, snow-capped landscape. This itinerary I’ve put together covers the best things to do in Ladakh over 10 days based on my multiple trips to the region.

Whether you fly into Leh for a short trip or incorporate this into a longer North India adventure travelling by road, your time in Ladakh will undoubtedly be something you’ll never forget. Buckle up for some long drives, and you’ll be blown away by the incredible land forms and ancient history awaiting in Ladakh.

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links which means I get a commission if you buy a product through my link at no extra cost to you. By doing so, I can keep this blog going and continue to create helpful guides for you. Read more:  Privacy Policy

When to Visit Ladakh

The best time to visit Ladakh is from mid-May until end of September . This is when the region sees its best weather with warm days and relatively mild nights. The roads and trekking routes are also guaranteed to be clear of snow during these summer months, making places easier to access.

Where to Stay in Leh

Leh is the main town and base for exploring Ladakh. The town has hundreds of accommodation choices, from homestays and hostels to high end hotels. I’d recommend picking somewhere that is comfortable for you and your budget, as you’ll be spending most of the time in this Ladakh itinerary based in Leh. Here are my top picks:

Budget:   Raybo Hostel

Budget:   Peace Guest House

Midrange:   Chandan Guest House

Midrange:   Rock Castle Residency

High-end:  Grand Dragon

Read more:   Best Places to Stay in Leh, Ladakh For All Budgets

How to Get Around Ladakh

Travelling by road is one of the best parts of any Ladakh trip. The scenery from the various road trips in the region offer jaw dropping views that you’ll want to savour every minute (even if some of the drives are long, bumpy and windy).

There are a few ways to get around Ladakh to the various sights and day trips in this itinerary. Which way you choose will depend on your budget and comfort level. However, for this 10 day itinerary, I would recommend a combination of taxis for day trips and a shared group tour for the trip to Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley (unless you want to arrange a private tour).

Here’s more specific information for each transport option:

Public bus: Public transport is a little limited in Ladakh. You’ll need a lot of time and patience if you plan on using local buses to get to all the best places. If you only have 10 days, this is not ideal. But if you have more than 10 days, check out my guide to Leh for more information on the public transport options in the region.

Taxi: This is very ideal for day trips. You can easily organise taxis in Leh to take you to Thiksey, Lamayuru, Hemis, Alchi and more. A popular day trip combining Shey, Thiksey and Hemis costs around 3700 INR (AU$70) for the day as an example. You’ll have to budget more for the drive to Alchi and Lamayuru.

Group tours: Joining group tours to Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley is a popular option. In high season from June until August, you’ll find groups leaving every day in shared taxis for 3-4 days. You can easily organise this upon arrival in Leh.

Private tours: If you want to organise all your Ladakh trip in advance, then I suggest arranging a 10 day tour through a local company in Leh. They can help arrange taxis for day trips, and a private car for Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley. I highly recommend Gonbo of Lungta Travel . He’s also the owner of Rock Castle Residency Guesthouse in Leh and can help with arranging all of this for you.

For more detailed information on these options: Comprehensive Travel Guide to Ladakh

Overview of this 10-Day Ladakh Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from Delhi to Leh

Day 2: Acclimatise in Leh

Day 3: acclimatise and explore leh town.

Day 4: Day trip to Thiksey, Hemis and Shey

Day 5: Day trip to Lamayuru and Alchi

Day 6: road trip to nubra valley via khardung la, day 7: drive to pangong lake and stay the night, day 8: return to leh, day 9: relax in leh (optional visit to stok village), day 10: fly back to delhi.

Detailed 10 Day Ladakh Itinerary

Here’s how I would spend 10 days in Ladakh, if you’re prepared to take some long driving days and want to see as much as you can in a short time.

Day 1: Delhi to Leh

If you’re opting for a quick 10-day trip to Ladakh, then it’s likely you’ll be flying into Leh from Delhi. There are frequent flights every day from Delhi to Leh, mostly in the morning hours. It’s widely considered one of the most beautiful flights in the world.

Flights are run by Air India, Vistara, SpiceJet, and IndiGo. The flight time is around 1.5 hours and can cost anywhere from 3000INR (AU$60) to 9000INR (AU$180) one way.

If you prefer to travel to Leh, Ladakh by public transport , then you can also come via Manali or Srinagar, depending on how much time you have and your trip plans. Read my guide on getting to Leh by public transport for more information.

Once you arrive in Leh, you’ll want to head straight to your accommodation and rest for the remainder of the day. The altitude will likely hit you after about 2-3 hours of being in Leh, so it’s best to relax and stay hydrated for the afternoon to adjust slowly.

Read more: 20 Best Things to Do in Delhi

Your first full day in Leh should also be considered an acclimatisation day. You may wake up on this day with a headache, shortness of breath, and fatigue, which are common symptoms when arriving in Ladakh from Delhi.

The best way to avoid getting sick and easing into the altitude is to rest as much as possible , stay hydrated, and eat regular, small meals to maintain energy.

Try not to do too much on this day, unless you’re coming from somewhere else that is around 2000m or higher. You could walk somewhere into town for dinner, if you’re feeling up to it.

You’ll still be acclimatising for at least 48 hours after arriving, so on day three you shouldn’t try to overexert yourself too much. But, you’re probably keen to get out and start exploring this beautiful mountain town. Here’s how I recommend you spend your day:

Morning: Breakfast at your guesthouse or a cafe in the main market area (my top picks include Bodhi Terrace, Bon Appetit, or Asian Corner Restaurant)

Mid-morning: Explore the Central Asian Museum and then wander around the main market

Lunch: Taste the local Tibetan food at Tibetan Kitchen

Afternoon: Explore Leh Palace and Tsemo Maitreya Temple

Dinner: Chopsticks or Wanderers Terrace

Read more: 25 Best Things to Do in Ladakh

Day 4: Day trip to Thiksey and Hemis Monasteries (plus Shey Palace if you have time)

Get ready for a day trip out to the east of town to some of the most impressive monasteries and villages of the Ladakh area. If you have patience you could get to Thiksey Monastery and Shey Palace by bus, or take a taxi for the day and visit all three places including Shey Palace.

Hemis Monastery is one of the most important in the region. It was originally established in the 17th century and is tucked into a gorge in Hemis National Park. The most impressive part of the complex is the museum, holding the most important Buddhist relics and artefacts of India.

Thiksey Monastery is an imposing monastery built in a similar style to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The temples at the top of the gompa hold some beautiful Buddhist statues and monuments, plus the view over the valley is incredible.

Another day trip, this one longer than the day before, the drive to Lamayuru is one of the most beautiful in the region. You’ll wind through incredible moonscapes and small villages, with dramatic mountain peaks and raging rivers on either side. After about three hours, you’ll arrive in Lamayuru , the oldest monastery in Ladakh.

Built over several levels across the rocky landscape, it’s easily one of the most impressive sights. Plus, if you time your visit for the midday puja, you can sit with the monks and listen to their their chanting prayers.

On the way back to Leh, stop in at Alchi to visit the unique 1,000 year old Buddhist murals and shrines hidden off the main highway. There’s also some delicious local restaurants there, the standout being Alchi Kitchen, if you time it for a lunchtime meal.

Another few days of long drives ahead, but the scenery makes it all worthwhile. Either join a group tour or hire a private driver to take you to two of the most famous sights in Ladakh: Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.

On this day, you’ll leave Leh and drive first up to Khardung La pass . Connecting Leh with Nubra Valley, Khardung La sits at 5,360m and was once the highest motorable road in the world (now overtaken by another road in India). It’s an essential photo op, before descending down towards Nubra Valley, the Shyok River and the Karakoram Mountains.

Once part of the old Silk Road trading route across Asia and connecting Pakistan with Tibet, Nubra Valley is a stunning place. Visit Diskit Monastery and it’s Maitreya Buddha statue, sitting high above the valley floor, with panoramic views across the eastern Karakoram Mountains.

Then, head to the village of Hunder to take a look at the double humped camels or Bactrian camels roaming the mountain backed sand dunes.

Stay overnight in either Hunder or Diskit.

Where to stay in Diskit?  Ama Guesthouse or  Himalayan Regal House Where to stay in Hunder?   Hunder Stay and Camp  or  Hunder Haven

From Diskit or Hunder drive back through the valley, and towards Pangong Lake. While the drive is quite long and arduous in some parts, keep soaking up the incredible mountain views out the window.

Pangong Lake is one of the world’s highest saltwater lakes sitting at 4,250m. It’s a sacred site for Buddhists, with almost 2/3 of the lake actually lying across the border in Tibet. It’s bright blue colour shimmering against the arid, desert-like mountains makes it an otherworldy sight that draws many visitors each year.

Stay the night on the shores of the lake. The most popular place is  Spangmik , a cluster of glamping style tents and small hotels. However, the overcommercialisation of this village has led many people to continue further to  Man  or even further to  Merak . You’ll find more laidback tents and homestays in the latter villages.

Where to stay?   Nirvana Resort  in Spangmik or Pangong Travel Camp in Man

The final long day of driving, as you head back to Leh via Changla Pass at 5,360m. You’ll likely need to relax in the afternoon in Leh after all that driving or head to one of the cafes in Leh to eat good food.

On your final day in Leh, you may not feel like driving anywhere! You can hang around the town of Leh and do some shopping in the main market area instead.

If you want to do some extra sightseeing, head to Stok village , just a half an hour drive from Leh. At the base of Stok Kangri, Stok was home to the royal family of Ladakh, the Namgyals, after they fled during the invasion of the Dogras. Check out the 71-foot Gautama Buddha statue and monastery above the village, or arrange to have lunch at Gyab-thago Heritage Homestay, where you can try a traditional Ladakhi meal in a family home.

I highly recommend heading out to Shanti Stupa for sunset, as the perfect ending to this Ladakh itinerary. Shanti Stupa is the white peace pagoda you can see north-west of the Leh bazaar on a small hilltop. It was built in 1991 with funds from the Japanese, and it offers an impressive panoramic view of town.

Flights back to Delhi from Leh tend to leave early in the morning.

Want to Go Trekking in Ladakh?

You’ll need to allow a minimum of two weeks in Leh if you want to add a trek to this itinerary. Otherwise, you could skip the day trips to Lamayuru and Hemis if you were really short on time.

The Sham Valley Trek is a three day moderate trek that could be easily added onto this itinerary. The highest point of the trail is just under 4000m, so it’s doable for those with limited time.

If you preferred something longer and more challenging, the Markha Valley Trek is a five day trek that goes over 5000m. I’d recommend undertaking this trail after spending a week in Ladakh or longer, to ensure you’re properly acclimatised.

More Essential Reading for Ladakh

• Comprehensive Travel Guide to Ladakh
• Ultimate North India Itinerary: 1 Month in Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh
• Best Places to Stay in Leh, Ladakh For All Budgets
• 25 Best Things to Do in Ladakh
• How to Get to Leh, Ladakh By Public Transport ‘

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Complete Guide to the Sham Valley Trek in Ladakh

10 Best Cafes in Leh: Where to Eat in Ladakh

12 Best Places to Visit in India for Solo Travellers

Ultimate North India Itinerary: Kashmir, Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh in 1 Month

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Thank you author for your blog. Keep it up.

how much would be approx budget for this, assuming we start from mumbai and not delhi, and stay in budget hotels + group trips instead of prrivate

I have a budget breakdown on my Ladakh Travel Guide, so you can find prices for everything there. Accommodation can be 800-1000inr per night, three day tour to pangong and nubra can be 4500inr per person. Also depends whether you’re flying into Leh or driving.

[…] Detailed 10 Day Leh Ladakh Itinerary […]

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The Best Leh-Ladakh Itinerary for 10 days

Featured , Ladakh

Last Updated on: May 18, 2016  

Ladakh is a fascinating place. Anyone who has once visited Ladakh can never forget its landscape, its people and the eternal beauty it hides between those colourful layers of mountains. Planning a trip to Leh has never been an easy task. With help from various sites, we were all set for the trip that we were waiting for so long! Here is a detailed report on our travel to Ladakh

Table of Contents

The Best Leh Ladakh Itinerary for 10 days

Day 1 (baltal – kargil).

We completed our Amarnath Yatra successfully before we ventured for the anticipated trip to Leh. From Baltal, we hired a car to Kargil. We left the greenery of Baltal and entered the barren dusty mountain roads. The Zozila Pass said to be one of the most treacherous passes of India was just a glimpse of how the trans-Himalayan passes would be.We reached Kargil at the evening and rested for the night.

Ride through the Zoji La

Day 2 (Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh)

The next morning we started for Leh. The journey to Leh was equally exciting. We got the first taste of the magnificent monasteries of Ladakh at Mulbek where the gigantic Maitreya Buddha stood towering over us.

The Maitreya Buddha at Mulbek monastery

We travelled and crossed the Fotu La and the Namik La passes. Just as we crossed the Namik La, we saw something that looked straight out of a Hollywood movie. The breathtaking Lamayuru Monastery stood there with all its glory. With meandering roads leading to the monastery, it was the ethereal beauty of the place that stood out. We were not able to stay the night at Lamayuru, but I can well imagine how enchanting the place would look at a full moon night!

The Lamayuru Monastery

After our visit to the Lamayuru, we headed towards Leh town. Leh in itself is a small and colourful town. The markets are bustling with activities during the day. There are numerous shops that sell Buddhist artifacts, statues of Buddha and other goodies. The Tibetan markets are also there selling garments, shoes, bags and any adventure gear you can think of. Well, many are branded, but I cannot assure you about the authenticity of the brands! And finally, there are shops selling junk dresses (Yes I call those funky, colourful dresses as them junk dresses) and pieces of jewellery as well as pashminas. Leh with all its colours and flavours is a town full of life. With people from various countries (Yes, we see more of foreign tourists and travellers here) the place is buzzing with activity.

Beautiful artefacts – care to buy some?

Day 3 (Leh – Chang La Pass – Pangong Lake)

After a well-deserved rest, the next day we started for Pangong Lake. We had planned to stay the night near the Lake so that we can experience a night beside the lake. The road to the Pangong goes through the Changla Pass, another high trans-Himalayan pass. I was really excited to see the cute marmots on the way. These animals seemed so friendly! As I was looking for more marmots, we saw a glimpse of blue. Yes, that was the Pangong Lake, the huge lake which has only 40% of it in India. The Pangong Lake played hide and seek with us for some time before it revealed us to us in full glory. I had never seen such a shade of clear blue before! The azure lake and the golden mountain ranges at its back looked like a perfect picture postcard. I think the whole of this region is like a postcard at which you can stare for hours and marvel. We camped near the lake, enjoyed the changing colours of the lake at different times of the day and also had a campfire near the lake.  My nomadic heart truly was for a treat that day.

Pangong Lake

Day 4 (Pangong Lake – Hemis Monastery – Thiksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh Palace – Leh)

We were back from Pangong and while returning we visited the Hemis Monastery, Thicksey Monastery, Shey Palace and the Leh Palace along with the Sindhu Ghat. There are no words to describe the grandeur of the monasteries of the Leh. But what surprised me was the serenity of the Sindhu Ghat. A peaceful place where you can just sit with your legs in the waters of Sindhu and contemplate on the journeys you have taken, the sights you have seen.

At Sindhu Ghat

Day 5 (Leh – Khardung La – Nubra Valley)

This day was reserved for Nubra Valley. To reach Nubra, we had to cross the world’s highest motorable pass the Khardung la. Not only the roads, but the weather also become treacherous at Khardung La. The sunny weather of Leh became gloomy once we were near the pass and suddenly snowflakes were all over me. It was snowing at Khardung La. Just imagine the feeling of standing at a height of about 18000 ft and experiencing snowfall! It is simply amazing.

Snowfall at Khardung La

We were in the midst of mountains and rugged terrains so long, but this day we saw stretches of sands and a black road among those sandy stretches. Nubra is one of the coldest deserts of the world and double-humped Bactrian camels are found only here apart from the Gobi desert. And then the colossal statue of Maitreya Buddha came to our sight. That was the Diskit Monastery- a place where the ancient and the modern stands to look at each other. At the mountain over the Shyok river stands the oldest monastery of Ladakh region, the Diskit Monastery and exactly in front of it, stands the 32 m Maitreya or the future Buddha, looking down at the Shyok river.

Gian 230 feet Maitrya Buddha statue at Nubra Valley

A ride on the camels simply completed our day. We stayed at Hunder for the night at a homestay. We were simply bowled over by the hospitality of the people there. The next morning we were all set to be back at Leh.

Day 6 (Nubra Valley – Leh)

The return from Nubra to Leh was equally long and arduous. After returning from Nubra Valley , it ews only roaming aroundthe streets of Leh for us.

Riding camels at Nubra Valley

Day 7 (Leh – Magnetic Hill – Alchi – Likir – Spituk – Leh)

A day of relatively lesser travel when we visited the monasteries near Leh – the Alchi, Likir, Spituk monastery. Each monastery had their own distinct charm and visiting them increased our thirst for knowing about them more. We travelled past the Magnetic Hill this day. and all that we heard about the Magnetic Hill was true! The car really moves ahead even though it is not being driven. The evening was spent viewing the sunset from Shanti Stupa and roaming around Leh markets.

Shanti Stupa, Leh

Likir Monastery

Day 8 & 9 (Leh – Sarchu – Keylong – Manali)

The day to leave Leh had come. But we decided not to let the spirit of adventure die. We were all ready to set on the journey through the Leh- Manali Highway – the route which is there in every wayfarers’ bucket list. And truly so, the Leh- Manali route is simply grand and a saga. The scenery, mountains, terrains everything about this road is epic. We had a stopover at Keylong and reached Manali the next day.

The Leh – Manali Highway – the grand ending to an epic adventure

The remarkable tour has a perfect ending, it was no less than a blockbuster. Due to time restraint, we did not visit the Tso Moriri and HanuDha. We plan to do that soon. It is so very true that Leh is like a mecca to all Indian travellers. The place has all the thrills and excitement. Once you visit Ladakh, you simply cannot stop raving about it.  The same is with us.

Day 10 (Manali)

Some facts:.

Altitude: Leh is at a height of 11480 ft

Best Time to visit: June to September

The best way to visit Leh by road is to enter by the Srinagar-Leh highway and return by the Leh – Manali highway. This also helps in proper acclimatization.

ATMs: ATMs are found in Leh city. But carry cash when you are travelling to Pangong, Nubra or Tso Moriri.

At the Sindhu Ghat

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Hey! we’re Agni & Amrita.

We have been travelling together since the last 15 years and writing independent and personal travel content since 2014. Travel is one of the best teachers and through this blog, we aim to share our experiences and travel tips. We encourage you to travel more and see the world through your eyes and not through filtered templates.

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Really amazing blog. I learn new information from your article , you are doing a great job . Keep it up

IN the 10 days trip, how many hours will one have to travel in vehicle. I m asking this question as there is issue of travel sichness and hence a littl concerned,

Regards bharat

Yes, there can be problems of travel sickness and AMS while travelling in Ladakh. Please know more about AMS and then make an informed decision.

Nice blog post with wonderful pictures.I really like to this article it’s very interesting.

Found your post interesting to read. Good Luck for the upcoming update.This article is really very interesting

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A 7-Day Leh Ladakh Trip Itinerary For First-Time Visitors

We sent Chandrika on a once-in-a-lifetime Ladakh trip. She came back to tell us how everyone can make it happen.

A land many have heard of, but only the ones with adventure in their hearts have dared to venture to. A land of rugged mountains that coexist alongside the mystical chants of Buddhist prayers – the recently declared Indian Union Territory of Ladakh is this and so much more! 

Located in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent bordering Tibet, Ladakh is shrouded in a certain mystery, despite having gained a lot of popularity in the past few years.

Filled with adrenaline-inducing twists and turns, high mountain passes, and some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in India, a trip through Ladakh is the perfect way to get an introduction to the Himalayan region. 

Ladakh is a high-altitude region, meaning, no matter which part of Ladakh you are at, you’ll find yourself at a minimum altitude of 3000 meters (9800 feet) above sea level. This is important to mention here because this is considerably higher than most people are used to and the high altitude affects many aspects of travel in this region.

To help you execute that dream Ladakh trip, this 7-day itinerary designed by India Someday and Unplugged Life will take you through some of the biggest highlights of the region, while giving you a sense of what it means to be traveling in a destination as unique as this.

How to get to Ladakh

Before we dive deep into the specifics of the itinerary, it’s crucial to plan your arrival in Ladakh. The best way to reach Ladakh is to fly in. The biggest town in Ladakh is Leh, which is connected by air with India’s capital city, New Delhi.

Daily direct flights are running between Delhi ’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Leh’s Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, run by 3 Indian airlines – Air India, SpiceJet, and GoAir. If you are traveling from another country or Indian city, you’ll first have to get to Delhi to catch the 1.5-hour flight to Leh.

Although there are multiple flights available daily, do keep in mind that the weather in Leh largely determines flight schedules. Turbulent weather is pretty common in this region so flights taking off an hour early or an hour late is not unheard of. Having said that, we have to admit that the destination is worth all that trouble!

Leh Ladakh 7-day itinerary

Day 1 – land in leh and rest.

The erstwhile capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, Leh is perched at an altitude of 3524 meters (11562 feet) and is home to some of the most popular attractions in the region.

The landscape in Leh is rugged, with a backdrop of barren mountains, while the weather is generally dry and very hot during the day and slightly chilly at night, depending on which month of the year you visit.

Most flights to Leh land sometime in the morning or early afternoon, so you can expect to have more than half a day to spare. But this is a day to take it easy. Remember you’ve just landed at a high altitude destination practically from the sea level (Delhi lies at an altitude of roughly 200m above sea level) and that means your body needs time to acclimatize to this drastic change.

The process of acclimatization can take a while, about 24-48 hours for most people. But no matter how you feel on day 1 (we know you’re excited!), you must take as much rest as you can and keep yourself hydrated. This is a day of barely any physical activity, so go ahead and enjoy the views from your hotel and indulge in the local Ladakhi food to gear up for the next day.

Where to stay in Leh : Gangba Homestay

A picture-postcard-like setting with a traditional Ladakhi-style building, an apple orchard, and a view of snowy peaks in the distance – Gangba Homestay is truly a home away from home.

Run by a local family, they are the warmest, most welcoming hosts you could ask for in Leh! To top that, the food served in the homestay is delicious and homely, while the rooms are very spacious, well-equipped, and comfortable. But what sets Gangba Homestay apart is their hospitality and the staff’s mindset to always go the extra mile to care for their guests.

Day 2 – Leh city tour

Your second day in Ladakh will also be spent in Leh to continue with the acclimatization process. However, on this day you’ll be taking a tour of the beautiful city and its surrounding areas. 

Confluence (Sangam) of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers

Located around 35 Km away from Leh town, the point of confluence of the mighty Indus and Zanskar Rivers is your first stop for the day. The different shades of green of the two rivers’ water are distinctly visible with bare eyes, making it a place worth visiting during your stay in Leh.

You can either choose to drive down to the exact point of confluence, maybe enjoy the view with a cup of steaming hot tea, or you could also get a bird’s eye view of the confluence from a vantage point. Depending on which time of the year you visit, you’ll notice how different both rivers look individually, leading up to their meeting point.

Magnetic Hill

A very popular tourist attraction in Leh, Magnetic Hill is technically a small stretch of road on the Leh-Kargil Highway. It is popularly known to be a spot where gravitational forces can be defied, due to a so-called magnetic pull from the surrounding mountains. Although this spot has maintained its popularity among tourists, there is not much truth to what happens here.

The landscape of the surrounding mountains and slopes is such that, to our eyes, it looks like the road is sloping uphill, but in reality the road slopes downhill making cars roll down even on neutral gear. But having said that, it’s a great spot to stop by for a while and get a good look at the stunning landscape.

Lunch at a local Tibetan restaurant

Ladakh is not only well known for its natural beauty, but for its delicious local cuisine too. With heavy influences from the neighboring Tibetan cuisine, you’d be missing out on an important cultural element if you don’t give Ladakhi food a try.

Head to Tenzin Dickey Tibetan Restaurant , located less than a kilometer from Leh’s main market, for a sumptuous lunch of local dumplings, noodles, soups, and an assortment of drinks. The restaurant is unassuming and cozy and the food makes you feel right at home.

Belonging to the Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh, Leh Palace is the former residential palace of the royal family. Perched on top of a hill, the palace overlooks Leh and has now been converted into a museum for visitors to get a glimpse of Ladakhi royal heritage.

A tour of the 9-storeyed palace takes you through almost 450 years of artifacts belonging to the royal family. Although the palace is still under renovation, it is worth a visit for the incredible bird’s eye view of the city it offers.

Leh main market

Leh’s main bazaar is a colorful, bustling market in the city center and the perfect place to spend a leisurely evening strolling through its narrow alleys. The market is home to shops selling all kinds of local products – from fresh produce to souvenirs and handicraft items.

Pick up Tibetan prayer flags and wheels or silver jewelry, taste local dry fruits like apricots, figs, and walnuts, and end the day with a meal at one of the many cafes lining the street.

Day 3 – Drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La

On your third day in Ladakh, it’s time to venture out of the city into the mountains!

The curvy roads of Ladakh can be unforgivable so it is important to be accompanied by an experienced local driver. Some stretches of road are steep and bumpy and you need a good car for better comfort. You can hire a private car but keep in mind that the cost of transport is quite high in Ladakh.

A good option for solo travelers and couples is to use shared taxis that are available for all kinds of tours in Ladakh , including the 3-day Nubra-Pangong tour. This helps saving money by sharing the cost of transport with other travelers. Sharing a car also helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and therefore, the pollution.

The drive from Leh to Nubra Valley takes approximately 5-6 hours. But the biggest highlight of the drive is climbing up to the Khardung La (La is the Ladakhi word for a mountain pass) and crossing it to get to the other side of the Ladakh mountain range.

The pass is situated at an altitude of 17,582 feet (5359m) and is considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in the world.

The winding mountain road leading up to Khardung La is spectacular and is a treat in itself. Once at the top of the pass, spend 15-20 minutes exploring the surroundings without exerting your body too much.

It is important to remember that there is very little oxygen available to breathe at such high altitude, so take it easy and enjoy the breathtaking views of the snow-covered mountains.

Once you cross Khardung La and start driving towards Nubra Valley, the landscape changes dramatically. The drive past Shyok River towards the lush green valley of Nubra is worth keeping your eyes peeled for!

By the time you get to your hotel in Nubra Valley after several pit stops on the way, it’ll probably be late afternoon.

Read more: 8 Snowy Destinations in Asia for Mountain and Winter Lovers

Complete your check-in formalities and head to the famous Hundar dunes to catch the sunset, with herds of Bactrian Camels for company. The Bactrian Camels are native to this region and are known for their ability to withstand high altitudes and extreme cold.

To say the least, the landscape here is equally fascinating, with rolling sand dunes as far as the eyes can see, enclosed by towering rocky mountains on all sides.

Where to stay in Nubra Valley – Stone Hedge Ladakh

A gorgeous property located just 10 minutes away from the Hundar sand dunes, Stone Hedge is one of the most luxurious hotels you will come across in Ladakh.

Like a little oasis in the desert, with a natural spring flowing in the backyard, a lush garden whichever direction you look, and warm and cozy interiors, Stone Hedge sets the bar high.

Their rooms are exceptionally well-furnished with perfect mood lighting, elegant wood furniture, a room heater (rarely found elsewhere in Ladakh), and a lovely balcony that opens up to the backyard.

Day 4 – Drive to Pangong Lake

Check out from your hotel in Nubra Valley this morning and head back to the dunes once again if you want to see it in daylight. The difference is stark and worth another visit. Alternatively, you can directly head to Diskit Monastery in Nubra Valley before starting the drive towards Pangong Lake. 

The Diskit Monastery is the oldest and largest monastery in Nubra Valley. The iconic statue of the Maitreya Buddha stands tall here at a height of 32 meters and overlooks the vast plains of the Shyok River flowing nearby. 

After a tour of the monastery, it’s time to get on your way to Pangong Lake. The drive is roughly 6 hours long and takes you through picturesque mountain roads.

Flanked by the Shyok River on one side for most of the journey, this drive takes you from an altitude of about 10,000 feet (3048 meters) to 14,270 feet (4350 meters), where Pangong Lake is located.

Pangong Tso (Tso is the Ladakhi word for lake) is a saline water lake that spreads across India and Tibet. In fact, 60% of the lake lies in Tibet. But given its massive length and width, it would take roughly 3 hours to drive along its coast only on the Indian side.

Popular for its stunning turquoise blue water, Pangong Tso is one of the biggest attractions in all of Ladakh. However, do keep in mind that the appearance of the lake largely depends on which time of the year you visit.

The lake is completely frozen in the winter while the peak summer months from June to August are when it reveals all its colors.

Once you reach Pangong Tso, check into your accommodation for the night. After that, you’ll have the evening free to either take a stroll near the lake or sit at one of the small restaurants, enjoy the view while sipping hot tea.

Do keep in mind that as the sun sets, it tends to get chilly in this part of Ladakh, the extent of which again depends on the season. So get ready to layer up some warm clothes and snuggle in for the night!

Where to stay in Pangong Tso – Native Huts

There are no permanent hotels near Pangong Lake, so be prepared for a night of adventure staying in these wooden huts specially constructed for tourists while the travel season lasts. The huts come with an attached western toilet and have basic amenities like fresh towels, warm blankets, and charging points (operational from 6 pm to 11 pm).

The owners of these huts are very helpful and accommodating so if you want more blankets or hot water, just let them know. They also arrange fresh, hot meals for guests in a separate dining space inside another hut, and that food at the end of a long, cold day truly warms the heart.

Read more: 10 Awesome Treks And Hikes In India

Day 5 – Drive back to Leh via Chang La

This will be the last day of driving through Ladakh, but expect it to be no less exciting than the previous two days!

The journey from Pangong Lake back to Leh takes close to 6 hours and will take you via Chang La, a mountain pass situated at an altitude of 17,590 feet (5360 meters).

The drive to Chang La is relatively bumpier than what you would have experienced while driving to Khardung La, but the experience of getting to the top of the pass is incredible. 

On the way from Chang La to Leh, make another stop at the famous Hemis Monastery. With a long and rich history, the monastery also houses a museum that showcases artifacts from the museum’s heritage.

Considered to be one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh, the highlight of visiting Hemis is the huge statue of Guru Rinpoche and the monastery’s unique architecture.

Day 6 – Explore Leh

Spend your final day in Ladakh seeing more of Leh and wrapping up your visit. This would be a good day to revisit the local market to pick up souvenirs to take home, in addition to visiting the following places.

Thiksey Monastery

Start your day early with a visit to the Thiksey Monastery to witness the morning prayer chanting session. Get there by 7 am so you can get in the prayer hall in time without disturbing the monks. It may seem way too early, but the experience is magical!

As the sun rises and illuminates the surrounding snow-capped peaks, the monks begin their day together by rhythmically chanting Buddhist prayers – an experience not to be missed in Leh.

Shanti Stupa

Constructed as part of a Peace Pagoda Mission, the Shanti Stupa was built jointly by the Buddhist community of Japan and Ladakh. While the iconic white dome sits at the top, the Shanti Stupa houses the relics of the Buddha at its base.

Visited for its religious as well as architectural value, there’s a certain air of calm surrounding the Stupa, as it sits looking over the vast expanse of Leh.

Stok Palace

Located on the western bank of River Indus, the Stok Palace was originally built as the summer home of Ladakh’s royal family. Currently, this is where the royal family resides all year long.

The palace also has several museum rooms that display lots of ancient artifacts belonging to the royal family- from precious jewelry and royal attires to weapons and items of daily use.

A part of the Stok Palace has now been transformed into a heritage hotel and opened up to travelers who want to experience the royal way of living for a few days.

Lunch in the orchard at Chulli Bagh

After a tour of the Stok Palace, head to the nearby Chulli Bagh, which is essentially the royal family’s orchard, with apricot and walnut trees dominating the scene.

Settle down for a luxurious lunch amidst the lush greenery of the meticulously maintained orchard and enjoy a delicious meal accompanied by freshly plucked fruits from the garden.

Ladakhi cultural show

Now that it’s almost time to wrap up your final day in Leh, head back to the hotel to watch a vibrant cultural show displaying the beautiful dance forms and music of Ladakh.

Ladakh has a rich culture comprising beautiful folk dances native to different parts of the region, performed by both men and women, depending on the dance form.

Decked in traditional costumes and jewelry, it’s a real treat to watch the locals match steps while humming Ladakhi songs. 

Day 7 – Depart from Leh

This is a day of no activity since you have to catch a flight out of Leh back to Delhi. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to squeeze in a couple of hours in the morning to visit the local market or the village if you want, for a final glimpse of life in Ladakh!

Ladakh is vast and a one-week trip may not entirely do justice to its beauty. But if this is all the time you have, this itinerary is a good place to start planning your trip.

In case you want a curated, personalized itinerary, connect with India Someday and Unplugged Life for an unparalleled experience of Leh and Ladakh after checking these tips to spice your travel itinerary up !

Read the author’s honest review of both companies .

Contributing members are responsible for the accuracy of content contributed to A World to Travel.

• July 20, 2019

Planning a trip to Leh, Ladakh

• Continent: Asia
• Country: India
• Categories: Ladakh
• Tags: airtel , Greater Himalayas , guide , Leh , trip planning

Sandeepa Chetan

Or, a first timer’s guide to ladakh, or as first-timers call it, leh ladakh.

Update as of March 16 2020 – In view of the current circumstances regarding COVID 2019, the district administration of Leh has decided to withdraw all the Inner Line Permits (ILP) that have been issued. Fresh ILPs will not be issued until further notice. We will update this post as soon as there is an update regarding ILP for Ladakh.

Once you travel to Ladakh you know it can’t be your last trip to Ladakh – was a lesson we learnt clearly on our first trip to this land of high passes (literally, the translation of La-dakh). This magical remote high altitude region of the Himalayas mesmerised us with its awe-inspiring barren mountains, deep blue lakes and the warmest people we have ever met.

So, this guide to Ladakh is for those planning their first trip to Ladakh. The guide isn’t your ultimate or complete guide to Ladakh. You will find them in abundance on the internet. Instead, this guide to Ladakh is based largely on our first-hand experiences in Ladakh.

In this travel guide to Ladakh we answer the questions we asked on our first trip to Ladakh :

• Exactly where is Ladakh? Are Leh and Ladakh the same?

How to reach Ladakh?

• Does Ladakh have an airport (or a railway station)?
• How many days are needed for a trip to Ladakh? What are the places to see in Ladakh?
• What is the best time to travel to Ladakh? Should you visit Ladakh in winter?
• What should be the budget for a trip to Ladakh?
• Where can we stay in Ladakh? Do we need to make any prior accommodation bookings in Ladakh?

On this trip to Ladakh, we also got a chance to meet the people of Ladakh and have conversations with them. These interactions helped us understand the culture, traditions and life in the high mountains of Ladakh. Which helped to understand the most important question –

• Why should one travel to Ladakh?

In this travel guide, we will also talk about why travelling to Ladakh is a life-changing experience.

This travel guide will equip you with all the details needed to plan your trip to Ladakh – whether you are flying into Leh, doing a road trip to Ladakh, biking to Ladakh, or joining a tour. If however, you want to skip reading the next 5000 words, just send us a WhatsApp message and we’ll help you plan your itinerary for Ladakh.

Where is Leh-Ladakh located in India? 

First things first – Leh and Ladakh are NOT synonymous to each other. Ladakh is a district in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh is the district headquarters .

Ladakh is a Union territory located in North India. It is the highest plateau in India. Most of Ladakh is at an altitude above 3000 meters. Surrounded by the high Himalayan mountains Ladakh falls in the rain shadow region, making it a high altitude cold desert and one of the most remote and sparsely populated regions of India.

It has two districts – Leh and Kargil. In this travel guide for Ladakh, we are focusing on the district of Leh. The town of Leh is the district headquarters of the Leh district. When people say they are planning a Leh Ladakh tour , they are usually referring to Leh and around.

There are some important things you need to know before you start planning your trip to Ladakh –

● Ladakh is ruled by one force, and one force only – nature. That’s the first and the most important point to keep telling yourself when you plan your trip to Ladakh. 

● Ladakh extends far beyond Leh. Some parts of Ladakh are so remote that they are accessible only by foot, a large part of it is beyond civilian access and all of it is a high altitude Himalayan region. As such, even a few months at a stretch might not be enough to explore the entire Ladakh region. Don’t pack too much while planning the itinerary for your trip to Ladakh.

● Being the district headquarters as well as the amalgamation point for all tourists visiting Ladakh, Leh town has the maximum tourist facilities which come close to the material comforts one is used to in cities. While enjoying these comforts, it’s important to keep reminding yourselves that Ladakh is a high altitude cold desert. Natural resources, like water (and air) are hard to come by. Wastage of anything here is a sacrilege. 

● You can reach Ladakh by air or by road. Ladakh does not have a rail network so you can’t reach Ladakh by train.

● Reaching Ladakh by air The airport in Ladakh is in the town of Leh. There are regular flights to Leh including direct flights to cities like Srinagar, Delhi. When the weather is clear, you get some spectacular views of the Himalayas on the flight to Leh. During the winter months, when the high altitude mountain passes are closed, flying into Leh is the only option to reach Ladakh.

● The nearest railhead to Ladakh is Jammu . A railway line to Leh is an ambitious project that has been announced. When done, it will be an engineering marvel. We are several years away from seeing this happen. 

● There are 2 routes to reach Leh, Ladakh by road.  

1. The Srinagar Leh highway, NH-1D

2. The Leh Manali highway, NH-22 

Altitude acclimatisation in Ladakh

Altitude acclimatisation is the most important part of planning your trip to Ladakh. The time you allot for altitude acclimatisation in your itinerary for Ladakh can make or break your trip. These are all the what, why and how about altitude acclimatisation for your trip to Ladakh.

● What is altitude acclimatisation? Altitude acclimatisation means to give your body complete rest and let it get used to the reduced oxygen levels in Ladakh. 

● How many days should I allot for altitude acclimatisation? Medical professionals recommend 3 days of complete rest to fully acclimatise your body for the high altitudes of Ladakh. This would be the ideal case scenario. Even if you are on a short trip to Ladakh plan at least a day of complete rest (not stepping out of your hotel/guesthouse/homestay) before you start exploring.

● Where should you stay during altitude acclimatisation? Leh, with its altitude ranging from 3000 to 3500 meters is the perfect place to acclimatise yourself to the high altitudes of Ladakh. It’s high enough to condition the body but not that high that you’ll face problems.

● You have travelled to Ladakh on several trips earlier. Do you still need altitude acclimatisation? Absolutely yes, even if it is your tenth trip to Ladakh! Even if you have seen everything in Leh and are now raring to visit some seriously remote parts of Ladakh. That still doesn’t mean you can skip the altitude acclimatisation days. 

These are some tips to help you with altitude acclimatisation when you arrive in Leh as well as during your trip to Ladakh

● Drink lots of water. Keep yourself hydrated. The cold weather means you don’t feel much thirsty. But water is your best friend at high altitudes.  

● Likewise, alcohol is your worst enemy in a high altitude region like Ladakh. Do yourself a favour, and eliminate alcohol from your travel plans during your trip to Ladakh.

● Take it slow. Take deliberate small steps even if it feels like walking at a snail’s pace. During the initial few days of your stay in Ladakh, climbing a single flight of stairs can have you gasping for air. Luckily, there’s no train to catch here and you can take all the time in the world. 

Facilities available in Leh, Ladakh 

The town of Leh is the only place in Ladakh where you will find modern amenities. This is where you should stock up with things you might need for the rest of your trip in the more remote parts of Ladakh, including fuel if you are on a self-driving road trip or a biking trip to Ladakh.

● Medical facilities

There is a hospital in Leh which is run by the Indian Army. There’s a separate tourist section in the hospital. The most common complaint among the tourists is related to altitude sickness. You can buy a small portable oxygen cylinder in Leh and keep it with you at all times, once you step out of Leh and travel through the remote parts of Ladakh which are at an even higher altitude.

● Accommodation

The gaining popularity of Ladakh as a tourist destination means that the choice of places to stay at in Leh only keeps increasing every year. Rapid mobile network penetration and internet has brought people of this remote region closer to the outside world, giving them a clearer idea of what the tourists need. From luxury hotels to economical guest houses to personalised homestays – there’s ample accommodation in Leh to suit every budget. There was a time when you had to rely on tour companies/travel agents to make arrangements for your trip to Ladakh. Not so anymore. Thanks to reliable mobile networks like Airtel, you can easily contact the properties and pre-book your accommodation online.

The food options available in Leh will make you forget the remoteness of where you are. From wood-fired pizzas to wholehearted thupkas – everything is available in Leh. You are spoilt for choice here (which will not be the case once you start exploring the rest of Ladakh). The best food (actually, drink) that we devoured during our stay in Leh was the fresh apricot juice. The sea buckthorn juice is also nice, but the apricot juice is something else. Also, the fresh apricots. (We have tried apricots from several regions since our trip to Ladakh, and nothing comes close to the taste of apricots from Ladakh).

● Communication

In the last few years, digital communication has seen a world of change, especially in remote regions like Ladakh. So you won’t have to make any special arrangements like a satellite phone (unless you are planning a long trek) to keep in touch. Airtel 4G in widespread in remote India and you can now make video calls from Leh, Ladakh. I am getting into the habit of making video calls to family back home from such picturesque locations and can’t wait to show Ladakh to them, through my phone’s eyes (until they make a trip to Ladakh themselves)! Airtel 4G was recently launched even on the Lakshadweep islands. Blue skies or blue waters, both give a sense of infinity. Their vastness has the power to draw you in, and calm you. This power is the first thought that comes to mind about Ladakh and the biggest reason we want to set foot on Lakshadweep. But, I digress. You will no longer have to worry about keeping in touch with family back home while planning your travel to Ladakh. 

● For solo travellers/ travellers on a budget trip to Ladakh

If you are travelling solo, you might want to join other solo/ group travellers looking for company to fill the seats up in their cars. This is an effective way to make solo travel fit your budget and yet travel in Ladakh and explore its remote regions. Shops and restaurants in Ladakh usually put up notices like these by travellers. Make use of your time in Leh, and the reliable mobile network here (Airtel postpaid works perfectly in Leh, so making these quick connections will not be a problem at all). 

● Transport

The public transport buses between Ladakh and other parts of India (Manali, Srinagar and Kargil) ply up to Leh. If you have a rough idea of the dates for your trip to Ladakh and are flexible with your itinerary you can use this taxi booking website to find travel companions online. You can find information about travellers looking to share cabs or put up your requirements here and find travel companions to share a ride with and bring down your travel costs to Ladakh. Even from an environmental point of view, it makes sense to travel in a full taxi.

How to reach Ladakh via the Srinagar Leh highway?

The Srinagar Leh highway is one of the routes to reach Leh, Ladakh by road. If you plan a road trip to Ladakh, this is the highway you should choose to reach Leh, Ladakh.

There are several reasons to recommend taking the Srinagar Leh highway on your way to Ladakh –

• The altitude gain on the Srinagar Leh highway is gradual starting at Srinagar which is at 1500 meters above MSL where oxygen levels are normal and do not cause any breathing issues.
• The highway passes through several well-populated places like Sonamarg, Drass, Kargil, Mulbekh, Lamayuru and several villages in between before you reach the town of Leh. Very rarely along the Srinagar Leh highway are you away from civilisation.
• There are only three mountain passes on the Srinagar Leh highway – Zoji la, Namika la ad Fotu la which are at an altitude below the town of Leh.
• This makes the Srinagar Leh highway a better choice for altitude acclimatisation for your road trip to Ladakh.

This 419 km journey from Srinagar to Leh connects the lush green Kashmir valley to the high altitude Ladakh region. You can hire a cab from Srinagar, take a shared cab (these leave from the taxi stand near the Dal lake) or take the bus from the bus stand near the Srinagar TRC (Tourist Reception Centre). 

● Take a break for at least a day. Stay in Drass or Kargil. It is possible to do this journey in a day, starting early in the morning from Srinagar and reaching Leh later in the evening. But a continuous journey like that is not recommended.

● If time is not a constraint, or if you are into slow travel, these are the breaks you can take and places you can visit on the Srinagar Leh highway: 

1. Spend a day in Srinagar visiting the Mughal gardens, the old parts of the city and enjoying a sunset at the Dal lake.

2. You will get out of Srinagar and proceed towards Sonmarg, crossing places like Ganderbal and Kangan on the way. You can spend a day in Sonmarg , visit the Thajiwas glacier, walk to the hidden village of Sarbal and run around on the meadows. If you do visit these places, we suggest you walk instead of taking the horses (you will be asked by several horsemen).

3. From Sonmarg, a steady climb starts. If it’s the season of the Amarnath yatra, you will see camps set up down below, at Baltal. Soon after, you will be on your first high altitude mountain pass – the Zoji la. Soon, the “heart-in-you-mouth” situation, which will become all too familiar during your travel in Ladakh, starts.

4. Zoji la is a relatively smaller mountain pass, but a major point of transition. The landscape changes dramatically as you get to the other side of Zoji la. The green valleys are now replaced by the imposing brown and barren mountains.

5. Soon after Zoji la, you will be in Drass. Famed as the second coldest inhabited place on the planet Drass is a striking little town. The Jammu and Kashmir tourism department has decent accommodation, just at the beginning of the town. Walk-in bookings shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you feel uncomfortable about just arriving at a remote place without a booking, call the caretaker beforehand. Airtel postpaid will work here (as well as near Lamayuru, if you decide to make a booking before you arrive there). The Kargil War Memorial is in Drass and a visit is highly recommended. You can walk through the lanes of houses (notice the wooden houses in Kashmir being replaced by the stone houses in the higher Himalayas) and visit a place called Bhimbetka, which is held in high regard by the local people. This is where we recommend you break your journey if you’re taking just one break.

6. Soon after Drass is Kargil . Most tourists break their journey from Srinagar to Leh, Ladakh in Kargil. Naturally, there are a number of hotels for all budgets in Kargil. The main street is just a busy market. But a little higher up is Goma Kargil. On the way is the famous Kargil museum. The museum has artefacts from the silk trade era and throws light on the life on the silk route.

7. After Kargil, is Mulbhek. It is known for its massive rock-cut statue of Buddha. Soon after are two high altitude mountain passes – Namika la and Fotu la . Fotu la probably has the best roads in Ladakh.

8. Fotu la ends at Lamayuru, known as the Moonland of Ladakh . Evenings are the best time to see the Moonland behind the meditation hill. For this, we recommend a stay at Lamayuru , for a night on your journey to Ladakh on the Srinagar Leh highway. On the other side of this Moonland, you see the stupas covered in the golden glow on the setting sun.

