trip manali to leh

How to Travel from Manali to Leh

What is the distance between Manali and Leh by road? What all things have to be kept in mind while planning for a road trip from Manali to Leh? Are two of the most common questions that cross the mind of a traveler.

A complete travel guide for a road trip from Manali to Leh is what most people look for. Here is one that has all the important information to help every traveler wanting to enjoy their trip from Manali to Leh hassle-free.

So, let's quickly iterate everything that would be useful for this trip!

How to plan a trip from Manali to Leh: Important things you should know!

How to reach leh from manali.

The best way to travel from Manali to Leh is via road. A traveler gets to enjoy enthralling and high-altitude passes while capturing some breathtaking views of the surrounding. Here is the route that travelers planning a trip from Manali to Leh should follow.

Popular Manali to Leh Ladakh Route

Manali- Rohtang Pass- Gramphu- Tandi- Keylong- Jispa- Darcha- Patseo- Zingzing Bar- Baralacha La- Sarchu- Nakee La- Lachulung La- Pang- Tanglang La- Upshi- Karu- Leh

Note : The buses from Manali also follow the same route to reach Leh. Those who are taking the bus service for this trip can get down at the stopover locations for some photography sessions.

• Manali to Leh Ladakh Distance : 472 km (approximately)
• Total Time: 2-3 days (depending on a lot of factors)
• Best time to travel through this route - June to September (it highly depends on the weather. Usually it starts to snowfall in mid- October in Rohtang and other higher passes)

Manali to Leh Road conditions

Most people traversing through the Manali- Leh highway remain unknown to the road conditions and that causes problems at a few points. It becomes better if the riders or drivers get to know the road conditions beforehand so that planning and conquering them becomes way easier. Here is an overview of how the road conditions might turn out to be throughout the stretch.

Petrol Pumps Availability: Manali to Leh Ladakh Road Trip

One of the most critical things to keep in mind on the Manali- Leh highway is carrying extra petrol. You can keep jerry cans or even airtight bottles for your fuel reserves. Here is where you will be getting fuel on this entire route.

Note : In emergencies, you can ask the locals at Sarchu, Pang, Zingzingbar, and a few other places for fuel in black. Also, keep in mind if you are buying that, put a thin cloth to filter out the fuel.

Route : Delhi- Manali- Leh Highway

To know more about Fuel Availability in Leh Ladakh Click Here !

Places to Stay and Eat On The Manali-Leh highway

Undoubtedly, Manali- Leh highway is one of the most challenging roads in India and there are a lot of high-altitude passes throughout the route. Places to eat and stay on Manali- Leh highway account for an important point in this travel guide.

Note: You can rest and eat at any of the above-given places.

Availability of ATMs

Leh Ladakh bike tour from Manali is one of the most intriguing activities that lures a lot of riders every year. The Manali- Leh highway lacks a lot of basic facilities and one of them is the availability of ATMs. There is just one place where you will get an ATM between Manali and Leh and that is in Keylong. It is advised that you withdraw enough cash in Manali itself.

Note: You will have to pay in cash at the hotels or places you stay on the way and even at the petrol pumps (Tandi or Karu). Therefore, withdrawing enough cash at Manali itself is highly recommended. To know more click here !

Availability of Mechanics

In case of emergencies, if your bike or car needs mechanical attention and you don’t know a thing about it; you can halt at the places given below for a quick check-up. On the entire Leh- Manali highway, you will find mechanics at these places:

Emergency medical help (if needed)

Due to less civilization on the entire Manali-Leh highway getting medical help everywhere can be difficult. It can be found in a few places only. Medical facilities are available in Sissu, Keylong, and Sarchu. In an emergency, people can also stop by at the Pang medical facility of the army. You can get first aids and a few more quick medical help at these places.

Therefore, while drafting an itinerary from Manali to Leh, it is always essential to keep important things in mind just like the availability of medical support. If one feels uncomfortable, take a halt at any of these places to get a regular checkup or medicines for the problem.

Availability of mobile networks

Another problem that travelers have to face while traveling to this wonderful place is the Mobile connectivity in Leh . The connection of airtel networks will be there near Keylong, Upshi -Leh. Whereas BSNL networks are the best throughout. People will get decent coverage throughout the route and even in Leh-Ladakh. Jio is in progress and would be there any time.

Note: Do keep in mind that no prepaid connections will work anywhere in the Leh-Ladakh region.

Tips to keep in mind while traveling from Manali to Leh

There are a few general tips that every traveler using the Manali Leh highway should keep in mind. Some of the important ones are listed below:

• Ensure that your bike is in optimum condition and is serviced before starting this journey. It is going to be a challenging road throughout and the bike would definitely take a beating. Make sure that the brake pads, chain, engine oil, oil filter, and other essential parts are changed if required or else you might be stranded in the middle of nowhere.
• Finding help on this highway can be a really difficult task so keep an extra brake wire, clutch wire, chain clean and lube. Make sure to keep lubricating the chain and leavers every 200 km.
• Keep a puncture kit and a foot pump for emergencies because the highway lacks settlement and civilization in major portions of the route.
• Keep all the AMS preventive medicines and also those that can come in handy while you go on this trip. If possible, consult your doctor before keeping any medicine in the backpack. It is the best way.
• Keep all the important documents in the backpack and get their multiple copies as well. If you wish to visit the Rohtang Pass, make sure to get the permit from the Manali DC office.
• Refrain from taking any alcohol and antidepressant drug throughout the trip as it can make things worse during the trip.
• All the places that you are going to cross throughout the journey are situated at a high altitude which is why it is recommended that one should not exert more. Over-exertion can lead to breathlessness and more problems thereafter.
• As already mentioned above, it is never recommended that travelers should spend a night at a high altitude. The best places for an overnight stay in the entire journey are Keylong and Jispa. Most of the basic amenities and facilities are available here and they are not at a high altitude as compared to others on the route.
• Keep eating every now and then, make sure your body has the energy required. Don’t consider riding as an easy task on this highway. One needs to be cautious and concentrated. So keep your belly full. Another very important thing is keeping your body hydrated. At such a height and cool temperature, people usually don’t prefer drinking much water because they simply don’t feel thirsty. Don’t do this. Keep drinking a small portion of water in gulps to keep yourself hydrated.
• One of the biggest problems on the Leh-Manali highway is finding a petrol pump. It is advised to keep jerry cans in your bag (filled) so that you don't have to worry about petrol.
• Apart from Manali, you will have ATMs at Keylong and then straight to Leh. There are no machines throughout the way except these. So it is better to keep cash in hand for spending on food wherever you stop.

Q: What is the distance between Manali and Leh Ladakh?

Ans: The distance between Manali and Leh Ladakh is roughly around 434 km. You can take the Atal Tunnel that will reduce your travel time and distance significantly.

Q: What is the distance between Chandigarh and Leh via Manali?

Ans: Planning on a trip from Chandigarh to Leh via Manali? The complete distance for this trip is 1005 km which takes approximately 20 hours to cover on an average.

Q: Distance from delhi to leh via manali by road

Ans: The total distance between Delhi and Leh via Manali is 1011 km by road.

Q: Permit from Manali to Leh?

Ans: If you are traversing through Rohtang Pass, you will require a permit to cross it. But if you are going to take the Atal Tunnel, then there is no permit that you will have to take.

• Monasteries
• Attractions
• How to Prepare for Ladakh Trip
• Facilities in Ladakh
• Family Trip to Ladakh
• How and Where to Carry Spare Fuel
• Ladakh With Parents - Senior Citizens
• How to Carry Laptop
• ATM and Bank Facilities in Leh City
• Things to Carry for Ladakh Winter Trip
• Where & How to Rent an Oxygen Cylinder
• Ladakh in June
• Ladakh in May
• Ladakh in July
• Ladakh in September
• Ladakh in October
• Ladakh in August
• Ladakh in November
• Leh to Nubra Valley
• Delhi to Ladakh
• Bangalore to Ladakh
• Pangong Lake to Tso Moriri
• Travel from Manali to Leh
• Leh to Tso Moriri
• How to Travel to Pangong Tso
• How to Travel Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso via Wari
• Srinagar to Leh
• Leh to Khardung La
• Stay in Ladakh
• Rent a Bike in Ladakh
• Rent a Bike in Leh
• Rent a Bike in Srinagar
• Rent a Bike in Manali
• Mobile Phone Services in Ladakh
• Hotels on Manali Leh Highway
• Hotels on Srinagar Leh Highway
• Hotels Near Tso Moriri
• Hotels in Leh
• Hotels Near Pangong Lake
• Hotels in Nubra Valley
• Mountain Biking
• Leh Jeep Safari
• Adventure Sports
• Mountaineering in Ladakh
• Camping in Ladakh
• Buddhism in Ladakh
• Cuisine in Ladakh
• River Rafting in Ladakh
• History & Culture
• Shopping in Ladakh
• Trekking in Ladakh
• Wildlife in Ladakh
• Tips and Suggestions
• Ladakh in January
• Ladakh in December
• Clothes to carry for your Ladakh Trip
• Medical Facilities

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Manali to Ladakh Road Trip

On your Manali to Leh Road Trip Package, be amazed at the assortment of scenic quotients. Covering a distance of 474km, this spectacular journey offers some of the awe-inspiring sceneries and is worth witnessing. Get possessed by the charms of Mother Nature and get cocooned in her majestic grace.

Click here to book:  Manali Leh Car trip with Tsomoriri and Hanle

The meditative disposition of the towering mountains and valleys is surreal. Be it the crystal clear mountain streams or the abounding alpine forests, this is a paradisiacal tour. Be amazed at simple sights that give you inimitable joy. For an unforgettable experience of these serene landscapes, consider embarking on Leh Ladakh tours . Distance Between Manali to Leh:  474 Km Best Time to Visit Leh-Ladakh:  June to September The Route: Manali – Rohtang – Gramphu – Kokhsar – Keylong – Jispa – Darcha – Zingzingbar – Baralacha La – Bharatpur – Sarchu – Gata Loops – Nakee La – Lachulung La – Pang - Tanglang La – Gya - Upshi - Karu – Leh

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Manali to Leh Ladakh Road Trip Packages

Leh ladakh tour package from manali 2023.

About the Tour:

Manali Leh Manali Jeep Safari

About the Tour : 

Experience the amazing adventure with this round trip to Leh-Ladakh. Starting from Delhi, this tour takes you to amazing destinations like Manali, Jispa, Sarchu, Leh, and many more. Drive through the highest motorable passes while enjoying the beauty of snow-capped mountains, lakes, amazing experiences, and much more. Ladakh is known for its breathtaking landscapes, crystal clear skies, the highest mountain passes, thrilling adventure activities, Buddhist Monasteries, and festivals. Experience the divine energy at the majestic monasteries that adds to the scenic beauty of the cold desert.

Quick Info :

Route: Delhi - Manali - Jispa - Sarchu - Leh - Nubra via Khardung La - Pangong Lake - Tso Kar Lake - Jispa - Manali - Delhi

Duration: 12 Days & 11 Night 

Start Point: Delhi

Endpoint: Delhi

Passes Covered: Khardung-la (18,000 ft), Rohtang Pass (16,051 ft), Lachung La(16,600 ft), and Baralacha la ( 16,000 ft)

Manali to Leh Jeep Expedition with Tso Moriri Lake

Fixed departure dates:  Multiple dates open to Join a Group departure in June, July, August and September and can be customized on request for separate group also.

About the Activity: 

• From the pleasantly hospitable town of Manali, the Manali to Leh Jeep expedition takes you on a roller coaster drive through distinct geographies portraying diverse geographies. From hill town to high altitude arid desert, this safari is one mega experience.
• The Manali to Leh by road traverses over five high altitude Himalayan passes such as Rohtang (3,978m), Keylong (3,350m), and Tanglang La (17,585ft) showcasing an ever changing dynamic landscape that alters from barren lands to lush green pastures. With our Ladakh tour packages, you can head out for an amazing vacation with your gang.
• Tsomoriri Lake is the one attraction that demands all your attention during this jeep ride which is now Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve. It is the largest of the high altitude lakes entirely within India at an altitude of 4522 meters.
• Interact with the amazing landscapes beautified by the natural formations throughout the journey. You will come across the undeniable beauties of Khardung La Pass, Pangong Lake, Deskit, Hundar, the confluence of Zanskar and Indus Rivers, Nubra Valley etc. which all are covered in this Ladakh tour packages.
• These places have been occupied by multitudinous mountains, valleys, small streams, rock formations, monasteries, gompas and what not.
• By the end of the journey multi-hued prayer flags, Tibetian chortens, and friendly locals would be etched in your memories for a very long time to come.
• Number of PAX       Standard               Deluxe                 Super Deluxe
• Min 02 pax               Rs. 37470            Rs. 38090                Rs. 39660
• Min 03 Pax               Rs. 28530            Rs. 29260                Rs. 30620
• Min 04 pax               Rs. 24950             Rs. 25280                Rs. 27140
• Min 05 Pax               Rs. 22090             Rs. 22780                Rs. 24220
• Min 06 Pax               Rs. 20780              Rs. 21400                Rs. 22970
• Min 07 Pax               Rs. 22540             Rs. 23220                 Rs. 24700
• Min 08 Pax                Rs. 21500            Rs. 22130                  Rs. 23700
• Min 09 Pax                Rs. 20300            Rs. 20960                  Rs. 22460
• Min 10 Pax                Rs. 19690             Rs. 20320                  Rs. 21880
• Min 11 Pax                 Rs. 18870             Rs. 19520                 Rs. 21040
• Min 12 Pax                  Rs. 18480            Rs. 19100                 Rs. 20670
• Extra Bed Child            Rs. 8800             Rs. 9800                    Rs. 10700

Manali to Ladakh Bike Trip from Delhi | Book Now & Get 3000 Cashback

Quick Facts:

Temperature:  Day: 8°C to 15°C and Night: -5°C to 3°C

Maximum Altitude:  5,328 m (17,480 ft) at the Taglang La mountain pass.

Difficulty Level: Moderate 

Railway Station: Nearest is the Jammu Tawi Railway Station (700 km)

Airport: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh

ATM: On a bike tour to Leh Ladakh through the Manali to Leh route, you will find only one ATM at Keylong, but later there are several ATMs at Leh. Stay during your Manali to Leh Bike Trip Accommodation on double (for couples) and triple (for others) sharing basis in Guesthouse/hotel/Camp Meals during your Manali to Leh Bike Trip: Day 2: Dinner Day 3- Day 11: Breakfast Mode of transport during your Manali to Leh Bike Trip: AC Semi sleeper tickets from Delhi to Manali and return (depending on the variant selected) The bikes are provided with fuel from day 2 to day 11  350cc Royal Enfield motorbike for Single riders  500cc Royal Enfield for Double riders

Variants of the package

Cost without Bike & Fuel: INR 35300/- per person Double Rider RE 500cc with Fuel & Helmets: INR 42300/- per person  Single Rider RE 500cc with Fuel & Helmets: INR 48900/- per person

Manali To Leh Cycling Tour

About the Destination:

Ladakh is the emergent favorite of travelers, not just from India, but from the entire world. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains on all sides, the beauty of this place is unparalleled, and you will agree to that as soon as you set foot here. And despite being so far off and on the rain shadow side of the Himalayas, Ladakh is very well connected, especially the capital city of Leh. Apart from the main airport in the capital, you can arrive in Ladakh via road too, with highways coming in from Srinagar and from Manali, the latter being one of the most beautiful highways in the country.

And this is another reason why Ladakh is a favorite of adventure junkies. You can ride a bike till here, or can even cycle up to this beautiful land of Leh, some 11,400ft above sea level.

Quick info about Manali To Leh Cycling Tour :

Route: Manali - Marhi - Sissu - Jispa - Patseo - Sarchu - Pang - Tsokar - Rumptse - Leh - Khardung-La - Leh

Duration: 13 Days & 12 Night 

Start point: Manali

Endpoint: Leh

Passes Covered: Rohtang La (3879m), Baralacha La (4892 m), Nakli La (4800m), Lachalung La (5100m), Tanglang La (5350 m), and Khardung La (5602 m)

Manali Leh Srinagar Bike Adventure

About the Tour :  

Get ready to make your dream of riding in Ladakh come true in the action-packed bike trip where one would be experiencing the fusion of thrill, serene beauty and culture of the "Land of High Passes", as the entire tour is exclusively elected by Thrillophilia's outdoor experts. This circuit features some of the world’s highest motorable passes with the spectacular beauty of snow-capped mountains, Lakes, rivers on their side while covering these breathtaking destinations, Solang valley, Gata Loops, Zojila pass, Kargil, Magnetic hill, Confluence of Indus, And Zanskar river, Dal lake and much more waiting on the way!

Quick Info:

Route: Delhi - Manali - Jispa - Sarchu - Leh - Nubra via Khardung La Pass - Pangong Lake - Leh - Lamayuru - Kargil - Zojila Pass - Sonamarg - Srinagar.

Endpoint: Srinagar

Passes Covered: Khardung-la (18,000 ft), Chang-la (17,688 ft), Rohtang Pass (16,051 ft), Lachung La(16,600 ft), and Baralacha la ( 16,000 ft)

Wonders of Ladakh | FREE Inner Line Permits

Get ready for the most adventurous drive-through of your life. This tour lets you explore both the beauty of Manali and the thrills of Ladakh, and going through the cultural side of Leh makes the tour even more interesting. The unlimited fun activities in Manali, driving through the hairpin bends of the route, and exploring the heart of Ladakh; are the experiences that make this tour full of crazy and unique experiences.

Route: Delhi - Manali - Jispa - Sarchu - Leh - Nubra via Khardung La Pass - Pangong Lake - Leh

Duration: 10 Days & 9 Night 

Leh Ladakh Bike Trip | FREE Excursion to Chang-la Pass

About the tour :

Get ready to make your dream of riding in Ladakh come true in the action-packed bike trip where one would be experiencing the fusion of thrill, serene beauty, and culture of the "Land of High Passes". The tour offers you a stay amidst a beautiful valley of mountains and a starlit sky at night. The unique thing about the Ladakh terrain is that it has mountains, forests, deserts, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls in one beautiful and dynamic geography.

• Route: Leh - Sham Valley - Khardungla - Nubra Valley - Pangong - Chang La - Leh
• Duration: 6 Days and 5 Nights
• Start Point: Leh Airport
• Endpoint: Leh Airport

Manali Leh Srinagar Car trip with Tsomoriri and Hanle

About the Tour:  

Explore the beautiful valleys of Himachal, along with the adventurous routes of Ladakh and the delightful lakes of Srinagar. This circuit features some of the world’s highest motorable passes with the spectacular beauty of snow-capped mountains, Lakes, rivers on their side while covering these breathtaking destinations, Solang valley, Gata Loops, Hanle, Tso Mori Ri, Zojila pass, Kargil, Magnetic hill, Confluence of Indus And Zanskar River, Dal lake and much more waiting on the way!

Admired for its unparalleled scenic views, pristine icy lakes, and swirling roads, This circuit is becoming the most Instagrammable place in India and is on everyone’s bucket list, it offers you a stay amidst the beautiful valley of mountains and a starlit sky in the night.

Quick info:

Route: Manali-Jispa-Sarchu-Tsomoriri-Hanle-Pangong Tso-Nubra Valley-Leh-Kargil-Sonamarg-Srinagar.

Duration: 11 Days & 10 Night 

Start point:  Manali

Passes covered: Khardung-la (18,000 ft), Rohtang Pass (16,051 ft), Lachung La(16,600 ft), Baralacha la ( 16,000 ft), and Zojila pass (11,500 ft)

Leh Ladakh Group Tour Package with Camping I Flat 17% off

Leh Ladakh Expedition

The unique thing about the Ladakh terrain is that it has mountains, forests, deserts, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls in a beautiful and dynamic geography. On a journey to the top of the world, Leh-Ladakh features most of the world’s highest motorable passes and the spectacular beauty of snow-capped mountains. Admired for its unparalleled scenic views, pristine icy lakes, and swirling roads, Ladakh is becoming the most Instagrammed place in India and is on everyone’s bucket list. It offers you a stay amidst a beautiful valley of mountains and a starlit sky at night.

• Route: Leh - Sham valley - Khardungla - Nubra Valley - Pangong - Chang la - Leh

Places to Visit During Manali Leh Road Trip

From Manali, breathtaking views of the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges are a perennial specialty. This is the place where mountain adventures take on a new dimension. Heaven for tourists, Manali is replete with scenic quotients offering trekking enthusiasts an experience of its own kind.

Attracting visitors from all over the world all year round, this is a place for backpackers to explore the serene settings of the Himalayas. It is also the place where adventure tourists can enjoy exhilarating activities such as paragliding, rafting, and skiing while on Manali to Leh Road trip. Must Checkout:   Leh adakh Tours From Chennai

Top Experiences To Do in Manali

This is a place where the earth meets the sky! At more than 15,000ft, you are greeted and embraced by the clouds on a Manali to Leh bike trip . Located on the eastern part of the Pir Panjal range, this mountain pass is a connecting point for the Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti valleys.

A natural divide between these two valleys, an ancient trade route passed through either side of the Pir Panjal ranges. From the Rohtang La, enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayas and its snow-capped mountains. Enjoy regional food at local dhabas and eateries; savor the unique ambiance to the brim during your biking trip to Leh. Click Here to Book:   Manali to Leh Bike Trip Package from Delhi Also Book:  Leh Ladakh Trips From Nagpur

An administrative center of the Lahaul and Spiti region, Keylong is famous for the Kardang Monastery. Being an important monastery of the Drukpa sect, this place of full of Buddhist pilgrims. Keylong is also the place where the yearly Lahaul festival is held.

Apart from the monasteries in Ladakh , you can also visit the holy Kelang Wazir temple in the vicinity. Located at about 120km north of Manali, this is an excellent place to spend an overnight during the Manali to Leh trip. Checkout & Book:   Manali Leh Srinagar Bike Trip Click Here to Book:   Leh Ladakh Holiday Trips From Hyderabad

During a journey of uninterrupted beauty, Darcha presents a unique reality that is intriguing and equally fascinating. Located on the banks of the Bhaga River this is a small village that emanates a silent charm.

From Darcha, you can trek to Padum over a period of several days and enjoy the serene beauty of the region. The visual treat on offer makes Darcha and the surrounding regions, a photographer’s favourite haunt. Checkout & Book:   Leh Ladakh Package For Couple

Baralacha La

This place is a pride of the Zanskar section in the Himalayas. A beautiful nature-architected pass, the Baralacha La connects Lahaul to Ladakh. If on one side the Pir Panjal mountains amaze you, on the other, the Himalayan range stands in inviting disposition. 

Being a high mountain pass in Ladakh , you get amazing views of the landscape from here. Be it the melting snow from the mountains beyond you, or the uniquely shaped hills in the distance to the valleys and streams, you get an enthralling as well as exciting visuals in the blink of your eye. Click Here to Book:   Leh Ladakh Tour Package from Delhi

Lachulung La

Known as an easier mountain pass to traverse, Lachulung La is located about 16,600ft above the sea level. Being a natural divider of the Tsarap Chu Chu and Tozay rivers, this pass is close to the Pangong Lake as well.

When you get here you can notice that most tourist vehicles have stopped allowing visitors to see the natural beauty of this place. It offers the best of the panoramic views of the nearby peaks and valleys. The inexplicable scenic quotients are equally complemented by the salubrious weather. Recommended Read:   Delhi to Leh Ladakh Guide

Located beside the Indus River, Upshi comprises of a quaint and picturesque setting. Located in the vicinity of an ancient trade route that is connected to Tibet, this village was once a thriving place. Now the occupants of this paradisiacal region are busy with activities such as goat farming.

Almost every home in this hamlet has a goat breeding area. You can also witness numerous shepherds walking with their livestock towards pastures and back. It is a fantastic p lace to visit in Ladakh ,  go for a village tour and be charmed by the elegant and serene lifestyle of the inhabitants. Click Here to Book:  Ladakh Honeymoon Package from Delhi

Leh is a dream destination for many travellers in India and even for those who are visiting from overseas. It is not just a destination for solo travelers but has so much to offer to young travellers, families and couples alike. Leh is famous for its high altitudes and numerous passes connecting various locations in this difficult terrain. To explore the best tourist places in Leh , one must visit this frozen paradise to explore its secrets and admire its breath-taking beauty. Despite its harsh weather and inaccessibility, it remains a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world. But make sure you are physically fit to endure the harsh weather and difficult terrains of Leh. You must be wondering why visit this place is perfect when the terrain is difficult to navigate. Well, you must visit this place because not only is it a pocket-friendly tourist destination, (provided you book in advance), it is sparsely crowded even during peak season and the local hosts are committed to ensuring you to have a terrific experience Leh is a dream destination for many travellers and the holy grail for the adventure enthusiasts. If you are a photography enthusiast then Leh is the paradise you have been waiting for all your life. There isn’t much to offers in terms of nature or wildlife photography, but what you can capture instead is a vast empty canvas that you can paint. The landscape here is unlike anywhere in India and worldwide and so much of it is still undiscovered and undocumented. In addition to the mesmerizing landscape, there are many turquoise blue lakes, beautifully constructed monasteries, snow-covered mountains and unimaginable sights that change every few kilometres. It’s safe, economical and you can travel here by yourself, or with your friends, families and even that someone special. Explore tourist places in Leh with the best Leh tour packages which will leave you mesmerized by its beauty.

Top Experiences To Do in Leh

Places to Visit in Leh

Pangong lake.

Also called as Pangong Tso, this is a picturesque lake in the upper reaches of the Himalayan range in the Ladakh district . At about 13,900ft, this natural water body has scenic quotients which are unparalleled in beauty and magnificence. Camping near Pangong Lake is a major activity in Ladakh. 

At a distance of about five hours drive from Leh, the trip to Pangong Lake on a Manali to Leh road trip lets you view the beautiful countryside and also pass through the third highest motorable mountain pass in the world called the Chang La. The azure waters of this lake stand eternally still. Also Checkout:  Ladakh Family Tour Packages

Top Experiences To Do in Pangong Lake

Nubra Valley

This valley is one of the finest expositions of nature’s magnificence. There are very few places on Earth with the same stature as this when it comes to beautiful and varied scenery. Located in the Nubra district about 150km north of Leh, this valley is where the Shylok and Siachan rivers confluence.

At an average altitude of above 10,000ft, this region is a cold desert with vegetation along river beds. The villages of this valley are fertile and with adequate irrigation facilities. The majority of inhabitants here speaks the Nubra language and are Buddhists. Nubra is also famous for its camps that gives a beautiful star gazing experience. Click Here to Book:   Leh Ladakh Bike Trip from Delhi

Lamayuru Monastery

Also called the Luru Gompa Monastery, Lamayuru is amongst the foremost monasteries in Ladakh region . Located in the Kargil district of Ladakh and close to Leh, this sacred monastery consists of five buildings. Housing on an average more than 400 Buddhist monks, it is the venue ground of the two masked dance festivals. 

The landscape next to the monastery is unique and enticing. Many people are of the opinion that the soil of this region is similar to the soil found on the moon. Recommended Read:  Srinagar to Leh Road Trip Guide

Khardung La

Shanti Stupa

One of the important Buddhist stupas, Shanti Stupa was built by a Japanese Buddhist. Located in Chandspa in the Leh district, this structure was built to promote world peace and harmony. As a testimony to the completion of Buddhism’s 2,500 years on earth, it has now become a major and popular tourist spot in Ladakh.

From this stupa, you can view most of the Leh town. The best and the most prized views are the sunrise and sunset views from the stupa. Click Here to Book:   Ladakh Package from Mumbai

Royal Leh Palace

You must have definitely heard about this palace if you are planning to visit Ladakh. Surrounded by the amazing beauty of the region with the snow-capped mountains and the valleys Ladakh is also famous for the Royal Leh palace. Located at the Leh city, Leh Palace is one of the main tourist attractions in the Leh city. This palace is one of the tallest buildings of its time with nine stories. 

One can enjoy the spectacular views of Stok Kangri and the Ladakh mountain range. The building was started in the year 1553 and the construction was completed by the 17th century during the reign of Sengge Namgyal. The architecture is the finest example of the medieval Tibetan architecture.

Don't forget to check out the list of best hotels in Leh that will make your stay wonderful. Checkout & Book:  Leh Ladakh Holiday Packages From Pune

Magnetic Hill

Known for its amazing magnetic wonders, this hill is a very famous place to visit in Ladakh. Thousands of tourist come to visit this place every year. The magnetic hills are gravity hills located near Leh in Ladakh. Standing tall at an altitude of 14,000 feet these hills said to have some magnetic energy that can pull cars uphill. 

This hill is on the Leh-Kargil-Batalik national highway and is bordered by the Sindhu river. These mystics hills still amaze the people coming to visit this destination. The optical illusion created by these hills is the perfect example of natural wonders. Also Checkout and Book:  Leh Ladakh Trip Packages From Ahmedabad

Alchi Monastry

Shey Monastry

Diskit Monastry

Most of you might have heard about this monastery in Ladakh. Within the Nubra region of Ladakh, Diskit is arranged at an elevation of 3142 meters above ocean level, and lays 15 km north-west off the Khalsar-Panamik course, at the edge of the abandon in Shyok valley. Diskit is well known for its fourteenth century monastery. 

The monastery has a place with Gelugpa arrange or the Yellow Hat order of Tibetan Buddhsim. It was established by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, the pupil of Tsong Khapa, in fourteenth century. 

Gurudwara Pathar Sahib

Built in the loving memory of Guru Nanak Dev, this Gurudwara is a sacred site revered by the devotees. It is located on the Leh-Kargil highway and falls on the route to Leh. While Leh has countless places brimming with tourists, this place is still not known by many and is a true treasure for the solace seekers. If interesting tales bewitch you then this holy place holds a huge rock which is said to be thrown away by a demon on Guru Nanak Dev and was never removed. Even after repetitive efforts, no one was able to push away this mighty structure and this is the reason it is called the Pathar Gurudwara. Visiting this serene site is indeed one of the best things to do in Ladakh if you are touring with your family as this quaint slice has everything to soothe your soul.

Hall of Fame

Thiksey Monastry

When you are on a tour to Ladakh don’t miss a chance to visit this one of a kind amazing monastery. Out of the amazing monasteries in Ladakh Thiksey Monastery is another monastery which is famous among the tourist around the world. Arranged 18 km from Leh in the Indus valley Thiksey monastery is the biggest religious community in focal Ladakh. 

The Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Gelugpa group of Tibetan Buddhism is situated at the highest point of slope. The 12 story religious community has 10 temples, an assembly hall and is home to 120 friars and abbey. Aside from going by religious community, one can likewise locate some uncommon and valuable stupas, statues, thangkas, divider canvases and swords in the cloister.

Hemis Monastry

If you love exploring the monasteries and the its surroundings then this is another monastery which is a must visit for you. Hemis Monastry is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery (gompa) of the Drukpa Lineage, situated in Hemis, Ladakh, India. Arranged 45 km from Leh, the cloister was re-set up in 1672 by the Ladakhi ruler Sengge Namgyal. 

Hemis Gompa is the biggest religious community in Ladakh. The gigantic architural structure of Hemis Monastery is remarkable and speaks to a particular style of engineering from the other critical cloisters of Ladakh. An essential yearly celebration of Ladakh recognizing the birth commemoration of Guru Padmasambhava is held at this religious community successively for two days in June-July.

Tso Moriri Lake

This is another lake in Ladakh which is very famous among the people. Surrounded by barren hills with the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains this lake makes an ideal vacation spot. The lake measures 28 km in length from north to south and about 4-6 km in breadth and about 100 feet average in depth. Camping near To Moriri is also preferred by a lot of visitors there. The crystal clear water and blue colour of the lake will make you fall in love with this place. 

Another interesting thing about this lake is that this lake was once a popular source of salt. Set amidst the mountain ranges in Leh this lakes provides you with some of the best views with peaceful surroundings. 

Top Experiences To Do in Tso Moriri Lake

Sangam Point

Spituk Gompa

For those of you who are still searching for some different spot to visit in Ladakh then here we bring you another place. Spituk Gompa reviews the Indus Valley with various mudbrick structures tumbling happily down a lofty hillock towards Spituk town. 

This Buddhist monastery gives you an opportunity to meet monks and observe their lifestyle closely while reveling in the divine tranquility of the peaceful atmosphere that dominates the region. The gompa is located just 6 km away from Leh Town and is one of the major tourist attractions in the town. 

From its architecture to its location, everything about the monastery has an air of divinity to it. Founded in the 11th century, the monastery houses a giant statue of Kali.

Namgyal Monastery

Hemis National Park

Tso Kar Lake

There is another must-see attraction in Leh Ladakh tour and that is the Tso Kar Lake. Also called ‘White Lake' is one of the three high height saltwater lakes in Ladakh. The Tso-Kar Lake is known as 'White Lake' on the grounds that the white salt of the water stores everywhere throughout the lake shores. Tso-Kar Lake is the littlest lake among the three vital lakes in Ladakh. 

The Tso-Kar lake is extremely well known with bird watchers. The range encompassing Tso-Kar lake is rich with wildlife and birds. Be that as it may, the principle fascination among the birds' life at Tso Kar is dark necked cranes. The dark necked cranes, known for their devotion, come to Tso Kar to lay eggs. You can check out the best trekking experiences in Ladakh to make your Ladakh trip more adventurous.

Things to Know during Manali to Leh Trip

Petrol pumps on manali – leh highway.

While in Manali, you can find an abundance of petrol pumps. This hill station town has a total of 6 petrol pumps.

Moving 110 km from Manali, you can find a petrol pump in Tandi.

Distance from Manali to Tandi:  110 Kms

345 km from Tandi and 30km before Leh, you can also refuel your vehicles in Karu.

Distance from Tandi to Karu:  345kms

Arriving in Leh, one can also find quite a few petrol pumps. In addition to the few petrol pumps in Leh, you can refuel your vehicles at the petrol pump near the Leh Airport (25 km from Leh).

A convenient mode of travel while commuting from Manali to Leh by taking a bus . The smooth availability of bus service creates travel convenience for many people traveling from Manali.

You Can Checkout Great Discounts On  Royal Chapel Of Granada Tickets

Best of Ladakh

ATMs on Manali-Leh Highway

It is strictly recommended that while going on Leh Manali highway you should carry sufficient amount of cash, as you can find the scarcity of ATMs after leaving Leh/Manali. Though there are too many ATMs in Manali, giving you sufficient opportunities to withdraw cash, after Manali, there is only one ATM you will find in Keylong, which is on the way to Leh. 

However, it is not mandatory that the ATM in Keylong will be in working condition. Aftermath, you will directly find ATMs in Leh, which will be limited in number. 

Only the SBI, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, HDFC, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank have their ATMs in Leh. 

Hence, make sure you have sufficient cash for the trip from the beginning only. Also, except a few antique shops, the majority of restaurants and hotels do not accept the credit or debit cards, please carry enough cash with you on your trip. Book Now:   Ladakh Tour Packages From Chennai

Mechanics on Manali-Leh Highway

Places for Night Stopover:

Located 117 km away from Manali, Keylong is the first place to take a break for the night while on the Manali to Leh bike trip. Listed below are some of the best hotels that go easy on the visitor’s pockets:

• Hotel Dekyid,
• Hotel New Gyespa,
• Hotel Tashi Delek,
• HPTDC Hotel Chandrabhaga,
• Valley View Hotel

Distance between Manali to Keylong:  117 Kms

• Himalayan Saga Camps
• Goldrop Camps
• Planet Himalaya Camps
• Antrek Camps
• Blue Poppy Camps

Distance between Manali to Sarchu:  223 Km

Located 357km from Keylong and 250km from Sarchu, upon your arrival in Leh, you can relax around a number of hotels that are solely meant for the tourists. Most of these hotels are located within the easy reach from the main town. Some of the places to stay in Leh:

• Ladakh Sarai
• Hotel Nalanda Ladakh
• The Grand Dragon Ladakh
• Ladakh Residency

Distance Between Keylong to Leh:  357 Kms

Distance between Sarchu to Leh:  250 Kms

For the bike ride, you can take a bike on rent in Manali and head on to this adventurous & scenic ride.

Inner Line Permits

The inner line permit (ILP) rules for Ladakh tourism have been simplified. There are certain requirements to be considered like a valid photo ID and attested photocopies that act as a proof of Nationality (Passport, DL, Voters ID etc.).

 No inner line permits are now required to travel to places like Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri. However, there are some exceptions. In case one plans to cover a direct Stretch from Tso Moriri to Pangong Tso via Chushul route with a visit to Hanle, then one needs to give detailed information.

 It is important to mention Pangong Tso, Man, Merak, Chushul, Tsaga, Loma, Nyoma, Mahe, Hanle and Tso Moriri in the permit application. Similarly, it is mandatory to apply for an Inner Line Permit, if you are planning to visit Pangong directly from Nubra via Shyok, Darbuk, Tangtse.

Inner Line Permits for Foreign Nationals

The foreign nationals must obtain the inner line permits, if they plan to visit areas like Turtuk, Panamik, Khaltse, Pangong, Changthang, Hunder, Tso Kar and Tso Moriri and few others. Also, to visit Hanle, Chusul, Tsaga, beyond Loma bend, Chumur, Marsimik La and Batalik Sector, they must have the inner line permits.

Foreign nationals, with exception from Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Pakistan, also need to obtain PAP or the Protected Area Permit to visit the above-mentioned places. This permit is issued at the Leh DC Office and is allowed only to a group of four or more foreign nationals and is valid for 7 days.

While travelling Suru and Zanskar valleys, inner line permits are not required. However, this permit doesn't allow them to beyond Merek Village in the Mahe or Pangong village. Click Here to Book:   Manali Leh Manali Jeep Safari

People Also Ask About Leh

Which are the best leh ladakh bike trip packages, how is the road from manali to leh, is manali leh highway safe, which pass connects manali and leh by road, how far is ladakh from manali, should i plan manali leh highway in august, is a private car allowed in leh, which are the best places to visit during manali to leh road trip, where should i stay between manali and leh.

Sarchu: Locally known as the Sar Bum Chum, Sarchu is one of the most scenic places to camp on the Leh-Manali Highway. The campsite is an ideal stopover for adventure enthusiasts, offering exciting tour options such as local safaris and trekking. Keylong: Keylong is one of the most popular locations for overnight stopovers while travelling between Manali and Leh. Several Manali to Leh road trip packages make a detour through Keylong, with its amazing scenic views and campsites making it a popular spot among tourists. Jispa: Sprawling along the Chandra River, this seaside hamlet is well-known as a camping destination. Flanked by lofty mountains and scenic valleys, Jispa is a popular stopover among tourists travelling from Manali to Leh.

What is the cost of a Leh Ladakh trip?

Which route is best for leh from manali, which time is best to visit ladakh via road, is leh ladakh safe.

Leh Top Attractions

Chumathang Hot Spring is a natural wonder located in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. Situated at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), it is one of the most well-known hot springs in the region. The site is renowned for its therapeutic and healing properties, attracting visitors seeking relaxation and relief from various ailments.The hot spring's mineral-rich waters are believed to have medicinal benefits, especially for joint and skin conditions. Many travelers make the journey to Chumathang to take a rejuvenating dip in the warm waters and experience its therapeutic effects amidst the stunning Himalayan landscape.Apart from its healing properties, Chumathang Hot Spring offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains and the tranquil Indus River flowing nearby. The surrounding region is also rich in biodiversity, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers.Chumathang Hot Spring is a unique attraction that not only provides a calming escape but also offers an opportunity to connect with nature's soothing elements in the high-altitude beauty of Ladakh.

Tsaga La Pass is a breathtaking mountain pass located in Leh district of Ladakh, India. Situated at an elevation of around 15,000 feet above sea level, it is a significant route that connects the Indus Valley with the Nubra Valley. The journey to Tsaga La Pass is a thrilling adventure, offering travelers mesmerizing vistas of the surrounding landscapes on the Leh Ladakh tour.The drive to the pass is an exhilarating experience, taking you through rugged terrains, barren mountains, and occasional streams. The rugged beauty of the region, with snow-capped peaks contrasting against the clear blue skies, leaves a lasting impression on visitors. Tsaga La Pass also holds historical importance as it was once a part of the ancient Silk Route.Travelers often make stops at vantage points along the pass to capture the stunning scenery with their cameras. The pass is accessible from Leh, and the journey typically takes a few hours, but it is advisable to check road conditions before embarking on this adventurous trip. Tsaga La Pass is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and those looking to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring beauty of Ladakh.

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• Manali To Leh Road Trip: A Comprehensive Guide For Your Next Adventure

19 Sep 2023

Nestled amidst the formidable Himalayan peaks, the Ladakh road trip has long held a coveted spot on the bucket lists of adventurers and wanderers. With its rugged terrain, serene lakes, high mountain passes, and a unique blend of cultures, this journey is an exhilarating exploration of one of India’s most remote and breathtaking regions. From thrill-seekers craving an adrenaline rush to nature enthusiasts yearning for pristine landscapes, the Ladakh road trip beckons, promising an unforgettable odyssey through the heart of the Himalayas. This detailed guide of the Manali To Leh road trip will take you through all the important points offering insights, tips, and a glimpse into the unparalleled adventure you are about to traverse on this.

Best Time to Plan A Manali To Leh Road Trip

Image Source: Shutterstock

The Manali to Leh road trip spans approximately 478 kilometers and is a dream come true for avid road-trippers and nature enthusiasts. The route takes you through some of the highest motorable passes in the world, offering mesmerizing vistas of towering mountains, pristine rivers, and charming villages. The best time to embark on this adventure is from June to September when the roads are open and the weather is relatively stable. During this period, the snow has melted, allowing safe passage through the high-altitude passes. Keep in mind the unpredictable weather in the mountains, and be prepared for sudden changes.

Manali to Leh Distance and Route

Understanding the distance and route from Manali to Leh is vital for planning your road trip effectively and this Manali to Leh road trip itinerary is all you need. Each segment of the journey is filled with breathtaking vistas and unique experiences, making it a road trip of a lifetime. The journey begins in Manali, a popular hill station in Himachal Pradesh, known for its picturesque beauty and vibrant culture. From here, you’ll start your ascent towards Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The route can be broadly divided into the following segments:

• Manali to Rohtang Pass: Your journey begins in Manali, a popular hill station in Himachal Pradesh. The first leg of the trip takes you from Manali to Rohtang Pass, covering approximately 51 kilometers. Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 13,050 feet, marks the gateway to your high-altitude adventure.

Distance: 51 Km

• Rohtang Pass to Keylong (117 kilometers): From Rohtang Pass, you’ll continue your ascent through the stunning landscapes, covering about 117 kilometers to reach Keylong. Keylong is a picturesque town in the Lahaul and Spiti district, nestled at an altitude of 10,105 feet. It’s an ideal place for a break, offering local cuisine and a glimpse into the unique culture of the region.

Distance: 117 Km

• Keylong to Jispa: A short 23-kilometer drive from Keylong will take you to Jispa, another charming settlement along the route. Jispa is known for its scenic beauty and is often chosen as a pit stop for travelers.

Distance: 23 Km

• Jispa to Baralacha La (50 kilometers): As you leave Jispa, you’ll head towards Baralacha La, covering about 50 kilometers. Baralacha La is a high mountain pass situated at an elevation of 16,040 feet, offering breathtaking views of snow-clad peaks and vast meadows. It’s a crucial junction connecting roads to Leh, Manali, and Ladakh.

Distance: 50 Km

• Baralacha La to Sarchu: After Baralacha La, the route takes you to Sarchu, covering approximately 42 kilometers. Sarchu, at an altitude of 14,070 feet, is a popular overnight stop for travelers. The barren landscapes here are starkly beautiful.

Distance: 42 Km

• Sarchu to Pang: The next leg of the journey takes you from Sarchu to Pang, a distance of about 80 kilometers. Pang is known for its mesmerizing landscapes, and travelers often camp at the famous Pang Ground under the starry skies.

Distance: 80 Km

• Pang to Tanglang La: Leaving Pang behind, you’ll ascend towards Tanglang La, covering around 84 kilometers. Tanglang La is one of the highest motorable passes in the world, situated at an altitude of 17,582 feet.

Distance: 84 Km

• Tanglang La to Upshi: From Tanglang La, you’ll descend towards Upshi, covering approximately 77 kilometers. Upshi is a small town in Ladakh, offering a change of scenery and a taste of local culture.

Distance: 77 Km

• Upshi to Leh: The final leg of your journey takes you from Upshi to Leh, covering a distance of about 46 kilometers. Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is your ultimate destination, known for its unique blend of Tibetan and Indian cultures.

Distance: 46 Km

Permits And Additional Information

For the Manali to Leh road trip, permits are necessary, and they can vary depending on whether you have a local vehicle (Indian) or an outside vehicle (foreign). Whether you are planning your Manali to Leh road trip by car or bike these are important points to consider regarding the permits.

Permits Required for Local Vehicles (Indian):

• Rohtang Pass Permit: All local vehicles traveling beyond Manali towards Rohtang Pass need this permit, which is obtainable online or in person at the SDM Office in Manali. This permit is required for both Indian and foreign vehicles.
• Inner Line Permit (ILP): Indian tourists must obtain an ILP to enter restricted areas in Ladakh, including Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, and Tso Moriri. You can get ILPs online or in person at the Leh DC Office.
• Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Permit: If you plan to visit the Dah-Hanu area in Ladakh, you’ll need this permit. It’s available in Leh and is required for both Indian and foreign vehicles.

Permits Required for Outside Vehicles (Foreign):

• Protected Area Permit (PAP): Foreign nationals traveling to restricted areas in Ladakh, such as Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, and Tso Moriri, must obtain a PAP. You can apply for PAPs through registered tour operators or travel agencies in Leh. This permit is for foreign vehicles.

Additional Tips:

Some specific monasteries, villages, or military-sensitive areas might require extra permits. Always check with local authorities or tour operators for the latest permit requirements to ensure a smooth and hassle-free Manali to Leh road trip.

5 Must-Visit Places To Visit On Your Manali To Leh Road Trip

These five destinations are just a glimpse of the wonders you’ll encounter on your Manali to Leh road trip. The entire journey is filled with breathtaking landscapes, high mountain passes, and unique cultural experiences, making it a truly unforgettable adventure. Read further to know places you cannot miss out on your next trip.

1. Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass, situated at an impressive altitude of 13,050 feet, serves as the exhilarating threshold to your Manali to Leh road expedition. This high mountain pass, nestled within the majestic Pir Panjal range, beckons travelers with panoramic vistas of snow-capped peaks, pristine meadows, and invigorating mountain air. A visit to Rohtang Pass is akin to stepping into an enchanting winter wonderland, creating an indelible memory and marking the commencement of your journey through the Himalayan marvels. It’s an excellent spot for photography and to get a taste of the Himalayan beauty.

Must Read: 51 Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh For A Spell Binding Vacation

2. Pangong Lake

Pangong Lake, situated at a breathtaking altitude of 14,270 feet in the highlands of Ladakh, is a mesmerizing jewel amidst the stark Himalayan landscape. Known for its ethereal shades of blue that change with the sunlight, the lake stretches across the border into Tibet, China. The lake gained fame after featuring in the movie “3 Idiots,” and it remains a top attraction on the Manali to Leh road trip, offering unforgettable moments of tranquility and natural beauty.

3. Nubra Valley

Known as the “Valley of Flowers of Ladakh,” Nubra Valley is a surreal landscape with lush greenery contrasting against the arid mountains. This remote valley, flanked by rugged mountains, is a striking contrast to arid desert landscapes and vibrant green oases, thanks to the nourishing waters of the Shyok River. One of the highlights of Nubra Valley is the opportunity to ride the famous double-humped Bactrian camels on the Hunder Sand Dunes.

Suggested Read: 40 Best Things To Do In Ladakh That You Can’t Afford To Miss

Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is a captivating destination that seamlessly blends Tibetan and Indian cultures. Perched at a high altitude of approximately 11,562 feet, Leh is a treasure trove of ancient monasteries, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant local culture. Visitors can explore the historic Leh Palace, which offers panoramic views of the town and surrounding mountains, and visit renowned monasteries like Thiksey and Hemis. The bustling markets of Leh provide an opportunity to savor local cuisine, shop for traditional handicrafts, and engage with the warm-hearted locals.

5. Tso Moriri Lake

Tso Moriri Lake, nestled in the remote corners of Ladakh at an altitude of around 15,075 feet, is a hidden gem for those seeking untouched natural beauty. This pristine lake, surrounded by rugged mountains, boasts crystal-clear waters that mirror the azure skies and snowy peaks. Tso Moriri offers a tranquil escape from the crowds, making it perfect for birdwatching, capturing stunning photographs, and experiencing serenity amidst the Himalayan wilderness. While visiting, you’ll also have a chance to witness the nomadic Changpa tribes making it a memorable experience.

Suggested Read: 8 Tourist Circuits Of Ladakh To Cover The Best

Travel Tips For Your Next Manali To Leh Road Trip

1. Ensure your vehicle is in top-notch condition and equipped for the journey. 2. Pack warm clothing, camping gear, and an adequate supply of food and water. 3. Take time to acclimatize at higher altitudes to prevent altitude sickness. 4. Stay updated on road conditions and weather forecasts. 5. Respect local customs and the environment by practicing eco-friendly travel. 6. Do not over-exert yourself and take proper rests in between for acclimatization. 7. Avoid consuming alcohol or smoking.

Further Read: Ladakh Travel Tips To Bear In Mind While Traveling To The Himalayan Desert

As you traverse the winding roads that lead from Manali to Leh, you’ll find yourself in awe of the ever-changing landscapes, the indomitable spirit of the mountains, and the raw beauty of the Himalayas. So, gear up, pack your sense of adventure, and embark on a trip to Leh Ladakh and embark on a memorable adventure on your Manali to Leh road trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Manali To Leh Road Trip

How long is the road trip from Leh to Manali?

The road trip from Leh to Manali typically takes around 2 to 3 days, covering a distance of approximately 479 kilometers via the Manali-Leh Highway

How to plan a road trip from Manali to Leh?

To plan a road trip from Manali to Leh, start by checking the road conditions and weather forecasts. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition, acquire necessary permits, pack essentials like warm clothing, and plan your overnight stops at places like Keylong and Pang.

Which is the best time for a road trip from Manali to Leh?

The best time for a road trip from Manali to Leh is from late May to early September when the roads are open, and the weather is relatively stable.

What are the five passes between Manali and Leh?

The five passes between Manali and Leh are Rohtang Pass, Baralacha La, Nakee La, Lachulung La, and Tanglang La.

Which pass is before Pangong Lake?

The pass before Pangong Lake is Chang La, a high mountain pass located at an altitude of around 17,590 feet (5,360 meters).

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Manali to Leh in 2 Days! | Road Trip Guide in 73 Pictures!

Last updated on August 14th, 2023 at 06:51 pm

Manali to Leh road trip is the most spectacular road trip in the world! Whether you are doing Manali to Leh bike trip or doing a Manali to Leh Ladakh – as it is popularly called – road trip by car, we bet that this will be a journey of your life time! We share our experiences travelling from Manali to Leh by car. We did this in 2010 and it was a journey of our lifetime.

We did another trip on this road in June 2016. This time around we ran on the same highway in Great Himalayan Running Festival aptly known as “Hell Race”.  

“It’s breathtakingly beautiful” – we tell our friends as soon as we reach Leh after the spectacular journey of 473 Kms on the Manali Leh road. The road clings and wriggle through some of the most stunning terrain in the world crossing five high altitude passes, fords, streams and waterfalls tumbling from mountains!

We start our journey from Manali to Leh on a cold rainy morning with overcast sky. We are ordered (!) by our Driver Sumit Singh  on the previous day to be ready at 6 AM to leave Manali. The wisdom of driving in Himalayas is “Leave early and Reach early” as you can not trust the fickle mountain weather as day pass by.

Poorna In front of Johnson hotel. Before the epic journey.

Being our first trip in the Himalayas, ascent upwards unfolded a lot of surprises – the omnipresent apple trees with “red juicy” apples, the streams gently flowing down mountains creating numerous waterfalls, the green carpet of cedar trees in the valley, the clouds which seem to caress the mountain peaks was a “visual” poetry which can be best seen than written.

The road from Manali to Rohtang is an ascent and is surrounded by beautiful valleys. Let the pictures tell the tale.

Please click on the pictures to see them in larger size.

Beas river flanked by Cedar trees, Manali…

Overcast sky as we start from Manali

The start of mesmerising landscape……..

Misty gorges with cedar trees…..

When mist clears, we see these lovely waterfalls….

Another beauty

……and another!

We start climbing to Rohtang Pass

And the landscape gets more gorgeous

Trucks climbing slowly up the hill.

Our car slowly climb towards the snow-capped Rohtang Pass only to wait behind a “Kilometre long” pile up of cars due to a “mudslide”. We have a long journey ahead as the plan was to stay overnight at Sarchu – at 14,000 feet – which is approximately 220 KMs from Rohtang.

Employees from Border Road Organisation clear the “mud slide” and when our car cleared this hurdle, we have lost about 2 hours of precious time. (BTW, the road from Manali to Rohtang has been done up beautifully and gone are the days of such mud slides. It was a pleasure to drive on it last year when we were there for “Hell race”)

The start of mud road….

……and the agony….

An enterprising chaiwala making best use of the opportunity!

We have breakfast at Marhi and continue our journey towards Sarchu. We don’t stop at Rohtang, the place where the day trippers from Manali – majority of them newly weds – gather to play in snow. Some glimpses of Rohtang landscape.

A meadow and the first glimpse of snow

The scenery gets better and better….

The journey beyond Rohtang is suddenly silent. The only noise we could hear is the air rushing against the mountain or the tip – tap of the melting snow. Or the screech of the car tyre on the road. Or sometimes when a “Bullet rider” overtook us with that “Thumping” sound.

The Manali Leh road is either “cemented” or “patch of mud” . Very soon the green valleys and mountains are replaced by shades of brown with snow peaks in the background. Driving along the Bhaga River and listening to its different notes take us into a different world. We could see many water falls in the mountains with water trickling away under the sheets of snow. Valleys capped with snow. Rocky mountains painted green by wild grass and flowers…..

Some wild flowers…..

From now onwards, we are treated to a spectacle of nature – Mountains, greenery, streams, waterfalls…….

We drive along Chandrabhaga river…..

A lovely waterfalls!

….and quiet flows Chandrabhaga.. ..

This was stunning! A huge ice cap on the mountain melts and creates a beautiful, gentle waterfalls!

The sign board says it all!! Fill the tank now!

We cross Thandi and Jispa  – last villages on Manali let road – and begin our ascent again towards Baralacha la which is at about 16500 ft. The journey is an absolute delight. We stopover at beautiful and pristine Suraj tal lake.

The winding snow-capped roads , the low hung clouds with sun breaking in between and creating a beautiful rainbow, we could not just take our eyes off the road. We wished we had a 360 degree vision. Barlacha la was white sheet spread out in every direction and made us sway between dream and reality!

The climb to Barlacha La starts

A lovely Deepak tal

The landscape changes to myriad colours! It is a steep climb to Baracha La. Notice the trucks climbing up….

Crossing a fast flowing stream. It always help to leave early as water levels in these streams increase as the day pass due to melting of snow. Waiting for bikers to cross…

From now onwards the landscape is only white and brown. Just mind-blowing!

As seen from the driver seat……

The wow feeling!

Half frozen Suraj tal. Spectacular!

White all around….

Who wouldn’t love to drive on this!!!

Here we come – Barlacha La 15,000 feet. Miles and miles of snow……

We climb down from Barlacha La to be greeted by spectacular landscape…..

Our camp site at Sarchu @ 14,ooo feet!

Sarchu is where we find tents pitched in the pristine valley of the mighty mountains. It is cold and windy out here. But it is an experience we would never forget!

Streams flowing between huge rocky terrain

This stretch is just beautiful – look at the sculpted sand walls

Now that you have seen the spectacular pictures of Manali Leh road, it is time to see the other way round because mountains look different in other direction! Click this

Travel tips.

Getting there

The journey on the Manali Leh road starts at Manali. Hence make Manali as a base.

a) There are overnight buses from Delhi to Manali. One can book the luxury Volvo buses run by Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation from Delhi to Manali.

http://www.hrtc.gov.in/hrtctickets/Default.aspx

The nearest railway station is Chandigarh. If you are coming by train, then the convenient station will be Chandigarh. Unless, you want to visit Chandigarh, we would recommend you to take the bus as mentioned above.

The nearest airport is at Kullu which is around 40 KMs from Manali. The flights to Kullu from Delhi are notorious for cancellation/delay due to weather condition in Kullu. Keep this in mind while booking your plane tickets.

Stay Options

There are many options to suit all budgets in Manali. We stayed in Johnson Hotel which is one of the oldest in Manali and regarded as an institution. Huge and excellent rooms with a laid back atmosphere. The continental restaurant in the hotel is one of the best in Manali.

http://www.johnsonhotel.in/index.html

Other information

• The Manali Leh road trip is not for faint hearted. You really need to rough it out on the treacherous roads. So be prepared mentally and physically!! (Latest update – The roads on this drive has been done and is excellent except for few places)
• Remember that you will be driving from a height of 6000 ft in Manali to close to 18000 in Tanglang La.  Acclimatisation is the key. Else, AMS – Acute Mountain Sickness – is likely to hit you at these heights. Most of the cases will be mild and result in nausea, headaches, sleeplessness  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000133.htm
• The trip on Manali Leh road can be done in two days with stop over at Jispa.
• Driving in hills takes more time and speeds are drastically reduced as road condition is not good. Always have buffer time to allow delays due to landslides and flooding of roads. Land slides are particularly common between Manali and Jispa. If you are driving yourself, drive safe. Don’t hurry.
• Fill up fuel in Manali and carry supplies in Jerry cans. There is only one petrol bunk in Thandi and if it runs out of stock you will curse yourself. Diesel may be available in “black” at exorbitant cost but getting petrol will be difficult.
• Follow the golden rule of hill driving. Start early and reach early!
• Carry enough memory cards for your pictures. There is so much to click that you will regret if you haven’t had these chips.
• Eat less and don’t overfill yourself while driving in hills. Drink lot of water.
• Carry a good medicine kit. Talk to your family doctor and take necessary medicines.
• Do not exert and run around in high altitude. Oxygen content in atmosphere is 30 – 40 percent lesser in these areas and will make you tired and sick. Do not stay for more than 10 minutes in passes above 15000 ft
• Carry a good Binocular.
• Pack your long johns and woollens. If you have a sleeping bag, carry it.
• Ensure that you have the complete vehicle accessories and kit. If self driving, practice trouble shooting techniques and become confident. Carry a good map of the area.
• Dal/Rajma – Chawal , Maggi and Omelettes are staple food you get in dhabhas on the way. Don’t expect anything more!
• If possible try and plan your drive during full moon day period. You will possibly see the brightest moon ever in these rarefied and unpolluted areas at night.
• Do not rely too much on your cell phone. It may not work most of the time.
• Do not sleep on the journey. You will regret having missed on some of the outstanding scenery in the world.
• Lastly, if you get stuck up anywhere and find an army camp close by, go in and take their help. These great guys will never say NO. Poorna can vouch for it having served in Indian Army!!
• We would recommend that spending one day in Manali will help in seeing some nice places around and also prepares you for the long journey. The transport for the drive can be hired in Manali. The transport charges are generally expensive and it will be good to have at least four people travel in the taxi to reduce the cost burden.
• You can’t drive from Manali to Leh without a confirmed hotel booking
• Online Permit System for Beyond Rohtang is not yet operational
• Permits have to obtained manually during office hours (on office working days) at Manali only
• We have no idea what will be the new rules when the Online Permit system resumes (if at all)

Manali Leh road trip is one of the beautiful one can think of. Travel to Ladakh can not be complete if you do not experience this journey. You cross five passes of different heights, you go through snow, streams and precariously narrow stretches at places. The landscape changes every few KMs. It is a photographer’s paradise indeed.

Important update on road condition, we travelled on the manali to leh road in june 2016 while participating in great himalayan running festival or “the hell race” as it is called ., the road conditions on manali leh road have improved drastically. the rohtang loops are lovely tarmac today and there is no mudslides anymore. except for few kilometres between rohtang top and koksar and again from sarchu to pang the road condition is good., in fact, one need not have to stay in sarchu and drive straight from jispa to leh which will help avoid ams. you will also find dhabhas at many places on way like zing zing bar, after nakkee la, pang, moreh plains. one can also stay in these dhabhas in emergencies..

Planning a trip to Ladakh? We are here to help……

Planning a Leh Ladakh tour including Manali Leh road for the first time is a daunting task. With so much of information available in public domain, you will go crazy with options available and places to see. Going for a regular package tour is no fun as you will visit only those places which everyone visit but miss out many lovely places.

You can read all about our Ladakh travel – 18 posts including a drive to Siachen base camp – by clicking the following post below.

Ladakh Travel – 18 Tales to Inspire you!

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23 comments.

Poorna, Most of your blogs make me feel as if I’m traveling along these routes 🙂 Amazing pictures.

Thank You Vijayendra. Actually the pictures don’t do justice to the beauty of these places. It is a life time experience.

It’s very nice websites for travelling Information http://www.journeytime4u.com/

Thanks Sachin. Glad you liked it. The idea is to provide more personalised information on various destinations.

You have shared good images and valuable information about the Manali to Ladakh tour. Manali is the best place to start the tour to Ladakh. Manali provides many tailor made tour packages to Ladakh. Manali Tourism

at what time of year u took the tour,what are the total expenses,from manali to ladakh anthen where to go

Kindly send me an email at [email protected] so that i can provide all details.

Manali is the most famous and adventurous tourist spot among hooneymooners & adventure lovers. Manali is Located in the northern part of india at a altitute of 1950 m. Tourist from with in India or Rest of the World came here & spend their honey moon trips or holiday trips in Manali. India Tour

India is an extraordinary area with delightful expected view. India is a nation of various custom and enhancing society. Tourists opposite the globe are lured to the rich society and hypnotizing scene of Trip to India

Manali is one of the toursit places in Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Naturally very popular Manali Tour Package Kullu Valley is in addition reputed to be the “Valley of Divine bings”. Separated structure beautiful delightfulness, rich green scenes, exuberant valleys, and so forth you will moreover have brilliant opening to see here a few temples.

this is good , but u come to ladakh so visit in Kashmir—

Kashmir provides ultimate touring options to the vacationers who need to rejuvenate their body and soul. The picturesque landscapes, mystical mountains, divine ambience and lush green are some of the attributes that define Kashmir. The kashmir tour packages are made to provide wonderful opportunity to the tourists who want o feel the divinity and serenity from within here in Kashmir.

Amazing photographs !!

Had a similar experience would like to share — http://blog.travelnina.com/quick-guide-for-trip-to-hemis-festival-ladakh/

Great work… I want to share something for motorcycle enthusiasts..It might help them a lot http://desolate-expression.blogspot.in/

I too visited Ladakh a few days ago and the journey was truly amazing.. i loved it. Read my experiences at http://randomlypicked.com/ladakh-exploring-the-mystic-land/

This Journey looks very adventrous. All pictures of Leh Ladakh And Manali are awesome. I really like your post and I am really inspired by your photos and the captions. Keep up the great work.Hey I am A tour operator so please visit on my site and get good tour packages of india http://www.indianlegendsholidays.com/ .

Thank a lot for sharing this with us. Damdama Lake is also one of the best places if you are looking for a place to spend your weekends, day picnic near delhi, adventure tour near delhi along with the packages.

I am really inspired by your photos and the captions. Keep it up the great work. I like traveling and trying new thins as well. Website:- http://manalipackagetours.com/

Hey,.. what is the cost of travel from manali to leh? Btw.. beautiful pics

Thanks Sonia.

The transport cost was around 15K for two days. It is worth it. In fact transport costs in Ladakh is very high as terrain is tough.

Hello Poorna, thank you for your wonderful picture collection. Unforunally I had not so much time and could just visit Leh and the Lake Pangong, but still I want to go back! 🙂 This himalaya mountains and the monestaries were so beautiful. Ladakh is like a magical and silent place in India. Regards, Sarah

Thanks Sarah. Yes, you should do Leh-Manali by road. It is a lifetime experience. Next time is always there……..

I really inspired by your post. pictures are bliss to the eyes. Great work. could you please help me with, which is the right time to visit Manali with the best stays.

Thanks Sassireka

Thanks. If you are only travelling to Manali, then i would suggest you to go when road to Rohtang pass open which will be in May which gives you a chance to see snow. I would also suggest you to keep a day to go beyond Rohtang and stay for a night at Sissu

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Manali To Leh: Here's How To Plan Your Dream Road Trip

If you are still waiting to take that dream road trip to ladakh, plan your manali to leh bike trip with our handy guide..

By: Karan Kaushik Published: Aug 30, 2022 05:00 PM IST

If there’s one road trip that most Indian travellers dream to embark on, it’s the one from Manali to Leh. After all, riding some of the world’s highest motorable roads is an experience of a lifetime. Here’s a quick guide on planning your Manali to Leh bike trip. By Karan Kaushik

Plan your Manali to Leh road trip with this handy guide

Rugged mountains, azure lakes, iconic Buddhist monasteries, traditional Ladakhi mud-brick houses, prayer-flag-festooned lanes, cute little markets, and cosy cafes. Nothing rewards the seasoned traveller quite as Leh does. From thrilling rafting expeditions to offbeat trails in nomadic and remote villages, the stunning land of high passes offers a profusion of exciting activities for the devil-hearted.

Road tripping from Manali to Leh

This route takes you through some incredible points like the famous Rohtang Pass, one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. The route after Rohtang Pass takes you through some of the highest motorable roads in the world. Once you reach the Lachulungla Pass, you get spectacular views of the Ladakh Plateau – India’s highest plateau. Important stopovers on this route include Keylong, Jispa, Darcha, Baralacha La, Sarchu, and Upshi. You can take a break in either Keylong or Jispa and spend a night there before heading forward to Leh.

Here’s the full route, followed by a breakdown of individual routes.

Manali – Rohtang – Gramphu – Kokhsar – Keylong – Jispa – Darcha – Zingzingbar – Baralacha La – Bharatpur – Sarchu – Gata Loops – Nakee La – Lachulung La – Pang – Tanglang La – Gya – Upshi – Karu – Leh

Manali to Jispa

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Aquib Irshad (@aquibirshad)

Begin the journey of a lifetime from Manali. Grab a wholesome breakfast at one of the many cafes in Manali. The first point on this route is Madi, following which you will reach the popular Rohtang Pass. It usually takes riders two hours to make it to Rohtang Pass. Spend some time soaking in the unparalleled picturesque beauty of Rohtang. Take a dozen selfies with your mains.

If you are travelling during peak seasons, chances of meeting fellow bike riders are also high. Befriend them and hit the road again. Your next pitstop could be Keylong, which lies just a little before Jispa. Now, you may choose to spend the rest of the day and night at Keylong or reach Jispa for your overnight stay. Keylong is also where you should check your bike and get it repaired if need be. You won’t find any other repair shops before Leh. Jispa Rollingstone Home Stay & Cafe and Dorje Lhakpa HomeStay are nice options for food and lodging.

Jispa to Leh

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Nikita Panchal (@nikitapanchal12)

After resting for the night at Jispa, start early for Leh. This is where the Manali to Leh route gets amazing as well as challenging. This route will take you through the otherworldy landscapes of Baralacha La Pass, Tanglangla, Moore Planes, and Upshi.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Sameer MI Ahmed (@sameerdigital)

When you reach Baralacha La, you would see the quaint hilly hamlet of Bharatpur. You can stop for lunch at Khoksar in Darcha, which has plenty of eateries and dhabas on both sides of the check post.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Manali man (@foodiefrommanali)

Follow the quirky signboards and head towards the Himachal Pradesh -Jammu and Kashmir border, which is located at Sarchu. Here, you can stay in tented camps as there’s no dearth of good camping facilities. You’ll also find a police check post and a liquor shop in Sarchu.

The other prominent places you’ll ride through on your way to Leh are Gata Loops, Nakee La, Lachung La, Pang, Taglang La, Upshi, and Karu. Just FYI, the last petrol station on the Jispa-Leh route is at Tandi, after which you’ll only come across a fuel station near Upshi and Karu.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Arjun Thomas (@arjun_maliyakkal)

If you are feeling uneasy because of the high altitude, make sure to stop at Pang, where there’s an army camp that serves free oxygen. Note that you’ll only get access to your mobile network in Keylong, Jispa, and then Upshi.

If you wish to stop over for a stay before reaching Leh, Pang, Rumtse village, Upshi and Karu have decent guesthouses, homestays , and tented accommodations. There’s no dearth of comfortable accommodation in Darcha, Sissu, Gondhla, Keylong, and Gemur either.

Feature and hero image courtesy: Shutterstock

Related: Bookmark These Gorgeous Homestays in Leh For Your Next Mountain Holiday

• Manali to Leh
• Manali to Leh Bike trip
• Manali to Leh Road Trip
• travel to leh

Karan Kaushik

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Relaxing in the Majestic Journey: Manali to Leh Road Trip

The Manali to Leh road trip is one of the most popular and scenic road passages in India. It takes you through the majestic Himalayan region, offering stirring views of snow-confined mountains, high-altitude passes, sparkling gutters, and visual terrains. This road trip is a favourite among adventure addicts, nature lovers, and photography aficionados.

The primary route for the Manali to Leh road trip is the Manali- Leh Highway, also known as National Highway 3 or NH3. The trace spans roughly 479 kilometres and passes through some of the most stunning locales in the Himalayas.

Interested in discovering Ladakh? Your best starting point is to browse through our tailor-made Ladakh Tour Packages

The Manali to Leh road trip is an extraordinary adventure that offers a mesmerizing mix of scenic beauty and thrilling road conditions. The trip unfolds along the Manali- Leh Highway, which winds through the majestic Himalayan region, showcasing the different geographies and natural prodigies of the area. The road itself is a sight to behold, as it meanders through stirring decor, transitioning from lush green denes to barren mountains and surreal geographies.

As you navigate the gruelling terrains, including hairpin bends and steep ascents, a sense of adventure and exhilaration accompanies you throughout the trip. The high-altitude passes, similar to Rohtang Pass, Baralacha La, and Tanglang La, give admiration-inspiring views of the girding peaks, denes, and glaciers, while also testing your adaptability and determination. The closeness of the region creates a feeling of solitariness and serenity, allowing you to immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of the geographies.

The ever-changing rainfall adds an element of surprise, with clear skies giving way to unforeseen rain or snowfall. Along the way, you will have the occasion to witness the original culture and hospitality, as you interact with the residents of small townlets and taste their traditional cookery.

The Manali to Leh road trip is a truly indelible trip, where every turn reveals a new phenomenon and every afar is filled with wonder.

Also Read: Places to visit in Ladakh  &  Things to do in Ladakh  

Places to visit during the road trip from Manali to Leh

Below is a list of some of the most wonderful places you can visit on your road trip to Leh.

Rohtang Pass: Located at an altitude of 3,978 meters (13,050 bases), Rohtang Pass is a must-visit destination on the Manali to Leh road trip. It offers stunning panoramic views of the girding mountains and denes, and if you are lucky, you might indeed get to witness snow indeed during the summer months.

Keylong: As you continue your trip, make a stop at Keylong, the executive centre of the Lahaul and Spiti quarter. This graphic city is nestled amidst green fields and snow-clad peaks. You can explore the domestic market, visit abbeys, and soak in the tranquil air.

Jispa: Located along the banks of the Bhaga River, Jispa is a scenic townlet that offers stirring views of the Himalayas. It’s an ideal place to break your trip and spend a peaceful night in the leg of nature.

Baralacha La: This place is positioned at an altitude of 4,890 meters (16,040 bases). Baralacha La is a high mountain pass that connects the Lahaul and Ladakh regions. The pass offers mesmerizing views of the rugged terrain and is a favourite spot for photography addicts.

Pang: Pang is a small hamlet located at a high altitude and serves as a popular layover during the Manali to Leh road trip. The village is known for its scenic beauty, girdled by mountains and vast open spaces. It’s a great place to take a break, enjoy a cup of tea, and respect the surreal geographies.

Tso Kar: Tso Kar, also known as the” White Lake,” is a high-altitude Salt Lake located in the Rupshu Valley. The lake is known for its stunning beauty and the occasion to spot colourful migrant birds. It’s a peaceful and serene place where you can connect with nature.

Thiksey Monastery: As you are near Leh, make sure to visit the notorious Thiksey Monastery . Perched on a hilltop, this friary is a prominent Buddhist point and offers panoramic views of the Indus Valley. Explore the friary’s intricate armature, visit the prayer halls, and substantiate the morning prayers for a spiritual experience.

Leh: The final destination of your road trip, Leh, is a fascinating city and the capital of Ladakh. Take some time to explore the bustling Leh Market, visit ancient cloisters like Hemis and Shey, and indulge in the original cookery. Leh also serves as a base for colourful adventure conditioning like touring, swash rafting, and exploring the beautiful Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso Lake .

These are just many of the numerous inconceivable places you can visit during the Manali to Leh road trip. Each destination offers its own unique charm, adding to the overall appeal of this indelible trip.

Also Read: Fairs & Festivals of Ladakh

Best time to travel from Manali to Leh

The most suitable time to take a Manali to Leh road trip is generally from June to September. This period is considered the peak season for bearing the Manali to Leh road trip due to favourable rainfall conditions and the opening of the high mountain passes. Below is a breakdown of the different months.

June: The Manali- Leh Highway generally opens in early to mid-June, motioning the launch of the traveller season. June offers affable rainfall with moderate temperatures during the day, ranging from 15 °C to 25 °C (59 °F to 77 °F). still, nights can still be chilly, particularly at an elevation, so it’s judicious to carry warm apparel.

July and August: These months are the peak season for travelling from Manali to Leh. The rainfall is generally warm and comfortable, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30 °C (68 °F to 86 °F) in the lower regions. The road conditions are at their stylish during this time, allowing for a smoother trip through the high mountain passes.

September: September is another good month to travel from Manali to Leh. The rainfall starts getting cooler as the afterlife sets in, especially towards the end of the month. Day temperatures range from 15 °C to 25 °C (59 °F to 77 °F), and nights come colder. analogous to the Srinagar to Leh route, travelling in September offers the advantage of smaller crowds and a more serene experience.

It’s important to note that the rainfall in the Himalayan region can be changeable, and unforeseen changes are common. It’s judicious to check the rainfall cast and road conditions before embarking on your trip. also, some high mountain passes, similar to Rohtang Pass and Baralacha La, may witness temporary closures or restrictions due to snow or tempestuous rainfall, so it’s pivotal to stay streamlined with the rearmost information.

Overall, the summer months from June to September is a suitable period for a successful and pleasurable Manali to Leh road trip, allowing you to witness the stunning geographies and navigate the high mountain passes with favourable rainfall conditions.

Tips for planning a road trip from Manali to Leh

Planning a Manali to Leh road trip requires careful preparation to ensure a safe and pleasurable trip through the gruelling terrain of the Himalayas. Then are some tips to help you plan your trip.

Choose the Right Time: The suitable time to go for the Manali to Leh road trip is from June to September when the rainfall is favourable, and the road conditions are better. This period ensures that the utmost of the high mountain passes is open, allowing for a smoother trip.

Check Road Conditions: Before setting off, it’s pivotal to check the current road conditions and any closures or restrictions along the Manali- Leh Highway. Examiner updates from original authorities, trip websites, or consult with educated excursionists who have lately completed the trip.

Acclimatization: Leh is located at a high altitude, and altitude sickness can be a concern. It’s recommended to spend a day or two in Manali or other intermediate destinations along the way to adapt to the added altitude. Stay doused, avoid extreme physical exertion, and attend to your body.

Carry Necessary Permits: Certain areas along the Manali- Leh route, similar to Rohtang Pass and some belts of Ladakh, demand permits for both Indian and foreign excursionists. Ensure you attain the necessary permits in advance to avoid any complications during your trip.

Prepare Your Vehicle: Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and well-maintained before embarking on the trip. Check the tires, brakes, machine, and other essential factors. Carry a spare tire, necessary tools, and an introductory condition kit. It’s judicious to have a vehicle with high ground concurrence, as the road can be rough and uneven in some sections.

Pack Essentials: Due to the remote nature of the region, it’s important to pack essential inventories for the trip. Carry sufficient food, water, and snacks, as there may be limited options along the route. Also, pack warm apparel, rain gear, sunscreen, first aid stuff, and any specifics you may need.

Plan Your Accommodation: Plan your accommodation in advance, especially during the peak season. There are several guesthouses, campgrounds, and hospices available in Manali, Jispa, Sarchu, and Leh. still, keep in mind that accessibility may be limited, so it’s wise to make reservations ahead of time.

Stay Doused and Take It Slow: The high elevation and gruelling terrain require you to take it slow and allow your body to acclimatize. Stay doused by drinking plenitude of water and avoid overexertion. Take regular breaks, especially at high-altitude passes, to rest, enjoy the decor, and allow your body to acclimate.

Respect the Culture and Terrain: While travelling through the region, admire the culture, traditions, and terrain. Be aware of fragile ecosystems, follow the principles of responsible tourism, and don’t litter or disturb the natural surroundings.

By considering these tips and adequately preparing for your Manali to Leh road trip, you can have a memorable and safe adventure through the stunning geographies of the Himalayas.

Suggested Read: Leh Ladakh Car Trip & Things to Carry

Suggested itineraries for the road trip from Manali to Leh

Manali to leh road trip (in 1 day).

• Start beforehand in the morning from Manali and head towards Keylong.
• Take a short break in Keylong to enjoy the scenic beauty and have breakfast.
• Continue the trip towards Jispa and halt there for a quick lunch.
• do towards Sarchu and take a short break to respect the mesmerizing geographies.
• From Sarchu, drive through Gata circles, Nakee La, Lachung La, and Tanglang La passes.
• Reach Leh by late evening, where you can find accommodation and relax for the night.

Manali to Leh Road Trip (in 2 days)

• Start beforehand from Manali and drive towards Keylong.
• Take breaks at Rohtang Pass and enjoy the stunning views.
• Reach Keylong and spend the night there, exploring the city and passing the original culture.
• Depart from Keylong and continue towards Sarchu.
• respect the graphic geographies and stop at Baralacha La pass.
• Continue the trip to reach Leh by late autumn or evening.

Manali to Leh Road Trip via Srinagar (in 2 days)

• Take breaks at Rohtang Pass and enjoy the scenic beauty.
• Reach Sarchu and spend the night there, enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
• Depart from Sarchu and continue towards Leh.
• Drive through Tanglang La pass and reach Leh by late autumn or evening.

Manali to Leh Road Trip via Spiti Valley (in 2 days)

• Start beforehand from Manali and head towards Kaza in Spiti Valley.
• Drive through Rohtang Pass and enjoy the magnific geographies.
• Reach Kaza and spend the night there, exploring the beautiful cloisters and unique culture.
• Depart from Kaza and continue towards Leh.
• Drive through Kunzum Pass and respect the stirring lookouts.
• Reach Leh by late autumn or evening.

These suggested planners give a general figure for the Manali to Leh road trip. still, it’s important to note that road and rainfall conditions, as well as individual preferences, may bear adaptations to the diary. It’s judicious to plan for redundant time to regard unlooked-for circumstances and to completely probe the route before embarking on the trip.

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Manali to Leh: A Road Trip You’ll Never Forget

Introduction.

Imagine this: winding roads carved into the mighty Himalayas surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush valleys. The sound of a peaceful river flowing and the view of ancient monasteries high in the hills. That’s a road trip from Manali to Leh for you, a journey that at every turn opens up a wonderful landscape that will remain engraved in your memory forever.

The road trip from Manali to Leh is an unforgettable journey that takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. This article will provide detailed instructions for planning and completing this epic adventure. So, buckle up and get ready for the road trip of a lifetime!

Planning your trip

There are a few important things to consider while planning a road trip from Manali to Leh. Let’s dive in and start preparing for your epic adventure!

Best time to go

The best time to start this trip is from June to September. They ask why? Well, this happens when the highway known as “Manali-Leh Highway” is open and the weather is best. The winter months present significant challenges due to heavy snowfall and road closures—safer than cold!

How long do you have to go

Normally, this trip will have you traveling for 2 full days, if you think to take a break to soak in the sheer beauty. However, if you really want to experience the magic of the route and destinations, we suggest you allow at least 7-10 days for your trip. This will give you enough time to acclimate to the high altitudes, explore the towns along the way and deal with unexpected changes in itinerary

What needs to be arranged

What you pack can directly affect your comfort and safety when you travel. Here are our quick bags:

• Warm, layered clothing: Temperatures can drop a bit, especially at night.
• Medicine : Don’t forget top-of-the-line healing potions, as you’ll be traveling high above sea level.
• Snacks and water: Stay energized and hydrated.
• Maps and Guidebooks : While a digital GPS is great, labeled maps work even when there is no signal!

Vehicle and fuel considerations

The vehicle you choose for this trip should be sturdy, well maintained and suitable for mountain vehicles. A four-wheel-drive SUV is usually the best option. As for fuel, while there are gas stations along the way, it’s pretty spread out. Whenever possible fill up your tank and consider carrying an extra can of fuel as an emergency backup.

Get the necessary permits

Remember also that the road from Manali to Leh crosses many high altitude roads, which requires clearance from the Government of India. You can apply for these online or in person at the District Office in Manali. Make sure you have all the necessary documents for a smooth and hassle-free trip.

Remember, a well-planned trip can save you time, stress, and money. So download those maps, start creating a list, and get ready for a journey to get the books!

Highlights of the road trip

Get ready, intrepid travellers! Now we are going to explore some highlights of our Manali to Leh road trip. Each of these stops offers a unique experience that brings you a little closer to the natural wonder of the Himalayas.

The Rohtang Road

Keep those windows down and let that cool mountain air fill the car—welcome to Rohtang Pass! At an altitude of 3,978 meters above sea level, this highway offers breathtaking views of mist-capped mountains and hills in the distance. It is usually covered in thick snow, making it the perfect place for some impromptu snowball fights! But remember that the trail is only open from June to October due to heavy snowfall in the winter. So, plan accordingly!