9. If you leave in the morning from Lamayuru, you will be in Leh by noon. 

6. Travelling to Ladakh by the Leh Manali highway 

We recommend travelling by the Leh Manali highway on your way out of Ladakh . We have explained in our story about the Leh Manali highway why this high altitude highway should be avoided to get to Ladakh. Unlike the Srinagar Leh highway, this 470-km long route is mostly through remote wilderness. Five mountain passes, several water crossings and exhilarating moments of disbelief (how can you drive on these roads!) will be encountered. 

Read about the detailed experience of travelling on the Leh Manali highway . 

7. Do I need an Inner Line Permit to go anywhere in Ladakh? 

● You will need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to travel to the remote places of Ladakh. 

● However, there are a lot of places in Ladakh that you can visit without the ILP. 

● Places you can visit in Ladakh without the ILP: 

1. All the places mentioned along the Srinagar Leh highway including Lamayuru .

2. Villages like Alchi (monastery and several interesting cafes) and Phyang (man-made glaciers), the Magnetic hill, Hall of fame, and the Poanta Sahib gurudwara.

3. The entire town of Leh itself. Shanti Stupa . If you want to climb up to the Shanti Stupa, do it at sunrise or sunset. Also, avoid climbing up the Shanti Stupa on your first day itself. There’s the Leh Palace on the other side of Shanti Stupa. The lanes of the Leh market with their museum-like stores are an interesting place to walk and meet fellow travellers from around the world.

4. You can dedicate one day for the Shey-Thiksey-Hemis monasteries . These monasteries are the famous monasteries near Leh. Hemis monastery is the biggest one and the Hemis festival has become a huge tourist attraction. A visit to the Hemis monastery will take the most amount of time. There’s a museum here and the library (when open) has some rare manuscripts. Recommend visiting the Thiksey monastery for sunset. It’s at an elevation and on a clear day, the views of Ladakh sprawled under you are amazing. 

8. Popular places to visit in Ladakh beyond Leh (ILP needed for all of these) 

● pangong tso .

1. The Pangong Tso (Tso = lake) is the most popular destination in Ladakh.

2. Irrespective of what’s happened to the Pangong Tso in recent times (and let’s be very clear that what’s happened of it is wrong. Actually, WRONG ). A place as pristine, remote and pure as Pangong Tso should have had minimal, if not zero, human interference. That’s sadly not the case anymore.

3. Any of this, however, does not take away from the beauty of the place itself. The blue waters, the surrounding mountains, the open skies – everything will cast a magic spell on you.

4. Leh to Pangong Tso (Spangmik) is a distance of little over 150 km. It goes over the high altitude Chang la.

5. This distance means you can visit Pangong Tso as a day trip from Leh if you only go up to the village of Spangmik.

6. You can stay in homestays around the Pangong Tso (the luxury camps on the Pangong Tso grounds have been banned as of 2019 to protect the environment). Sunset and sunrise are the best times to visit the Pangong Tso (or any of the high altitude lakes).

7. An extra day means you can go ahead up to the villages of Man and Merak. (You will need to mention this in the ILP).

8. Hanle, the location of the highest observatory in the world is further down this road via Chushul . If you intend to visit Hanle, you will need an ILP specifically for Hanle. (Hanle is not included in the ILP for Pangong Tso). 

● Nubra Valley 

1. You cross over the Khardung la (famous, though controversially, for being the highest motorable road in the world that’s easily accessible to civilians) to enter the Nubra Valley from Leh.

2. Leh to Diskit, over the Khardung la, is a distance of 120 km and could take around 5 hours. There’s a monastery at Diskit and a famous statue of the Maitreya.

3. Beyond Diskit, there are two arms to the Nubra valley. One goes along the Shyok river to Panamik via the village of Sumur. Panamik is known for its hot springs.

4. The other arm goes to the village of Turtuk. The desert of Hunder, famous for its two-humped Bactrian camels is on the way to Turtuk.

5. Turtuk is the base for the Siachen glacier and the last village with civilian access.

6. Spend at least 2 days in the Nubra valley, recommend spending 3 days . We know of travellers who have spent an entire month in the Nubra valley. 

● Tso Moriri 

1. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh, at an altitude of over 4000 meters.

2. Leh to the village of Korzok which is the village at the base of Tso Moriri is a distance of around 250 km .

3. This means you can not visit Tso Moriri in a day. Even though there aren’t any mountain passes on the way, the long winding roads mean travelling from Leh to Tso Moriri takes over 8 hours.

4. This remoteness means unlike the Pangong Tso, not many tourists travel to Tso Moriri. You could just be the only people by the lakeside.

5. Tso Moriri is a protected wetland sanctuary. Camping by the lakeside is therefore prohibited. You can stay in the homestays at Korzok.

6. If you include Tso Moriri in your travel itinerary for Ladakh (and if you’re travelling by a private taxi), then you should include Tso Moriri at the end of your itinerary. There’s a route from Tso Moriri, via another lake named Tso Kar which connects directly to the Leh Manali highway. You can exit Ladakh via this route. 

9. Is it possible to travel directly from Nubra Valley to Pangong to Tso Moriri? 

1. In the last few years, as the popularity of Ladakh as a tourist destination has increased, more routes are being opened for tourist traffic.

2. Taking these alternate routes means you can travel from Nubra valley directly to Pangong Tso. Or go directly from Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri. You don’t have to travel back to Leh every time. This way, you can save days and see more during your travel through Ladakh.

3. Even if this is true, there are some things to keep in mind when you’re planning on travelling by these alternate routes. These are some of the most remote routes in Ladakh. These are not high priority routes (meaning, there are better and easier alternatives available for the locals and the army). Therefore, they aren’t maintained as well as the regular routes are. Some patches along these routes are outright offroading.

4. Traffic on these routes is extremely low, as in civilisation. Meaning, if something is to go wrong with your vehicle, you need a back up (to repair or a means to get help) with you.

5. So, should you or shouldn’t you plan on taking these offbeat alternate routes in Ladakh?

If this is your first time in Ladakh, we’ll recommend sticking to the regular routes and returning to Leh after every outing into the deeper valleys in Ladakh. Never traverse these routes alone. Have 3-4 cars in your group if you plan to travel by these routes. Ask about the current condition of these routes to the locals before you move in their direction. This is where, having a reliable mobile network becomes really important, not just for the tourists but also for the locals. You can call the villages ahead and find the current condition of the road and the weather there. Locals know the best. Listen to what they have to say, even if it means losing days and seeing one place less. If you are not an experienced driver on rough roads, get a local driver from Leh.

6. There are two options to travel from the Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso .

• One is via the villages of Agham and Shyok and is a much shorter route to go directly to Pangong.
• The second and the much longer option is to go over Wari la. This eventually joins the regular route to Pangong Tso from Leh. You have to also go over the Chang la if you take this route.

7. There are two options to go directly from Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri. You go up to Chushul. This is where the road diverges to go either via Tsaga la or Kaksang la. Both these routes are among the most remote places in Ladakh. Understand your risks well, before you embark on these journeys.

8. You will need permits specifically for any of these routes you plan to take. And, based on the security situation and the weather conditions on the day of your travel, you could be denied permission to go ahead despite having the permits.

10. How many days for Ladakh itinerary? 

● The simple answer to this is, depends on you. Do you want to fly in both ways? Fly one way? Take the road both ways? 

● We will not recommend travelling to Ladakh for anything less than 5 days. That’s the bare minimum. 

● Once you know the number of days you have for your travel in Ladakh, start the planning from the number of days needed to reach Ladakh and get out of Ladakh. Add the rest days in Leh to acclimate your body. 

● Now, depending on the number of days left, decide on the number of places you can visit. 

● Remember this: Once you have travelled to Ladakh, you can’t not to again. Ladakh is an addiction. You will be compelled to visit again. 

● Don’t try to fit everything in, just for the satisfaction of having “done Ladakh”. There is no such thing. Don’t rush through places. The distances in Ladakh are long and the roads are back-breaking. Don’t torture yourself by having long travel days one after the other.

● Add a buffer day or two to the itinerary. 

● Now, book your tickets. 

Need help planning your trip to Ladakh? Tell us your requirements.

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15 thoughts on “Planning a trip to Leh, Ladakh”

One of the best blog written , very nicely explained with all details in post and usedful tips, Waiting for more such blogs. Bike adventures are the best .

Thank you for the detailed post and usedful tips. I yearn to travel to Ladakh after 1 year of being stuck at home.

Loved your blog, Thanks for sharing such blog, Waiting for more such blogs.

I’ve read a lot of articles about Leh Ladakh, but yours is a distinct one. Pictures on this blog makes me want to visit Leh-Ladakh more then ever. Really loved those pictures, Mesmerizing!!!

Useful piece of information ! Nice pictures, outstanding photography.

Nice blog. Lots of useful information. A bit of feedback on Shyok road from Nubra to Panggong lake. There are lot of posts that say that the road is very isolated and not in good shape. When I travelled in this June, there were vehicles ahead of and behind us on most of the stretches of this road, so we never felt lonely. Not just cars but even the slightly larger tempo travellers use this road. 50% of the road was in good to very good condition and rest of it was bumpy. But there are bumpy roads in other parts of Ladakh too, like Chang la, Khardung la. Water level was minimal at river crossings. I did not find the condition of Shyok road much different of dangerous compared to other parts of Ladakh. I must say that I travelled in June, which is tourist season and just the beginning of summer, so things may be different in the later part of summer, perhaps because of rising river water level due to snow melt. Some portions are prone to shooting stones as is the case in other parts of Ladakh, especially between Nubra and Turtuk.

Another thing is that majority of tourists arriving by air spend their first night in Leh. I feel it is a very good idea to drive to Uletokpo or Alchi straight from the airport and spend the first night there. Reason – Ule/Alchi at 10,000 ft is a bit lower than Leh, hence better place to start acclimatization. Secondly, there are number of lovely resort right on the bank of Indus river. I felt it great to spend time besides Indus river. Thirdly, You are in the middle of the places of interest on Leh-Srinagar road. Its easy to visit Lamayuru, Alchi, Sangam, etc on your Day 2 starting from Ule/Alchi rather than making a day trip from Leh.

Thank you for the updates on the road conditions when you visited and for these suggestions. Uletokpo and Alchi are really coming up in recent times and our readers are showing keen interest in visiting these places. I will update the planning guide to reflect these changes.

Since i am a Ladakhi i love to read other peoples view and often feel a sense of joy to read there experience in ladakh.

Although i liked your post and totally agree with you I would like to add a small correction just for knowledge purpose and i have read and seen many people still have this misconception. “Ladakh is not a district, it’s a region and now a Union Territory”. The statement that Ladakh is a district is wrong but leh town is the headquaters of leh district which includes a large area such as nubra valley, changthang and much more. Ladakh consists of two Districts Leh and Kargil as of now which is speculated to further be divided into two more districts (namely Nubra and Zanskar) after the newly bifurcation of the state of J&K into the Union Territories J&K and Ladakh. So basically what i’m trying to say is that Leh is a district which is a part of Ladakh which is the whole Region( or you can say a Union Territory).

Hello, teh post was written before the changes came about. Will be editing the post to reflect its current status.

A brilliant in depth with fine details travelogue, could be helpful for Ladakh tour planning.Thanks

Wish I could see the entire photo on my computer screen without scrolling up or down.

Wonderful post and the photos.

Brilliant. May you achieve success in yor travels again and again.

I love, love your post

Very well penned the details. A big shout to both of you people I’m following your fb page from last one year. Really inspiring Unfortunately I’m not able to make these long trips.. but still I wanted to say that “Yes, I’m planning to take a trip to ladakh this year”??

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LEH LADAKH ROAD TRIP BLOGS: A PRACTICAL ONE WEEK ITINERARY

Experiences, india, jammu and kashmir, ladakh, road trip.

A Leh Ladakh trip blogs is touted as the most adventurous way of exploring the Ladakh region. Whether or not this is your cup of tea or in this case, ‘butter tea’, since we are talking about Ladakh, you can figure out by reading on!

The routes from Manali or  Srinagar to Leh are both scenic, but they remain closed for around 6 months in a year from November to around end of April. Since our Leh Ladakh trip blogs started in April, we decided to fly down and then hire a car with a driver! Well, there is no way to get a self-drive rental car option in Ladakh. Well, the former option was a tad bit expensive, but worth every penny simply because it allowed us to enjoy our trip to the maximum with minimum hassle.

SUGGESTED ONE WEEK LADAKH ITINERARY

It was our good luck to sample a wide gamut of amazing experiences in Ladakh as we were there for a week, which we think is perfect to explore the region especially if you are directly flying into Leh.

Day 1 –  Fly into Leh and get acclimatized

Day 2 –  An introduction to Leh Ladakh. Visit Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shey Palace, and Ice Stupa.

Day 3 –  Rent a bike (Or drive) around the other part of Leh. Head to Hall of Fame, Alchi Monastery, Sangam River, Magnetic Hill and Gurdwara Pathar Sahib.

Day 4 –  Time to leave the town. Drive through Khardungla to Hunder. Diskit Monastery and Nubra Valley.

Day 5 –  Day trip to Pangong, overnight stay if possible, else come back to Leh via Changla.

Day 6 –  Explore the remaining places in Leh Ladakh including Spituk Monastery, Leh Palace, Tsemo Fort, and the famous ‘3 Idiots’ school.

Day 7 –  Fly back to New Delhi

THE ONES DOING A ROAD TRIP FROM SRINAGAR OR MANALI, THE SAME ITINERARY APPLIES, JUST ADD TWO MORE DAYS FOR TRAVELING TO (AND BACK FROM) LEH. YOU CAN ALSO READ OUR  ROAD TRIP TO LEH LADAKH FROM DELHI ITINERARY  FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

Leh Ladakh trip blogs in April

Biking around Leh Ladakh is also fun

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR ROAD TRIP TO LEH LADAKH

• We’d love to share the things we loved the most about ‘the Land of High Passes’ – the ones that you definitely mustn’t miss during your visit to Leh Ladakh.
• Ah! the clear blue skies with cotton-candy clouds neatly suspended over the barren mountains. So picturesque!
• Bike ride and drives whilst surrendering to the pure paradisiacal beauty and scenic landscapes.
• Getting wallpaper pictures for our phones/laptops at Pangong Lake. Oh, the reflection of the sublime Himalayas in crystal clear waters.
• Finding inner peace at the Shanti Stupa and of course marvelling at its pretty architecture.
• Moon watching and bird watching – every single day of our trip. You cannot get over those feelings ever!
• Selfie time with the double-humped (Bactarian) camels in Nubra Valley has now become a long-lasting memory.
• Our conversations with monks with maroon robes and even the local people.

What a gorgeous play of colours – Truly Leh Ladakh

Isn’t it meant for your desktop’s wallpaper? I think so!

DETAILED LEH LADAKH ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1: new delhi to leh ladakh.

Taking an early morning flight from Delhi to Leh made sense as it gave us ample time to take things slow on the first day. An absolute must for acclimatisation otherwise, our trip could’ve been spoiled by a bad bout of Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS) with symptoms like a bad headache, nausea, breathlessness, and dizziness. If like us, you are planning to fly into Leh directly from Delhi, write this day off as the change in altitude is going to leave you breathless. It is best to get sound sleep even though the flight journey is short.

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND ONCE YOU REACH LEH LADAKH:

• Once you’ll exit the airport, you will find a number of taxi drivers waiting to take you to your hotel. In all likelihood, you are going to be staying somewhere near the centre (Old Town). It’s about 30 minutes journey from the airport and the charge is 500 INR.
• It is best to stock up some snacks for the long evening especially if you are not staying near the market area. In April, when not a lot of cafes and restaurants are open, it can be a tad bit difficult to find good food jaunt.

4. Leh Ladakh panoramic view from the top

THINGS TO DO IN LADAKH ON DAY 1

1. Explore Leh Market – A few hours of rest and we seemed up for a slow trip to the main market. We suggest travellers check out unique pieces of gems and jewelry, Pashmina shawls, wooden handicrafts and by far the best – to mingle with the friendly locals! Julley!

2. Eat at Gesmo Restaurant – This quaint little restaurant was on the road towards the main market and surprisingly had everything on the menu! As most of the cafes were closed during our visit in April, this felt like a really lucky find!

3. DON’T FORGET TO TRY BURGERS AND MOMOS AT GESMO RESTAURANT !

4. Obtain Inner Line Permits – Inner line permits are a must for both Indian and International travellers. You need these permits to visit the protected areas of Ladakh like Nubra Valley, Khardung La, Pangong, Tso Moriri etc. The queues could put off any visitor, but thankfully our driver got them for us. You can also get them online too!

5. Talk to the locals – Many of our unforgettable moments in Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs were when we halted to say Julley to the locals. They were more than happy to call us over and strike a conversation. Ladakhi people truly get happy about meeting you and love talking about life in their beautiful region. Definitely, what makes travelling memorable in Leh Ladakh are the people.

6. Stay : We reached Leh Ladakh post noon (12:30 PM), and we took accommodation in a gorgeous hotel over there –  Silver Cloud Ladakh  (deluxe room priced at 6000 INR). The deluxe rooms were the finest and even the food was delectable. What touched us the most was the hospitality of our hosts – Stanzin and his family. They even guided us with regards to our planning for the trip. On their suggestion, we spent our first three days in Leh and kept Nubra & Pangong for later. This was actually for our own good. We got pretty well acclimatized because of which we stayed in good shape and health during the entire trip. Many thanks!

 YOU CAN READ OUR REVIEW OF SILVER CLOUD LADAKH  TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

Make new friends and keep it light

Day-1 spent getting acclimatized to change in weather

TRY the sweet salty Ladakhi tea

DAY 2: LOCAL SIGHTSEEING (EAST LADAKH)

Getting the max out of your early days in Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs involves maintaining goldilocks conditions – taking it just slow and relaxed enough to avoid AMS while planning in such a way that you still manage to see the all the top attractions in Leh!

As for us, we were definitely looking forward to our trip to Nubra Valley on Day 4 and did not want to risk AMS in any way. Having slept well, we woke up with enough energy to pack in the must do’s for our Leh Ladakh road trip.

THINGS TO DO IN LADAKH ON DAY 2

• Photostop at Stakna Monastery – We started at around 10 A.M and drove all the way to Stakna Monastery. This one wasn’t on our itinerary but we love exploring the offbeat stuff and this monastery simply caught out attention while we were driving to Thiksey, supposedly our first stop.
• Hemis Monastery- This iconic, pre-11th-century monastery is the place where the annual Hemis Festival is held around June/July. It is at this festival that you can see the famous masked dances (chamm dance) and the whole monastery displays a riot of colours with costumes, flags and general excitement! I am quite sure it is similar to the Thimphu Festival that we attended in Bhutan. Though our visit was too early for this, we still enjoyed viewing the gold statues, stupas and beautiful thankas there.
• Photography pit stop at the Location of the Naropa Festival – The Naropa festival is like the Kumb Mela of the Tibet region and so also known as the Himalayan Kumbh. How could we not take a pit stop for pictures at its location? Hemis, the otherwise sleepy little village, turns vibrant with festivity and religious fervour once in 12 years to host this spectacular festival.
• Special detour to Shara Village to see the winning Ice stupa – Sonam Wangchuk’s groundbreaking work to preserve water gave rise to this annual competition where villages in Ladakh compete to  create high stupas out of ice (artificial glaciers). This year, Shara Village emerged the winner with the tallest stupa!

IT WAS CERTAINLY WORTH THE BUMPY DRIVE AND 30-MIN HIKE! MOST RECOMMENDED TO ALL THOSE TRAVELLING TO LADAKH IN APRIL.

•  Drive to Thiksey Monastery – This Gompa is just a short 25 to 30 min drive from Leh via the Leh-Manali Highway and Thiksey village. The views along the way are stark yet somehow so serene that they left us with a newfound calm. The Gompa itself left us awestruck with its grand façade! This one is probably one the most recognisable monasteries of Leh simply because it’s been photographed the most!
• Shey Palace – 15 km from Leh on the same Leh-Manali highway and going through the beautiful old village of Shey (capital of ancient Ladakh), our car dropped us just ahead of the short sandy trail to reach the palace. We ran our hands along the numerous prayer wheels along the way! The best photo ops, of course, were the ruins around, the main Sakyamuni Buddha statue and the golden chorten spire.

STAY : AGAIN AT SILVER CLOUD LADAKH

Stakna Monastery in Leh Ladakh, India

Buddha’s statue in Thiksey Monastery, Leh Ladakh

Such pretty monastery sitting at an altitude of 12,000 feet

Teeny tiny us in front of 117 feet tall Ice Stupa in Leh Ladakh

DAY 3: BIKE RIDE, ALCHI MONASTERY & MAGNETIC HILL (WEST LADAKH)

The real Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs adventure starts today as stunning empty roads beckon invitingly. Get set for experiencing the best of Leh today – scenic beauty abounds these remote areas of Ladakh. And just imagine the thrill of riding a bike on these oh! so pretty roads! We had to rent a bike on one of the days of our Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs, and as suggested by our ever-so-accommodating driver, Lobzang, we decided to do the deed on Day-3. Good decision, I must say!

Now make sure the bike you are renting is in good condition. Even though the roads are pretty well-built still you’d be driving a lot. So, a comfortable ride would only ease the effort and make your journey beautiful. We paid 900 INR day rental for a green Royal Enfield bike that was in an excellent condition.

THINGS TO DO IN LADAKH ON DAY 3

• Hall of Fame – Our first experience on the Leh-Srinagar Highway was definitely an interesting one. Straightaway after fuel top-up, we headed to Hall of Fame. A history lesson diving into the history of our army men who battle every day at LOC to protect our lives surely got us excited. We spent about half an hour at the museum and proceeded with our long journey.
• A Quick Stopover at Nimmu Village – Now prepare yourself for a 64km long bike ride from Leh to Alchi Monastery. You’ll definitely need to stop for lunch along the way, and I suggest to take a break in  Nimmu Ladakh . Of course, you’ll be needing some time off after riding on crazy hairpin bends of the Himalayan roads. Perhaps there was no restaurant open along the way in April except in Nimmu so it was a mandatory halt for us. In fact, the food we had at one of the Punjabi Restaurants here was sumptuous and just to our liking. The views are scenic nonetheless.
• Head straight to Alchi Monastery – So drive further on the Srinagar-Let Highway to reach Alchi Monastery. Don’t miss out the left turn (Easy to miss) that leads you to the monastery. Look out for the cute bridge on the left adorned by thousands of prayer flags. 15 minutes ride later you’ll be at Ladakh’s oldest monastery – Alchi. This monastery was founded in the 11th century and houses three holy temples. The complex features beguiling Buddhist art pieces and paintings. But photography is prohibited inside the temples.

GO FOR THE STRIKING LANDSCAPES AND THE EXHILARATION OF BEING IN THE MAJESTIC HIMALAYAS. ALSO, FOR SHOPPING AT THE STALLS OUTSIDE THE MONASTERY.

• All the Way Back to the Sangam Point – Once you have soaked it all in at the gorgeous Alchi Monastery, it’s time to begin your journey back to Leh. En route to Leh, we crossed Nimmu Village and stopped at the Sangam Point. It is where Indus River meets Zanskar River. The beautiful confluence of both rivers is a sight to behold. And the rivers are easily distinguishable because of their different colours – Zanskar is muddy brown and Indus is shiny green!
• Continue to reach Magnetic Hill – This is a popular small stretch of road believed to have magnetic properties – a phenomenon believed to defy gravity. There is a yellow box where you must park your vehicle in neutral gear, and once done, the car starts going uphill rather than downhill. Well, this is more of an optical illusion than any gravity-defying stunt but is definitely a popular sightseeing destination.
• Gurdwara Pathar Sahib – The last place to visit in Ladakh on Day 3 is the pious Gurdwara Pathar Sahib that is a scenic attraction about 25 miles away from Leh. It is a holy shrine of historical importance and is of immense importance to the followers of Sikhism.

AFTER A LANGUOROUS DINNER AT ANY RESTAURANT IN LEH CENTRE, COME BACK TO YOUR HOTEL AND GET AS MUCH REST AS POSSIBLE

Get your bike swag on

Hall of Fame in Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs, India

I haven’t seen a monastery as beautiful as Alchi in all of Leh Ladakh

Is it Spring already? Oh no but it’s April

On your way back to Leh town stop at Magnetic Hill

DAY 4: KHARDUNGLA AND NUBRA VALLEY

The journey began at 10 A.M as usual for us, and it was the first day during our 7 days road trip in Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs that we had dressed in layers. We were all set for the long day it was going to be, and of course, some nice dose of snow!

THINGS TO DO IN LADAKH ON DAY 4

• Khardung La Pass – Likely the most visited place in Ladakh, Khardung La stands proud as the mightiest motorable pass in the world. It is the gateway to Shayok and Nubra Valley. We drove from an altitude of 10000 feet to 18378 feet constantly sipping water to avoid motion sickness.

The journey was surreal; the mountains looked unrealistic – all so fascinating. Don’t fret if you have to wait in a queue to click a picture in front of the famed Khardung La signboard. In case you wish to do a day trip from Leh to Khardung La and come back the same day, the total distance to be covered is 80km which is fairly doable. There is one check post at South Pullu where you have to submit a copy of your permit. The road conditions until South Pullu (25kms) remain good but the later stretch of 14kms isn’t smooth due to a lot of slush caused because of melting snow.

LEH – PHYANG – SOUTH PULLU – KHARDUNG LA [39 KMS]

• Just make sure you tank up the car in Leh itself as there’s no petrol pump en route to Khardung La. Carry spare fuel just in case you need it if you are continuing to Nubra Valley.
• It is common for visitors to experience altitude sickness at the top so don’t exhaust yourself. And avoid smoking and drinking at any cost.
• You can drink tea and eat Maggi at the Khardung La Cafe or Army Cafe as there will be no other eatery along the way until Khalsar.
• Don’t spend more than half an hour at the top.
• Photostop at Khardung Village – The road from Khardung La Pass till North Pullu remains quite patchy (say about 18kms). You will have to stop at North Pullu checkpost once again to submit your inner line permit. The landscapes completely change from here onwards. Very soon you’ll be driving in the Khardung Village. Take a few stops in the almost secluded village to click a few pictures of the scenic vistas. You can lunch here if you want at the Khardong La Restaurant. But we decided to cover a few more kilometers before stopping for lunch.
• Lunch at Khalsar – It is going to be 30kms long drive from Khardung Village to Khalsar. Since the roads are smooth, you would feel nothing but happy gawking at the tremendous scenery particularly the harsh arid mountains. Have lunch at a quaint roadside dhaba (eatery) and get ready to drive through vast uninhabited hinterlands.

CONTINUING UP THE VALLEY, IT IS BEST TO PAUSE AT DISKIT MONASTERY NEXT

• Divine Intervention at Diskit Monastery – From Khalsar the road divides into two; you take the left to continue to Diskit. A modest little village, which has now become a commercial hub with all the tourist influx in all these years, welcomes you. The highlight is the 32-metre high statue of Buddha (Diskit Gompa) that sits prettily on a craggy spur facing down the Shyok River making for a visual delight for the onlookers. After soaking it up all, head to the oldest buddha monastery in Ladakh. Diskit Monastery comes across as a heap of Tibetan-style box buildings perched atop a rocky peak. The panoramic vistas of Diskit village from the monastery would enchant you completely. Now you can choose to stay overnight at Diskit or continue your journey to reach Hunder.

I’d recommend a stay at  Chamba Camp Diskit  if you are coming during the season time. Sadly, during our visit in April, there was no chance of camping so we decided to continue our journey to Hunder. Sten Del Hotel is a good option for travellers looking to stay in Hunder. The property boasts of decent rooms and nice gardens, priced at approx 1000 INR per night.

• A Desert in the Middle of Nowhere – Hunder, popular as ‘The desert in the sky’, is an altogether different world. Just about 8km west of Diskit, you will find double hump camels grazing on dune-like landscape cocooned between the Himalayas and the Shyok River.

Travellers do not like to give camel rides in this part of Ladakh a miss. But we just like admiring these beautiful creatures from a distance rather than riding them. No shame in admitting that we are responsible travellers!

QUAD BIKING IS QUITE POPULAR IN HUNDER REGION. IT LOOKS LIKE A FUN THING TO DO IN LADAKH ESPECIALLY IN SUCH WILDERNESS

Stay : We spent our night at the beautiful  Hunder Resort  which was luckily open in April as well. Our hosts were really warm and friendly. I would also highly recommend you to have dinner at this hotel only. Their buffet selection is surprisingly great and worth every penny spent. A night stay here would set you back by 4000 INR.

Just loved being at the world’s highest motorable road

Drive so stunning that you won’t be able to take your eyes off the scenery

The cutest double humped camels in Hunder

DAY 5: PANGONG TSO LAKE ROAD TRIP

Ladakh is not just home to some of the world’s most stunning monasteries but mystical lakes as well. Wake up and enjoy a typical Ladakhi breakfast and be prepared to encounter the grandest of all lakes today – Pangong. I spent most of the time in the morning just thinking about all the pictures of the lake I had seen online and how I’d like to capture it.

Stock Up on Fuel : The total journey from Hunder to Pangong Two is going to be around 180 km. It is going to be a long drive and there is one petrol pump, 1 km North of Hunder, so ensure you top up the tank without fail.

THINGS TO DO ON DAY 5 IN LEH LADAKH

• Long Drive to Pangong Tso Lake – It is the day when you would be clicking countless pictures, driving on a plenty hairpin bends, and making lifetime memories. The drive down from Hunder to Pangong via Agham-Shyok route provides is going to take 4-5 hours easily. Get a rare insight into a region virtually uninhabited and untouched by civilization. You’ll cross riverbeds, drive on curves that are easy to manoeuvre, constantly gazing at the roads that turn extremely narrow at some places.

ALL-IN-ALL, IT IS GOING TO BE A DRAMATIC JOURNEY; JUST THE LEH LADAKH ROAD TRIP YOU HAD BEEN HOPING FOR

• This route shall only be taken when you are well-prepared. Make sure there’s no scarcity of fuel in your vehicle and you have everything that may be needed during the journey like medicines, water, etc.
• This route is a bit fragile and you won’t find any help along the way. So in worst case scenario like tyre breakdown, you’ll have to help yourself.
• Lunch en route to Pangong at Tangste – We had a bit difficulty in finding food on this day particularly as much of the area we were covering wasn’t open for tourists yet. We took a short break at Tangste and treated ourselves to a plate of Chowmein (our only option) and some hot coffee. Sadly, there weren’t any restaurant/hotel operational along this route during April in the region. We started again and barely after 10 minutes had to get our permits checked at Durbuk.
• Watch out for Rarest Wildlife Species: Keep your eyes open as you will definitely encounter a range of endemic wildlife animals and birds when you are nearing Pangong. You will see Marmot, horses, deers, yaks, migratory birds, and brahmini ducks around this region. Now you have another reason to look out of the window. Learn to appreciate these creatures from a distance only.

THEY CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS IF TEASED, TAMED OR JUST DISTURBED IN THEIR HOMES FOR NO REASON

• Surrender to the beauty at Pangong Tso Lake – You will notice a striking palette of scintillating colours – from burnt umber and cocoa brown to Caribbean-style turquoise – contrasting extraordinarily with arid, stoic mountains. Situated at a height of 4,350m, this lake is about 130km long, with 60% of its length lying in China. In April, much to our surprise, there was little to no tourism in this part of Ladakh at all. So, we didn’t feel shy about conducting our photoshoot here. Well, perks of road tripping in Leh Ladakh in April.

There aren’t many activities that you can do around Pangong. And with the recent development of banning tented accommodation at Pangong, there is no other option but to return to Leh or stay overnight at Tangste (Though the reservation needs to be done much in advance). We totally support this decision as it will prevent degradation of Pangong Lake in the near future. Anyway, it’s going to be a scenically gorgeous day and you’ll be going back with man fond memories of Pangong Tso Lake.

• Stay back or Head Back to Leh via Chang La Pass – We decided to head back to Leh from Pangong as we didn’t find any desirable accommodation in Tangste. It was again a long journey but Lobzang made sure that we didn’t feel uncomfortable even for a moment.

WE WERE PREPARED FOR THE DRIVE AND HAD AN IDEA THAT THERE WASN’T GOING TO BE A SINGLE VEHICLE ON THAT ROUTE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS GETTING DARKER

But within an hour we were at Chang La. We stopped for a quick picture and got back in the car as it was unbelievably cold at that time. We hadn’t witnessed so much snow in any other part of Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs on our entire road trip.

STAY : OVERNIGHT STAY AT  SINGGE PALACE, LEH

Leh Ladakh road trip to Pangong is simply beautiful

Follow me to the Pangong Tso Lake in Leh Ladakh, India

Spend as much time here as you want to

Monday blues? Hell NO!

DAY 6: LEH LOCAL SIGHTSEEING

We were really drained out after Day 5‘s long hectic Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs road trip and had already informed Lobzang that we wouldn’t be ready for sightseeing anytime before noontime the next day. We had many amazing destinations left on our Ladakh itinerary that we wanted to see before heading back from Leh to New Delhi.

THINGS TO DO ON DAY 6 IN LEH LADAKH

• 3 Idiot’s Filming Location (Rancho’s School) – First on our list of places to see in Ladakh today was Druk White Lotus School, Shey. Our driver was particularly happy to drive us to the school where 3 Idiots was shot. Just make sure you do not call out the students who study there. Just take a picture against the famous ‘Idiotic Wall’ and leave.
• Spituk Monastery – This is yet another interesting monastery to visit in Leh and is about 8 km away from the Leh town. Located on a hilltop, this monastery offers stunning views of River Indus from the top. Make sure you take this surreal drive to soak up the panoramic vistas from the monastery.
• Shanti Stupa – It’s time to visit the iconic Buddhist monastery that was constructed by Japanese monks to foster world peace. And those in the quest for some time alone should definitely put a visit to this magnificent white spired structure on their Leh Ladakh Trip Blogs road itinerary.

SPEND SOME QUIET TIME HERE AND SOAK UP THE STRIKING VIEWS OF THE LEH CITY FROM THE TOP

• Leh Tsemo Fort – This was the last place we visited in Ladakh on our 7-day road trip. I had no idea what we were in for and where we were going. We were in for a surprise. Leh Tsemo offers some of the most majestic, panoramic views of the Leh town. This tiny, ruined palace is visible from virtually everywhere in Leh. Go for the views and the atmospheric setting.

Stay : Overnight stay at  Singge Palace, Leh

Finding inner peace at Shanti Stupa in Leh Ladakh, India

The iconic 3 Idiot’s Wall

Leh Palace till date is one of the biggest attractions of Leh Ladakh

Tsemo Fort in Leh Ladakh, India

DAY 7: FLY BACK TO DELHI

It’s time to go back home!

I’ve tried to cover every possible aspect for planning your Leh Ladakh road trip and things you can do there. In the blogs to follow, I will cover more aspects regarding planning your trip.

Have a question?  Ask me in the comments below! You can also follow us on our  Instagram  channel and ask your questions directly there.

Disclosure :  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means we will earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on our recommendation and make a purchase.

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38 responses to “LEH LADAKH ROAD TRIP BLOGS: A PRACTICAL ONE WEEK ITINERARY”

must be an awesome trip..when I visited Ladakh..it was awesome. I visited the Ice stupa and hall of fame. Such beautiful and untouched place …pollutionfree and amazing

Yes, that’s the best part – no pollution. Loved the ice stupa as well. 🙂

I HAVE THE MOST TRAVEL ENVY right now. I have been stuck at home raising my now 5-month-old and MAN OH MAN is my travel bug running WILD!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now after reading this blog post, I am basically in tears! LOL! I need travel back in my life!

Glad our trip could inspire the wanderlust in your life again. Hope you are able to travel with your little one soon again. 🙂

Nice day to day Leh Ladakh itinerary. Best thing the images are very nice. The place actually looks nice. A nice getaway if looking for something different.

So much sight seeing to do in LEH LADAKH. I love all the beautiful sights and can’t wait to do this road trip to LEH.

Road trips are such an amazing opportunity to get a new experience! I love this practical itinerary and the views which are just breathtaking! 🙂

There’s nothing like a little sight-seeing while you travel. Bike riding is a great way to appreciate the scenery.

The trip looks amazing, love the 1st picture though. Seems that it involves a lot of driving. This will part of my bucket list.

Yes Hannah. It sure involves a lot of driving but so worth it. Leh Ladakh is definitely bucketlist worthy!

Oh my gosh this trip looks like it was so much fun. Thank you for sharing your amazing pictures with us!

Indeed an awesome trip it was! 🙂

I have always wanted to go there but never got an opportunity. It really looks so good.

Now is the time to take that trip then Monidipa. 🙂 Hope you make it there super soon. 🙂

Wow, what an amazing trip. I have never heard of this place before, but this would be a life changing experience!

Looking at your beautiful travel photos it is very difficult for me to concentrate on work. Feel like hitting the road again. Ladakh is in top of our to do list.

Hey Sundeep, I hope you find your way to Ladakh super soon. Glad could inspire wanderlust in you. 🙂

There’s so much to do! I love that you could visit monasteries and that the landscape was so different depending on where you went.

Very nice travel destination with what appears to be a lot of things to do. This might just move to my bucket list for future vacations.

I love a great road trip and this one looks pretty amazing. So many amazing and beautiful adventures to be had. And your photos are just so inviting. Plus all the practical tips about where to stay and what to bring are important.

Thanks David. Glad you found our post on Leh Ladakh road trip useful. 🙂

A road trip on a bike? Yes!Yes! Any time please! I love bike rides especially on a fun long distance as long as protectively dressed. Lakadh is so amazing! Your road trip was amazing and your photos are just beautiful!

What an amazing roadtrip. I might have to do something like this at some point. I think my family would have a blast.

Yes, Amber. I am sure your family would find Leh Ladakh beautiful. 🙂

Lovely post, Ladakh is one of dream place to visit, Love to see through the pictures as you explained very well. It was like I am traveling you.

Thank you Swathi. It was our dream destination in India as well. Glad we could make it. Hope you can visit super soon. 🙂

Your photo at Stakna Monastery looks like somewhere in Israel 🙂 What a lovely one week vacation you guys had! Where will be your next?

Thanks, Stakna Monastery was really beautiful. We are off to Sharjah next. 🙂

Beautiful travel photos! I hope to be given the opportunity to do the road trip to Ladakh. BEST ITINERARY

Thanks Ivan! I hope you are able to do this epic road trip to Ladakh some day! It’ll be a trip worth remembering, I bet! 🙂

Wat’s d distance between Leh and Pangong Lake? How abt the roads?

Hi Syama, sorry for my delayed response. The distance between Leh and Pang is roughly 5 hours by car. Depending on your speed, it can take anywhere between 6-8 hours. Road conditions between Leh and Pang via Chang La is scenic but some stretches are bad, especially when driving towards Durbuk. The rest of the drive is smooth. Another route is via Nubra Valley and the drive through Shyok Village is both challenging and risky.

1.Leh – Shey – Karu – Shakti – Chang La – Durbuk – Tangste – Lukung – Spangmik – Pangong Tso 2. Diskit/Panamik – Khalsar – Agham – Shyok Village – Durbuk – Tangste – Lukung – Spangmik- Pangong Tso

Hi Prerna and Harsh, I really loved your blog and vlog :). I am also planning leh ladakh trip with my husband and wanted to rent car there. It would be really helpful if you could share the estimate of taxi rent or contact number of your driver. 🙂

Hi Deepa, thank you so much and glad you liked our blog. You can get in touch with our driver (also a friend now), Lobzan at 9596659305, 9419818816. He’ll help you plan out the itinerary well. He is one of the sweetest souls ever and we had a great time interacting with him. PS – He takes stunning pictures! 🙂

Nice Blog…. This is really amazing. Great information about leh ladakh

Found your post interesting to read. Good Luck for the upcoming update.This article is really very interesting.

Thank you 🙂

Your blog on Ladakh tourism is incredibly informative! I love how you’ve highlighted the must-visit places to visit in Leh ladakh , from the breathtaking Pangong Lake to the ancient monasteries like Hemis and Thiksey. Your insights make me even more excited to explore the diverse beauty of Ladakh!

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The 7 day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary

The Best of Leh – Ladakh in 7 Days

Leh, the main town in the district of Ladakh, in Jammu and Kashmir, India is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in India . Being at a high altitude, the access remains restricted throughout the year, with roads blocked for as long as 6 months. The roads usually open up in the month of May till Sept / October , and June – August have become the peak season specially after the popularisation of the region in the movie 3 idiots, Jab Tak Hai Jaan . The best time for the 7 day Trip to Leh – Ladakh is June – July . However, visiting Leh Ladakh in Winters is a different charm all together, if you are that adventurous and can withstand the cold .

With the Leh – Ladakh tourist season round the corner, I have made a sample 7 – day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary which covers almost all the major tourism attractions and can be used as a reference for anyone planning a Trip to Leh – Ladakh. 

This 7 Day Trip To Leh Ladakh, also makes for an excellent addition to your One Month India Itinerary !

Day 1 – Arrival in Leh and rest for the day.

Day 2 – leh local sightseeing, day 3 – khardung la pass | nubra valley | hunder sand dunes, day 4 – nubra valley – leh ladakh , day 5 – magnetic hill | indus – zanskar confluence, day 6 – chang la pass | pangong tso, day 7 – back to leh via hemis monastery, recommendations to make the most out of your trip to leh – ladakh, where to stay in  ladakh, pin this 7 day ladakh travel itinerary, share this:.

Start your trip to Leh – Ladakh by landing at Leh Airport during the morning hours. Without wasting too much time, head out to your hotel, make yourself comfortable and stayput for the day in your room. This acclimatization is really important for your body and for you to enjoy the rest of your trip. You may be tempted to step out and explore the city but all you have to do is rope in your excitement for the day and relax in the room and have lots of liquids, to avoid mountain sickness due to less oxygen in the air.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arnav Mathur (@theetlrblog)

After a light breakfast head out to Shanti Stupa to enjoy a panoramic view of Leh. Your next destination should be Tsemo Fort, which is practically visible from all over Leh.

Situated at a height of 4,267 metres (13,999 ft), the stupa is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Leh – the former capital of Ladakh – on a steep hill facing the Leh Palace. The stupa can be reached by a drivable road or on foot using a series of 500 steep steps to the hilltop

The stupa is open for tourists between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sunrise and sunset are considered to provide the best views from Shanti Stupa.

Built in the 16 th  century is  Tsemo (Victory) Fort, is just 15-minute climb-up opposite Chenrezi Lakhang with its ruins. This structure is actually visible from everywhere in Leh. This fort seems like a crown on the head of the Palace ridge.  This small but ruined palace contains of a number of worship flags. Directly underneath it is Tsemo gompa that is Tsemo monastery that consists of two temple buildings built in the 15 th  century, an eight meter tall gold-faced statue of Maitreya Buddha.

Enjoy a good serving of typical Ladakhi food at one of the popular restaurants in the market, before heading out to Leh Palace , which is a replica of Lhasa’s Potala Palace . A nine storey structure in dun colour, the Leh Palace rises up against the backdrop of the lofty Himalayas, looking more like a painter’s muse. Built mostly of mud, rocks and wood, it is grand in its simplicity. The palace also houses a rich collection of traditional dresses and crowns, thangka paintings and some impressive traditional ornaments. The best part about Leh Palace is its terrace for you can pore over Leh, Stok Kangri and the Zanskar range from it.

Spend the later part of the day at the Hall of Fame , located near the Leh Airfield. Hall of Fame is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian Army in the memories of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo – Pak wars. One of the most interesting sections is the one dedicated to a soldier’s life in Siachen Glacier.

Hall of Fame – Leh City

Do some city shopping if time permits and your body doesn’t give in to the tiredness/fatigue.

One of the major highlights of any  Trip to Leh – Ladakh is crossing the Khardung La Pass, the highest motorable pass built by the brave men of 201 Engineer Regiment, Indian Army. The road was opened to vehicular traffic on 27 August 1973. At an altitude of 18,380 feet, Khardung La Pass is the gateway to Shyok and Nubra Valleys .

Khardung La is 39 km by road from Leh. The first 24 km, as far as the South Pullu check point, are paved. From there to the North Pullu checkpoint about 15 km beyond the pass the roadway is primarily loose rock, dirt, and occasional rivulets of snow melt. From North Pullu into the Nubra Valley, the road is very well maintained (except in a few places where washouts or falling rock occur).

While at Khardung La, don’t forget to have a cup of hot tea and a plate of hot Maggi at the Highest Cafeteria in the World. It is recommended that the maximum stopping time at the top should not be more than 30 minutes, so once you are done with clicking pictures and having some food, head out to the souvenir shop. The shop also maintained by the Indian Army sells all kinds of souvenirs like, coffee mugs, beer mugs, decorative plates, tee shirts, and caps etc. I personally have all of them with me.

Cross Khardung La Pass and make your way towards Nubra Valley, Diskit Monastery and Panamik . The road from Khardung La pass crosses Nubra Valley goes all the way up to Siachen Base Camp. But  Panamik is the last place up to which civilians are allowed on this road towards Siachen. Panamik is also famous for its hot water sulphur springs. Everyone has seen a camel at some point of time, but you should be privileged if you get to see a double humped camel. Head out to the sand dunes in Hunder and catch a sight of the Double Humped Camels , which are an endangered species and the only place in India to see them is here at Hunder . This will remain a highlight of your trip to Leh – Ladakh.

Stay for the night at Hunder/Nubra valley.

Start your return Trip to Leh – Ladakh  , cross Khardung La top, enter Leh and head out to Thiksey Monastery, after having a good Tibetan lunch. The USP of this monastery is the 15 m high statue of Maitreya or Tara Devi . Covering almost 2 storeys, this is the largest such statue in Ladakh.

Just a couple minutes away from Thiksey Monastery is a quaint little spot named as Indus View point or Sindhu Darshan . Go there to enjoy the cool atmosphere and feel the fresh breeze caress your face. A quaint place like that demands some time where you only feel the breeze and only hear the sound of water gushing through.

Get some rest after the tiring yet fruitful day, only to wake up to a fresh new adventure the next day.

Head out to Pathar Sahib Gurudwara which falls in the east of Ladakh on the Kargil Road and attend the langar prepared by the Sikh soldiers of the Indian Army. Do try to help them in whatever way you can and then head to the point where you can witness the confluence of Indus and Zanskar . One can easily identify the flow the two rivers, as one is muddy and the other one is a bit on the bluish green tinge. While you are in the area, don’t forget to get amused by the weird happenings at Magnetic Hill where, your car goes uphill on its own, when put into neutral gear.

After having an early breakfast, head out of Leh – Ladakh, towards Chang La Pass. When you are at the top of the world’s third highest pass, make sure to click some pictures and have a hot cup of tea and some Maggi. Trust me, the tea and maggi might not have tasted that heavenly ever before !

Cross Chang La Pass and head out towards Pangong Tso Lake which is 140 Km from Leh. Situated at a height of 4350 m and almost 130 Km long, Pangong Tso is one third in India and the remaining in Tibet. The first glimpse of the tranquil, azure blue waters and shaky lake shore remains etched in the memory of tourists.  On a bright sunny day, one can see as many as 5 different shades of blue along the length of the lake as you drive at the side of it.

The beauty of Pangong Tso

Stay for the night either at one of the camps or at one of the homestay options in the nearby villages of Spangmik and TangTse.

Start early and take your return trip to Leh – Ladakh , and on your way back, stop by at the Hemis Monastery, which is roughly 7 Km from Karu. Hemis Monastry or Hemis Gonpa is one of the richest monasteries in Ladakh,  as it was protected by foreign invasions because of its remote location . It is one of the 9 Buddhist Monasteries in Ladakh , that should be there on your Ladakh Bucket List.

On your way back from Hemis, get your adrenaline rush at an all-time high by trying out White Water Rafting on the mighty Indus or Zanskar.

With loads of memories amidst mesmerising landscapes, it’s time to say good bye to Leh and fly back to your respective places, bringing your trip to Leh – Ladakh , to a memorable end.

• Leh is full of tourists from all over the globe, so make sure to try out different cuisines like Ladakhi, Israeli, Tibetan, and Russian etc.
• Tibetan Inspired Crockery
• Souvenirs from Khardung La and Pangong Tso Lake.
• Chinese herbs .
• Home Decorative items ( Tankha, paintings, giant fans)
• Miniature prayer wheel
• Tibetan prayer flags.
• Leh – Ladakh souvenir T Shirts.
• Sea Buckthorn Juice ( A kind of berry grown in Leh – Ladakh )

For those of you who want to extend their Trip to Leh – Ladakh ,  to enjoy the beauty of Leh – Ladakh for a few more days can try out various trekking options in the Zanskar Valley. There are plenty of tour operators offering competitive prices for these short and long treks.One of the popular treks to do is the Markha Valley trek.

For the biking enthusiasts, the option of renting a bike and riding all the way to Khardung La and beyond is always open. Due to the huge demand, you will be able to find a lot of garages offering Royal Enfield’s on a rental basis.

On your way back, you can drive to Srinagar, via Drass, Kargil and the mighty Zoji La Pass stopping at the Drass War Memorial on your way. And further fly out of Srinagar instead of Leh.

If you like this, you might also like checking out the 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary to Bhutan from India

We recommend staying in home-stays to fully experience the local life of Ladakh and to support the local economy. Apart from that, here are our recommendations :

Guest Houses – Gonbo Guest House | Youthok Guest House  

Hostel – HITCHHIKERS HOSTEL LADAKH | goSTOPS Leh

Mid Range Hotels – Shaolin Ladakh | Tushita Ladakh | Beyond Stay – The Leh Berry Boutique – Leh

Luxury – The Grand Dragon Ladakh | Ladakh Eco Resort | The Indus Valley | Gomang Boutique Hotel | TIH The Zen Ladakh

Day 1 – Arrive in Leh and rest for the day.

Day 2 – In and around Leh city, cover Shanti Stupa, Tsemo Fort, Leh Palace and Hall of Fame.

Day 3 – Cross Khardung La Pass and head out to Nubra Valley, visit Diskit Monastery and witness Double Humped Camels at Hunder. Hot springs at Panamik .

Day 4 – Return to Leh, and head out to Thicksey Monastery and Sindhu Darshan.

Day 5 – Cover Magnetic Hill , Pathar Sahib Gurudwara and Indus – Zanskar Confluence .

Day 6 – Cross Chang La Pass and be spellbound when you get a glance of Pangong Tso Lake .

Day 7 – Return to Leh via Hemis Monastery . Optional River Rafting near Karu

Day 8 – With loads of happy memories, bid adieu to Leh and board your flight back.

Trip to  Ladakh Ends.

I hope you found this 7 Day Ladakh  Travel Itinerary , to be of help to you, as a reliable Travel Resource for planning your Trip to Leh – ladakh.

Don’t forget to Pin these images , and save this Epic One Week Leh Ladakh Travel Itinerary, for future travel planning.

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If you enjoyed reading this 7 Day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary and Travel Guide , you might want to check out some other  7 Day Travel Guides and Itineraries .

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Leh Ladakh Road Trip – Detailed Travel Guide for Beginners

The ultimate road trip of the season is here. Leh Ladakh road trip is one of the highly rated road trips on the earth. Road trips to Leh Ladakh are filled with colourful monasteries, narrow roads with steep curves, the most scenic snow topped Himalayan range and Karakoram mountain ranges, and many other surreal spots. Apart from offering such stunning views of surroundings, these trips also challenge you physically and mentally through the rugged terrains and slightly unpredictable climatic conditions. Hence, here is our attempt to provide you a complete travel guide on the famous Leh Ladakh road trip

Leh Ladakh Road Trip – Overview

Leh Ladakh Road Trip Route Maps

There are two different routes that reach us to Leh. One from Srinagar and the other one from Manali. Manali is the preferred route for a Bike trip to Leh Ladakh as it is just a day’s drive from city and is also provides a very thrilling ride over the gorgeous and dangerous roads, along the highest motorable passes in the world. However, if time is on your side, complete road trip to Leh Ladakh following the route Srinagar – Leh – Manali is a once in a life time experience. Manali to Leh road trip is around 476 kms and Srinagar to Leh road trip is around 434 kms

There can be many ways to experience the Leh Ladakh road trip depending on the start and ending destination and duration. Weekend Thrill provides you 8 different leh ladakh road trip packages for 2017 at the best price possible.

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh through road trip is from Mid-May to October. Roads from Srinagar are open from Mid-May. But, Rohtang pass in Manali – Leh route is open only after May as the roads would be slippery till then. Bike trips to Leh – Ladakh begin as soon as the roads are open. The roads remain open till November. Only during summer and autumn seasons, one can go via road to Leh – Ladakh. From November to April, one can reach Leh only through airway. Flights are available to Leh from Srinagar and Delhi. While traveling through Manali-Leh route, start early to reach Rohtang Pass to avoid getting stuck in traffic

The Leh Ladakh Road Trip packages provided by Weekend Thrill have fixed departures from May to September 2017

Camping Spots in Leh – Ladakh Road Trip

Camping spots in Manali – Leh route are available at Tandi, Jispa, Keylong, Sarchu and Pang. Camping spots in Srinagar – Leh route are available at Drass, Kargil, Shargol, Tingmosgang and Sham Valley

Eateries Locations in Leh – Ladakh Road Trip

Eateries are available at Marhi, Sissu, Keylong, Sarchu, Jispa and Pang in Manali – Leh route. In Srinagar – Leh route eateries are available at Songamard, Drass, Kargil, Mulbekh and Lamayuru

Checklist Infographic for Leh – Ladakh Road Trip

Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh Road Trip

Always use waterproof rucksacks to pack your things. Here are some essentials that you need to carry for the Leh Ladakh road trip

Clothing and Footwear

• Wear heavy gumboot shoes which are useful for trekking and hiking. If possible, have an extra pair as well
• 2 – 4 pairs of woollen socks, helpful for bike riders in those slightly unpredictable climatic conditions and rough terrains
• Pack adequate number of woollen clothes like jackets, sweaters, shawls, comforters, gloves, etc. Wear the clothes in layers
• Carry a rain jackets to survive the unexpected showers of rain/snow

Medical Supplies and Toiletry

• Carry sunscreen lotions (SPF 40+), moisturisers and lip balm
• Pain relieving sprays (volini) and inhaler. Headache tablets (prescribed by doctor)
• Re-hydration liquids like Gatorade
• Always carry ample amount of water and always be hydrated

Accessories

• Hat and scarf
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Multi tool knife and large plastic bags to keep items dry in case of rain during treks

Electronic Devices and Accessories

• A good quality camera is advised for Leh Ladakh road trip to capture the magnificent views of surroundings which are for sure memories of life time. Carry charged batteries and charger
• Carry mobile charger and power bank. Batteries tend to loser their charge quickly at higher altitudes

Others (Important)

• Beginners who never experienced high altitude locations are advised to carry the portable oxygen cylinders which last for few minutes which are available in chemist’s shops in your cities. Buy them at your residing locations itself, as there is possibility of them being out of stock in Manali due to demand-supply gap in season time
• Carry adequate cash at any time, as the ATMs are mostly out of order during season time

Self-Driving Info for Leh-Ladakh Road Trip

General Tips

• In case of road trip to Leh – Ladakh through cars, only high ground clearance vehicles like SUV or MUV are preferred
• Get your vehicle properly serviced before trip. It is good to know few quick and easy fixes, so that you are less dependent on mechanic shops which are very few
• Carry spare tyres and mechanical tool kit as you will be travelling through rugged terrain
• Drive safe. Don’t try to rush through risky sections of the roads like rough road, landslides, water crossing etc.
• Always start your trips for the day early in the morning to avoid traffic and to not to miss the amazing views

Fuel Stations

• Petrol Pumps are available at very few places in the entire 900 kms stretch (Manali – Leh – Srinagar) of Leh-Ladakh road trip. You can find them at Manali, Tandi, Upshi, Leh, Kargil and Srinagar
• Carry at least 2 extra fuel cans which are fully filled. 360 kms stretch from Tandi to Upshi in Manali – Leh Road trip doesn’t have any petrol pumps

Mechanic Workshops

Manali – Leh Route: Manali and Keylong

Srinagar – Leh Route: Srinagar and Kargil

Vehicle Permits

• 4 – wheeler Vehicles which aren’t registered from HP require permit to clear the Manali – Rohtang Pass route. This permit is issued at sub-divisional magistrate office, Manali
• Office is open from Monday to Saturday between 10 AM to 5 PM

Health Precautions That Are to Be Taken During Leh – Ladakh Road Trip

One of the most common illness observed in the first-timers is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). As one ascends these mountain ranges, the reduced oxygen levels and air pressure which one might not be habituated to, will lead to AMS which has multiple symptoms that cause great inconvenience to entire journey. Symptoms of AMS are headache, vomiting, sleeping difficulty, dizziness, shortness of breath, fast heart rate and insufficient urine production. In serious cases, colour of skin turns blue, cough up blood, chest congestion and cannot walk in a straight line

Avoiding Acute Mountain Sickness in Leh – Ladakh Road Trip

• Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated
• Eat regularly and eat light. Carry chocolate bars, chewing gums and have them regularly in the journey to avoid tiredness
• Strictly avoid intake of alcohol
• Have garlic to increase oxygen capacity. Take ginger water
• Try to sleep at lower altitudes
• Ascend the mountain gradually

Medical Aid Locations

Hospital are present at very few locations. They are available at Manali, Keylong, Leh, Tangste, Diskit, Kargil and Srinagar. Army medical camps are placed at Pang and Sarchu

Inner Line Permits for Travellers

Indian travellers don’t required any permits to visit places around Leh. One should carry a proper ID proof to avoid restrictions. However, foreign travellers need to obtain to permits to visit few of these inner line areas like Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso etc. Permits can be obtained from registered travel agencies in Leh or from District Collectorate (DC) Office in Leh. Office timings are from 10 AM to 5 PM

Must See Places in Leh – Ladakh Road Trip

Places to see in manali to leh route.

From snow-capped mountains to trees covering both sides of road, breath taking views of mountain ranges to beautiful monasteries, challenging roads to insane hair pin bends, Manali – Leh route offers an awe-struck experience to adventure travellers and photographers.

Photography Tour from Manali To Leh

Here are some of the famous points across the Manali – Leh route on your Leh – Ladakh road trip

• Manali (2050 mts): Tourist destination , view of Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges
• Rohtang La (3980 mts) – 53 kms: Pass in Pir Panjal range. Connecting point for Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti Valleys
• Keylong (3348 mts) – 117 kms: Kardang Monastery
• Jispa (3142 mts) – 140 kms: Hotel , Bhaga river and amazing views
• Darcha (3400 mts) – 147 kms: Village, Photographer’s paradise
• Patsio (3820 mts) – 161 kms: Campsite
• Baralach La (4892 mts) – 192 kms: Pass. Connects Lahaul to Ladakh
• Sarchu (4253 mts) – 224 kms: Campsite. Halt point for tourists
• Lachang La (5065 mts) – 277 kms: Pass. Close to Pangong lake
• Pang (4630 mts) – 301 kms: Campsite
• Taglang La (5360 mts) – 365 kms: Pass. Highest point in the trip
• Rumtsey (4325 mts) – 397 kms: Monastery
• Gya (4100 mts) – 403 kms: Historical place
• Hemis (3518 mts) – 426 kms: Monastery
• Thiksey (3370 mts) – 455 kms: Monastery
• Shey (3365mts) – 460 kms: Palace/Monastery
• Leh (3348 mts) – 475 kms: Your final destination

Places to see in Srinagar to Leh Route

Srinagar to Leh route is filled with beautiful villages, war memorials, valleys, monasteries, the strange magnetic hill and more. This 434 kms stretch of mother earth is a true paradise

Photography Tour of Srinagar to Leh route

Starting from Srinagar, here is list of some important places along the route

• Sonamarg (2743 mts) – 84 kms: Tourist Resort
• Zojila Pass – 127 kms: Pass
• Drass (3033 mts) – 147 kms: Valley
• Kargil (2650 mts) – 204 kms: War Memorial
• Mulbek – 259 kms: Rock Engraves
• Fotu La (4108 mts) – 299 kms: Pass
• Lamayuru (3440 mts) – 309 kms: Hanging Monastery
• Ridzong (2985 mts) – 361 kms: Nunnery
• Uletokpo (2985 mts) – 362 kms: Village / Campsite
• Alchi (3345 mts) – 367 kms: Ancient Monastery
• Likir (3265 mts) – 374 kms: Ancient Monastery
• Basgo (3343 mts) – 394 kms: Palace/Monastery
• Phyang (3490 mts) – 417 kms: Monastery
• Spituk (3380 mts) – 422 kms: Ancient Monastery
• Leh (3348 mts) – 434 kms: Your final destination

Leh Ladakh – Land of Festivals

Ladakh comes alive during festivals, every monastery in Ladakh has an annual festival it is famous for. The main features of these festivals are the dance-dramas enacted by Lamas donning colourful robes and fearsome masks representing various Buddhist deities

There are cultural festivals too. Summer archery festivals are held in many villages as per local traditions. The 15-day Ladakh festival (1-15 September) is a major event sponsored by J&K Government to showcase rich cultural heritage of Ladakh

All this truly makes Ladakh a land of celebrations. Below is the list of festivals lined up sourced by mountain trails

Other Places to Visit from Leh – Ladakh

Apart from the two main routes which connect the outside world to Leh, to make the Leh – Ladakh road trip complete there are few destinations around Leh Ladakh that one must visit during their road trip to Leh Ladakh. If you don’t have enough time and yet you want to experience the beauty of Leh and awesomeness in a bike or road trip in Leh. A short duration road trip in Leh can fulfill your thirst

One should also experience the road trip to Spiti Valley, one of the best alternative to Leh Ladakh Road Trip

Leh to Pangong Lake: 156 kms

Famous locations in the Leh to Pangong Lake route

• Spangmik (Pangong Lake)

Leh to Nubra Valley: 140 kms

Famous locations in Leh to Nubra Valley route

• Khardung La: Highest motorable road in the world
• Hunder: Sand dune and camel safari
• Samstanling

Leh – Tsomoriri Lake: 240 kms

Famous locations in Leh to Tsomoriri Lake route

• Tsokar Lake
• Polokang La
• Korzok (Tsomoriri lake)

Leh – Dah/Baima: 162 kms

Famous locations in Leh to Dah / Baima route

• Achinathang

Leh – Kargil – Rangdum (Suru Valley) – Padum (Zanskar Valley): 464 kms

Famous locations in Leh – Zanskar Valley route

• Panikar: View of NunKun Peak
• Padum: Zanskar Valley, Zanskar river popular for white water rafting in summer and Chadar Trek in winter

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Global Gallivanting

My 7 day leh and ladakh itinerary + ladakh travel tips.

Ladakh is a land of mountains and monasteries – epic scenery that captivates and changes with every turn and a colourful Buddhist culture that makes you feel more like you’re in Tibet than India .

Ladakh is a mesmerising and unique part of India, but a trip to this remote, high altitude region requires more planning than the rest of India.

After my amazing trip, I wanted to share my Leh and Ladakh itinerary along with some essential travel tips to help you out if you are also planning a trip to Ladakh.

Why I Loved Ladakh

Ladakh is a unique place that everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. It really feels a world away from anywhere else I’ve been.

The scenery is just out of this world – think jagged, barren mountains and arid, snow capped peaks complete with colourful prayer flags fluttering in the wind. The moon like mountains are interlaced with fertile valleys, rushing rivers, crumbling stupas, timeless monasteries, prayer wheels and whitewashed houses.

My words and photos can’t really do it justice so you’ll just have to visit to experience this surreal land for yourself.

How Long To Spend in Ladakh

Bear in mind when planning your Ladakh itinerary that its important to factor in time for acclimatisation and that there are some long mountain drives, including the world’s highest motorable road!

So it’s best to visit Ladakh for as long as you can. While this itinerary will show you that it is possible to see the highlights in 7 days/ 1 week, there’s still so much more to see.

It’s best to take it easy and not be in too much of a rush, due to the altitude, so spending 10 – 14 days in Ladakh would be even better if you have more time.

My 7 Day Leh and Ladakh Itinerary

There’s loads more tips at the end of this blog post, but without further ado, here’s the itinerary for Leh Ladakh that I followed for my 1 week trip.

Day 1: Arrive in Leh (3,500m)

The quickest way to reach Ladakh is to fly from Delhi into Leh airport. Leh sits at an altitude of 3,500m so if you arrive by plane, like I did, then you’ll be treated to one of the most scenic flights over the mountains.

Once you reach Leh you will need to spend most of the day resting and acclimatising to the altitude in your hotel. It’s best to take a nap for a few hours to rest and start adjusting to the altitude, although it takes a few days to properly acclimatise.

It’s advised to drink plenty of fluids and not to smoke, drink alcohol or physically exert yourself.

If you feel like it then in the evening you could stroll into Leh and check out Leh Bazaar with it’s colourful shops selling Kashmiri handcrafts and pashminas, Tibetan antiques and jewellery stalls run by Tibetan refugees.

Stay : We stayed at the lovely Gangba Homestay which is run by a lovely family with spacious clean rooms with gorgeous mountain views just on the outskirts of Leh. I loved the colourful Tibetan style of the décor and the food here was the best I had in Ladakh. It’s also only a 10 minute walk from Leh Bazaar.

Check out this post for more recommendations for hotels in Leh.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Leh

Leh is dominated by the ruins of the 350 year old 9 storey high Leh Palace which is made out of mud, stone and wood and used to be the home of the Ladakhi royal family.

Leh Palace looks similar to Lhasa’s Potala Palace and offers spectacular views over Leh and the mountains beyond. I also found Tsemo Fort and Gompa very photogenic.

Another spot that can’t be missed off your Ladakh itinerary is visiting Shanti stupa which also has amazing views over Leh.

We also visited the sangam (confluence of 2 rivers) between the Indus and Zanskar river (you can go rafting here in Summer,) Magnetic Hill, Spituk Gompa, Gurudwara Shri Pathar Sahib and the Indian Army’s Hall of Fame.

If you have time I would add another day in Leh to your Ladakh itinerary and split up this sightseeing into two days to allow you to take it more easy and acclimatise.

Day 3: Leh – Nubra Valley (3050m) via Khardung La Pass (5,359m)

Outside Leh, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake are the most popular destinations in Ladakh.

Leave early as it’s a long but incredibly scenic drive out of Leh and over one of the world’s highest motorable pass – Khardung La.

Due to the attitude and cold we were only allowed to stay 15 mins on top of the pass but there are some great photo opportunities with the snowy mountains, views and fluttering prayer flags.

After crossing over Khardung La soak up the barren beauty of the Nubra Valley. Don’t miss the colourful 100 ft high Maitreya Buddha statue at Diskit Monastery.

Carry on to Hunder and admire the sand dunes and the double humped bactrian camels that came here with the silk route caravans. You can ride quad bikes (ATV’s) or camels across the sand dunes – don’t forget to look up at the stars.

Stay: Hunder has plenty of accommodation but mainly it’s tented Summer camps. After a long, cold day of driving over the mountains I was delighted to find that the newly built eco luxury Stone Hedge Hotel in Hunder has central heating! A very rare find in India.

Because we kept stopping to take so many photos it took all day to reach Hunder. You can go further onwards to Turtuk but we didn’t have time.

If you have more time for your Ladakh itinerary I’d recommend adding another day in Nubra Valley so you have more time to explore.

Day 4: Nubra Valley – Pangong Lake (4,250m)

Another scenic drive, this time along the Shyok River Valley to Pangong Tso (Tso means Lake in Tibetan). Pangong Tso is one of the world’s largest high altitude lakes stretching over 150km long. 60% of it actually lies in Tibet, China and in the winter the entire lake freezes over.

When we visited (in October) it was very cold, windy and overcast. But in July or August the high altitude lake boasts crystal clear, cerulean blue waters and is backed by a spectacular kaleidoscope of mountains behind making for mesmerising views.

Just don’t expect to have it all to yourself in peak season – this place became famous after a movie called ‘The Three Idiots’  was filmed here,

Stay : There are a handful of tented camps with basic bathrooms and restaurants on the shores of Pangong Lake. We stayed at Pangong Lake View Cottage Camp. Due to the remote location the camps are quite overpriced (ours was about 4,000 INR) but there’s no other accommodation option and it can be a fun experience camping by the lake under the stars.

Day 5: Pangong Lake – Hemis Monastery & Leh via Chang La Pass (5,360m)

We drove back from Pangong Lake over Chang La Pass which was quite a rough road and snow covered at the top at 5,360m. The top is home to an army base, stupas and a Hindu temple at the top adorned with hundreds of colourful prayer flags.

On the way to Leh we stopped at Hemis Monastery – Ladakh’s biggest, oldest monasteries famous for the colourful Hemis festival in the summer but when we visited in October we were the only tourists there. The monastery dates back to the 11 th century and is also home to an interesting museum.

Stay : We returned to Gangaba Homestay in Leh.

Day 6: Thiksey Monastery and Stok Palace

Thiksey Monastery is an impressive complex located on top of a hill and rising early was totally worth it for the sunrise views over the mountains and the privilege to join the monks in their morning chanting . Try the traditional butter tea and check out the Maitreya Buddha temple here too.

After a quick visit to the Shey Palace and Shey Monastery, in the afternoon we visited Stok Palace – it dates back to 1820 and is the home of the Ladakhi royal family.

It’s now a unique and fascinating heritage hotel so definitely consider staying here if you want to immerse yourself in Ladakhi heritage. The manager was a wealth of knowledge about Ladakhi history and culture and there’s also an interesting museum.

When we returned to Gangba Homestay they had put on a lovely Ladakhi cultural dance show for our final evening.

Day 7: Fly Back to Delhi

After our lovely last evening in Leh we did some souvenir shopping in Leh Bazaar and took a flight back to Delhi.

How to Plan A Trip To Ladakh

There’s a lot to think about when planning a trip to Ladakh – transport, accommodation, visas, permits, weather, altitude.

I’ve got loads of travel tips for Ladakh in this article but, honestly, it’s quite difficult to travel Ladakh independently so you’re better off getting a local travel agent to help you out.

My trip to Ladakh was organised by expert trip planners India Someday ( who I’ve travelled with several times before ) in collaboration with their local expert partner Unplugged Life.

They put together this 1 week Leh Ladakh itinerary, advised us on packing and organised all the accommodation, transport, permits and also some extra treats and surprises.

Here’s some more things to consider and travel tips to help you plan your Ladakh trip:

Best time to visit Ladakh

The peak season for Ladakh is during the Summer from June – September. It can get pretty busy in July and August and prices are higher. In the Summer temperatures can be up to 20 °C. In Winters they can go as low as – 25 °C.

As Ladakh is high altitude (Leh sits at 3,500 m) the region doesn’t receive as much monsoon rains as the rest of India. I visited in early October and days where pleasant in the sunshine and around 12 °C. It often fell to 0 °C at night and most hotels don’t have heating so make sure you take plenty of warm clothes.

Visas and Permits for Ladakh

As Ladakh is part of India you will need an Indian visa. Citizens of 161 countries can now get online tourist, business and medical Evisas which are valid for upto 1 year so it’s never been easier to visit India!  Read this post for all the info you need and a complete guide on how to apply. 

You’ll also need Inner Line Permits (ILP) to visit Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake and some other places. These are valid for 7 days and can be arranged by a tour agency.

Getting to Ladakh

There are 2 ways to reach Ladakh. In the Summer you can go overland from either Manali or Srinagar by bus, car or motorbike.

The journey between Manali and Leh takes about 20 hours and crosses some high altitude passes and there are some basic cafes and accommodation on the way.

From October – May the roads are closed due to snow so the only way to reach Ladakh is to take a 1.5 hour flight from Delhi to Leh which is what we did as we visited in October. There are many places to rent motorbikes once you reach Leh.

Getting around Ladakh

Apart from cramped shared jeeps, public transport is very limited outside of Leh, so you’ll need to hire a car and driver to get the most out of your Ladakh trip.

Unplugged Life arranged cars and local drivers for our whole trip. It would have been very difficult and time consuming to get around on public transport and impossible to fit so much into our 1 week itinerary.

Accommodation in Ladakh

There are many guesthouses and hotels for all budgets in Leh and Nubra Valley, but be aware that most do not have central heating and can be very cold in winter. In Pangong Lake the only accommodation available is in (overpriced) tented camps.

Budget for Ladakh

While in the rest of India you could get by on a backpacking budget of around $25 per day prices in Ladakh are more expensive. This is due to the short tourist season, the lack of public transport and the cost of getting everything up to this remote region. Allow at least $40 – $45 / 3,000 INR per day per person in Ladakh.

Tours of Ladakh

Exploring the remote, mountainous region of Ladakh is made so much easier by using the services of a local tour guide.

My trip was planned by India Someday and their local Ladakhi tour partner Unplugged Life who arranged the itinerary, transportation, accommodation, permits and everything else so we could have a hassle free trip and could just enjoy the spectacular scenery and culture.

Unplugged Life promote responsible eco tourism and are so passionate about this region. They only employ and are also very conscious about waste disposal which is really important in Ladakh as waste management is not well developed.

Staying Connected

Only post-paid networks work in Ladakh and outside of Leh only BSNL post paid connections work. Most accommodation and cafes in Leh have wifi, but outside of Leh prepare to be disconnected and offline for a few days.

Staying Warm

Most hotels do not have heating so make sure you bring plenty of thermal layers and warm clothing. Keep your head, hands and feet warm at all times and carry a stainless steel bottle for hot water.

You could also ask for a hot water bag to warm up the bed. Even though it can be cold don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses as the suns rays are intense.

Altitude Sickness (AMS)

Drink plenty of liquids (warm water is better to help avoid sore throat or cold due to the cold. Take it easy and don’t exert your body, especially on the first few days.

Avoid smoking and alcohol. Diamox, oxygen and medical help are available if you struggle with altitude sickness. Check out this post for more tips of altitude sickness in Ladakh.

Guide Books

I traveled with the Lonely Planet India Guidebook which has a good section on Ladakh. Its really useful for practical info, maps, things to do, how to get around etc. Buy it before you go on Amazon to save money

Wow, so that’s it for my Ladakh trip! What an amazing experience. If you’re planning a trip to Ladakh I hope you’ve found my travel tips and itinerary useful. I hope that you fall in love with this unique and magical place as much as I did!

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I was not knowing about the two ways to get to Ladak…This article give me a clear idea about…Thanks

Thanks for sharing such a valuable content. Interesting blog and very informative!! Thank you 🙂

You and your work always stood by the expectations and has a meaningful contribution to the success of the company. We value your presence and are proud of you.

[…] beautiful scenery without the climb, Ladakh is the place to visit. The region was once described by the Mughal Emporer Jehangir as “Heaven on […]

I have been to Ladakh myself (twice) and if I were a blogger, I too wouldn’t have written things with such finesse. You have covered almost everything that’s important. It is a great and insightful blog. Here are a few of my inputs to make this blog better:

• Do acclimatize properly before heading towards other attractions from Leh. • Get yourself checked in your hometown so that you can keep the medicines if you require any. • Keep drinking water regularly. • Do not exert if it’s your first time at such a high altitude.

Rest everything you have already mentioned in your article 

Thanks for the tips! 🙂

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How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh

How to Plan a trip to Leh Ladakh really is more of a general question that can be further broken down for a better explanation. In this article, I will divide this question into different categories and provide links to articles where I have detailed the information related to it.

I have been blogging about Ladakh for quite some time; since my first visit there to be honest actually. This website has a long list of articles covering different aspects of visiting Ladakh scattered over numerous pages.

So I thought to add this one front page and keep it sticky more from a navigation point of view. Please take a look at the post below it should answer all your questions about traveling to Ladakh.

If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking your question there.

For getting the best hotel rates, motorcycle rentals, and taxi charges, and to organize your trip to Ladakh, you can speak with Kunal @ 9910 402 252 . Give him my reference and you will surely get a discounted rate.

Vargis Khan

When to go to Ladakh

This of course is the first question that comes to mind after you have finally decided to visit here. Ladakh remains closed and cut off from the rest of the country for several months a year.

Most of the tourism here happens between the months of June and September. When should you plan will depend on a lot of factors like how you are traveling; if there is any budget restriction; what exactly do you want to see etc.

Considering all these factors, take a look at the articles below which I am sure will help you finalize the month of your travel.

• When is the Best Time to Visit Ladakh
• When is the Best Time to Visit Zanskar Valley

Quick Navigation

How to Prepare for Ladakh Trip

Once you have decided when to go, next in line comes the question of how to prepare. Ladakh is not really a place where you can just pack your bags and go. You will have to seriously consider every aspect of the trip and pack accordingly.

This will include packing the right kind of clothes, getting your vehicle ready, and carrying every essential item that you will need for the trip. Below is a link to articles where I have provided this information in detail.

• List of things you must carry for a Ladakh Trip
• Clothes for Ladakh Trip: What to Pack
• Important Tips on Dealing with Acute Mountain Sickness in Ladakh
• How to Carry your Laptop to Ladakh
• Things to Carry for Ladakh Winter Trip
• Ladakh by Flight VS Ladakh By Road
• How and Where to Carry Spare Fuel for Ladakh Trip
• How to Transport your Motorcycle for Ladakh Trip

Family trip to Ladakh

Not before long, Ladakh was considered a destination only for the adventurous type or motorcycle enthusiasts. It was awarded the nickname of ‘Bikers Paradise’ because it was one of those areas where nobody went.

A trip to Ladakh in many ways was considered a completely off-roading experience. These were the times when Ladakh was just a name that people read in the books, a name that was not even remotely related to vacations.

The horizon of tourism in Ladakh has much changed in the last few years. The number of people visiting here increases with each passing year and the place is slowly getting developed as a tourist destination.

The fact, however, cannot be denied that it is still a harsh terrain that is also challenging. If you are thinking of visiting Ladakh with family then you would need to really prepare for it; especially if you coming to Leh Ladakh with a kid or your parents.

The two articles below talk in detail how about you can plan a trip to Ladakh with your family. The first one has information on preparations and precautions that you should practice while visiting Leh Ladakh with a child whereas the second one provides information on a trip to Ladakh with your parents or other elders of the family.

• How to Visit Ladakh with Family
• Leh Ladakh with Family – Trip of a Lifetime
• Family Trip to Ladakh – Fun, Adventure, and Much More
• Planning a Trip to Ladakh with Children or Infants
• Traveling to Ladakh With Parents – Senior Citizens

What to Buy in Ladakh

Once you have reached Ladakh, you of course would not want to come back empty-handed. There is plenty to buy in the markets here. The bazaars of Leh will mesmerize you with the superior artistry and sheer range of artifacts on display.

The markets are stocked with fine products all year long, and you will lose track of time as you drift from one store to another, lost in admiration.

Please read Shopping in Ladakh – What to Buy for a list of items that you can consider shopping for; along with names of some recommended stores.

Foods to Try in Ladakh

One of the primary attractions of going to a new place is to have a taste of local food. The same is the case with Ladakh. The local cuisine here is a fusion of Tibetan and Kashmiri dishes that you must get a taste of.

This mountain kingdom has been at the crossroads of trade between Tibet, Nepal, and Kashmir, and the delicacies here clearly reflect the varied cultural influences.

Please read Foods to try in Ladakh – What to Eat for a list of some dishes and beverages that you must taste while in Ladakh.

Cost of Ladakh Trip

The budget for the trip is one of the biggest deciding factors. A lot of people think that a trip to Ladakh is going to cost a fortune which is not entirely true.

While it may cost you a bit more than visiting some other areas, the truth however is that with proper planning and information, you can easily make a trip to Ladakh within budget.

Below is a list of articles that can help you calculate the overall cost you will incur during the trip; and how you can keep it within budget.

• How to Calculate Minimum Budget for Ladakh Trip
• How to Calculate Cost of Motorcycle Trip to Ladakh
• 12 Tips for a Budget Trip to Ladakh
• How to Make a Budget Ladakh Trip by Public Transport
• Taxi Rates in Ladakh
• Motorcycle Rental Rates in Ladakh
• Budget Trip to Zanskar Valley – How to Plan Your Journey?
• Motorcycle Rental Rates in Srinagar
• Motorcycle Rental Rates in Manali

Is Ladakh Safe?

Safety, of course, should always be the first thing considered before you go visit a new place. When it comes to Ladakh, a one-line answer is that yes, it is very safe to travel. But the answer cannot always be that simple because there will be several terms and conditions applied.

I always believe that a person’s safety always is in their own hands and gets driven by judgments they make. Ladakh is a high-altitude desert and getting here would need you to travel on some steep, narrow, and sometimes even dangerous roads.

So to get to Ladakh by road, you would need to have some driving experience and especially in the hills. You do not want Ladakh to be the first time when you were behind the steering wheel for the first time in the mountains.

If you have never driven in the hills before, please visit some other hill station first, get some experience and then drive to Ladakh.

The crime rate in Ladakh is almost next to none. You will be driving through miles of nowhere, all alone, and won’t be bothered by anyone. People here are simple and humble and will mind their own business.

So in short, as long as you drive sensibly, do not take any unnecessary risks, do not get into any altercations, know where you are headed, have proper permits, and do not go wandering around where you shouldn’t then Ladakh is a very safe place to visit.

For further information on the topic broken down by areas, I will recommend reading through the articles below.

• Is Ladakh Safe for Tourists
• How safe is Srinagar Leh Highway for Tourists
• Is Kashmir Safe for Tourists?

Time Required for Leh Ladakh Trip

This will entirely depend on where you were coming from and your mode of travel. But a minimum of 7 to 14 days is what I recommend for a trip to Ladakh. 7 Days if you were flying in and out of Leh City; and 12 to 14 days if you wanted to make it a road trip.

You can, of course, do away with a lesser number of days as well but with the above mentioned period of time, you can be sure that your trip will not be rushed, you will see all that there is to see and will make the best out of your time.

How can you break this time down further and plan your day-by-day itinerary is mentioned in the Itinerary section below.

Itinerary for Ladakh Trip

A well-laid itinerary in my opinion is the most important part of the Ladakh trip. Based on the days you have in hand, you must have a carefully drafted plan on where do you want to be on which day.

A Ladakh trip is not really a frequent affair so while you visit here, you need to make sure that you make the most out of it and visit as many places as you possibly can.

I have written several articles providing examples of different itineraries broken by days; links to which I have provided below. Depending on how long your trip is going to last, you can pick an itinerary from the ones I have listed in these articles.

• 2 Days Itinerary for Ladakh / Weekend Trip to Ladakh
• 3 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 4 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 5 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 6 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 7 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 8 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 9 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 10 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 11 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 12 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 13 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 14 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• 15 Days Itinerary for Ladakh
• Itinerary for Zanskar Valley
• Srinagar to Ladakh Itinerary
• Manali to Ladakh Itinerary
• Ladakh Winter Trip Itinerary
• Itinerary if you are flying to Ladakh
• Zanskar Itinerary, Route Details, and Road Map
• Leh to Zanskar Itinerary – How to Plan your Journey?
• Ladakh Itinerary by Flight
• One Week Itinerary for Ladakh

What to See in Ladakh

The next piece of information that you should keep handy is a list of places that you would like to see. You have been told that the entire Ladakh is a tourist destination in itself which is entirely correct.

Every turn of the road here will present you with something new and you will not get tired of clicking your camera for hours. But there must be some places that can be called the prime attraction, correct? You are right.

In the articles below, I have listed every place in Ladakh that is worth a visit. Depending on the time you have for the trip, you can decide which one (or all of them) you want to cover.

The first article provides a list of all the places in Ladakh while the other ones break it down by the region.

• A Complete List of All Tourist Attractions in Ladakh
• Tourist Places in Leh City
• A Detailed Explanation of Festivals of Ladakh
• Ladakh Festivals Dates
• Tourist Attractions on Srinagar Leh Highway
• What to See on Manali Leh Highway
• Tourist Attractions in Nubra Valley
• Primary Attractions of Zanskar Valley
• Sightseeing in Padum

What to do in Ladakh

After what to see, the next question that comes to mind is about things to do in Ladakh. And by that, I mean what else to do apart from visiting all the places I listed above.

Everyone will go and visit all the tourist attractions that they can, depending on the time they have in hand, but what else? What other fun and exciting activities can you be a part of in Ladakh?

If this thought has been on your mind then I recommend that you take a look at the articles below. Out here, I have listed some of the most popular and common tourist activities in Ladakh that you should know of before going there.

• What to do in Ladakh | Fun Things to do in Ladakh

Where to Stay in Ladakh

In recent years, Ladakh has seen a great boost in tourism; especially after the release of the movie “3 Idiots”. With that being said, the fact however cannot still be denied that it is still a remote region, one that remains cut off from the rest of the world for several months in a year.

Before going to a faraway land like this, you must have information about what your accommodation choices are. It will be a crucial part of your itinerary to know where you can stay for the night and where can you not.

In the series of articles below, I have provided information related to the staying options in different regions of Ladakh. You will also find the names and phone numbers of some recommended hotels at the links below.

Based on your own choice, you may choose to call and book in advance; or reach the place, find a hotel of your liking and negotiate an on-the-spot deal.

• Hotels at Pangong Lake
• Accommodation on Srinagar Leh Highway
• Hotels on Manali Leh Highway
• Guest Houses and Hotels in Nubra Valley
• Recommended Hotels in Leh City
• Hotels in Zanskar Valley
• Accommodation at Tso Moriri
• Hotels on the routes to Tso Moriri
• How to Book  HP PWD Guest House
• List of Good Restaurants in Leh City
• List of Vegetarian Only Restaurants in Ladakh
• Camping in Ladakh

Monasteries in Ladakh that allow Night Stay

A lot of people look forward to staying at a monastery for the night to experience something different and local. This option is not available at all the monasteries.

In Ladakh, there are only 5 monasteries that I know that have this kind of arrangement. Before you decide to stay here though, please know that your stay will be very basic and may feel uncomfortable to you.

A friend of mine decided to do this as well only to tell me the next day that he regretted his decision the entire night. But if you want do want to give it a try, then you can stay at either of the following monasteries for the night.

• Phuktal Monastery, Zanskar Valley (Best place to get this experience. I have stayed here and it was awesome)
• Hemis Monastery, Ladakh
• Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh
• Lamayuru Gompa, Ladakh
• Rangdum Gompa, Zanskar Valley

Availability of basic facilities in Ladakh

The next crucial information that you must make yourself aware of is in terms of the availability of basic facilities in Ladakh. By this, I mean facilities like mobile services, hospitals, gas stations, etc.

This may not be such a big problem in Leh City but can become a concern while traveling to other areas of Ladakh. In the articles below, I have provided more information related to this topic.

• When and How to Rent an Oxygen Cylinder for Ladakh Trip
• ATM, Mechanics, and Petrol Stations on Srinagar Leh Highway
• ATM and Bank Facilities in Leh City
• Mobile Phone Services in Ladakh

Getting your vehicle Ready

A trip to a place like Ladakh is stressful not just for the traveler but also for their vehicles. All the information above was related to getting yourself ready for the tough trip ahead but then what about your vehicle?

Ladakh, as I mentioned, is still a remote region and if your vehicle breaks down on you, it can very well ruin your entire trip. You must get your machine ready, be it a car or a motorcycle. Pay close attention to every part, and every detail, and repair or replace whatever seems dicey.

In the articles below, I have provided information on which vehicle you can bring to Ladakh, which you should not, and then how to get your respective vehicles ready.

• How to Prepare your Motorcycle for Ladakh
• How to Prepare your Car for Ladakh Trip
• Why you should rent a Taxi in Ladakh
• Which is the Best Car for Ladakh Trip
• How to Go to Ladakh on 100CC Motorcycle
• Which is the Best Motorcycle for Ladakh Trip

Renting a Motorcycle for Ladakh Trip

A trip to Ladakh is more fun when you are traveling by your own vehicle but a lot of people also complete the journey on a rented motorcycle. There are several places that you can rent a bike from for the trip like Manali, Srinagar or Leh itself.

However, before you finalize the deal, you must carefully inspect the motorcycle to ensure that it will not give you trouble anywhere.

In the articles below, I have provided information on where you can rent a bike from with some recommended names; and what is it that you should pay heed to before renting a bike.

• Why and When should you rent a motorcycle for Ladakh Trip?
• How to rent a Bike in Srinagar
• How to Rent a Bike in Manali
• Where to Rent a Bike in Srinagar
• Where to Rent a Bike in Manali
• How to Rent a Bike in Leh City
• Leh City Bike Rental Charges

How to Travel to Ladakh

Now since we have all the information we need, let us talk about how to travel to and in Ladakh. In the articles below, I have talked about how to journey on the two roads leading to Ladakh, the Manali – Leh, and Srinagar – Leh route; and then how to go to areas like Nubra Valley and Pangong after you have arrived in Leh.

The first article is a very comprehensive road map of the entire Ladakh region; then the following articles are detailed explanations of the route.

Apart from the direct routes from Leh City, I have also talked about some of the internal roads that you can take to reach from one place to another without going back to Leh. This includes roads like Agham – Shyok, Wari La, and Changthang Valley.

• A Detailed Road Map of Ladakh
• How to Travel to Umling La
• Traveling from Srinagar to Leh
• How to Travel from Manali to Leh
• Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri
• How to Travel to Tso Moriri from Leh
• Leh to Nubra Valley
• How to Travel to Pangong Tso
• Leh to Khardung La
• How to Travel to Hanle
• Sham Valley Travel Guide
• How to Travel to Zanskar Valley
• Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso via Agham Shyok road
• Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso via Wari La
• How to Visit Siachen Glacier

Permits for Ladakh

Ladakh is an area very close to the India-China border and hence, everyone visiting here is required to obtain a permit from the DM office. This permit is not applicable for reaching Leh city but is a mandate for visiting other areas like Nubra Valley, Pangong, and Tso Moriri.

In the articles below, I have explained the entire procedure in detail along with the charges applicable. Another permit you will have to worry about is Rohtang Pass if you are starting from Manali.

This permit is needed to be obtained from Manali. I have also provided links below to the article where I have talked about this permit in detail.

• How to Obtain Inner Line Permit for Ladakh
• Procedure to Obtain Protected Area Permit for Ladakh
• How to Obtain Rohtang Pass Permit

Public Transport Services in Ladakh

Off-late, a lot of people have started to visit Ladakh using public transport services in form of Buses or shared cabs. Some people reach Leh by Air and then catch a bus to other places while others start their journeys by bus from places like Srinagar and Manali.

Public Transport in Ladakh until a few years back was not really that great but has improved greatly in the last few years. If you too are planning a trip here by Public transport, then in the article below you will find information related to bus schedules and shared taxis.

• How I Traveled to Ladakh by Public Transport
• Ladakh Bus Service Schedule
• Leh to Nubra Valley Bus Service
• Pangong Tso Bus Service
• Leh to Tso Moriri Bus Service – Fare & Schedule
• Manali to Leh Bus Service
• Leh to Manali Bus
• Srinagar to Leh Bus Service
• Leh to Srinagar Bus
• Delhi to Leh Bus Service
• Leh to Delhi Bus
• Public Transport Services in Zanskar Valley
• Zanskar Valley Taxi Rates
• Ladakh Bus Schedule
• Bus Service in Leh City
• Zanskar Valley by Public Transport

Solo Trip to Ladakh

A trip to Ladakh without any doubt needs some time which unfortunately not everyone can afford to spare. Sometimes for one reason or another, a lot of us are unable to find someone to accompany us on the trips.

A solo trip to Ladakh however is no less adventurous than with a few friends. If you too were planning to visit Ladakh solo, then below is a list of articles that can help you plan your trip better.

• How to Plan a Solo Trip to Ladakh
• Safety Tips for a Solo Trip to Ladakh
• How I traveled to Ladakh by Public Transport Alone
• Memoirs of my Solo trip to Ladakh

Interesting Reads

Links below are articles that I call an “interesting read” for the Ladakh trip. This is some intriguing and good to know information related to some places here; like the unexplained phenomenon of Magnetic hill and some other places that are known to be haunted. Take a look.

• The Beasts of Changthang Valley
• The Ghost of Gata Loops
• The Magnetic Hill of Ladakh
• The Heroes of Rezang La

Last but not the least, below are some articles where I have shared some quick tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. Most of these tips are based on my own personal experience of Ladakh after being there several times. Read through and I am sure this information can be of help to you.

• Things that you must NOT do in Ladakh
• Driving Tips for Ladakh
• Riding to Ladakh with a Pillion
• Visiting Ladakh on Scooter

When is Ladakh open for Tourists?

If this question was asked about 10 or 15 years ago, the answer would have been the months from June till September. These were in fact the only 5 months when Ladakh use to see any tourist footfall. But much has changed now. You may in fact find it a bit hard to believe but Ladakh is now open for tourists throughout the year.

It is true that you may not be able to reach here by road in the months of November till April, but regular flights still remain available. Now tourists arrive in Ladakh not just to enjoy the summer but a freezing winter as well.