Written by Tandi

Next stop, Tandy! This little-known village is a hidden gem that falls along the way. What specifically would you ask about Tandy? It is the last refueling point before hitting Leh, so make sure you fill up your tank here. But that’s not all. Peacefully nestled in the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, Tandy also offers a peaceful retreat away from the rush—the best place to stretch those legs and catch some beautiful moments

Written by Keylong

Last but certainly not least is Keylang, a lush oasis between pristine mountains. Here you can give your hard-working car a rest and get ready for the journey ahead. Explore Buddhist monasteries, stroll through sprawling apple orchards, or just enjoy the tranquility—it’s the perfect place for a much-needed den

GISPA is the source

Zispa is a small village that makes you feel like you are stepping on a postcard. There is always the Bhaga river flowing gently through the valley, tall willow and poplar trees lining its banks, and a stunning peak backdrop – this piece of paradise is the perfect place to camp at night and take in some peace and quiet And for the next section, create a new one.

The passing of Barala

Our next port of call was the legendary Baralacha La Pass. Sitting at a whopping altitude of 4,890 meters, it is known for its unique natural terrain—three mountain ranges (Pir Panjal, Great Himalayan, and Zanskar) combine to form a pleasant landscape Here you get snow almost throughout the year , so if you ever get a wanted to make snow in the winter Now this is the place to be!

Written by Sarachuh

Finally, we reach Sarachu, our main stop on the Manali-Leh highway. Halfway between Manali and Leh, tented accommodation in Sarchu offers a unique experience of “living in the wild.” Relax under the starry beach night sky, and gather around the campfire don’t make unforgettable stories- Sarachu is all about memories- we do

Written by Pangong Tso

Prepare to be swept off your feet by the rainbow Pangong Tso. Stretching for 130 kilometres, the lake changes colors along the path of the sun, offering breathtaking views. From cobalt blues during the day to lush oranges at sunset, this place is a photographer’s paradise. Remember to pack a picnic and a good book—you’ll want to spend some time in peace!

The Chang La Pass

Then, get ready for the world’s third highest drive-through—Chang La. At an impressive altitude of 5,360 metres, you will have snow all year round but the breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains and valleys make the bone-chilling cold worthwhile . Don’t forget to enjoy a cup of hot tea from the military canteen here—it’s a tradition!

Finally, after much anticipation, we reach the end of your journey, Leh. With its beautiful scenery, rich culture and friendly locals, it’s the perfect place to relax and reflect on your amazing journey. Take a stroll through the historic Leh Palace, find peace at the Shanti Stupa, and try some authentic Ladakhi cuisine—you got it!

Remember to dress nicely, charge your camera, and take those snacks for the trip. Each of these stations is a treasure waiting for you to explore. Here’s to your Manali to Leh road trip, a trip you will remember for the rest of your life!

New adventures: Other attractions and activities

The road trip from Manali to Leh is not only the journey but there are wonderful attractions and activities to indulge in. Don’t hesitate to adventure ! Go ahead and make every moment count!

Visits to Buddhist monasteries and temples

We begin this by looking at the spiritual side of these Himalayan regions. There are many beautiful Buddhist monasteries and temples along the way that showcase rich cultural heritage. Key Monastery, Thixey Monastery and Hemis Monastery are a few examples. Spend some time in these peaceful sanctuaries, engage in prayer, or simply meditate in peace – the perfect way to calm your soul.

Walking in the Himalayas

Feeling a little curious? Embark on a trek through the Himalayas! Explore nature at close quarters by hiking the scenic trails of Spiti Valley or Markha Valley. Don’t worry about level, because there are hikes suitable for beginners, intermediates and experts. Remember to bring water, snacks and first aid kits. And hey, don’t rush—take your time to enjoy your beautiful views and have fun exploring on foot.

Camping under the stars

What’s better than winding down your day nestled in a cozy tent, under a rope blanket in the clear light of the Himalayas? Both Jispa and Sarchu campsites can be found on the Manali-Leh highway. Gather around the fire, share stories and make lifelong memories – it’s a magical experience you’ll love Don’t forget your warm clothes, though—the nights can get pretty chilly!

Rafting on the Indus River

Feel your adrenaline pumping as you navigate the winding rapids of the Indus River! Choose a whitewater rafting experience to add a little excitement to your trip. Beginners can participate in short rafting sessions lasting about an hour, while experienced rafters can opt for half-day or full-day trips. Grab a life jacket, paddle, and embrace the thrill of jumping through the river’s icy waters.

View of the Nubra Valley and the Hunder desert

Afterwards, explore the otherworldly beauty of the Nubra Valley. The breathtaking landscape—where a green oasis meets majestic mountains and pure sand—is a sight to behold. Head to Handar village for a barefoot walk on the cool desert sand. Don’t want to go without a story? Ride a Bactrian camel through the hills for unforgettable memories.

Souvenir shopping in Leh

No adventure is complete without a souvenir! The bustling markets of Leh invite you to indulge in an unforgettable shopping experience. Find beautiful crafts, or treat your loved ones to some Tibetan-inspired trinkets. Here’s what you can buy:

• And steal the shawl with her pashmina
• handmade leather socks and gloves
• Ladakhi traditional jewellery
• Tibetan prayer flags
• authentic apricot oil

Remember to take your time when shopping, and don’t hesitate to make a deal—it’s part of the marketplace experience.

Embrace these other adventures and indulge in the spirit of a road trip from Manali to Leh. With a little planning and passion, you’ll find a treasure trove of experiences to cherish for a lifetime. Happy review, fellow travelers!

Tips for a safe and enjoyable trip

There are few things in life that can compete with an exciting road trip from Manali to Leh. With stunning landscapes and endless skylines of wonder, every moment along this route holds the promise of adventure. While this journey can be a dream come true for the intrepid traveler, it is important to do so moderately and with safety in mind. Allow us to share some practical tips to help make your road trip safe and memorable.

Adjustments to elevations

When you start this trek, mountain sickness is a real concern because of the high altitude. But not to worry—we’ve got some tips for making a successful transition.

• Start slow: Spend two days in Manali and start your journey slowly. This initial slow start can help you acclimate to the altitude.
• Drink plenty of water: Going to higher altitudes can dehydrate you faster so stay hydrated. Aim for 3-4 liters of water per day.
• Avoid Fatigue: Excessive exercise can aggravate altitude sickness. Feel free to explore.
• Medications: Consult with your doctor before traveling. Drugs such as Diamox may be recommended to prevent altitude sickness.

Driving safely on mountain roads

Manali to Leh is a spectacular drive, but also a tricky one, with winding roads and unpredictable weather. Here are some things to keep you safe on those mountain roads.

• Use a reliable vehicle : A sturdy, well-maintained vehicle is essential. Make sure your car is serviced properly before you travel.
• Know your route: Plan your trip carefully. Use an online map to navigate to areas where the signal may be poor.
• Understand mountain road etiquette: Traffic in the mountains generally has the right of way. Also, sweep your headlights down when approaching an oncoming vehicle to avoid distracting another driver.
• Look for Help: You’re likely to encounter help on these trails. Take it slow and give them a right of way.

Prevention of high altitude disease

Altitude sickness can be an unwanted obstacle in your travels, but there’s no need to worry—we have tips to help you manage it successfully.

• Get used to it: Start your trip slowly by spending two days in Manali to get acclimated to the altitude.
• Climb slowly: Try to avoid climbing too high—if possible, drive to Leh for three to three days, with overnight stops in Kelang and Sarachu.
• Be careful: Watch your body’s reactions. If you experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and shortness of breath, relax and give your body time to adjust.
• Medications: Consult your doctor before starting your trip. Drugs such as Diamox may be recommended for the prevention or treatment of altitude sickness.

Stay hydrated and get enough rest

Balance is the key to fully enjoy the road trip from Manali to Leh. Adequate rest and hydration are keys to that balance.

• Drink water: The higher the altitude, the faster you can get dehydrated. Continue to drink water throughout your journey and aim to drink about 3-4 liters per day.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine : Both can aggravate dehydration and interfere with your quality, so it’s best to stay away.
• Take frequent breaks: While driving, stop every now and then to stretch your legs, take pictures and catch your breath.
• Plan to rest at night: It’s important to give your body a chance to recover at night. On your way to Leh, plan to stop at Keylang Sarchu (or similar places).
• Listen to your body : Don’t be afraid to adjust your travel plans if you’re feeling tired or unwell. An extra day off can make all the difference.

In conclusion: Your journey is waiting!

Driving from Manali to Leh is more than just a road trip—it’s a journey full of natural beauty, adventure, and deep interaction with local cultures Our guide, you’re ready to address important aspects of preventing altitude sickness and maintaining your urine levels and rest.

Remember that acclimatization is key on this hike—unexpected changes can affect your body, so it pays to climb slowly. Staying hydrated is equally important, as is making sure you get enough rest to allow your body to recover and adjust.

You’re all set now, wise to deal with road manners and grab the best deals in Leh market. The breathtaking views of the Nubra Valley and the winding canyons of the Indus River are ready for your arrival.

So, fellow adventurers, what are you waiting for? It’s time to bundle up and plan your next unforgettable trip. The world of travel from Manali to Leh is waiting for you with open arms. An adventure, and remember—every moment on this road trip is a memory being made.

Go ahead and start planning your trip today – make your trip safe and full of surprises!

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Manali To Leh Road Trip: Distance, Time, and Useful Travel Information

Situated in the Kashmir region of India, Leh is a dream destination every traveller wishes to visit once in their lifetime. Furthermore, stretching from the Siachen Glacier to the central Great Himalayas and surrounded by dramatic landscapes, Ladakh is a dreamy place known as the world’s freezing desert. Captivating Gompas (Tibetan Buddhist sanctuaries), whitewashed stupas and fluttering prayer flags, Leh is a riot of red-robed monks and elaborate murals. 

With a culture equivalent to Tibetan civilization, the locals of Leh are friendly and welcoming to tourists. It might also not be wrong to say that travelling to Leh is a breathtaking experience that gets beautified with scenic lakes, fascinating Landscapes, quaint villages, high-altitude mountain passes, picturesque valleys, and different spiritual monasteries. And many tourists plan a trip to Leh to seek adventure, breathe the unpolluted air, explore Tibetan culture, and experience the magical bliss found in town. Keep scrolling to read the Manali to Leh itinerary and the most suitable routes to reach Leh via Manali. 

Table of Contents

Why travel from manali to leh.

• Travelling from Manali to Leh by Car  
• Best Time To Visit Leh from Manali 
• Popular Routes from Manali to Leh  
• How to Reach Leh By Flight
• How to Reach Leh By Bus  
• How to Reach Leh By Train  
• Popular sightseeing attractions in Leh  
• Popular places to eat in Leh  
• Hotels and Resorts in Leh  

Nearby road trips from Leh

Leh is no less than a nature’s marvel with open roads and clear skies that allow you to breathe freely amidst a peaceful atmosphere. Here you will find yourself lost in the magnificence and tranquillity of rugged landscapes, seek reassurance in a plethora of Gompas, and satiate your adventure cravings by enjoying different thrilling activities. Experience the joy of being on the road by booking Manali cab service from Savaari .

In addition, Manali and Leh are the two most well-known hill stations in the country and must-adds to the bucket list of all ardent sightseers! So if you want to plan a trip to Leh from Manali, go ahead because an unforgettable experience awaits you. When you take a road trip from Manali to Leh, you can enhance your experience by enjoying everything that lies on the way. With a Savaari, you can turn your drive into a fun-filled journey and also customize the trip to your liking, travel time, and budget. 

Travelling from Manali to Leh by Car  

Leh is unquestionably an outstanding place in Jammu & Kashmir that evokes a feeling of dreamlike euphoria. Its wild lofty mountains, pristine lakes, exotic traditions and culture make it an integral bucket list destination. Moreover, Leh’s top scenic attractions include its undefiled natural spectacles, Tibetan Buddhist celebrations, colourful sanctuaries, picture-perfect mountain hikes, rugged mountain passes and more.  Book a Manali car rental for the best experience

And you can add more charm to this experience when you take a road trip to Leh from Manali. The Manali to Leh distance is approximately 426 km, and you can cover it within 11 to 12 hours. While many people opt for a bike journey to reach their destination, it is better to choose a car commute if you are travelling in groups or with family.  With our completely customizable Srinagar to Pahalgam trip packages, you can stop at Srinagar to Pahalgam any of these places and do a quick sightseeing.

Let us help you discover the best routes to travel from Manali to Leh by car. You can also enjoy the route from the back seat by renting a car from Manali to Leh . 

Best Time To Visit Leh from Manali

The most suitable time to visit Leh is from May to July as the routes to Leh open both from Srinagar and Manali highway during this time. Furthermore, there is considerable snowfall, specifically on the Leh Manali highway. Another excellent time to visit Leh is from mid-September to October, when Leh transforms into the most mesmerizing landscape. However, you must avoid visiting Leh during the monsoon from July to August as the area is prone to landslides. Autumn or early winter in Leh is another most suitable times to visit. 

The rain stops but leaves behind just the perfect amount of moisture in the air to make the trip delightful. Being bathed by the rain over the rainy season, the wild surroundings turn to the liveliest hues.By the time November arrives, Leh is freezing cold. All areas over 14000 ft undergo sub-zero temperatures. Furthermore, driving through the roads, even the Manali-Leh highways, get risky because of the black ice accumulation.

Popular Routes from Manali to Leh 

Route 1: manali to leh via nh3.

The Manali to Leh route is unquestionably spectacular. It is such a wonderful extravaganza of nature’s delight that you would love to be a part of! In addition, as you move to the higher altitudes, take quick breaks to soak in the panoramas and camp under the starry sky to make memories of a lifetime! The approximate distance between Manali to Leh is 426 km, and it is advisable to take the Manali to Leh best route that runs via NH3. 

Here’s the basic route map from Manali to Leh. 

Popular sightseeing attractions between Manali to Leh  

• Rohtang Pass 

With an elevation of 13000 ft, Rohtang Pass is the perfect getaway to Manali to Leh highway. So when you embark on a road trip from Manali to Leh, take a halt at the Rohtang Pass and take a trek to the highest point to witness nature’s full glory. 

• Jispa village

Located on the shores of the famous Bagha river, Jispa Village is a primary stop for Leh travellers. Here you can spend some quiet time near the lakeside or camp under the starry night to get the most surreal road trip experience. 

• Atal Tunnel

Constructed at the height of 10 thousand 40 feet above sea level, Atul Tunnel holds the record for being the world’s most extended highway tunnel. Moreover, connecting Manali with Lahaul and Spiti districts, Atul Tunnel is the perfect engineering spectacle you can witness en route. 

• Solang Valley 

A perfect skiing destination surrounded by lush green environs, a halt at Solang Valley on a road trip from Manali to Leh will make your trip more memorable. 

• Tayul Gompa Monastery 

Located a few kms from Leh, Tayul Gompa is the oldest-known monastery in the Northern region. Moreover, located amidst the lofty mountain ranges, this monastery is famous for a majestic 

12 ft statue of Guru Padmasambhava, besides the 108 primary wheels that keep on self-rotating on auspicious events. 

Places to eat along this route

• Leh Dhaba: Situated in Jispa along the Manali to Leh route, Leh Dhaba serves the best Kahwa tea, Thupka and noodles.
• Pang Restraunt: A perfect stopover point near Leh to witness the serene natural surroundings and enjoy hot coffee and delicious meals served at affordable rates. 

Manali to Leh Road Condition via Route 1:

This is the shortest and the best route to travel between  Manali and Leh. It is also the fastest, because the Srinagar to Pahalgam traffic on this route is regular and there are no road closures. Moreover, for better commute, always check live maps and instant traffic updates for the latest information on  Manali to Leh road conditions.

Other means of travelling from Manali to Leh 

The only route to Leh Ladakh in winter is by flight, though airlines fly all year round. In addition, the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport of Leh is the area’s major airport. And GoAir and Air India have regular flights running from New Delhi. However, airline services are irregular during winter, and flights usually get cancelled due to snowfall in Leh and fog in Delhi. 

By Bus 

The central bus stand for Leh Ladakh is situated 700m south of the central town centre. State buses from Manali and the HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation) generally halt overnight at Darcha, Keylong, or Sarchu for high-altitude acclimatization. 

By Train 

Kalka is the nearest railway station to Leh and many buses and private cabs run from Kalka Railway station to Leh. 

Popular sightseeing attractions in Leh 

Here are some prominent scenic attractions you can glimpse in Leh.  

• Pangong Lake

With an impressive landscape and stunning scenic beauty, Pangong Lake remains at a more elevated altitude in the Himalayan range. In addition, this lake has a spectacular scenic view with sparkling waters, a lakeshore with pebbles, and a stunning backdrop. And the mountains blanketed with snow make this spot something you cannot express in words. 

You can also spot the different hues of blue and green shade in the lake as the position of the sun transitions in this lake. This area is heaven for photographers and bird watchers as you can spot different migratory birds like ducks, Crane, and seagulls, along with skating and camping near the lakeside. 

Leh Palace was earlier the home to the royal family reigning in Ladakh. This famous Leh palace holds the same design as Patola Palace, situated in Tibet and built in the 17th century. In addition, this palace was again deserted in the 19th century when the royal family living in this castle moved to the Stok Palace when Kashmiris took over this palace. Furthermore, with stunning architecture constructed with wood, stones, and sand, with some stunning portraits and carvings on its wall, this site is mostly visited by journalists, historians, archaeologists and professional photographers.

• Spituk Gompa

Spituk Gompa remains situated at a distance of 8 km from Leh, and this well-known monastery has outstanding architecture and was built during the late 11th century. This place has a central prayer hall where the idol of Lord Buddha is placed, and there are different antique portraits, lists of ancient celebrations, arms and other such things in this sanctuary. In addition, the veils of the Lord Buddha statue are released only once a year during the Spituk festival, where you can witness various dance and music performances with other attractions. 

• Drang Drung Glacier

Drang-Drung glacier is the second most extensive Glacier you can glimpse after the Siachen Glacier. This Glacier remains situated in the Zanskar range of the Himalayan peaks, and you can reach the place by trekking for a day through Suru Valley. And if you are an avid nature photographer, you can readily click some scenic vistas of the wild marmots, Blue Sea, ibex, and Tibetan Fox. Also, we can say that this place is unquestionably heaven with the stunning terrain and the snow-filled mountain resting in the backdrop that improves the magnificence of this place.

Popular places to eat in Leh 

Leh is a multicuisine town serving Tibetan, Indian, Chinese and even Korean delicacies. Moreover, the dishes here flaunt tints of these foreign influences. So when you visit this beautiful Leh town, you can try regional dishes, such as Thukpa (noodle soup), Tsampa Ngamphe (charred barley flour), and Skyu, a heavy pasta plater with plenty of vegetables. Also, don’t forget to savour the delicious Momos, steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables, when in town. Beverages include coffee, tea, beer and Chang, an alcoholic drink consumed especially on festive occasions. Below are some well-known eating joints in Leh. 

• Sheldon Garden Restaurant: Famous for Continental and Multi-cuisine delicacies 
• Old Town Cafe: Famous for Tibetian cuisine 
• La Terrasse: Famous for Italian and Continental dishes
• Summer Harvest: Famous for Indian, Chinese and Tibetian delicacies 

Hotels and Resorts in Leh 

If you plan an unforgettable getaway from Manali, Leh should always remain on top of your travel itinerary. Moreover, there are several attractions in Leh filled with pristine beauty that would surely blow your mind. So why wait? Plan a road trip from Manali to Leh now!

Download our Savaari car Booking app for a smooth and pleasant journey.

Leh Manali Highway - A Road Trip Guide to Ladakh

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The Leh Manali Highway is one of the most picturesque and talked about highways that connect Leh in  Ladakh , to Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Furthermore, it connects Manali - Solang Valley to Lahaul and Spiti Valleys in Himachal to Zanskar Valley in Ladakh. Flanked by high Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, the route is open only for less than five months in a year and is trodden upon by enthused motorcyclists. 

The Rohtang Pass Tunnel, also known as the Atal Tunnel, was opened on the 3rd of October 2020 and has reduced the length of the Leh-Manali Highway from 470 km to 430km. This reduces the travel time over the highway by over 3.5 hours and the entire journey can be completed in under 14 hours. 

Leh Manali Highway- An Adventurous Route

The general route that the Leh-Manali highway follows is as follows:

Gata Loops are famous for the 21 hairpin bends that push you from 4190m to 4630m via a 7 km stretch. From there you continue your ascent towards Nakee La , situated at an altitude of 4740m. There are no facilities or habitats in this area. Next stop from Nakee la is Lachulung la . You will now enter the second highest pass on the highway, sitting at an altitude of 5079m. Breathlessness, headaches, nausea, and uneasiness are common symptoms. Acclimatization to higher altitudes takes time. Avoid any exertion that might affect your breathing process. A downward drive from Lachulung pass takes you to Pang (4600m). From here, you’ll encounter plains till Debring (4835m). They are called the Moore plains

Day 3: Debring – Tanglang La – Rumste – Upshi – Karu – Leh

Debring to Taglang is a steep ascent, covering 14.2 km. Taglang pass is the highest point on the highway, situated at an altitude of 5328m. Avoid stopping here for any more than 10-15 mins; high altitude can make you feel nauseous. From here, you begin your last and final descent towards Leh which is located at an altitude of 3500 m. You will pass Rumste and Upshi on your way and reach Leh, covering 108.1 km. By the time you reach Leh, you’ll be acclimatized to higher altitudes and will find Leh very pleasing.

Travel Time on Manali Leh Highway

• If you want to finish the journey in one day , consider factors like acclimatization, motion sickness, exhaustion (you’ll be on the road for a minimum of 16 hours), accidents like puncture or engine breakdown, and most importantly, the joy of missing out on some beautiful views. The chances of succumbing to ACM run high. Since you’ll be traveling through different altitudes without many breaks, it will eventually take a toll on your body.
• The two-day journey is the most preferred by routine as well as first-time travelers. This gives you enough time for acclimatization and unplanned stopovers. You can start from Manali, early in the morning, on day 1. Spend the night at either Keylong, Jispa, or Saracho. Technically, Sarchu is the middle point between Manali and Leh, but its high altitude is not suitable for everyone. Compared to it, Keylong and Jispa are much better. Start your second day early to arrive at Leh by evening.
• The three-day trip is the least preferred option due to time and cost. Two layovers will cost you extra money and time. From the experience point of view, it is more appealing as you can enjoy more places without rushing. You can begin your journey from Manali and reach Kelong/Jispa by evening.

Where to Stay on the Leh Manali Highway?

Road Conditions

Conditions are subject to weather and season. Although the majority of the sections are safe and well-patched, there are some bumpy sections you have to look out for.

Smooth: Sissu to Keylong, Keylong to Jispa, Jispa to Zingzingnar, Zingzingbar to Baralacha pass, Moore Plains to Tanglang La pass, Tanglang pass to Rumste, Rumste to Leh. Roads to look out for: Rohtang to Kokhsar, Baralacha pass to Sarchu, Sarchu to Pang, Pang to Moore Plains. Average: Manali to Rohtang pass, Kokhsar to Sissu.

Best Time to Travel on the Leh-Manali Highway

Rohtang Pass and Baralacha Pass are open by May end. You can plan your trip from June onwards. You can see the stacks of snow from the previous winter season, and that’s why tourists most prefer this time of the year. By the time July hits, the snow starts to melt, and it becomes difficult to navigate through the freshwater passages. July onwards chances of rainfall are high. Although areas north of Keylong rarely see any rain, if you want to avoid any clashes, hit the highway in the August-September slot. September is the last month for a safe visit.

Passes on the Leh-Manali Highway

1. tanglang la.

2. Lachulung La

3. Nakee La

4.  Baralacha La

5.  Rohtang Pass

Important Tips For The Leh-Manali Highway Journey

• Don't be overconfident or overexcited during your trip as it is your biggest enemy.
• Before you all set to travel make sure you are physically and mentally fit and ready to face the challenges during the trip.
• Make sure you have your first-aid kit and all essential medicines with you.
• Make sure you have all the toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, and sunscreen
• Carry an extra pair of warm shoes; don't wear sandals and slippers during your journey as it is freezing out there.
• Carry warm clothes, thermal liners, rain clothes and rain covers for your bags as be ready to experience bone-chilling cold.
• Be sure that you have enough amount of high energy food in stock, carry glucose, chocolates, and other energy food.
• If you are in your own vehicle, then make sure you have enough amount of fuel.

So, when are you planning your road trip on Leh-Manali Highway? Let us know in the comments below!

This post was published by Arpita Biswas

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• May 28, 2014

Journey on the Manali Leh highway – an epic road trip in Ladakh

• Continent: Asia
• Country: India
• Categories: Ladakh , roadtrip
• Tags: Greater Himalayas , Landscapes , Leh Manali highway , popular

Sandeepa Chetan

Status of the Manali Leh highway: The Manali Leh highway is now open for traffic for the summer of 2020.

Our journey on the Manali Leh highway was most certainly a turning point in our travel lives. It was a journey that made us fall in love with not just road trips, but with the road itself. It was a perfect culmination of a trip that made us realise that we wanted the road to be our home.

Which brings us to the main question, which is –

Why take this journey on the Manali Leh highway?

By any standard and from any perspective, the journey on the Manali Leh highway has epic written all over it. With roads that open up for only a few months a year, these 470 kilometres from Leh to Manali will test you, scare you, shock you and leave you spellbound. You will believe life is beautiful!

This is our experience of the journey on the Manali Leh highway, going from Leh to Manali by bus. If you don’t want to read through the entire story, you can have a look at this video, then head straight to the Manali Leh road trip FAQs .

Road trip from Leh, Ladakh to Manali

We took this road trip at the beginning of August to return to the lower Himalayas, reach Manali from Leh, Ladakh. It was towards the end of our 3-month travels in the Himalayas , the last three weeks of which were in the Greater Himalayas, at altitudes of over 3000 meters.

Early morning start from the Leh bus stand

It was still dark when we left Leh , crossing places we had visited before – Shey, Thiksey followed by Karu and Upshi. There’s a fork at Upshi. A couple of days back, we had taken the road going towards Tso Moriri . This time we took the turn towards the Manali Leh highway.

Tanglang La – the first and the highest pass of the journey

A couple of hours after Leh, as daylight broke, we realised that all civilisation just vanished. Suddenly, we were on Tanglang La, the mountain pass with its peak at over 5300 m. The first mountain pass of the Manali Leh highway while going from Leh to Manali. This is where we crossed the highest point – of not just this journey, but of our lives!

The view at the top of Tanglang la was spectacular! The entire pass was laid out before us. We were at level with the snow-clad peaks surrounding us. Colourful prayer flags were strung around. A signboard proudly announced that we indeed were at the highest point of the Manali Leh highway. We felt on top of the world!

Itinerary planning tip:

There is an alternate route to join the Manali Leh highway while returning from Ladakh. Taking this alternate route is possible if you have rented a private taxi and Tso Moriri is your last destination to visit in Ladakh. From Tso Moriri, you can head towards another smaller lake called Tso Kar from where a road directly joins the Leh Manali highway.

Right from the start of Tanglang La, we saw striking landforms. At times, the mountains looked like needles rising in the sky, reminding us of the sandcastles we built on the beach as kids. Except that they were gigantic! And this wasn’t really the sand at the beach. These were the mighty Greater Himalayas, withered with age by their only constant companion – the ferocious winds.

Brown, barren and lifeless – was how we would describe the view for most parts of this journey on the Manali Leh highway. Being in the presence of such raw nature – these mountains without as much as a trace of life – was overwhelming.

The human effort that goes into building this road

Only because there was a road here did we have the privilege of experiencing the magnanimity that the journey from Leh to Manali actually is. This thought was even more overwhelming than the landscape surrounding us. This road didn’t get here by magic. Brave men and women had braved the rough weather, toiled hard to create it.

Like this man, we saw from our bus on the Tanglang La. These construction workers come from far off places (mainly, Jharkhand and Nepal) where they have no real employment opportunity. At the end of winter when the roads connecting Leh, Ladakh to Manali, Srinagar and other parts of India open for traffic, they come here for work. They stay on these high altitude mountain passes for 4-5 months a year. They are the ones who ensure that your road trip to Manali goes smoothly.

In these months, they earn around Rs.20K (roughly 300$) to take back home. The only highlight of their day is the 2-3 buses that cross this highway. Otherwise, they are completely disconnected from civilisation.

Hats off to their endurance!

Morey Plains

Just as we were getting used to the winding roads came a patch of flat grasslands. Good enough for our bus to start cruising along. These were the Morey Plains. This “flatness” was however short-lived and business was back to normal.

Breakfast halt at Pang

After the Morey Plains, before the next mountain pass is Pang. Our bus halted for breakfast here. This is where most vehicles take their first break while travelling from Leh to Manali.

There are food stalls as well as a few camping tents to spend the night at Pang. Pang is a suitable option to break the journey if you are on a road trip from Manali to Leh by bike (which is a direction we do not recommend – reasons explained later).

Lachung (Lachulung) la, the second pass on the Manali Leh highway

Long and meandering, with its peak at 4891 m, the Lachung la (also called Lachulung la) was our second pass of the day 1 of our journey to Manali from Leh.

Mountains the shades of browns you didn’t know and land formations you didn’t think possible are the characteristic of this mountain pass! Like this natural tunnel, we saw on Lachung la. Opposite the motor-able road, this is probably part of the trekking route from Leh to Manali.

Nakee la – the third mountain pass on the Manali Leh highway (and some Whisky)

By the time we reached Nakee la, our third mountain pass, we had come to terms with our “heart in mouth” condition.

Every glimpse of the Indus river flowing below brought with it a green oasis. The bus now changed several mountains, crossing the bridges over the river. Despite the harsh conditions, the BRO (Border Roads Organisation, a wing of the Indian army which makes these high-risk mountain roads at the border) hasn’t lost a sense of humour. This bridge that we crossed was the famous Whisky Nala of the Manali Leh highway.

If you are on a road trip from Manali to Leh, you would be nearing the end of your day 1 or just starting out fresh for day 2 of your journey – depending on where you halted for the night.

Whisky Nala is also a halt option for those travelling on the Manali Leh highway by cycle – especially from Manali to Leh. A couple of camping options can be found.

Driving through wilderness

Our minds started to wander. To the people who crossed these mountains on foot. Years ago. Not by choice. Out of necessity.

To the people who have set up camps here, the BRO employees—the ones who maintain these roads. What makes them choose this job? How do they stay connected? How do they get their supplies?

How does this place look in the winter? Covered in the snow? Do the mountains ever get lonely? But they always have winds for company!

Minds wandering and wondering.

Avalanches and landslides

It was now time for the reds . The wind-battered mountain faces with their powdered rocks seemed like gigantic sand dunes.

This also makes the Manali Leh highway vulnerable to massive landslides. The landscape is all very stunning; but with such strong forces of nature at play, there is never really a guaranteed safe passage!

Gata loops, a series of switchbacks

Gata Loops are a series of hairpin bends looping down. Going down the Gata loops was a roller coaster ride of this journey from Leh to Manali, something we will never forget.

As if the thrill of just scraping by the bend wasn’t enough, the driver decided to add some fun. A shortcut was what he needed. He got off the tarmac road. Onto the ground, in between the loops. The bus rattled. As did our teeth. We were just hoping this shortcut doesn’t cut short dear life!

Sarchu, a midway point of the Manali Leh highway

After the Gata Loops, came Sarchu. We were now also one state lower, crossed over from the state of Jammu and Kashmir into Himachal Pradesh. This was the Lahaul region of the district of Lahaul and Spiti. Ladakh was still a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir when we did this road trip from Leh to Manali. It is now a Union Territory.

Sarchu has the highest number of camping options on the Manali Leh highway. But it’s geographical location is such, that it’s surrounded by the high mountains. Which is why, even though it’s at a slightly lower altitude than Pang, many face difficulty in breathing at Sarchu. Even we felt a slight uneasiness just sitting in the state transport bus from Leh to Manali. In fact, we also felt a bit drowsy and this was the only stretch of the road trip where we fell asleep.

After Sarchu came yet another bridge – this one called the Brandy Nala!

Itinerary tip:

Sarchu has the most camping options on the Manali Leh highway.

For those wanting to break their road trip from Leh, Ladakh to Manali (by bike or car) into two nights, usually, spend the first night at Sarchu.

This is, however, a more popular night halt option for those travelling in the opposite direction, from Manali to Leh.

Baralacha la – the fourth mountain pass on the Manali Leh highway

Baralacha la was our last mountain pass of the day, and it was a massive one! Deep valleys, hairpin bends and steep curves were now “just another day in office”.

The sun was high above our head and the glaciers were melting in full flow. Our bus crossed through what felt like rivers.

The opening of this epic Leh Manali highway, the road connecting Manali to the high altitude Ladakh, depends a lot on the condition of Baralacha La. This mountain pass gets some of the highest snowfalls of the entire highway. It is extremely prone to avalanches. Avalanche experts study this stretch before giving a go-ahead to the BRO to start clearing it.

Towards the end of Baralacha La, we crossed a lake Suraj Taal.

Ever since we had left Leh and taken that turn at Upshi towards the Manali Leh highway, most of this road trip had been through the wilderness. There were no villages to cross. It’s like we had left civilisation behind us. (Here, is where you say “bye-bye civilisation”, coming from Manali to Leh).

After crossing Baralacha la, we realised we were coming close to civilisation. Soon we would see people! And shockingly, the thought of seeing more people gave us joy! Coming from Mumbai, a city of over 20 million, we never ever thought that was possible!

Reaching Keylong – end of Day 1 of the road trip from Leh to Manali

Soon after, we reached Keylong where the day’s epic journey ended. Keylong is the biggest town/village in Lahaul. This is the most “civilised” part of the entire journey on the Manali Leh highway.

As soon as we got off our bus, we got into the queue to book tickets for the next day, on the bus from Keylong to Manali. The tickets issued at the Leh bus stand were only for our journey from Leh, Ladakh to Keylong. For the remaining journey, from Keylong to Manali, we had to buy new tickets at the Keylong bus stand.

There were a few options, but we bought tickets for the first bus out of Keylong. It was late evening by the time we got out of the Keylong bus stand. Just outside was a hotel that seemed decent enough to spend the night. We got a room in this hotel.

Day 2: Early morning start from Keylong

Early the next morning, while it was still dark, we resumed the journey on the Manali Leh highway. This journey from Keylong to Manali was going to be much shorter. We were expected to be in Manali before noon. Our minds were already in the lush greens of Manali, by the Beas river.

But before that — there was the Rohtang Pass. A passing of rite ritual for anyone who travels to the Himalayas. A mountain pass no driver dares to cross in the night.

After a couple of hours, in broad daylight, we were at the start of the Rohtang Pass. The crowned prince of the Leh Manali highway. Or a dreaded monster!

Rohtang Pass – the fifth and final mountain pass on the Manali Leh highway

Imagine the bus (rickety, with smooth tyres!), negotiating a hairpin bend on bumpy gravel at a gradient of what feels over 60 degrees. Suddenly, there’s a truck in front of you. And the bus has to reverse. On the valley side.

But we couldn’t see any of it, because, well, the valley was covered in fog. Or mist. Or were they clouds? We couldn’t tell and honestly, we didn’t care! We were just glad we weren’t able to see it all! It was now too much to handle!

“If the bus falls off now, at least I have seen the most majestic place on earth.” Yes, this did cross our minds.

The other side of the Rohtang Pass was a drastic change of landscape. Ever since we had crossed the Zoji La on the Srinagar Leh highway to reach Drass , we had bid goodbye to the green mountains.

All through the Greater Himalayas, the mountains had been barren and brown, and we had been in awe. But the return of greenery had a huge effect on our minds as well. The mountains, laden with a thick cover of conifers were beginning to look friendly again.

We hadn’t used the word “lovely”, for the landscape, in a long while. But now, towards the end of the journey, as we crossed Gulaba and Marhi, we were beginning to think it all looked lovely.

End of the journey at Manali

We reached the bus stand in Manali, as scheduled, around noon. The sound of the Beas river dominated the orchestra of birdsongs.

The most important people all along 470 km of this highway on our bus journey from Leh to Manali had been the drivers of our buses. They had to be top alert at all times, all of our lives literally depended on how sharp our driver was. The stress of a corporate job paled in comparison to the responsibility these drivers on the Leh Manali highway were carrying on their shoulders.

We firmly believed our driver was a magician. And our bus, The Chariot of the Gods!

Manali to Leh, Ladakh or Leh, Ladakh to Manali?

Which is the best direction for a road trip on the manali leh highway.

Any road trip on the Manali Leh highway, either by bus, car or by bike, should preferably be in the direction from Leh, Ladakh to Manali. This highway should be used at the end of your trip to leave Ladakh and return to the lower altitude in Manali.

Why do we recommend the direction from Leh to Manali for a road trip on the Manali Leh highway?

• The main reason, which no traveller should overlook in Ladakh, is altitude acclimatisation . Have a look at the infographic below, to get an idea about the altitudes you will cross on the Manali Leh highway.

• You cross altitudes of over 4500 meters on the Manali Leh highway. If your journey starts in Manali, you are not acclimatised to this high altitude. Your body is not prepared to handle the reduced oxygen levels at these high altitudes.
• As the photos along this road trip from Leh to Manali show, most of the journey is through a stark wilderness. Except for the few campsites, which are a few and far between, most of this highway is devoid of civilisation. Basic medical facilities are found only at Keylong and thanks to the Indian Army, some at Sarchu.
• What all of this means is that if altitude sickness sets in, help will be extremely difficult, if not impossible to find on the Manali Leh highway.
• On the contrary, coming from north to south, when you start the journey from Leh, Ladakh to Manali, you would have already spent time at these high altitudes. Your body would be well acclimatised to safely tackle the altitudes of the Manali Leh highway.

Altitude acclimatisation is the main reason we recommend to do the road trip on the Manali Leh highway from Leh, Ladakh to Manali.

What is the alternative to the Manali Leh highway to reach Ladakh?

The NH1-D, the Srinagar Leh highway is the second route to reach Ladakh by road. This is the recommended highway for a road trip to Leh, Ladakh.

Srinagar-Leh-Manali is an exciting circuit to get a real feel of Ladakh and the Himalayas.

FAQs about the journey on the Manali Leh highway

Is the manali leh highway safe how is the road from manali to leh.

• Road condition and the weather   are the two factors that will largely decide whether the Manali Leh highway is safe.  
• July to September are the safest times, weatherwise, to do this journey. The highway has five high altitude mountain passes, sharp hairpin bends and narrow roads. You will face at least a couple of water crossings.  The road conditions on this highway vary from being smooth and in blacktop to almost gravel road (or off-roading) in some cases.
• If you are planning a self-drive road trip by car on the Manali Leh highway, you need to be an experienced driver. Same applies for a biking trip. This is not a highway for novice drivers or bikers.
• Landslides are not uncommon the Manali Leh highway. Mountain weather is notorious for being unpredictable. You have to be careful and prepared for delays because of landslides or bad weather.

How dangerous is the Manali Leh highway?

• If you are lucky to get good weather then you are most likely to have the smoothest possible journey on the Manali Leh highway. In addition to what I have said above, I will add that your driver goes a long way in making the road trip on the Manali Leh highway the least dangerous for you.
• The HRTC bus drivers are some of the best drivers we have experienced on our travels. Which is why we highly recommend a road trip from Leh to Manali by bus.
• Don’t cut corners. Trust the local driver. And if the locals predict bad weather and the buses stop running, do not venture out on this highway (even if the private taxis agree to take you).

Is the Leh to Manali road trip comfortable by bus?

Even though not as comfortable as travelling in an SUV, the buses, even the regular HRTC buses are surprisingly not bad. Understand that, the journey from Leh to Manali, a distance of 470 km, is inherently a long one. You travel at high altitudes through long winding roads all through this journey. Naturally, travelling on the Manali Leh highway is tiring.

Read how can I go to Manali from Leh by bus .

Is photography possible while travelling in a bus on the Manali Leh highway?

Travelling by bus from Leh to Manali obviously means not having the luxury to stop wherever you please. Having said that, all of our images on this journey were taken from a moving bus.

What is the best time to travel on the Leh Manali highway?

• The best time to travel on the Manali Leh   highway is from mid-June to September.
• The Manali Leh highway is usually open for traffic from June to October. The exact opening and closing dates of this highway depend on the weather condition and the amount of snow on the mountain passes.
• If Ladakh has a good winter with snowfall then the opening of the Manali Leh highway in the following summer will be delayed. Do not expect the highway to open before the first week of June. The closing date of the highway also depends on the weather towards the end of October.
• Having said that, by late Septemeber/ early October, many of the  dhabas  and campsites along the Leh Manali highway start shutting down. People who set these up, start going back to their villages.
• By October, it starts to get pretty cold on the high mountain passes of this highway. You might also experience some snowfall on the Manali Leh highway in October.

Is Manali Leh highway open in May?