There was a time not too long ago when you would have to definitely book your stay in advance if visiting in winter. But now, you can land in Ladakh at any time of the year and will easily find a place to stay.

With that being said, the harsh cold of Ladakh is not everyone’s cup of tea. Only the adventurous type visit during these months; or people who have already been to Ladakh once before and now came a second time to see it covered in snow.

So when is Ladakh open for tourists? If we talk about tourists in general including all types, then people start to visit here sometime by Mid April.

By May, most of the hotels are up and running and tourist season is in full swing by May end. People from all over the world continue to flock here till September and then the number starts to go down again by October.

Months to visit Ladakh

So in order for an easier and better understanding, below are links to articles where I have explained Ladakh with respect to that particular month only.

Information in these articles is on how to reach, where to stay, what to eat, what to expect, itinerary to follow, and how to prepare. Depending on which month you were planning to go in, take a look at that particular post and you will find all the relevant information.

• Ladakh in January
• Ladakh in February
• Visiting Ladakh in March
• Ladakh in April
• Ladakh in May
• How to Plan Ladakh in June
• Ladakh in July
• Ladakh in August
• Trip to Ladakh in September
• Ladakh in October
• Ladakh in November
• Winter Trip to Ladakh in December

Zanskar Valley

If Ladakh can be called a remote place in India, then Zanskar Valley is actually a remote region in Ladakh itself. Over the last few years, Tourism in Ladakh has seen a great boost.

Almost everyone is planning to go to Ladakh and during peak tourist season, it can get a bit crowded as well. Zanskar Valley on the other hand is a place that is not yet affected by this tourist mania.

Due to its location, not many people visit here and that is what makes it perfect for people who want to be away from the crowd. Zanskar in fact has a few aces up its sleeve, things that not even Ladakh can offer.

Parkachik Glacier, Shafat Glacier, Nun Kun Massif, and Drang Drang Glacier are three of the star attractions of Zanskar. Nowhere in our country can you see a glacier so up close and so easily reachable.

It is true that visiting Zanskar will definitely add a bit of a cost and days to your itinerary; but if you can afford it, I highly recommend making Zanskar a part of your Ladakh trip.

Below is a list of articles that pertain to visiting Zanskar Valley. Go through the posts below and you will know all there is about visiting Zanskar.

• Zanskar Valley – A Complete Travel Guide & Itinerary
• Kargil to Padum Route Guide
• Phugtal Monastery – A Complete Travel Guide
• Mobile Phone Connectivity in Zanskar Valley

Is Ladakh Dangerous?

One line answer to this question would be that no, Ladakh is not dangerous. But much of this would depend on you yourself. A person’s safety is always in their own hands and it gets decided by the decisions they make and actions they take.

People in Ladakh are simple and humble but this does not excuse you from behaving irresponsibly. Do not get into any unnecessary altercations, do not try to offend them in any way, do not try to drive around in a vehicle rented outside Ladakh and you will be OK.

If you are asking the question in terms of the terrain then yes, the roads here are a bit risky and challenging. But as long as you have some experience of driving, especially in the hills, then it is nothing that you cannot handle.

Just get your vehicle well serviced, plan carefully, keep an eye on the weather and you got nothing to worry about.

Is Ladakh Worth Visiting?

And finally the question of whether or not you should make this trip. If you are unsure of whether you should go or not then take my word for it. Ladakh is worth every minute and penny you spend here.

This will be a trip of a lifetime irrespective of how you are traveling. Just put all doubts aside and embark upon a journey that you will cherish memories of for life.

Why one should visit Ladakh?

You should visit Ladakh if you want to go on a trip that you will remember for life. It is truly one of a kind experience that I must urge you to have. Ladakh is a place like no other and it has a little something for everyone.

It does not matter if you were an adventure enthusiast, biker, photographer, family person, or just someone looking to spend some time in peace, you can rest assured that Ladakh will not disappoint you.

I hope the information above on how to plan a trip to Leh Ladakh was of help. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below. You can also  follow me on Instagram  and chat with me live there or  subscribe to my YouTube channel and ask a question there.

Vargis.Khan

Not much to write about me really except for that I love to travel around whenever I can and to wherever I can. This blog is just a small attempt to share my travel experiences with the world. Hope you like it !!!

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Hi vargis. Im gurjeet. Im starting ladakh from chandigarhvia darcha shinkula padum lamayuru route. I have gypsy 4×4. Guide me the adventurous route for umlingla pass from leh. And im going back home through killar kishatwer road. Tell me either killar or kishtwer having most dangerous roads?? Which one u suggest me to go killar road or kishatwer road? I go back home by that route. Please guide me

Planning a trip to Leh Ladakh involves meticulous attention to factors like weather conditions, altitude sickness prevention, and transportation options. This guide offers practical tips and insights to help travelers create a well-rounded itinerary, ensuring a smooth and unforgettable journey through the breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture of this Himalayan region. Ideal for anyone seeking to embark on a memorable adventure in Leh Ladakh.

Thank you so much for the classified information, it will be helpful for me because I am planning to road trip from Noida to Ladakh by bike. it will be my first ride in my life. I am excited

Please also share your experience with me about the bike trip I want to go

Thank you so much buddy

You have provided one of the best guide on Ladakh, just loved it

Thank you !!!

You have provided a well-informative blog. I have gone through many blogs of yours and you write it so well.

This is so Insightful guide Vargis, I loved this alot

Thank you Ankita

Planning a trip to Leh Ladakh requires careful consideration due to its remote location and challenging terrain. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you plan your journey:

Research and Itinerary:

Research the best time to visit Leh Ladakh. The region is accessible from May to September when the roads are open. Decide on the duration of your trip and create a rough itinerary. Popular destinations include Leh, Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, and Tso Moriri Lake. Acclimatization:

Leh Ladakh is at high altitude, and acclimatization is crucial to avoid altitude sickness. Plan to spend a couple of days in Leh before venturing into higher-altitude areas. Stay hydrated, avoid heavy physical activity initially, and consider carrying medications for altitude sickness. Permits:

Check if you need any permits to visit specific areas. Permits are required for places like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, and Tso Moriri Lake. Obtain the necessary permits from the District Commissioner’s Office in Leh. Transportation:

Decide on your mode of transportation. You can either hire a cab, rent a motorcycle, or drive your own vehicle. If you plan to drive, ensure your vehicle is in good condition, and carry spare parts, tools, and a first aid kit. Accommodation:

Book accommodations in advance, especially during peak season. Leh has a variety of options, including guesthouses, hotels, and homestays. In more remote areas, accommodation options may be limited

Hi Vargis tried to connect u on instagram but it says u hv disable messages , i have few questions to ask you, though you have mentioned everything in your article but was wondering if things changed now.

1. Am travelling with my mother so avoiding directly landing to leh and instead thinking to arrive from road via srinagar or manali. which one u recommend ? 2. Are self driven cars from outside (srinagar, chandigarh) allowed in leh ?

Hi Rishabh,

1. Srinagar route will be better Bhai to reach Leh 2. No. Outside taxis can only be used to reach Leh. You cannot use them for sightseeing and will have to leave it parked at the hotel

Hi Vargis Can you please advise whether Ladakh trip is feasible between 1st Oct to 15th Oct. I intend to drive from Kolkata with my wife and 10 year old daughter in our Bolero Neo. I picked this time primarily to avoid the summer heat of the plains through which I would have to travel if I plan for May – June. Can I take the Manali Leh Highway during this time of Oct? Can I do a day trip for Pangong lake from Leh? Do I need to carry snow chains for the wheels? Which areas can I visit during this time without the risk of getting stranded?

Request pls advise for me to plan accordingly.

You can Sid but hard to tell right now. It will all depend on how the weather next year is. If it started to snow early, it won’t be a good idea. Best to wait until Sep next year before finalizing. My advice is that you plan between Sep 15 to 30th to be on the safer side. It won’t either be hot at that time, nor crowded

Can it be planned between 24th September to 8th October.

Yes it can be

Hi vargis, I am planning a trip to Leh with my mother , tentative date of my coming is 16th August 2023, planning to cover nearby places on 17th August then a 3 day trip to Nubra-Pangong from 18 to 20th August, 2023, then will leave for Delhi on 21 August 2023. Do i need to book hotels for leh/nubra/pangong in advance? and what about getting shared taxis for the said trip…. pls guide.

Hi Supriyo – You can find accommodation on the spot as well but shared taxis could be a problem. It will be better to book a private cab if you have your mother with you.

Actually, hiring a reserved cab will be out of budget for me.. so was searching for shared cab.

Hello Vargis,

Hope you are doing well.

I have been one of the silent followers of your amazing blog for a while and it has helped me many times to build my itinerary for any Himalayan trips in the past.

This month, 4 of us are planning on visiting Leh-Ladakh by road from Chandigarh Airport in a cab, preferably Innova. We have made this itinerary. I would want to know your views regarding the same.

Day 1 : 24th June, Sat – Road Trip: – Chandigarh Airport (Start at 7:30 AM) – Atal Tunnel (Rohtang) – Sissu – Stay: – Sissu Zostel

Day 2 : 25th June, Sun – Road Trip: – Sissu – Keylong – Suraj Tal – Baralacha pass – Leh – Stay: – Leh Zostel

Day 3 : 26th June, Mon – Local Sightseeing – Leh Palace – Stok Palace and Museum – Hemis Monastery – Thiksey Monastery – Leh Market – Evening – Stay: – Leh Zostel

Day 4 : 27th June, Tue – Road Trip: – Leh – KhardungLa Pass – Panamik – Sasoma Check Point – Siachen Base Camp – OP Baba Shrine – Nubra Valley (NOTE: Local sightseeing on the next day) – Stay: – Nubra Valley

Day 5 : 28th June, Wed – Road Trip: – Nubra Valley – Local Sightseeing – Diskit Monastery – Hunder – Tyakshi – Turtuk (NOTE: Local sightseeing on the next day) – Stay: – Turtuk

Day 6 : 29th June, Thur – Road Trip: – Turtuk – Local Sightseeing – Pangong Lake View Point – Merak Village – Kakstet Village – Man Village – Stay: – Man Village, Pangong Lake

Day 7 : 30th June, Fri – Road Trip: – Pangong Tso – Local Sightseeing, (if any more required) – Kyagar Tso – Karzok, Tso Moriri (NOTE: Local sightseeing on the next day) – Stay: – Karzok, Tso Moriri

Day 8 : 1st July, Sat – Road Trip: – Tso Moriri – Local Sightseeing – Leh – Stay: – Leh Zostel

Day 9 : 2nd July, Sun – Road Trip: – Leh – Phyang Gompa – Magnetic Hill – Sangam view point – Kargil War Memorial, Dras – Dras – Stay: – Dras

Day 10 : 3rd July, Mon – Road Trip: – Dras – Kargil – Local Sightseeing – Mulbekh – Local Sightseeing (Monastery) – Leh – Stay: – Leh Zostel

Day 11 : 4th July, Tue – Road Trip: – Leh – Manali – Stay: – Manali Zostel (Vashisth)

Day 12 : 5th July, Wed – Road Trip: – Manali – Chandigarh (Reach by 5:00 PM MAX)

Eagerly waiting for your inputs.

Regards, Sourav

Day 4 – You cannot cover Siachen Base Camp on this …. You will only reach Nubra Valley from Leh

Day 10 – Go all the way to Kargil … Do not stay in Dras

Just remember that you taxi from Chandigarh will not be allowed for sightseeing in Ladakh. You will have to rent another cab there

Hi Vargis Somewhere on this site I read that there are no hatchback cars /cabs available . But getmecab.com provides hatchback cabs. Do u know if it’s a genuine cab service site?

You cannot use an outside rental for sightseeing in Ladakh. You will have to rent a local cab in Leh and they usually do not have hatchbacks, mostly SUVs.

I’m sorry, I missed to mention that getmecab.com claims to provide a hatchback to go from Kargil to Srinagar.

Yes, you will get it between Kargil and Srinagar

Thanks, that’s great relief. 🙂

Me & my group had a great time in Ladakh (May 26 to June 2). Thanks to this site of yours, I had good info about everything. :). We experienced almost everything….snowfall, landslide, heavy rains in sand dunes, traffic jams , temperatures upto -5 degree celsius (at Pengong Lake), good food, rough & tough road travel, scenic beauty, taste of real mountain fresh water ..etc etc. 🙂 A thing I must mention for others — Only carry the Postpaid SIM of Airtel, BSNL or MTNL. The Jio works only in 30-40% of the area. Vodafone doesn’t work at all.

Have your ever in recent years hired an innova at leh for Nubra n Pangong without using any influence?

I never had to hire a cab in Leh actually

Someone recently called you about leh and when he discussed the taxi fare which I guess was around rs 8000 for Nubra n Turtuk, you replied u can hire a flight with that amount. So was curious to ask u the charges

It will depend on how many days you are hiring the taxi for. If you just want a cab for 3 days from Leh for Nubra and Turtuk, it will cost you between Rs 10000 to Rs. 15000, depending on the time of your travel

Means 8000 are genuine charges for a 3 day trip to Nubra n Turtuk. By saying u can hire a flight with amount doesn’t justify your last comment. We all learn from you, we all respect you and we all xpct healthy answers from you

Bhai I do not know which comment you are referring to. It is possible that there were flights available to Leh for Rs. 8000 at the time when I made that comment. I did fly in and out of Leh in 2021 for Rs. 9500 just because the flight rates were low at that time and I was lucky to get a return ticket for that amount.

I did book a Vistara flight from Mumbai to Leh for rs. 85000. 🙂 I’m flying later this week.

All the best for your trip. Have fun.

It was a type of Rs. 85000 for my flight ticket. Please read it as Rs. 8500/- 🙂

Haha …. for a minute I thought, “Wow, he REALLY wants to go to Ladakh”

All the best for your trip Bhai

Nice Blog…. This is really amazing. Great information about Leh Ladakh.

do we get wifi in leh?

Yes, wi-fi is available in Leh

Due to your complete guide on leh, we successfully conducted our self planned tour of Ladakh in June-23. Thanks a lot.

Thank you Rajesh

Your guidance help us to enjoy Ladah last month.

It is urgent …as leh has made 2 days stay compulosry to stay in leh ..after landing can i travel to kargil for 1 days and return next day and stay next day in leh… Can this be done as per goverment rules and my stay for 2days will be done..

Yes you can

I came across your blog today while planning my trip to Ladakh, and thought of writing to you. I’m travelling to Ladakh with my parents from 13-24 June. Was planning to visit Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Kargil. We’ll be taking flights on the Delhi-Leh route for both onward and return journeys. Could you please help us in deciding on an itinerary for this trip? I’d also dropped you a message on Instagram, but wasn’t sure if you’d check it.

Your blog’s been super helpful in planning the trip so far, so even if you can’t reply to this, just wanted to thank you for all the content you’ve put up 🙂

Thank you, Prateek. I believe I have answered all your questions on Instagram. Let me know if you need any other help.

Hello Vargis, I have gone through your many blogs and based on that kind of finalised below itinerary. I am planning to visit Leh in mid May 2022 along with parents ( ~70 years age), tentative itinerary: Day1 – Bangalore to Srinagar –> Stay at Srinagar Day2 – Srinagar to Kargil ( on the way Sonmarg, Baltal & Drass) –> Stay at Kargil Day3 – kargil to Leh ( On the way Alchi, magnetic hill ) –> Stay at Leh Day4 – Leh local sight seeing & permits for other places –> Stay at Leh Day5: Activities at Leh –> Stay at Leh Day6 – Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardungla pass –> Stay at Nubra valley (Hunder) Day7 – Nubra valley to Pangong Tso –> stay at Pangong Tso tents Day8 – Pangong Tso to Leh via Chang la–> Stay at Leh Day9- Leh to Tso moiri –> stay at Korzok village Day10 – Tso Moiri to Sarchu –> Stay to Sarchu Day11 – Sarchu to Manali –> Stay at Manali Day12 – Manali to Chandigarh –> Stay at Chandigarh Day13 – Chandigarh to Bangalore Could you please suggest if Day7 and Day9 can be done with parents due to AMS.. for Day9, is there a suggestion to come down yo low altitude place? additionally due to AMS , shall we skip Say9? Any kind of advise will be helpful .. This itinerary is made after going through your blogs .. Best Regards, Nusrat

Hello Vargis, I am planning to visit Leh in mid May 2022 along with parents ( ~70 years age), tentative itinerary: Day1 – Bangalore to Srinagar –> Stay at Srinagar Day2 – Srinagar to Kargil ( on the way Sonmarg, Baltal & Drass) –> Stay at Kargil Day3 – kargil to Leh ( On the way Alchi, magnetic hill ) –> Stay at Leh Day4 – Leh local sight seeing & permits for other places –> Stay at Leh Day5: Activities at Leh –> Stay at Leh Day6 – Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardungla pass –> Stay at Nubra valley (Hunder) Day7 – Nubra valley to Pangong Tso –> stay at Pangong Tso tents Day8 – Pangong Tso to Leh via Chang la–> Stay at Leh Day9- Leh to Tso moiri –> stay at Korzok village Day10 – Tso Moiri to Sarchu –> Stay to Sarchu Day11 – Sarchu to Manali –> Stay at Manali Day12 – Manali to Chandigarh –> Stay at Chandigarh Day13 – Chandigarh to Bangalore Could you please suggest if Day7 and Day9 can be done with parents due to AMS.. for Day9, is there a suggestion to come down yo low altitude place? additionally due to AMS , shall we skip Say9? Any kind of advise will be helpful .. This itinerary is made after going through your blogs .. Best Regards, Nusrat

Hello Vargis, I am planning to visit Leh in May 2022 along with parents ( ~70 years age), tentative itinerary: Day1 – Bangalore to Srinagar –> Stay at Srinagar Day2 – Srinagar to Kargil ( on the way Sonmarg, Baltal & Drass) –> Stay at Kargil Day3 – kargil to Leh ( On the way Alchi, magnetic hill ) –> Stay at Leh Day4 – Leh local sight seeing & permits for other places –> Stay at Leh Day5: Activities at Leh –> Stay at Leh Day6 – Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardungla pass –> Stay at Nubra valley (Hunder) Day7 – Nubra valley to Pangong Tso –> stay at Pangong Tso tents Day8 – Pangong Tso to Leh via Chang la–> Stay at Leh Day9- Leh to Tso moiri –> stay at Korzok village Day10 – Tso Moiri to Sarchu –> Stay to Sarchu Day11 – Sarchu to Manali –> Stay at Manali Day12 – Manali to Chandigarh –> Stay at Chandigarh Day13 – Chandigarh to Bangalore Could you please suggest if Day7 and Day9 can be done with parents due to AMS.. for Day9, is there a suggestion to come down yo low altitude place? Any kind of advise will be helpful .. This itinerary is made after going through your blogs .. Best Regards, Nusrat

Very informative article people who want to visit Ladakh valley, thanks for sharing this information.

Hi Vargis, We are planning for a road trip to Ladakh in first week Sept 2021. Between 7th Sept to 16th we are in or around Leh. Would be interested to participate if any Monastery having any festival during this time so that we can have glimpse of it. Please let me know

Hi Alok – Ladakh festival is held in Leh in September but I am not sure if it will happen this year due to COVID. Take a look at this post please

https://vargiskhan.com/log/festivals-of-ladakh/

I really enjoyed reading your post. This is a very nice article for traveling and It was an amazing blog I really like it, all pics are very beautiful. Thanks for sharing this article. search “bobadventures” to visit us

Great blog post. Nicely written.. really enjoyed it a lot. You have covered almost every thing one need to know before visiting ladakh. And wonderfully described all the famous tourist places of ladakh. Thanks ladakh.club

Asalam alikum vargis bhai Mujhe yeh maloom karna hai .agar hum Rt pcr report le kar aye delhi se. Kya phir bh humara corana test hoga leh ya ladakh me. Ple Please guide kar dejye app

Walaikum Salam Saad Bhai – Nahi agar aap RTPCR saath leke aate ho toh test nahi hoga

I want to go to Manali to ladakh in Jan 2023 after 3 months from now, and as roads are closed i will have to book a flight to get in and out of ladakh so can I know the nearest airport from which i should book my flight so that it becomes cheap for me.. please help

There is an airport in Leh itself if that is what you meant to ask. You can book a direct flight from Delhi to Leh

Hello. I am from kolKolkata. I want to visit ladakh next year . recently I heard that Siachen base camp is open for tourists from October ’19. So please inform me from where I can get my permit to go there ?

Hello Vargis, will it be possible to cover entire Ladakh circuit stretching from turtuk to hanle to the lakes and entire Spiti circuit from Mumbai within 30 days including buffer days?

Hi this is Sarojit Dutta from Kolkata. First of all I am sending you our vijaya greetings. Inspired by your writing we are planning to visit Leh and surroundings in the last week of May 23. We are 18 people altogether junior most is 8 years and senior most is 75 years old. We are planning to follow your Srinagar to Srinagar 12 days itinerary. Our question is if it possible to make it a 9 or 10 days itinerary? And what kind of vehicles are available there for 18 people? We hope to get your advice on this matter. Whether we will have change the itinerary or not.? Please help and oblige. Thanks.

Our plan is to go Kargil,Leh,Turtuk,Panamik,Pangon lake,Hanle,Tso Morri Batalik and back to Srinagar.

Thanks for your reply. Actually we are following your Srinagar to Leh trip. On day 1 Srinagar to Kargil. Day2 Kargil to Leh. Day 3 Leh. Day 4 Leh to Turtuk. Day 5 Turtuk to Panamik. Day 6 Panamik to Pangon lake. Day 7 Pangon to Hanle. Day 8 Hanle to Tso Morri. Day 9 Tso Morri to Leh. Day 10 Leh to Batalik. Day 11 Batalik to Srinagar. After going through your article we made this itinerary. Our question is whether we can make this little shorter or it’s perfect? Again I make it a point that we are a group of seniors and junior members. Please advise us about the itinerary and about vehicles availability there. Thanks again

Hi Sarojit – 9 to 10 days from where? Kolkata? I am guessing you will be flying to Srinagar?

[…] Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide […]

[…] Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide […]

Thanks vargis for sharing such valuable content. You are doing great job .Pictures are spectacular. Also visit my site to related to travel and other stuff . Thanks

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Hello Bro, Very fast hearty thank you for so detail blog. I am planning to go leh with my gf on bike trip and want to do self camping. Can you please suggest what are the precision need to take and is it safe do self camp with a Girl ?

Dear VargisKhan, I was planning to go on a Road Trip via Bike this year 2020 to Ladakh from Delhi to Kargil via Leh, since the COVID-19 situation is not yet back to normal condition, I would like you to suggest me with appropriate solutions/suggestions. As I am a solo traveller, so please suggest.

1. Would it be safe to travel to Ladakh during year 2020 2. If yes which month would be more likely to travel. 3. Weather we would be able to avail Inner line permits. 4. If yes, how many locations we can cover. 5. What would the better suggestion on the stay and food.

Since I have been planning this trip since last 3 years and finally I plan to execute in this year, and unfortunately due to COVID-19, I’m bit confused.

Could be please suggest me.

Regards, Harish Kumar

Hi Vargis, This blog is amazing. It provides me all the information about traveling to Leh Ladakh. I was looking for a guide like this for a very long time. Now, I can plan my trip to Leh Ladakh without worrying and forgetting anything. Thank you very much for this amazing blog.

My brother and me are planning 5-6 days trip to leh- ladakh in July month. We are planning Leh ( 2D and stay), Nubra Valley ( 1 stay) , Pangong lake (1 Stay).

it is costing about 20k – 25k per person if we plan with tourist agencies.

If we plan by own, as we are only 2 of us, renting taxi or cab can not be affordable for us. We are planning to cover nearby spots (Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara etc) on bike and nubra valley and pangong lake by public transport. But as you mention in your blog that public transport is very rare and tedious.

So can you please suggest if we go with travel agencies is feasible or planned by own and how can we plan?

Hi Amit – If you are going in peak tourist season, public transport will not be hard to find. Shared cabs will be easy to get actually. When are you going?

SALAMWALEKUM BHAI FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR PROVIDING SUCH A DETAILED INFORMATION

I AM PLANNING TO LEH FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, EVEN I BOOKED MY TICKETS FOR RAIPUR TO DELHI ON 9TH JUNE AND RETURN ON 27TH JUNE FIRST I WANT TO KNOW THAT THIS YEAR I GET TO HEARED DAT ROADS MIGHT OPEN IN MID JUNE, IS DAT TRUE? IS I HAVE TO RESHEDULE MY TICKETS?

Walaikum As Salam Bhai – Nahi it will be all open by May end. You will not need to reschedule.

Hello.. have been going through your blog for quite a while and you have done a great job here. we are planning a trip to leh from Delhi in the last week of April starting from 25th April Saturday early morning and return by 3rd of may sundy evening. We have XUV500 manual front wheel drive, total 5 members and 9 days with use so is this trip possible?? what should be the best route?? where should we talk halts in this route?? what would be the total cost?? thank you

You cannot do it in April Harry unless you are ready to throw it at least 3-4 days more.

Ok.. thank you for the info virgis.

you are welcome brother !!!

Hi, I plan a bike trip from Srinagar to Leh Ladakh on June 2020. So could you please suggest which tour agency will be best for the same. I want to join a group and hire bike too.

I am sorry but I have never worked with any tour agencies.

Hi, I am planning to visit Leh in 29 dec 2019. Kindly advice if its ok I travel in flight

As long as you do not have a medical condition and allow time for your body to acclimatize when you reach there, yes.

Hi, I am planning to visit Leh in 2nd week of June 2020. Kindly advice if its ok I travel in Hyundai i20. Srinagar – Leh – Numbra Valley – Pangong – Pang – Kaza – Sarahan – Shimla – Delhi 2 adults and 1 child of 10 years Is this circuit doable in Hyundai i20 petrol.

Yes you can. Just be a bit careful. I have done Ladakh in a Maruti Swift which has the same ground clearance as i20

Hi, I am planning to visit Leh in 2nd week of June. Kindly advice if its ok I travel in Hyundai i20. Srinagar – Leh – Numbra Valley – Pangong – Pang – Kaza – Sarahan – Shimla – Delhi 2 adults and 1 child of 10 years Is this circuit doable in Hyundai i20 petrol.

[…] Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh […]

Will u apart of it . i m planning on *New* *Year* *2020* Hey. I ‘m Rohan. basically from Delhi based adventurer who were very much enthusiasm in various adventurious activities such as biking trekking and exploring . Since, last year I had done many stunning activities in ownself such as … 1. Solo Camping in kodai jungle 2. Continuous Single-day Riding from Delhi to Badrinath in a peak Monsoon 3. Winter Riding in Lahul & Spiti on Adhoc Conditions 4. Also had cover Various trek like valley of flower & Hemkund Yatra or much more…. while uncertainly I had meet up with an accident on May month as when way up to leh ladakh with bike. this “ll not come to end my adventurous activity. Now after 5 month of recovery – I ‘m again starting from beginning .. so as of now, These coming winter *** I *am* going to start an expedition of *stok* *kangri* trekkable mountain in _ladakh_ on winter seasion and this is going to be really adventurous. Although all trip planning are yet to complete and still gathering the essentials for these expedition . Probably, Stok kangri unofficially closed while on winter’s so beginning *January* would be the perfect i guess for trekking. Hence if someone interested to be apart of these *journey* or become *member* and want to give any *suggestion* . Please do contact – *8376072108* (** _what’s_ _app_ **)

All the best Rohan !!!

Thanks.. vargis khan 🙂 Do u have any suggestion for me ***on stok kangri expedition..? These would be mine 1st winter solo expedition if someone not joins me.

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Hi Sir, Your information is very helpful. Sir, I am planning to go ladakh in July by next year. My itinerary is given below:

Day 01: ARRIVAL LEH.

Day 02: LEH LOCAL TRIP After breakfast drive for local trip (Hemis, Thiksey, Shey palace, Shanti stupa Leh palace, Hall of fame & Sptiuk)

Day 03: LEH TO LAMAYURU AND BACK After breakfast drive for Lamayuru, On the way visit Sptiuk, Hall of fame, Magnetic hill, Confluence and Moon land.

Day 04: LEH – TURTUK After breakfast drive to Nubra Valley via Khardungla (highest motor able road in the world, 18,380ft). Night stay at Turtuk village.

Day 05: TURTUK – HUNDAR After breakfast drive to Hundar village, visit Diskit Gompa on the way.

Day 06: HUNDAR – PANGONG LAKE via Shyok Road. After breakfast drive to Pangong Lake through Shyok river.

Day 07: PANGONG-TSOMORIRI. After breakfast drive to Tsomoriri via Chusal and Nyuma.

Day 08: TSOMORIRI TO KEYLONG. After breakfast drive to Keylong via Tso-kar on the way visit Tso-kar and Pang.

Day 09: KEYLONG TO MANALI. In the morning leave drive to Manali. In the evening enjoy Manali Mall.

Day 10: MANALI DEPARTURE

Sir, now my questions are: 1. Is this itinerary is good to do in July next year? 2. Is this route good or I should go by road from manali and return by flight? 3. Is it ok to be there in July with 2 years child? 4. How will be the weather there in July?

Thanks in advance Sir.

Hi Kaushik,

1. Yes 2. Either way is good. Same thing. 3. Please see this post.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/traveling-to-ladakh-with-children/

4. Pleasant during day, moderately cold during night.

Hello sir, we are 5 person planning to ladakh in june 2020

DAY 1- departure from Vadodara at 1:35pm overnight train journey

DAY 2-arrival at pathankot junction at 12:40 pm departure for manali Solang valley reached at 11:00pm

DAY 3-solang valley manali to jispa ( 6 hours drive)

DAY 4-Jispa to leh(10 to 11 hours journey)

DAY 5-Leh (half day rest/ilp and half day leh local sight seeing

DAY 6-leh to nubra valley via khardugla pass(6 to 7 hours drive)

DAY 7-nubra valley to pangong lake vai agham shyok river route(6 to 8 hours)

DAY 8- Pangong lake via pang village(7 to 8 hours)

DAY 9-pang village to manali(9 to 10 hours drive)

DAY 10-Manali to Chandigarh(10 hours)

DAY 11-chandigarh to Vadodara (overnight train journey)

DAY 12-arrival at Vadodara

My questions are 1)what are approximate price of taxi for this manali to return manali whole journey 2)can is it double pangong lake to pang/sarchu in one day? 3)is this itinerary is good? 4)advise if any

Thank you in advance sir

Please reply sir

Are you planning to hire taxis for the entire trip because you will have to rent multiple. Your Manali taxi will not be allowed in Leh.

Hey Vargis, Thanks for the detailed guide! Planning a road trip to Ladakh with my friends and this will surely help me. Keep Blogging

Thanks Jatin Bhai for taking the time to drop a note.

thanks for sharing useful travel details for leh ladakh, but can you please suggest any of best travel agency in leh, we need local transport to visit. please help me

Please contact Rohit @ 9999622213 or 9910722252

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I am Planning to go to Ladakh in the third week of September. My Itinerary is

Day 1. Amritsar – Leh Flight (Via Delhi) – Only local sightseeing on day 1 Day 2. Leh – Diskit- Hunder Day 3. Hunder – Turtuk Day 4. Turtuk – Pangong Tso Day 5. Pangong Tso – Hanle Day 6. Hanle – Tso Morriri – Leh Day 7. Leh – Kargil Day 8. Kargil – Srinagar, Srinagar – Amritsar Flight

1. Would like to know if this is doable especially Day 6. 2. Please suggest if any other changes are required 3. Do I need to pre-book all the hotels or can it be done on the spot. 4. Will I get a shared taxi for the entire trip?

My travelling plan 1 sep to 7 sep 19. Is it safe as all state facing heavy rains & recently landslide in manali. & also advise Nubra to Pangong(Via Shyok river) it will be safe or not ?

Hard to predict, it is not safe right now to go via Manali. Nubra and Pangong will be OK.

hello vargis, Earlier we had planned a vacation to visit leh via Srinagar from Delhi on 30 august 2019.we have leaves for aroumd 19 days. Now we are re-planning the route to LEH via Manali on our own motorcycles and return from leh via spiti valley to Shimla and then Delhi. In the current scenario is it safe to travel to leh via manali.??? keep up the good job you are doing and praying for return of peace for the beautiful people of Kashmir. regards sourav nath

Hi Sourav, Ladakh and Manali route are safe, no worries there.

Thank you for the update

You are welcome !!!

Hello Vargis! Due to the current situation, the treks are cancelled. And thus, I’m left with to and fro flight tickets from Srinagar (on 22nd August and 30th August). Please do suggest me the best option to avail them as I’ll not get any thing if I cancel them from my side. Is it safe to visit Leh in those days? Will there be any transport facility? If so could you suggest me the itinerary. Thanks in advance.

Hi Srini – You should cancel your tickets for now, its curfew there. I am cancelling my tickets too for 30th Aug.

It seems cancellation penalty would be levied by the Airlines. If the Govt says no to tourists then why do these airlines don’t follow the guidelines. Really confused. Will you wait till the last minute or cancel the tickets?

They are giving a full refund only till 16th of August as of now so I haven’t cancelled yet. Will call the airline again in next couple of days to find out if the date has been extended. There is no point in going right now really. Nothing has happened because of the increased security but the real outcome will only be be visible after the curfew is relaxed. It is a security risk.

Hi, I’m planning to visit Leh-Ladakh on 17th August. (Delhi to leh via flight) . What is the latest situation there? Is it safe now? (I’m coming from Sri Lanka)

Ladakh is completely safe.

Hey Vargis…our journey is well planned(Confirm train tickets,Confirmed hotel bookings)but again the situation arised in Kashmir… Worried so much…

Called our hotel yesterday, they told me that it is better if you ignore kashmir route.But we are supposed to go by Srinagar to leh bus.Our journey is on October12 from Kolkata.

What to do now plss help.

Too early to say anything right now Sayak. Only the coming weeks will tell if Srinagar will be safer in October or not. My own trip is at stake. All we can do right now is wait and observe.

Yes Vargis same situation going on our mind…just to wait and observe..

Patience…Patience…Patience…

Hope everything goes well.

Hello Vargis, because I am italian I dont know how is the real situation in India so I want to ask you how is safe to visit Ladakh in august with the current sitation in kashmir- Thanks a lot. Pietro

Hard to say anything as of now Pietro. Only time will tell how the people react and the situation develops. Give it a few more days, a week at least and then decide whether to continue or cancel

What do you think of current situation in Jammu Kashmir? I have booked a flight from Srinagar- Mumbai on 17th August? I am flying in to Leh on 7th August.

Should we cancel our plan or should we avoid Srinagar and return via Manali to Mumbai.

Please advise, Very confused what to do

Can you please give your contact number on my email address?

Wait for next few days and see how the situation develops before you decide on what to do. If the situation in Kashmir remains tense then you should return via Manali.

Hi Deepali , were you able to return from leh to srinagar and as a result take the flight from srinagar? please let me know as i am planning to book tickets from srinagar to mumbai for 1st week of october

I am planning with my family. I want stay Package. Is it very difficult?

No it is not

Hi, we have booked nature nest camp in pangong for stay on 14th August with family. Will it be too cold at night ? Are there any good wooden or cemented structures where you can stay close to pangong lake where it will not be too cold ? Thanks

Yes it will be a bit cold but only if you step outside. The camps are all very warm inside. There are a few cottages as well but the inside environment will be the same as camps.

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The information is helpful, I also like to know if I take bike on rent from Delhi whether original rc is required. Because from Delhi they are not providing original RC BUT photocopy they will give

You will need the RC of course.

Hi Vargis, I have already booked the flight tickets to Leh and back. I am now looking for accommodation and local transportation. Spoke to a few hotels for complete tour package. It’s costing approx 70K minimum for 3 people. Is this a reasonably good rate? Hotels are cheaper if we book through online apps but in that case, how do we book transportation? Is it possible to find private taxis once we land in Leh? What would be the cost for 6/7day private taxi? Please suggest.

70k sounds a little much for accommodation for 3 people. Book it on your own Balaji. Shared taxis are easily available from Leh Bus stand itself. Fare depends on the destination and not duration really

I have two extra days as a solo traveler before joining a group (first week of September). Is it advisable to go to Tso Moriri on Day 2 and Day 3 from Leh, (after rest on Day 1), as the group tour is not covering Tso Moriri? First time to Ladakh (flying in to Leh). Would one day rest in Leh be enough to acclimatize to Tso Moriri altitude?

Thanks, Paritosh.

Hi Paritosh,

Yes that would be a good idea but make that call once you are there in Leh. Rest on Day 1 and if you feel better, go to Moriri on Day 2. If you felt symptoms of AMS on Day 2 as well in the morning, best would be to rest in Leh as well because going to Moriri will just make the situation worse.

Very good post!!

It’s looking nice and containing good information. Thanks for sharing this post.

Thanks for taking the time to drop a note Varun

Dear Vargis, do I need to book from here the guesthouses in Ladakh in the second half of August? Thanks a lot from Rome Pietro

Hi Pietro – No you will find accommodation on the spot as well

Hi Vargis. We are Roadwanderers_wanderislife. We are couple riders. have planned a trip to leh in July next month from Delhi to Leh via srinagar following the route you recommended above. Due to Time constraint we are flying back to Delhi on 28th July, Sunday. What are the possible options of shipping the bikes from Leh to Delhi?

There are a few travel agencies in Leh that can do it for you. Based on a friend’s experience from last year,

1. It will be a costly affair 2. He got his bike back almost after a month and a half 3. There were damages to the bike

Hi vargis, Your blog is extremely useful.

I will be visiting leh for 8 days and 9 nights which includes leh, nubra, pangong and tsomoriri. Is there anyway I can include either chanthang national park or hemis national park. Also is it worth it ?

Hi dear Vargis, I am an italian man and I am planning to go to Ladakh next august. Thanks a lot for your precious information. I want to ask you how many ways I have to come back to manali from Leh by road (I think to go to Leh by plane and comingback by car). Can I take a shared taxi or a shared jeep? Thanks. You are great

Thank you for your kind words. You can come from Leh to Manali by Bus, private taxi, shared taxi or rented motorcycle.

Thanks for your preciuos anwer. My last question: because of I will go alone, do you think it is possible/easy to find a seat in a private taxi going back to Manali? I mean is it easy and common to share a private taxi with other tourists?

Thanks a lot Pietro

Yes, you will easily find a seat.

Hi Vargis, I would say….if one day in this summer the road to Manali will be opened because of I ve just read your last article….snow in June!!! 🙂 thanks a lot. cheers. Pietro

Hi Petro – As of now the estimate is that it will open by June 10th 🙂

Hi, we are planning to go to Leh by September by flight and will reach by 10 am. Can we plan for Nubra valley on Day 2 after taking rest on day 1?

Yes you can but you will have to arrange permits before it.

That we will try to arrange. Thanks bro.

Sorry Vargis for my questions but I am planning my solo trip and I have to take advantage of your wisdom about travelling in Ladakh. I have a doubt….because of I have the flight back to Italy the day 3 of september and the second half of august is monsoon time in India: do you suggest to come back from Leh to Manali – Delhi by plane or by car? Do you think is safer by plane? I only dont want to regret not to make that fantastic road….Any suggestion? Thanks a lot Pietro

I want to share my one concern with all of u. Actually Me & Mine 3 friends had being preparing for Ladakh circuit on 7th of June, 2019 (Night) with 2 Bikes, since from one month ago. But, Uncertainty one of our friend had some unconditional circumstances at home so he won’t join us for trip.

All of us had earlier done Lahul & Spiti on early October winter altogether & gather mesmerising experience.

We also had done lots of Biking & Trekking trails last year –

Badrinath Riding (single day) Solo Camping at kodai jungle & Valley of Flower Trekking & Also Explore the Corbett National park trails and many more….

But, Today when there is only 1 week left for 7th June, 2019 .. We have no choice left because 3 people with 1 bike make no worth.

Hence, still as a hope i have posted my query to this page that if someone planning or wants to go in Ladakh on 7th June, 2019 . Please join us & take our one friends with him so that Dreams won’t die of our third friend.

My Name is Rohan Nahar from Delhi wish to complete the Ladakh circuit on 7th June,2019 via Srinagar to Leh to Manali within 10-12 days. Do Make Call or what’s app on this Number – 8376072108 to join. Mail – [email protected]

Jai Hind . Keep Safe . Make Enjoy!

We are planning a Road trip to Ladakh. Can you please suggest a way to visit Sasoma and / or Murgo? Thanks in advance!!! Cheers!

Hi Vargis, Our plan to Chandigarh -jammu-srinagar-kargil-leh from 25th May to 05 June. Now news is Srinagar National Highway Closed Due to Landslide. please suggest : 1. Any alternate route 2. should be cancel or delay the trip 3. Is this clear by tomorrow, any update.

Thanks in advance, Amit Thakur

First of all, hats off to your painstaking efforts to make all this knowledge available to the public!

I plan to visit Ladakh in the first week of September (flying in to Leh, and have 7 full days excluding the travel days). Solo traveler, but don’t want to be too adventurous. So how feasible is to tie up with some travel agency or hotel in Leh, so that they can add me to an existing group after I arrive in Leh? Or should I try to arrange everything beforehand?

I don’t want to go running around for accommodation or transport options everywhere but I don’t want to book a full package from Delhi/Mumbai. I am ok with a little above budget travel, but not too exorbitant. My itinerary is flexible (you can assume the usual places for first timers–Leh, Nubra valley, Pangong, maybe Tso Moriri).

Any tips would be helpful.

Hi Paritosh – It all depends on how you are planning to move around in Leh. Planning on your own will cost you less than joining some tour group.

But getting shared rides and accommodation on my own would be easy? I mean ok not to plan it all ahead months in advance? I don’t want to reach Leh and then find out that the only option I have is to hire a private taxi all for myself 🙂

Dear Paritosh. I stayed in a Hostel named Zostel (Shaheen Guest House) Very reasonabley priced and u can share taxi ride pillion with other guests staying there. There is a notice board where u can requeast for a trip or offer shared trips. Works well in good season.

The articles you have written are extremely helpful for all the travelers out there who wish to visit Leh, this almost looks like Wikipedia. 🙂

I am looking for some inputs from your end for my Manali-> Leh–> Srinagar adventure and its going to be a solo. Any tips from you on this is highly appreciated.

Below is my plan.

28th June : Bangalore to Delhi via flight and board evening bus to Manali. 29th June : Explore Manali 30th June : Manali to leh via Keylong 1st July : Reach Leh and explore Leh 2nd July : Leh to Nubra Valley 3rd July : Nubra to Leh 4th July : Leh to Pangong Tso 5th July : Pangong Tso to Leh 6th July : Explore Leh 7th July : Leh to Sriningar 8th July : Reach Srinagar in the morning and take flight in the afternoon to Bangalore.

Note : I am on a budget trip and mostly want to utilize only public bus and choose shared taxi only in worst case. I often go on high altitude mountain treks so not much issue on mountain sickness.

Thanks in advance. Vinutha

Hi Vinutha – Thank you for your kind words. Your itinerary looks good and doable.

Hello sir Kindly help me about m visiting to ladhak with my wife

9th July – reaching Leh 

10night – nubra

11- pangong 

12 – Leh ( or I should visit some other place and from there can move to Kargil )

13- Kargil 

14- Srinagar hotel drop ( Srinagar hotel not needed in package ) 

6 days 5 nights 

Couple Is it ok , should I go to somewhere else rather then coming back to Leh on 12 th. From there I can move to Kargil . Do u have something to say about Srinagar boat houses to stay over night

Kindly reply my khan

Bro.. I going to ladhak leh via jammu Srinagar Kargil leh manali chandigarh. In btw August 24th to sep3.. Is it a good time to visit

Yes this is a good time to go Sandeep. But make the final call in August only after checking how the Monsoon trends this year.

Bhai ji namaskar,

Hum 3log(family) 12june ko lucknow se nikalenge via jammu,srinagar. Hum leh ladakh aur spiti ek sath karna chahte hai Humne jo circuit socha hai wo aapko day by day bata du.(ambala,patnitop,sonmarg,leh,siachin base camp,dikshit,meerak,hanley,tsomoriri,upshi,keylong,kaza,chandigarh,delhi,lucknow.) Mere paas nexon petrol hai aur main har baat ke liye prepare rehna chahta hu kyuki mere alawa meri family me dono ladies hai(age-36&38). So agar aap humari trip plan karne me humari help kare to aapke aabhari rahenge. Budget hotels,medication,reserve fuel,aur jo kuch bhi hume sath carry karna chahiye jo hume nahi pata hota aur bure waqt me jarurat pad sakti ho. Is pure circuit ko kaise plan kare.? Kab kaha ruke aur kis route ko follow kare.? Jaise hum leh se khardungla ho ke siachin base camp ja ke dikshit ya huntar rukna chahte hai aur next day agham shyok ho ke panggong jana chahte hai. Meerak isliye rukna socha kyuki pata chala waha budget stay mil jayega jabki aur jagah per kaafi mehnga hai. Hum night stay under 800-1000 me karna chahte hai. Aur jo aapse advice ho jaye wo us hisaab se taiyari kar lenge.

Ye trip humari family ka sapna hai bhaiji aur aapse behtar guide hume nahi mil sakta so please humari is trip ko achchi yaado wali trip banane me humari help kare. Hume aapke guidence ka intzaar rahega

Kitne din ke liye trip plan kar rahe ho aap?

15-18din ke liye

Bhaiji i am still waiting

Bhaiji namaskar,

Aaj permit apply kar raha tha so confuse ho gaya kyuki usme agham shyok ho ke pangong jane ka koi route permit nahi show ho raha hai Ek option me khardungla warshi tkyashi and 2nd option me karu changla durbuk meerak hai So kaise kya kiya jayega.?

Namaskar Pushkar Bhai – Shyok road ka alag se koi permit nahi hota. Aapko Nubra Valley aur Pangong ke hi permits hain. Shyok road ke liye bhi vahi chal jaayenge. Vaise online permit na hi ho. Vahan jakar on the spot hi le lena kyunki stamp karane ke liye office toh aapko jana hi padega.

Thanks bhai

Bhai what about urination facility in arround leh and ladakh? Actually bhai jis tarah hume paani pite rehna hai to jahir hai ki washroom jana hi padega and hum logo ko to utni problem nahi hai but ladies ke liye to ye problem hi hai raaste me travel karte time.? So tell me on route facelities.(example – leh khardungla to nubra.

Koi intezaam nahi hai as such … beech beech mein chhote dhaabe vagerah aate rehte hain, vahan dekh sakte ho

Bhai humne aapse kaha tha ki 9ko nikalenge so according to that 13ko leh me honge aur fir nubra(warshi,turtuk) aur pangong(via agham syok) ke baad hum leh se keylong aur waha se kaza jayenge. Bhai ab tak koi road status (open or close) nahi pata chala hai aapke paas koi update hai to please hume bataiye ya hum kaha se pata kar sakte hai.? 1. Leh-keylong 2. Keylong-kaza

Pushar Bhai 10 tareekh tak khulne ki ummeed hai is waqt baaki aage toh sab BRO par depend kar sakta hai. Pakki confirmed date koi hai hi nahi.

Bhai main akela hi meri nexon drive karne wala hu pura circuit me koi suggetions.? Aur bhai Maine tyre puncture kit , towing rope, oxygen can, tyre inflator, pressure gauge, nylon rope (in case skid anywhere so make snow chain), camphor, chocolates, glucose, electrol, dryfruits, diamox, medical kit with ibrufen ye prepare kar liya hai so anything else which i forgot.?

Bhai any suggetions.?

Nahi Bhai .. kaafi hai. Jerry Cans bhi rakh lo ek do 5 ya 10 liters wali spare fuel carry karne ke liye.

Gaadi mein heater use mat karna drive karte hue. Band gaadi mein heater chalega toh vahan mountain sickness ho sakti hai. Sheesha halka khula rakh kar hi chalana.

Vargis Bhai Thanks alot for the information. Hoping to meet you somewhere amidst beautiful mountains of ladakh. Will be eagerly waitng to share my enthralling experience with you. Have a gud life ahead.

You are welcome Pushkar Bhai. It will be a pleasure to meet you sometime. I was actually going to ask you that myself, that do let me know how your trip went after you return.

Hi mr. Vargis, kindly let me know how and from where can I get permit for UMLING LA.

Hi Vatsal – Umling La is still off limits for tourists

Thanks a lot Mr. Vargis

Hi, Vargis. Is it true that solo foreigners are barred from taking public transportation e.g. public bus, shared taxi, etc.? Aside from permit, bike rental and sensitive zone, is there any other restriction for foreigners to travel solo in this region?

No such restriction at all. The only restriction is accessibility to some close to border areas deemed as unsafe for foreign nationals

Hi All, There are enough accomm available in and around Pangong Lake. Some camps have been demolished but not all. I stayed in one yesterday and there were other biker groups. Roughly 100 pax can stay frm what i noticed. This is right nxt to lake. And more accomm available in Spangmik.

Thanks Premjit for sharing that information

Superb article Vargisji. We are travelling to Leh via Srinagar on 20th May. Considering the extended winter season. Will the road to Leh be opened till then. Also, we will be halting first day at sonamarg. Second at kargil. Third and fourth at leh. Then one night halt at nubra and one at pangong. And then back to Leh. Is the schedule.

Hopefully we will be able to get over the AMS.

Also was curious to know if we get any shops / villages or hotels in between the road trips. Or is it hours of journey before you see any faces.

Hello Rajesh Ji, Thank you for your appreciating words.

1. Road – Yes it will be open by 20th May 2. Schedule – Yes it is OK and I am assuming that you are traveling by your own vehicle? 3. Yes, since you are traveling at a relaxed pace, you will be able to get over AMS 4. There are plenty of shops in between

Great.. thanks Vargisji.. thanks for the reply. Keep posting about this beautiful place.

Yes we will have a hired SUV for the entire journey. Any idea when the sunrise and sunset takes place around in May 20. Heard that it rises early and the trip would be better if we start early and end early in the evening.

What actually we can eat /drink to cope up with high altitude and the cold weather. We are Jains so have restrictions in food eating.

Yes, starting early in the day is always the best thing to ensure that you are reaching your destination well in time. For AMS, please take a look at the post below. Nothing specific that yuo need to eat really.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/dealing-acute-mountain-sickness-ladakh/

Any updates on Srinagar leh highway opening date?

Also, camping at pangong as per your blog is banned. So where can we stay in case we need to spend a night nearby the river..

Also, any idea about the temperature difference likely in next one month. Currently they are hovering in the single digit.. can they touch double digit in next one month or so..

Srinagar Leh highway – May 1st Camping at Pangong – It was banned earlier but as per the latest update, it will probably get allowed again at some distance from the lake Temperature – Days will be pleasantly warm but nights will be very cold

Updates on Camping in Pangong please Vargis ji.. Also how is the route from Nubra to Pangong.. is it open and safe?

There are still a few camp sites operating at a little distance from the lake Rajesh Ji.

Camping at Pangong lake has been stopped by the Leh administration.

There are camps operating in Pangong now. At a distance from Lake. Not in the lake.

Thanks Premjit

I must thank you Vargis I had completed my trip between 23rd April and 1st May. Road conditions throughout is as expected. Leh – Fotu La good roads except broken stretches on Lamayuru – Fotu La. Snow on stretches reaching and leaving Khardung La. Generally good roads around Nubra. Diskit to Pangong has some broken stretches. 2 or 3 stream crossings. All manageable. Changla Pass was the toughest part. Lot of snow and traffic jams caused by inexperienced drivers/riders (me included) 🙂 Roads are bad descending Chang La towards Karu. Becomes really good nearing Karu till Ladakh.

An extraordinary article for the general population who need to head out to Ladakh… Making a trip to Ladakh has dependably been in my container list… This will unquestionably help as a kind of perspective

Thank you for the appreciating note !!!

Hi I am planning for a Leh trip in June second week. Reaching Leh by Delhi Manali Leh bus.Next day to visit Pangong Tso and return Leh by shared taxi. We 8 people are coming. So if we hire one taxi what would be estimate? and any other places can be covered on the way tovisit on the same day? Similarly direct bus to Srinagar will be available from Leh that time? Details please

Hi Vargis, planning first visit to Leh with my wife. Please can you help in listing down the must visit places nearby. Plan is for 6-7 days. Will plan an itinerary based on your inputs.

The trip is planned in mid of May from Bangalore. And budget is 20k per person. Is it best to have a package trip or plan our own itinerary?

These are the places in my mind(may be not in order) 1. leh 2. kargil 3. khardungla 4. nubra valley – same as visit to diskit? 5. pangong 6. tso moriri

Also needed to know the camping options in the visited places to further places if it saves time.

Also, please let me know the cheapest and fastest way to Leh from Bangalore.

5night 6 days Per Person Rs 18000 (excluding GST) Inclutions Taxi for 5 days 6th day drop at Airport or bus stand Accommodation at 3* hotel reenam or similar Lunch and dinner Local sightseeing Note : Camping has been stopped by Leh administration. Although visit is possible

Day-1 : Leh local Sightseeing Stay at hotel reenam: 2 night Visit to Spituk Monastery, Magnetic hill, Sangam of Zangakar & Indus river, military Hall of Fame. Afternoon visit to Shanti Stupa (Japanes monastery), Leh royal Palace. Evening at Leh market for shopping Overnight at Leh.

Day-3: Leh to Nubra Valley Stay at nubra organic retreat: 2 night Morning drive to Nubra Valley 125km crossing Khardongla Pass 18360 ft, the world highest motorable pass. At the top of Khardongla enjoy the nature beauty of snowcapped Himalayan mountains and feel the closeness to Siachen Glacier. Afternoon visit to Diskit and Hunder Monasteries and the white sand dunes. Take a Camel Safari on the double humped camels. Overnight at Nubra valley

Day-5: Nubra Valley to Tsomoriri Lake Stay at Tsomoriri lake view hotel or Tromoriri camp : 1 night

Hi Vargis, this blog is really informative. Great effort. i am planning for a trip in 1st part of this July along with another friend. Looking forward to start & end our trip of Leh-Ladakh from Amritsar. Wanted to know about renting bikes from there. Will it be good idea? As u had said few issues such as at Leh where we won’t be able to use other city rented bikes thr.

Hi Jijin – If you rent motorcycle from anywhere outside of Leh City, it can only be used to reach Leh. For visiting any other areas in Ladakh, you will have to rent another set of bikes from Leh and leave your Amritsar bikes parked at the hotel.

Thanks for the reply Vargis. Apart from that any other issues in renting bike from Amritsar? Do we get many options for of d bikes & rental companies there? Any suggestions from your end?

No, that is the only issue. I am sorry but I do not have any rental contacts in Amritsar..

Hey Vargis wanted to understand on the rental of bikes at Leh. To go to Nubra Valley, Pangang Tso, Tso Moriri, etc we have to hire the bike locally from Leh?? Or if we can connect these places together (without coming to Leh) and continue on our bike which we will rent from Amritsar.

That is correct. You cannot rent a bike and take it to anywhere in Ladakh. For sightseeing, you will have to rent a local bike in Leh

Hello dear.. Can you please suggest whether the bike tour packages offered for leh trip is worthy or not.. If yes that what should be the best price.. I and my husband are planning to do a Srinagar to leh to Manali trip on bike this summer.. Your valuable opinion would be most appreciated

Hello Sneha – It all depends on what the tour package includes but yes they can be a good choice if you do not want to ride solo. Hard to predict a price because it will depend on the package.

Thank you Vargis for such prompt reply

You are welcome Sneha !!!

Hii Vargis, I’m from Gujarat, booked the flights for Chandigarh round trip 1st june to 9th june. And I want to plan a tour to Leh. It would be so nice of you to help me plan out the itinerary for the same. I wish to visit Manali, Jispa, Leh, Nubra and Pangong. Thanks a lot.

I have prepared a rough layout. Please help me out with it. Thanks. 1st June – Arrive in Chandigarh Airport at 11:45 a.m. , Reach Manali by night. Night stay in manali 2nd June – Manali to Jispa 3rd June – Jispa to Leh 4th June – Sightseeing around Leh 5th June – Leh to Nubra (where should we slend overnight in Nubra?) 6th June – Nubra to Pangong (which route should we take?) 7th June – ??? 8th June – ??? to Manali, Departure from Manali to Chandigarh 9th June – Reach Chandigarh Airport before 1:30 pm

I’m confused what to do on 7th june? Please help!

Hi Rutul – First of all, how are you planning to travel after you have landed in Chandigarh and throughout the duration of your trip.

Thanks for replying Vargis. Actually We are a group of 7. From Chandigarh we will take a volvo bus till Manali. And then share taxi cab till Leh. Then we are planning to rent motorbikes around Leh. If we rent motorbikes from Leh to travel to Nubra and Pangong we will have to come back to Leh to return the bikes but I guess we do not have enough time to return back Leh. So if you can suggest any ideas!

Your itinerary looks Ok till Pangong. From Nubra to Pangong, you will reach via Shyok route. However, if you come back to Manali on Leh registered bike and left those there, you will have to pay about 10-15k more per bike over and above the rental. There is really no way around it. Either take it back to Leh or pay the money.

Yeah I am aware of that! So I guess we will have to opt for a car instead of bikes! But I want to know is that where should we plan to be on the 7th and 8th of june. I mean is there any place where we can have a hault(or spend a night) when traveling from Pangong to Manali?

And will the roads be open in may end-june beginning?

Yes the roads will be all open by then.

Yes you could opt for a taxi as well but know that it will cost you way more. Take an estimate of about 40k for Leh – Nubra – Pangong – Manali journey; could even be more. If you are OK with the price then it would be a good choice. From Pangong, come back to either Pang or Sarchu and stay there for the night. Next day, do Pang/Sarchu to Manali. If taxi is not within budget, then you would to add a day to your plan, go back to Leh from Pangong, drop the bikes and then either catch a bus for Manali; or board a shared taxi.

Since you explored ladakh area many times, I want to ask Can I go from Jispa – Zanskar Sumdo – Purne- Anmo – Padum on Motorcycle (specifically from Purne to Anmo ) What about road conditions, i want to go in summers. Waiting your reply Vargis Bhai….

Rohit Bhai the road connecting Jispa and Padum is not yet complete so no, you cannot take this road right now.

Thanks for replying

Hi, I have plan to ride Cgarh – Kargil – Ladakh and return via same route or via Rohtang between April 22 – May 1. Do u think it is doable wrt weather conditions?

Srinagar Leh route yes but not via Manali. That will not open at least until Mid May

Thank you. If i plan one side via Killar – Kistwar is it better doing onward journey or while returning? Or it doesnt matter 🙂

You mean take Killar Kishtwar route to exit on Manali Leh highway? Even that will not be possible before late May. Sach Pass opens sometimes in early June to be exact.

No instead of taking pathankot was thinking of doing via dalhousie – killar – kistwar – srinagar one way.

Same thing. From Dalhousie you will have to take the Sach Pass route via Bairagarh which won’t be open till late May or early June

I understand now. So if i want to experience the “cliffhanger” only option is to ride back and forth on the way back if time permits. Thank you for the clarification. Will update the road condition and details as i start the trip. Cheers.

Hi vargis, My trip is planned like hiring bike from Chandigarh and the rout is like Chandigarh – Jammu – Srinagar- kargil- leh- Pangong- manali – Chandigarh. Would spend some time to gulmarg and other places as well. I appanning to go by mid of May month and it’s 2 weeks trip. Will the routs are open and climate is ok for bike ride on that time ? Please give me your suggestions if there any changes to be made . Thanks

Hi Ajmal – Yes the route via Srinagar will be all open by Mid-May but it really depends on the weather.

We are planning to visit Leh on 19th oct 2018 by flight and will be right back by 26th oct. and we are planning to rent a bike tell me is it possible in a week. We r three people

Hi Shaifali – Sorry about the delayed response. Yes it is possible but do pack and prepare for cold weather since you are planning on riding around a bike.

Need urgent help..We stuck in leh due to rain.we have to go to nubra today but roads closed.our driver said to shift plan further by one day but we have to come back at same day we were coming because permit can’t be extended..We will miss turtuk and hot water springs.. Please guide.

Hi Mandeep – Sorry about the delayed reply. I missed your question until now.

Hello Vargis, I was eonderwon if you knew whether it is possible for tourists to visit Hanle on the PAP noe, or whether it is still of limits. We would love to visit the Observatory there!

Thank you, laura

Hi Lauradelee – Sorry to tell you but Hanle is completely off limits for foreign nationals due to security reasons. With a PAP, you can travel no further than Pangong Tso.

Thanks for the elaborate & wonderful travel guide. I am planning to travel to Leh on 21st Sep and return on 02 nd Oct from Srinagar.

Day 1 – Arrive at Leh Day 2 – Leh – Enroute Khardungla – Nubra Valley Day 3 – Nubra – Turtuk – Nubra Day 4 – Nubra – Leh Day 5 – Leh – Pangong Day 6 – Pangong to Tsomoriri Day 7 – Tso Moriri – Leh Day 8 – Head to Kargil Day 9 – Kargil to Srinagar Day 10 – Srinagar Day 11 – Day trip of Gulmarg Day 12 – Flight

Will book a car with a driver.

This is my itinerary, please could you let me know if I am need to add any more places in ladakh

Many Thanks Sourav

You do not have to come back to Leh from Nubra. You can go directly to Pangong from there. Plan it like this.

Day 1 – Arrive at Leh Day 2 – Leh – Enroute Khardungla – Nubra Valley Day 3 – Nubra – Turtuk – Nubra Day 4 – Nubra – Pangong via Shyok road Day 5 – Pangong – Hanle via Chushul Day 6 – Hanle to Tsomoriri Day 7 – Tso Moriri – Leh Day 8 – Head to Kargil Day 9 – Kargil to Srinagar Day 10 – Srinagar Day 11 – Day trip of Gulmarg Day 12 – Flight

Please can you tell me the approximate cost if I book a personal cab for my entire trip. Your prompt response will be really nice 🙂 Planning to book everything by this weekend. Need to plan my expenses accordingly. We are group of 4 ppl.

Talk to Nasir in Leh @ 9906229203. He runs his own taxi there and can give you the cost estimate.

Much Thanks for the prompt response. Any other place should I incorporate in my itinerary. In Nubhra, I am going to Hunder and turtuk.

In pangong I am planning to book royal camp, Apple Nubhra cottage in Nubhra and Tso moriri inn in karzok, Any idea or inputs, how are this place ?

Hi Vargis, How is the situtation now in leh after cloudbusrt?

Hi Siddharth – Situation is fine and under control. It was just one village that was affected.

First of all I want to than you Mr. Vargis. I traveled to leh ladakh from 23rd June to 7th July. Your blog help me lot. Many places I have seen which other Traveller don’t know the name . I’m traveling again in Sept end. I want to ask you about one rout. Instead of going diskit via khardung la if we take this rout than how? Leh- thiksey- kari- chemrey- sakti- khalsar

Kindly reply

Thank you Vatsal. I think you are asking about the Wari La route. Take a look at this post please.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/nubra-valley-to-pangong-tso-via-wari-la/

Thank you very much for providing such extensive information on your site. It has become my bible for Ladakh trip planning.

I will be traveling there from 3rd Aug to 19th Aug 2018 and I wanted to check with you couple of things –

1. Delhi-Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Manali-Delhi Route: how rainy will that route be, is that area prone to landslides as well? Is it safe security wise to go during that time especially since it is around Independence day (yesterday also there were couple of shootings in Srinagar)?

2. Manali Leh Manali route: I am expecting that I won’t find much rains after crossing Rohtang pass but since it has been raining very heavily that side in past few days, will it be safe to travel due to landslides,cloud bursts,strong flowing streams etc?

Hi Rishabh – It can rain anywhere anytime these days brother, there is no telling. Ladakh is in a rain shadow area and it is not supposed to be raining there at all but these days, it rains even in Ladakh too. Fried of mine just came back yesterday and they encountered rain at Pangong – Hanle route. So the only thing to do is to prepare well for the rain and travel carefully.

Hi Vargis, thank you for providing such fantastic information – it has been an immense help in planning our trip!!

I was wondering if you could advise what electricuty sockets we’re likely to find throughout Manali, Leh, Nubra, Pangong region. I’ve read both 2 pin and 3 pins but I was wondering if one of more common.

I appreciate electricity might be scarce or limited in some areas, but I would at least like to have the best adapters!

Hi Lauradelee – There is really no definite telling, entirely depends on the choice of the hotel owner. But yes, 2 pins are more common than 3 pins.

Hello Vargis , Actually m going 2 Ladakh 1st tym , so i don’t have any Idea about routes , but i want 2 cover d below places

Leh Khardungla Pass Magnetic hill Pangong Lake Rohtang Pass Spiti valley Killar valley (complete cliffhanger route) Sach pass

So can i cover all these in circuit & how many days it will take to travell all these places & btw my 1st priority is Killar valley & Sach Pass , specially High Passes & is Umlingla accessable now or not or any other High passes with in these places route

If you want to cover Ladakh, Spiti and Pangi all n the same trip then you need at least 3 weeks to do it. Umling La is off limits for tourists so you cannot go that way; at least not this year.

Thanx 4d reply & ya i can spent 3 weeks 4 it , but can u plz suggest the route

You are welcome. How are you traveling and from where?

M travelling 4rm bike , 4rm Lucknow (UP)

Hi Mr. Khan,

I am an avid admirer of your blog. It has some fantastic information about Spiti Valley & Leh-Ladakh. The reason I am writing this is I am planning a road trip to Leh-Ladakh in May-June next year. We shall be travelling in group of 6 people of 28-35 age in a single SUV. Following is the itinerary I customised for this trip. The trip has to be complete within 10 days due to time constraint. Please look into it if it shall be possible & it would be very helpful if you can tell me how much the approximate trip cost shall be incurred per person (no breakup needed) as I shall have to pitch it to my fellow travellers. Day 1 Delhi-Patnitop Day 2 Patnitop-Sonamarg Day 3 Sonamarg-Leh (Lamayuru Monastery, Likir Monastery) Day 4 Leh Local sightseeing (Leh Palace, Santi Stupa, Get Inner Line Permit) Day 5 Leh-Nubra Valley (Khardung La Pass, Diskit Monastery) Day 6 Nubra Valley-Pangong Lake (Shey Palace, Thicksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery) Day 7 Pangong Lake-Hanle-Chumathang (Chusul, Hanle Observatory, Hanle Monastery) Return to Chumathang for night stay Day 8 Chumathang-Tso Moriri-Sarchu (Tso Moriri Lake, Tso Kar Lake) Day 9 Sarchu-Manali (Keylong & Khardung La Pass) Day 10 Manali-Delhi

Hello Mr. Das,

Giving a cost estimate will really be tough because it will actually depend on lot of factors, fuel cost being the highest, accommodation next. The route above will have you drive about 3500 kilometers so depending on your car’s mileage, you can do the math. At an average, keep a minimum budget of Rs. 2000 per room for accommodation, Rs 1000 per person. Rest of the expenses will really depend on you. Take a look at the article below.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/calculate-minimum-budget-for-ladakh-trip/

Your itinerary too would have to be changed a bit. Sonamarg to Leh will be a very long journey. so you must start early, by first light of the day. You cannot cover Hanle on Day 7 and then reach Chumathang, that is just not possible. You will have to give up Hanle and head straight to Karzok on this day. Do Karzok to Sarchu on Day 8 and then to Manali and Delhi.

Hi Mr. Khan, Thanks a lot for your response. Actually I forgot to mention that we shall be going to Leh-Ladakh trip in hired car as we are from Kolkata & hence it shall not be possible for us to self drive. Also we prefer budget accommodation. I just wanted to know how much shall be our gross cost of the trip. Thanks again for your input.

A great article for the people who want to travel to Ladakh… Traveling to Ladakh has always been in my bucket list… This will surely help as a reference

Thank you for appreciating !!!

We are planning a trip to Leh in Mid October. I have heard from people that its not advisable to stay overnight at Pangong in that season as it will be very chilly. But bloggers and travelers have strongly recommended an overnight stay in Pangong to completely absorb its beauty. Would you recommend staying overnight at Pangong in mid October 2018. Also, would you recommend Alpine Huts for that stay. I am really planning to book one of them. Thanks in advance

Hi Mansi – Yes, if you are going to Pangong then a night stay there is highly recommended. Without it, you will barely touch the lake and start on your way back to Leh. Huts are a great choice for stay, better than some of the camp sites actually.

Thanks for the prompt reply. Would bug you again in case of any questions 🙂

You are welcome !!! 🙂

Hi Vargis, this is Swati here from Doha. I plan to visit leh by flight from Delhi. I will be travelling alone. Kindly assist me in simple safe itinerary with best hotels and not sure what is the best camp in pangong(as I heard there are no hotels there) I prefer a short trip of 5-7days max as I will be leaving behind my 4 year old son with my husband and in laws, so I need to get back asap as this will be my first-time leaving my son behind, so I might be very anxious. Is the idea of going to leh and nearby places alone crazy or I should not think so much and go for it? How do i commute to all these places? Money is not a problem so pls suggest me the best hotels and transportation. Your blog is amazing. No amount of thanks is enough.planning to travel on 24th July till 31st July.thanks.

We will be visiting from the UK in September. Can you tell me if it possible to obtain 2 consecutive protected area permits, so that we will have access for 14 days?

I know it is not always possible to extend a permit, so I wondered if this option is possible, as we will have 2 weeks to enjoy your beautiful country and we would like to spread out our visits to each place.

Many thanks Laura

Hi Lauradelee – As far as I know, you would not get 2 consecutive permits but the best person to answer that would be a travel agent. These guys have contacts and he may be able to manage you a permit for 14 days.

Hi, Vargis ..

We are planning a trip from to Leh.

We plan as follow:

Day 1-Arrive in leh Day 2-Leh to Nubra Day 3-Nubra to Pangong Day 4-Pangong to Leh Day 5-Leh to tso moriri Day 6-Tso moriri to leh Day 7- Leh to Manali

Is this itinerary possible ?? can he hire cab/ taxi from leh for day 7 and drop it in manali and what will be the approximate cost involved .

Please guide

Yes the itinerary is doable. For taxi in Ladakh, please contact Nasir @ 9906229203. He runs his own taxi in Ladakh and will be able to give you a cost estimate.

Hi Vargis Sir,, give me your email please, i will write up my experience of my travel to ladakh. Things are much changed as compared to previous years

eg: if you are on a tight schedule, then it will be hard to get a sharing taxi during peak season (cabs are less & tourist are more), you will have to go to a agency and ask and make a deal as those agencies put sharing crowd in tempo travelers. but this happens rarely now I’l give you details

Hi Jack Bhai,

My email is [email protected]

I will be very glad to publish your post on the blog. Definitely share some tips please that can be of help to others.

Sent you details 🙂

Got it brother. Just one more thing. Can you also write a few lines about yourself and send it? I would like to add a “About Jack Dcosta” box at the bottom of the article.

Thanks, emailed you!

Got it. Thanks brother.

Hi Vargis, did you upload my post?, if yes, share the link… thnkx in advance

Hi Jack – Posted at the links below.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-travelogue/

http://roadragas.com/index.php?threads/ladakh-diaries-a-trip-to-remember.4012/

Sahi yaar. thnkx 🙂 My next trip is shimla manali, so i would be going through again on all your posts for rohtang pass, spiti valley, & chandratel lake… Thanks again

That is awesome. When are you planning Spiti?

next year june..Spiti or chandratel, this time with my mum

You should do Spiti and Chandratal both. These days I actually like Spiti better than Ladakh. Way less crowded.

Correct, Ladakh is become very crowded with lot traffic these days. Do you have any contact for this Spiti & Chandratal taxi package or have to search by own for taxi or agency in Manali

Sorry bro, don’t have any contacts for taxi or agencies.

Acha no worries..

Hello Vargis, Please check if some modifications required in the itinerary we have planned for our trip Please confirm if there will be issues in going directly from Nubra to Pangong and Pangong to Tso moriri (though the travel agent confirmed its feasible) Also will there be issue of AMS because we will be staying overnight at Pangong at Moriri which are relatively at higher altitudes.

waiting for your suggestions. Thanks you in advance

18th August: Land at Srinagar airport and rents car for and directly move towards sonamarg and stay overnight

19th August: Move from sonamarg towards kargill and stay overnight at kargill

20th August: Move from kargill towards Leh covering magnetic hill, gurudwara, hall of fame, lamayuru and confluence of Indus and zanskar Spend evening in leh

21st August: Local day in leh visiting shey, thiskey and stock palace Overnight at hotel

22nd August: Guided Drive to nubra valley Stay overnight

23rd August Do atv activity and camel ride on sand dunes drive towards pangong lake Over night stay at pangong

24th August After breakfast leave for tso mori lake and stay overnight tso mori

25th August After breakfast leave for leh

26th August Leave by morning flights

Your itinerary is fine Chandan but how are you planning to go from Pangong to Moriri? The permits for Chushul route are not being issued this year so you will have to come back from Pangong to Leh and then go to Moririri.

Hi Vargis, the agent confirmed there is no issue of permits currently. :/

Thanks Chandan. I too heard back that permits are now being issued for Chushul route.

I am not sure abt the trip from Pangong to tso moriri, our local hired driver in leh told us that this year, no permits will be issued on this route, and the route will be closed for tourists. Some issue happened last year regarding a tourist rider who went on this route and lost his way and passed the checkpost without checking in – out and some mismatch became regarding entry and exit of vehicles along that way… so just keep in mind

Regarding AMS.. the key point is dont do any activity in haste manner, just walk slow 7 dont exhaust yourself if you feel you are going out of breath, just sit down, have good amount of water and relax for few mins

Thanks Jack. And yes, You are right. They were not issuing permits for Chushul route and Hanle earlier this year but have started now.

Sir, we are planning to start our journey from 8th june to 17th .Following are the iternery 1. Chandigarh to solang Valley. will stay one night. 8th jun 2. Solang to Jispa.will stay for one night 3. Jispa to Upsi. we r avoiding sarchu due to ams.but What about accomodation? 4. Upsi to leh. Actually we have 10 days only.so we have doubt should we go to Ladhak or not? Can u tell us best possible iternery. we r only 2 on a single bike.Actually we r more concerned abt Ams. Also I have migraine prblm. Should I worry reaching leh?

Hi Vipul – Why do you want to stay at Upshi? There is nothing there and it is hardly 1 hour away from Leh. Why not go directly to Leh?

Hello sir, Actually we have doubt whether we will be able to make it to leh or not from Jispa or not. Also tell us should we carry fuel or not. We have avenger 220

Yes you can make it to Leh from Jispa but just make sure that you start by first light of the day. Regarding fuel, please take a look at the post below.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/fuel-availability-in-leh-ladakh-manage/

Vargis Bhai, Hats off to your efforts to provide info. and guidance for Ladakh travellers like us.

We are leaving on 1st June morning from Chandigarh in 2010 model Maruti SX Zxi ( 2 couples – 4 person in total ) . Hoping for no issue with the vehicle. . Will reach Jammu ( 1st) , Srinagar (2nd) , Kargil(3rd) & Leh (4th June). Return via manali starting from Leh on 11th June . No hotel booking done so far. Kindly advice on hotel availability and road conditions and availability of Petrol in Nubra and Leh Manali highway cos I don’t want to carry petrol can in my car due to safety hazards. Thanks & Regards. – Pradeep

Pradeep Bhai – Sorry about delayed response. I guess you are already on your way by now.

Hi vargis bhai, Loved your article for planning a trip to ladakh. I am planning a trip to ladakh next july with my cousins I know its too early to ask,but if you could help me out with the itinerary for around 7-10 days. And which route will be best as i am really adventure junkie for to and fro travel. And lastly is it advisable to do self camping while on the trip maybe near leh or any place in between any recognisable nearby stop or village.

Vikram Bhai – Thank you for your kind words. Where are you traveling from and how are you traveling? You can definitely camp on your own but not everywhere. There are several dhabas en route and it would be wise to camp close to a dhaba rather than in the middle of nowhere.

Hi Varghis bhai,

Thanks for your response.

Day1-I will be travelling from mumbai by flight and will meet my cousins in jammu who stay there.

Day 2- From Jammu we are planning to go srinagar and maybe halt there for sighseeting that day.

Day 3- Leave for Leh.

Currently we have i20 vehicle for journey and we are 5 people.

But we are trying to arrange for an SUV as it is more comfortable and safe and maybe couple of more guys may join us after that.

So pls advise for remaining itinerary Including at what places to stay during journey.

I am travelling for the first time to ladakh and want places like pangong lake, Nubra Valley etc to be covered.and other must see places.as well.

We are planning 7 days for Ladakh places only

So kindly suggest places as per 7 days

And then while returning planning to come by Manali route.

And as before pls suggest places for stay during there as well.

Lastly, pls sugget cost of petrol per person if we go by I20 or if we plan to go by Suv for Jammu- Srinagar- Leh- Manali route

7 days will be a bit of rushed journey but you can travel in the following manner.

1. Srinagar to Kargil 2. Kargil to Leh 3. Leh (Arrange permits) 4. Leh to Nubra Valley (Diskit) 5. Diskit to Pangong via Shyok road 6. Pangong to Pang / Sarchu 7. Pang Sarchu to Manali

For cost estimate, please take a look at this article.

Hello vargisji Can u suggest me an itinerary for my parents for leh, nubra, pangong and tsomoriri and whatever sightseeing they can do while travelling through that way. They will be reaching on 16th Aug and will need to catch return flight on 24th Aug. And if any time is left they would like to visit zanskar and kargil.

Kindly suggest

Hello Vivek Ji – They are reaching there by flight and then hiring a local taxi, right? Or are they reaching there by road?

They will be reaching there by flight and then will hire a local taxi for the trip

kindly suggest the itinerary

Hello Vivek Ji,

They can follow the itinerary below.

16th – Leh – Rest and arrange permits 17th – Leh to Kargil 18th – Kargil to Leh 19th – Leh to Nubra Valley (Diskit) 20th – Nubra valley to Pangong via Shyok road 21st – Pangong to Leh 22nd – Leh to Tso Moriri 23rd – Moriri to Leh 24th – Fly Out

Dear vargisji Thanks for the reply.

Is there anything to see or visit in Kargil. As my tour operator is saying that one should visit Kargil only if one visit Zanskar as there is nothing to see In Kargil. So need ur help

There is not much to see in Kargil but since it is your parents, it will be better for them to not rush through the journey and rest in Kargiil before coming back. For coming back to Leh, they can travel via Batalik as well.

Hai.. vargis

We are 6 in member , we are planning the trip for leh on sep,2018 can u jst suggest me what should be the better way to reach lah and visit all the places of leg. Our trip is for 7- 10 days at max

Hi Jyotishree, How are you traveling and from where?

Jyotishree Madam, My best half and I will be visiting Leh Ladakh during Sep 2018 for 10 days max. I have prepared the itinerary and sending to vargis khan for suggestions. once the itinerary is finalised i will post it in the road raga forum and you can decide upon that. We are in 40s age from Chennai and pure veg, preferring Home Stays and Tourist Shared SUVs for our Trip via Srinagar route. Regards Sundar

Hello Mr. Chennai – Please let me know what your itinerary is and I will be happy to advise.

Vargis Bhai

We have arrived leh and planning for pangong tso tomorrow, we have kids age 3 and 8 should we make plan to stay in pangong overnight or should go and come back same day bearing in mind small kids What sort of stay we may get in pangong I mean comfort and cozy. We have came via Srinagar by road

Thanks in advance

Sachin Bhai there are several camp sites at Pangong and they are quite warm and comfortable. I hope you are not planning to go to Pangong first. Please cover Nubra valley and then go to Pangong, thus giving more time for acclimatization. Nubra is actually at an even lower altitude than Leh so that will be helpful.

I would be on Package Tour by Make My Trip, travelling from 21st May 2018 to 28th May 2018 ((7 Nights / 8 Days). We are group of 4. (Aged between 18 -45). Any thing to be arranged of my own or MMT will arrange every thing, which they are claiming to do. Any extra precaution to be taken by us, specially medication. What would be temperature during my stay period. What type of woolens to carry. Please advice

Hi Vinit – I am not sure about Makemytip or what arrangements they will make. Just carry some light woolens with a heavy warm and windproof jacket. Temperature will be warm enough during day but nights will get cold.

Ok so the revised itinerary is Day 1 : Manali to Jispa night stay at jispa Day 2 : Jispa-Sarchu-leh night stay at Leh Day 3: leh local sightseen Day 4: Leh to Nubra Valley night stay at Nubra valley Day 5 : Nubra valley to Pangong lake Day 6: Pangong to leh Day 7: leh to Tso moriri via Chumatang Day 8: Tso moriri to Sarchu via Tso kar Day 9: Sarchu to Manali I think this should be fine or any suggestions from your side.

Hello Vargis, First of all i would like to thankyou for such detailed information. We are planning to explore Leh in first-second week of July by our own vehicle. I would like to share my itinerary. Please go throughit and suggest some changes based upon your vast experience. Day 1 : Manali to Jispa night stay at jispa Day 2 : Jispa-Sarchu-leh night stay at Leh Day 3: leh local sightseen Day 4: Leh to Nubra Valley night stay at Nubra valley Day 5 : Nubra valley to Pangong lake Day 6: Pangong to Tso Kar/Tso moriri Day 7: Tso kar/Tso moriri to Jispa Day 8: Jispa to Manali

You cannot go directly from Pangong to Tso Moriri via Chushul. Permits for that are not being issued this year. You will have to return to Leh and then go to Moriri the next day so please add that day in between here.

From Tso Moriri, Jispa will be way too long. Do Moriri to Pang / Sarchu and then to Manali the next day.

Thanks for your support. Whether we can go to Tso Kar from Pangog on Day 6 and on Day 7 Tso Kar to Sarchu and on Day 8 Sarchu to Manali.

No Amit. You cannot do Pangong to Moriri right now. You will have to ,

Pangong to Leh Leh to Moriri via Chumathang Moriri to Sarchu via Tso Kar Sarchu to Manali

amit bhai last year we went through this route. at the border of leh and sarchu we changed our car like we got into the j&k registered car and straight went to tsomoriri. from there next day we went to pangong lake and the day after we went to nubra. and last we went to leh. u can even do that if your travel agent of j&k arranges the car as i said

Hello sir, I’ll be reaching leh by 19th of this month. I’m planning to visit three places nubra pangong and tsomoriri. I do not know how to drive a geared bike but I have been driving scooter for past 3years. I’ll be renting scooter from leh probably access 125cc. Will it be in good condition? I have read ur article pertaining to scooter ride to leh but my concern are the scooters available there serviced properly? What things should I pay attention too before renting a scooter? Any other tips for scooter ride for this year?

There are a lot of people offering bikes and Scooters on rent. Some of them are good and some bad. You will have to test ride a few to find a good one.

Hello We 5 people are planning to go Leh from delhi via Srinagar on 11th may by car. All Boys

Please plan our itinary’thanks in Advance

Hi – How many days do you have for the trip?

never seen such a lucid explanation capturing each and every nuance of the itinerary..great job bhai

Thanks Shakti Bhai for your kind words.

I’m planning to do a complete circuit of spiti and leh and i’ll be travelling on my own vehicle (car) in june first week. I have prepared an itinerary for 14 days to cover both the places ( 4-5 days for Spiti valley and 7 days for Leh, nubra valley and pangong tso and tso moriri). However, wanted to be sure which route would be better to avoid AMS — (delhi -shimla -narkanda -chitkul -tabo -kaza -chandratal -keylong -leh) or (delhi -srinagar -leh – nubra valley -pangong tso -tso moriri – keylong -chandratal -tabo -kaza- chitkul -shimla -delhi) . Please advise as i would be travelling with my wife and friends. Also, please share any itinerary for the the complete trip (leh +Spiti).

Your suggestion will be great help for us…

Hi Abhi – Do Delhi, Shimla, Leh, Srinagar. It will be better this way. Let me know what your itinerary is and I can suggest any changes if required.

Thanks for your help. I have prepared the below itinerary for this trip which is completely based on google maps and few itineraries from your older posts. Please review and let me know if any changes are required.

Day 1 | Delhi – Shimla / Narkanda – SATURDAY (400 km/9-10 hrs) Day 2 | Narkanda -Sangla / Chitkul (Kinnaur Valley) – SUNDAY (185km/6 hrs) Day 3 | Chitkul – Pooh -Nako – Nako Lake – Geyu Mummy – Tabo – MONDAY ( 250km/ 5-6 hrs) Day 4 | Tabo – Dhankar – Dhankar Lake – kaza – Losar -kunzum la – Chandratal – TUESDAY ( 150km/ 5-6 hrs) Day 5 | Chandratal – battal – chatru – gramphu – rohtang pass – keylong – jispa – WEDNESSDAY ( 203km/ 4-5 hrs) Day 6 | Jispa – sarchu – pang – leh – THURSDAY (355km/8-9hrs) Day 7 | Leh Sight seeing + ILP – Friday Day 8 | Leh – khardung la – kardungla village – diskit – hunder – diskit – SATURDAY (140km/5hrs) Day 9 | Nubra valley to pangong tso (spangmik) via agham shyok – SUNDAY (190km/6-7hrs) Day 10 | Spangmik – Merak – Chushul – karzok (Tso Moriri) – MONDAY (210km/ 7-8 hrs) Day 11 | Karzok to Leh via shey, thiksey, stakna – TUSEDAY ( 211km /5-6 hrs) Day 12 | Leh – Kargil -Dras – WEDNESSDAY (280km/6-7 hrs) Day 13 | Dras – sonamarg – srinagar – patnitop – udhampur – THURSDAY (381km/ 11-12 hrs) Day 14 | Udhampur – pathankot – jalandhar – ludhiana – ambala – Delhi ( 624km/ 11-12hrs)

Please see my comments below.

Day 1 | OK Day 2 | Will be a very long drive so start as early as you can from Narkanda. Can even take 8 hours. Day 3 | Very long drive again. 8-9 hours Day 4 | Long drive, almost 8-9 hours Day 5 | 8-9 Hours Day 6 | 9-10 hours Day 7 | OK Day 8 | OK Day 9 | OK. But there is a chance that Shyok road may even remain closed. Day 10 | Cannot get permits for Chushul route this year, at least not for now. Day 11 | OK Day 12 | OK Day 13 | Extremely long drive Day 14 | Extremely Long drive

Abhi bhai, can I join you in your trip

Hi Sateesh, I would be travelling with my family & friend (couple) so completely booked. However, we can definitely join together on the trip if you too want to follow the same itinerary. Regards, Abhi

I googled where to travel on summer vacation and I reached on your post and Realized Leh Ladakh is nice adventure place. so I plan a trip for Leh Ladakh. Thanks for sharing

Thank you for taking the time to drop a note Karan. I appreciate it.

Wow, awesome and very detailed blog. You have been very actively and genuinely answering to every query.

Thanks Mukesh Bhai

Hi vargis Khan,

How will be August end to visit ladakh. Is this season good to visit and how will be the road conditions. Are there good chances of rain during this time..also the roads to nubra valley and pangong lake are open during this time. Also can you suggest itinerary for 7d during August end.

Hi Ravin Take a look at the article below below. Should answer most of your questions above visiting Ladakh in August.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-in-monsoon-safe-trip/

Roads will remain all unless a recent landslide blocks any section of the road. Unless it is a massive landslide, BRO usually clears the road in a few hours.

Itinerary from where and how will you be traveling?

Hi vargish Khan,

Thanks for the information.. Then mid September can be planned? What about the rain in leh and also on leh to Manali. We will be to travel from leh to Manali through road during this time. Another point is we want to travel tso moriri lake. So how will be roads condition on this area during this time.

Yes September is actually the best time to travel to Ladakh and I will recommend it if you can change your plan to Sep. There will be rain at this time. Road conditions will be good too. You can go to Moriri but will first have to go to Leh to get the permits.

Vargish Bhai,

Sept 15-23 how will be weather . My point is we will face snowfall n all. N what about cold? Will it be more chilly in mid of Sept or normal temperature to visit. Thanks a lot in advance.

Ravin Bhai it usually starts to snow at Khardung La and Chang La top by mid Sep so yes, you may find snow there but there will not be a snowfall in the lower areas (towns). Weather will be about OK, pleasant days but cold nights.

Thanks vargis Bhai..but roads to nubra, pangong and tso moriri will be open during snow in mid September. Snowfall will be very heavy or it will be normal and visit these places with less blockage

Bhai Roads are all open in September, do not worry about that part at all. In September roads are in their best condition actually.

Hi Vargis Bhai,

Please let me know if below plan is doable around 2nd week of June. We will be visiting local and on the ways places also.

Day 1–Delhi–Patnitop Day 2–Patnitop–Srinagar Day 3–Srinagar–Sonmarg Day 4–Sonmarg–Lamayuru Day 5–Lamayuru–Leh Day 6–Leh–Leh Day 7–Leh–Nubra Day 8–Nubra–Nubra Day 9–Nubra–Spangmik Day 10–Spangmik–TSO Moriri Day 11–TSO Morir–Sarchu Day 12–Sarchu–Manali Day 13–Manali–Delhi

Thanks Amit

Amit Bhai, how are you traveling? Riding your own bike I guess?

Just one change in the entire itinerary. Add one more day between Spangmik and Moriri. Plan it like this.

Day 9–Nubra to Spangmik Day 10–Spangmik to Hanle Day 11 – Hanle to Tso Moriri Day 12–Tso Moriri to Pang / Sarchu

Vargis Bhai, I’m travelling in a car. If i have choose from Hanle and TSO moriri, which one is must visit, extending a day will be difficult as i have my return tickets booked from Delhi on 14th day.

Amit Bhai you are talking about traveling from pangong to moriri via chushul, correct? If days are limited then do not extend but make sure that you start from Pangong by first light of the day. This is extremely important. Distance is not that great but the bad condition of the road will keep your speed strictly limited.

Thanks Vargis Bhai

Hello Vargis!

Amazing amount of information on this site. I had submitted an inquiry using the form on this site however, haven’t heard since. It might be the busy schedule that you juggle.

Nevertheless, if you can help us (got married recently) plan a honeymoon outing between June 8th & June 22nd, it would be greatly appreciated!

Regards, Kiran Bangalore

Hi Kiran – Sorry about the email. Gets a bit hard to keep a track and reply on all, sorry that I missed responding on yours.

Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you both the best. God Bless you !!!

You will have to get me a little more details though. You want to cover Ladakh between June 8th to 22nd? From where? You are catching a flight from Bangalore to Srinagar? How do you intend to travel locally then? Hire a taxi for the entire trip since it is your honeymoon?

Thanks for the reply, Vargis! Couldn’t reply sooner due to my own travel too.

Well, I was hoping to discuss the details via an email or Whats’app nevertheless, here is an overview of our plan. Since the last message, the plan has changed to probably drop Kashmir off and concentrate only on Leh-Ladakh region:

Day 1 Reach Leh by flight and relax

Day 2 Visit Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and Leh Market

Day 3 Travel to Sangam from Leh (48 Km (Indus River & Zanskar river meet), Magnetic Hills(27 km), Gurudwara pattar sahib, Alchi (flood plains),Spituk Gompa Monastery & Hall of Fame Back to Leh for night stay

Day 4 (BIKE RIDE) Travel to Diskit – Nubra Valley via Khardunga La,Diskit (118 KM) Diskit Monastery,Shyok river(on the way), Hunder sand dunes (127.5KM) Night stay at Diskit

Day 5 (BIKE RIDE) Travel to Sumur (33KM)(1 hour), Panamik Hot springs, Khalsar(lunch)(23 Km) Return to Diskit for night stay

Day 6 (BIKE RIDE) Travel to Turtuk (92KM) 2-4 hours Return to Diskit for night stay

Day 7 (BIKE RIDE) Travel back to Leh Lunch at Khalsar (23 KM) and return to hotel

Day 8 Travel to Pangong Tso Lake, Shea Palace, Changla Pass, Spangmik Village Night stay at Pangong

Day 9 Visit Hemis Monastery, Karu(may be for lunch),Thikey on the way back to Leh Night stay at Leh

Day 10 Travel to Tsomoriri lake view point Night stay at Tsomoriri

Day 11 Travel back to Leh Night stay at Leh

————————————————————————————————————————————————-

As can be seen, a bike ride has been planned between Days 4-7. Please confirm if this is feasible to cover all the places/locations included. Do also feel free to include any other interesting/must see places we may have missed.

Kindly also let us know if the planned days/activities have sufficient buffer time to not make it very strenuous. We can stretch the entire trip by another 2 days as well.

Would be great if you can suggest recommendations for the night stays throughout the trip. We have split the itinerary by making 2 base-camps (one in Diskit & another in Leh), to facilitate covering as many locations/places around these places; as they are in different directions.

Thanks in advance again for the response anticipated shortly.

Regards, Kiran

Hi Kiran, Below is my recommendation on your travel plan. I am also considering that you are able to extend another 2 days.