Generally, no. Unless Ladakh has experienced very bad winters without any snowfall. The Manali Leh highway usually opens in the first week of June. For the first few days, the highway is unstable. There is slush on the roads because of the melting snow. This makes driving on the Manali Leh highway risky.

Where should I stay between Manali and Leh?

• Besides Keylong in the Lahaul region which has a number of hotels and guest houses, the most camping options are available at Sarchu.
• Pang also has camps for stay, though fewer than Sarchu.
• Jispa, a few kilometres away from Keylong is also a stay option for those who want to stay away from the bigger Keylong.

How much does the Manali to Leh road trip cost?

The taxi fare for a road trip on the Manali Leh highway is roughly INR 22000. The official taxi fares for all the routes in Ladakh are  mentioned here .

Manali Leh road trip itinerary

The Manali Leh road trip, in whichever direction you choose to do, should at least have 2 days. Depending on the direction, your mode of travel and our appetite for adventure, there are a few options that you have.

Two points to remember for any kind of itinerary of the Manali Leh highway are –

• Start as early as possible on all days.
• Avoid driving in the dark.

2-day itinerary for the Manali Leh road trip in from Leh to Manali

• Day 1 – Leh to Keylong (358 km, 4 mountain passes) Start early from Leh. 5 AM start would be the best. Stop for tea at the stalls in Karu or Upshi before taking the turn for the Manali Leh highway. You will reach Pang in time for breakfast. Lunch at Sarchu or Bharatpur (before Baralacha La) or Zingzing bar after Baralacha La. Night halt at Jispa or Keylong in the Lahaul region.
• Day 2 – Keylong to Manali (115 km, 1 mountain pass) Start early in the morning, again at around 5 AM to avoid getting into the traffic jams on the Rohtang Pass or Manali. You can have breakfast at Gulaba after the Rohtang Pass. Reach Manali by noon.
• There are more than enough options to stay in Manali. We suggest staying on the Naggar road for a peaceful experience. If you want to leave the same day for Delhi or Chandigarh, you can take the night bus from Manali. Leave your luggage in the cloakroom at the Manali bus stand, explore Manali in the day, or just relax in one of the cafes in old Manali.

2-day itinerary for the Manali Leh road trip in from Manali to Leh

• Choose this direction for your Manali Leh road trip only if you are more than 100% sure that it is not possible to travel in the opposite direction.
• Day 1 – Manali to Jispa (137 km, 1 mountain pass) Start early from Manali. Even though it’s a short drive today, it is better to start early so you cross the Rohtang Pass before the day tourist traffic starts. Starting early also gives you a chance to explore some places in Lahaul. End your journey in Keylong or Jispa (preferable). You will have time to drive/ride further up to Sarchu. But it is better to halt at Jispa, for altitude acclimatisation. Rest well.
• Day 2 – Jispa to Leh (335 km, 4 mountain passes) It’s a long day today. You can take your halts at Sarchu and Pang before making the headway to Leh. It might be late by the time you are back in civilisation at Upshi. Upshi to Leh is a short drive of 47 km. The roads are flat and in excellent condition. This is one stretch of the journey on the Manali Leh highway where it is okay to drive in the dark.

3-day itinerary for the Manali Leh road trip

• Leh to Manali Day 1 – Leh to Pang/Sarchu Day 2 – Pang/Sarchu to Keylong Day 3 – Keylong to Manali
• Manali to Leh Day 1 – Manali to Jispa Day 2 – Jispa to Sarchu/Pang Day 3 – Sarchu/Pang to Leh
• If you have the time then we recommend keeping 3 days for the journey on the Manali Leh highway. You will get a better feel of the place. How often will you be able to be so close to raw nature?

How can I go to Manali from Leh by bus

• You can travel from Manali to Leh by state transport buses. The Himachal State Transport operates daily buses from Leh to Manali once the highway is opened for traffic.
• The HRTC bus leaves from the Leh depot early in the morning at 5 AM.
• Which means you must make arrangements the previous night for someone to drop you early the next morning to the Leh bus depot.
• Book the bus tickets a day prior to your journey on the Manali Leh highway. The bus, which has arrived from Manali, will already be parked in the Leh bus depot. The conductor will give you the ticket in the bus itself. This ticket is for your journey from Leh to Keylong. You can also book tickets online.
• Tip: For the best views on your journey from Leh to Manali, take a seat in the front of the bus on the driver’s side . The views of the entire Leh Manali highway are better from this side of the bus. Try reaching the bus stand before noon the previous day to book tickets for your journey so that you get the best seat in the house.
• HPTDC also runs buses on the Leh Manali highway from July to September. These buses are more comfortable than your regular state-run bus. The ticket includes your journey from Leh all the way to Manali, stay at Keylong and dinner as well as breakfast. 
• The HPTDC bus usually starts plying on the Manali Leh highway from July 1.

Tips for Manali to Leh road trip by bike

• Bikers usually have a 2-day itinerary to cover the 470 km Manali Leh highway.
• It is advisable to travel in a group. It’s always good to have the support of local intelligence with you on your Leh Ladakh bike trip . This way there is someone to help you out if things go wrong.
• The Leh Manali highway is a long, arduous and a back-breaking journey. Before embarking on the road trip from Leh to Manali by bike, a biker should have done some long-distance rides before, preferably in the mountains.

Cycling on the Manali Leh highway

Cycling the Manali Leh highway is the most exhilarating way to experience this highway. Cyclists usually cover this distance of 470 km from Manali to Leh (while cycling, either direction should be okay because you are travelling at a slow pace, giving your body enough time to acclimatise to the altitude) in eight to ten days.

Cycling on the Leh Manali highway requires a high level of fitness and cyclists usually prepare months in advance unless you are a regular long-distance cyclist.

Some useful resources to know about cycling on the Manali Leh highway are:

• solo cycle journey ,
• cycling with a group and
• cycling with a second-hand bicycle which was quite insightful in understanding what goes into accomplishing this epic journey on the Manali Leh highway.
• This is a great resource for choosing the type of bike for your journey on the Leh Manali highway.

Tips for a safe and healthy journey on the Manali Leh highway

• Stay hydrated. Yes, there are very few toilets on the Manali Leh highway. At many places, you will have to “go in the open”. But don’t skimp on drinking water for the fear of wanting to go to the loo.
• Stay warm. Hands and feet can go numb, which is a bad idea at these altitudes. You can use these hand warmers and body warmers to stay warm. Keep a light sweater, a windcheater and a woollen cap to cover the ears handy.
• You will find shared SUVs travelling from Leh to Manali. These boast of “doing” the Manali Leh highway in a day. This means a continuous drive of 16-18 hours for the driver. This also means crossing the Rohtang Pass (or some mountain pass) in the night. It means a cramped SUV and all of this means high risk and a miserable time. Attempting to do this, especially when you are a tourist to Ladakh is one of the most foolish things to do.

Detailed map of the Leh Manali highway

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287 thoughts on “Journey on the Manali Leh highway – an epic road trip in Ladakh”

Thanks for sharing this fantastic Article, really very informative. Your writing skill is very good, you must keep writing this type of Article.

Manali is too Good place for spending our holiday with Family, Friend’s

and Couples etc. Don’t Forget to be Awesome place #Manali

Amazing clicks Chetan. The narration is really flowing, makes one relive the journey. Thank you!

Excellent detailing and marvellous pictures!

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How many days are minimum required for the manali-leh ladakh road trip.

I am so glad to have found this article right when i was deliberating on taking the bus journey from Leh to Manali . And thanks to you am now booking the bus! 🙂 I am traveling to Leh in August this year for about a week. I am hoping to spend a few days in Leh seeing around & a short trek to Sham valley.And take the Bus journey back to Manali . Do you think this is a fair itinerary for a first timer to Ladakh? . Really appreciate your suggestions.Thankyou.

Hey Neeta, the plan sounds good. Just make sure you acclimatise well in Leh before you start your trek. The bus journey from Leh to Manali is quite comfortable. Happy travels!

A response to altitude.

I posted a while back. I’m scanning film images taken 30 years ago. Looking at your map, the route by foot was quite different to the road, going straight south from Lamayaru to Lingshed, Padum, over the Shingo La and then we hit a road about 30 miles down the other side and got a bus to Manali. Took about 4 weeks on foot.

I also did the western part of the trans-China highway from Nepal to Lhasa (and back) in a truck, now a motorway, in those days a 1,000km dirt track and we did not see another tourist the whole trip for 16 days. The pictures are mixed up and I am scanning those as well. This was up in Tibet. https://flic.kr/p/281FHG1 You can’t mess with altitude, it killed one member of our group in Tibet. Travelling fast by car/bike is not what god intended, walking you acclimatise a lot better.

Off to Namibia in a month or so and Bhutan and Nepal booked for the Spring. Glamping. My wife likes it that way.

Hi Sandeepa chetan…I will give our plan.Pls go through it and give us some suggestion if needed. 4 members in taxi from Aug 1st to 14th

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???

That’s a lot of travelling – in the mountain roads at a high altitude. Since you have 15 days, we would recommend taking it slow and exploring more of Ladakh itself. Maybe stay at Lamayuru , explore the Sham valley. Hang around for a day or two more in Leh (that way you are also better acclimatised before heading to Khardung la). Visit Hanle. If you really want to see more, maybe stay for a day longer in Kargil and see some of Suru valley (roads at the beginning of the Suru valley aren’t that tiring). Ladakh and Spiti is a span of 15 days, is too tiring in our opinion. Fatigue will set in and you will not be able to appreciate the magnificent beauty of that place.

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Hi Sandeepa Chetan, Came across your site today & I must say its beautiful. You have captured all the essence of this region & very nice photos. I am travelling to Leh this week & taking below route by private cab. Sringar -> Lamayuru -> Leh -> Nurbra -> Hunder -> Turtuk (if possible) -> Shylok -> Pangong Tso -> Leh

I have identified some of the places along with *must* see popular places. can you please let me know if any other offbeat places can be covered on this road (15~20 km offroad also can do) ?

1. From Lamayuru to Leh –> Uletokpo Village, Alchi & Likir Monastery, Basgo fort, Ice stupas near Phyang Monastery 2. In Leh -> Donkey Sanctuary, Rock and Mineral museum, Leh Palace, Zorawar Singh Fort, Chowkhang Gompa, Hall of Fame, Heritage Walk in Old Leh City, Central Asian Museum 3. Pangong to Leh -> Hemis -> Thiksey -> Shey Monastery, Sindhu Ghat, 3 Idiot School

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Hi friends am planning for a leg ladkah trip very soon .. so please let me know the routes .. and am from Banglore so which route is better for me please suggest me

The Srinagar to Leh route vis Zoji la is always the best route to reach Ladakh.

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Thank you for this article! I found it as I am trying to identify locations I photographed 30 years ago. We started at Leh, took a ride to Lamayaru and then walked over the mountains to Manali. You had to trek and camp in those days. We had guides, animals and enough food for a month. I have identified about half the photos so far.

Wow!! What an experience that must have been! Do you have any pictures of the time?

Hundreds of negatives. A lot are scanned, I’m sure there are more that aren’t and I’m trying to identify the villages and monasteries. Also went from Kathmandu to Lhasa in 1990, there was only a gravel road and was quite tricky.

The Kathmandu to Lhasa is probably not even a possibility now 🙁 Would love to look at your images. Do share a link if you have uploaded them online somewhere! It’ll be great if our images help you in identifying the locations. Delighted that you connected with us!

I am reorganising my image library, which takes time as there are lots of film scans with no metadata. I think I will do my own website soon. Your images have been helpful. Regards

Want to Travel to leh from manali in June First week by a personal SUV. Does I need some Passes enroute?

Thanks for the information about leh manali road trip.

Enjoyed Reading it. Have gone halfway but had to return due to bad weather conditions. Loved the pics. Well done both!

Hello Sandeepa & Chetan,

I was born in India but now live in USA. I always think how beautiful India is and nothing comparison to India here for which I can say that I do not want to take my eyes off. Just wanting for kids to settle down and after that I can enjoy my rest of the life in a beautiful village, watching those mountains and rivers and all the beauty. Not everyone gets this opportunity like you got to live your dreams.I know even if I fail at my dream or get derailed, I shouldn’t let it get it down. Very beautiful pictures and writing too.

Hello Poonam, there indeed is some breathtaking beauty in India. As well as the rest of the world. What’s most important is for all of us to realise the privilege of being a part of this beautiful world and treat it with respect. We hope you realise your dream life soon.

Oh my God! I had a “heart in mouth” condition just by looking at the photos. Can such beauty exist and yet we feel miserable about our lives? Thank you for sharing this jaw dropping post.

Hey Svetlana, love the way you’ve put it – we really have no right to complain when we know such beauty exists! Thank you for this perspective!

nice post and very helpful thanks for sharing

Very nice and informative . Planning to travel from srinagar to manali by own car next year.

HI Sandeepa it was good to read your travel story and those beautiful pictures, how did you take such lovely pics, what camera etc.? Anyway now it is August 22 today, what do you comment about me trying to do this trip (Leh-Manali) say in first week Sept.2017? what is the best duration in which this route is open and safe? I have a Swift hatchback 8 month old, you think this can be done? And where all we could stay/camp in this route i think at least 3 nights camping on the way would be advised rather than trying to simply drive through. How does the Bus manage the tour, do they also stop over at designated camps?

Amazing post, I will follow you. Keep up the good work!!

Thank you, amit!

Hi Sandeepa and Chetan. Good to read the useful information and learn from your experience. It is my first trip to Leh in August 2017 starting on 17th going on till 30th. I want to do a complete road trip in self driven SUV Scorpio. My questions for you: 1 Will it be good to start in Manali 2 Suggestions on places to stay 3 Clothes and temperature at night 4 Is driving back from Kargil a good option 5 What all permissions and passes are required 6 When and where to obtain the paases Will be highly grateful for your advise

You will find the answers to most of your questions related to the route in the post above as well this post about biking in Ladakh . Have a look at the infographic.

Hi! We’re Montse and Ruben from Barcelona and we’re planning to do the Manali-Leh road this 10-12th august. We’ve booked a flight Leh-Delhi to finish our indian trip, so we need to get Leh for sure. Do u think is too much dangerous right now? We’re a little bit worried and why not, a little bit frightened, but this is life. Thank you guys and congrats for your blog, it’s so much interesting and useful!

Just returned after a 19 day road trip in our SUV. Goa-Manali( we had overnite halts en route )- Jispa- Leh- Turtuk-Diskit- Pangong- Leh – Kargil- Drass- Srinagar – Goa . A memorable experience . Tips from various blogs including one written by Sandeepa came in handy.

Hey Nikheel, what an experience the trip must’ve been! Sounds just awesome! Glad our travel stories were of help. This makes us very happy 🙂

Hi Nikheel … did you do any fueling at Diskit ? If so please share information. I am told that there is IOC Pump operational ?

Yes we did . However if you can avoid please do . As the quality is not good . It’s a run down petrol pump and cannot guarantee availability also some days. There was no sign around to show it was an IOC run petrol pump.

Also since during our visit the Agham Shyok route was shut due to landslide and we did Diskit-Pangong via Leh. Just filled enough to reach Leh. Just FYI

Hi Nikheel, I’m planning a self drive trip from Delhi to leh via manali. Do I need a permit to cross Rohtang Pass to reach leh? If I do, where can I get it and how long will it take and is it possible to get it for the same day? Thanks, Tej.

Hello, how many places have you visited so far? Would you like to write for us?

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Hi Sandeepa Chetan, We are a group of 3 people from Chennai and planning to go to Leh in the last week of September for one week tour. Will buses be operational from Leh to Manali at this time.?Also, please let us know if It is required to book a tour package from Chennai or can we reach leh directly and then book a local tour from there.? We are first time travellers to this place.

Thanks and regards, V.Rajagopal

Hi Sandy….

Great Blog… While reading it was like being there… I will be visiting leh during first week of august… going by air for 8 days… hope me going at right time…will there by any rains during first week of august….

Neeraj Chawla…

Once can’t predict the weather in the higher Himalayas. But August beginning is the best time to e there, it will not be very cold (relatively speaking). All the mountain passes will be fully functional. Do take the time to acclimatise since you are flying in directly.

Hi Sandeep & Chetan, wow 🙂 what an adventure! I’ll be there beginning of September & wish to take the bus back to Manali. I’ve read that there are bus/minibus that stop over night at a camp in Keytong. Did you take that one or the one which goes straight without stop? I never did such a long bus ride so I have no idea … do they stop from time to time to make little breaks to eat/toilet/recover from sitting … just to get an idea of that trip (german women’s thoughts ;-))

Hey Christin, these thoughts are natural, and we are glad you are considering this journey. The Leh Manali road trip by bus arduous no doubt, but it’s not something you will easily forget 🙂 There is a regular bus that starts from Leh early morning and then ends at Keylong. You buy a separate ticket to Manali at the Keylong bus station and make your stay arrangements at Keylong. This all might sound too much to do, but don’t worry. Even we had no idea about this when we got on the bus at Leh. But the driver and the conductor on the bus are co operative, they will guide you well. They are used to having a few foreign tourists on board, so they know how to communicate in basic English/sign language well 🙂 There is another semi-deluxe bus. In this, the entire ticket to Manali as well as stay in Keylong is covered. Either bus stops at places in between for breakfast, lunch, and toilet breaks. Though bear in mind, the only “toilets” you will see are at the dhabas after Sarchu. You can not (and should not) cover the entire journey from Leh to Manali without a night break. A stop at Keylong (most common) or at Jispa is a must.

Hi Sandeepa. Me and my wife were planning for the same road trip from Leh to Manali and we came across this beautiful blog.:) Kindly suggest hotels/homestay/tents where you stayed in keylong during your journey. How would completing the entire route in a single day by a shared taxi ? what would you suggest ?

Even in a taxi, completing the entire journey in a day is not recommended. The nallas on the Rohtang Pass will be flowing in full flow by afternoon. This makes the road risky. Rohtang Pass is a strict no in the fading light. We had stayed in a hotel right next to the bus stand in Keylong. We don’t remember which one, there isn’t much of a choice in Keylong in any case.

Educative & good photographs !!!

hi both! very impressive pics and im sure it must be a very impressive (and scary!) journey. you say that you only recommend doing it from leh to manali… may i ask you why is that? i thought of travelling from manali to leh to get used to the altitude and then travel back by flight to delhi… many thanks!! im really looking forward to going to leh but at the same time im a little scared 🙂

Ladakh is just too amazing. You will have a great time there! We recommend traveling from Leh to Manali because the altitudes at some of the places (atop the Tanglang la, for example) are higher than Leh. If you start to feel uneasy along this route, there’s not much you can do. It’s best to get acclimatised in Leh (where you also have access to medical facilities, if need be) and then venture out further in Leh.

I made quite a blunder by booking a flight to Leh from Bangalore, rather than reaching Leh via Manali. 9th August am reaching Leh, speanding 9 days at Leh, would be going around, & wish to ride to Manali. I have few questions.

1. August 18th or 19th, I wish to leave Leh & reach Manali by road. Can I get a bike from Leh to Manali, use it there for a few days & drop it off at Manali? If so, can I get a contact? Any bike rental company that i call say they have bikes only from Manali to Leh, & not Leh to Manali. 2. How is the road from Leh to Manali. Not from Manali to Leh, but Leh to Manali. We are 4 of us, wish to hire 2 bikes. Are the roads safe to ride late in the evenings? 3. Are there interesting places (not to miss) on this route?

Kindly help,

Great blog, and lovely pictures!

My friend and I are going to cycle the highway in August. About the accommodation that is available… I have read articles that talk about “camp sites”, “self-camping sites”, “dhabas”, “chadar tents” but I don’t know what the differences are, what facilities are included at each kind of place. Can you explain ?

brilliant description and beautiful photos. thank u, keep it up.

Glad you liked them!

I loved reading your blog. Pictures in the blog are so alluring. I have planned for a bike ride from manali to ladhak. There I will do Zanskar Valley trek with Red Chilli Adventure and then back to manali, I am very excited for the trip your blog boosted my excitement 🙂

Hi i am travelling to Leh this 17th via Manali.. And planning to cover ladakh-srinagar-kargil n then to delhi via Dalhousie Rishikesh… Any suggestesions to this plan?how safe and feadible it will be. I have 2 weeks with me and will be travelling on bike.

Hello Abhinandan, will recommend focussing the 2 weeks on Ladakh itself since there’s so much to see and bike around in Ladakh – trips to Tso Moriri , Pangong, Nubra or in the Batalik region. You can also take a detour from Kargil and visit the Zanskar valley crossing the Penzi la. If you do not feel like going all the way to Zanskar, you can just visit the Suru valley and have a close look at the Nun-Kun peaks. Not sure you’ll have enough days/energy left for a detour to Dalhousie/Rishikesh after Ladakh. Keep a close watch on the biking forums for the situation in Kashmir. If everything is fine, we always recommend going to Leh via Srinagar and returning via Manali. We’ve explained the reasons in this story.

Hi Sandeep,

Amazing article and amazing scenery. Need few information-

We are planning to take self driven car from Chandigarh and will go via Shrinagar and in return will come by Manali route. Can you please guide will we find any major difficulty in driving (chandigarh to Leh and Leh to Manali) due to road conditions. For Nubra Valley and Pangong we will take local taxi from Leh with driver.

Hope we can take self driven vehicles from Shrinagar to Leh and then Leh to Manali.

We are also planning exactly what you have planned. We are 2 people in self driven SUV. Let me know if you get any revert from Sandeepa Chetan.

Vasudev 9769173901

Hope your self-drive vehicle is your own private car. Make sure you carry all the documents that prove that it is indeed your car. There have been incidents in Ladakh over people stopping rented self-drive cars/ friends’ cars etc. The Srinagar-Leh and Leh-Manali highways are now open for traffic. There are initial problems due to unsettled roads. However, by July, the roads should be perfectly fine (by fine we mean only as fine as these roads can get!). Enjoy your trip to Ladakh.

oh my my…amazing pics. I am fully motivated. I need a help. I am also planning to travel in july to leh. As i am a solo traveller, wanted to join some group. Could you please help me if you know any group/organizers from pune or mumbai. Lovely blog :).

Can I join you in this trip as I am also planning a leh trip this month ?

Hi, I’m planning for a trip to leh and I’m a solo traveler too! Would be great if we could join together 🙂

I am leaving for leh on 28 June.can we go together. This is my what’s app no.9454656993 We can discuss if you want.

From where do you belong

Hello Sandeepa, Nice blog and the pictures are amazing. Loved it. I just need a little help, I am also planning a solo trip this year. Could you please tell if there is enough staying options during 10-12 days cycling trip as I am not planning to take camping stuff. And can I take my road bike instead of MTB? May be little ambitious, any way waiting for your reply. Cheers!

Hi Dennis, there aren’t enough stay options along the way. You have camps at Sarchu and then at Zingzing bar before you reach Karu. But in between – from Keylong till you get near to Leh is typically no man’s land. Other than the few army camps, there isn’t much civilisation. Not sure how a road bike will fare on the Leh Manali highway. We aren’t cycling experts but will try to find some answers from the community.

Thanks Sandeepa for the reply.

Such a phenomenal article! Sandeepa & Chetan, would you mind if I asked a couple of questions? Myself and 2 friends (all from the UK) are visiting Himachal Pradesh this Summer (July) – what are your thoughts on flying to Leh and taking a bus down to manali along this road? Naturally we are a little scared about the road (and our lives)… Should we do it? It looks so very beautiful! We have two weeks to cover Leh-Manali-Dharamsala. Kindest regards, Lahra

Hey Lahra, Ladakh is just too tempting, isn’t it? For how many days are you traveling in Himachal Pradesh? July is the perfect time to spend in the higher Himalayas like in Ladakh. All the roads and the high altitude passes would be open for vehicular traffic. So sure, you can fly into Leh easily from cities like Delhi. But Ladakh has a bountiful of places to go and fall in love with the mountains. If you’re going to Ladakh, we would recommend giving at least some of these places a go.

Hi Sandeepachetan..!! Beautiful couples you both are…!! Really loved your article over this topic, Keep writing & shining..!!

Thanks, Sagar!

if you want to enjoy nature and life then go for road trip and my suggestion road is life what you gain in your iife and what you loss all answer in this road

Nice article friend. We going to led in 1st weeknof aug 17….shud we gondirectly leh by flight or we should go by manali leg highway… Totally. Confused…. Pls help Regards, New traveller : Manish

Beautiful article. Waiting to pass through Rohtang Pass on 12th June 2017. Any chance of visiting Tso Mariri lake while going from Manali to Leh with a stopover at Sarchu ?

Regards Siddhartha

Very Nice .. Pics says everything… Can I know when you have taken that Rothangpass pic with Greenery? I am going to Bike trip On June 24th to July 5th. Is it good time to experience nice views? Our root map is below.

Manali – Jispa – Baralacha Pass – Sarchu – Leh – Khardong La – Nubra – Pangong Lake via Shyok valley – Thiksey Monastery – Lamayuru – KargiL – Srinagar.

We are going to visit Ladakh from June 6 to June 9, does this time will be enough for us to visit the ‘MUST SEE’ places or do we need to extend the plan ..

Our itinerary will be : June 5- Srinagar –> Kargil (June 5- night halt) –> reaching Leh (June 6) –> Nubra valley (June 6 – return to leh same evening) –> Leh to Pangong lake (June 7 – return to Leh same evening) –> Leh to Tso Moriri ( June 8 – return to Leh same evening) –> leh to Manali ( June 9 morning – expected to reach manali by June 10 noon with a halt at keylong or jispa ).

Also, can we hire bike from Leh to Manali ??

Is this fine, or do we require to change or anything.

Please do suggest. Thanks in advance.

Ambitious plan. What is the hurry???????????????????????

Frankly speaking, OFFICE is the hurry !! 🙁

How’s the Manali leh to and fro routes for bike riders. Planning to rent bike from Manali. Also what can one do to avoid mountain sickness ?

very useful. i am planning to do this during the 1st week of sept this year. Can you give me some lead for places to stay during night. thanks

During the travel season, camps are set up along the way, at Pang, Sarchu. Jispa also has stay options. Keylong also has some hotels.

Hello Sandeepa, Three of us are coming to Bicycle Manali to Ley in October. We are going to do the ride selfd supported. We are a bit worried about AMS as we are from Australia and have no experience with high mountains. We are thinking of hiring a support vehicle and driver to check in on us at regular intervals. Is this something that would be possible to organise in Manali, and approx. how much would this cost us.

We know of some friends who did exactly this – hired a support vehicle to be with them on the Leh-Manali route so they could ride with less stuff. Don’t know how much it costs, we will try and find the cost and get back to you.

Hi Sandeepa and Chetan, thank you for sharing your experiences! I’m sure it has benefited a lot of people like me! Leh/Ladakh has been on my bucket list for the longest time and I hope to be able to visit this amazing place this September!

I’d just like to ask if you’d recommend self-driving along Srinagar-Leh and back via Leh-Manali in the last 2 weeks of Sept? If so, where do you recommend renting our self-drive vehicle from as we will most probably be flying into Delhi. I can’t seem to find car rental companies on the internet as most of them appear to be taxi/car with drive rentals. We are concerned that the roads will be too challenging for self-drive but your pictures and stories appear too amazing to give it a miss!

Also, I understand that only licensed taxis are allowed in Ladakh. Should I prebook them online before arrival or do you recommend me booking a taxi in Ladakh itself?

Thank you in advance!

Hey Fifi, the roads along both the Srinagar-Leh highway and the Leh Manali highway sure are challenging. It requires a driver with a lot of practice on these high mountains to navigate those passes. You can rent out taxis which havehave local expereinced drivers to take you along these routes. That way you have the flexibility to go at your own pace and enjoy the landscape and the road without having to bother about the driving challenges. It is better not to prebook. You will find plenty of cabs for hire. Face to face you can decide which driver you are most comfortable with as well as negotiate for better deals.

i love your artciles, i would like to know which camera you used for ladakh trip ? thanks in advance 🙂

Hi Sandeepa Chetan,

I am planning with my friends to Leh via Manali in the 3rd week of May, just want to know during our travel all routes will be opend or not. we wiil be travelling with Innova yellow plate from Delhi-Manali-Leh-Manali-Delhi, is there any problem with outside vehicle on our overall journey. Or suggest an alternate route, as our travelling dates are fixed.

your comments/advice will be most helpfulll for us.

Thanks in advance.

Hello Sumeet, 3rd week of May is definitely too early for the Leh-Manali road to be functional. You can try to get to Leh by the Srinagar-Leh highway via Zoji la or fly directly into Leh. There has been heavy snowfall this year, so the highway openings will be delayed as compared to the last.The local taxi unions do not allow rented cars from outside of Ladakh to be driven in Ladakh. More information here .

Thanks for your reply.

Hi sandeep chetan, I loved this blog. Its wonderfully sorted and the pictures are nicely placed. However for people who are not avid traveller, there should be more information on accomodation and local businesses. Now they would definitely find the info on travel sales sites, but people would like to hear your take on it.

Regards, Jetout

We will try to incorporate more practical information for the Leh-Manali highway soon.

Lovely Photos man! 🙂 I am definitely going there soon!

This highway is a dream!

Hey! I’m in the plan for a solo bike expedition to Leh. Keeping the atrocity by taxi mafia in mind, what are the necessary steps, if any, to be beared in mind for the journey? I’m planning to hire an RE from Chandigarh then to Srinagar down to Manali via Leh. Are the taxi mafias around there, so rude that we must hire their vehicles????

Hi Sandeepa and chetan,

your blog is giving travel goals to the readers. thanks for that. 🙂 I am planning to travel solo from delhi to Leh via srinagar and back through manali highway. Im planning to complete this circuit in the month of JUNE, 2017 by local/state buses.

I badly need your inputs on mode of transportation available to get to leh n then back.

Hy divya we 3 freinds are also planed the same but leh via sri nagar is typical now a days because routes of buses are not good even bus service is not regular it is alternative

We are planning to visit Leh-Ladakh in last week of June or 1st Week of July. We will be leaving from Mumbai. Following options I have thought of. Need guidance/assistance in these options and which option to go for. Also please suggest suitable time to visit Leh Ladakh. We will be having 9days in our hand. 5 weekdays and 2 weekends We would also like to visit Kargil if possible

Option 1: 1) Mumbai to Leh by Flight 2) Leh Sightseeing 3) Leh to Nubra 4) Leh to Pangong 5) Leh to Tsomoriri

Option 2: 1) Mumbai to Srinigar Flight 2) Srinigar to Kargil road 3) Kargil to Leh road 4) Leh local sightseeing 5) Leh, Nubra, Pangong, Sham Valley 6) Leh to Mumbai Flight

One of my friend has visited Leh via Srinigar. His route was Jammu -> Srinigar -> Kargil -> Leh then local sightseeing in Leh and return back to Jammu. Mumbai to Jammu and viceversa via train.

Please suggest me the route. I was also planning to go via Manali i.e. Delhi to Manali by State bus and then Manali to Leh via taxi service. But since we have limited number of days I am thinking it will cause more excersion. Which option would be better.

Thanks Ankur

Hello Sandeepa, thank you for oyur valuable insights on the manali-leh road trip. Me and my husband have booked the tickets from mumbai to leh from 27th may – 2nd june. Although we have booked our flight tickets from mumbai to leh. But we are of the opinion of travelling from Leh to Manali by road. By halting at Sarchu. Could you please help me with deatils of how to take this trip from Leh to Manali to Delhi By Road. It would be of great help if you could provide me the some contact details for taxis or buses(mode of public transport). Awaiting Eagerly for your expert advice! ?

Some lovely pictures you have there! Me and 2 of my friends are thinking of heading to Leh in June this year. We are thinking of renting a car for self-drive in Srinagar, and then driving from there to Leh and back. I’ve read quite a bit about the journey between Srinagar and Leh, but what seems really unclear to me is whether there are any car rental companies in Srinagar that offer car rentals for self-drive! Would you be able to advise us on this?

We haven’t heard of a car rental company in Srinagar. Besides, they have many rules about which taxis are allowed where. For eg, taxis registered in Srinagar are not allowed in Leh. If you could find a way to rent a private car (white number plate, not the yellow one which indicates commercial vehicle), you could self-drive all along the way. Also, make sure what route you would want to take, you might want to return via the Leh-Manali highway instead of heading back to Srinagar.

Wow! Those pictures are amazing. I am planning a trip to visit Leh and manali soon. Thanks for the information.

HI Sandeepa Chetan, I had a query, can u please help me. Ill be doing Manali to Leh this July. I dont want to fly to leh and then work backwards. Is it sensible to do Manali-Jispa-Tsomoriri-Tsokar-Pangong-Leh-Nubra-Leh or Doing Manali-Jispa-Leh-Nubra-Leh-Pangong-Tsomoriri-Tsokar-Leh is a better route to do spread over 10 days? Please guide me. Thanks Aditi

Hi Aditi, definitely the second option. Will not recommend spending longer durations at Tso Moriri and the likes without the acclimatisation in Leh.

Thank you so much. 🙂

In continuation to the below post, Just went through your Zanskar trip now. And understood that cant be be covered in our cramped schedule. Nevertheless please mention all the interesting points. Also I would like to know where we would get a proper view of snow capped mountains.

Hi Sandeepa & Chetan,

Hope you guys are doing well..

Your experience from Leh to Manali looks so overwhelming in the blog that I could feel goosebumps, courtesy the photography and your writing 🙂

Well, I am planning to take the Leh-Manali route this June (second week probably) and would definitely love your advice on certain queries I have.

1. Firstly how many days would it take from Leh to Manali? Like if we start on Day 1 at around 8 in the morning, will we reach Manali by atleast 8PM on Day 2? A night’s stopover is enough or do we need another night in between?

2. Where should the stopovers be? How much distance can we cover in one day?

3. What are the places that should be / can be visited in Leh/Ladakh in case we are there for three full days? We plan to fly in to Leh at around 7 in the morning. So that’s Day 1 for us. And we would head to Manali in a Taxi on Day 4.

Please mention the places that are NOT TO BE MISSED. I know for sure Tso Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri, Nubra, Zanskar Valley are the highlights. Can we do all this in just three days or do we have to replan the trip?

Looking forward to your response. Thank you sooo much!!

Hello Mitali, we can sense your excitement in your questions, and that’s what Ladakh incites. Having said that, we have to warn you first. The recommended time for altitude acclimatisation in 3 days. Besides, there is lots to see in Ladakh, even more to experience. Our first recommendation would be to try and increase the number of days. Second, if you can’t then don’t rush after “seeing it all”. Make the most of what you are going. If you are going to the lakes, enjoy the sunrise and sunset there, that’s the best time of the day! Trust us when we say, you will never go to Ladakh just once. In 4 days, we would recommend the locations around Ladakh and one of the outside locations – Pangong, Tso Moriri or the Nubra valley. Around Leh, in one direction you can visit Thiksey, Shey and Hemis monasteries. In the other direction you can go all the way to Lamayuru , visiting Alchi monastery on the way. We know of tourists who go to Pangong and return in a day, it’s not something we suggest. We would recommend spending the 2 remaining days at either Pangong (crossing Chang la) or Nubra (crossing Khardung la) or visiting Tso Moriri. There is another highly adventurous itinerary, but this is not very common, you will not get any help here in case things go wrong. You can head to Pangong via Chang la. There is a route to head directly to Tso Moriri from Pangong. From Tso Moriri, you can head directly to the Leh Manali highway via Tso Kar. This avoids having to come back to Leh. This route is nothing short of an expedition, not to be undertaken unless you have a big group and an experienced and expert driver. Do have a look at Google Maps to get an idea of these places and the distances. Do not take AMS lightly, any signs of discomfort, come back to the lower altitude and rest. About travelling on the Leh Manali route, you can reach Manali by lunch on day 2, if you start early morning. WE had halted at Keylong, some prefer Jispa, just nearby.

Thanks Sandeepa. Your inputs have really helped me. I could not respond earlier due to certain reasons. Thank you very much again. Will get back if I need further advice. All the best. Keep traveling!!

Wow, I love travelling and this kind of articles are very helpful for me, I am always looking for different places and tips for travelling or hiring transportation, I appreciate you for sharing & keep up the good work 🙂

You express really well. Leh Ladakh seems spectacular from your vision.

Ladakh is spectacular anyway you look at it 🙂

cycle k sath sath kya saman k jarurat hogi pls reply

Hello Ram, we did not cycle the Leh Manali route. Maybe get in touch with Priyanka Dalal for some cycling tips.

Is Leh Manali highway is safe to travel with family No kids

Anybody travelling through the Leh Manali highway should have spent some days at the high altitude in Ladakh getting acclimatised. Which is why we recommend travelling from Leh to Manali and not the other way round. Getting acclimatised and keeping yourself hydrated are the main precautions to be taken while travelling through these high altitude routes.

hello Sandeepa, My name Didi and i have a question. I intend to cycling in manali leh highway in December 2017 is suitable for biking there at that time? Thanks you..

Most roads in Ladakh are closed in December as they are covered in snow. June to September are the best months to try cycling from Leh to Manali.

Hello! I want to go to Ladakh from my home town Rohtak in June 2017. So can you recommend the suitable bicycles available for that trip in price range of 30-50K or i have to spend more. I want a bike that i would also like to use for my other tours in the plains.

Hi Guys..have a question.me and my wife are planning to go to leh ladakh next year july. now should we start our trip from manali to leh or take the epic manali-leh trip on our way back?my only concern is altitude sickness.it shouldn’t spoil the trip..

Hey Debasish, we would never recommend going up the road from Manali to Leh. Ideal case scenario would be to get to Leh via Srinagar and get off via Manali. However, no one can predict what the situation in Kashmir would be like in July. We would recommend flying into Leh and return via the Leh Manali road in the present circumstances.

Cool.thanks a lot.will plan like u said.. 🙂

One more question.are good local tour operators available in Leh for pangong lake and Nubra valley trip?can i comfortably book after i reach leh?or i should go with one of the big operators from Mumbai?they will charge a bomb though..

Thanks about this simple and good explanation about trip. I am planning to go there. Can you suggest by which way to go. By road or by Sky. Don’t you think the view from plane would also be worth?

Deepanshu, ofcourse it’s a lovely sight flying over the Himalayas. We will also get this experience someday for sure, especially in the winters. But we love slow travel and road provides a wonderful way of connecting with the people.

awesome place to visit and the best of this article is the way of your explanation i.e.too good.

I have couple of queries. (1) Which is the best month for this trip? (2) You said you travelled via public transport then how could you able to click such beautiful shots. Did buses stops at famous points?

Himalayan summer – July to September is the best time to visit the high altitude Himalayas. Those are the months when the Leh Manali route has the least disruptions (though in the mountains, one has to be prepared for everything). Most of these pictures have been taken in the moving state transport bus, on-the-go. These are all the high altitude passes, so the bus isn’t exactly zooming past. Also, practice makes perfect! Have a look at our travel to Zanskar for photos from a moving truck!

Hi Sandeepa, I want to plan for a Ladakh trip in the month of June/Juky 2017. So need some tour itinerary from you if you dont mind.

I love taking bike road trips and i want to do a bike road trip to Leh from Delhi. Can you tell me the short itinerary for this trip? Telling some places to stay would be a great help. After doing, i will be looking for Manali Leh cycling trip.

Hi. Can you tell me how to reach Leh from Manali in October? I will reach Manali on 1st Oct and I am a girl, traveling solo. I have already booked my flight tickets from Pune to Delhi. And the return flight is on 11th Oct morning. I heard about how it is not possible to take the Manali-Leh in october. But I want to go. There must be a way? I don’t want to fly to Leh as it’s costly plus I don’t want to miss the road. Please help.

It would be better to fly to Leh from Delhi. However, this year, road works are still going on the Manali-Leh highway, to keep it open this year for a longer period to ensure uninterrupted access to Leh (apart from Srinagar Leh Highway). Check up if buses are plying else taxi’s should be available.

thanks …. i want to know many more about leh to manali road…

This is a very nice blog and It was very amazing or helpful for Ladhak traveling It is such a great post thanks for sharing I really really like it

Hi, Nice post and awesome picture of Rohtang Pass. Really nice place. Thanks you.

What are the must see places in New Zealand.

Awesome pics and very well written…. congrats.. i m planning to travel From Manali to leh by bycycle next month. Can you tell me how is route in september. are the dhabas open on the way in september?

September is still very much the season for Ladakh, so the dhabas should be open. For the latest update on road conditions, you could have a look at the Himalayan Club group in Facebook or the community pages of devilonwheels. Respect to you on taking up this cycling expedition! Wish you all the best, hope you have a successful trip. We look forward to reading about your journey.

This is very nice and Informative article and It was very great information I really Like it Thanks for sharing

Really loved your blog. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Vishal!

Hey sandeep, i am planing to explore zanskar. I all want to know is that is it possible to go phugtal monastery from manali via rohtang la, keylong, darcha, and purne in January 17by trek and hiking. Is it possible trek rohtang pass in winter. Is road from Darcha to purne snow cover? Is it cycle able road? And I want to go there solo. Any permission required to pass rohtang la in winter? How much days it take? Any suggestions to make trek route shorter? What you suggest for make way to phugtal monastery. Waiting for your reply.

Hi Sandeep…I am really mesmerized by reading your blog…you are a true storyteller and a photographer too. Your blog is really inspiring. To add the background, me and one of my friend is also going to manali to leh expedition in this coming September and It’s a self supported ride. I need an advice from you, I want to carry DSLR on this trip, but unable to figure out how to carry it. Can you please suggest a way to carry it safely and hasselfree.

Thank you so much Abhishek, and wish you both a wonderful trip to Ladakh! This bag by Lowepro has been our trusted companion to carry our camera gear on all our travels. Carrying a DSLR and the accompanying lenses during travel is never going to be as light as a smartphone camera (which we are starting to use more and more), but the right bags can make a world of difference.

hello sandeep can u suggest me itinerary for the leh ladakh trip of around 15 days i would love to visit tso moriri , hanle , leh , pangong , nubra valley , turtuk , kargil thanks a lot

Hello abhishek, You can have a look at our travel stories on Ladakh and Kargil to figure out how you want to travel. However, if you want a planned itinerary, you can fill in your requirements here .

Hi Sandeep.it was nice reading your article. We are a group of 16 would like to come back from Leh -Manali by road in the month of May (22-05-2017) .can we take that journey by road. We are trying to reach Leh from chennai Delhi Leh flight. What do you suggest

The Leh-Manali highway usually opens up in June. This year the snow levels have been higher than normal which might further delay the opening of this highway. May 22nd would probably be too early to travel by the Leh-Manali highway.

Hi Guys, Must complement on the really beautiful pictures… Also had a query. We are planning to leave for Leh on 6th August from Delhi. Can anyone help me with the inputs on the latest road conditions on Manali-Leh highway?

Did you face any breathing problems in Leh?

A short climb up a flight of stairs would make us breathless. But we traveled real slow during our time in the higher Himalayas. So no real breathing issues. But yes, after we got down to Manali, the ease in breathing even while climbing up, was noticeable. Are you visiting the Himalayas this year?

Hi SandeepaChetan,

We have cancelled all the Srinagar-sonmarg-Kargil plans.and taking direct Mumbai-Leh flight due to current crisis in Srinagar. Can you please guide us on what to visit thereafter in 10 days (12-22 August)? So far we have Leh, Tso Moriri and Nubra on the list. Please advise as I don’t know if I ever get a chance to visit Leh again (keeping 2 kids at home this time with in laws) and don’t want to miss anything in this trip though 10 days could not be that enough. 🙂

Regards, Anvita

Hello Anvita, sorry couldn’t get back to you earlier. Hope you had a wonderful trip to Ladakh. Our favourite saying about Ladakh is, you can not go to Ladakh once. Trust us when we say, someday you will be back. So even if you missed out on places, there will always be another time.

hi im deepak from bangalore. we are planning ride from manali to leh during mid of august. is it the good time to travel by bike. also wat are things that we need to carry for safety.

Hi Sandeepa & Chetan. I just stumbled on to this site when I was searching for traveller’s blogs. I am in total awe even after 45 minutes of leaving my seat…such beautiful places. I and my husband are planning a Delhi-Kullu-Manali trip by September mid week. We are from Kerala and we have to travel by train from here to Delhi and then by bus from there on. Is September a good time to visit there?

God bless you guys…. you’re living a lot of people’s dream….may God make your life more happening and easier….

September is a good time to visit Himachal. It is the low season for the lower Himalayas, so even the popular tourist destinations like Manali will be a little less crowded. You will also get off season prices at hotels. Happy a good trip. The Himalayas are totally worth traveling all the way up from Kerala! Happy travels!

I was glued to the pictures. I bet it would be surreal to see them in real.

Really loved your writing.

Hello Sandeep, wow, after reading this I can’t wait further to visit this place, I am 39 year old & first time I will be doing solo trip to Laddakh in beginning of Sep. I will be flying from Delhi to Kulu and after a day stay in Kullu will travelling to Leh by HPTDC bus. And will have 7 days in Leh to explore Laddakh. I will fly back from Leh to Mumbai. Would be great help if you can advice me, as I am but worried to take road from Manali to Leh, what would be your suggestion? Is sept 1st week good time to visit? Looking forward to hear from you.

Hello Vinod, Ladakh is a perfect destination for solo travel. Wish you an awesome time! We would ideally recommend descending via the Leh-Manali route since by then your body is acclimatised to the high altitudes of the Leh-Manali highway. Consider seeking medical advice regarding the risk involved.

Hi Vinod, Even I am planning to take HPTDC bus to travel from Leh to Manali. I need some info regarding the same, Can you please share me your e-mail id ?

Thanks in advance ! 🙂 Rohit R

Such a beautiful post! Ladalg will always remain close to my heart and it is amazing when I come across like minded writers who capture it’s essence so beautifully 🙂

Nice Blog!!… We are planning to hire bikes and cover Chandigarh-Srinagar-Leh-Manali-Chandigarh route. Is it the good route to follow in mid August?

Do we have to rent separate bikes in Leh for sight seeing in Leh Area like Pangong Tso, Nubra valley? Is there any restrictions like this in Leh area?

Also do we need to take permits in Manali if we go to leh via Manali for non HP vehicles??

Please help on this.

No, u don’t have to rent another bike to get to leh. you can take same bikes your will hire from manali.

If you will ask any local there, you’ll be asked to hire local bikes so that they make some money as income sources are less there.

This is very much satisfied by the great info in this blog.

Oh la la… Cant wait for the umpteenth time to traverse this side again; this time via the Saach pass!

Please guide on Direct flight from Mumbai to Leh any issues in health. is it safe to take direct flight as I have time of 7 days and there is already gang gamed and some have already booked air tickets. Precaution to take while travelling. 15 July to 21st July is our Leh travel decided. Do we need to take medicine before 2-3 days travelling to Leh.

Very nicely written, and so are the pictures Sandeep. We are planning for a Delhi-Srinagar-Leh-manali Delhi road trip in July 2016. Our concentration will be more on Leh. Manali will be a mere stop over at night on route to Delhi. My question is if it is possible to drive from Leh to Manali in 1 day and Manali to Delhi, the next day in a Mahindra XUV with all 5 guys being decently good drivers. Also is it possible to drive on these roads in the night too?

Stumbled upon your site while researching on Leh to Manali tour. You are a vivid traveller and I want your advice on my first trip to visit this beautiful place on earth. Im planning Leh to Manali in early September, where my first point of entry would be Leh (Flying from New Delhi). Im not sure if this is a great plan considering all that I read abt AMS.. but I have very few days and I want to spend considerable amount of relaxed time in Manali and Kasol, which Im thinking would be better after the Leh – Manali road trip.

First of all is it a sane plan considering its my first time ? How many days would you advice I should spend in Leh to get acclimatised to the altitude and then start the journey to Manali.

Thanks again for your comments and for the mind blowing photographs.

Hi Aparna – Is it a cycling trip that you’re planning? I’m planning to cycle either Leh-Manali or Leh-Nubra/Pangong starting around Sept-4 and I fly in to Leh on Sept-2.

Very nice and want know more about this article ..I really enjoyed reading it..please keep updating..

Hi Sandeepachetan

So, we group of friends are planning trip to Laddakh. The thing is we are short on days.

We are planning from 15-22 June. 15th monring we will be in Manalis, and we have to be back by 22 in delhi.

The thing is, if we take the road trip, it will give us only 4 days to roam around in Leh, and 4 days will be spent in travelling to and from Leh.

But we don’t want to miss out on bike trip eiither, what do you suggest. What should we compromise.

The road trip or the Time up there in Leh

Kibe!!! I read the query before reading the name and I was like “Dude, this guy’s itinerary matches ours exactly. What an amazing coinicidence. I should check this person out.” And then there you were :p

From acclimatisation point of view, we would not recommend the Manali to Leh journey to start with. If you are short on time, we would recommend heading to Leh first, seeing places like Lamayuru and Hemis around Leh. Then you can visit one of the three common far off destinations – Pangond Tso, Tso Moriri or Nubra valley.

Very nice article and specially photography is superb !!!!!!!

Hello Sandeepachetan,! very very nice blog! need one info from your experience. From leh to manali is it possible to use state bus at June with a night halt at keylong? I wanted to travel by HPTDC bus but HPTDC bus starts from July. So only option remains is state transport bus. Please reply at your convenient time.

Hello SADI, you can try the option of shared cabs if the buses haven’t started operating when you travel to Ladakh.

Hey sandeepachetan very nice post here thanks for this article post, this year i wll go there . how long is the trip

Hello Archana, happy travels to you.

Hi sandeepa chetan planning road trip from manali to leh. Shall we go with a tour operator or we can manage it ourselves? Your suggestion

Hello Saket, we are joining our friends this year on a tour to remote parts of Ladakh as well as Zanskar. If you are only planning on traveling from Manali t Leh (without traveling around in Ladakh), then you can just take the state transport bus to Leh.

I am planning for a Bike Ladakh tour this season. I will go via Kargil and then come back via Manali. Too excited

Sounds perfect! Have a great bike trip to Ladakh. Happy travels!

This look like one of the best trip to leh -Manali. I am planning my next bike trip to leh manali. After that i am going to comment.

Happy travels, Jatin! All the best for your Ladakh bike trip!

These places are looking amazing. such beautiful places, Thanks for sharing pics..

Great pictures. Well composed.

Thank you so much, SK Srinivas!

Excellent pictures

Would you recommend going from Leh to Manali or Manali to Leh? Some people have said it is better to go from Leh to Manali because of altitude sickness. If so how would you recommend getting to Leh?

Hello Nathan, your information is absolutely correct. The altitudes on the mountain passes of the Leh Manali route could cause a problem if the body is not accustomed. If you have the time, the best way to get to Leh (at least for us), is visa the Srinagar-Leh route. You have options of taking it slow by halting at Mulbekh, Kargil (most popular) or Drass (we spent a night here). Another option is to fly to Leh from Srinagar or Delhi. In any case, a couple of days for altitude acclimatisation n Leh are a must before you venture further into the Ladakh valley.

How can one enjoy travelling and still manage High altitude sickness..as most city folks live sedate lives not the active and rustic travelers attitude.

Hello Mr. Nagarajan, thank you for writing to us! The key is to give your body enough time to adjust to the altitude and the lesser oxygen levels. Travel as slow as you can, ascend to higher heights gradually. Also, drink lots of water and walk slowly. Avoid alcohol. And listen to your body.

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Hi we want to go for the bike trip to leh ladakh from srinagar. ..how will be the climate there? Any suggestions?

Climate in the mountains is always unpredictable, it can be warm and sunny or it can rain and snow. You will need to follow the weather around your time of travel closely.

Hey we are planning to go on a roadtrip from mumbai to leh ladakh then passing to manali n through Lucknow back to mumbai what are gonna be the challenges n necessities we need to keep in mind while driving as well as other things and we are planning to go in month of July thts during monsoon please ping back. Thanks in advance

Hello Rukshar, thank you for writing to us and wish you all the best for this ambitious driving plan. As you would have read, we traveled in Ladakh mostly by public transport. We do not have experience of driving to Ladakh. Do consult Ladakh driving specific websites, devilonwheels is one very good resource regarding this. During our stay in Drass , we did meet a group who had driven a similar route quite successfully, so your plan is quite doable. Happy travels to you!

the road doesn’t open until mid of June. Suggest you to postpone your paln to end of June to enjoy uninterrupted journey.

helo devesh How r u, Me Bharat from Gujarat want to go with my wife on this tour, but have not good Partner. i just see your Comments here. if you not Complete your Tour can we discuss for next planning, my email id is [email protected]

I will visit Ladakh on First week of April. Can you please confirm me in April(1st week) is Khardungla pass and Pangong lake accessible?

Please inform me.

Hi Chetan, The pictures are stunning and you have described the land very well. I am in the process of convincing a few of my friends to undertake a bike ride with me on the same route. May i have your permission to use your pictures on a closed group post? I could say a thousand words or just show your pictures to convince them. Pls let me know. Thank you and safe travels. – Ajay Menon

First of all, all the pictures are amazing. We have planned for Manali-Leh trip from 15th-24th Aug. Due to the change in weather conditions, is it safe to execute our trip at this point of time.

Is Anyone else going to leh at this time(15th-24th Aug). Some of our friends have already backed out due to bad weather and now we are only 3 persons remaining. Also let me know if anybody would like to join us for the trip.

We were planning the bike trip earlier, but now depending on the weather condition we will decide if bike is feasible and if not we will book a cab for manali to Leh.

Please feel free to contact me @09611837766

First of all let me tell you these all pictures are breathtaking! I am Gaurang, 31 planning to visit Leh-Ladakh from 25th Aug-6th Sep and this will be my first trip and that too solo! I just want to know about one thing whether share taxis are available there or not? Because I am not an adventurous person, so biking will not be possible for me.

Hello Gaurang, you will love your first trip to Ladakh, its a perfect place for solo travel. Shared taxis are available for all the places in Ladakh as well as along the Leh- Manali and Srinagar-Leh highway. Shops in the market in Leh have boards put up with information of travellers looking for companions to share the taxi. Have a look at our Tso Moriri story to get an idea about how easy it is to find shared rides in Ladakh! Happy travels!

Any one planning for Manali-Leh Cyling trip from Aug 21 to Sep 2nd.

Pls let me know.

Thanks in Advance

First of all , Great photos !!

We are a couple who will be flying in leh and have to travel from leh to manali by 2 days on sep 2-3. Is it safe for us to take share taxis ?

Hello Nirmal, shared taxis are a very common means to travel in Ladakh. You can hire a shared taxi to travel from Leh to Manali. Just ask around after you get to Leh. Your hotel/ guest house will be able to point you to the correct taxi stand.

Hi I am from delhi couple around 38 yrs without kids planning for. Delhi srinagamanliali around in between 8-16 august. 2015 with short travel time in my own suv anyone wants to join can cont 8527737506

You can post this on India-mike for better response.

“Epic????? This is simply amazing. I was beguiled by the pictures!!! You really made my day Chetan! What splendor and magnificence!!! This year’s summer I just decided where to start. Al thanks to you! The paradoxical snow- dipped and dusky mountains, lushy hair pin bends and everything is going to haunt my dreams till I see them for real.”

Dear Sundeepa-chetan…… CONGRATULATIONS !!!!! WONDERFUL Photographs with EXCELLENT write up, we feel like get up and start for a self-drive my Car sooner possible, It is very good blog. Here i wanna know we r a couple from Delhi above 50 wish to self drive delhi to leh around 1st week end July 2015. 1.- Is it safe to drive in own Renault Duster car. 2.- Are these roads motor able with mid size SUV. 3.- How many hours it take from Manali to Leh. Is there desiel staion in Leh. 4.- 15 days are enough for this trip. i have good experience of driving for last 30 yrs covered most of Uttrakhands hills like all kadars including Himachal..Sarahan, 6 trips to manali ,3 trips Rohtang pass, 1 trip lahaul.

did you complete your trip to leh by self driven car? i am planing to travel by my own car in may or june this year along with my daughter. how was your experience? can you share? my car is ford classic fiesta.

hi even we 3 friends are planning …from chennai to leh ladakh ….will be lving by 15th june

I am also planning a road trip this june, I have Duster.

we are going for a bike travel from manali to leh and back to leh during 20th july to 31st july 2015. we are 8 people. can u tell about the clothes and accessories we should have during the trip. kindly suggest us about what shoes we should be wearing.

Hello Satyam lath,

You must have the followings.

Thermals, jackets, wind cheaters, balcalava, riding boots, socks, bikini for you.

Me and my husband planing bike trip for leh this july 2015 (11th july 2015 – 24 july 2015 ) . we are going alone from mumbai . is it gud to alon or we have to join any group for bike trip . If we have to join any group , could you please suggest any group if you know .

Hello Poonam, great to know of your biking trip plans for Leh and Ladakh. If you are seasoned bikers, it should be okay. But if you are not, it is better to join a group/fellow bikers for a biking trip to Ladakh. We aren’t into biking so can’t recommend any. But websites like devilonwheels.com should help.

Hi, Great post and amazing pictures! I did this road few years ago I can say it was one of the most scariest experience in my life, I thought I would die there 🙂 But I am still alive so I recommend people do that as well, because of stunning nature.

Sir this is the most beautiful thing I have ever read. Still getting goosebumps. Your way of expressing this journey is incredible and not to forge the pictures are breathtaking. I’m also planning a Manali-Leh road trip by my car in November as i’ll be free by then. Will it be suitable? Need your expert guidance.

Hello Sanidhya, you will need to check when the Leh Manali highway closes this year. Snowfall might start on the highway by then. Good luck and happy travels.

Thanks a lot sir. May I also get details about the DSLR and the lens used to click these magnificent pictures.

Brilliant photographs. This route is a favourite and every time I am at Rothang La, my heart skips a beat. Truly, our life is incomplete till we’ve witnessed these sights.

These are the awesome pics. Need one suggestion that “Is Mid-September is good time to visit LEH ?”

Hello Rahool, September would be a lot cooler than August. Some places in Ladakh and along the highways might start receiving some snow. However the Leh Manali as well as the Srinagar Leh highway should be operational till then. Also, the peak season for Ladakh would be over, so you will get lesser crowds and traffic, always a good thing! Happy travels!

Excellent write up we felt as if we were travelling with you.Photographs were also very good.

Awesome post..

Loved this travel story of yours, need your help as we are also planning a trip to Leh via Manali. could you please give some details about from where to book bus ticket and night stay on this trip? we are two friends planing to go Leh in Aug 2015 for 10 days. we are from delhi and we want to cover our ongoing journey via Manali and return via srinagar, please suggest my Email_id is [email protected] 🙂

Hi bro is it possible to ride 2 persons on 1 bike vit lighter luggage

People do bike with a pillion. However we aren’t bikers and can not give you any first hand information regarding this. You should ask on the biking forums.

Looks amazing.. we r 2 frnds planning to have a road trip from delhi to manali and then leh ladak – Rohtang Pass .. first time planning for a road trip and are blank.. any suggestions will definitely help plz.

Amazing it definitely is! We aren’t bikers so can not give you any first hand information about biking in Ladakh. But there are many who bike in the summer to Leh via Manali. Only thing we can say is travel in a group. Avoid solo biking. You should have a look at the biking forums. One of the best resource we would like to point you to is the devilonwheels website. That would be a good starting point for you Leh Manali biking preparation.

hi…we are also planning for same…..going on 30th May. Contact 9810547559

wow! such a beautiful route and I am appreciating your words through your pics – that you come into the greenery from the desert. The greens welcome you from the browns!

Yes, it is amazing how the colours of nature play with your moods. Experiencing this transition is one of the most beautiful experiences of the Leh Manali journey.

Hi great blog! When did you travel the pass? I’m booked to go self supported in June.

Thank you Lou! It is exciting to know you are traveling through this road in June. We reckon you will get more snow on the route in June than us when we traveled in august beginning. It will definitely be a journey to remember!

lovely shots, as captured it is captured in bus its great……

hi! its really interesting to see read your blog. The narratives are simple and easy to read with all possible details ! kudos to you guys! I would certainly like to know which DSLR you guys use? is that a full frame camera? The pictures in this page are quite striking….picture do all the talking too!!!!

while I have come across info about manali-leh bus route recently only….the internet is full of bike and car trips…how do you describe the experience in bus? is it easy or one needs to pull in some pain? Is it recommended for a person who’s into photography…I mean does it provide ample opportunity for photography?

Also, How would you describe the route and leh in may end/ early june ? if the route and place choc-o-bloc with tourist? and what about the accommodation scene? does it get “all sold out” given the fact that laddakh has been getting too much attention lately?

Hello wanderer by heart, looks like a trip to Ladakh is on the cards for you! That’s great! The bus ride, while obviously not as comfortable as a SUV would be, is a great experience. And surprisingly quite comfortable. As you would have read, all our photos from this Leh Manali story have been taken from the moving bus. Do read my reply here for more information on the bus ride from Leh to Manali. However, you will need to check when the road opens up for next year. Leh Manali highway usually opens for traffic only later in June, of course everything depends on the ground reality at the time. While places like the Pangong Tso see a lot of tourists in the summer, it is not (yet) choc-a-bloc. On the contrary, we were the only people when we visited Tso Moriri . For details about our photography equipment, do have a look at our Photos page. Do let us know if you need any other information. Happy planning!

the link to pictures is quite interesting. are you guys using full frame dslr? do you stick to kit lens or ultra wise (something like 11-16mm) lenses?

A are two and wish to visit Leg in Aug 15. Pl explore if we all can make a group and hire a SUV together. PAUL 9212191170 Delhi

We are reaching Leh on 2nd Nov 2014 and want to cover Leh Ladakh and Manali if possible while need to reach back to delhi by 9th afternoon. Is it possible? and will the buses be available during this time as well easily?

Hello Abhishek, by November, the roads are most likely to be closed. Flights are then the only access into Ladakh. You can keep a track of the roads at http://devilonwheels.com/ , an excellent resource. Also, just 7 days for Ladakh via Manali are a bit too less. Happy travels!

Hi Abhishek,

We r 4 friends moving to Leh on 4th nov & to retun by 9th nov to delhi. If you are not with family & buses unavailable we can share a taxi.

I am planning to travel to leh from manali on 16th october and back to delhi by 23rd October.

Hi guys thanks alot for ur ideas n thanks for sharing ur views even i m from Mumbai nut currently settled in uttrakhand dehradun. I m planning on to go to manali n then leh ladkh With a friend of mine in my Ford Endouver can u suggest the best route which is safe but adventures..

Hello Amit, that sounds like a great travel plan. The Manali Leh highway provides more adventure than you could imagine! It’s a road trip you’ll remember forever. Just be mindful of the altitudes you will be crossing before getting to Leh. Be well prepared. Wish you a great trip!

what cycles were u riding ? … hybrid or off-roads?

Niranjan, we were in a HP state transport bus. On the way we saw many cyclists going up the road. No idea about their cycles. Are you planning to cycle up the Leh Manali highway?

Hi Sandeep, You said you were on HP state transportation bus. I have participated in national bicycle expedition on last week of august at leh. I want to reach leh from Jammu on 24th August 2015. I can’t find any information related to government or private transportation. Can you help me ? Your information will meant to me. Thanks

Hello Deep, best wishes for the bicycle expedition. You should get to Srinagar at least a day before you plan to leave for Leh. You can then book a ticket for Leh in a shared jeep or the JKRTC bus at the bus stand (both near the Srinagar TRC, close to Dal lake). The jeeps leave early morning. Don’t know the bus timings.

I am deepak from mumbai,planning to visit leh at the 1st week of june from manali to leh with family including kids,is it advisable or not to travel on this month?

Hey Deepak, 1st week of June is pretty much the beginning of the season for Ladakh . There might be snow at places. The Leh-Manali road might or might not be completely opened – it all depends on the snow they get this winter. After the 2nd week of June is the better time if you want to go to all the places. On the other hand, in the 1st week of June places would still just be opening up for the season, there won’t be much crowd, there will be a new energy everywhere. Either way, it’s a win-win. Ladakh is always a win-win!

This is lovely and super adventurous. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful blog. We are planning to travel from Leh to Manali. Do we do the Rohtang pass and Tsomiri lake on the way? How do you think we should cover it? And what about the buses from Leh to Manali, how frequent are they?

Hello Shweta Raj, thank you for your compliments. Visit to Ladakh and specially the journey from Leh to manali is something you will remember forever. We are glad you are planning to make this road trip. Rohtang Pass is the last mountain pass of this journey, on the Manali side. Where as Tso Moriri is in the Ladakh region. You will have to make a 2 day trip from Leh to Tso Moriri . Tso Moriri and Rohtang are both clearly marked on Google Maps. Have a look at the map for a clear picture. Buses for Manali leave everyday from the Leh bus stand. You go to the stand and book your tickets in the HP state bus that is waiting there.

To the lucky couple, Hi sandeepa and chethan, your words sound dreamy. And i loves the line quoted by Nico. I am also in a plan to visit Leh from Manali. Manal to Leh by flight and return by himachal state tourism bus. It would be good if you can please explain more about the bus service and stays at Leh.

Hello Ajith, thank you for your compliments! The bus that reaches Leh from Manali leaves for Manali the next morning at 5AM. This bus actually terminates at Keylong. At Keylong you book a ticket for the connecting bus to Manali. At Leh, the bus driver and conductor stay in the bus itself. You book the tickets from them. Try to book them before 12 noon to get a good seat. Recommend seats on the driver’s side for the best views. There are many guesthouses, hotels and homestays in Leh, accommodation should not be a problem.

My goodness, I have been to this journey; It seems like an epic final journey to heaven! Peaceful, blissful and awestruck is what you feel around those beautiful landscapes and scenic wonders. I am sure God must be living around 🙂

Exactly what we were thinking! How did you do your Leh Manali journey? Were you also on the Himachal state transport bus?

Yes absolutely.. a terrific experience seeing people traveling with such ease even when some of them were sitting on the roof.. That was crazy 🙂

I’ve been following your journey every day. Look forward to it. And your amazing photos. I was in Manali too. Kullu to Manali was a common vagabond route. It was mostly a dirt road getting there, and then you had to walk the last bit, and go over this swinging rope bridge. A bit tricky with a back pack. And very exciting. Manali was just a small hill station. One street (dirt) and not a very long one. A bit out of town was a small old temple with hot springs in it. You could immerse yourself in them, I was there alone….so it was finally a chance to sit in hot water and feel clean. (didn’t use soap…. used a stone to scrub). Just curious….how long have you been on your tour, and how much longer will you stay on it. I truly am so happy for you that can do this……and thru Flickr share it with us. It’s just so mind/heart opening isn’t it? Stay safe, and keep posting. Regards to you both, Lynn

Lynn, we thank you so much for your comments, we look forward to them with every photo we post. It is really really fascinating for us to read them.(Only wish photography was as easy back then!) Manali is nothing like a dirt road anymore, it has become a full fledged tourist destination, with rows of shops and eateries (and people). And Kullu is almost a small town, if not a city! I don’t think anyone will have the luxury of being alone in the hot spring anymore. We have been back home in Mumbai for a while. Spent 3 months in the hills. It was such an enriching experience. Intend to get back on the road soon!

I enjoyed reading your story, and of course the extraordinary photos! I remember those bus rides. I still have dreams about them almost 40 years later. I’m very happy for you that you took this incredible journey. It’s a beautiful planet, isn’t it. And what I experienced, mostly people just want to get along with each other. Happy trails wherever they may take you in the future. Be well.

Thank you so much Lynn! The Leh-Manali road 40 years back, that must have been quite a ride! Do you have any photos from then that we can look at? We were just so overwhelmed by the untouched beauty we saw around throughout the journey – of both nature and the people. It was a journey we will remember forever!

“If the bus falls off now, at least I have seen the most majestic place on earth.” Fantastic line! <3

Thank you! True sentiments!

that made for an enchanting read filled with gorgeous photography! 🙂 shame i haven’t been here yet, and thanks for inspiring me to do so, soonest.

Thank you so much Kaushal! The Leh Manali route is a must-do, as is the whole of Ladakh. And once you have been there, once isn’t enough! Best wishes for making this trip happen!

Hi sandeep i wish to go with my parents to leh dad is above 60yrs. I would be going by hptdc bus. Should we take any special precaution. Please guide me.

i am planning to travel through flight delhi to Leh then wish to travel by road from leh to manali and manali to leh is it viable with family to travel by road in this route any suggestion would be helpful

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Manali to Ladakh Itinerary – Manali to Leh Ladakh Trip Plan

The most common way of traveling to Ladakh is to start from Manali and end at Srinagar. Due to its challenging nature, the route from the Manali side presents the travelers with an adventure right from the start of the journey. At the same time, the natural beauty of the region you cross is like no other. If you are going to be traveling to Leh Ladakh anytime soon, below is a Manali to Ladakh itinerary that you can follow for the trip.

When you are going to a place like Ladakh, careful planning and a well-laid travel itinerary becomes of utmost importance. Ladakh is not your typical vacation where you can just pack your bags and go. Everything is different up there. Your journey will be bound by timelines and you will be presented with hostile weather conditions and bad roads.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide

For most people, it may be several years before you can plan another trip there. You got to make sure that you are making the best of your time and travel in the most efficient way. This will also save you any hassle and will keep your trip safe. It is also helpful to know what all places are worth covering and what are the major tourist attractions that you must not miss.

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Manali to Ladakh Itinerary

In this article, I will talk about traveling from Manali to Leh, local sightseeing in Ladakh, and return via Srinagar. In case you do not intend to cover the Srinagar highway at all, then I will also provide an alternate itinerary to return via the same route to Manali.

I will lay down a plan for 2 weeks journey. This in my opinion is a must if you truly want to cover all tourist destinations. Based on the number of days you have, you can add or remove places from this itinerary.

I will also assume that you are either using your own vehicle, motorcycle, or car or renting a private cab for this trip. But the itinerary below can also be used even if you were traveling by public transport.

• Delhi to Manali – Day 1
• Manali to Jispa – Day 2
• Jispa to Sarchu / Pang – Day 3
• Sarchu / Pang to Leh – Day 4
• Leh – Day 5
• Leh – Khardung La – Diskit / Hunder – Day 6
• Diskit / Hunder – Panamik – Khardung La – Leh – Day 7
• Leh to Pangong Tso – Day 8
• Pangong Tso to Leh – Day 9
• Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 10
• Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 11
• Leh to Kargil – Day 12
• Kargil to Srinagar –  Day 13
• Srinagar to Jammu – Day 14
• Jammu to Delhi – Day 15

The following Manali to Ladakh itinerary mostly focuses on an easy travel plan without too much rush and covering all major tourist attractions. It is more of a common itinerary that can apply to almost anyone, irrespective of whether you are traveling solo or with family.

Day 1: Delhi to Manali

For the sake of this article, I am assuming that you are starting your journey from Delhi. If you were coming from a different town, only the journey on the first and the last day will be different. The rest of the Manali to Ladakh itinerary will remain the same.

There isn’t much to write about Day 1 actually except that this will be a long and monotonous ride. Depending on your speed and breaks, it can take you anywhere between 13-15 hours to arrive at Manali. Start early from Delhi so that you can at least avoid the city traffic.

Also Read: Clothes for Ladakh Trip – What to Pack

Day 2 – Manali to Jispa

The most important thing that you need to keep in mind while traveling from Manali is the permit for Rohtang Pass. A quick fix for this would be that apply for the permit online and obtain it beforehand.

If for some reason you could get it online, contact a hotel in Manali and ask them if they can arrange permits for you. If their answer is yes, book your night stay with them and collect permits after you reach Manali. This way, you will not have to spend an entire day in Manali arranging permits.

If the permit could not be arranged at all, the only other way you have is to travel via the Atal tunnel and keep Rohtang for another trip at another time.

It is advised that you start as early as you can from Manali to avoid traffic congestion at Rohtang Pass . Cross the first high-altitude pass of your journey and enjoy beautiful vistas all day long. There is mostly a lot of slush towards the top of Rohtang Pass and roads too are narrow so drive carefully.

If you must stay in a cemented hotel and are on a budget, then stay at Keylong. You can find several moderately priced hotels here.

If a hotel is not a must, then go to Jispa and stay there. There are a couple of campsites and hotels in Jispa where you can stay. Jispa is a beautifully located town and in my opinion, you must stay at one of the camps there rather than Keylong. Depending upon your speed, this journey can take you anywhere between 6-10 hours.

If you were short on time, you can skip this day entirely. Travel through the Atal tunnel and head straight to Sarchu for the night on Day 2 itself.

Day 3 – Jispa to Sarchu / Pang

You can start easy by 8-9 AM from Jispa as the journey is not too long. You will cross Baralacha La , Lachulung La, Nakeela on the way. On the way, you will also see two small lakes, Deepak Tal and Sooraj Tal, and witness the beauty and challenging nature of the Manali Leh highway.

Gata Loops are another major attraction. After Sarchu, you will cross into the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Reach Pang by evening and check into one of the camps/chadar tents.

Most people will advise you against staying at Pang because of high altitude sickness which you are bound to suffer from here. But if you have 3 days in hand, there is not really much of an option to stay other than Sarchu or Pang and you are bound to feel AMS at both places.

The only other way around this is to really rush through the journey on day 2, start from Jispa by 5-6 AM, and reach Leh by evening. This is also a preferred choice if you are not comfortable staying at a camp or chadar tent at either Sarchu or Pang.

For more detail on altitude sickness, please take a look at  How to deal with acute mountain sickness in Ladakh .

In my opinion, a 3 days journey on this road is better. But if you are short on time, then you can change it to Manali to Jispa on Day 1 and Jispa to Leh on Day 2.

Day 4 – Pang to Leh

Leh is not too far from Pang so you can start at your own convenience. You will cross the magnificent Moore Plains and Tanglang La Pass on the way.

The journey from Pang to Leh is not more than 6 hours. Even if you traveled at a slow pace, so you should comfortably be in Leh by late afternoon. This will give you ample time for hotel hunting.

Once you have decided on a hotel, you can either chose to rest or may even visit Shanti Stupa, Leh Market, or Leh palace in the evening.

Day 5 – Leh

You will stay for the day in Leh. Rest and give your body some time to adjust to high altitude. The most important task for this day is to arrange your Inner Line Permit for the trip ahead.

Day 6 – Leh – Khardung La – Diskit / Hunder

On Day 6, you will travel to Nubra valley and cross Khardung La on your way. Spend some time at Khardung La top and have a cup of tea at the Army canteen.

You can stay at either Diskit or Hunder for the night. The tall Buddha statue, sand dunes, and Bactrian camels are the most famous tourist attractions that you should see. It is a 6-8 hours journey depending on your speed.

Day 7 – Diskit / Hunder – Panamik – Khardung La – Leh

Start early from Diskit or Hunder and head towards the small village of Panamik. See the hot water springs in Panamik and start your return journey to Leh via the same route that you took to reach Nubra Valley.

An alternate way to do the journey here can be to take the Agham Shyok road to head straight to Pangong from Nubra Valley. That way, you can save a day on your itinerary.

Day 8 – Leh to Pangong Tso

This may be a long journey depending on the speed and breaks you take so an early start is advised. While on the way, you can also cover a few monasteries like Hemis, Thiksey , Shey Palace, and get across mighty Chang La.

You can choose to stay at either Tangste, Lukung, or Spangmik. If you want to stay close to the lake, then you will have to stay at a campsite. If you want to stay at a cemented hotel, you will have to look for accommodation at either Tangste, Lukung, or Spangmik.

Day 9: Pangong Tso to Leh

Take the same route back to Leh that you took to reach Pangong on day 7. If you did not visit the monasteries or Shey Palace on Day 8, you may cover it on Day 9.

An alternate way to do the return journey can be that you take the Changthang route from Pangong and head directly to Tso Moriri from here via Man, Merak, Loma, Nyoma, Mahe, and Sumdo. You can stay in Hanle Village for Day 9 and go to Tso Moriri from there on Day 10.

Day 10: Leh to Tso Moriri

This will again be a long journey not because of the distance but because you will be traveling on some terrible roads today. Head back on Manali Leh highway until Upshi and take the diversion towards Chumthang.

Road until Sumdo will be a mix of good. After Sumdo it will pretty much be a dirt trail all the way until Karzok. This can easily be a 7-8 hours drive depending on your speed and the breaks you take in between.

The monasteries, Shey palace that I mentioned for Day 8 and 9 can be covered on this day as well.

Day 11: Tso Moriri to Leh

Spend some time at the lake early in the morning and head back to Leh via the same road that you took to reach Karzok.

Another route for this journey is the diversion towards Polakongka La from Sumdo. If you went this way, you can also cover Tso Kar lake before exiting on Manali Leh highway just after Pang.  After that, you will cross Tanglang La Pass and arrive back in Leh.

I will advise taking this route because the road is good and won’t add much time to the journey. You will get to see another beautiful lake and travel right through the amazing More plains.

Day 12: Leh

Take a rest day in Leh. Visit some of the tourist attractions in town like Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Leh market, etc, and relax. Please note that you can skip this day if you are short on time.

Day 13: Leh to Kargil

You will start your return journey to Leh via Leh Srinagar highway. See the magnetic hill , Indus-Zaskar river confluence, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib , monasteries at Mulbekh and Lamayuru, and Lunar Landscapes. The road will be mostly good with a few bad patches in between.

It is easily an 8-10 hours journey if you cover all the places I mentioned above. If you did not stop and spend time anywhere, it can be easily covered in 6 hours.

I would still advise on starting early from Leh. Kargil has several hotels so finding one will not be a problem but finding one within a budget can be.

Day 14: Kargil to Srinagar

Travel on the Srinagar Leh highway and enjoy the mesmerizing and heavenly beauty of Srinagar. Take a lunch break at Sonamarg and continue to Srinagar.

The journey will last anywhere between 7-10 hours, depending on your speed and the breaks you take. If within budget, head straight to Dal Lake upon reaching Srinagar and stay in a houseboat. It is highly recommended and totally worth it.

Day 14: Srinagar to Jammu

Start early from Srinagar and reach Jammu via Patnitop by evening. The journey will last about 8-10 hours because the traffic on this route is mostly heavy. Another route you can is via Mughal Road . It is longer but is more scenic and hardly has any traffic

Day 15: Jammu to Delhi

This will again be a very long journey that can easily take 14-16 hours. The road will mostly be good all the way except for a few bad patches in between.

Manali to Manali Itinerary

If you do not want to travel on the Srinagar Leh highway, the journey can be modified in the way below. It will require lesser time as well. So if you could not spend 2 weeks in Ladakh, you can pick this option.

• Jispa to Leh – Day 3
• Leh – Day 4
• Leh to Diskit – Day 5
• Diskit to Turtuk – Day 6 (Skip this day if you are short on time)
• Turtuk to Panamik to Pangong via Shyok Road – Day 7
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 8
• Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) Day 9
• Karzok to Sarchu – Day 10
• Sarchu to Manali – Day 11
• Manali to Delhi  -Day 12

Manali to Ladakh Bike Trip Itinerary

If you were riding a bike, let me suggest two more itineraries that will better suit you. The only concern can be of fuel that you will have to carry in spare. Take a look at How to Manage Fuel on Leh Ladakh Bike Trip for more details.

Below are two examples of a Manali to Ladakh Bike Trip itinerary.

• Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
• Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
• Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Leh – Day 4
• Leh to Turtuk – Day 6
• Turtuk to Diskit to Panamik to Pangong via Shyok Road – Day 7
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 9
• Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 10
• Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 11
• Manali to Delhi – Day 12

If you wanted to start from Manali, there will be a slight change needed.

• Leh to Diskit / Turtuk – Day 4
• Diskit / Turtuk to Pangong – Day 5
• Pangong to Hanle or Karzok – Day 6
• Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 7
• Leh to Kargil – Day 8
• Kargil to Srinagar – Day 9
• Srinagar to Jammu – Day 10
• Jammu to Delhi – Day 11

Manali to Ladakh Itinerary – Conclusion

The journey can of course be modified in numerous other ways. If you were thinking of a different Manali to Ladakh itinerary but weren’t sure of it, feel free to ask in the comments section below, or at our Community Forum , and I will be happy to clarify any doubts.

The first itinerary that I suggested can easily be completed by public transport as well. There are regular buses and shared taxis available on the routes. The internal roads where there is no public transport were skipped entirely in that itinerary. I hope the information above was of help.

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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How to plan a trip to leh ladakh, srinagar leh highway status 2024 – 2025, zojila pass road status and condition 2024 –..., 23 comments.

Sir, 25-30 days ladakh bike trip ka koi itinerary bataiye jisme maximum passes aur places cover ho sake..

Day 1 :- Raipur – Delhi – Chandigarh (By Flight) Night at Chandigarh Day 2 :- Chandigarh to Manali. Night at Manali. Day 3 :- Local Manali. Night at Manali. Day 4 :- Rohtang Pass/Solang Valley/Keylong. Night at Keylong. Day 5 :- Keylong to Leh. Night at Leh. Day 6 :- Local Leh. Night at Leh. Day 7 :- Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardungla Pass. Night at Hunder/Diskit. Day 8 :- Nubra Valley to Leh via Pangong Lake. Night at Leh. Day 9 :- Local Leh. Night at Leh. Day 10 :- Leh – Delhi (By Flight) – Raipur (By Flight/Train)

इसमें आपकी तरफ से कोई सलाह/सुझाव/सुधार ? कोई जगह जोड़ना/घटाना है क्या ?

Day 4 का प्रोग्राम आसानी से हो जाएगा क्या ?

Day 1 :- 9 जून 2022

12 लोगों का ग्रुप है

Day 2 to Day 9 by road (One 12/13 seater Tempo Traveller)

PLEASE GIVE YOUR SUGGESTION.

Aapka plan theek hai Rajkumar Bhai. Aasani se ho jaayega

Mr. Vargis Khan Sir, I am planning to visit Ladakh this September and following you blogs regularly. It is so informative and helpful in all respect of ladakh tour. i wish to enter Ladakh via Manali and return via Kargil if political situation of JK is godd enough. Apart from Leh city and its heritage valued monasteries my main point of attraction in Ladakh is Nubra Valley, specially Tutuk. Here is my proposed itinerary Day 1 Manali Day 2 Jispa Day 3 Leh Day 4 Leh Day 5 Turtuk Day 6 Leh Day 7 Leh- Pangong Day 8 Pangong – Tsomori Day 9 Tsomori-Jispa Day10 Manali

Your advice is solocited.