Day 1 – Looks good Day 2 – Looks good Day 3 – Go all the way till Kargil and stay there for the night. Day 4 – Return to Leh Day 5 – Leh to Diskit – Stay for the night Day 6 – Diskit to Turtuk – Stay at Turuk for the nights Day 7 – Turtuk to Diskit to Khalsar to Panamik – Stay at Panamik for the night Day 8 – Return to Leh Day 9 – Leh to Pangong Day 10 – Pangong to Leh Day 11 – Leh to Moriri via Chumathang Day 12 – Moriri to Leh via Tso kar and Tanglang La

It will be better to travel this way in Nubra rather than returning to Diskit everytime. Turtuk and Panamik too have some good stay options.

Thanks again for the quick response, Vargis. So, I will consider that all interesting places are covered?

Can you provide recommendations for the stays at each place and if comingb them in advance is a most/necessity – given that the season would have just opened?

You are welcome KIran and yes, all major tourist places are covered. For recommended places to stay, take a look at the articles I listed above under Where to Say heading.

No need for advance booking. Just reach your destination, find a hotel per your liking and check in.

Will check! It’s all getting exciting by the minute. Will keep you posted about progress! 🙂

It will definitely continue to get even more exciting by each passing day.

Hi Vargis Sir.. Always you helped me regarding the trip details and all about leh.Thnkx alot 🙂 I forgot the imp thing which is Drinking water (Purified ones) Any info on this as to where it will be available, because i plan not to buy those small plastic bottles everyday as it will be too much cost and plastics 😛 Are there those big water bottles or any refill areas for drinking water?

Hi Jack, Thank you for your kind words. Drinking water pretty much will work the same way as it does in our cities. 1 liter or 2 liter bottles will be the only choice. Any bigger than that and your biggest concern will be on how to carry it around. Hotels and Restaurants mostly have water purifiers installed so that is one place where you may check for refill.

Oh ok Thnkx ..

Hi vargis ji I have booked flight tickets to reach leh on 6th july morn and return fliight on 17 july from leh My iteneary for road trip Plan 1 6 july Leh rest 7 july Leh to nubra 8 july nubra to pangong via shylok 9 july pangong to leh via changla pass 10 july Leh to Hanle (refuel the tank and move on) 11 july Hanle – Unmigla – Hanle 12 july Hanle – Karzok 13 july Karzok to Leh 14 july Leh to kargil 15 july Kargil to Leh 16 july rest 17 july morn flight to delhi

plan 2 or 6 july Leh rest 7 july Leh to nubra 8 july nubra to pangong via shylok 9 july pangong to hanle ( to continue beyond i may need petrol? is it available in hanle) 10 july Hanle – Unmigla – Hanle 11 july Hanle – Karzok 12 july Karzok to Leh via “Debring” 13 july rest 14 july Leh to kargil 15 july kargil to leh 16 july rest 17 july morn flight to delhi

My questions are 1.I made plan 1 considering the availability of fuel? if fuel available in Hanle i will go with plan 2

2. Can i add any other place in the trip as i want to cover Leh fully ( have i missed any place???)

3.On 16 july can i travel on Leh manali highway till some distance ???

4. Is it possible to visit manali and come back???? ( in same Leh rented bike) ( instead of two days rest and kargil visit)

13 july Leh to sarchu 14 july sarchu to manali 15 july manali to sarchu 16 july sarchu to leh 17 july morn flight to delhi

If not allowed to return from manali on Leh rented bike ? till what distance i can travel in Leh bike on Leh manali route?

Sorry for long post Thanks in advance.

Hello Srinivasan Bhai,

Your second itinerary is much better and ideal. Go with that plan please.

1. You can get fuel at Pangong Tso in black, approximately Rs. 100 per liter. You can also get it at Karzok for this price. Hanle I am not sure but it may be available this year because of Umling La. 2.Do not go to Manali as it may become a problem. Since you have time, you can either cover Zanskar Valley from Kargil, or cover the Batalik route and Sham valley. Something like this.

Leh to Kargil Kargil tO Padum Padum to Kargil Kargil to Leh

Leh to Kargil Kargil to Batalik (will have to get permit for this) Batalik to Hemis Shukpachan Hemis to Leh

I will recommend covering Zanskar valley though.

Thanks a lot. I will discuss Zanskar valley idea with my friends and will plan accordingly. The problem is fuel ???? As u mentioned If i can get in Pangong Tso and Karzok then for sure I will start Leh – nubra ; nubra – pangong (fill tank again & carry 15 litre backup) ; Pangong – hanle; Hanle – unmigla – hanle; hanle – karzok (fill tank again & carry 15 litre backup ) hanle – Leh

Total 6 Days Then will give a try Leh to Kargil Kargil tO Padum Padum to Kargil Kargil to Leh

Thank a lot for answering all my queries. Between I am a Vlogger https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOROckvpeBSwvYosQ9W2l4A?view_as=subscriber

In all my leh videos I have to give credit to u for helping me plan better

Did we talk last year as well? That Zojila Pass video looked familiar? This is not your first Ladakh trip then? How are you planning to carry around fuel?

Ya last year was my first trip via srinagar with my family members.

This year I planned to cover the leh region alone with friends.

2 jeery cans on each side of bike ( 10 liters each). I have a pillion too. But our luggage is very minimum.

2 Jerry Cans should suffice really, more than enough. To be on a safer side, before you start towards Hanle, get a tank full done at Chadar tents at Pangong. You will find fuel there. One tank full and 20 liters of spare fuel will be more than enough for Pangong to Hanle to Karzok to Tandi (next petrol pump). I have done this with just one tank full, and some spare fuel in 2 liters Pepsi bottles flung over my back in bag. I kept emptying them one by one after every 40-50 kilometers or so. Are you planning Umling La as well?

Yes buddy If i get permit and BRo allows then Umling-la is on the cards.

Leh nubra ; nubra – pangong ; (300km ) (15 litre) Pangong – hanle; Hanle – unmigla -Hanle; (162+210 = 375 km) (19 litre) Hanle – Karzok; Karzok – sarchu; sarchu -leh (619 km ) (31 litre)

total petrol = 15+19+31 = 65 around 70 I will try in pangong Tso Hanle and Karzok I assumed 20 Km/litre ????

Planning a thunderbird 350 its fuel tank is 20 litre whereas RE classic is 13.5 litre

My itinerary fully depends on fuel availability at Pangong Hanle and karzok

20-25 kilometers is a safe number to assume. Tank full at Leh and it will see you easily till Pangong. Then Tank full at Pangong again and you will comfortable make it to Hanle. So your 20 liters will still be saved. As I suggested, arrange for 2 liters Pepsi or Coke Bottles as kind of safe reserve. Not hard to carry as well and will easily fit in with your luggage.You can carry about another 6-8 liters this way.

I have an Electra and completed the Leh-Diskit-Pangongp-Hanle-Karzok-Pang-Sarcu-Tandi only with Pepsi bottles, nothing else so you really have nothing to worry about.

For Umling La, take a look at this post where I explained the entire route in details.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/umling-la/

Sure vargis ji, I will carry extra fuel and according to availability will refuel in stops u mentioned. Umling la post is very useful. And This year people want to give it a try and this post of yours on Umling la is very much needed one.

Thanks a lot

Thanks Srinivasan Bhai. Do let me know how your trip went after your return

Sure will let you know how the trip went. And i may ask more doubts before leaving on July 5th… Hope u wont mind Thanks a lot .

No problem brother. Happy to help.

Srinivasan Bhai – Take a look at this article. You should have no problem with fuel.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/fuel-availability-leh-ladakh-manage/

This article is based on situation as of last year September so most recent.

We are planning a bike trip from Manali to Leh -Srinagar and than back to Manali.

Day 1-Manali to Jispa- Day 2-Jispa to Sarchu- Day 3-Sarchu to Leh- and local sight seeing on that day- Day 4-Leh to Nubra- Day 5-Nubra to Pangong- Day 6-Pangong to Tso Moriri Lake- Day 7-Tso-Moriri to kargil- Day 8-Kargil to Srinagar and than back to Manali

Is this itenary possible ?? Can i just rent a bike from Manali and leave it at Srinagar ? I also plan to do river rafting at Nemu? Will it take extra day ? I m planning to go on 31 st May ? So should i book the hotels or should bargain at the hotels there ? Can you please tell me the time (hours ) for the above itenary?

Or should i start my journey from Srinagar ? However, I heard that one incures transportation cost if i take a bike from srinagar and leave it at manali ?

Hello Namrata,

1. You will have to add a day in Leh after arriving here, in order to arrange for permits. 2. Pangong to Tso Moriri is way too long or a single day. This is ideally a 2 day journey. 3. You cannot do Moriri to Kargil in a day. This too is a 2 days jorney at the least. 4. Yes you can rent a bike from Manali and leave at Srinagar but that will incur additional cost of around 10-15,000 apart from your daily rental 5. Yes, rafting at Nimmoo will by an additional day 6. No need to book in advance. 7. You must add more days to the trip. 8 day is way too less to cover the route you want to cover.

Thanks for your reply.

I m planning to hire a car from Delhi for the whole trip. They claim that such leased car is allowed in Leh. Is it true ?..

Hi Namrara – The leased car from Delhi will only be allowed till Leh. To visit other areas in Ladakh like Nubra and Pangong, you will have to rent a local cab from there. The Delhi cab will not be allowed to ply on these routes.

Good Evening Vargis

Please suggest wheather this plan is ok to visit leh or u want to change .

17 june 2018. Night at sonamarg 18 june 2018. Night at kargil 19 june 2018. Night at leh 20 june 2018. Night at leh 21 june 2018. Night at nubra valley 22 june 2018. Night at leh 23 june 2018. Night at Pangong 24 june 2018. Night at leh 25 june 2018. Night at leh 26 june 2018. Night at sarchu 27 june 2018. Night at manali 28 june 2018. Home

Regards Khawinder Sharma Punjab

Kaise ho Khawinder Bhai?

Your plan looks great. Just one minor change I will suggest. Rather than coming from Nubra to Leh, go directly to Pangong via Shyok road. Ask while you are in Nubra valley and if the road is open, then you do not have to come back to Leh again. This way you will save a day in between.

The day you saved above, use it while traveling to Manali. Add a night stay at Jispa at the camp site or wooden cottages. Very scenic place and a good experience. I will highly recommend it.

Thanks for giving valuable sugestion..

You are welcome

Dear Vargis Ji, Good Evening, I am planning to come to Leh on 5th April 18 from Delhi & will be back on 11th April 2018. Going there with my 2 friends. Can u help me in making a suitable itinerary for 5 days. I want to go to Nubra Valley, visit Changthang wild life sanctuary or Hemis National Park, Pangong lake/ Tso Moriri lake & local sight seeing.

Thanks & Regards, Harish aggarwal

Hello Harish Ji – I am guessing that you will be renting a private taxi for traveling locally, is that correct? Visiting Changthang as well in 5 days would be a bit tough so I will recommend that you keep that out and only travel towards Nubra and Pangong. Please take a look at the article below for a few recommended itineraries. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Dear Vargis Ji, Thanks for replying, We will have Mahindra Xylo there for moving around. I have read all your options of 6 days itinerary. Your last 2 options are the ones, which cover the most. Only catch is, we will there on 5th April by Morning flight & coming back on 11th April, the weather will permit the way from Nubra to pangong or not? Can u put some light on it? Regards, Harish Aggarwal

You are welcome Harish Bhai. Yes, you will be able to cover Nubra and Pangong at that time. Roads will remain open. Please take a look at the post below where I have provided more information on this.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-roads-in-winter/

Hello Mr khan Your blogs have been of immense help in planning our upcoming trip to Ladakh in the 1st week of june2018. Wanted to know about the latest condition of Agham Shyok road as I have found in some blogs that this Nubra to Pangong route has seen vast improvement of late. I will be travelling with my wife & son , & will it be safe to take this route as it saves a day which is really crucial considering our packed itinerary?

Hello Mr. Mukherjee – It is correct. There has been a lot of work on Shyok road last year and it is now in a much better and safer condition to travel on. See below of a picture of the road from last year.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/agham-shyok-road/

Thanks a lot Mr khan for sharing this valuable information. Please suggest whether the innova or the xuv should be the preferred taxi for the entire Ladakh trip.

You are welcome Mr. Mukherjee. Please go for an XUV as it has better ground clearance at 200MM as commpared to Innova at 176MM.

Many thanks

Hi Vargis Sir…As i will be going with my dad to Ladakh, we plan to take private cab from srinagar to Leh via Drass so that for 1-2 hrs we can spend at Drass Memorial and then direct to leh As my dad is 63, is it safe to take him in those areas for a period of 10 days total (We plan to visit our family doctor in advance for safety tips & medication) There wont be any major health issues as such, right?

Thanks in advance for the response

Hello Jack – 63 is not that old to be honest, he is still a young man. Do not worry, lot of people go there with their parents but yes, do consult your doctor.

Hi, vargis. This is chetan from Mumbai. Your blogs are helping many out there. I just need a piece of advice from you. We are planing a 16 day trip to ladakh. We’ll enter leh from srinagar and exit from manali. We have our friend whose uncle stays in jalandhar and has a tavera which is his personal car having white number plate whose registration done in himachal pradesh itself. The uncle claims that he’ll help showing us ladakh. He’ll pick us from jamu tawi and will drop us back in chandigarh. What do you advice, we go with him or take a tourist yellow plate car? Taking uncles car will save us a hell lot of money and the same car can enter everywhere being white number plate Suggestions required! -waiting for your reply.

Hi Chetan– If the vehicle is registered in your uncle’s name and he is driving it himself, by all means please go with him. If you taake a yellow number plate taxi, you will again have to rent a local taxi in Ladakh which will shoot your total expense of the trip very high.

Sry for same comments .It was due to some misunderstanding.We are friends from the same group prasad and me.

No worries brother

Hi, Vargis. This is Prasad from Mumbai. Your blogs are helping many out there. I just need a piece of advice from you. We are planing a 16 day trip to ladakh. We’ll enter leh from srinagar and exit from manali. We have our friend whose uncle stays in jalandhar and has a tavera which is his personal car having white number plate whose registration done in himachal pradesh itself. The uncle claims that he’ll help showing us ladakh. He’ll pick us from jamu tawi and will drop us back in chandigarh. What do you advice, we go with him or take a tourist yellow plate car? Taking uncles car will save us a hell lot of money and the same car can enter everywhere being white number plate Suggestions required! -waiting for your reply.

Hi Prasad – If the vehicle is registered in your uncle’s name and he is driving it himself, by all means please go with him. If you taake a yellow number plate taxi, you will again have to rent a local taxi in Ladakh which will shoot your total expense of the trip very high.

Ty for ur info n suggestion. N u have good sense of humour bro 😉

Thanks Prasad

We are going leh on 12 June 2017 from Srinagar​ leh highway. 1)Will the surgical strike effect our trip to leh? 2) We are a total 8 person plus one driver in my personal innova(white numer plate).Is there a problem with this?Will our car be restricted anywhere considering the total number of commuters in our car?

No such restriction on Srinagar Leh highway. You will be able to complete the journey without any problem.

Is it safe going Leh by flight??

But which one is more adventure. Traveling by flight or bike to Ladakh?

Ladakh by Bike is definitely more adventurous as compared to flight.

Hi vargis, our plan to visit spiti, ladakh, sachpass in 25th June to 15 July with our bikes, our plan is Shimla to kalpa Kalpa to kaza Kaza to kaylong Kaylong to leh Leh to nubra Nubra to pangong Pangog to hanle or tso moriri depends on permit Hale or tso moriri to leh Leh to sonmarg or Srinagar Srinagar to kistwar Kistwar to sachpass to killar Killar to Manali Is this plan ok for June to July15 ? And my bike is activa5g 109cc,

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Leh Ladakh Itinerary 5 Days: Ultimate Itinerary (+ Guide)

Discover the stunning beauty of Ladakh in this short Leh Ladakh Itinerary 5 Days.

Undoubtedly, Ladakh is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Located in the northern-most portion of India, Leh Ladakh is a place ripe with unique experiences, must-do activities, incredible sights & astonishing scenery.

Ladakh is a hot summer destination in India . The place gets maximum attention during April and June, with families, teenagers, and road-trippers all making their way to experience one of the best trips in India. Its dramatic landscape is its single biggest draw, with snow-clad mountains and glistening lakes boasting their charm. Likewise, Ladakh’s diverse topography makes your entire trip worthwhile. No matter where you go or which place you visit, you ought to come across valleys, rustic villages, and peaceful Gompas.

Along with Leh Ladakh’s landscape, its tourist destinations such as Tso Moriri , Nubra Valley , Leh City , Siachen Glacier , and Pangong Lake cultivate a lively sense of tourism. The culture, the traditions, and the local customs create a beautiful blend of harmony to enrich your overall Ladakh tour experience .

With so much to see and do around, we thought of creating the best itinerary for Leh Ladakh that can help you nail your first-ever trip. In this guide, we created a schedule that includes terrific places, top experiences, and must-do tours/activities .

So, without further ado, let’s get started with our Leh Ladakh tour itinerary.

Overview of Leh Ladakh Itinerary 5 Days

The itinerary designed for this Ladakh trip is curated for 5 days. The tour will start and end in Leh .

While not many people visit Leh Ladakh on such a short break, there’s a significant portion of travellers who prefer 5-6 days duration. To cater to these tourists, we created a perfect Ladakh itinerary consisting of all the niche experiences & activities .

Although a 5 Day Leh Ladakh itinerary sounds short, it is still packed with good sightseeing spots , road trip journeys, and must-do activities. Even if you’re a first-time traveller, this 5 day itinerary for Ladakh will come in handy to plan your first ever trip!

The trip can be customized entirely according to your style and preference. Thus, you can include or exclude any destination from the journey as you’d like.

Schedule of Leh Ladakh Trip Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrive in Leh – Sightseeing Tours Day 2 : Leh – Nubra Valley (Khardung La Pass – Diskit – Hunder) Day 3 : Nubra Valley – Pangong Lake (Sumur – Shayok – Tangtse) Day 4 : Pangong Lake – Leh (Chang La – Chemrey – Hemis) Day 3 : Depart from Leh

Essential Planning Tips for 5 Days in Ladakh

These are some vital planning tips one should consider before planning their 5 days trip to Ladakh.

Take a Flight

Since our Leh Ladakh trip is only for 5 days, it makes sense to travel via flight. We won’t recommend a road trip journey to & fro Ladakh , as this is not a feasible option for a shorter travel plan. A minimum of 7-9 days is required to plan a full-fledged road journey to Leh Ladakh. Also, ensure that you arrive in Leh a day before your actual trip. This way, you can also take care of getting acclimated to the altitude of Ladakh.

Pre-Plan your Ladakh Tour

We recommend planning your Leh Ladakh trip at least six months before your actual departure . Considering the summer season in India (April to June), most travellers often book their Ladakh tour to avoid hiked hotel prices & airfare tickets.

Secondly, you’ll need to get your Inner Line Permit arranged. This is only applicable to foreigners (non-Indian residents). An Inner Line Permit is basically a ticket that grants you access to enter the protected areas of Ladakh. These places include visiting Nubra Valley , Pangong Lake , Turtuk , Khardung La , and Tso Moriri . One can get their permits sorted by directly  visiting this website .

The charges for these permits are as follows  –

Environmental Fee : INR 300 Inner Line Permit : INR 20 per day per person Red Cross Fund : INR 100

Note : The above prices can change. Please  visit the website  to stay updated on the latest pricing.

Travel Q – Do you need an Inner Line Permit in Ladakh? No. Inner Line Permit is no longer required for Indian citizens. Earlier, you had to compulsory book the pass to visit the protected zones of Ladakh. However, now the government has scrapped the idea of improving logistical tourist routes.

Book Your Transport

The second most important thing for your Leh Ladakh itinerary is to book internal transpor t . For this 5 day tour, we recommend booking a private vehicle for your entire Ladakh trip. Riding a motorcycle can be difficult, especially when you’re just getting acclimatized.

You can directly book a taxi from the airport to the hotel journey from the airport itself. To explore Leh Ladakh’s sightseeing, you’ll need to arrange transport in advance. We recommend Expedia for the rental car service, as they tend to provide affordable rates for their private vehicles.

Altitude Sickness  in Ladakh

Many people ignore the altitude sickness problem in Ladakh and then often waste their sightseeing schedule. The best precaution against AMS (acute mountain sickness) is ample rest. At the same time, it may sound like a ridiculous thing to do, especially when you’re travelling to a beautiful region – getting rest is crucial before you start your sightseeing in Leh Ladakh.

Not doing so will only cause you more problems throughout the trip. If you have any medical conditions, please consult a doctor before this trip. It’s best to clarify your fitness levels before you travel to Leh Ladakh.

Moreover, to help you avoid AMS in Ladakh,  read this guide  as an additional resource. It details some steps to handle altitude sickness in Ladakh.

Cost of Leh Ladakh Tour Itinerary

Ladakh is an expensive region to travel to. Significantly, after COVID-19, many hotels and tour operators have hiked their rates to match their daily expenses. On average, a 5-day trip to Ladakh can cost anywhere between INR 12000 – INR 15000 , which excludes to & fro flights and sightseeing entrance fees. Considering flights, expect the price to increase to INR 28000 – INR 32000.

Note – The above prices are an indicative number based on the history of previous tours/packages. You can explore the below packages to find your perfect Leh Ladakh tour –

5D/4N Leh Ladakh – Explore this tour to book a similar version of this itinerary. 7D/6N Ladakh Sightseeing – Book an all inclusive tour for Ladakh via Delhi.

Detailed Leh Ladakh Itinerary 5 Days

Day 1: arrive in leh.

Leh, the city of adventures, is a bustling cold desert town filled with glorious tourist attractions. It isn’t a developed city boasting great amenities and accessibility; it still marks a vital destination to promote adventure tourism.

The rugged roads, dramatic landscapes, snowcapped peaks, bells of the monasteries, and the deserted cold wind makes you feel alive when you’re in the city of Leh. It isn’t only the attractions that drive most tourism, but its unique blend of Indian and Tibetian culture tends to bring out energetic vibes.

Once you reach Leh, the first thing you need to do – is get acclimatized.

Due to Leh Ladakh’s altitude, oxygen levels are minimum – causing you breathing and exertion problems. To avoid any health-related issues, it’s best to recommend giving yourself the time to get acclimatized to Leh’s atmosphere.

Note : You can spend more than a day in Leh to cover most of the city’s major sightseeing. If you take a day off to get acclimatized to the surroundings, it’s recommended to add an extra day to your Leh Ladakh itinerary to visit its important landmarks.

On this day, you can opt to visit Leh Ladakh’s top most attractions including – Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Magnetic Hill, and Hall of Fame. To add more sightseeing excursions to your Ladakh trip, you can book a full-day guided tour of the Leh City. This way you can maximize your travel for inner region travel.

Apart from the attractions listed above, there’s plenty to see and do in Leh Ladakh. You can add these places to your Leh Ladakh itinerary – Shey Palace ,  Shey Monastery ,  Gurudwara Patthar Sahib ,  Stok Palace ,  Likir Monastery , and  Thikse Monastery .

Day 2: Leh to Nubra Valley (Drive)

Approx Distance from Leh to Nubra Valley  – 4hr 40mins (160km)

If there’s anything that a traveller might dream of on their Leh Ladakh road trip, it is this journey –  Leh to Nubra Valley . It’s one of the bucket-list activities many adventurers plan for a good reason!

The scenic drive from Leh to Nubra is packed with astonishing scenery, barren landscapes, mighty Himalayas, and the beautiful Zanskar and Karakoram range . These natural settings make the road trip quite memorable!

Visiting Nubra Valley is a must on a Leh Ladakh tour . Every biker dreams of seeing the place and traversing the region to explore its stunning beauty. The valley houses many attractions such as Diskit , Turtuk , Panamik , and many other unspoiled areas. The locals who live here showcase their lively traditions to fascinate tourists from all over the world.

To reach Nubra Valley, you’ll need to start early in the morning. You’ll travel via the Khardung La, which is approximately 38kms from Leh and will take you around an hour to reach. There’s a canteen around the place to stop by and get some refreshments.

Continue your journey from Khardung La to reach Diskit for some sightseeing tours. The town is famous for its landmark – the  Diskit monastery , which is considered the largest gompa ( Tibetian temple) in  Nubra Valley. Nearby the hill lies another milestone of Diskit –  the statue of Maitreya Buddha . Bactrian camel rides and Hunder dunes also remain popular sightseeing tours of Nubra Valley.

You can spend the night at Hunder Village, located 10kms from Diskit. For more hotel recommendations around Nubra Valley, explore this page .

Day 3: Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake (Drive)

Approx Distance from Nubra Valley   to   Pangong Lake  – 6hr 20mins (140km)

Like the other road trips in Leh, the journey from Nubra Valley to Pangong is one of the scenic drives in the country. Every year, many tourists flock to the region of Ladakh to experience the road trip vibes of the Nubra and Pangong. Especially if this is your first-time exploring Leh Ladakh, you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to these places.

Pangong Lake is one of the gorgeous, most beautiful lakes in India. The expansive views of the contrasting blue lake make the waters look adorning to the backdrop of the rugged mountains. During the winters, the temperatures in the area fall below -20°C causing the lake to get frozen completely. Moreover, the lake’s elevation makes the surrounding scenes truly captivating, making you fall in love with Pangong Lake’s beauty.

Travel Q :  Is camping at Pangong Lake allowed? Considering the imbalance in the ecological fragility of the lake, the Government of India has decided to stop overnight camping around Pangong Lake. The sustainability issues made the authorities declare a ban, thus preserving the beauty of the lake. For alternatives around Pangong, check this page.

There are multiple ways to reach Pangong Lake from Nubra Valley. One is via Shyok , where the roads are comprehensive and extensive, and the other via Wari La , which is more of an off-beat experience. Nowadays, most travellers opt to take the Wari La route to explore the mountainous region, and it isn’t the easiest path to drive on and will require profound driving experience to complete the stretch.

Distance from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake via Shyok route : 140kms (6hr 20mins) Distance from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake via Wari La route : 375kms (9hrs)

Looking for accommodation near Pangong Lake? Find out the resources below –

Hotels near Pangong Lake : Explore this page to find best hotel stays & deals near Pangong Lake. Campsites near Pangong Lake : The Nature’s Nest Camp near Pangong is the closest you can get to Pangong Lake.

Day 4: Pangong Lake to Leh (Drive)

Approx Distance from Pangong Lake to Leh  – 5hr 30mins (222.9km)

Before returning to Leh, stroll around Pangong Lake to admire the scenic sunrise. You’ll even spot many bird species around the lake, as Pangong is a popular breeding site for migratory birds.

On your way back, you’ll be taking the  Chang La pass . You can visit several attractions here, such as  Chemrey monastery  and  Hemis monastery . The Hemis Gompa is Leh Ladakh’s largest monastery, boasting beautiful shrines and an 8-meter Padmasambhava statue. Before reaching Leh, you’ll also find the famous monastery of  Thiksey . It’s known for its impressive architecture and decorated interior work.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore Leh’s surroundings. Furthermore, if you had spent day one getting acclimatized to Leh’s climate – this is the perfect day to enjoy the serene beauty of Ladakh’s amazing sightseeing spots.

Day 5: Departure

This marks the end of your Leh Ladakh Itinerary for 5 days. You can extend this itinerary to 7 or 9 days, depending on your schedule, and visit places like  Zanskar Valley ,  Kargil ,  Hemis National Park ,  Moonland , and  Tso Moriri Lake .

Accommodation for Leh Ladakh Itinerary 5 Days

When planning your Leh Ladakh tour, accommodation becomes a crucial factor. Firstly, it’s essential to understand that Leh Ladakh isn’t a developed region compared to other metropolitan cities. It boasts many luxury hotel stays, guesthouses, and hostels – but you shouldn’t expect great amenities in places like Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.

Most of the inner sub-regions feature rustic accommodation with basic amenities & facilities – which is still considered a favorable option amongst travellers who enjoy rustic stays.

For our Leh Ladakh itinerary trip itinerary, we categorized hotels into several price ranges. This will help you select the right hotel for the right price during your stay in Ladakh.

Please find the below resources for the hotel stays in Leh Ladakh  –

Budget Hotels in Ladakh  – Explore this page to find budgeted stays & rental apartments in Leh Ladakh. Mid-range Hotels in Ladakh  – Looking for good amenities? Check this page to find mid-range hotels across Leh. Luxury Hotels in Ladakh  – Fancy a luxurious stay in Ladakh? Check this page to find more.

Recommended : Read this guide to find out the top 5 luxury stays in Ladakh .

FAQs for Leh Ladakh Itinerary 5 Days

How many days are enough for Leh Ladakh? You’ll at least need 10-12 days to cover major sightseeing spots of Leh Ladakh. Considering the distance between Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, and Leh, you should give yourself the time to soak in Ladakh’s serene beauty.

Are 5 Days enough for the Leh Ladakh tour? Factually, a 5 day trip to Ladakh isn’t a sufficient period to admire Leh Ladakh’s scenery. With so many attractions & experiences, a tour of a minimum of 7-9 days is required. However, if you’re short on time and need a quick breakthrough to fizz past Ladakh’s sightseeing, a 5-day tour is worthwhile.

How much does a Leh Ladakh trip cost? Many tour operators across India will charge different prices for their services & sightseeing add-ons. It ultimately comes to the duration you choose, places you visit, and some off-beat experiences. However, an average 5D/4N Leh Ladakh package costs INR 13,000 (excluding flights). You can check these tours here.

What is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh? Indian summers are the best period to enjoy Leh Ladakh’s mild temperatures. The region   attracts most of the crowd between April and July and is the busiest period to travel within Leh. You can expect temperatures ranging between 15°C – 30°C during this season.

Are Ladakh roads safe? The roads in Leh Ladakh are pretty rugged, featuring  steep cliffs , unpaved lanes, traffic jams, and rocky terrains. The highways in Ladakh aren’t the most drivable paths but certainly, boast incredible scenery and amazing landscape.

Further Readings & Resources

Coorg, India – 15 Absolutely Best Things to Do in Coorg, India Ooty, India – 15 Stunning Places to Visit in Ooty in 2 Days Iceland – 12 Stunning Things to Do in Iceland in October

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Best / Most Common Itinerary for Leh Ladakh Road Trip in 2023

On request of some avid readers of the blog and so many like-minded travelers seeking guidance for their tour to Leh – Ladakh, I would like to sketch below one of the most popular Ladakh itineraries. Many of Leh – Ladakh lovers follow it, including me, as it covers all three major tourist destinations of Ladakh, including Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, and Tso Moriri Lake.

The itinerary also covers Srinagar Leh Highway as well as Manali – Leh Highway, so it is apt for those looking forward to covering the entire Ladakh circuit. If you are making a trip to Ladakh in winter, then better refer most common itinerary for a winter trip to Ladakh

Download your FREE high-resolution version pdf copy of this Leh Ladakh day by day plan infographic guide. If, you liked it and found it helpful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends to help them too.

Let's quickly dive into the details:

Why travel Ladakh from Srinagar side?

I have started from Srinagar side because it gives at least two benefits, if not more. First, the body gets better acclimatized due to gradual ascent by the time you reach Leh and when you return from Manali Leh Highway , hence fewer chances of getting stuck with Acute Mountain Sickness ( more info on AMS ) and more enjoyment of views on Manali – Leh Highway.

If you start via Manali – Leh Highway, then most of the terrain runs over 4000 Mtrs of altitude, and by the time you reach such altitude, your body is not properly acclimatized. Hence, many people fall sick on Manali – Leh Highway despite covering in a 25:75 ratio (Manali – Keylong, Keylong – Leh) in terms of distance.

Dheeraj Sharma

Secondly, you save one day as Tso Moriri and Tso Kar Lakes can be adjusted once you start towards Manali from Leh. This way, you are not required to return to Leh from Tso Moriri to go toward Kargil or Srinagar.

Finally, you need to get inner line permits to travel to Tso Moriri which you will not get when traveling from Manali side. The permits need to be stamped in Leh Information Center or Leh DC office . As of 2022, permits are not required for domestic tourists to travel anywhere in Ladakh including the  Umling La pass . You only need to pay the environment/green/ecology fee and carry a receipt of the payment

For now, these reasons are good enough to start your Ladakh journey from Srinagar side 🙂 …

12-14 Days Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Road

When you plan for the Ladakh trip, it is better to plan the trip with a good number of days in hand. Cramming too many places in the Ladakh road trip does not make any sense because you will not enjoy the real beauty of the trip. Hence, I have kept about 12-14 days for this common itinerary of Ladakh trip.

Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu / Patnitop

• Overnight at Jammu or Patnitop
• About a 12-13 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 2 | Jammu / Patnitop – Srinagar

• Enjoy a walk around Dal lake and maybe Shikara ride as well
• Overnight at Srinagar
• About an 8-9 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 3 | Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil

• Enjoy the vistas en route near Sonamarg
• Have a meal at Drass during lunch
• Overnight at Kargil
• About 8 Hrs drive, depending upon the traffic movement at Zozila and breaks you take in between

Day 4 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh

• Cover Mulbekh Maitreya, Lamayuru Monastery, Lunar Landscapes
• On the way, you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu and other parts of Sham Valley
• Overnight at Leh
• About a 9-10 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 5 | Leh Local Sightseeing

• To know about the places to visit in/around Leh, check my Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh
• As of 2022, permits are not required for domestic tourists to travel anywhere in Ladakh including the  Umling La pass . You only need to pay the environment/green/ecology fee and carry a receipt of the payment. Get the online Ladakh inner line permits stamped in Leh Tourist information center or Leh DC office
• Check the Leh – Ladakh taxi union rate list for 2022 – 23 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh.
• You can call the local drivers directly to connect with them and check the more comprehensive List of Taxi Drivers for Ladakh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali with recommendations/reviews for DoW community members.

Day 6 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder

• Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder / Diskit
• On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La
• Diskit has monasteries with the tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari
• About a 5-6 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between and at Khardung La

Day 7 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh

• Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
• About a 7-9 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 8 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake

• Cover either of Hemis, Thiksey, and Shey on the go toward Pangong Tso
• Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung)
• About a 5-6 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 9 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh

• Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey, and Shey on return to Leh

Day 10 | Rest day at Leh

• Enjoy local culture, shopping, or rest in Leh
• Sham Valley includes Alchi, Likir , Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, Gurudwara Pather Sahib

Day 11 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang

• Cover Karzok Monastery
• Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri
• About a 7-8 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 12 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring (Manali – Leh Highway starts) – Moore Plains – Sarchu

• Try to start early in the day so that you reach Sarchu where the accommodation options are better than in Pang
• Overnight at Sarchu
• About 8 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 13 | Sarchu – Baralacha La – Keylong – Atal Tunnel – Manali

• On the way cover Suraj Tal, and Deepak Tal which are on the roadsides only
• Overnight at Manali
• About 6 Hrs drive

Day 14 | Manali – Delhi

• Return Home
• About a 12-14 Hrs drive from Manali to Delhi, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 15 + 16

Buffer days to be kept in case of road closure due to landslides or snowfall or perhaps you want to enjoy more.

Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso Direct Route Option

You can save a day by making a direct trip to Pangong Tso from Nubra Valley as suggested below.

Day 7 | Hunder / Diskit – Shyok village / Wari La route – Pangong Tso

• Take the direct route from Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso either via Shyok village or Wari La pass whichever is open.
• In the last couple of years (as of 2023), the direct route between Nubra Valley – Shyok Village – Pangong Tso has stabilized a lot. It is not at all desolate in the season anymore as it used to be a few years back.
• A lot of people do this route nowadays, so it should be fine for you to do that route as well. Just enquire at Agham village on the safer side or wait for a couple of cars to tag along on the route.
• Overnight at Pangong Tso.
• About a 6-10 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between and the route you take between Shyok and Wari La.

Day 8 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh

• About a 6-7 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Alternatively, you can also make a day trip to Pangong Tso (if Shyok village and Wari La pass routes are closed) as below but that makes it a bit in case.

Day 8 | Leh – Chang La – Pangong Tso – Chang La – Leh

• Make a Day trip to Pangong Tso via Chang La Pass.
• Overnight at Leh.
• About an 8-9 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between.

Additional Points for Ladakh trip from Srinagar

• You can also make a three-day trip to Nubra Valley so that you can spend one night in the beautiful village of Turtuk and remove the rest day at 9 or add one day to the above plan to visit Turtuk . I bet, you will not regret it at all visiting Turtuk in Nubra Valley.
• In Srinagar, you can also visit the Floating market > Shalimar Garden.
• For accommodation, check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in the entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate and cheap budget hotels.
• Any doubts related to the budget of your Ladakh trip?? Don’t worry, check this complete guide on How to calculate the cost or budget for Leh – Ladakh trip

I hope this plan or itinerary for Leh Ladakh from the Srinagar side will be useful for travelers planning their journey at least for the first time.

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube ch annel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.

I will look forward to any questions or doubts or valuable suggestions and inputs you have and would love to discuss your custom plan as well in the comments section.

You can share your valuable suggestions and inputs you have or you would love to discuss your custom plan as well in the comments section. If you want any customization or deviation from the above plan, feel free to ask any questions, and in case you know a friend who is interested in traveling Ladakh from Srinagar in such a plan, feel free to share the article with them.

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I am Dheeraj Sharma - a traveler, techie, and Himalayan lover. Since 2009, I have been helping thousands of travelers every year plan memorable & budget-friendly trips to the Himalayas - Smartly, Safely, and responsibly.

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Very comprehensive. This excludes the Zanskar valley. What would be the suggested itinerary change if that also needs to be included. Would it be a good idea to reach Srinagar by flight and then travel by road ?

Hey Vimal, you can refer: Ladakh and Zanskar Itinerary

Hi Dheeraj,

Thanks for the prompt reply. On the taxi related rules – i hope there would be no problem if i have a car rented from Delhi or elsewhere for the complete trip, or if I am having a zoomcar or my own car.

Hi Dheeraj, Your information is very useful for me, a 1stimer to Leh !!! Thanks ! I will fly to Leh and here is my plan: Day1: Leh (guesthouse) Day 2: Leh – Turtuk (guesthouse ?) Day 3: Turtuk – Pangong (camping or guesthouse ?) Day 4: Pangong – Tso Morri (camping or guesthouse ?) Day 5: Tso Morri – Tso Kar – Hemis – Leh (guesthouse) Pls advise if it”s ok ! Thanks ! Hung

Day 2 is required at Leh for acclimatisation. One day is not enough. This plan looks too hectic. Hall of Fame at Leh is must visit, without which your trip is incomplete. Turtuk to PangongTso in one day is feasible only through Shyok/ WariLa route, but you will have to check if this route is open. You are stretching yourself a too much with the trip.

Thanks a lot for your advise I will replan my trip cheers ! Hung

Great, have a wonderful trip

I along with my parents are planning a road trip to srinagar from delhi. we will start from delhi on 15th early morning. We wish to be back to delhi by 24th sep.

In this time frame is it possible for us to cover drass/kargil? If yes can you suggest an itinerary? What kind of weather can we expect there?

Hoping to hear from you..

Rene, are you just visiting Srinagar or visit Ladakh as well? If you want to just visit Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir, then yes it is possible.

Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu Day 2 | Jammu – Srinagar Day 3 | Srinagar Day 4 | Srinagar – Zoji La – Drass – Kargil Day 5 | Kargil – Drass – Sonamarg Day 6 | Sonamarg – Gulmarg Day 7 | Gulmarg – Patnitop Day 8 | Patnitop – Delhi Day 9 | Buffer day

Thank for prompt reply. I really appreciate that. Initially we planned for Leh Ladakh but had to drop it because of time constraint.

So now we have limited days i.e. 15-25 sep. and we are mainly visiting srinagar. But I want to take my parents to Drass and Kargil.

The plan you suggested seems good. I will reach to you for any further help and request you to help me as I am chalking out the plan all alone with no travel exposure.

Cheers Rene

No problems Rene, feel free to post as many questions as you would like 🙂

First of all many thanks for such a wonderful and informative blog.

We are planning for Delhi – Srinagar – Leh – Manali – Delhi road trip (by own diesel car) in September mid this year. It will be a 12 – 13 days trip. My question is:

– Is it wise to book all hotels for all (12 days) in advance or is it fine if we directly reach to the destinations and search for hotels?

Thanks Sehaj

September is not a peak season and you can travel to Ladakh without much issues without any bookings. You will be able to find them on the spot.

we too are planning leh ladakh trip in mid september from Delhi. Have you finalized your trip?

Thanks Saurabh

Seems, wonderful, let me know incase you guys have questions on planning the trip to Ladakh or your itineraries.

HI Sir This is Ahmed we are travelling in Aug last week. we will start from Delhi and our tour is for 10 to 12 days. 1) From Delhi its good to start from Srinagar then Leh manali and all or we should start from Manali. 2) We are 6 frnds and we want to hire taxi from Delhi to cover all the places how much will be total cost if we hire from Delhi to Srinagar Leh Manali and all and coming back to Delhi? 3) Kindly suggest few places where we should go by bike coz we want to explore the places by bikes? 4) What will be the approx. cost including Rental car, Bikes in few places, Budget hotels and meals for 12 days? places will Start from Delhi and cover Manali leh Ladakh Srinagar kargil and all places which we should go? 5) Kindly suggest the best route map to cover max places which are worth and duration we should stay there?

Replied https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/how-to-calculate-cost-or-budget-for-leh-ladakh-trip/comment-page-13/#comment-466981

can we plan in December or January for Leh ladhak bike ride along with Manali, Jammu and All…. plz suggest

No, the roads from Manali to Leh gets closed by mid to late October nowadays.

Dear Dheeraj We are planning to travel in Aug last week and we are planning for 8 to 10 days . kindly suggest the plan from Delhi and end Delhi and Second plan if we go by flight to Leh and start our tour. so how we proceed and best places to go by Bike in this tour. What are things we should carry

You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh by Air followed by many travelers including me at the link here for 9 days: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air .

It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi with stopovers at Sarchu, Manali. This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.

Opt to go via Manali – Leh Highway and I will suggest that you refer the thread for more details on the route and night halts though it is of 9 days: Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days . You can fit in plan I suggested in above para in this plan

Hi Dheeraj….This is our plan….. Aug 1st – Srinagar to Leh Aug 2nd – Kargil to leh Au 3rd – Leh Aug 4th – Leh to Turtuk Aug 5th – Turtuk,takshi village Aug 6th – Hunder,diskit, leh Aug 7th – Pangong Lake Aug 8th – Psomoriri,tsokar lake Aug 9th – Tsokar to Jispa Aug 10th – Jispa to Kaza(Chandratal) Aug 11th – Kaza(Hikkim,komic etc) Aug 12th – Dhankar, Tabo, Nako Aug 13th – Nako to Shimla Aug 14th – Shimla to Delhi

Is this fine???

My inputs below: 1. I believe you meant Srinagar to Kargil 2. Aug8: Are you doing PAngong Tso to Tso Moriri to Tso Kar? It will be too much, better add a day or stay at Tso Moriri only 3. Then do Tso Moriri to Jispa 4. Jispa to Chandratal, Chandratal to Kaza covering Lagnza, Hikkim, Komic

Rest you are just being on road mostly not soaking in except Turtuk.

Yes almost full on roads..It is possible knw?or any change needed apart from tsokar one..yes its srinagar to kargil only

Well, I will recommend add some rest days in Kaza and Kinnaur to ease out the trip in that leg

Hi Dheeraj…One more clarification pls…We got a rate of 65k for innova to cover our entire trip(srinagar-leh-turtuk-tsomoriri-jispa-kaza-nako-tabo-shimla)..is this rate fine…some says its high..

It seems to be a fine rate to covering the entire stretch including Spiti Valley

This plan is not doable. I recommend that you study the geography and topography od Ladakh and Spiti Valley. Also, only JK10 registered vehicles are permitted in Ladakh, so be sure that the innova you are hiring is JK10 registered. Innova for 65k for the entire trip. There is something amiss. Please check again.

I am Deepak,

The information and tour plan you have shared is awesome. Even I am planning for the similar type of tour.

Please let me know how viable is the below mentioned plan. I am planning to transport my 2010 model CBZ Xtreme (90000KM Driven, which is well serviced) to Delhi and start the journey from there.

Even let me what need to be checked with the bike as this my first bike trip.Please let me know at what places fuel is available and what kind of possible vehicle break down might happen.

Actually I am planning to reach Delhi from hyderabad on 16th June by train and on the same day start for Jammu.

Day2: Jammu to Srinagar

Day 3 : Srinagar to Kargil

Day 4: Kargil to Leh

Day 5: Leh sightseeing, inner line permit and acclimitization.

Day 6: Leh to Nubra Valley

Day 7: Nubra to Pangong

Day 8: Pangong to Tsomoriri ( Avoid returning to Leh)

Day 9: Tso moriri to Sarchu

(From leh to Sarchu it is almost 1050 Km, milege of my bike in city is 40KM/L. If I take 30Km/L for this terrain, I will be needing 35 to 40 Litres of fuel. Even if i start with full tank of 12 Litres and 2 jerry cans of 20 litre capacity, I will be having shortage of 10 litres. Is there any fuel station available in this route or is it is better to return to Leh after pangong and then leave to Sarchu via Tso Moriri)

Day 10: Sarchu to Manali

Day 11: Manali to New Delhi.

If possible please share me information about place must to see in the whole trip or else please share me any web links.

With Best Regards

For fuel, please check: Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips

You will have to carry the fuel with you if you plan to do above circuit. There are places where you get black fuel too. Please refer article above.

Its my pleasure to thank you for giving amazing tips to make our trip easy.

On 26th June morning at 9:55 I will be reaching Delhi and start my journey to manali on a public transport and will be reaching Manali in early morning on 27th June. From there only I am going to start my bike ride following the same itinerary suggested by you in this top of the page. And I have to end my bike tour in manali 0n 8th June evening and need to travel to delhi by public transport and next day evening (9th evening 3:00) I have to get my flight back in Delhi to Srilanka.

So, according to given period, kindly adjust your itinerary according to my period and suggest me a good plan.

Appreciate your valuable reply.

Thanks. Mubarak Srilanka

You can follow the below plan:

27th – Manali rest day 28th – Manali – Jispa/Keylong 29th – Jispa/Keylong – Leh 30th – Leh rest day and find shared taxis or bikes and apply for Protected Area Permits 1st – Leh – Nubra Valley 2nd – Nubra Valley – Leh 3rd – Leh – Pangong Tso 4th – Pangong Tso – Leh 5th – Leh – Tso Moriri 6th – Tso Moriri – Leh 7th – Leh – Jispa/Keylong (start back for Manali) 8th – Reach Manali and take the evening Volvo back to Delhi from Manali.