Ramen Bhatta

Hello Mr. Bhatta,

It will be better to travel this way. How are you traveling though?

Day 1 Manali Day 2 Jispa Day 3 Leh Day 4 Leh Day 5 Turtuk Day 6 Pangong via Shyok Day 7 Pangong to Hanle Day 8 Hanle – Tsomori Day 9 Tsomori-Sarchu Day10 Manali

hello Mr. Vargis, Thanks a lot for such detailed itinerary. We are three people myself+my wife + one female friend. I have XUV 500 2WD in almost perfect conditions with all tyres changed and car serviced one week back. We are planning a 14 day trip from delhi-leh-srinagar-delhi or delhi-srinagar-leh-delhi. But still I am not sure if I should go from manali or srinagar. Here is my itinerary from manali side. Same I will use from sri nagar side except not going back to leh from tso moriri:

day 1 delhi to chandigarh , night stay at chandigarh day 2 chandigarh to manali , night stay at manali day 3 manali to jispa, stay at jispa , night stay at jispa day 4 jispa to pang (or sarchu. Only problem is that sarchu is too close to jispa), , night stay at pang/sarchu day 5 pang to leh , night stay at leh day 6 sightseing leh , night stay at leh day 7 leh to nubra valley/hundar , night stay at hundar day 8 hundar to pangong (through Agham shyok) , night stay at pangong day 9 pangong to tso moriri , night stay at tso moriri day 10 tso moriri to leh , night stay at leh day 11 leh to kargil , night stay at kargil day 12 kargil to sonmarg/ , night stay at sonmarg day 13 sonmarg to ludhiana , night stay at ludhiana day 14 ludhiana to delhi ========== Here are my questions 1) What are your recommendations of the itinerary. 2) Should we go from manali side or srinagar side. 3) I am an avid driver and have a good experience of driving in uttrakhand mountains with same car. Do you think I can cover hundar>pangong>tso moriri as this is my first trip to leh?

Thanks Prashant

One more question Mr. Vargis. My car fuel tank capacity is 70-75 ltrs and in mountains gives mileage of 10K per litre. So I can cover a distance of 650-700 Kms. Is this fuel sufficient to cover leh> hundar > pangong > tso moriri > leh

If you can then carry those 20 or 40 liters cans for spare fuel. If not then you can actually buy fuel in black at almost all places in Ladakh now. Quality of that is however questionable so it is better to buy it from Ladakh only.

Hello Mr. Kumar,

Your itinerary is good and definitely doable. Going from Srinagar side is better in terms of AMS. Following the itinerary you have laid out, you will definitely suffer from mountain sickness at Pang. The only change I will recommend is that you start early from Jispa, avoid staying at Pang and reach straight to Leh on this day. Pangong to Moriri is ideally a 2 days journey so use this day here. From Pangong, reach Hanle and then do Hanle to Moriri the next day.

And yes, if you have some decent amount of driving experience in the hills then you can easily complete the journey.

Thanks Mr VIrgis, I will modify the itinerary accordingly.

You are welcome Mr. Kumar

Sir please update me regarding permits beyond rohtang pass. I am having a diesel vehicle and will start from my hometown Ranchi on 10th may. How can i get a permit from manali to travel beyond rohtang on my own vehicle. Also what other permits do i need to get to travel to leh ladakh and pangong lake.

For Rohtang Permit, please see the article below.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/rohtang-pass-permits-details-charges-apply/

For Permit in Ladakh to visit Nubra and Pangong, please see the article below..

https://vargiskhan.com/log/obtaining-ilp-for-ladakh/

Hi Vargis, your blog is really informative.we have gone to leh once via kargil. We have visited leh, pangongg and nubra valley then. Now we wish to visit leh from Manali along with spiti valley.Can u suggest an itenery of 8days(in ladakh week wish to visit tso Mori and may be Turktuk)

Hi Sayantan – Covering Spiti and Ladakh both in 8 days will be next to impossible. Where are you starting from?

Hi Vargis, We will be starting from Manali. A proposed plan in september-

day0-kolkata to delhi flight, overnight bus to manali, stay at manali/solang(?) day1-manali to langza, stay at langza day2-langza siteseeing (ke,kibber,tashiang) day3-langza to mud(via hikkim,komik,dhanker)….should we stay at mud or return to kaza? day4-kaza /mud to chandratal day5-chandratal to jispa day6-jispa to pang/or directly to tso mori day7-tso mori to leh day8-leh day9-leh to turktuk day10-turktuk to leh day11-leh to kolkata flight

we have previously visited ladakh once and have covered sham valley,nubra,hunder, panggong and leh local site seeing (so excluding them this time) Can you suggest any possible modifications? Also the time of travel each day?

Your itinerary looks Ok exccept for that you cannot go to Tso Moriri directly. You will have to get inner line permit first for which you will have to go to Leh city.

Hey sir! Your blogs are so great, They are really helping a lot. I need to ask that we are 6 people or can say 3 couples. We are planning for a road trip with all 3 RE classic 350 and are moving from Jaipur, we will prefer manali leh highway. So I just want to ask is there any problem travelling with girls here at little dark or staying at camps or any other problem which we may face? And some more stuffs, I have already been to your blog for driving with pillion but still need to comfirm that that RE classic 350 will be capable enough to hold two people with a little luggage.

Hi Chirag – Thank you for your appreciating words. Yes you can ride to Ladakh on RE 350 with a pillion provided that your motorcycle is very well maintained. I myself own an Electra 350 and off all the times I have taken it to Ladakh, 4 times were with Pillion and all the luggage. So yes, the motorcycle is capable of the journey but ensure you get it serviced and prepared for the journey. Take a look at this article.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/how-to-prepare-your-motorcycle-for-ladakh-trip/

Regarding traveling with ladies, there is no concern related to safety as such but as you can very well guess, washrooms can be a bit of a problem. Better plan your journey as Manali to Keylong or Jispa and then straight to Leh the next day. The chadar tents / Dhabas at Sarchu and Pang do not have facilites and washrooms are horrible. Being a guy we could hardly stay there for over 5 mins, so with girls it will be a huge hassle. Avoid staying at these places unless you are planning to stay at the camp sites at Sarchu. These are comfortable luxury tents with good washroom facilites but prices are a bit steep.

Thank you for giving your precious time to answer my question and one more thing to ask, that can we cross khardung la with pillion and what about marsimik la?

You are welcome !!!

Khardung La yes you can but not Marsimik La. That road is very steep and extremely bad. Motorcycle will probably refuse to climb if you have a pillion with you.

sir I am travelling to ladakh on 26 may2017 from manali by bullets ,we are six persons by five royal enfields of our own means not rented ,we want to know that travelling from pangong to tsomoriri by road is safe or not because we heard about some dog attacks on bikers ,pls help us by providing current situation so that we can take further step for our journey

Dogs are indeed dangerous in that region Pariksheet. You will be OK traveling on the route, just do not stop near any human establishments alone, do not wander away. Just continue with your journey and when taking breaks, ensure that you either stop at near a check post or at a canteen or dhaba where are some locals around

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• Group Tours Calendar
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• Public Transport & Budget Travel
• Preparing for Spiti Valley Trip

How to plan a journey or trip on Manali Leh Highway? [2022 Travel Guide]

Manali Leh Highway is one of the roads that lead to heaven on earth called Leh – Ladakh (Srinagar – Leh Highway is the other one). It is one of those Highways in the world which offers almost everything nature has to offer to an adventure lover.

Serious travelers in India and abroad do have a dream of traveling on this dangerous and beautiful Highway at least once in their lifetime. I am one of those honored souls to have experienced this journey of my life multiple times.

Having said that, the journey on Manali Leh Highway could be a bit tricky to plan if you haven’t researched well enough. Almost more than 350 km out of 474 km long Manali Leh Highway (430 km now after Atal Tunnel) does not have any civilization, and hence you would be the only soul wandering on most of your journey here. Even one cannot find fuel (petrol/diesel) for 365 KMs on Manali – Leh Highway.

2021 Update : With the opening of the Rohtang Pass Tunnel or Atal Tunnel in 2020, the distance of Manali – Leh Highway has been reduced by 45 km and brought it down to a total of 430 km from Manali to Leh. It is not just the distance but the overall time to reach Keylong from Manali is reduced by 3.5-4 hrs and that means Manali to Leh journey can be done in about 13-14 hrs . This 9.02 km Atal Tunnel connects Manali to Keylong in Lahaul Valley. You are no longer required to travel over Rohtang Pass which means there is no longer a dependency on its opening date to travel to Keylong from Manali. Along with it, you no longer have to worry about avalanches, bad roads, traffic jams, landslides which were pretty common when traveling to Leh from Manali via Rohtang Pass.

Therefore, adequate planning is very well required to travel on Manali – Leh Highway so as to make it a memorable experience.

Download your FREE   high-resolution version pdf copy  of this Manali to Leh 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:

Manali Leh Highway Travel Guide – Detailed & Complete

I hope the below information in this detailed travel guide of Manali Leh Highway will be helpful for someone planning a journey on Manali – Leh Highway.

Should I travel to Leh Ladakh via Manali or Leh to Manali?

Before anything, if you want to enjoy Manali – Leh Highway then does it from Leh side. That is travel from Leh to Manali NOT Manali to Leh. This direction will help you enjoy the Manali – Leh highway without bothering to rush through the place or worry about AMS or driving with nausea, headaches, etc.

1. Better Acclimatization

Traveling from Manali to Leh will hold you back from the enjoyment. Mostly due to AMS and its symptoms because of the majority of the time, you are above 4000 Mtrs of altitude, which your body cannot adapt easily so quickly. But, while coming from Leh towards Manali, your body will be acclimatized for the high altitudes much more than when you travel to Ladakh from Manali.

If you still prefer to travel to Leh Ladakh via Manali, then you can follow the most common itinerary to travel to Ladakh from Manali .

2. Avoid sleeping at Sarchu

Secondly, travel from Leh to Manali will also help you halt your journey at Sarchu which is at an even distance between Manali and Leh and offers a varied amount of accommodation options. Otherwise, you will end up doing Manali – Keylong on one day and push from Keylong to Leh on the second.

Sleeping at Sarchu is not recommended if you are coming from Manali unless your body has completely acclimatized to Sarchu altitude by staying in Spiti and Lahaul Valley for about 4-5 days.

Hence, always try to plan a journey to Ladakh in such a manner that you enter Leh via Srinagar side and then after exploring Leh – Ladakh for few days come back via Manali – Leh Highway. You should also read: 5 Reasons to choose Srinagar – Leh Road to enter Leh over Manali – Leh Road .

Season to travel on Manali – Leh Highway

Usually, the opening of Rohtang Pass and Baralacha La majorly governs the travel time on Manali – Leh Highway. The average time for the opening of Rohtang Pass every year is around May, and Baralacha La usually opens up close to May end.

Best time to travel on Manali Leh Highway

Hence, June to September is the time window when the Manali – Leh Highway is open and is considered as the only time for traveling on Manali – Leh Highway.

Road Conditions June – July

In the early stages, i.e., June, one can find huge stocks of snow en-route, but the road conditions may be a challenge to drive. While in the later stages, i.e., August to September, the conditions of the roads are almost perfect in shape with all the mud dried out, maintenance work almost completed on these roads by BRO but your eyes will be devoid of the snow mostly.

The weather in June is always unpredictable and the chances of rain are also bright. This leads to the closure of certain sections on Manali – Leh Highway due to landslides triggered by rains.

However, you may be lucky in June as well to cruise this Highway in bright sunshine. June is not exactly the ideal time when one wants to be in Manali due to mad tourist influx.

Should I plan Manali Leh Highway in August?

As the July – August comes, the Monsoon comes as well in the Northern parts of India. However, the regions on the Northern side of Rohtang Pass that is Keylong and beyond mostly remain untouched by these monsoon rains (except the year 2010, which was an exception).

So in July-August, though you may need to cross the Southern side of Rohtang Pass in Monsoon rains that is Manali and lower hills , after especially Keylong, you are almost good to go without much trouble with these rains.

Dodging the Water Crossings & Slush in June – August

June – July is also the time window when the snow melts on high passes creating almost tiny rivers or water crossings (nallas) on roads in the early stages. This high gush of water is quite a challenge to dodge, especially with the vehicles having a low ground clearance.

Post afternoon, when the sun is burning at its best, some of these water crossings or nallas becomes so violent that they are almost impossible to cross. This gushing water may force you to halt the journey of the day in the middle of nowhere or return to some civilized place for a night halt. The best way to overcome these water crossings or nallas is to know the specific nallas on Manali – Leh Highway and plan to cross them as early in the morning as possible.

In recent years, one of the major hurdles was water crossing or nalla just near Zingzing Bar even though bridges have been built on many of the water crossings up to 2018.

Another major one was between Rohtang Pass and Sissu. In the early stages (June), even crossing Baralacha La is a big challenge due to melting snow, which creates some deep water streams on the road itself.

Slush is also bound to be present on Baralcha La in the early stages of the season and is also quite a challenge to negotiate without proper skills even on SUV/MUV. This mud is generally created by the constantly moving traffic, which beats the snow present on the road or aside.

Hence, try to cover these sections of Manali – Leh Highway in the early part of the day, when the snow melts very slowly and traffic is less.

Are you planning your trip on Manali – Leh Highway in late September and October? If yes, then you must read my article about  5 Reasons to Avoid Manali – Leh Highway in Late September or October

Road Conditions

Below is the general idea of road conditions on Manali Leh Highway. Of course, they are subject to change with the season, time of travel, and weather conditions. However, in general, you will get an idea of road conditions from Manali to Leh road.

• Manali To Rohtang Pass – Average
• Rohtang To Kokhsar – Bad, Slushy
• Kokhsar To Sissu – Average
• Sissu To Keylong – Very Good
• Keylong To Jispa – Good
• Jispa To Zingzing Bar – Good
• Zing zing Bar To Baralacha Pass – Good
• Baralacha To Sarchu – Bad, Dirt Track
• Sarchu To Pang – Bad, Bumpy, Dirt Track
• Pang To Moore Plains – Good, Bad, Bumpy
• Moore Plains To Tanglang La Pass – Very Good
• Tanglang La Pass To Rumste – Very Good
• Rumste To Leh – Very Good

2021 Update : You no longer need to travel from Manali to Rohtang Pass to Keylong. You can take the route from Manali to Keylong via Atal Tunnel to reach Keylong in just 2 hrs from Manali and avoid all the bad roads of Rohtang Pass.

Modes of travel on Manali – Leh Highway

IMPORTANT NOTE: Himachal Pradesh Govt. has banned the movement of vehicles without any permit on Manali – Rohtang Pass road and visiting Rohtang Pass for tourism purposes. If you are going towards Leh – Ladakh or Keylong or Spiti Valley from Manali side then you need to get permits for Rohtang Pass available online . Please note that Bikes also need a permit to cross Rohtang Pass

Private Vehicles i.e. Cars and Bikes | Self Drive or Ride to Ladakh

Most people prefer to travel from Manali to Leh on a bike or self-drive to Ladakh in their own car. Some people also prefer to self-drive or self-ride to Ladakh by hiring a rental bike or car on rental from the cities. In any case, a hired car/bike or personal car/bike, the idea is to live the passion of driving or riding through one of the toughest and adventurous terrains accessible in India.

You can take your own or rented, car or bike to Ladakh on Manali Leh Highway, but one must be careful while driving or riding through slushy roads, snow and water crossing or nallas. Also, it is always handy to learn little maintenance tasks of your vehicle before the start of this arduous and desolate journey.

For cars, although an SUV/MUV is good to have and a 4WD SUV will definitely help but I have seen hatchbacks (including Altos and Nano) and sedans doing good enough job on Manali – Leh Highway.

Please note that when you are planning from Manali to Leh on bike, the bike registered in Manali will not be allowed for sightseeing in Ladakh. You will need to rent a bike again in Leh again for sightseeing in Ladakh .

Can I do Manali Leh trip in a small car?

With sedans/hatchbacks or small cars on Manali Leh Highway, one must drive with extra care and caution. Also, be ready for few scratches or sacrifice some parts on your sedans/hatchbacks under-belly due to the lack of enough ground clearance required in some water crossings or landslides on Manali – Leh Highway.

If you are trying to travel on Manali Leh Highway in a small car or a hatchback or sedan, I will suggest planning the journey late in the season ( September) when the roads are in good shape than the early season.

Are you planning to hire or rent a bike from Manali? If yes, then you must go through the article on  How to Hire or Rent a Bike or Motorcycle in Manali?

Tips for a Self-drive to Manali – Leh

If you are traveling on Manali to Leh by car, whenever in doubt, always step out of your car, walk down the path, inspect with your foot and plan the path of exit before crossing a dangerous landslide or water crossing on your vehicle. You can also park aside and see how others are crossing the risky section to plan your route of escape.

In deep water-crossings try to maintain the momentum without any half clutch measures and complete the entire stretch in one go only.

Similarly, in slush stretches, do not force the issue rather keep the smooth momentum with the required speed to pass you through, without half clutch measures. Do keep an eye on the direction of the vehicle too.

If you get stuck in the mud, then try to back and forth your vehicles to get out of the stuck position. It is always handy to ask your fellow co-travelers to get out of the car and push the vehicle from behind in case the car is struggling to pass through the mud or water crossing stretch.

These tips will certainly help you on your trip from Manali to Leh by car.

Things to carry

Basic toolkit, screwdriver set, small hammer, puncture repair kit, iron rod, two or three “2 ltr” empty bottles of Pepsi / Coke / Limca, etc. to carry extra petrol or diesel (jerry cans will leak, cold drink bottles do not leak), funnel, towing rope, spare tube (must for bikes), Elfy or Fevi quick (2-3 sachets), jump-start cables/wires, M-seal to prevent leakage, etc. were among the few things which I carried along on my trip to Ladakh.

Also, do not forget to get your vehicle (car/bike) serviced about 2-3 weeks before the start of the Ladakh journey. Having it serviced will ensure that you have proper time in advance to test your serviced vehicle and get fixed any hitches that may have been introduced in that service.

You can prepare the checklist from my list of  40 must have things to carry on Ladakh self drive trip

Hiring a Private Taxi | Taxi Number or Private Number

All taxis (except Ladakh registration number) having taxi number or tourist permits number plates are only allowed for a drop in Leh – Ladakh. You cannot drive them in Leh – Ladakh ou cand as per the taxi union rules, only taxis with Ladakh number are allowed to roam in the Ladakh region for sightseeing.

If you want to travel within Leh – Ladakh in your private taxi hired from a place other than Ladakh, then, in that case, you need to hire a taxi with a private number plate only. However, in the latter case, be ready for some queries by the local taxi drivers in Ladakh or police constables on your route. You need to ensure everyone interrogating with you that the vehicle is not a rental.

Should I hire a taxi from Manali for Ladakh?

Whenever you need to hire a taxi, always try to hire it from Manali, as the drivers of Manali will always be more skilled and more accustomed to the route or current conditions of Manali – Leh Highway. Secondly, the locals always have a majority with an advantage of local support in any hurdle you might face on the way towards Leh.

To hire a taxi, go directly to the Manali taxi stand and bargain hard with the local drivers only, for a drop to Leh. Do not involve any tour operator or hotel staff at any stage to save costs.

Manali to Leh Taxi Fare

The local taxi drivers will charge about Rs 1500 extra for a planned night halt on the way to Leh. The private taxi fare from Manali to Leh is close to Rs 16000 to Rs 18000 for a drop to Leh from Manali, depending on your bargaining power, tourist rush, and time when you are visiting the place. June is the highest-paid and September – August being the less paid.

On the Manali bus stand, the taxis that drop people coming from Ladakh are also available sometimes. Since the same local sightseeing rules are applied to Ladakh taxis as well in Manali, they are bound to return without any tourists from Manali side, officially. If you can catch any of those Ladakhi drivers, you might save yourself Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 for a drop to Leh from Manali.

The same rule is applicable from Leh to Manali side as well and hence, if you can get hold of some Himachali driver at Leh taxi stand, you will again save about Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 on your return drop to Manali.

However, you need to be a bit careful from local drivers while fixing a deal with non-local drivers. So, it is always nice if you have some references for either place upfront and call them directly to fix the deal. Secondly, it might be hard that these taxis will agree for any night halt on the way, but it depends on how you gel up in the negotiations and bargaining.

You can check the Leh – Ladakh taxi union rate list 2020 – 21 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh. You can get about 10-12% of discount by directly getting in touch with drivers and of course, talking in person rather on phone always help in bargaining more.

Manali to Leh Bus Service, HPTDC | Good for a solo traveler or a couple

Perhaps if you are traveling alone or with one or two friends, you can buy or book tickets for the Manali – Leh bus service of HPTDC. This semi-deluxe bus covers the 474 Km long Manali – Leh stretch with a night halt at HPTDC Hotel Chandrabhaga, Keylong on coming from either side.

The ticket costs Rs about 2900 per person (as of 2020), which includes a stay at HPTDC Hotel Chandrabhaga, Keylong, and two meals, i.e., dinner and breakfast at the same hotel. Earlier was also an option to buy the ticket only without hotel stay and meals for Rs 1500, but HPTDC no longer offers it.

The prices mentioned here may change anytime though, so please check the HPTDC website for updated info. The overall comfort level of the bus is much better than other HRTC buses that ply on Manali – Leh Highway.

You can check the updated schedule of Manali Leh bus at the HPTDC website . The tickets can be bought or booked at the HPTDC office on mall road, Manali or you may like to contact at HPTDC Office in your local town (HPTDC Contact Details).

Do not book the seats at the back and confirm before booking regarding the location of the seats. In the back seats, you may have trouble when the road gets bad, especially on the second day, i.e., Keylong to Leh. The bus departs at 11 AM from Manali on the first day and 5 AM from Keylong on the second day to reach Leh about 7 PM. These timings will change with the introduction of the Atal Tunnel that will reduce the time to travel to Keylong from Manali to just 2 hrs in total.

Read my detailed article on Manali to Leh Bus Service .

Delhi – Keylong – Leh Bus Service, HRTC | Cheapest mode of travel

HRTC also runs a regular bus service to Leh from Manali (started in 2018) and also from Delhi and Keylong. You can book tickets for connecting buses (Manali – Keylong, and Keylong – Leh) from Manali bus depot itself or even ISBT, Delhi. You can also reach Keylong by getting a seat in numerous shared taxis that ply between Manali – Keylong every day. The HRTC buses may not be as comfortable though, but comfort comes with the price.

The ticket between Manali – Keylong costs about Rs 174 and then Keylong – Leh it costs about Rs 550 and Delhi to Leh costs about Rs 1380, in HRTC buses. The direct bus from Manali to Leh costs Rs 833, which started in 2018. The bus departs at 5 AM from Keylong and reaches Leh about 7 PM.

You can also read the details of HRTC Delhi Leh Bus Service

Shared Taxi | A Cannonball run

You can also buy yourself a seat in a shared taxi which runs every mid-night from Manali and reaches Leh on the next evening without any night halt. In the same way, shared taxis are run from Leh to Manali as well.

You need to pay about Rs 1800 to Rs 2000 per person for a drop to Leh from Manali or a drop to Manali from Leh. Of course, since it is shared with 7-8 other people plus the driver and completes the back-breaking cannonball run of Manali – Leh in 15-17 hours, you can imagine the level of comfort yourself.

This one is the second cheapest mode of travel on Manali – Leh Highway but mind you, it could be the toughest on the body too 🙂

Other travel modes

You can also get in touch with some travel agent or taxi union in Manali who also runs their private buses or Tempo Travelers on Manali – Leh Highway. They also run according to dates and hence you may not find the immediate bookings for them.

Some travel agencies also offer Manali to Leh road trip packages including stay and travel. Let me know in case you are interested to know about them.

Planning Night Stay or Accommodation on Manali – Leh Highway

Based on my experience, you can opt to plan a journey on Manali – Leh Highway in one of the following ways –

Two Day Journey on Manali – Leh Highway

The options of stay or accommodation are very limited on Manali – Leh Highway due to the limited civilization. Hence, a two-day journey on Manali – Leh Highway is the most common among all travelers. Private Taxis and buses run by HPTDC or HRTC also cover the Manali – Leh Highway in two days. Mostly, people break up the journey on Manali – Leh Highway in the following two ways over two days –

Manali – Keylong / Jispa (Day 1) and Keylong / Jispa – Leh (Day 2)

This option is mostly preferred by people who do not want to run the risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS) by staying at higher altitudes than Keylong or Jispa. However, on the second day, you need to leave early in the morning like by 6 AM from Keylong or Jispa to reach Leh in time. Public buses including HPTDC / HRTC halt for a night at Keylong and leave at 6 AM the next morning, too.

Personally, out of Keylong or Jispa, I will always prefer to stay at Jispa if traveling on your own or privately hired vehicle. Jispa has situated right on the banks of river Bhaga and is further 20 KMs away from Keylong town. Spending the evening at this place is extremely refreshing and is a far better experience than the boring Keylong town.

While Keylong town offers varied accommodation options, Jispa has only a few options available for a stay, and hence, you must pre-book them. Secondly, if you are traveling by public transport, i.e., HRTC or HPTDC buses, then you need to stay at Keylong only else you need to manage the travel up to Jispa yourself and then fix the pickup too with the driver or conductor. Mobile phones may or may not work in Jispa.

Manali – Sarchu / Pang (Day 1) and Sarchu / Pang – Leh (Day 2)

After Keylong and Jispa, you will find accommodation majorly at Sarchu and Pang only. Many travelers also take this option. However, Sarchu and Pang being at much higher altitudes, many people suffer from headaches, vomiting, or sleepless nights.

Hence, if you have plans to stay either at Sarchu or Pang, then it is critical that you stay at Solang Valley not in Manali to acclimatize your body a little bit. Solang Valley also may not help altogether though, but Manali will certainly not help the cause.

Both Pang and Sarchu are close to midway between Manali and Leh. So, a stay at any of these places evenly distributes the time and fatigue over two days. This way, it helps you better enjoy the journey on each of the two days.

Again in between Sarchu and Pang, I will suggest a stay at Sarchu due to its lower altitude than Pang. Pang has lesser and cheaper options available, but Sarchu has varied options, including the Swiss tents with attached toilets. In the end, if you are coming from Leh, then you can stay at either Pang or Sarchu without any trouble because by then your body will be acclimatized to handle such altitudes.

One Day Journey on Manali – Leh Highway

Manali – leh (day 1).

This option of completing the journey of Manali – Leh in a single day is most common among local people or people who are in a high rush and is least recommended if you want to enjoy your travel. Shared taxis are the preferred way to avail of this option.

Although it could be the cheapest or time saving for you, this back-breaking, cannonball run of 15-16 Hrs with least stoppages does put a heavy toll on the body as well as the mind of an average traveler. This long journey is extremely tiring, and by traversing through the varied amount of altitudes ranging from 1900 Mtrs to over 5000 Mtrs in a single day, you are running a risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS) or some severe headaches or disorientation en-route. This option will certainly kill the joy of the journey.

Keep in mind that you are most likely to hit with mountain sickness in this option. If you get away with it, consider yourself extremely lucky. Otherwise, keep in mind that any breakdown of the vehicle like puncture, engine heat down, etc. at some high altitude (Tanglang La, Nakee La, Lachulung La, etc.) with you suffering from mountain sickness may lead to very very ugly outcomes. Hence, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT take the acclimatization factor lightly.

Three Day Journey on Manali – Leh Highway

Manali – keylong / jispa (day 1) and keylong / jispa – sarchu / pang (day 2) and sarchu / pang – leh (day 3).

Well, this option is nothing but the combination of the other two to cover Manali – Leh Highway in three days. This option will require more time, as well as more money. This option is the best way to thoroughly enjoy the beauty of nature that is offered by Manali – Leh Highway, with some worries of mountain sickness. There are plenty of places/vistas and picture taking points on Manali – Leh Highway that is worth spending this extra time and money.

I suggest this option of travel or, in particular, overnight stay at Sarchu/Pang only when you are coming from Leh towards Manali. I DO NOT recommend it while going towards Leh from Manali side unless you are coming from Manali side after spending some nights in Spiti and Lahaul Valley. Sarchu and Pang are both above 4K altitude, which requires your body to have few nights at 3K and 2K Mtrs of altitudes to acclimatize your body. If you traveled to Leh via Srinagar side and coming from Leh after spending a few days, your body will be acclimatized better to minimize the chances of AMS at Sarchu or Pang.

Very few people follow this option due to lack of time and to save money for the ultimate heaven. If these two things have no place for consideration at your grounds, then I will say go with it, and you will make your journey on Manali – Leh Highway much more than a memorable experience :).

The comparison of night halts is already made in the first option, so opt as per your taste. Again if possible, do stay at Solang Valley not in Manali to minimize the chances or effects of mountain sickness.

This option will mostly be available if you are traveling by your private vehicle. You will even have tough time bargaining with drivers at Manali taxi stand for 2-night halts unless you are ready to pay them handsomely.

List of Accommodation or Stay Options on Manali – Leh Highway

Its always better to know or have the list of all accommodation places on Manali – Leh Highway before you travel on it because in such unpredictable terrain you can never predict what can come to your rescue. So, having as many details as possible about the place is always favorable.

I have compiled the list of accommodation or stay options on Manali – Leh Highway at the below link which includes the information about their contacts, location, price range, experiences, etc. Refer the link below for details – List of Accommodation Options on Manali – Leh Highway

Acclimatization and its importance on Manali – Leh Highway

The journey on Manali – Leh Highway goes through a series of high altitudes passes which are good enough to cause headaches, vomiting, disorientation and mountain sickness to the best in the business.

After crossing Patseo or Deepak Tal you are bound to run this high road to Ladakh above 4000 Mtrs until you descend from Taglang La towards Rumste / Upshi. However, with little prevention and care, you can combat or minimize the effects of altitude sickness .

Here are some tips which will help to fight the AMS on Manali – Leh Highway –

• Avoid overnight stay at Manali rather stay at Solang Valley which helps in the acclimatization whereas Manali does not. You always have an option to roam around in Manali and come back for a night’s sleep at some hotel in Solang Valley. This will help your body acclimatize to a certain extent at the start of your journey.
• On Manali – Leh Highway, do stay at either Keylong or Jispa which are lower in altitude than Sarchu and Pang to minimize the effects of mountain sickness.
• Keep your body properly hydrated.
• Avoid sleeping at high altitudes.
• Avoid overexertion.
• Avoid tobacco and smoking and alcohol and other depressant drugs.
• Keep your body warm and eat lots of carbohydrates.
• Avoid sleep during the day.
• Sleep in an upright position, if possible.
• Carry preventive medicines for AMS.
• Immediately descend, if symptoms increase

For more information on Acute Mountain Sickness and all above acclimatization tips, please refer my article on  Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization

The FAQ on Leh Manali Highway

What will be the cost of manali leh highway road trip.

Usually, Manali to Leh road trip cost should come around Rs 3500 if you plan to travel on HPTDC Manali to Leh bus service. Traveling HRTC Manali to Leh bus in a single day should not cost you more than Rs 1000 if you are on a budget.

What is the status of Manali Leh Highway 2020?

You can track Manali Leh Highway's status on my blog. Every year I start a dedicated thread to track the Manali Leh Road status and post regular updates. As of today (December 2019), Manali Leh Highway is closed due to heavy snowfall.

What is the Manali Leh Highway opening date 2020?

Usually, Manali Leh Highway is opened in the last week of May or the first week of June, officially. In 2019, Manali Leh Highway opened on 10th June 2019, and in 2018, Manali Leh Highway was opened on 13th May 2018. After many years, in 2018, Manali Leh Highway was opened by mid of May.

What are the road conditions on Manali Leh Highway?

As of 2019, the road conditions on Manali Leh Highway has been improved considerably over the last few years. Most of the water crossings now have been covered with bridges. The conditions on Rohtang Pass have improved a lot, many metalled road sections including Pang to Taglang La via More Plains. People are doing Leh to Keylong in a single day at a comfortable pace nowadays.

Fuel or Petrol Pump on Manali – Leh Highway

After Manali town, there is only one Petrol Pump at Tandi on the entire Manali – Leh Highway before Upshi / Karu. DO NOT forget to get the full tank fuel at this petrol pump, even if you had it filled at Manali. The more you have, the better it will be for you.

ATM on Manali – Leh Highway

Do carry enough cash with you as the ATM is available only in Keylong and Manali town. If you have no plans to stay at Keylong, then do not forget to withdraw cash from Manali town. After Keylong, you will get hold of an ATM only at Leh town.

Video – Places to Visit on Manali – Leh Highway

For a detailed description of the major places to visit on Manali Leh Highway including the distance between them and their respective altitudes, please refer to the article  Places on Manali – Leh Highway | A Detailed Description

Summarized View of Facilities or Amenities on Manali – Leh Highway

Article Last Updated February 2022 with up-to-date information for planning a road trip on Manali Leh Highway.

In the end, if you have been to Manali – Leh Highway, then please share your valuable thoughts or suggestions which can make the above information more concrete and useful for someone planning to cover Manali – Leh Highway. Your comments and inputs are most welcome. 

I hope this travel guide will help you make a wonderful trip to these dangerous yet beautiful roads in the world.

Have a travel question?? You can follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel to ask your travel questions in a direct message on Instagram or comment on my YouTube videos.

If you know your friends or family are planning a trip to Manali Leh Highway, do share this article with them to help them make a memorable trip on Manali – Leh road.

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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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Hi Dheeraj,

We are 3 people, planning trip from Pune to Ladakh via Delhi-Manali-Leh-Srinagar for 9-10 days.

29th june : flying from pune to delhi in evening taking overnight bus from delhi to manali

30th june : day-night stay in solang valley and sightseeing in Manali

1st july : Travelling from Manali to Sarchu(overnight stay) – should we hire a private car or prefer a bus?

2nd july : Travelling from Sarchu to Leh

3rd july : SightSeeing at Leh

4th july : Leh to Nubra valley(Early morning bike trip) : In afternoon, Leaving Nubra to reach pangong by evening(overnight stay)

Question(How is the road condition from Nubra to Pangong and do you recommand us to go Nubra to Pangong?)

5th july : Return to leh from Pangong

6th/7th july : Travel to Kargil/Drass then to Sonmarg/Srinagar 1. Do we need to prebook the car or can we do it at the time there in Leh 2. Can we reach Sonmarg the same day and stay there or do we need to halt around Kargil

8th July : Local sightseeing at Srinagar and fly back to Pune.

Please provide your guidance on the plan.

Avinash, my inputs are below

1. Avoid sleeping at Sarchu, sleep at Jispa and do Jispa to Leh 2. You can do Leh to Nubra Valley only and then next day Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso and then 6th July Pangong Tso to Leh or further to Lamayuru 3. Then 7th July do Leh to Sonamarg and then 8th Sonamarg to Srinagar else do Lamayuru to Srinagar

Really So Awesome blog thank u for providing very useful information

We are about 6 persons for the first time planning for Manali-Leh in early august we have only 7 days in Hand we want to go by bike by rental can u please provide me best iternary it will be very useful for us. 2.Is it possible to visit pang pong lake Thank U

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

GOOD JOB DONE

Nice article …full of nformation

I’m planning for this trip in July or August 2018, so is it a right time to go and where can I get Bikes for rent in cheap price?

Thanks, Sujit

Avoid August, better go in July Sujit.

Thanks Dheeraj. Any particular reason to avoid August? may be because of the rain?… I want to go in sunny time. As I have checked previous years weather forecast and it suggested July onwards weather will be sunny.

Sujit August is peak monsoon in North INdia. There will be lot of challenges in terms of road blocks and landslides in the lower hill. If you plan to fly to Leh directly, then may be yes, itis fine.

Hi Dheeraj, pl let me know if the leh-manali highway would be open in late October. Also, last September I had travelled through this route and stayed on my first night at Tso Kar. There are some decent accommodations there. Next day I was in manali by 4 pm. For some reason I can’t see a mention of tsokar in your blog. Any specific reasons for the same. Thanks.

Tso Kar is off Manali – Leh Highway and hence, there is no mention in the article. However, you will find plenty of places in blog where it is mentioned. Manali – Leh Highway remains open in general but traveling is very risky in late October. Please read: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali – Leh Highway in October

Very informative post! I have a question. Is last half of September is good time to travel Leh Ladakh Srinagar?

Yes Ashok, though the night gets a bit cold but second half of September is my favourite time to travel Leh – Ladakh because of beautiful colors and less crowd.

Thanks dear friend. I saw in YouTube the road somewhere is very risky. We want to avoid that but still want to visit leh, Ladakh, lake, sreenagar, pegelgam etc.

Would you please make a plan for us from your experience the best road root avoiding the most risky roads?

Thanks a lot 🙂

Well, the roads are risky for sure and there is no road in Leh – Ladakh where risk can be avoided. So, in case you have to make a trip to Leh – LAdakh you have to take risk which is always there with any kind of adventure. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

Your blogs on all topics were very informative, Thanks for the same. We 2 couples are planning to do Leh-Ladakh between 20, Jul to 1, Aug and initial plan was to travel by road from Manali to Leh and then fly out of Leh. (Initially wanted to fly till Srinagar and then travel by road till Manali by owing to the ever changing situations in Srinagar doesnt want take risk as travelling with family).

1. But now after reading several blogs of your confused whether to change my plan to Fly into Leh and then travel by road to Manali.

2. If I chose to travel by road while coming back will I be able to avoid reaching back to Leh from Tsomoriri and directly head to Saarchu and next day to Manali.

3. We want to hire a RE for a day or 2 in Leh and cover any of the routes from your most-common-itinerary-for-leh-ladakh, please suggest which would be good for the same as although we 2 are very good Riders dont want to take much riskier route accompanied by our partners.

4. We wanted to ride to Kargil and stay there for the night and next day to be back in Leh, please suggest will it be feasible to cover this route by bike and cover the places en-route too like Pathar Saheb, Zanskar – Indus Sangam, Dras War Memorial, Magnetic Hill etc.

Regards, Harsha Hegde

1. I will suggest that you better skip the situation in Kashmir as in doubt, it is always best to play safe than sorry or being worried all the time. Max you can do is make a two day trip to Kargil – Drass and come back to Leh to fly out from there only.

2. I could not understand this but still, try. Tso Moriri is on a different route, you can travel to Sarchu directly from Leh without touching Tso Moriri. In case you go to Tso Moriri, there is a direct route that meets at Manali – Leh Highway so you do not need to come back to Leh. I hope it answers

3. Yes, sure you can rent the bikes from Leh and move around Leh where roads and connectivity are present.

4. Yes, the road from Leh to Kargil covering places of Sham Valley is in mostly good conditions and in general safe to travel

Need your suggestion as I am getting conflicting opinions . Is it possible to do Tso Moriri- Manali in one day looking at the road conditions . I am travelling in an SUV. We travel next month .

Possible = Yes, Hectic = Very Hectic. It takes about 12 Hrs to reach Keylong from Tso Moriri on an average with very short breaks. Then Keylong to Manali is another 4.5-5 Hrs with very short breaks.

First of all, let me thank you for maintaining such a huge informative blog. You are really helping all the travelers out there! I am leaving on 24th June from Chandigarh and have a couple of questions for you –

1. I wanted to ask how many major water crossings are there in the way and their location, so that I could plan accordingly? 2. Considering the recent rains in Manali regions, till what point i will experience the rains in between Manali to Leh? I mean from where the rain shadow region starts? 3. Approximately how much food and accommodation would cost for 2 people (14 days trip)?

Thanks in advance Sushant

Guess I just replied to your other comment.

hello i m plan to journey in my own car jalandhar to leh via srinagar and come back from leh to jalandhar via manali. I plan next month 10 july the tour 10-12 days its enough Leave the comment its good or not

Yes, 12 days is a good time to visit Ladakh. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

You can skip the rest day in Leh after Pangong tso to make the trip in 12 days

First of all, thank you so much for this detailed blog. This single post is enough for all the information.

Me and my one friend is planning to travel by Bike to Leh via Manali -Leh highway (MANALI – halt at JISPA – LEH ), we are planning to leave Manali on 8th July, will that be good time to travel ? Shall we expect some snow en route to Leh ? And as I read in your post, shall we expect road river(snow melt) at that time?

We are planning to go by our own , is it a good idea or we should go with some group/organizer ?what challenges we may face if we go by our own ?

Also,it would be very grateful of you if you could share number of some good bike rental in Manali.

Thanks in Advance 🙂

This website has sufficient information on making a trip to Ladakh and you do not need any group or organizer. You will rock !! You can get connected with [email protected] for bike rentals and also they provide Rs 50 discount per bike per day for all DoW Readers and Members 🙂

Thank you pal 🙂

Yes Ankur, early July is good time to travel to Ladakh and Manali – Leh Highway. There will be water crossings for sure in July as well but well, that’s where adventure lies. Leave early in the day so that water is less.

Thank you 🙂

We are 3 people planning our leh trip from 10 June. We have around 14 days.