Dear Dheeraj,

Problem is, i am going to Srinagar via Pathankot from Manali in the bike. from srinagar to Leh and Leh to Manali on the same dates above mentioned.

Please revise your suggested itinerary plan according to this and send it to me for my convenience. Your help much appreciated.

Although I will suggest to drop Srinagar – Leh Highway in that case because else you will have to drop Tso Moriri lake. Still, if you want to do it, you can follow below

27th – Manali rest day 28th – Manali – Pathankot 29th – Pathankot – Srinagar 30th – Srinagar – Kargil 1st – Kargil – Leh 2nd – Leh rest day and find shared taxis or bikes and apply for Protected Area Permits 3rd – Leh – Nubra Valley 4th – Nubra Valley – Leh 5th – Leh – Pangong Tso 6th – Pangong Tso – Leh 7th – Leh – Jispa/Keylong (start back for Manali) 8th – Reach Manali and take the evening Volvo back to Delhi from Manali.

Hello Dheeraj, Thanks for starting this blog. It has been very useful for planning our trip. We are 2 couples travelling from srinagar and reach leh on 25th June. In leh we will be covering nubra, turtuk, pangong, tso moriri, the leh itenary is as follows:

Our driver-thanks again as we got his contact from your suggested list- said travelling direct pangong to tso moriri won’t be possible as the road has been closed. And he suggested this plan. 1 day: Leh local (26th june) 2 day: Leh to nubra, hunder stay. 3 day: hunder to Turtuk and back hunder 4 day: Nubra to pangong via shayok and pangong stay. 5 day: pangong to chumathang stay. 6 day: chumathang to Tsomoriri and back Leh.

1. So is it possible to travel direct from pangong tso to tso moriri instead of long chumathang route? 2.On day 6, other couple is planning to head leh along with the cab and fly back while two of us wana go ahead via manali route. So would we able to get public transport or tag along with other grp till manali. I read there is HPTDC bus operating from leh to manali, but for that do l have to come back to leh from tso moriri or can join keylong/jispa/sarchu? Please suggest.

Thanks and regards, Ankit

Considering driver is suggesting it, better take his words and yes Chusul road is on and off this season. It depends on the permit if you get from DC office in Leh. If you get it, then go with it else take Chumathang route

It is better for other couple to return to Leh on Day 5 because it does not make sense to travel to Chumathang and return.

Hello Dheeraj, Thanks for your reply.

2.I m confused, do u suggest to skip travel to tso moriri. And leave for manali from Leh by HPTDC bus after coming from Pangong ? Or Is there any other way. Can we find info about HPTDC buses anywhere. Like do they operate everyday now and do the bookings. Because I read couple of years back it used to operate alternate days.

No, I am saying that the other person who will come back to Leh, should not go to Chumathang. I believe you are going to cover Tso Moriri, come back to Leh and then from Leh will take bus to Manali? HPTDC will publish the details as soon as the road gets open.

Hello Dheeraj,

Ok, actually we are starting from chumathang in morning and head to tso moriri and then reach leh by night by car..car rental ends there.. And take bus to manali next day morning.

So rather is there any way to reach manali from tso moriri if you don’t have a cab.

No Ankit, from Tso Moriri in case you have personal vehicle or hire the taxi, you cannot reach Manali by public transport.

I am from Singapore and have 13 days to travel around Leh on a motorbike trip this September, would the following itinerary be comfortable?

Day 1: fly into Leh Day 2: Leh (Rest Day) Day 3: Nubra Valley via Khardung La Day 4: Leh Day 5: Tso Moriri via Chumathang Day 6:Sarchu Day 7: Manali Day 8: Dharamshala Day 9: Jammu Day 10: Srinagar Day 11: Kargil Day 12: Leh Day 13: Buffer Day

Franz, I will recommend that you focus on Ladakh only ad skip other places for some other time. Also, it is better to fly to Srinagar and then go to Ladakh and after covering Ladakh go over to Manali – Dharamshala. This way it helps in acclimatization and better planning of the trip. Let me know if are unable to work out the itinerary from the plan mentioned in the article above.

Hey Dheeraj,

Based on what you said, is it safe to assume the pace I am going at would not be safe or comfortable? In that case, would it be better to just focus on leh and Manali by doing a round trip from Leh to Manali and back to leh again? Thank you so much for your help

This is what I will recommend you

Day 1 | Delhi – Srinagar — Enjoy walk around Dal lake and may be Shikara ride as well — If you have time then check out, floating market, Shalimar Garden. — Overnight at Srinagar

Day 2 | Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil — Enjoy the vistas enroute — Have late drunch meal at Drass is you are a vegetarian as sometimes it gets difficult to find veg. food at Kargil — Overnight at Kargil

Day 3 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh — Cover Mulbekh Maitrey, Lamayuru Moanstery, Lunar Landscapes — On the way you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu — Overnight at Leh

Day 4 | Leh Local Sightseeing + Acclimatization — To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh — Overnight at Leh

Day 5 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder — Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder / Diskit — On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La — Diskit has monasteries with tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari

Day 6 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh — Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs — Overnight at Leh

Day 7 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso — Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung)

Day 8 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh — Overnight at Leh

Day 9 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour OR you can do tour to Sham Valley — Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only. — Sham Valley include Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, Gurudwara Pather Sahib — Overnight at Leh

Day 10 | Leh – Taglang La – Moore Plains – Pang – Sarchu — Stay overnight at Sarchu

Day 11 | Sarchu – Baralacha La – Keylong – Rohtang Pass – Manali — On the way cover Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal which are on the road sides only — Overnight at Manali

Day 12 | Manali – Delhi Day 13 + 14 | Buffer days to be kept incase of road closure due to landslides or snowfall or perhaps you want to enjoy more.

what would be the itenerary from chd to leh via manali… would be highly appreciate if u could share it. thanks.

You can refer: Ladakh from Manali – Most Common Itinerary

Hello Discover With Dheeraj Team we have planned to Start On 18th of May 2018, From Chandigarh-Srinagar-Jammu-Kargil Leh. Will the Route Open Thank You Waiting For Reply

Most likely this year the road should be open. Srinagar – Leh is already open.

Hey, we are also planning for a similar itinerary. May be we can catch up / plan together?

How can i break down this itinerary into 9-10days following the same route as Delhi-Srinagar-Manali-Delhi

I am very extremely excited after going through your website and way you are updating every information for travelers so well. However, i am very much satisfied and agreed on advantages you have mentioned to take Delhi-Srinagar-Manali-Delhi route. considering the same, i have listed down below itinerary covering 10days, could you please review and help me out. I am planning to drive my I20:

Day 1 — 25-May-18 — Delhi to Patnitop Day 2 — 26-May-18 — Patnitop to Srinagar Day 3 — 27-May-18 — Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil Day 4 — 28-May-18 — Kargil to Lamayuru – Leh Day 5 — 29-May-18 — Leh to Leh Local Sighseeing Day 6 — 30-May-18 — Leh to Nubra Valley Day 7 — 31-May-18 — Leh to Pangong Tso Lake Day 8 — 1-Jun-18 — Leh to Taglang La – Pang – Sarchu Day 9 — 2-Jun-18 — Sarchu Baralacha La – Keylong – Rohtang Pass – Manali Day 10 — 3-Jun-18 — Manali to Delhi

Thank you Arun. I will highly recommend that you add one more day in the plan and also consider the option below if that is not possible

Day 6 — 30-May-18 — Leh to Nubra Valley Day 7 — 31-May-18 — Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso Lake Day 8 — 1-Jun-18 — Pangong Tso Lake – Taglang La – Pang/Sarchu

Thank You Dheeraj,

Highly appreciated with your promptness. If i add one more day, where do i fit that day with what all other options i have to explore?

Also, reason i have opted Srinagar route with 10-11days plans is what i am really convinced with acclimatized, no road pass (rohtang pass), by this i covered both the highways. I hope i am going in a right way. Hope with I20 drive is manageable as i have read lot of people recommend SUV

Wonderful, yes Srinagar – Leh is better option always for acclimatization. For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway and Ladakh, I will say Possible = Yes, Difficult = Yes, at quite a few place:

You will indeed face few tough challenges on the route. The hatchback/sedan will increase the level of every challenge even further, sedan is the worst candidate. My suggestion will be to go via Srinagar route as it will help you feel comfortable with the driving, provide more acclimatization and then once you have done the local Leh-Ladakh, then come back via Manali side. Secondly, since you are in hatch/sedan, then you need to drive with extra care as well. There will be some sections on the Manali – Leh highway in which you might need to sacrifice some scratches on the underbelly. Just make sure you do not bump the engine sump (know it before where it is placed in your car). You need to protect it all around the trip. Thirdly, whenever in doubt do not rush into the section rather park aside and feel the section with your foot, see how other vehicles are crossing it and make a planned route in your mind to cross that section. At the very least do carry Mseal, quick fix, funnel, jerry cans and towing rope with you all the time.

Also, I will strongly suggest that you go through and read my series on Ladakh Self Drive tips at the links below:

7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh – Ladakh , Routes and Road Conditions In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips , Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips

I have started my preparation and following your great guidance and reading your website all day long. now i will be starting my journey from June 8th instead of May. now i am little scared on following option after going through the route details on : https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/tips-for-nubra-valley-to-pangong-tso-direct-route/ . Me and wife will be the only one and we will be going via a hatchback. Is it really advice able to do this route. Is there any other route which i should take to avoid any difficulties for us. Is there any better road which is available now in year 2018? or i should go back to Leh from Nubra Valley??

Day 7 Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso Lake

In a hatchback, this kind of route I will say not to take unless you are prepared to turn back because of some section that you could not cross. In last couple of years the road condition has been much better but I am not sure if you are ready to take up the chance. You should also wait for other vehicles to arrive and join them in a convoy so as to get some help. Else avoid the route and take conventional route to Pangong tso from Leh.

Dear Is it possible to do a day trip to Pangong from Leh as I want to avoid staying at Pangong due to high altitude area. Pls suggest as I will be travelling alone on my suv.

Yes Firaz, many people do a day trip to Pangong Tso. It takes about 12 hrs

I have planned a trip as per your recommended itinerary and made few tweaks, please advise if I am missing out anything and also please suggest a tentative budget for the trip on own Enfield 350\’s. Thanks

Haldwani-Delhi-Shrinagar-Leh-Manali-Delhi-Haldwani (May/June 2018)

Day 1 | Haldwani – Delhi

Day 2 | Delhi – Jammu / Patnitop – Overnight at Jammu or Patnitop. About 12-13 Hrs drive

Day 3 | Jammu / Patnitop – Srinagar – Overnight at Srinagar. About 8-9 Hrs drive

Day 4 | Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil – Overnight at Kargil. About 8 Hrs drive

Day 5 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh – Overnight at Leh. About 9-10 Hrs drive

Day 6 | Leh Local Sighseeing + Inner Line Permits – Overnight at Leh

Day 7 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder – Overnight at Hunder / Diskit . On the way Khardung La. About 5-6 Hrs drive

Day 8 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh – Overnight at Leh. About 7-9 Hrs drive

Day 9 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake – Overnight at Pangong Tso. About 5-6 Hrs drive

Day 10 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh – Overnight at Leh. About 5-6 Hrs drive

Day 11 | Rest day at Leh – Overnight at Leh

Day 12 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang – Cover Karzok Monastery. Overnight at Karzok. About 7-8 Hrs drive

Day 13 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring– Moore Plains – Pang / Sarchu – Overnight at Sarchu About 11-12 Hrs drive

Day 14 | Pang / Sarchu – Baralacha La – Keylong – Rohtang Pass – Manali – About 11-12 Hrs drive

Day 15 | Manali – Delhi – About 13-14 Hrs drive

Day 16 | Delhi – Haldwani

Personal requirements

Rucksack, Helmets, Bike Carrier for fuel and luggage Riding gear or Jacket, gloves, knee guards, helmet and balaclava. Rain Covers Jackets and 2-3 pullovers A pair of hand gloves preferably woolen, and warm clothes/caps to cover your ears and neck Soaps, towels, general medicines, bandages etc. 2 pairs of thermal inner, 4-5 pairs of socks Waterproof shoes, Sleeping bag Medicines for Acute Mountain Sickness such as Avomine, Dexamethasone, Diamox and Acetazolamide Chocolates, biscuits, and dry fruits Camera, chargers for cell phone and other basic things Torch, Mobile chargers, Camera kit etc.

Essential tools:

Tool kit, Ring spanners size 8 to 17 Screw Driver set, Steel wire Electrical & Scotch tape Foot or Electric air pump Puncture repair kit  

Essential Spares

Engine oil 90w Gear oil Headlight and brake light bulb Chain links Clutch and front brake lever, Clutch and accelerator wires Spare tube for front and rear tyre Spark plug Spare key Spare Fuse Nylon Rope & Bungee cords, Electrical wire Few nuts and bolts of various sizes Petrol pipe

Your plan looks similar to our most common itinerary and is good enough for enjoyable trip to Ladakh. The essential kit also is good.

Thank you very much for prompt response Dheeraj, much appreciated. Could you please also help me with a tentative budget that we can keep in mind while planning for the trip including fuel, stay, food etc. It would be of great help.

For doubts related to budget for Leh – Ladakh trip, I am sure the link below will help you alot for getting an idea of overall budget: How to calculate cost or budget for Leh – Ladakh trip

Also, check the article: 5 Tips for a Budget Trip to Ladakh

Hello, I am also interested in the trip but don’t have a group as of now. Please let me know if I can join you guys.

It will be much better that you check the DoW Travel Calendar from the link in the Main Menu of website. There had been about 600+ entries of the people planning their trips in last couple of seasons which helped them have better visibility for finding out travel partners. You can filter entries based on the preferences you have and increase chances of visibility. Hence, kindly explore DoW Travel Calendar and also post your entry too. This will help you find other fellow travellers looking for company and increase probability of finding your post by others too.

You can also post a DoW Travel Calendar entry by using the Main Menu and clicking on Submit New Event option in it. Here is the link: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/dow-travel-partners-calendar/

thank you for your feed backs and forums regarding Ladakh tours.

i am from kerala and am planning to visit leh-ladakh on the month of may 2018 (9 /5/218 to 25/5/2018) . we are confused about rotang pass and srinagar -leh high way opening time.please find our detailed the itinerary and comment! 1)9 may 2018 Delhi to Amritsar 2)10 may 2018 Amritsar sight seeing 3) 11 may 2018 Amritsar -Srinagar 4) 12 may 2018 Srinagar sight seeing 5) 13 may 2018 Srinagar to Kargil 6)14 may 2018 Kargil to leh 7) 15 may 2018 Rest at leh 8) 16 may 2018 leh to Nubra valley (via thunder ) 9) 17 may 2018 nubra to Pan gong 10) 18 may 2018 Pan gong to leh 11) 19may 2018 leh to tso moriri 12) 20 may 2018 tso moriri to sarchu /jispa or keylong 13) 21 may 2018 sarchu to manali /kasol 14) 22 may 2018 kasol to delhi 15) 23 may 2018 buffer day and flight back to home

waiting for your valuable feed back.

Well, your plan looks OK to me. I will recommend that you make a delay of one week for Manali – Leh Highway to open.

thank you dheeraj.

could you please tell Approximate time srinagar-leh & leh- manali high ways open? And we are planning to travel in car.is it ok in this period of time ?

You can track them under: Manali Leh Highway Status 2018 and Srinagar Leh Highway Status 2018

Hi Dheeraj, Please check my Itinerary below and let me know if any changes is required. We are travelling in a bike. Give me some inputs if there is any hectic schedule involved and suggest me what to modify.

Day 1: Chandighar – Patnitop Day 2: Patnitop – Sonmarg Day 3: Sonmarg – Kargil Day 4: Kargil – Leh Day 5: Rest day in Leh Day 6: Leh – Khardungla – Nubra Day 7: Nubra – Pangang Tso via Wali la Day 8: Pangang tso to Leh day 9: Leh to Tso moriri Day 10: Tso moriri – Sarchu Day 11: Sarchu to Manali Day 12: Manali to Chandighar

Prem, the plan looks good to me.

How is Nubra to pangong route now? Will you advise to that this route or come back to Leh?

Now a days many people do direct route from Pangong tso to Nubra Valley, so it shall be fine. Unless people at agham village says otherwise, you can very much take this direct route.

Dheeraj, I’m more worried about rain during July first week. Im not planning in June cos roads will not be good(as i read from your blogs). So Please let me know if July first week doable and how usually the weather in July first week (esp zozila)?

July first week is still good time to travel Suhas, rains mostly start from middle – late July

hey prem when are you plan this trip? in May or June?

Dear We planned to travel along Leh by June last week. Will be following exactly as per your itinerary. Got a small quiry that Is it possible to cover Nubra Valley to Leh via Pangong in one day?? Will it be hectic as we will be heading to Nubra Valley and stay over der, very next day will be headed towards Pangong and den to Leh from there on the same day. Is it possible?? Or worth enough to save one day???

Furu, Nubra to Pangong tso to Leh will surely be hectic and you will not enjoy much. It is same as doing day trip to Pangong Tso from Leh especially from Shyok route.

So it’s better to get back to Leh from Nubra. And den do a day trip to Pangong Tso. Will it be fine and easy to do a day trip to do a Pangong???

Furu, I will say add one more day to make it comfortable or stay at Pangong Tso. Then come back to Leh next day.

we are group of 6 (3 couples) visiting the region by an SUV (Innova/Scorpio) from July 6 this year 

Please review below itinerary and advise if the same is possible: Srinagar – Leh – Manali – Delhi Day 1 (July 6) Hometown to Srinagar (Flight) Day 2 srinagar – kargil Day 3 kargil – Leh Day 4 Acclimatization + local sightseeing Day 5 Leh – Nubra valley Day 6 Nubra valley – Pangong lake – Leh Day 7 Leh – Tsomoriri Day 8 Tsomoriri – Manali Day 9 Manali – Delhi Day 10 Delhi – hometown Also advise if is it possible to reach Manali directly from Tsomoriri lake within a day.

Which option is better for day 6 night stay per above itinerary? Leh (going back from pangong) or pangong itself considering next day is for tsomoriri?

Just replied to your comment here: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/question/srinagar-leh-manali-itinerary/

Hello Dheeraj, Thank you for the reply. We are planning through a tour operator so inner permits will be taken care of by them. Also, Which option is better for day 6 night stay per above itinerary? Leh (going back from pangong) or pangong itself considering next day is for tsomoriri? How are the accommodations at Pangong?m

Well, if you go back to Leh, it makes it less tiring. Otherwise, if you stay at Pangong tso, you will need to make a 12 Hr journey on bumpy roads to reach Tso Moriri next day. Please note that Nubra to Pangong tso to Leh will be like 12 hrs journey and I see that it is already hectic.

I will recommend that you drop to Tso Moriri lake visit. Rest at Pangong tso.

Dropping Tsomoriri is not option ! Already dropped once during my first visit because of last minute hotel cancellation 🙁

Google maps show Pangong to Tsomoriri 208 kn (5.5 hours journey). Are roads that bad that it will take 12 hours?

Yeah brother, do not follow Google maps for a trip to Ladakh, you may end up in a bad situation. Do not expect driving more than 20 KMs per hr on an average with breaks and all. So, 10-12 hrs it will surely take.

Hi Dheeraj, We are planning Delhi-Srinagar-Leh-Manali-Delhi circuit. Will the itinerary be suitable?

Day 1: Leave Delhi for Patnitop. Overnight at Patnitop Day 2: Patnitop to Kargil Day 3: Kargil to Leh (Overnight at Leh) Day 4: Leh to Nubra Valley (Overnight at Nubra Valley) Day 5: Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso (Overnight at Pangong Tso) Day 6: Pangong Tso to Hanle (Overnight at Hanle) Day 7: Hanle to Sarchu (Overnight at Sarchu) Day 8: Sarchu to Manali (Overnight at Manali) Day 9: Manali to Delhi

Some more details We will be a group of 8-10 people and will be taking own cars. (However experienced drivers will be driving) All of us are aged 27. We would not like to spend heavily on accommodation. approx 500-700 per night will be great and no problem in twin-triple or even 4 sharing rooms if there are any.

As per my estimates

Daily Food will be around 1000 max. 9k Accommodation (at 750 per night) 6k Tolls and Fees 1k max per head Fuel and Driver Cost as incurred.

So Delhi to Delhi should be 16k per head + car expenses

Is there anything I am missing out like 1) Are permits needed at any of thee places? 2) Are private cars not allowed at any of these places? 3) Any reason to not do a road or any alternate route you would suggest.

We have 9 days in hand. So please do help us in getting this sorted out.

Hi Sayanta,

The above plan is too rushed, does not take care of acclimatization. With that large group, someone may fall ill as the probability is high in large group. Permits are required, there is no rest in between and I am not sure if you have ever taken such hectic trip.

Thanks a lot for your very informative website for ladakh first timers like me.

Please find below our itinerary and let me know your suggestions. We have booked zoomcar for the entire trip and plan to hire bike at leh. Also considering no peak season we are not planning to book any stay now. We’ll explore once we reach there. Is it risky not to plan stay in advance?

Date Start End Distance Approx travel time in hour [w/o break]/per google map Stay Places to see Remarks DAY 1 14th sept Chandigad Pathankot 235 4.5 Stay at Pathankot Need to check for stay DAY 2 15th sept Pathankot Srinagar 331 7.5 Stay at Srinagar Gardens & Shikara ride Need to check for stay DAY 3 16th sept Srinagar Kargil 202 4 Stay at Kargil War Memorial at Drass Need to check for stay DAY 4 17th sept Kargil Leh 217 4 Stay at Leh Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu Need to check for stay DAY 5 18th sept Leh Leh 0 Stay at Leh Local sight seeing if possible “DAY FOR ACCLIMATIZATION. Collect bikes, fill petrol in bike and jerry cans. IMP: Get all required permissions” DAY 6 19th sept Leh Hunder 127 3.5 Hunder/ diskit “Khardung La tallest lord Buddha statue sand dunes and bacterian camel safari” Need to check for stay DAY 7 20th sept Hunder Leh 127 3.5 Stay at leh “monastery hot water springs” Need to check for stay DAY 8 21st sept Leh Pangong 225 5 Stay at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung) On the way Hemis/Thicksey/ and Shey Need to check for stay DAY 9 22nd sept Pangong Leh 225 5 Stay at Leh On the way Hemis/Thicksey/ and Shey Need to check for stay DAY 10 23rd sept Leh Tso moriri 220 5 Stay at Tso moriri Need to check for stay DAY 11 24th sept Tso moriri Sarchu 228 7 Stay at Sarchu Need to check for stay DAY 12 25th sept Sarchu Manali 223 7 Stay at Manali Need to check for stay DAY 13 26th sept Manali Chandigarh 309 8 Need to check for stay Total [approx] 2669 64

Thanks again.

Regards, Santosh

Hi Santosh,

I thought I would share my thoughts. Hope you don’t mind as I know you have asked for Dheeraj Ji’s inputs here! I am taking the liberty to express my opinions here!

1. I am also traveling during this time to Ladakh (look at the below post for my plans, I am starting on 16th from Noida) and I have booked the stay for the entire trip as I did not want to shell out extra money + search for stay there (although that might turn out to be cheaper as you can bargain). The main reasons for my decision are as follows:

a. Looking at various hotel booking website like MMT and booking.com, it seems that there would be people traveling on that month too and rooms/stay options are flying off the shelf and getting expensive by the day!

On the flip side, if you go for a home stay kind of arrangement, then you can definitely check them out when you reach there but I am more comfortable knowing that I have stay booked.

b. When I look at your plan, everything seems to be in perfect order apart from your planned stay @ Sarchu which might not be advisable as most of the camps/cottages would close down by that time and then there would be very limited number of options available. The reason for this as per the camp owners is that it starts getting very cold out there around last week of September and sometimes the weather also gets very bad! I personally talked to 2-3 camp/cottage owners and all of them said that they would wind up the camping latest by 15/16th of September.

Hence, I had to change the stay from Sarchu to Jispa which is further down and stay options there are easily available.

You can reach out to me @ [email protected] for any comments that I have put above!

In general, if you are OK with basic guest houses and home stays, there will not be any issue at all for booking on the spots. Your plan is well laid and comfortable. As Abhishek pointed in September, Sarchu camps starts to pack up and few properties remains. Nowadays road conditions are much better and Leh – Jispa can easily be done in a day. Since you are not booking in advance, take the decision to stay at Sarchu and Jispa on the day or a day before.

Thank you so much for your valuable suggestions.

Dheeraj ji,

I have following questions… 1. After after Pangong & Nubra is done with local bikes we plan to take our selfdrive/zoomcar to Tso moriri… then Jispa and back to Chandigarh via Manali. Will there be any problem if we take zoomcar to Tso moriri? 2. Can we take Zoomcar to Hanle? 3. Can we take Zoomcar to Turtuk?

Thanks a lot.

You can only take outside rented car to Leh and for all above places you need local Leh taxi.

So here is what my Ladakh trip looks like… starting on 16th September and ending on 30th September.

Day 1: Noida – Patnitop (Overnight stay at Patnitop) Day 2: Patnitop – Sonmarg (Overnight stay at Sonmarg) Day 3: +++ Rest Day at Sonmarg + Sight Seeing in Sonmarg & Gulmarg +++ (Overnight stay at Sonmarg) Day 4: Sonmarg – Kargil (Overnight stay at Kargil) Day 5: Kargil – Leh (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 6: +++ Rest Day at Leh + Sight Seeing in & around Leh +++ (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 7: Leh – Nubra Valley (Overnight stay at Diskit) Day 8: Nubra Valley – Pangong Tso Lake (Overnight at Pangong Tso Lake) Day 9: Pangong Tso – Leh (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 10: Leh – Tso Moriri Lake (Overnight stay at Korzok) Day 11: Tso Moriri – Jispa (Overnight stay at Jispa) Day 12: Jispa – Manali (Overnight stay at Manali) Day 13: +++ Rest Day at Manali + Sight Seeing in & around Manali +++ (Overnight stay at Manali) Day 14: Manali – Noida Day 15: Buffer Days Day 16: Buffer Days

Do you think that this plan looks good? I am assuming that I have taken enough breaks in between for the body to acclimatize to the conditions up there! Let me know if there are any changes that you want to suggest!

I would also welcome any feedback from fellow members here!

Thanks and Regards, Abhishek

You should use your buffer days and plan for Leh – Nubra – Leh in two days and then Leh – Pangong Tso – Hanle – Tso Moriri – Jispa direct trip. Rest your plan is very nicely laid out.

Hi Dheeraj Ji,

Any specific reason why you would recommend doing Leh – Nubra – Leh? I was thinking that I could do Nubra and Pangong Tso Lake in one go and then come back to Leh before exiting out from there and covering Tso Moriri….

Please let me know!

It will ease out the trip and you will enjoy more with Leh – Nubra – Leh in two days. You will fuel up and then best will be to do Leh to Pangong Tso, Pangong Tso to Hanle and Hanle to Tso Moriri, finally exit to Jispa from Tso Moriri

So I took your advice and have added a day in between to return to Let from Nubra Valley and then proceed towards Pangong Tso Lake next day. I guess that would be the best approach for me considering that this is my first trip to Ladakh.

Thank you very much for your advice!

Yes Abhishek, you will have wonderful and memorable trip, I am sure. We will look for your updates.

Thanks a lot for your wonderful work.really your suggestion and planning are fantastic. We are 3 above 45 reach Leh by flight on 27th september and back from srinagar on 5th October. Pls suggest itinerary. wants to visit best of ladakh and kargil.it will be our 1st and last visit of ladakh. We want to see the villages of ladakh closely.how is TSOGSTY.can I get home stay there??we want budget trip.Pls reply.Thanks in advance

I see you have 9 days at hand, you can follow something like below:

Day 1 | Delhi – Leh (By Flight) — Checkin at Hotel. Many hotels provide free pick and drop from Airport. Ask while you book them. — Take ample of rest as well as water or anything that keep your body hydrated enough. DO NOT OVER HYDRATE. Take ORS Soluted water or ORS – L tetra packs from home. — Do not over exert your body at any cost. Avoid too much up-down on stairs or avoid it in entirety, if possible. — After 5-6 Hrs of rest you can visit Leh Palace, Local Leh market, Shankar Gompa . — If you feel exerted go back to Hotel, have dinner at Hotel and take rest. Avoid any exertion. Else continue and, — Follow the sunset by stroll at Changspa road and have a nice dinner on varied cuisines offered in-around Changspa road. — Go back to hotel for overnight stay at Leh.   Day 2 | Leh Local Sighseeing + Acclimatization — Hire a taxi from Leh taxi stand or Hotel whichever suits you. — Bargain hard with taxi driver. Book that single taxi for entire trip after explaining the complete plan. — Take his inputs if you feel reasonable and if required modify the plan accordingly but should suits you best. — Ask him to be with you guys starting first day itself, if required and charged reasonable else do it at your own. — Again DO NOT over exert and take little steps and slow walks only. — If feeling OK then do Local sightseeing. To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh — Do not use stairs at any of these places just to see them as it will exert your body much more. — Overnight at Leh   Day 3 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder — Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder / Diskit — On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La — Diskit has monasteries with tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari   Day 4 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh — Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs — Overnight at Leh   Day 5 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso — Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung)   Day 6 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh — Overnight at Leh

Day 7 | Leh – Lamayuru – Kargil — Cover Mulbekh Maitrey, Lamayuru Moanstery, Lunar Landscapes — On the way you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu — Overnight at Kargil

Day 8 | Kargil – Drass – Zozi La – Sonamarg – Srinagar — Enjoy the vistas enroute — Have late drunch meal at Sonamarg — Overnight at Srinagar

Day 9 | Fly back

Just replied to the other comment.

Hi, I am planning to go to Leh-Ladakh on Aug 14th- Aug 25. I have prepared 2 sample itinerary . Would you please go through them and suggest if any changes need to be done

—— Itinerary 1———–

Aug 14 : evening flight to Delhi, stay at Delhi Aug 15 : renting bikes from Delhi, move to Chandigarh Aug 16 : Chandigarh to Solang Aug 17 : sightseeing in Solang Valley, Solang – Jispa Aug 18 : Jispa -Leh Aug 19 : leh sightseeing, permit, stay @ Leh Aug 20 : Leh-Khardung La- Diskit-Hunder-Leh Aug 21 : Leh-Pangng-Leh Aug 22 : Leh-Sonamarg Aug 23 : sightseeing in Srinagar Aug 24 : Srinagr – Jalandhar Aug 25 : Jalandhar- Delhi

———– Itinerary 2 ———- Aug 14 : evening flight to Delhi, stay at Delhi Aug 15 : renting bikes from Delhi, move to Chandigarh Aug 16 : Chandigarh to Solang Aug 17 : sightseeing in Solang Valley, Solang – Jispa Aug 18 : Jispa -Leh Aug 19 : leh sightseeing, permit, stay @ Leh Aug 20 : Leh-Khardung La- Diskit-Hunder-Leh Aug 21 : Leh-Pangng-Leh Aug 22 : Leh-Taglang La-Sarchu Aug 23 : Sarchu-Manali Aug 24 : Manali-Chandigarh Aug 25 : Chandigarh-Delhi Aug 26 : evening flight

Is it ok to go with this plan ?? We wish to return via Srinagar but if any issues there at that time we will return via Manali

Given the number of days at hand, the plans looks fine to me.

Thank you so much for replying. N this DoW is loaded with information for Ldakh trip. We will go ahead with this plan and let you know once done

Great, thanks a lot. Feel free to post any further questions.

We are planning for a similar trip starting from Chandigarh from sept 29-oct8. Is it a good time to visit? Will the roads(kargil-leh) be open during this period?

Thanks, Amit

Amit, the roads are open during that time but it starts to get cold especially in morning and night and plus the stay options are mostly winded up especially on Manali = Leh Highway. People do make the journey during this time but it has its own perils along with occassional snowfall.

Hi Dheeraj Would like to know your expertise view as planning for my maiden drive to Leh. Is it worth enough to have a journey from Manali – Leh -Manali Aug 1st to Aug 10th. Is it safe as I will be having solo drive in my car??? Is it worth enough to plan a journey at this time of year ( Aug 1st to Aug 10). Or should I wait till next year and leave as soon as the road opens next year. Pls help me out

It is monsoon time in general up there in North and at some parts of Manali – Leh Highway (like before Baralacha La) and Srinagar – Leh Highway (like before Kargil) you might need to face monsoon hassles but once you get closer to Ladakh, then Ladakh being rain shadow region is least affected by monsoon rains. Landslides or slush or road blocks are pretty common in the month of monsoons but these landslides are cleared in a day or two unless there is a very major one. Having said that, rains does reach Ladakh nowadays but in general, it is overcast days or in form of light drizzles. I will suggest you also read my article on 10 Tips for a Trip to Ladakh in Monsoons .

You can also refer to the link in our community: FAQ | Is Monsoon season good time to travel to Ladakh? for more details.

Dear I can even fit 12 – 13 days doesn’t matter but am bit confused about going in the month of august 1st. Is it worth enough to take this journey at this time or should I wait till next June. Because these trips won’t happen oftenly in life as am from Kerala. Requires lot of effort and plan that’s why I asked. Should I carry on with August 1st to 15th or Should I wait enough for June 2018??? Pls give your experienced feedback. Thank you

Sijas, you will sure be going through monsoon hassles. It is monsoon time in general up there in North and at some parts of Manali – Leh Highway (like before Baralacha La) and Srinagar – Leh Highway (like before Kargil) you might need to face monsoon hassles but once you get closer to Ladakh, then Ladakh being rain shadow region is least affected by monsoon rains. Landslides or slush or road blocks are pretty common in the month of monsoons but these landslides are cleared in a day or two unless there is a very major one. Having said that, rains does reach Ladakh nowadays but in general, it is overcast days or in form of light drizzles. I will suggest you also read my article on 10 Tips for a Trip to Ladakh in Monsoons .

I will suggest based on above articles and suggestions in them, you can easily make up your mind.

Hi Dheeraj Thanks a ton for all the blogs.. Me along with 2 friends planning to go to Manali-Leh-Ladakh-Sringar-Punjab strating this July 8th. I have worked out a rough itinery. Please suggest me any changes in this as we 3 are first timers and confused with the ride time and all. july 8 th-TVM -Delhi by flight-Manali by Bus july 9th- Manali local- Night stay at Solang 10th- Solang- Jispa-Night at Jispa/Pang 11th-Jispa- Leh- Night at Leh( reach by evening,obtain permit, bike for ladakh) 12th- Leh-Nubra-Leh (visit hunder,sumur, panamik and back to leh) night @Leh 13th- Leh- Pangong Lake(return and visit Hemis,Shey,Thicksey,Tsemo)-night @Leh 14th-Leh to Srinagar ( Visit pather sahib, hall of fame, Lamayaru, pass Dras,Kargil and reach Srinagar-night @srinagar)(Confused whether we could ride this at a stretch or to take night halt at Kargil) pls advice. 15th- Srinagar Local + Gulmarg- night @ srinagar 16th- Srinagar-Pahalgam-Jammu (night @jammu) 17th-Jammu-Pathankot-Punjab-night 18th-punjab-amritsar-wagah-night @punjab 19th-Chandigarh-Kerala reach kerala by 21st

please help me if any corrections needed.

I will suggest that you rest in Leh after reaching to Leh for at least one day. Then make two day trip to Nubra Valley and then one day trip to Pangong Tso. Then go over to Srinagar. this should be minimum plan even if it means dropping Kashmir places and others. Else it does not make sense for the trip.

Hi Dheeraj, I am confused whether to prebook hotels or book hotels going there especially because we are 7 of us and will be staying at Hunder, Pangong tso, tso moriri, Hanle. We will be visiting in aug end. I have similar doubt on pre renting cab and bike or renting over there. Could you please advice me. Thanks!

Kruthi, if you are not too much fussy about places to stay and do not mind staying at small family run guest houses or home stays, there will not be any issue searching stays on the spot all over in Ladakh

Hi Dheeraj, I am confused whether to prebook hotels or book hotels going there especially because we are 7 of us and will be staying at Hunder, Pangong tso, tso moriri, Hanle. Online rates seems very high as of now. We will be visiting in aug end. I have similar doubt on pre renting cab and bike or renting over there. Could you please advice me on this. Thanks!

I am planning to go with my family ( 2 adults and 2 child 7 year and 12 years ) in a self drive SUV for the 14 days iterinary mentioned above from Delhi on July or August 1st week. How is the current security situation throughout this journey. Is it safe to go with family now? Please advice

In general as per reports by other members of the community, it looks fine. No major issues reported.

Hi Dheeraj, thanks for all the good work you do for all of our benefit. Is there also an itinerary on the portal for Delhi-Manali-Ladakh-Delhi, where Manali to Ladakh is by road, and Ladakh to Delhi is by flight

Please find the itinerary below:

Day 1 | Delhi – Manali/Solang Valley — Better stay at Solang Valley and avoid Manali as sleeping at Solang Valley does help in acclimatization — If going by own car, get the permit made in advance to drive on Manali – Rohtang Pass road through hotel/travel agent in Manali — Overnight at Manali/Solang Valley

Day 2 | Manali/Solang Valley – Keylong/Jispa — It is always better to stay either at Keylong/Jispa so that you do not feel sick or hit by AMS. — Avoid sleeping at Sarchu at any cost while going to Leh from Manali because your body will not be acclimatized by the time you reach there. — I prefer staying at Jispa more because Keylong gives the feeling of a town while Jispa is more closer to nature having Bhaga river running just aside the Manali – Leh Highway at Jispa. — Overnight at Keylong/Jispa

Day 3 | Keylong/Jispa – Leh — Leave Keylong/Jispa early next morning, say by 4/5 AM types, so that you reach Leh in the evening. — Overnight at Leh

Day 7 | Leh – Pangong Tso Lake – Leh – Day trip to Pangong Tso – Overnight at Leh

Day 8 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang — Cover Karzok Monastery — Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri   Day 9 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring (Manali – Leh Highway starts) – Taglang La – Upshi – Leh — Come back via Tso Kar and Manali – Leh Highway to Leh — Overnight at Leh

Day 10 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour OR You can do tour to Sham Valley — Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only. — Sham Valley include Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, , Gurudwara Pather Sahib — Overnight at Leh

Day 11 | Fly back

Thanks Dheeraj. We will hire a taxi from Manali and spend the night at Solang Valley. We plan to reach Manali around 1 PM on Saturday 23rd Sep and plan to start driving early on Sunday morning from Solang. We plan to not pre-book and go to the taxi stand on Saturday and negotiate and finalize. 1. Will we have enough time to book a cab that day? 2. Are there any permits we will need to take? Will the offices for that be open on Saturday afternoon? 3. Are the drivers generally OK picking up from Solang valley?

Also, if we reach Manali early, say 7 AM, will it be possible to go to the taxi stand and book a taxi then? If not, it may make sense to come into Manali only around noon, because we want to book a taxi and then go and stay at Solang Valley

It might be difficult at 7 AM as most drivers come by around 8-10 AM types. But, any early starters you may be able to find.

Replies below:

1. Yes, you will have enough time to book the taxi 2. No, in case of taxi the taxi guys has to arrange the permit for his taxi 3. Yes, they will pick up guests from Solang Valley.

My hotel owner is telling that inner line permit is still required even for Indians for nubra and pangong. Is it true? All my colleagues had to take this permit during their visit in 2017.

Yes, this is very much true. Starting 2017, the inner line permit are again required in Ladakh

Thanks a lot for your excellent support with this DOW page, got to know a lot about leh trip. Thanks again.

Really exciting itinerary. Shall be working on finalizing my itinerary soon!

Sure, feel free to post any further questions you have for your trip.

Your posts are extremely informative for first-timers. So first of all, I owe you a big thank you!

I will be going to Leh-Ladakh late September and my itinerary goes as follows:

Day 1: Morning flight to Srinagar. Srinagar to Kargil. Night stay there. Day 2: Kargil-Drokhpa region-Kargil Day 3: Kargil-Padum Day 4: Sight-seeing around Padum. Night stay there Day 5: Padum-Kargil Day 6: Kargil-Leh Day 7: Sight-seeing around Leh Day 8: Leh-Nubra Valley Day 9: Nubra Valley-Pangong Tso Day 10: Pangong Tso-Tso Moriri Day 11: Tso Moriri-Tso Kar-Leh Day 12: Buffer Day 13: Fly out of Leh

1. I wanted to know if Day 9 and Day 10 back-to-back will be too hectic, and if we should return to Leh from Pangong. Also, how long is the journey from Nubra to Pangong, because I really want to spend some time in Pangong.

Some of us will be flying out on Day 13 itself, so if it’s not a big deal, we want to complete the trip within Day 12.

2. Can I include Hanle in the buffer day (in case you advice me to not travel directly to Tso Moriri) as : Pangong Tso-Hanle, and then Hanle-Tso Moriri on the following day? Also, what are the procedures for getting the permit at Hanle?

3. What are the places I can cover around Leh and Padum in the limited time that I have? (I prefer to travel on the roads less traveled, so feel free to suggest non-touristy places)

Thank you in advance!

There is no point going for the Padum in just two days at hand, it will put you through treacherous journey just to sleep one night and come back again. Rather best you can do is Kargil – Rangdum (cover Penzi la), Rangdum – Lamayuru, Lamayuru – Drokpa region – Leh. The extra day now you have got is to be used to visit Hanle like Leh – Nubra Valley, Nubra Valley to Pangong tso, Pangong tso to Hanle, Hanle to Tso Moriri.

Thank you so much for the feedback.

In one of your blogs, I read that the conditions are more harsh at Rangdum and hence I opted to stay at Padum.

If it’s not too inconvenient for you, can you share the places I can visit if I choose to stay at Rangdum and follow the route you suggested?

Also, is it feasible to go from Pangong to Hanle to Tso Moriri in a day?

We will be booking a cab for ourselves, so you can advice accordingly.

Yes, that is true but it does make sense if you have days in hand but for just 2 days going another 5 Hrs of a bumpy ride in a day is not advisable. LA Himalaya home stay has attached toilets too now at Rangdum, so facilities have improved there. When you stay at Rangdum, you can visit Penzi La Pass and the two lakes that comes on the way to it. Plus it is the nature and the journey which is enjoyable to Rangdum. Of course, Rangdum monastery too offers very nice views.

Pangong tso to Hanle = Day 1 and Hanle to Tso Moriri – Day 2.

I am thinking of extending the stay at Padum to 2 days. Then what are the possible places I can explore?

Also, if I have to choose between going to Tso Moriri or Hanle, which one will you advise?

Again, thank you and my apologies for bothering you so much!

That sounds good then, you can refer: Local Sightseeing in Padum – Zanskar Valley

I will choose Hanle because it has a different beauty than the lake which you anyways will visit Pangong Tso.

I’ve gone through the recent notification given by the bikers union. We are hiring delhi registered bikes for our ladakh trip. Will this be a problem?

Jitesh, it depends on the mood to be very frank now a days !! Best is to do Leh rented bike journey only within Ladakh

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A Complete Guide to Your Most Awaited Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip | Itinerary, Hotels, and More

Leh Ladakh - A Dream Ride!

Want to explore more road trips that you can take in 2022? Head to this page to find your next favourite holiday!

If you are reading this very post, I see that Leh-Ladakh has been on your mind since quite some time now. I have compiled a comprehensive itinerary to the dream land Ladakh - The Land of High Passes.

This was originally posted on my blog Little Detours 👇

I am writing this post from a perspective of a rider, who has completed this circuit successfully. The itinerary starts from Manali and ends at Jammu. So, you could probably follow the same itinerary even if you are riding the Delhi - Manali - Leh - Jammu - Delhi circuit. The day's numbers would be according to Manali - Leh - Jammu circuit. Follow along.

Things to know before the trip: If you want to know about how to prepare yourself and your bike for this trip, please visit my another post Preparing for Leh Ladakh trip .

Ladakh trip is a journey in the higher altitudes. Higher altitudes also means rarity of oxygen. The oxygen level is less than compared to the regular sea levels. When you are moving from a lower region to higher altitude region, the body has a difficult time adjusting to this drop in oxygen levels. If you do not take precautions, it can lead to Acute Mountain Sickness aka AMS or some other serious symptoms. One way to keep AMS at bay is to keep yourself hydrated even if you don't feel thirsty.

Day 1: Arrival at Manali

This is day when you arrive in Manali. You are probably driving from Delhi or planning to ride from Manali itself. Since this drive is gonna be long enough it advised to have a rest day at Manali if riding from Delhi. Get your bikes checked for issues if any. Make sure you double check everything about your bike here, unless you have hired a mechanic for your trip, who will come along. Most importantly, get your permits ready!

Day 2: Manali to Keylong via ATAL Tunnel

Image: wikipedia.org

Image Credit: wikipedia.org

With the opening of the Atal tunnel (aka Rohtang Tunnel) along the Leh-Manali highway, the time and distance between Manali and Keylong has been significantly reduced. The road which was once dreaded among bikers and travelers alike has just become a journey of fewer than 2 hours compared to over 6 hours before.

Atal tunnel, at a length of 9.02 km, it is the longest tunnel above 10,000 feet in the world and is named after former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The South Portal of the tunnel towards the Manali end is just 24 km away from Manali. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the North Portal of the tunnel and Keylong which just 37 km from this end, can be reached in just 60 minutes.

Although riding through the Atal tunnel at such a height is a feeling in itself, adventure seekers will miss out on the sceneries and the tough riding conditions but will save a lot of time. If you are taking the tunnel, you can even cover Day 3's journey today. If you don't want to take the tunnel, you can skip through to the next section

Should I take the Atal Tunnel?

1. If you are traveling with kids and aged people over 50-60, it's advised to take the tunnel, as the altitude gain will be minimal today.

2. If you are tight on the budget or number of days available, you can take the tunnel and save some time and a lot of fuel.

3. If you are an adventure rider, who wants to see what it takes to ride in the mountains, you shouldn't take the tunnel. Refer to the next section.

Start time: 8 AM. The earlier the better.

Altitude gain: 6,726 ft to 10,100ft

Highest altitude reached: 10,171 ft at Atal Tunnel

Prone to AMS? No. Drink lots of water though.

R oad conditions: At the time of writing, the roads are in pretty good condition. The Atal Tunnel is just amazing!

Fuel points: Fill up your tanks at Manali and make sure you carry at least one empty can of 5 liters minimum. The next fuel point is at Tandi (just before Keylong), which is the last fuel point until next 365 kms. Be sure to fill up your tank to the brim, and fill up the extra cans.

Accommodation at Keylong: There are many tents/ rooms available at Keylong.