We are planning to go with Fiat Linea (this one is not so great with ground clearance).

We will be taking the Srinagar route to reach leh. And then would like to return through Leh-manali route(mostly 20 to 22 June).

My question is – Is it impossible to do Leh-Manali in June month with a low GC Sedan car? I read that road conditions are improved from past few years. Please tell me that should we attempt the Leh-Manali for coming back with Fiat Linea or not? or we should just take the Srinagar route to come back?

Also Can we do Leh – Nubra – Leh AND Leh – Pangong – Leh with Linea at this period of time? We have no plans to do the direct Nubra-Pangong route.

More or less you should be good with most of the route. I will not stay the car will not struggle but still you should be able to make it with careful and cautious driving. For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway Or Spiti Valley via Manali Or Ladakh, please refer the link: FAQ | Can I do Leh – Ladakh / Spiti / Manali – Leh trip in Hatchback or Sedan? for more details.

You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

Comprehensive post. I am planning a trip in Mid July ie Manali to Leh and back in an SUV . Dates are leave Manali on 13th and reach Leh on 14th with a halt in Jispa for the night . Will rest in Leh for a day and apply for ILP and take off from Leh on 15th . Cover Nubra – Turtuk (2 days) – Pangong Tso night halt – Hanle night halt – Tso Moriri a night or 2 and back to Manali on 20th /21st. Is this doable or pushing it ? Your suggestions please . Also can you advice on opening of Rohtang pass?

Nikheel, the plan looks doable and I believe you have days to adjust in case there is a need. Go with it and take a call once you reach Leh. You have to ensure that you carry enough fuel from Leh to do about 950 KMs without fuel pump. Manali – Leh Highway is expected to open by 25th May. 5 KMs of road is left to be cleared from Baralacha La Pass.

Thanks Dheeraj . Much appreciated

Further to my post below. Need some info on Rohtang pass permit and ILP . We reach Manali late afternoon. How long do you think should it take me to procure the Rohtang pass permit? Since I do not want to waste much time in Manali, some heads up on how to expedite procurement of pass will be a big help.

Also some similar info on ILP from Leh.

Thanks in advance

You have to take the permit in 2 days advance from the online website. Permits are vanishing in just 12 minutes, you make sure you hook on to it by 12.00 with fast internet connection.

For details on inner line permits process and to download application form read the link  All you want to know about Inner Line Permits for Ladakh . Page 1 is Protected Area Permit applicable for foreigners. Fill in Page 2, 3 for Inner Line Permit applicable for Indians, got to DC office in Leh and submit the application with valid Photo ID nationality proof and pay the required fee of Rs 400 + Rs 20 x number of days you will be in Ladakh.

Thanks Dheeraj . Once again much appreciated

Hi dheeraj…Are there tour operators who offer bike trip from leh to manali….I find few operators providing from.manali to leh.but could not find bike trips from leh to manali. . Can you or anybody pls post any good operators …Thanks in advance

You can write to [email protected] and ask for bikes to be dropped at Manali from Leh. They also offer Rs 50 per day discount on bike union rates for all readers of DoW. Please note that pickup charges can make a big dent in the pocket, about 10K per bike for a pickup or drop 😉

What about nature’s call during the 475 km journey on manali – leh highway. Is it possible if we plan the trip with tents?

You can plan the trip with tents. Mostly it will be wide open nature for its call 🙂 , rest you will be staying either at Jispa or Keylong which will not make it 474 KMs long.

First and foremost, thanks for all the details. This is such an amazing place to explore for travelling enthusiast . 🙂

We are 5 ppl ( 3 M + 2 F ) , planning a maiden for a Leh- ladakh trip coming June- July -17.

As everyone can’t get the desired 2 weeks off so we have to curb our plan for 9 days.

Here is the overview of itinerary. FYI everything is in planning stage as of yet.

23rd June – Leaving from Delhi to Manali. 24th June- Reaching Manali by 11 am tentatively . Leaving to Leh – Ladakh, Overnight stay at Jispa. 25th June- Jispa to Leh 26th June- Local Sightseeing in Leh 27th June- Leh to Nubra (Overnight At Nubra) 28th June- Nubra to Leh (Overnight at Leh) 29th June – Leh to Tso Pangong (Overnight @ Tso Pangong) 30th June – Tso Pangong to Manali return (Overnight Stay at Sarchu) 1st July – Sarchu to Manali by Evening. Return to Delhi

Is the above schedule is good & sounds doable? If there is anything which needs to be taken care of or we are missing, please suggest.

Also is it possible to twist it this ways too

28th June – Nubra to Tso Pangong ( Direct travel ) ( Overnight @ Tso Pangong) 29th June – Tso Pangong to Tso Moriri ( Stay overnight ) 30th June – Tso Moriri to Manali return ( Overnight stay @ Sarchu)

Just wanted to make sure that in process of seeing everything we should not miss the real fun and beauty of the place.

Please provide your guidance on same.

Regards Saurabh

Hey Saurabh,

The plan sounds doable to me. You must take care of Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization . Rest looks at least doable.

I will recommend to skip Tso Moriri for some other time and dont over burn your bodies with fatigue.

We are back with our memorable LEH trip. Thanks to you & DOW for all the vital information.

P.S: We could not make to Tso Pangong from Nubra as the direct route via Shyok was closed.

It is wonderful to know that you had a wonderful trip to Ladakh. If possible, do share some updates or road conditions on the route or any tips worth sharing which can help others plan better too 🙂 …

Regards Dheeraj

Once we reach Hunder from Leh while visiting Khardung La and Dikskit so shall we do night stay at Hunder or come back to Leh in same hotel ?

Thanks in advance!

It is better to halt for a night at Hunder to ease out the journey otherwise it will be tiring. Please add more days to your plan.

Hi Dheeraj, i and my wife are going for Manali to leh in 3rd week of august for 7-8 days trip, we will go on Bike from Manali but as i will be riding bike and my wife will be sitting at back, We will take 2 bags with us so what you suggest for carrying bags in most convenient way.

Thanks in advvance

Are you experienced with long rides and your wife too? Also, 8 days you are saying from Manali? Best is to have Ladakh carrier installed on the bike.

Hello Dheeraj Excellent post.

Planning to visit Leh Laddakh in May end or June 1st week. Is Leh Manali route open by that time ! Some apprehensions also – because of 5 and 7 yr old kid with us. what medical facilities are available on route! what are your inputs -if we reach directly to leh by flight.

Manali – Leh may not open by that time of the year. It is not recommended to travel that early on Manali – Leh Highway with kids as road closure are pretty common during that time.

Thanks for your suggestions. Shashank

HI Dheeraj ,

Have planned for Leh by road from Chandigarh to leh via Srinagar and then back to Chandigarh via manali.

can you please help us to know where to take proper stops for the above trip. and as well we will be traveling from 2 Sep to 10 Sep is this enough time for this trip ?

With 9 days in hand, it is very difficult to get a good trip of Ladakh

Hi, loved the detailing in your blog.. i m planning to travel to Leh on the 10th of July from Manali.. is it advisable to visit Tso Moriri on our way to Leh from Manali?? Or should we visit it once we have reached Leh?

Thank you. Not at all advisable to visit tso Moriri from Manali side. You should visit it in the last after Nubra, Pangong tso and then while coming back to Manali from Leh.

Hi. We have already booked our flight tickets based on a travel agent’s recommendation (and I am cursing myself for the plan). The route is Manali – Leh – Srinagar exactly the opp of what you have recommended & also, we are planning to go by bike. Can you pls suggest a suitable plan or recommend training such that AMS issue doesn’t come up? And also, such that we reach Leh within 2 days?

Hi Darshana,

You should read about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS at the link: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization . The article details out all the necessary things you need to know to go over with your journey over Manali to Leh. Even if the trip is planned by tour operator avoid staying at Sarchu while going to Leh even in case it means spending a bit more money in cancellation and all.

Ok, thank you for the inputs!

Best wishes for the trip, feel free to post any further questions./

Hi, Am planning to ride leh from Bangalore in this April last week or first week of May…Will my plan works out considering about 3-4 weeks time? Would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.

The roads from Manali to Leh will open by second week of June and hence, in April you cannot make a road trip to Ladakh.

I am planning to go from Manali to Leh on 11th of June. Can you please let us know if by that time the roads will open or do I need to change my plans. I have booked my Hotels.

Regards, Sam

Samya, Manali – Leh road will be open by that time of the year.

i’m planning manali – leh road trip and in the month of July. My travel dates are 1st July to 12th July. So, my question is can we travel in the month of July. or else, which is the best month to visit by road. And, 12 days would be sufficient for this trip?

please suggest me. thanks for your time.

Regards, Abbas

First half of July is a good time to travel Ladakh, 12 days is also a good time period. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

Hi, I wanted your advice on my trip which we are planning this 1 July to 9 July 2017 with a group of 6 age from 21 to 35 years. 2 people have hypertension problem among them. I wanted to know will it be safe to travel at this height. We are planning Mumbai -chandigarh flight,chandigarh -manali bus, manali -leh rent a vehicle. Please can you guide on where to stay and how to plan the trip in these many days. Can you also guide whether we should pre book the vehicle or go to manali and then look into it? Thanks in advance.

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.

You can call the local drivers directly to connect with them and check the comprehensive List of Taxi Drivers for Ladakh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali with recommendations/reviews for DoW community members.

I would be interested in some feedback on my plan below please.

18th June: Arrive Dehli 19th June: Dehli > Shimla (354 km 7 hrs) 20th June: Shimla > Manali (250 km 6 hrs) 21st June: Manali > Keylong (128 km) ** Rohtang Pass 22nd June: Keylong > Sarchu (111 km) 23rd June: Sarchu > Leh (265 km)** Zingzingbar Highest 24th June: Leh > Kargil (5-6 hrs) 25th June: Kargil > Srinagar (3-4 hrs) 26th June: Srinagar > Jammu (7 hrs) 27th June: Jammu > Dehli (9 Hrs) ** Return Motorcycle 28th June: Dehli (Express Train from Delhi to Agra Taj Mahal RETURN) 29th June: **** Contingency day **** 30th June: Fly Dehli to Nepal Kathmandu 1st July: Nepal 2nd July: Nepal 3rd July: Nepal 4th July: Nepal 5th July: Fly Australia (Thailand for Koh)

Well, plan looks OK but if you will do it from the other side, it will make more sense. I mean enter from Srinagar side and exit from Manali side. Also, It will be much better that you skip the Shimla as it is nothing but concrete jungle in comparison to what you will see in rest of the journey. Use that day to make a day trip to Khardung La pass and use your contingency day to rest in Leh after reaching from Kargil. Times, don’t go by what you have mentioned it will take more what you have mentioned there.

Your article on Manali Leh highway is thorough and answers all the questions. Too bad it is not open in March – we were planning to go to Keylong.

Deepak even the road to Keylong from Manali will not be open 🙂

I have a plan to visit Ladakh by this year September.

My route will be like below:

Day 1 : Manali – Keylong Day 2 : Keylong Sightseeing & travel upto Jispa Day 3 : Jispa – Leh Day 4 : Leh Sight seeing Day 5 : Leh – Nubra Day 6 : Nubra Sight seeing Day 7 : Nubra – Pangong Day 8 : Pangong – Leh Day 9 : Leh – Tsomoriri Day 10 : Tsomoriri – Leh Day 11 : Leh – Lamayuru Day 12 : Lamayuru – Leh Day 13 : Leaving Leh by flight

Want to hire exclusive Xylo for the entire tour. What should be the cost for Car [including cost for driver, inter state toll / permit etc].

Please advice.

As per the taxi union rates of year 2016-17 ( https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/leh-ladakh-taxi-rates-2016-17/ ) following is the break up Srinagar – Leh in 2 days = 18400 Leh Local sightseeing = 2500-3000 Leh – Nubra Valley 2 Day = 10566 Leh – Pangong Tso 2 Day = 10301 Leh – Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Sarchu – Manali 2-3 days = 29056 Leh – Manali 2 Days = 21588 Leh – Pangong Tso 1 Day = 8653 Leh – Nubra Valley 1 Day = 8053 You can usually get about 10-15% discount on these taxi rates after getting in touch with the driver directly.

Thank you for your reply. Please let me know, if I need any special permit to travel through the below route.

Day 1 : Manali – Keylong Day 2 : Keylong Sightseeing & travel upto Jispa Day 3 : Jispa – Leh Day 4 : Leh Sight seeing Day 5 : Leh – Nubra Day 6 : Nubra Sight seeing Day 7 : Nubra – Pangong Day 8 : Pangong – Leh Day 9 : Leh – Tsomoriri Day 10 : Tsomoriri – Leh Day 11 : Leh – Lamayuru Day 12 : Lamayuru – Leh Day 13 : Leaving Leh by flight

I am Indian citizen and will carry my photo identity card [adhar & passport] with me. Tell me if anything more is required.

Regards, Bhaskar

Bhaskar, in case you are traveling by road in your own car from Manali side, then well you need permit but I see you flying out of Leh so assuming you are traveling by taxi or other means, you will not need any permits.

Your Blog is wonderful.

We are planning a family trip to by our own SUV to Delhi-Manali-Leh and back by the same route between 20 April to 03 May 17.

We are parents to 16 and 20 years old kids. Also, our 2 years old PUG would be accompanying us.

Duration is 14 days(02 weeks)

Kindly suggest us the itinerary.

with warm regards

Hello Guru,

The road from Manali to Ladakh is not open during that time of the year. It will open around June, please refer: Manali Leh Highway Status 2017

we are planning a 15 day trip from delhi-rampur bushahr-kaza-zingzing-leh-kargil-srinagar-patnitop-ludhiana-delhi in august this year. Mode of transport in bikes.

few questions: 1. possibility of doing kaza to zing zing in 10-12 hours ? 2. can we find places to stay at zing zing ?? 3. possibility of doing zing zing to leh in 10-12 hours ?

let me know your email address, can share the detailed itinerary as well.

Regards Srijan

1. In 12 Hrs, you should be able to hit Zing Zing Bar from Kaza but I will suggest to stop at Jispa 2. There are only dhabha dorm tents available at Zing zing bar, no other accommodation 3. Jispa to Leh can be done in 12 hrs.

Thanks for the quick input Dheeraj. Ok, another quick question. How about rampur bushahr to kaza, looks good on paper in 10-12 hours with stops but what does your experience say??

Srijan, for sure Kaza to Rampur is a long and tiring ride/drive owing to the bad roads and you will just be rushing. With stops it will be 12+ hrs of drive only. If you say possible, I will say yes but for sure tiring.

Hey Dheeraj, thank you for oyur valuable insights on the manali-leh road trip. Me and my husband have booked the tickets from mumbai to leh from 27th may – 2nd june. Although we have booked our flight tickets from mumbai to leh. But we are of the opinion of travelling from Leh to Manali by road. By halting at Sarchu. Could you please help me with deatils of how to take this trip from Leh to Manali to Delhi By Road. It would be of great help if you could provide me the some contact details for taxis or buses(mode of public transport). Awaiting Eagerly for your expert advice! 🙂

Unfortunately, you do not have enough time to make Ladakh trip as well as do Manali – Leh journey. With just 6 days in hand, two days will be just for acclimatization and rest in Leh when you land by flight. Then you should be doing sightseeing as well in Ladakh. Leh to Chandigarh via MAnali – Leh Highway will take about 3 days of road journey, so you will not have enough days for sightseeing in Ladakh in such a case. Also, Manali – Leh Highway opens by last week of May and first week of June, so it is touch and go with respect to your dates as well.

Thanks for the very useful post.

We have come up with the itinerary based on your inputs. We are 9 ppl with 2 kids (aged 3yrs and 2.5yrs) travelling from Srinagar to Leh to Manali to Chandigarh in the month of May. We will reach Srinagar airport around 3pm. Please do let us know if this is feasible.

Hire a TT to drop us at Leh Day 1: Srinagar (Start at 4pm) to Kargil Day 2: Next day – Kargil – Leh Day 3 and Day 4: Hire a local TT to roam around Leh for 2 days Day 5 : Leh to Manali Day 6 and Day 7 : Manali sight seeing Day 8: to Chandigarh airport

Thanks in advance.

Ashok, I will highly not recommend taking Manali – Leh Highway that time of the year with kids and family. More or less it will be closed but even if it is open, DO NOT take this trip.

Also, considering kids and family and large group, your plan is too hectic nad it will be very taxing on them. The journey is not a leisure journey, so please consider before making such a trip.

Also read: Traveling to Ladakh with Kids or Babies

Even if you make the trip, you must fly out of Leh to save some days for rest in Ladakh

Nice blog Dheeraj, well explained and covered almost everyting

Could you shed some light on how likely is it that my bike’s tyres would get punctured or fuel run out cuz these are the scariest scenarios for me and I want to clear my head around these issues before planing for rest of the things.

PS – I would def plan to keep extra fuel but want to know if i tank up at manali would my fuel run out before tandi.

Thanks Vaibhav

Vaibhav, puncture is the main issue and you must plan for it. You must carry foam based solutions with you which can buy you time and help in not being stuck in the middle of no where.

Petrol, you can still work out after carrying some extra. Black fuel is available almost at each small dhabha settlements, so in worst case you end up buy that to save yourself reach Leh or Tandi. In most case it is not required unless you do Leh to Tso moriri to Manali direclty. This should help you: Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips

Hello Dheeraj This blog is really informative for us. I am from Dhaka, Bangladesh. We are planning a tour from manali to leh to Srinagar in September 2017. But I m worried about the situation of kashmir. Is there foreigners are allowed at this time? Please ensure me about it.

Things have settled quite a lot in Kashmir as compared to the season season this year. You should be OK else you can follow the Manali – Leh route only

Hey Dheeraj, Thanks for the information. Very useful.

Best wishes for your trip Rutvi, feel free to post any queries you have.

Hey dheeraj thanks a lot for giving such a detail description ur post will be my commandment for planning my journey First of all I would like u to know about us we are group of six guys aged between 29 to 36 and married(do we need to say something more)go for a road trip once every year in our scorpio this year july 2016 we went to manali and rohtang from delhi we started at 12.00 am in the night and reached manali in 13 hours we are 3 good drivers in the group and next day we went to rohtang pass and we reached there in 2.5 hours after wasting around half an hour at permit and one of the nullah were we took some photos Now coming to point we are planning to go to leh from delhi next year june end 2017 what we are planning that we start one hour early like 11.00 in the night and reach manali by 11.00 in the morning since we need waste any time in photos and selfies as it has already been done this year and than we continue till keylong before 5 evening on day 1 , I know it will be hectic but we can save 1 day from our 7 day trip than on day 2 keylong to leh starting early in morning 5.00 am reach leh by evening adjust there and local sighseeing on day 3 than day 4 and day 5 your recommendations like some famous lake I dont remember the name than back on day 6 reach keylong night stay and than day 7 keylong to manali to delhi .. now u guide me how much is this feasable and if take 3 days while going than we get only 2 days in leh so please guide us and we have 3 driver all who have travelled and driven a lot..

Please reply me dheeraj

It is not at all recommended that you continue driving over Rohtang Pass and sleep at Keylong at your first night. It will make you all vulnerable to AMS which can cause serious issues over Manali – Leh Highway. Hence, keep two days to reach KEylong with overnight halt at Solang. Then next day leave for Leh at 5 AM from either Keylong or Jispa. Then, one day complete rest in Leh. This makes it 4 days for you without seeing anything in Ladakh. Now on 5th day, go over as day trip to Khardung La pass, Day 6, go over as day trip to Pangong Tso lake and while comping back go towards Manali and sleep at Upshi. Day 7 start the journey back to Manali from Upshi and you can reach Sissu or Khoksar if you start at 5 AM from Upshi by 7 PM. Day 8 from Sissu/Khoksar go over Rohtang Pass and reach Delhi without stopping at Manali

hello, i am about be the weirdest person on the planet please bear me. i wanna go for a manali-leh walk trip nor bike nor bus or anything but i am not able to plan properly sometimes it’s the issue of food and sometimes it’s about the altitude sickness if not i occurred to the biggest problem for this trip is WATER I’ll be walking for around 500km (with breaks in the middle wherever i get accommodation and pitching tents by myself) if anyone can give me some suggestions, please do help me if you’ve got a idea!

Aprameya, dont worry people have asked this to me many times. Now let’s work out few things. How many days do you have in hand, if doing it from Leh to Manali side, is it OK for you? Which month are you planning it?

I have plenty of time, so it doesn’t matter, and yes it doesn’t matter Manali to leh or vice versa it’s going to be the same! Any month but ASAP…!

Then spend few weeks in Leh and sightseeing in Leh living in high altitude villages for few nights and start your journey from Tso Moriri to Tso Kar to Debring to Pang to Sarchu to Bharatpur to Zingzingbar to Darcha to Keylong – Manali. The moment you reach Darcha, you are out of trouble. You cannot sleep at any high altitude pass and hence you have to go down to base of the pass. Somewhere in the altitude of 4000-4500 shall be fine after you have spent few nights at Tso Moriri lake for acclimatization at that altitude.

Have you ever done any high altitude trek before? If not, start by some short high altitude treks gradually and see how your body reacts. Then make a call of this months of travel.

Only months possible are July – August – September.

Just an update on road condition from Manali towards leh Manali – rothang ( good road till uphill of rothang ) Rothang – kelyong ( absolutely no road, kind of nightmare ) Kelyong – pang ( except 20-30 km the roads will punish your vehicle ) Pang – leh ( beautiful road, you can hit easily 60+ ) * Most of the tents would be closing * No water streams to cross through * Please carry sufficient warm clothes/thermals. * Good stays at jispa

Thank you Anoop for the updates. I have posted them in the Manali – Leh status thread.

Awesome Blog , got so much of information about leh manali journey. Thats what i am looking for. Its not easy to plan a trip like this but after seeing the post i got aware of the things to keep in mind while travelling via manali leh route. Thanks for the post..cheers

Hello Dheeraj,

First of all, thank you for all the valuable information shared here. Secondly, as most people here, I am also planning a trip to Ladakh in september, so my plan is like this: 16 September: Delhi – Leh (by plane, 05:45 – 07:15); rest of the day in Leh for acclimatization and some sightseeing 17 September: one day trip to Numbra Valley (I know it’s quite short time, but possible in one day if we start at 6am) 18 September: one day trip to Pangong Lake 19 September: monasteries around Leh: Shey, Thiksey, Hemis, etc. 20 September: Leh – Keylong 21 September: Keylong – Manali 22 September: Manali (Kulu) – Delhi by plane

My questions are: 1. Would you change anything to this schedule? 2. Do you recommend any particular driver for these days (except 16th of September), or we can arrange locally at the hotel? 3. If we find a driver, can he arrange the permits on the first day? (16th of September), so we can start traveling the next day, or we have to arrange them ourselves?

Thank you again…

Hi Dan, I think I replied to your other comment but I will suggest again:

1. You should take complete two days rest and little sightseeing on first two days. Then go for two day trip to Nubra Valley, then a day trip to Pangong Tso and then take the bus to Keylong from Leh and next day reach Manali from Keylong 2. If you have a group you can get in touch with any driver but in case you planning alone or couple then it is better to rely on shared taxis to thse places on the spot.

Thank you for your advice. You didn’t reply to any other comment, because this is the only one I wrote 🙂 It might be another Dan or a similar itinerary 🙂 Anyway, yes, I will take two days rest. Afterwards I have to vsit Nubra Valey and Pangong Tso in one day (each), because I have no more time. Hope it’s manageable Afterwards I will take two more days to get to Kullu, as I have a plane to catch… Hope to be able to do it…

Hmm, it will be difficult like 12+ Hrs a day each and then arduous journey over Manali – Leh Highway. So, it is very tight schedule I will say.

Hi Dheeraj, Its me again. Due to unrest in srinagar, we had to make major changes in our plan, now we have decided to go via manali. So had to bug you again mate. 😐

Here are the details, which might help you to give us better planning. We will reach Delhi on 10th Sept @ 3AM and need to be back to Delhi by 21st 11AM to catch a flight back to blore and we are planning to take flight from leh-Delh on 21st morning,if time is not feasible.

Few question,

1.We are thinking of taking a cab/taxi to manali from Delhi airport @ 4AM, do we get a cab from Delhi airport to manali without any fuss and how much would it cost and also what would be the journey time?

2.Major concern is taking a cab from Manali to Leh along with the Rothang pass permit, we have no idea whom to contact regarding the permit and afraid we might get ripped off. We have to take care of cab/taxi booking and permit in the manali on the 10th evening/night only, so that we can leave for Jispa in the early morning. So your inputs are very much needed here.

3. is it possible to visit Tso Morori while on the way to Leh?

To include in Itinerary, -We are thinking of covering Kargil,Magnetic hills and other near by places to kargil, which we would have visited if we had come from srinagar side. We will be going by rented Bikes . So we need you to include this in the itinerary.

-We are thinking staying overnight at Pangong lake and Numbar valley(if time allows) and we wouldn’t want to miss out anything which is near by Leh or can be visited from Leh

So can you please consider all this and give us a Itinerary.

1. No you will need to pre-arrange a taxi and could cost you around 12-14K. Manali – Delhi takes about 14 Hrs. 2. Well, if you are hiring taxi from taxi stand, the permit is headache of driver. You can also book HPTDC manali – leh bus 3. You should read: 5 reasons not to visit Tso Moriri from Manali side

Hi Dheeraj, Planning for a Leh trip in mid august. The situation in srinagar doesn’t seem good. So good chances are to take the Manali – Leh -Manali bike ride. Will reach manali 13th morning. Please suggest an itenary for 13th morning to 18th (on which i should be back to manali) for the bike ride. Thanks in advance 🙂

With just 5 days not sure it makes sense to make a Ladakh trip.

Day 1 | 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 2 | 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 3 | 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 4 | Leh – Taglang La – Pang – Sarchu — Try to start early in the day so that you reach Sarchu where the accommodation options are better than Pang — Overnight at Sarchu or Pang

Day 5 | 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

Leaving from manali on ¹st aug. Anyone interested can join.

Anyone travelling on 12th/13th august?

hey m Mayank here, m traveling whr r u frm and how many ppl r with u??

ss…me and my frnd are travelling from 13th august from manali to srinagar via leh.10 days..

hey there… we will be reaching leh by 11th aug. our trip is for 10 days and you may contact me on this no. 9166285328/ 9982241199.

thanks Arun

Superb blog. Got so many details from a single post. Thanks for sharing the experience and contact details 🙂

Regards, Suvesh

Best wishes for the trip Suvesh, glad you liked the info. on the DoW Blog.

Hey Dheeraj!

Awesome blog man. I am planning to travel to Ladakh from Manali on 17 July. Many articles & blogs say that travelling on the manali – leh road gets quite tricky during July. Would you recommend traveling on the manali leh road around 17-19 July ? Would it be very risky because of the monsoon ?

Also are you aware whether if its possible to rent a self drive car from Manali, which can be left at Ladakh , as we want to come back to delhi via plane. Most of the sites I found online, offer taxis from manali to leh, but not self drive cars.

Thanks so much! Apoorv

I am also leaving on 16th from manali to Leh.

Please call me on 9953646006 so that we can coordinate.

Regards, Piyush

Hey guys, hey DHEERAJ SHARMA! 🙂

I am planning to do this route in 2 or 3 days (havent decided yet) I am gonna to leave Delhi on the 7th or 8th of August 2016. iS there anyone who would like to join me ??

The dream would be to drive it with my own car and stop everywhere! But for now… I have to do it probably with a bus

Ola, you should check DoW Travel Calendar if you are looking for travel partners. If you are going by bus, especially HPTDC, many tourists will already be there in the bus to travel with you.

Thanks for replay! Where is the best place to stay overnight to avoid hight attitude sicness?? Keylong seems to be located to low and Sarchu too high. Anything between?

Best is to stay at Jispa, ahead of Keylong and then make a trip next day to Leh by leaving at 5-6 AM

We are 5 friends Can we come by swift ?? What about route conditions of jammu to leh or manali to leh? We have 10 days.

Hi Dheeraj, I have read the post and comments mentioned above ,still i have some queries I am a female 29 want to travel alone to Leh trip-please suggest what is best way to plan keeping security and fun in mind.

I can also plan for few more friends but not confirmed hence i am planning alone. I am planning in the month of sept early ( for ten day ) I will travel from Bangalore

You should consider to travel with HPTDC bus of Manali to Leh and back. Then, You are alone/couple and private taxis are very costly in Leh but you will be able to find the shared taxi without much fuss at all. There are lots of flyers which people put at cafes, dine-ins, restaurants, travel agent desks/shops/whiteboards wanting to share the taxis for different trips within Ladakh. Even travel agent organize such shared taxis trip as well but charge a little higher about Rs 200-300 more than it would ideally cost. So, in worst case you can always go back to them and book a seat for yourself. Gelling up with people in Ladakh is more or less easy because many people travel solo and look forward to meet new people and share cultural thoughts and values over the trip. No where else in the world you will find more smiling and helpful people as Ladakhis are 🙂

If you are interested in Leh trip by bike one side(Manali-Leh, Leh -Delhi by Air ). I f you want we can together make a plan.

we are 3 guys going on 25th june . i have 2 questions

1. will xuv500 be a good option on the route. 2. shud we prefer manali route for going or srinagar route while going or coming back?

Hi dheeraj This is shraddha and i am planning a trip to leh with all of my family including my grandparents and cousions … So i had certain queries First of all being a punjabi family i dnt think anybody is fit enough soo is it okay for everone to travel to leh… And wat wid u suggest satying overnight at jispa or sarchu

Shraddha, well, you should seriously plan to go from Srinagar side and come back from Manali side especially with your grand parents on the trip. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

You can check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate (cheap budget hotels as well) in the series of articles starting on the link here

For the leh – ladakh taxi union rate list 2016 – 17 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh, check the link here . You can get about 12-15% of discount by directly getting in touch with drivers and of course, talking in person rather on phone always help in bargaining more.

hello dheeraj ji

i am plan to travel manali to leh by bike but bike owner is my friend, they have not travel with me, please you suggest to me :- 1. why ? i am travel other owner bike 2. yes, document formalities . 3. any permit query . related to bike

hello dheeraj ji we are 2friends toplaning to visit leh ladhak by own. EON car HR.N. We have plane to go on 05/06 june 2016 from manali to leh my question is this date malini leh highway open? Any other formalities req. for hr. no. vehicle. Rohtang Pass Green tax as applicable Most popular visiting place. REq. Items. Approximately Budget. Road Conditions, my tour are complete with in 7 Days

Manali – Leh is already open yesterday unofficially. You need to get Rohtang Pass permit from SDM office as it is not yet available online. 7 days is less, you need at least 9-10 days for hectic tour.

hello dheeraj ji,

I am planning with my family (02 kids 3, and 09 years). to visit Manali & leh ladhak as per below schedule.

11 June Leaving from Delhi to Manali. 12 June one day stay at Manali. 13 June leh ladhak by hiring local taxi, with night stay at Jispa. 14 June we will reach at leh ladhak and will spend three days there. 19 June I will take flight from Leh to Delhi.

Please confirm if this schedule is OK or you can help us on same. please also help us to estimate cost of this package for Travelling + accomodation.

Seconly Manali to leh OR Manali to Kaza which will be best option. I am travelling first time to both places.

Plan looks fine but you may not be able to see things in Ladakh. Also, with small kids doing Manali – Leh can be tricky what I personally feel and that too early in the season.

We are two friends as well planning for leh in next week karam veer and we are from faridabad ! So if you want we all 4 together can make a plan !

We are a 3 girls travelling from Delhi to Leh via Manali route. We’ll start from Delhi on 2nd June. Couple of things we wanted to know 1. Is the Manali – Leh highway open 2. In case we are hiring a taxi/ cab do we need to take route permits or the taxi provider usually takes care of these things 3. Anyone interested in sharing a cab/ taxi from Manali – Leh?

1. No Manali leh is not open yet, expected to open by first week of June 2. Yes, the taxi will need the permit to cross Rohtang pass 3. You can check DoW Travel Calendar from the main menu

we are a couple leaving for leh from manali on 31 st may we can do sharing unto leh

pls call 9899800330

We also going on 2 june with 3 friends from jaipur 9829006520

We are also planning ,we can share

taxi,plz send msg 9812935999

Hye. 1. Manali leh highway is open now as you can check the status from the leh official site. Secondly,we r also going to leh from manali on 3 june in a grp of boys and girls ,you can join us

For any further communication. Note my id – [email protected]

You are three and we are two friends planning exactly for the 3rd June ! We are not taking our car instead we are intrested in hiring a taxi so if you think we can share our taxi then please let me know !

i am intrested in taxi sharing … we are only 2 plz contact [email protected]

Massive respect for your brilliant blog, We are planning a trip starting 3rd June, ending 11th June. Manali – Leh – Manali. Is it the right time for a bike trip ? If not , Could you please suggest how to complete this trip ? during this time. As we have booked all the tickets 🙁 and have taken leave to complete this dream.

Appreciate your help!

Thank you David. I will suggest that you push your dates by couple of weeks and allow Manali – Leh to settle down. Or start from Srinagar side and come back from Manali side. Also, 9 days is very less time for Ladakh trip.

Thanks for your reply. Our bad we have a solid constraint on the dates. We will be reaching Manali on June 2nd and have to head back to Manali on June 11th.

Do you think the bike trip during this period, is viable at all ?

If not could you please suggest the most suitable mode of transportation during this time?

It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi. This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization.

Thank’s for the info, Dheeraj.

Our aim/dream is to have a bike trip from Manali – Leh – Manali. How feasible would it be for us to drive during the first week of June ?

David, first week of June from srinagar to Leh to Manali should be OK time to travel

hi Dheeraj,

Could you please let us know, how feasible would it be for us to drive a bike during the first week of June ?

The Highways will be open and many people will be riding the bike on Manali – Leh Highway during that time of the year.

Me and my friends are planing a trip to leh via the Manali-Leh highway starting from 30th may 2016 to 10th of june 2016. As per your articles and my research i think the highway would be open by this time . But still i want to make sure is this a good time to start the trip?

Are you guys going ? We are planning a trip for the same starting 3rd June from Manali. Is it the right time to go ?

hi, I am Dibyendu Das ,we are 3 persons (my wife,son and me) want to manali to leh. we are join to your trip if you want to us. please call me how many cost the trip. which time you start go and which date you will back ? My best time is end on May,2016 and back on 10th June,2016. Please send reply our mail : [email protected]

Hi dheeraj ,we r planning to go to leh on 9th july to 20 july from Chandigarh via manali on bike (bullet or avenger)..but m little worried about mountain sickness .so please suggest me the best plan for the road trip and how to get over mountain sickness .

Since you are going from Manali, you will have some sort of mountain sickness. You can refer: Ladakh from Manali – Most Common Itinerary

Hi all, We are planning a trip to Leh starting from odisha. We would be requiring the service of a experienced Ladakhi driver ( only ) having a fare bit of experience in manali – leh- kargil- Srinagar – Jammu route. He may join us from Chandigarh and drop us in Jammu after a round trip. The approximate time would be for 6 days.

Anybody who knows a driver of aforesaid condition, please let us know. My contact is given below.

Regds Divyajyoti Hota mail – [email protected] Cell – 8908360072

It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi. This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about just 6 days?

I am bit confused regarding going to Tso-Moriri directly from Sarchu and then to Pangong tso and then Leh. as I dont know the availability of Petrol Pump.

Day1 Chandigarh- Manali (Night stay @ Manali) Day2 Manali (Night stay @ Manali) Day3 Manali-Sarchu (Night stay @ Sarchu) Day4 Sarchu-Tso Moriri (Night stay @ Rso-Moriri) Day5 Tso Moriri- Pangong So (Night stay @ Pangong) Day6 Pangong So- Leh (Night stay @ Leh) Day7 Leh (Night stay @ Leh) Day8 Leh- Nubra (Night stay @ Nibra) Day9 Nubra -Leh (Night stay @ Leh) Day10 Leh (Night stay @ Leh) Day11 Leh- Kargil (Night stay @ Kargil) Day12 Kargil- Srinagar (Night stay @ Srinagar) Day13 Srinagar (Night stay @ Srinagar) Day14 Srinagar-Patnitop (Night stay @ Patnitop) Day15 Jammu- Delhi Train @night

Let me know if my itinerary is ok.

Thanks in Advance.

Replied to other comment

We am planning to visit Ladakh via Manali-Leh highway from 25th June to 9th July by Bullet Classic 350.

Below is my itinerary.

Date Night stay @ Brief Itinerary 25th june Manali Chandigarh- Manali 26th june Manali Manali 27th june Sarchu Manali-Sarchu 28th june Tso Moriri Sarchu-Tso Moriri 29th june Pangong So Tso Moriri- Pangong So 30th june Leh Pangong So- Leh 1st july Leh Leh 2nd july Nubra Leh- Nubra 3rd july Leh Nubra -Leh 4th july Leh Leh 5th july Kargil Leh- Kargil 6th july Srinagar Kargil- Srinagar 7th july Srinagar Srinagar 8th july patnitop srinagar-Patnitop 9th july Train journey Jammu- Delhi Train

I think I replied to it Viraj, right? You made other comment.

Yes Dheeraj.

Thanks Again..

I am travelling to Manali with family (3 kids 6,7 and 10 years). I will be in Manal from may 6 to May 9th. I am planning for a trip to Balaracha la pass by taking a night stay in keylong – and return back to manali the second day. Is this a good plan?

Jinu, yes you can give an attempt or at least go over to Jispa/Keylong. Stay at Jispa instead of Keylong as it is more close to nature.

Hii I and my friends were planning to travel to leh this august that is 2016 by a car,

i had few questions about manali-leh route i will be very thankful if you can help

1. we are hiring a self drive cab for our trip so do we need any permits to travel from manali to leh, and if yes where can we get those permits?

2. If we start early, say 3 am is it possible to reach leh same day or we have to stay at some place in between?

thank you hoping for your earliest reply

Hello Nakul,

1. You will need permits for Rohtang PAss: How to get Rohtang Pass Permit Online

2. Best is not to do it and commit this mistake. You should take a night halt at Jispa and then next day leave at 5 AM to reach LEh by evening. Keeping in mind that acclimatization is the key to success of LAdakh trip. IF you oversee it, it can easily be a misadventure of life.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GUIDANCE…AND I WANTED TO ASK THAT IF I GO TO MANALI FIRST AND THAN RENT A BIKE FROM THERE…THAN WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE TO GO TO LEH FROM MANALI?..WILL THAT BE SAFE?…IF NOT THAN WHICH OTHER ROUTE SHOULD I PREFER…AND WILL THE ROADS GET CLEAR BY THE MID OF JUNE?

Please DO NOT use CAPS

You can rent the bike from Manali but only to reach Leh. Then once you reach Leh, you will need to hire local Ladakh bike again. Roads will be clear by mid of June.

Hello Dheeraj… According to me manali leh highway will be opened by late April. .. After so many years, the volume of snow in manali leh highway is so less… I went to rohtang pass in the starting of this month and according to B.R.O., they will be able to open it by April end.

Yogesh, there have been 2 spells of heavy snowfall this month already, the clearance operations were all on hold. Rohtang was expected to open by mid of March this year breaking all BUT weather had the last say. Rohtang Pass is expected to open around mid of April now. So, I do not expect at all that rest of the 4 passes will within 15 days.

Thanks for all the articles. After reading your blogs, We are planning for a trip to Leh. This will be our first trip but not sure what would be the best itinerary.

We have only 10 days and wants to do manali-leh highway with rented bikes. Could you please suggest what is best for us.We are planning to travel by bus from delhi to manali and then with bikes.

Also we are thinking to reach leh from delhi via manali by Innova. And there we can hire bikes to roam around ladakh for 2 days and then come back with our innova. Would this be feasible? or Travelling with innova on manali-leh highway is enjoyable as compared with rented bikes?

Bikes rented outside Leh are not allowed for sightseeing inside Ladakh except Tso Moriri and Tso Kar lakes which can be done while going to Manali from Leh. Private bikes are completely allowed. You can use the outside rented bike to reach Leh but then for going to Pangong Tso, nubra Valley, etc.. you need to hire rented bikes from Leh only.

To know more about this rule and present situation, please refer the link: Bikes Rented Outside Leh Banned in Ladakh

This year as per reports, rule is going to be stricter. Manali rental guys have formalized a deal that for the days Manali bike is parked in Leh and Leh bike is rented, they will charge 50% of the rent of the bike. So, confirm with Manali rental guys first about this signoff.

For renting bikes in Leh – Ladakh along with current Bike Union Prices, you can check the DwD Community thread: Leh – Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2015 – 16 & Reliable Shops

The one way bike rental is quite costly and leave a big dent in pocket for you, sometimes like 12K for just the pickup from Manali. Be sure if you are ready to make that investment or not or if at all it is worth the money spent. My suggestion is unless you are hard core biker and cannot live up the passion of biking, it is not wise to spend that much money just for the pickup of bike.

I will suggest that you go through the articles mentioned under the DwD Community thread for bike trip to Ladakh or any other part of Himalayas at the link: All About Bike Ride to Ladakh & Himalayas. This will help you cover almost all your queries related to bike trip to Ladakh or Himalayas.