(Alternate Route) Manali - Rohtang Pass - Keylong (120 kms - 8 hours)

First view of the snow clad mountains from Manali!

If you are not taking the road via the Atal tunnel, you my friend are up for a challenge!

This is the first day of your ride. You would want to start early and ride rather slow today. This is the day you will sight the snow-capped mountains for the first time, while slowly gaining altitude. You will drive through the dense forests for the first part of your ride.

Highest altitude reached: 13,050 ft

Prone to AMS? Yes! The altitude gain is very rapid. It is advisable to take a doctor advised medicine like Diamox.

Road conditions: At the time of writing, the roads are pretty good till Rohtang La Pass. The road from Rohtang Pass to Koksar (50 kms before Keylong) is worse.

Day 3: Keylong - Jispa - Zing Zing Bar - Baralachla Pass - Sarchu (110 km - 8 hours)

Sunny Morning at Keylong!

This is the most happening day of the trip. You would find everything from simple streams running across the roads to some deadly ones, to the turquoise blue waters of some of the most beautiful lakes like Deepak Tal and Suraj Tal.

Altitude gain: 10,100 ft to 14,070 ft

Highest altitude reached: 16,040 ft

Prone to AMS? Yes, very much. Consider taking a doctor-prescribed tablet (ex Diamox) before starting the journey and you are good to go. You can have another one after a gap of 4-6 hours as advised by your physician. As said before, consult a doctor about the usage of Diamox

Road conditions: Except for a few kms near Keylong, and near the streams, the roads are in good condition. Last few kms to Sarchu are pathetic. It's all mud and gravel.

Fuel points: No fuel points today!

Accommodation at Sarchu: There are many tents/camps available at Sarchu. You may book online or try to find one on the fly.

Day 4: Sarchu - Lachung La - Pang - Taglang La - Leh ( 265 kms - 10 hours)

Starry night at Sarchu!

The Day of High Passes. This is the longest you will ride on a single day during this journey. This ride is difficult. Although there is an overall drop in altitude from Sarchu to Leh, you would pass through some of the highest passes along ranging from 15,500 ft (at Nakeela Pass) to 17,500 ft (Taglangla Pass). The Gata loops and the Moore plains along the highway from Pang to Leh is the highlight for today.

Start time: 7 AM. Anything later than 8 AM is trouble.

Altitude drop: 14,070 ft to 11,480 ft

Highest altitude reached : 17,480 ft at Taglang La Pass

Prone to AMS? Yes! Strongly advised to take a doctor prescribed tablet (ex, Diamox)

Road conditions: The roads are decent till Nakeela Pass just after Gata Loops. From Nakeela Pass to Pang, the roads are pathetic. Do not take shortcuts to avoid the hairpins. You will find the best roads from Pang to Leh.

Fuel points: No fuel points until Leh.

Accommodation at Leh: Although there are plenty of Guesthouse and hotels in Leh, it's recommended to book early and find a good guest house which is near to the highway.

Day 5: Rest Day at Leh

Today is the rest day. After riding for 3 days non stop and covering close to 500km, both you and your bike needs rest. You would need to acclimatize for at least a day before you continue the onward journey.

You could as well use this day to get your permits ready and get your bike checked for any issues. If you find any issues, now is the time to fix it. You can explore the Market in the evening, and enjoy the lazy strolls around the streets of Leh.

Day 6: Leh - Hall of Fame - Magnetic Hills - Sangam (Confluence of Indus and Zanskar) - Thikse Monastery - Stakna Monastery - Leh

A beautiful confluence of two greatest rivers Indus (left) and Zanskar

Enjoy a lazy ride in the city of Leh and visit some of the nearby monasteries and other places. You would witness some of the calm and serene regions of Ladakh when you visit these monasteries. If you are a shutterbug like me, ask no more! The mesmerizing calmness in the air makes you forget everything for a while.

Start time: 9-10 AM

Distance covered: ~ 60 - 70 kms

Altitude avg: 11,500 ft. Not much change in altitude today.

Fuel points: Easily available in the city. One of them is present at the junction of Srinagar and Manali highway.

Day 7: Leh - Khardung La - Nubra Valley (160 kms - 6 hours)

View of valleys and civilization on the way to Khardugla Pass!

Khardung La was once deemed the Highest Motorable Road at 18,379 ft. There were lot of debates about the incorrect altitude measurement. Many reports proved that the altitude was actually 17,582 ft. However, with the new road to Umling La Pass at 19,300 ft built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in November 2017, has put a rest to all the discussions about whether Khardung La was really the highest motorable road.

Nubra Valley is a beautiful valley along the Nubra river, which offers a picturesque view of the sand dunes at the valley.

Start time: 7 - 8 AM

Altitude drop: 11,480 ft to 10,000 ft

Highest altitude reached: 17,582 ft at Khardung La Pass

Prone to AMS? Yes! Consider taking a tablet as prescribed by your doctor. Most people take diamox.

Road conditions: The roads are decent till South Pullu checkpoint. The last 10 kms on either side of Khardung La pass will put and your bike to a treacherous test! Be sure to maintain balance, and ride at your own pace.

Fuel points: Only one fuel point near Diskit. Don't forget to fill up, and carry extra fuel!

Accommodation at Nubra: You could find tent houses easily at Nubra.

Nubra Valley

Day 8: nubra valley - pangong lake (200 km - 8 hours).

Pristine lake - Pangong Tso! Courtesy : wikipedia.org

Pangong Tso - Tso meaning Lake, has gained a lot of popularity after the ending sequence of the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots. Since then, the place has seen more travelers and tourists than ever. Nonetheless, the place is a must visit if you are in Leh!

The blue turquoise waters of the lake against the mighty mountains in the backdrop is a sight you would cherish forever!

Start time: 7 AM

Altitude gain: 10,00 ft to 13,940 ft

Highest altitude reached: 13,940 ft at Pangong Lake

Prone to AMS? Not really!! But don't take chances. Drink lots of water

Road conditions: The road conditions have improved over the last couple of years. The road which was once a dreaded one has got a tarring now.

Fuel points: No fuel points until Leh via Pangong. Carry extra fuel. Diskit has the last fuel point.

Accommodation at Pangong Tso: Since this place receives a lot of visitors in any season, its best to book a hotel/tent in advance.

Pangong Lake

Day 9: pangong lake - chang la pass - leh ( 180 kms - 7 hours ).

Towards Changla Pass on a snowy day!

The next day, go out and click some pictures. If you are photography buff, then you better start clicking early. Leaving Pangong lake early is a good idea, especially if you are visiting during the peak time.

Start time: Not later than 9AM

Altitude gain: 13,940 ft to 11,480 ft

Highest altitude reached: 17,590 ft at Chang La Pass

Prone to AMS? By now, you should be acclimatized already. In any case, it's better to take precautions

Road conditions: The road from Pangong is good for about 10-15 kms, after which the condition deteriorates. The road near Chang La pass is pathetic, and there will be streams near Chang La. Again, after Chang La, the roads are better near Sakti village.

Fuel points: No fuel points until Leh

Accommodation at Leh: There are plenty of hotels and homestays at Leh. If you do not want to spend any time looking for a stay, book online.

Day 10: Leh - Kargil - Dras (280 kms - 8 hours)

First views of Kargil

Today you would witness the best views of this entire trip! Be prepared to be blown away by the picturesque landscapes and views! Also, the War Memorial at Dras simply cannot be missed.

Altitude drop: 11,480 ft ft to 10,830 ft

Prone to AMS? No

Road conditions: The road from Leh is in absolutely top condition, except for a couple of rough patches near Kargil

Fuel points: Fuel point are available in Leh city, just the city limits of Leh on the way to Kargil. The fuel points are also available at Kargil.

Accommodation at Kargil/Dras: There are a decent amount of hotels and homestays at Kargil/Dras. If you do not want to spend any time looking for a stay, book online.

Day 11: Dras - Sonamarg - Srinagar (140 kms - 5 hours)

A Jawan stands guard at the Vijay Sthamba at War Memorial, Dras

Get ready to be blown away by the beauty that is called Jannat meaning Heaven, another name for Kashmir! Beautiful fields, valleys, and mountains! Also, today you will cross the dreaded Zojila Pass. Since you reach Srinagar in the afternoon, you can book a boat house and enjoy a beautiful evening on the boats at Dal Lake.

Start time: 8 AM

Altitude drop: 10,830 ft to 5300 ft

Highest altitude reached: 11,650 ft at Zojila Pass

Road conditions: The road from Dras to the start of Zojila Pass is pathetic, (unless its repaired recently). The road condition improves only after descending a bit from the Zojila Pass

Fuel points: Fuel point are available just a few kilometers ride from Sonamarg on the way to Srinagar. Fuel points also available at Srinagar.

Accommodation: Stay at a boathouse near Dal Lake. Enjoy the beautiful sunset vibes at Dal Lake!

12. Srinagar - Jammu (267 kms - 9 hours)

The last day of the trip is here! Based on your further plans, the ride may continue. Today can be a tiring day if you don't start on time. You would witness some winding, seemingly endless roads around the mountains. Also, its time to experience few of the longest tunnels in India!

Start time: 5 AM (To beat traffic, and also to avoid night ride)

Road conditions: The road is excellent, only for a few rough patches.

Fuel points: Apart from Srinagar and Jammu, you can get fuel near Udhampur. Better to have enough fuel filled at Srinagar.

Pro Tip: Skip Patnitop, and take the Chenani Nashri Tunnel towards Jammu, which saves a couple of hours and lot of fuel.

Accommodation: Plenty of hotels available at Jammu. Book on the fly based on your plan.

Follow me on my Instagram handle @little_detours for more stories.

Also witness some amazing travel stories and vlogs on my Youtube Channel Little Detours .

At Rohtang Pass!

An Alpenglow at Sunset near Tandi enroute toKeylong

Triple peaks, towards Keylong

Turquoise lake - Deepak Tal

At Deepak Tal

Aqua blue Suraj Tal at Baralachla Pass

Reflections of time!

Rock tower near Nakeela Pass

Canyons near Pang

The most serene road on the Journey - Moore Plains

Vivid prayer flags at a temple at Taglangla Pass

Tri color flying high in the mountains - Hall of Fame, Leh

A tribute to the heroes - Hall of Fame, Leh

Valleys near the confluence

A monastery (also callled Gompa) down the valleys

Road down the valleys

The beauty that is - NH1 towards Srinagar

Those winding roads in the mountains

Near Kargil

Tricolor and Tololing in the backdrop!

At Sonamarg

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Ladakh Package from Chandigarh

Manali Leh Srinagar Bike Trip (Fixed Group Tour)

Srinagar Leh Manali Bike Trip (Fixed Group Tour)

Journey to Ladakh

Leh ladakh travel essential information.

Acclimatization

Getting your body acclimatized to the altitude and lack of oxygen is one of the most important things to keep in mind while planning your Ladakh Trip.

Innerline Permits

Know everything about the inner line permit before heading to Ladakh because a lot of things have changed since 2017.

Best Time to Visit

Know more about the best time to visit Leh-Ladakh for enjoying your time better in the land of high-passes.

Ladakh By Road

There are two highways that make Ladakh accessible by road. One from Srinagar and the other one from Manali. Know everything that will help in your planning.

Festivals of Ladakh

Want to check whether you will be able to become a part of Ladakh during your visit? We have information that might help you.

How to reach Ladakh

One of the most vital things about Ladakh is knowing the different ways to reach here. We have an entire guide to help you with “How to reach Ladakh”.

Are you planning a trip to Ladakh? There are a lot of things that have to be kept in mind during the visit. Let us take up all the hassles from your shoulders so that all that’s left for you is ENJOYMENT and MEMORIES.

Events & Festivals in Ladakh

Frequently Asked Questions on Ladakh Tourism

How much will a trip to ladakh cost, how do i plan a trip to ladakh, which is the best month to visit leh ladakh, how many days are enough for leh ladakh, is ladakh expensive, how can i plan a budget for leh ladakh, which bike is best for a ladakh trip.

• Royal Enfield Himalayan
• Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
• Royal Enfield Bullet 350/ Classic 350
• Bajaj Dominar
• Bajaj Avenger

How far is Ladakh from Delhi?

What is the temperature of ladakh, is there snow in leh in may, is ladakh worth visiting, is ladakh good for a honeymoon, how far is pangong lake from leh, is ladakh safe for couples, how far is ladakh from manali, i am a foreigner, do i need to apply for a permit to visit ladakh, how many days are enough for the leh-ladakh trip, what are the bikes that can be considered for the ladakh road trip.

• Royal Enfield Classic 350
• Royal Enfield Interceptor

Is Ladakh safe for tourists?

Which airport is near ladakh, can we go to ladakh by car, how can i reach leh by flight, is there an oxygen problem in ladakh, why is ladakh famous, what attracts tourists to ladakh, is a passport required for leh ladakh for indians, can we stay at pangong lake, is liquor allowed in leh ladakh, how do i apply for inner line permits, what is a protected area permit, how do i apply for a protected area permit, how do you apply for a permit for rohtang pass, which is the best time to visit ladakh, do i need a permit to cross rohtang pass by car or motorcycle, how far is leh from pangong lake, ladakh tourism: guide for ladakh trip.

Ladakh is a paradise on Earth and boasts of unparalleled beauty. It is a 'Land of high passes' and dotted with high altitude lakes and lofty mountains. It is wedged between the high Himalayas and renowned as the 'Shangri La of India'. Trip for Ladakh is one of the most sought after road trips. Drive through the high mountain passes and wandering in the winding lanes is once in a lifetime experience.

Are you planning a trip to Leh Ladakh or looking forward to exploring high passes, Buddhist monasteries, scenic hamlets and local culture of Ladakh? Do you wish to be a part of the delightful festival of Tibetan Buddhists? Does living on the edge of thrill and excitement fascinate you? If yes, then you have arrived at the right place. Here is the complete Ladakh Travel Guide and detailed information about 'India's Own Moonland'!

Listen to the age-old story about the numerous conquests, invasions and journeys along the Silk Road. Pacify your adrenaline rush by partaking white water rafting or enjoy the sightseeing during the Ladakh travel. In addition to all these, the spectacular views en route will serve as a visual retreat. Thereby, making your Ladakh trip a memorable one.

LehLadakhIndia.Com is a popular Ladakh travel agency which provides you with a one-stop solution for all your inquiries about this paradise. The information includes history, culture, mountain passes, lifestyle, local lifestyle, shopping opportunities, wildlife excursions and other trivia like how to reach Leh, the best time to visit Leh Ladakh, how to plan a road trip in Ladakh and getting inner line permits.

We have also introduced a new section called "Try Our Trip Wizard" where you can plan out an itinerary of your choice and our team of qualified professionals will do their best to meet your expectations. We have tour packages beginning from 3 nights and 4 days up to 21 nights and 22 days. Besides Ladakh tour packages, you can also check out our list of accommodation options available in Ladakh.

We are a popular Ladakh tour operator and offer an extensive range of choices that can make the most discerning traveller reconsider their choice. Our years of association with direct vendors allow us to quote rates that are hard to match and ensure the best deals for our clients.

Leh Ladakh India is the business division of Indian Holiday Private Limited, a leading Indian tour operator for more than 33 years now. The company has got recognition from the Ministry of Tourism, India and international travel bodies such as PATA, ASTA, IMTA and IATO. Here is the breakdown of services offered by LehLadakhIndia.com

• Segregation of tour packages as per different categories
• Lowest possible rates for the Ladakh hotels
• Airport/Railway Transfers
• Facility to plan your own itinerary
• A comprehensive travel guide for information about Ladakh

Keeping in mind the current foreign exchange rate, travelling in India is quite a reasonable deal for overseas travellers. Within a reasonable budget, you can explore Ladakh region to the fullest. Furthermore, with LehLadakhIndia.Com in the scene, rest assured that you'll get much more than the money spent by you.

The best time to visit Ladakh is between June and October. This is the perfect time for partaking in adventure activities among which Trekking in Ladakh is one of the most popular activities. The sightseeing of Ladakh also includes a trip to lakes in Ladakh like Tso Moriri and Pangong Tso. This spectacular lake earned much of the fame after the shooting of super hit Bollywood movie 3 Idiots starring Amir Khan and Kareena Kapoor. Mountain biking is also popular among travellers.

For adventure enthusiasts, embarking a bike trip to Ladakh is a dream come true. Every year, thousands of bikers arrive in Leh from as far as Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai by crossing high altitude mountain passes. The thrill of riding across Khardung La which is believed to be the highest motorable pass in the world is beyond description. For bikers, July - August is the most appropriate time as all the routes and passes are open. You can travel to Ladakh by air as well. There are regular flight services from Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi and Chandigarh. flight services from Shimla take only 40 minutes to reach this wonderland. A trip to Ladakh requires comprehensive planning. But, with LehLadakhIndia.Com you can make the most of your holidays without any hassle.

How To Reach Leh Ladakh By Road

There are two routes to reach Leh by road. One is from Srinagar, it is around 434 km away. The road leading to Leh remains unblocked from June to November for the tourists. Another way to tread up the place is via Manali. The Manali-Leh road stretches around 485 km and is open from July to October.

Leh Manali Highway is one of the most popular among bikers as the ride involves crossing some of the very challenging and high mountain passes. The list includes the second highest motorable pass Taglang La. Ladakh by road is only accessible from late May to early October as during winter high mountain passes remain closed due to heavy snowfall.

We share stories and give advice

Manali Leh Highway Status in 2024 (OPEN)

• July 3, 2024 July 3, 2024
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• 30 Comments

Manali – Leh Road Status (2024): OPEN Srinagar – Leh Road Status (2024): OPEN Darcha-Padum (Zanskar) Road Status (2024): OPEN . 03 July 2024: The Manali-Leh road was blocked completely at Sarchu after a bailey bridge was damaged today. The traffic remained suspended for the whole day with long queues of vehicles waiting for its

Puga Valley, Ladakh – A Complete Tourist Guide

• June 25, 2024 June 28, 2024
• Destinations , Ladakh Tourism Guide , tourist places
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It was in 2007 when I first visited Puga valley (then Puga hot water springs) with my friend during winter time for wildlife photography. Nobody from Ladakh or tourists had any interest in Puga hot water springs as the entire area was and still is boggy. Puga was not so famous until recently when a

Manali to Leh Bus Service (2024)

• June 12, 2024 June 13, 2024
• Ladakh Tourism Guide
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Manali to Leh bus service is offered by Himachal Roads Transport Corporation in summer and monsoon season. The bus starts from Delhi and reaches Leh in about 32 to 36 hours. The Delhi to Leh bus service is considered the longest bus route in the country at such an altitude. Tourists can avail this bus

Leh Ladakh Tour Packages From Kolkata

• May 21, 2024 May 21, 2024
• Ladakh Tourism Guide , Tour Packages
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Planning Leh Ladakh Tour Packages from Kolkata (West Bengal) is as simple as visiting any other Indian destination. Tourism industry of India without Bengali people is like Rasgulla without sugar. Bengali people are the most travelling people in India who love to explore new places. People, especially from Kolkata and nearby districts, are one of

Leh Ladakh Tour Packages for Foreigners

• May 2, 2024 May 2, 2024
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Embark on an Unforgettable Journey: Leh Ladakh Tour Packages for Foreigners Leh Ladakh has been popular among foreign tourists for centuries. A large number of tourists from USA, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, New Zealand, Australia, Austria and many other nations visit Ladakh every year. In past few years,

Is Leh Ladakh Open for Tourists

• May 2, 2024 May 3, 2024
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• 74 Comments

Is Leh Ladakh open to tourists now — this is one of the most sought questions on the internet as lakhs of tourists who had planned their visit to Ladakh in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were caught up in uncertainty and doubts due to the Covid-19 pandemic; heavy rains coupled with floods and landslides in

3 Idiots: Bollywood movie that boosted tourism in Ladakh

• April 9, 2024 April 11, 2024
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The movie “3 Idiots” played a significant role in increasing tourism to Ladakh, primarily due to its stunning cinematography showcasing the breathtaking landscapes of the region. The film portrayed Ladakh’s beauty, culture, and lifestyle, attracting a lot of attention from viewers across India and internationally. As a result, more people became interested in visiting Ladakh

Hanle – The Stargazers’ Paradise in Ladakh

• April 6, 2024 April 8, 2024
• Destinations , tourist places
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Hanle, or Anley, a village in eastern part of Ladakh in Leh district at altitude of about 4,500 meters above sea level, is very close to China border and has become a popular tourist destination. Hanle village of Ladakh is believed to be the best place for stargazing. The high altitude plains here offer beautiful

Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road: Alternative connectivity to Ladakh

• April 5, 2024 April 5, 2024
• Destinations
• border roads organisation , bro , manali nimmu road , manali padum road , manali zanskar road , nimmu-padum-darcha road , npd road , third road to leh ladakh , zanskar valley

Border Roads Organisation connects Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road March 25, 2024: After Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has provided Leh Ladakh with third option to connect landlocked Leh Ladakh with outer world with its newly connected road — the Nimmu-Padum-Darcha (NPD) road. The BRO achieved breakthrough in this road today. The NPD road connects

Umling La – World’s highest motorable pass

• March 16, 2024 March 16, 2024
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Umling La pass or Umlingla pass or उमलिंग ला (in Hindi) is a high mountain pass located in the Himalayan mountain range of India in eastern Ladakh near Demchok village close to Indo-Tibetan border. It is situated at an elevation of 5,798 m (19,024 feet) above sea level. Umling La pass has earned the distinction

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• Leh Ladakh Bike Trip 2024: Everything You Need To Know From The Scratch

10 May 2024

Every biker, irrespective of gender, dreams of going on a Leh Ladakh bike trip once in their lifetime. While they dream of a flawless journey, the reality does come into contact with a lot of shortcomings. Having understood that bikers are bound to stumble upon a few barriers on a rugged landscape like that of Leh and Ladakh, we’ve put in our best efforts to collate every information in this blog that will help them encounter any such difficulties on the way.

Table Of Content

About leh ladakh bike trip, best time to visit leh ladakh on a bike trip, ideal duration for a bike trip.

• Leh Ladakh Trip Cost

Best Bikes For Leh Ladakh Road Trip

Leh ladakh bike rentals.

Best Leh Ladakh Bike Tour Route

Basic Expenditure On Leh Ladakh Bike Tour

• Places To Visit On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip
• Things To Do On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip
• Must Experiences

What To Pack

Why do a leh ladakh bike ride, eligibility for leh ladakh bike trip, tips for leh ladakh bike trip preparation.

Image Source

The old saying “there’s beauty everywhere, all you have to do is just look around” is true to the core when it comes to the mesmerizing Leh Ladakh travel. Offering scenic vistas of one of the trip to Leh Ladakh India is all about the feel of snow-clad mountains, rugged landscape, soaring peaks, dangerous routes, and roaring bike engines. In short, going on a Ladakh bike tour is all about the good vibes and the undying spirit of a rider.

Must Read: Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh

The best time to visit ladakh by bike  is from the months of June to September. These months enable the bikers to enjoy the tourist circuits of Ladakh , as much as they enjoy their Lahaul & Spiti trip. However, most of the riders love to kick-start their new year with this crazy bike trip as Ladakh offers magical vistas which can be cherished round the year except for monsoon season.

Depending on a lot of factors like the route you’ve taken, your entire schedule, and mainly the weather conditions, an ideal duration for a Leh Ladakh bike trip for couples would span over a period of 15 days or more. Also, this duration is apt when one opts for Manali to Leh bike trip from Delhi.

Suggested Read: Autumn In Jammu & Kashmir

Ladakh Bike Trip Cost

First things first, you should figure out your budget. A lot depends on the vehicle you are selecting for your journey and the Leh Ladakh road trip cost would also vary on the accommodation and kind of food you choose to eat. Still, an average budget can be arrived at considering basic factors such as accommodation, meals, and fuel. Hence, under normal circumstances, you will end up spending approximately ₹35,000 for a trip to Leh Ladakh on bike for 15 days. Your cost will also vary according to your Leh Ladakh bike trip route. This also includes the cost of permits and miscellaneous expenses for the Leh Ladakh motorcycle trip.

Talking about the first things first, every biker must give his or her total attention to their first love, which is their bike. One must be very careful and picky when it comes to choosing their Leh Ladakh road trip bike. So whenever you’re choosing a bike for any road trip, make sure you go for suitability more than popularity. Consider it one of the most vital aspects of your Leh Ladakh bike trip plan!

Opting for the kind of bikes that one can easily handle and are easy to maintain, has always proven to be safe, and helpful for the riders for journeys like Leh Ladakh bike trip. Hence, the five best bikes for Leh Ladakh bike trip are:

• Royal Enfield – Considered to be the best bike for Leh Ladakh trip , it is a powerful bike with an engine of either 350 CC or 500 CC that is enough to be a lifesaver on a Leh Ladakh bullet trip .
• Royal Enfield Himalayan – With a strong engine of 400 CC, Royal Enfield Himalayan will make your ride smooth and hassle-free on any rugged trail and offbeat roads.
• Bajaj Pulsar – By far, no bike has been a hit in the Indian market when compared to Bajaj Pulsar. Being the most favored bike after the Bullets, Pulsar offers variants of 150CC, 200CC, and 220CC, either of which can be your trustworthy partner on any of the adventures.
• KTM Duke – Being a featherweight bike can be advantageous on roads like that of Ladakh. With the series of new engine variants of Duke 390, and Duke 250, KTM can be a good choice for a bike trip to Ladakh too.
• CBR 250 – This bike from Honda is indeed a stunner except for its Contigo tyres which can be a little tough to handle on Ladakh’s terrain in case of a change in weather. On the bright side, if the tyres can be replaced, one can put the bike’s torque and fi technology to great use, and a greater purpose.

Other top bikes for Leh Ladakh trip that the association of bike rentals has taken into consideration are Yamaha Fazer, Bajaj Vikrant, Yamaha FZ, and Hero Impulse. Though these bikes are not so heavy on the engine, they can surely pick up some speed (without breaking any rules) on the go.

Suggested Read: Ladakh Lakes

No bike. No worries. The bike rentals at Delhi and Manali are ever willing to offer you a ride on rent provided you submit all the required documents. In Delhi, Karol Bagh is the hub from where you can rent a bike for ₹900 per day. All you have to submit is a valid photo id proof, your driving license, ₹10,000 as the security deposit, and a consent letter from your parents in case you’re still under 25, and you are all set for Leh Ladakh bike trip from Delhi.

In Manali, the per-day rent charges range from ₹1000 to ₹1800 whereas the security deposit is between ₹12,000 to ₹18,000 along with the original copy of valid ID proofs.

Other than this, you can also hire a mechanic to take on the basis of daily wage for the entire duration of Leh Ladakh bike trip from Manali. Also, don’t forget by mistake also to run the bike through a test ride and test its abilities beyond limits to be on a safer side during the bike trip.

Considering Delhi as a base for Leh Ladakh bike trip route , Srinagar to Leh and Manali to Leh are the two main routes that offer the best road conditions and picturesque views. Srinagar to Leh route doesn’t overlap and forms a complete circle from end to end. Leh Ladakh bike trip route from Manali encircles the rugged mountainous landscapes, offers better views, increases the level of difficulty, and the level of danger.

Route 1: Srinagar To Leh And Back

Route Map: Delhi → Jalandhar → Jammu → Srinagar → Kargil → Leh → Karu → Sarchu → Manali → Delhi Distance Covered: Approximately 2,295 kilometres

Route 2: Manali To Leh And Back

Route Map: Delhi → Manali → Sarchu → Leh → Khardung La → Nubra Valley → Kargil → Srinagar → Delhi Distance Covered: Approximately 2,569 kilometres

Route 3: Delhi To Leh And Back

Route Map: Delhi → Manali → Sarchu → Leh → Khardung La → Nubra Valley → Kargil → Srinagar → Delhi Distance Covered: Approximately 2,022 kilometres

Suggested Read Festivals In Jammu And Kashmir

Here is a list of expenditures that will guide you through a basic idea of the budget that you may expect from your Leh Ladakh bike trip:

Keeping petrol as the priority for a bike trip, an average, you’ll be covering a distance of 3500 kilometers. Of all the bikes that have been considered, the average mileage is that of 35 kilometers per liter. This means that you’ll be needing somewhere around 100 liters of petrol for which, you will roughly need an amount of ₹7000 to ₹8,000.

Accommodation

There are a lot of budget hotels in Leh Ladakh wherein one can find easy accommodation options within the range of ₹500 to ₹2,500 per person, on a double sharing basis, and including taxes (as per booking.com).

Hence, the rate for an average accommodation with the best amenities, comfort, and ratings, can cost you ₹500 to ₹2,500 per night per person depending on whether you want a budget hotel or luxury. Considering the lower limit, a 15-day trip will cost you a rough figure of ₹7,500 for accommodation. Let’s round it off to ₹8,000 per person.

Suggested Read: Homestays In Ladakh

Similarly, the cost of food depends on the choice of the rider whether he or she prefers to eat at a dhaba or a restaurant. Eating at a dhaba may cost you ₹100 to ₹150 whereas dining at a normal and a bit upbeat restaurant may cost you about ₹400 to ₹500 per person on your tour to Leh Ladakh. Considering the lower limit, you’ll be spending close to ₹2,250 to ₹6,000 on meals. On average, you can keep ₹3,500 aside for meals.

Miscellaneous

It is a must to keep some amount of money aside for emergency purposes, shopping for souvenirs, or for permits. Thus, an amount of ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 is a must for every biker to spread it across the luggage or pockets and save it as a backup.

Average Budget = Petrol + Accommodation + Meals + Miscellaneous = 7000 + 8000 + 3500 + 2500 = ₹21,000/-

Thus, considering all the lower limits, an average budget for a 15-day Leh Ladakh bike trip would be ₹21,000 per person.

Please Note: We’re assuming you have a bike of your own as the budget doesn’t include the cost of bike rental. Hence, in case you plan on renting a bike, the budget would exceed by a minimum of ₹13,500 to ₹15,000 per bike for a minimum of 15 days.

Suggested Read: Secrets Of Ladakh 

3 Places To Visit On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

Wondering what all attractions to cover on your Leh Ladakh bike trip 2024 ? Plan your itinerary around these best places to visit in Ladakh.

1. Pangong Tso

Popularly known as the Pangong Tso Lake , this natural marvel set in the lap of Ladakh is a must-visit tourist attraction on your Leh Ladakh bike trip. Located in the heart of Himalayas, the lake stretches at a distance of about 134 kilometres offering scintillating views in sync with the rustic mountains. The lake is so gigantic that sixty percent of the lake’s length lies in China making it one of the largest lakes in Asia.

Famous for:  Stunning location, beautiful scenery Location:  Stunning location Things to do:  Camping, stargazing, ice hockey/skating, capture amazing pictures

2. Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Much famed to be one of the famous monasteries in Ladakh , Namgyal Tsemo Gompa or Namgyal Tsemo Monastery is located right in the heart of Leh district. It is believed that Ladakh’s King Tashi Namgyal founded the monastery in 1430, that serves as a home to the famous golden statue of Maitreya Buddha. You can even have a glance at it from the top of Leh Royal Palace. If you are staying in the town of Leh, this is one of the best places to visit nearby.

Famous for:  Architectural marvel, ancient paintings & manuscripts, soothing ambiance, serene vistas Location:  Namgyal Tsemo, Leh district, ‎Ladakh‎ Things to do:  Indulge in meditation, attend prayers, explore intriguing history of the place

Suggested Read: New Year In Ladakh

3. Zanskar Valley

Hues of soothing blue and beautiful brown can only be witnessed at the famous Zanskar Valley which is surrounded by the massive snow-clad peaks on all sides. One visit to the bustling Valley is sure to leave you charmed forever. In winters, the river gets frozen giving adventurers a chance to do the famous Chadar Trek where people walk over the frozen ice for days.

Famous for:  Picturesque location, snow-capped mountains, serene rivers Location:  Zanskar, Kargil district, Ladakh Things to do:  Attend monastery festivals, trekking, river rafting, adventurous activities

3 Things To Do On Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

If you want to get high on adrenaline, these are some of the exhilarating things you should consider doing on your Leh Ladakh bike trip.

1. Experience The Magic Of Nubra Valley

Serenity is what strikes one’s mind on reaching the renowned Nubra Valley . The valley is popularly known as “the valley of flowers” referring to the beautiful and colorful blooming flowers that are worth a visit to the Nubra Valley. It is one of the best-found treasures of Ladakh that you must definitely visit on your bike trip to Ladakh .

Famous for:  Mesmerizing beauty, orchards, monasteries, scenic vistas Things to do:  Camel safari, river rafting, cycling, photography

Suggested Read: Things To Do In Katra 

2. Find Solace At The Shanti Stupa

Perched atop a hill, the famous Shanti Stupa is set at an elevation of whooping 4267 meters. Offering panoramic views of Leh, it is a must for the bikers to witness either sunrise or a stunning sunset from the Shanti Stupa. It is one of the best places to find peace and tranquillity. The stupa is blessed to be located amidst wondrous surroundings of nature. You may also find relics of old Buddhism culture inside the shrine.

Famous for:  Tranquil ambiance, cultural richness, fascinating history Things to do:  Enjoy photography, watch alluring views

Suggested Read: Delhi To Jammu Trains 

3. Test Your Riding Abilities At The Khardung La

Any biker who is planning a trip to Leh already has the ride to Khardung La on his list. Set at a heart-wrenching height of 18,379 ft. and located at a distance of about 40 kilometres from Leh, Khardung La Pass is one of the most dangerous motor-able roads in India. Challenging the bikers and the drivers in the face, your Delhi to Leh Ladakh bike trip is incomplete without experiencing a ride through the “Pass of Lower Castle”. This is certainly one of the best places to visit on a bike trip to Ladakh.

Famous for:  Height, enthralling experiences, natural beauty Things to do:  Camping, biking, adventurous activities

3 Must Experiences

Don’t say you have visited Leh Ladakh unless you have had all these experiences on your bike trip. Every person visiting the region must strike these off their lists.

1. Royal Leh Palace

Considered to be a gem in the heart of Ladakh, the 17th-century royal Leh Palace was built by the famous King Sengge Namgyal. Standing tall at a height of about 9 stories, you can soak in the natural beauty of Leh’s whole town, Stok Kangri, Zanskar ranges, and Indus Valley from the roof of this elegant yet rugged palace.

Famous for:  Impressive architecture, huge walls, beautiful views Things to do:  Learn about history, photography

Suggested Read: Things To Do In Ladakh 

2. Magnetic Hill

Feel the pull of nature and adventure at Magnetic Hill in Ladakh , a sorcery of nature. Magic and Magnetic Hill go hand in hand. Encircled by the Sindhu river on all sides, Magnetic Hills rise to a height of about 14,000 ft. and possess a unique kind of magnetic force that pulls the bikes and cars uphill. Sounds magical, isn’t it? Try it for yourself!

Famous for:  Gravity-defying occurrence, optical illusions Things to do:  Experience the phenomenon that defies gravity

3. Drass Valley

Famous for its natural hot springs that are blessed with medicinal benefits, Drass Valley is located in the heart of Kargil district, Jammu & Kashmir. Renowned to be the coldest hill station in India , Drass Valley strikes a perfect balance between the lush greens, soothing blues, and bold browns. The stark contrast of nature in the valley of Drass will make your jaw drop to the floor. Pay your homage to Indian soldiers at Kargil.

Famous for:  High altitude trekking routes, tourist hotspots Things to do:  Trekking, hiking, camping, adventurous activities, sightseeing

Suggested Read: Picnic Spots Near Jammu

Going on a bike trip is like hard-core backpacking through the roughest of mountains. It is an adventure trip to Ladakh which needs packing to be light yet all the basic requirements need to be carried along. Keep in mind the below mentioned Leh Ladakh bike trip preparation while packing your stuff.

• An intelligent head on strong shoulders is a matter of life and death for everyone. Hence, carry a sturdy helmet and put it to use all the time while you’re riding.
• Valid photo identity proofs and not to forget your driving license.
• One or two leather jackets are a must to glide through the wind and beat the breeze.
• Carry sweatshirts, tees, jeans, shorts, shirts, tracks, inner-wear, socks, towels, handkerchiefs, and other clothing items that you may feel necessary.
• Carrying an extra pair of sturdy trekking shoes or leather boots will keep you away from cold feet.
• Match your shoes with an extra pair of gloves.
• Riding goggles to protect your eyes.
• It is a must to carry a first-aid kit for yourself and a tool-kit for your bike.
• You’ll be equipped with GPS for sure but then carry a physical map for better navigation and clear routes.
• Charger, power banks, bluetooth headset, batteries for backup, etc. are a few other necessities to carry.
• Keep a torch with you, even if you think you don’t need it. You never know when a need may arise.
• A good-quality camera would be a necessity too to capture the breathtaking landscapes.
• Carry a Swiss Army Knife for self-defence since traveling on a bike increases the level of danger automatically.
• Camping tents, cooking utensils, sleeping bags, and other camping equipment can be easily rented whereas one can carry them as per their level of comfort.
• Carry basic toiletries of toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo sachets (to save a little space and easy disposability), face wash, liquid soap, moisturizer, cold creams, etc.
• Last but not the least, carry loads of sunscreen with maximum SPF to protect your skin from direct sunlight.

Image Credits: Naveen Sharma for Pixabay

Other than being an enthralling experience, a Leh Ladakh road trip is definitely going to be the most memorable experience. You will get to see Ladakh as it really is in its original flavor. Despite being on a bike trip, you can also choose to go for one of the most exquisite experiences i.e. camping in Leh . You can also choose to stay at luxurious Ladakh resorts , hotels, homestays and cottages. Coupled with the fact that you may also go for safaris, and adventure tours to explore this heavenly land.

Suggested Read: Hill Stations Near Jammu

Image Credits: Avinash Patel for Pexels

Planning a Leh Ladakh bike trip plan and not sure about where and how to start? Here are the basic eligibility criteria for your trip. Be advised that it is extremely important to go through each and every criterion:

• You should be above 25 years of age with a valid driving license.
• We recommend that if you want to go on a Leh Ladakh road trip, then you should already have some nice riding experiences, especially long bike tours.
• There should be at least a group of 6 people for your entire Leh Ladakh bike trip plan
• You must carry a valid driving license, government-issued photo ID proof, address proof, and photocopies of these documents. 
• International tourists must carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by their home country along with their passport.
• Indian nationals do require an Inner Line Permit or ILP in case you want to visit the protected areas in Ladakh.
• Other special permits are required by foreign nationals in order to visit Pangong lake, Tso Moriri, etc.

It is believed that rules are meant to be broken and some of you may get the feeling of “your life, your rules” but then it is not at all advised to go on a bike trip with a wrong attitude.

• Breaking the rules on one of the most dangerous and highest motorable roads can be dangerous as death itself. Hence, for your own sake and safety, abide by the rules and follow them wisely.
• If you’re taking the route of Manali to Leh, it is recommended to carry extra jars of petrol apart from the full-tanks as there are only two petrol pumps on this route. On the contrary, the route from Srinagar to Leh has plenty of petrol pumps.
• It is advisable that you learn how to change a bike tyre in case your bike suffers any punctures. For the rest of the times, one can find many mechanics along the way on both the routes.
• Carry necessary medicines with you in case you, your partner, or your friends with whom you’re traveling suffer from altitude sickness.
• It is important to note that Leh only has connectivity from the leading operators of Airtel, BSNL, & Aircel. Riders who don’t have these connections do not have any other choice other than standing in the long queues of overcrowded STD booths or getting a connection from one of the above-mentioned operators.
• Though there are several ATMs at Leh, carry enough cash with you as the ATM you’ll find on Manali to Leh route is at Keylong.
• Applying for an Inner Line Permit will only cost you ₹200 and will give you access to remote places like that Tso Moriri, Chushul, Merak, Loma, Mahe, Hanle, and more. One can apply and get this permit from the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Leh from 9 am to 3 pm.

Further Read: Trekking In Ladakh 

And that’s a wrap from us. Also, other than the bike tours, one can also explore this natural marvel by customizing amazing trip to Ladakh with TravelTriangle. As you embark on your journey, we hope you enjoy a safe and sound Leh Ladakh bike trip. Once you are there, do not use your smartphone. Instead, come back and do share a few words from the memorable journey you just took. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

What are the vital documents required during the bike trip to Leh Ladakh?

You must carry a valid driving license, government-issued photo ID proof, address proof, and photocopies of these documents.

What is the age limit for the people who want to travel by bike to Leh Ladakh?

The minimum age of the tourist must be 25 years of age to opt for travelling by bike to Leh Ladakh.

What are some of the essential tips for travelling to Leh Ladakh by bike?

You must carry extra jars of petrol for an emergency, carry essential medication and carry enough cash as it may happen that you don’t find an ATM to withdraw cash. Apart from this, it is recommended to have enough food supplies in case of any emergency.

How far is Ladakh from Leh?

Ladakh is a region in Jammu and Kashmir that has been divided into two districts; Leh and Kargil. Leh is the capital of Ladakh, a land of high mountain passes.

Which is the coldest month of Leh?

The coldest month in Leh is January when the temperature plummets down to lower than -15 degrees Celsius. If you are visiting the destination during this time, make sure to carry enough woollen clothes.

What is famous in Leh Ladakh?

In terms of attractions, Nubra Valley, Magnetic Hill, Zanskar River, Pangong Lake and monasteries are famous in Leh Ladakh. Apart from this, Pashmina Shawl and traditional Tibetan items make for perfect souvenirs.

What should I buy in Leh?

Pashmina shawls, Mandala art &drawings, Tibetan handicrafts and handloom, silver jewellery, etc. are some of the things you should consider buying on your Leh trip.

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Safety Tips and Precautions for Leh Ladakh- Stay Safe in Leh Ladakh

Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a novice traveller, grasping the key measures to stay secure can significantly impact the quality of your journey for all the best reasons. Within this blog post, we will delve into crucial Leh Ladakh safety tips and preventive measures to assist you in traversing the elevated paradise of Leh Ladakh.

Top Precautions or Ladakh Trip

The body can be vulnerable to high altitudes, hence understanding the signs of altitude sickness and methods to avert it is essential. Implementing basic strategies such as gradual elevation, proper hydration, and refraining from intense activities initially can significantly impact your well-being.

If you bring your bike, make sure your vehicle is in good condition and familiarise yourself with the different routes and weather conditions of Ladakh . Remember, safety always comes first!

Suggested Read- Road trip to Ladakh

Be mindful of common symptoms of altitude sickness such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness, and refrain from pushing yourself if you start feeling unwell. Keep yourself well-hydrated, steer clear of alcohol, and take things easy during the initial days of your trip. The key is to give your body the necessary time to acclimatise effectively.

If your trip takes you to remote locations, consider bringing water purification tablets or a portable purification device. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry! Enjoy your gastronomic adventures in the first few days while your body takes the necessary time to adapt.

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 Dos and Don’ts for Leh Ladakh Trip

• High altitudes can cause dehydration faster than you might expect. Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it whenever you can
• The weather in Leh Ladakh can change rapidly, and layers allow you to adjust your clothing to stay comfortable. Include thermal wear, waterproof jackets, and warm accessories.
• Apply high-SPF sunscreen regularly and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the intense UV rays at high altitudes. A wide-brimmed hat can also provide extra protection from the sun.
• Show respect for local customs, traditions, and religious practices. Dress modestly, especially when visiting monasteries and other sacred sites. Engage with locals politely and be mindful of their customs.
• Pack a first aid kit with essentials like band-aids, antiseptic, painkillers, and any personal medications. Also, include altitude sickness medication if recommended by your doctor.
• Inform someone about your travel itinerary and expected check-ins. Carry a satellite phone or a local SIM card for better connectivity in remote areas. Regular communication ensures you can get help if needed.
• Follow eco-friendly practices. Carry reusable water bottles, avoid plastic bags, and dispose of waste responsibly. Respect the natural environment and help preserve it for future visitors.

Suggested Read- Discovering Leh-Ladakh 

• Never ignore symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, or shortness of breath. These can be signs of altitude sickness. Stay updated with health & safety tips for Ladakh . 
• Avoid packing your schedule too tightly. Give yourself time to acclimate and take breaks. Rushing through high-altitude areas can increase the risk of altitude sickness.
• Keep Leh Ladakh clean and beautiful by not littering. Carry all your trash with you until you find a proper disposal place.
• Stay on marked paths and trails, especially when trekking. Going off-trail can be dangerous due to unknown terrain and potential wildlife encounters.
• Digital maps can fail in remote areas due to poor connectivity. Always carry a physical map as a backup and familiarise yourself with the route.
• Take it easy, especially in the beginning. High altitudes mean less oxygen, and overexertion can lead to fatigue or worse. Listen to your body and rest when needed.
• Don’t skip out on travel insurance. It’s essential for covering medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other unforeseen events. 

Suggested Read- Exploring Khardung Village

Packing essentials for Leh Ladakh trip

Carry a first aid kit and your medication in case of an emergency. In addition, you can bring healthy snacks and hydrating supplements to boost energy levels for long hikes and adventures in this beautiful but challenging landscape.

Staying safe during activities in Ladakh

Whether you’re trekking in Ladakh , cycling, or participating in other escapades, if you have the proper gear to prevent accidents and fully enjoy the journey, knowing the terrain well and being prepared for condition each one of importance is key, and you mix the pleasure of exploration with practical caution. 

The weather in Ladakh can be spectacular, quickly going from sunshine to humid heat or rainy years. An intelligent clothing line for staying comfortable: a base for moisture management, a midsection for warmth, and a waterproof outer layer to protect you from the rain and wind. Given the highly intense high-intensity sun you need to protect yourself from it sun heat; Remember to bring high SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. 

Be alert to local wildlife, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, especially during the rainy season. Facilitating emergency communication with local authorities and rescue services can give you peace of mind by ensuring you are prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Suggested Read – Draupadi Kund in Ladakh

Emergency Preparedness

This preparation can greatly reduce stress and help deal with unexpected situations. Reliable communication is essential in remote areas like Lehaldakh, so consider getting a local satellite phone or SIM card. It is important that someone at home knows your travel schedule and that you visit regularly. 

This improves communication even in areas with limited networks, which can save lives in emergencies. Respecting local laws and customs is another important part of travel preparation. Take the time to understand the cultural norms and legal requirements in Leh Ladakh to ensure proper travel practices. 

Focusing on local traditions and environmental awareness enhances your experience, but also supports the local community and helps preserve the area’s natural beauty. By following responsible travel practices, you make a positive contribution to the destinations you visit and create a rewarding and sustainable trip overall.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Q: is leh to ladakh safe for mountain bikers, q: are there any terrorist threats in ladakh, q: is ladakh having the highest road in the world, q: when to visit ladakh to see snow.

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