It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi. 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.

hi dheeraj…i saw the news of manali-leh highway opening a liitle soon this time…I am planing for a bike trip to leh say in june most probably…And i have never travelled so long on bike…Maybe my love for nature is giving me this unresistable urge to travel to leh…can u please suggest me the preferable and safe route…And what can be the rent of bullet if i rent it from manali?…and would it be prefarable if i set up a tent in the middle of manali leh highway…I would prefer to stay in the lap of mother nature rather than staying in some hotel…Can u please guide me with all this things?…it would be a big help for me…and even give me some suggestion from your side as it is my trip…thank you

And yes one more thing i almost forgot…what can be the minimum expense for this trip if i am planing for 20 days…5 day stay in leh and other days in manali and surrounding (including bike rent and petrol expense etc)….

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 Hridhant,

Dear Dheeraj,

As suggested by you we will be driving thru Spiti from Shimla, it will be a ten day tour and will end at Chandratal on July 18th.After this can we get back via Keylong/Leh/Srinagar/Chandigarh rather than rothang/Manali/Chandigarh. Number of days is not a problem, just wanted to know if its too taxing,

Yes Ravi, you can surely return from that route as well. Here is what you can follow and may skip at your need:

Day 11 | Chandratal – Jispa / Keylong, leave early in the day Day 12 | 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 13 | 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 14 | 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 15 | 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 16 | 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 17 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh — Overnight at Leh

Day 18 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang — Cover Karzok Monastery — Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri   Day 19 | 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 20 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping — Overnight at Leh

Day 21 | 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 22 | Kargil – Drass – Zozi La – Sonamarg – Srinagar — Enjoy the vistas enroute — Have late drunch meal at Sonamarg — Overnight at Srinagar

Day 23 | Srinagar – Jammu — Overnight at Jammu

Day 24 | Jammu – Ambala – Delhi — Back Home

Many thanks for your immediate reply, much appreciated. Two questions – can we do Tso Moriri from Jispa enroute to Leh, and what is the mileage I can expect in these terrains, I will be driving my recently bought Pajero Sport Automatic(2WD), on highways its giving 10kms/lt and 8.5kms in city,

No Ravi, doing Tso Moriri from Jispa is not recommended as it is high altitude lake and your body will not be acclimatized at all to sleep that early at Tso Moriri. Other way round is still holds true as after being in Ladakh, the body adapts to the high altitude after doing all the sightseeing in Ladakh. Regarding mileage, consider about 30% drop.

Hi Dheeraj, I’m visiting India in August and would like to do Manali-Leh-Ladakh on motorbike. Can you suggest any agency that offers group travels and bikes. And is it best time to visit these places. The only reason I am choosing agency is coz I don’t have bike in India now. Do you suggest going without any agency? Thanks

Theja, you can surely go without the agency too. You should be able to get the bike on rent in Manali without it as well. You can ride that bike up to Leh and then from there you can hire a local Leh bike for sightseeing in Ladakh after parking manali bike in hotel. Then you can return the Manali bike once you reach back to Manali from it.

Hello , Thanks for all the information. I am planning for Ladakh this year (aug/sep). My initial plan is Chandigarh–>Manali–>Leh–>(Nubra+Pangong+Tso moriri+Hemis & Thikse)–>Leh–>Srinagar–>Jammu–>back to my home. I will have budget around 30k (Manali–>Leh–>Jammu , excluding my train fare) and time span : 14-15 days (excluding my train journey). Now please suggest me in bit details that what my plan should be as per you (keeping those facts : my budget , time span and being solo) .

Firstly, I will suggest you that please plan it in other direction as going via Srinagar – Leh Highway will be much much easier on your body and help you acclimatize to the high altitude of Manali – Leh Highway. Also, it allows you to enjoy the beauty of Manali – Leh by splitting the journey almost evenly in two days which is very difficult in the other direction. Thirdly, it will allow you to fit Tso Moriri lake into the itinerary in better way. You can read more reasons on the link here

You should check: Top 10 Tips for a Solo Trip to Ladakh or Spiti Valley

Alright. I will go for Srinagar-Leh highway and will also try to follow your itinerary .Now please enlighten me about the cars which i should take from Srinagar or Jammu to reach Leh. Actually I had plan to take shared taxi but as you said that the journey wont be comfortable at all in shared taxis , i got confused about cars. Which travel mode i should take ? Bus ? or is it possible to get a group and hire a car ? If yes then how ? And after reaching Leh should i contact some agent or guide to go for some further destinations like Nubra , Pangong ?Here is also my same question about travel mode . Which i should take : shared taxi, bus or hire a car by joining some group or few people?

Hello Subhro,

For the leh – ladakh taxi union rate list 2016 – 17 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh, check the link here . You can get about 12-15% of discount by directly getting in touch with drivers and of course, talking in person rather on phone always help in bargaining more. While going from Srinagar to Leh, you might need to work out few things as there have been some tensions now in taxi unions and to settle it out what they have done is that they have a transit point just before Fotu La while going to Leh from Kargil. All Leh taxis stop there and kargil taxis too. They exchange passengers and move back in respective directions. Leh taxis take passengers to Leh coming from Srinagar/Kargil and Kargil guys take passengers to Srinagar/kargil coming from Leh

Try to get a group formed, may be post or find travel partners through travel calendar from the menu of the site.

private taxis are very costly in Leh but you will be able to find the shared taxi without much fuss at all. There are lots of flyers which people put at cafes, dine-ins, restaurants, travel agent desks/shops/whiteboards wanting to share the taxis for different trips within Ladakh. Even travel agent organize such shared taxis trip as well but charge a little higher about Rs 200-300 more than it would ideally cost. So, in worst case you can always go back to them and book a seat for yourself. Gelling up with people in Ladakh is more or less easy because many people travel solo and look forward to meet new people and share cultural thoughts and values over the trip. No where else in the world you will find more smiling and helpful people as Ladakhis are 🙂

Hi Dheeraj (wiki of Himalayas)

Thanks alot for all info you providing, you are doing a great job. respect \O/

I just wanted to know, is there any AMS problem to stay at SARCHU/PANG if we are coming from srinagar-leh highway?

Thanks & Regards, Adnan

Thank you so much Adnan. If you come from Srinagar side and then do whole ladakh stay at places overnight at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, mostly the body adapts to high altitude and you do good at Sarchu and Pang. Chances of getting hit with AMS on return are very very very slim but not 0 🙂

Thanks for your reply, Based on info and rough itinerary you provided, i have finalized my own itinerary with following dates. Please review it and give your valueable feedbacks.

Our Itinerary (15days) Ghaziabad-Srinagar-Leh-Manali-Ghaziabad Day 1: 29th May (Ghaziabad-Jammu) • Overnight at Jammu

Day 2: 30th May (Jammu-Srinagar) • Can we cover Local sightseeing in Srinagar at same day (Dal lake/Shikara ride) • Overnight at Srinagar

Day 3: 31st May (Srinagar-Sonamarg-Zozi La-Drass-Kargil) • Overnight at Kargil

Day 4: 1st June (Kargil via foti la-Lamayuru-Leh • Can we Cover these Places (Magnetic Hills, Pather sahib Gurudwara, Mulbekh maitrey, Lunar landscapes, Lamayuru monastery & Confluence at Nimmu) at same day, and if not then what your prefer. • Overnight at Leh

Day 5: 2nd June (Leh-Khardung La-Diskit-Hundar) • Can we cover Diskit monasteries and hundar bactrian camel safari in sand dunes at the same day? • Overnight at Hundar (ie. Snow leopard guest house)

Day 6: 3rd June (Hundar-Turtuk-TYAKSHI-Hundar) • Overnight at Hundar

Day 7: 4th June (Hundar-Sumur-Panamik-Sumur-Khardugla-Leh) • Can we cover Sumur monastery and Panamik hot water springs on same day? • Overnight at Leh

Day 8: 5th june (Leh local sightseeing) • Cover places (Shanti stupa, Hall of fame, Hamis, Shey, alchi and Thiksey Monasteries)

Day 9: 6th June (Leh-Karu-Changla-Pangong Tso lake) • Overnight at pangong Tso lake

Day 10: 7th June (Pangong-Changla-Karu-Upshi) • Overnight at Upshi

Day 11: 8th June (Upshi-chumathang-Mahe-Sumdo-Tso Moriri) • Overnight at Tso Moriri (Tented accommodation) • we will carry extra fuel for 550 kms from KAARU before Start • can we cover Karzok monastery at the same day?

Day 12: 9th June (Tso Moriri-Sumdo-Tso Kar-Moore plains-Pang) • Overnight at Pang

Day 13: 10th June (Pang-Lachangla-Sarchu-Baralacha la-Jispa) • Overnight at Jispa

Day 14: 11th June (Jispa-Keylong-Tandi-Rohtang La-Manali) • Overnight at Manali

Day 15: 12th June (Manali-Delhi)

best regards, Adnan

Adnan, most part looks good to go for me JUST please keep the rest day in Leh before you leave for Nubra Valley s that you have some acclimatization before climbing Khardung La

Hey thanks, One more question I know i m questioning like a kid, ok here it is

If i will go with this itinerary, i will miss tanglang la, and if i will cover tanglang la I will miss tso moriri… Which one u prefer?

Best regards, Adnan

I will prefer Tso Moriri over Taglang pass. If you have time on hand, you can take the route to Taglang back from Debring (where Tso Kar route meets Manali – Leh) and then come back to stay at Pang. Sarchu might get 1 Hr far in this way.

you mean we can cover this route (Tso moriri – tanglang la – pang) in one day, it is around 210 kms

Yes Adnan, you can do so. I am talking about, you start from Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring – Taglang La – Debring (back again) – Pang – Sarchu. You will need to come back to Debring from Taglang La.

Again i am here to take your expert advise.

I read the update that leh-manali highway is still closed.

As per my itinerary, i will coming back from upshi to tso moriri on 7th june. tso moriri to pang on 8th june pang to manali on 9th june.

What is your thought, manali to leh highway will be operational by then?

Massive respect for your brilliant blog, and the amount of information you’ve obtained. My friends and I are trying to create a custom itinerary of Manali-Spiti-(Keylong/Zinging)- (if possible Tsomo riri)-Leh in mid-June

Would this be feasible across a 5-6 day period? And do local travel agencies support such a customer itinerary?

Thanks Tauseef

Ahmed, Tso MOriri is out of context here. You want Manali – Spiti or Manali – Lahaul? Keylong/Zingzing bar are in Lahaul not Spiti. With just 6 days in hand from Manali you can do something like below:

Day 1 : Reach Manali by overnight volvo of 28 and stay overnight at Solang Valley as preferred for acclimatization Day 2 : Manali / Solang – Kaza Day 3 : Kaza – Dhangkar – Tabo – Kaza OR Kaza – Langza – Komik – Hikkim – Kaza Day 4 : Kaza – Ki – Kibber – Chandratal Day 5 : Chandratal – Manali Day 6 : Chill around Manali and take evening Volvo Day 7 : Reach Delhi by overnight Volvo from Manali

Thanks Dheeraj!

What we were planning was to start with Manali-Spiti, then u-turn and do Spiti-Leh (Fly back from Leh to Delhi)

It’s a very long journey, which is why I was asking if such a plan is feasible, and if any tour operators can help us with such a complicated route 🙂

Would you advise against doing Manali-Spiti and Spiti-Leh in one trip? (By car/SUV, with a local driver)

If you have enough days, you can surely do. I am sharing a tentative plan of entire circuit Delhi – Kinnaur – Spiti – Ladakh – Srinagar – Jammu – Delhi. You can opt to fly from Leh instead coming down to Srinagar and then to Delhi by road.

Day 1 | Chandigarh/Ambala – Narkanda – Sarahan Day 2 | Sarahan – Rakcham/Sangla/Chitkul Day 3 | Rakcham/Sangla/Chitkul – Nako – Geyu Mummy – Tabo Day 4 | Tabo – Dhangkar – Dhangkar Lake – Pin Valley – Kaza Day 5 | Kaza Rest and Local Sightseeing — Ki, Kibber, Gette, Tashigang Day 6 | Kaza – Hikkim, Komik, Langza circuit – Kaza Day 7 | Kaza – Sissu / Keylong, leave early in the day Day 8 | 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 9 | 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 10 | 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 11 | 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 12 | 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 13 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh — Overnight at Leh

Day 14 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang — Cover Karzok Monastery — Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri   Day 15 | 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 16 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping — Overnight at Leh

Day 17 | 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 18 | Kargil – Drass – Zozi La – Sonamarg – Srinagar — Enjoy the vistas enroute — Have late drunch meal at Sonamarg — Overnight at Srinagar

Day 19 | Srinagar – Jammu — Overnight at Jammu

Day 20 | Jammu – Ambala – Delhi — Back Home

BTW, you will get all the info. up here even to make any of complex to complex trips, so if you can spare some time to plan your trip and read articles on DoW, you can save good amount of money 🙂

This itinerary is amazing, thank you so much!

Will definitely do so, since we have time till April to plan!

Best wishes for your Ladakh trip.

I was visited Spiti like below plan Day 1, July 10: Delhi to Manali (Boarded Bus from Majnu ka Teela and left around 7:00 PM) Day 2, July 11: Manali to Losar (Reached Manali in the morning of 9:00 AM and left for Losar around 11:00 AM) Day 3, July 12: Losar to Tabo (covered Losar, Key, Kibber and Dhankar) Day 4, July 13: Tabo to Losar (covered Tabo, Kaza, Komic, and Langza) Day 5, July 14: Losar to Chandratal (covered Kunzum Pass, Chandratal Lake) Day 6, July 15: Chandratal to Manali (reached Manali around 3:30 PM and boarded bus for Delhi around 5:00 PM) Day 7, July 16: Reached Delhi in the morning around 9:00 AM

Very starnge to see Losar all over night stays and doing long hops when Kaza seems more practical. Also, the second day I am glad to know that you do not have any health issues of AMS going by the plan in case it would have been caused, you might have been in bad shape. But, anyways good that you were able to make it sound. I am just commenting here so that NO ONE else tries this plan because AMS can be FATAL too at times.

Thanks Dheeraj for valid point. Actually, second day I was planned for night stay in Kaza but we were started late from Manali (Delhi to Manali bus was late due to rain) and reached Losar around 9 PM. There was raining too, so we decided to stay at Losar because road was very bad and Losar to Kaza was further 2 hour journey.

Some of member between us feel little headache; yes I think due to AMS issue. But our driver was very expert and he come with a lot of fruits juice and three dozen water bottle from Manali (Also advised us to drink a lot of water and juice to avoid AMS). I think this advice help us for night stay at Losar.

In return time, all of us were adjusted with Spiti environment. So night stay at Losar didn’t cause any issue.

Good to know that Vivek, glad your driver proved as a true guide and well wisher for you. Had it been otherwise you know what could have been ended up in 🙁 … I just commented because sometimes people read comments and due to pressing time they follow something which might not work for them assuming it worked for someone else. Hence, dont want any of the DoW reader to end up in mess

Thank you for explaining it, it will help others make a wise call !! Appreciate it.

Hello, Dheeraj. Massive respect to you for maintaining this kind of the blog and replying to comments promptly. I have few suggestion before going into my questions i.e. please can you add right click button so that it will help in opening the multiple tabs in without interrupting the existing page what we are reading., second one please add copy or pdf so we can take printout while going to trip.

Coming to my queries, Basically, I am from Delhi and planning Leh trip somewhere in July end. I would like to make this trip by bike from Chandigarh. This would be my first trip to this Himalayas though I have been to Manali by car from Delhi. I am considering my trip from chandigarh>>Manali>>Leh>>Srinagar>>Chandigarh.

1. Which is the good place/vendor to hire a bike from Chandigarh (if you are aware of any vendor). 2. I would like to take RE classic only, however, do have any suggestions for Displacement/Capacity/CC of the bike. I am planning by 350 CC. Doe 350 CC will have any issues in terms of pick/performance and all. 3. Most of the vendors are quoting Rs 1200-1500 for 350CC and 1800Rs for 500CC. is this okay cost? or can I get the even lesser price? 4. I am planning 14days for an entire trip. do you think it will be sufficient? 5. how many liters should I carry with bottle apart from filled tank? I am planning not carry extra petrol bottle from Chandigarh to Manali and will fill everything over there and continue the journey.

Thanks in advance for you suggestions.

Hello Shree,

Thank you for suggestions, I have re-enabled the support for right click now, you should be good with that. The Print/PDF can be done using the vertical buttons on the left that slide with the articles along with other social media icons. There is a button with Printer sign on it, You can click on that to get the print and then say save as PDF to any article.

1. Bikes rented outside Leh are not allowed for sightseeing inside Ladakh except Tso Moriri and Tso Kar lakes which can be done while going to Manali from Leh. Private bikes are completely allowed. You can use the outside rented bike to reach Leh but then for going to Pangong Tso, nubra Valley, etc.. you need to hire rented bikes from Leh only.

4. I will suggest you that please plan it in other direction as going via Srinagar – Leh Highway will be much much easier on your body and help you acclimatize to the high altitude of Manali – Leh Highway. Also, it allows you to enjoy the beauty of Manali – Leh by splitting the journey almost evenly in two days which is very difficult in the other direction. Thirdly, it will allow you to fit Tso Moriri lake into the itinerary in better way. You can read more reasons on the link here

5. Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips

hi, I am not bother about bikes renting at leh. i am bothering about bikes at chandigarh as of now. and CC of the bike. can you throw some light on that.

Ok, I am not sure what you will do with bikes rented in Chandigarh which cannot be used in Leh. Anyways, Chandigarh does have few shops where bikes are available on rent though I do not have contact for them. I suggested a link of DoW Comunity about bikes in previous article, you can post under the forum and tag PreetKamal who can help you with some contacts.

Regarding CC, all depends upon your wit and determination as a rider to complete the trip. Well though it is not required to have more powerful bike like Bullet/RE but always preferable. 100cc might be able to do it as I known people and have read many accounts of it in the past but surely will struggle at some places where it might be required to push manually, especially I believe if you get stuck in some water crossing. DO NOT push the bike beyond its limit in case your stuck rather user your own physical power to get it out. Also, the speed will be slow when you ride near the high mountain passes on a lower cc bike.

Thanks dheeraj, as i mentioned i am planning my journey from chandigarh and gonna hire bike from there. Hence i am insisting bikes in chandgarh. Yea, your correct i need to take bikes in leh too. it can be avoided.

Shree, please contact PreetKamal in the DwD Community. He should be able to help with the contacts

The last entry having been made in June, 2015, I am not sure if Dheeraj is still available for answering my query or not. But what I am sure of is that he has written one the best pieces on travel on the Leh-Manali Road. Thank you Dheeraj for that. Reading the article and all the queries and their answers, I now have answers to most of my questions. One nagging doubt still remains.

I will be driving my Dzire diesel sedan. I am a fairly good driver and have driven to Lahaul valley, Badrinath, Gulmarg etc. and have enjoyed driving on each trip.

i) How difficult is it to cross nallahs/rivulets in this sedan? There will be 4 passengers including me (not-so-young passengers who can be expected to get out and push the car).

ii) Which time will be more suitable for the Leh to Manali journey? Mid June (say around June 15 ) or last week of June (say around 28)? The only slot available to me is from June 1 to June 30. Thats why this predicament.

Thank you so much PP, I am still around here and will always be in Discover with Dheeraj for the love of travel in Himalayas 🙂 🙂

1. For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway and Ladakh, I will say:

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 FAQ | Can I do Leh – Ladakh / Spiti / Manali – Leh trip in Hatchback or Sedan?

2. You can plan anytime between 15th – 30th June as by then the Manali – Leh will be stabilzied. In fact it might openin winters as per local newspapaer due to not much snow at all this massive strange year. So, you have a good window even if it snows in March too much.

Hi, Very Well written. I am planning for a bike trip from Manali to leh during June end it will be a 14-15 day trip. l am from Mumbai and will be travelling from mumbai to Delhi by flight and the Delhi to manali by Bus. The main journey starts here. I have many questions and would like to get some advice from you. 1) Where to Hire bikes from in Manali?- I would like a classic 350 newer model. 2) What is the price of the Bike? 3) Apart from the rent how much the rentals charge for the deposit money? 4) what will be the overall expenditure (Average) including everything (Stay, food, petrol , etc) The places can be basic camps nothing fancy. 5) Which are the best places where we should halt during the stay? Dont want to make it too hectic 6) Incase of brakedows, what do do? Do we carry extra clutch cables and other minor equipments? 7) Are there enough petrol pumps in the way or we need to carry some extra cans of petrol? 8) Is getting permits difficult? 9) Can you provide with some bike rental agencies?

These are some questions i have in my mind. i await your reply.

Thanks Naren

This blog cannot be printed 🙁 can you provide a pdf so that i can print this… This will be very informative.

Will look into to add this feature.

Please respond to this comment

Just did it, please read them and make a wise choice 🙂

Hi Narendra,

To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization

1,2,3 Read above

4) 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

5) Read above 6) Read above 7) Yes, you need to carry extra fuel. Read the entire series, 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

8) You do not need permits within Ladakh now since 2014. If you travel in direcion from Manali to Leh still reading above, you need permit from Manali to Rohtang Pass for which you can read: How to get Rohtang Pass Permit Online

9) Can you provide with some bike rental agencies?

we are planning to go leh-manali in the time of jan by car could you please suggest the road conditions are favourable or not

Rakes, Manali – Leh opens in end of May or early June. So, please plan it accordingly.

First of all #MassiveRespect to you and commendable work on this website. The detailed inputs about any / every place Himalayan places by you calls for an applaud sir 🙂

I am a software engineer by profession and an avid traveler who along with 3 friends (guys) are planning a trip to Leh-Laddakh by the end of June or beginning of July 2016. I have been re-searching, following your threads regarding this place and according to the time we have, the 9 day trip suits us the best. I read the related itinerary written on

Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days

As this will be my first trip I am a bit confused hence the below queries (hope they make sense :P)

1) We want to go Leh via Manali route and return via Srinagar (Delhi-Manali-Leh; Leh-Srinagar-Delhi). Is it possible on a 9 day trip ? If yes what should be the ideal itinerary ?

2) Had a word with few travel agencies operate in those regions plus few friends who went to Leh via themselves (renting bikes, cars and pre-booking hotels). The cost estimation I received crosses 30 K per person approx but the travel agencies giving package ranges from 35-40 K per person ! Which is preferable & cost effective ?

3) Apart from all the details and precautions mentioned on your thread/link anything special to be taken care off as well ?

Awaiting your response and if possible willing to talk to you prior we set for this trip. Would be really helpful 🙂

Still awaiting a reply on this … If anybody can throw some light, it would really be helpful 🙂

Just replied here: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/how-to-plan-a-journey-on-manali-leh-highway/comment-page-5/#comment-364022

Thank you so much Deep. I am just in transition of a new home, so spending a bit less time here online. The DwD Community is alive as ever and in case you see delayed reply here on the blog, you can always post it under DwD Community (refer link from Menu)

Regarding your current queries:

1. Well, it will take 3 days from Delhi to Leh via Manali with overnight halts at Manali/Solang, Keylong/Jispa and then finally Leh. One day at least you need to rest in Leh for acclimatization. This makes your 4 days. Now, 4 days are required for return from Srinagar – Leh Highway as night halts Kargil, Srinagar, Jammu and then finally 9th day you reach Delhi. Now, in between you have 5th day left for you on which you can either make a day trip to Khardung La or Pangong Tso, your choice. All in all a very hectic trip with just being on the road and seeing nothing much in Ladakh apart from Srinagar – Leh Highway and Manali – Leh highway

2. Cost effective will always be if you plan on your own and with all the help available on DoW, I see no reason you cant plan unless you do not want to read at all and prepare yourself. In the latter case you can always give a shot to travel agent.

3. Read the article on Acclimatization and tips for taking clothes to Ladakh from menu of Ladakh above.

Thank You for replying. I will plan accordingly as advised.

Will bug you again here if required 😉

Sure, Deep, anytime. Before new year, you might see some delay but post that replies will be much faster

Hi I am Ankith, we 5 friends are planning a road trip from Bangalore to Leh ladak in a Innova car. Our plan is for 9 days road trip. Can anyone suggest the places in Leh ladak which we can cover in this span.

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 .

Hi Dheeraj, Thanks for the reply As we are planning for this trip on Mid December this year, whether it will be a right time to visit? 9 days include travel from bangalore to Leh and back to bangalore by car. We may get not more than 4.5 days to see all the paces. So please suggest some places in this span and information about permits at this season.

Ankith, roads to Ladakh will now open back in next year mid May or June

Me and my friend planning to travel keylong from Chandigarh in our personal car (around September 10) our trip duration is of 3 days only, Please guide us about the whole procedure, like permission for rohtang pass, accommodation, travel time and hotels etc

Gurpritam, you can check: Rohtang Pass Rules & Restriction of Vehicles – Demystified

We are planning this trek (the way you have suggested Leh to Manali) with family. Is it ok to take our kids aged btw 10-12. If yes, what are the challenges or risks involved. Is it advisable to take at the first place and if so pls help out in suggesting precautionary elements.

Regards Kusuma

In general, it is fine to take the children of such age group because AMS do not matter with respect to age or sex or any fitness level. It can happen to anyone of any age or sex or fitness I shall say :D.. The issue with children is that they tend to exert the body considering it the same kind of place they belong to and this elevates the chances of getting struck with AMS. Secondly, they are not much expressive about their uneasy feelings, so it is parents who need to watch out and take care that the child is not suffering from uneasy feelings, headache or nausea and is behaving properly. With 5+ year child, I think he/she would be able to convey the uneasiness with little efforts. If you notice any such feeling or he/she tells you about such a feeling then please do not ascend anywhere, either descend to lower altitude or stay at the same place to watch things overnight and if symptom increase then start descending immediately. Same is applicable for any adult as well. And yes, do keep the body adequately hydrated!!

Also, PLEASE read the article: Traveling to Ladakh with Kids or Babies . This article covers this topic in complete detail.

I wid my 5 frnz planning to visit leh via srinagar-leh-manali…1st week of sept is safe or not by own private four wheeler..and all passes ll be opened.

Jayant, September is quite a good time to travel

Looks like a great adventure here. thanks for the tips. I hope I can go to Manali too

May i know on an average how much time it takes from Manali to Keylong and Keylong to Leh in shared taxi. i am planning to take shared taxi/public transport to reach Leh from Manali. And halting a night at Keylong? That would be fine? Will be reaching Manli on Aug 14th. Other than Keylong any place to stay ? whats your suggestion.

Dinkan, Manali to Keylong will take around 5-6 Hrs types and Keylong to Leh will take around 12-14 Hrs. You can extend to Jispa rather Keylong which is about 1 hr ahead of Keylong.

Sorry but I am firm supporter of Manali to Leh than opposite as recommended above. I have both many times, yes, opposite its easier but the challenge of Manali to Leh is special. The barren valley unfolding it as we travel along is a privil that is missed while returning….SIn all, Manali to Leh for me always…

Vishard, may be yes in case all goes well but when that 5% chances hits you back it spoils the trip 🙂

hey guys; i and a friend of mine, are planning to go to leh from manali around the 10th of july.so anyones intrested cn let us know, as we are looking for company. Any other leads on bike rentals and stuff are welcome. #9972282626

Better check Travel Calendar from the menu and filter the entries based on your preferences.

Hey Dheeraj, I tried calling few people who are offering d bikes on rent…but all of them are saying that this season no bikes are available….as all are booked… can u gv me some contacts who can provide us bikes from 25th june……..

You can connect with [email protected] as most of the readers in the past couple of years have had very good feedback about them and their transparent policies.

We are four person….on bike… any1 ready to join….. can contact me….8889088999

I am trying to plan as per your advice… on bikes from shrinagar-leh-manali… Is it possible to get bikes from shrinagar that we can drop at manali…nd wht ll b d cost in that case…?

The drop only rates or loading charges per biek comes out to be 10-12K. Are you sure you want to go with one way bike rental?

Hi Dhheraj ,

Me and MY husband planning for leh bike trip from manali . we have booked our ticket from mumbai 11th JULY 2015 . we have our bike TB350 but we are going alone is it ok or we have join any group. if yes could you please help to find any group .

hey poonam,

We are doing a chandigarh-srinagar-leh-manali-chandigarh starting 13th july, ending 25th july.

cheers!! Vachan

Hey vachan ,

Thanks for replying . Could you please share your email or contact details , so we can contact you . or if possible could you please share you plan so if possible we will join you guys in chandigarh .

Thanks , Poonam Kharya

Replied here: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/about/comment-page-12/#comment-335275

Hi dheeraj, Kindly suggest some bike rentals at srinagar for renting bikes from srinagar to manali – one way without extra charges or else atleast from leh to manali-oneway trip. Thank you

Samson, there are no such bike rentals who can provide you bikes without charging extra for one way trip 🙂 … It is about 10-12K they charge per bike for loading charges on one way trips. Best is if you are not hard core biker then avoid it.

Hi, We are group of 6 guys and planning a road trip. Could you please suggest if this iternary is good or need modifications. Also can you please suggest some semi-luxury hotel in Leh. We have our flight tickets booked from Mumbai to Chandigarh and from Srinagar to Mumbai so that can’t be changed, the rest of the trip is flexible.

CHANDIGARH – MANALI – LADAKH – SRINAGAR JEEP SAFARI Duration: 14 Nights & 15 Days Travel Dates: 25 July to 08 August Synopsis: Chandigarh – Manali – Rohtang – Keylong – Jispa – Baralacha pass – Sarchu – Morre Plains – Tsokar – Tso Moriri – Mahe Bridge – Leh – Sangam – Pangong Lake – Khardungla Pass – Nubra – Panamik – Leh – Lamayuru – Kargil – Drass – Sonmarg – Srinagar ITINERARY: Day 01: Chandigarh – Manali Travel to Manali and stay overnight Day 02: Manali Sightseeing and overnight stay. Day 03: Manali – Jispa/Sarchu Drive to Sarchu (or Jispa) for night stay. Day 04: Jispa/Sarchu – Tso Moriri Meal: Breakfast and Dinner Visit Tso Moriri and overnight stay Day 05: Tso Moriri – Leh (7-8 hours) – 220 kms Tour Tso Moriri and overnight stay Day 06: Leh Sightseeing in Leh and overnight stay Day 07: Leh – Pangong Lake (5-6 hours) ( 225 to 290 kms ) Stay near Pangong lake Day 08: Pangong-Leh (7-8 hours) ( 225 to 290 kms ) Return back to Leh Day 09: Leh – Khandrungla Top – Nubra Valley- Visit to Nubra valley and stay overnight Day 10: Nubra Valley Sightseeing and stay in Nubra valley Day 11: Nubra Valley – Leh (7-8 hours) (120 kms ) Drive down to Leh and stay there Day 12: Leh Sightseeing in Leh Day 13: Leh – Kargil (211 kms) Drive down to Kargil and visit any tourist places on the way. Day 14: Kargil – Drass – Sonamarg – Srinagar (202 kms) Drive down to Srinagar and stay overnight

Excellent inputs. Thanks. Taking these inputs have planned to drive entering Srinagar from 12th September. Need your advise / confirmation on: 1. Drive Leh to Pangon Lake on 18th Sept. Stay Spangmik for night. 2. On 19th, wish to drive from Spangmik to Tso Moriri- please advise route, condition & will you recommend? 3. On 20th drive from Tso Moriri to Sarchu – advise route and condition. Stay night at Sarchu – next day to Manali. 4. Will we need to take permit for Pangong and Tso Moriri? 5. Booking hotels through your website at both lakes. Any recommendation for Leh Hotel? Will drive Toyota Qualis. Thanks for your reply.

Regarding Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri, please read: Tips for Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri Direct Route

Yes, you need to take inner line permit to take direct route from Pangong Tso to Tso moriri and even after permits it will not be confirmed that rmy will let you pass through or not. For inner line permit download form and complete process, refer: Inner Line Permits for Leh – Ladakh

I and my wife are planning Leh trip via road from Delhi – Manali – Leh – Manali – Delhi.

Please contact me if any other couple is also looking for Car Pool partners. Note: (For couple only and Serious Traveler)

Where are you from and when are you planning to travel? We might go in august 2nd week? Hw about you? I am from Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Regards, Pooja

Hi Dheeraj, we a group of 4 friends are planning a trip to leh on 1 bike and 1 car. We are carrying camping tents with us, can you please suggest us the sites that would be best for camping on manali – leh highway. Plus is there any danger of staying in our own tents at a foreign place?

Vivek, there is no issue in camping in case you have camped earlier in remote areas and used to it. Else mostly it is mental outfit towards the camping in remote areas that is the major bottleneck. For information on pitching your own camps in Leh – Ladakh, please refer our FAQ in the community: FAQ | Can I pitch my own tents or camps anywhere in Ladakh?

You can camp at Jispa, Darcha before Baralacha La and then may be Rumtse after getting down from Taglang La. If you coming from Leh, then you can also consider Pang and Sarchu but while going from Manali side it is not recommended because of less acclimatized body.

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• A Road Trip from Manali to Leh 36 Hrs of Exhilaration and Wonder

A Road Trip from Manali to Leh: 36 Hrs of Exhilaration and Wonder

From Manali, the route towards Rohtang La via Marhi was a steady ascent through green mountains with streaks of snow still there. Paragliders swooned in the sky between Solang Valley to Marhi. The hired Scorpio zoomed by Rohtang Pass, where a crowd of vacationers had just started to gather. The high altitude of 13,000 feet hardly affected me as I had already acclimatised in Spiti Valley for two weeks. Since I was already in the vicinity, I decided to head to Hanle via Leh, on a solo trip. However, this was my first time entering Ladakh through the Manali-Leh Highway. Usually this was my exit route, reason being—the Srinagar-Leh Highway route is better for acclimatisation.

First day on Manali-Leh Highway

From Gramphu, the car turned left, opposite the diversion that had brought me from Spiti Valley, the day before. The back-breaking road follows an otherwise beautiful route by the Chandra River and passes the verdant town of Sissu on the way. At Tandi, a signboard by Indian Oil declared the next filling station at 365 km ahead. Having travelled on this route earlier (from the opposite end), I knew they were referring to the one located between Stakna and Karu. There's a dearth of petrol pumps along the the Manali-Leh Highway. So make it a priority to refuel here. While my driver refuelled, I walked about a kilometre ahead to see the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers. While Bhaga River originates from Suraj Taal, Chandra originates from a glacier near Chandratal. They merge at Tandi, forming the Chandrabhaga River. Chandrabhaga is known as Chenab when it passes through the Jammu region into the Punjab Province of Pakistan. We soon exited Chandra Valley towards Keylong, which has the last ATM on the Manali-Leh Highway. If you have not already withdrawn cash at Manali, this is your last chance before reaching Leh.

Best night halt for acclimatising

After 6 hours on the road, I was at Jispa for a night halt. A stay in Sarchu is more feasible on the reverse route as you will already be well acclimatised. However, while ascending, sleeping the first night at Sarchu, at an altitude of 14,000-feet, is a bad idea. The most appropriate elevation for acclimatisation is between 8,000 feet to 9,000 feet. Only Kargil on the Srinagar-Leh Highway meets that criterion. However, if you enter Ladakh through the Manali-Leh Highway, Jispa at 10,500 feet is a better stop than Sarchu. Jispa, as I witnessed it during the summer, was a green paradise with flowers in bloom. Later that night, from my hotel balcony, I could see the glistening Bhaga River and the snow-capped mountains shimmer in the moonlight.

The next 13-hour run begins

The next day's drive started with a brief stop at the police checkpoint at Darcha, so that we could register our entry into the Manali-Leh Highway—a mandatory procedure. Darcha is also a good place for refreshments, if you haven't already had breakfast at Jispa. Soon after, we passed Zingzingbar. The crossing of the nullah was effortless this time because of the bridge built by the BRO. It was a change from the challenge of driving through the glacial melts. As we reached the base of Baralacha La, we were delighted to encounter the source of the Bhaga River, the stunning emerald-colored Suraj Tal. I have heard stories of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) at Baralacha Pass, and this time I witnessed that in fellow travellers. Fainting and vomiting are some symptoms that hit people ascending towards Leh, through the highway. Not halting here for very long is the only way to battle the 16,000 feet altitude. An hour after the descent, we were finally approaching Sarchu. In Sarchu, barren mountains surround a straight stretch of road. State-wise, this was still Himachal Pradesh, but borders are a creation of humans, and the landscape felt like Ladakh, devoid of the green Himachali mountains.

Exit Himachal, enter Ladakh

Soon after, we crossed the state border and entered Ladakh. In another 25 km, Ladakh threw its first challenge our way—the Gata Loops and its 21 hairpin bends. The tale of the ghost of Gata Loops always makes for good storytelling while traversing these turns and bends. Many winters ago, a truck driver and his helper were stranded here when their truck broke down. After the driver went to seek help, heavy snowfall blocked the Baralacha La and Nakee La passes, making Gata Loops inaccessible from both sides. The helper who stayed behind guarding the cargo truck perished before help arrived. His thirsty spirit allegedly still begs for water from passing vehicles. At the risk of being haunted by his ghost on my next trip, I would suggest against leaving plastic water bottles at his memorial. It only harms the fragile environment in the name of appeasing the ghost. Past Gata Loop, we zoomed across two consecutive passes. From Nakee La to Lachulung La, the elevation increases by another 1,000 feet, making breathlessness more common. The landscape is barren and desolate yet breathtaking—typical of Ladakh.

The first major stop of the day came at Pang for some much-needed refreshments. Pang has a few makeshift dhabas and an army transit camp. For me, the highlight of this route is what comes after Pan—the Moore Plains.  Also known as Morey Plains, this vast stretch of plain land exists at a very high altitude. A straight-as-an-arrow tar road runs through it, with towering mountains bordering it on both sides. The 40 km drive is exhilarating amid the raw beauty of the landscape. Moreover, the chance of spotting wildlife like Kiangs or Marmots make Moore Plains more appealing. Varying shades of the nude-toned mountains reminded me of why I fell in love with this region, years ago. Instead of taking the Tso Kar diversion at Debring, we continued straight towards Taglang La. The last high-altitude pass on the Manali-Leh highway brought me to a staggering 17,582 feet elevation. We kept the halt very brief to avoid dizziness and breathlessness.

The journey's end

Upon descending from Taglang La and arriving at Rumtse, we officially reached Leh Valley. We registered our vehicle at the police checkpoint at Upshi. From here, we once again drove alongside the Indus River. Upshi is also a junction with a route diverging to Chumathang Valley and Hanle. I couldn't take the diversions towards Hanle at Upshi or Debring because I was in an HP registered number plate car. Non-Ladakh registered cars are only authorised to drop you off till Leh. A few kilometres ahead, we were at Karu, yet another junction with a road leading to Pangong Tso. Our destination, however, was at the end of the straight road ahead. From here, we flew past Thiksey and Shey towards Leh, bringing an exhilarating 36 hours on the Manali-Leh Highway to a close.

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Going solo in ladakh.

Leh to Manali road trip

The road trip from Leh to Manali takes two days via Pang , Sarchu and Jispa . It is one of the most spectacular road trips in the Himalaya, crossing numerous high mountain passes including the famous Taglang La pass and Rohtang La pass .

With one or two extra days, you could extend the road trip to the magnificent Tso Moriri lake . You will drive via Chumathang Hot Springs to reach Korzok village on the shore of Tso Moriri lake . Next, you will go to Tso Kar lake where you may be able to see the majestic black-necked crane before joining the Leh-Manali highway towards Manali .

OPTION WITH NUBRA & PANGONG

Other tours that may interest you, places to visit during the road trip from leh to manali, leh-manali road: pang, sarchu, jispa, taglang la pass (5,328m), rohtang la pass (3,978m), tso moriri lake, tso kar lake, chumathang hot springs, best time to travel from leh to manali, tips for planning a road trip from leh to manali, altitude and acclimatization.

The Leh-Manali road is at an average elevation of 4,000m and it crosses several high-altitude mountain passes including the Taglang La pass lying at 5,328m above sea level. Therefore, it is essential to be well acclimatized to the altitude before starting this road trip in order to avoid risks of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Permit for the Leh-Manali road trip

Phone and internet service on the leh-manali road, accommodation on the leh-manali road.

On the Leh-Manali road, you can spend the night at one of the camps in Pang or Sarchu, midway between Leh and Manali. There is also a well-known hotel called Hotel Ibex in Jispa, 85 km before Rohtang La pass.

Suggested itineraries for the road trip from Leh to Manali

Leh to manali (in 2 days), leh to manali via tso moriri lake (in 3 days).

Drive to Manali via Jispa and Rohtang La pass.

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Manali To Leh Bike Trip: A Perfectly Detailed Guide

There is a saying, “beauty is everyplace, all you have got to try to do is to merely take a glance around” it is faithful in the essence once it involves a desirable trip to Leh Ladakh linked with the emotions, the covered mountains, barren landscape, treetops, swings, a dangerous path, and also the roar of a motorbike engine. In short, a motorbike ride in Ladakh is all of the great vibes and the immortality of the rider’s spirit.

Tours, Ladakh is specially designed to bring associate expertise to the most effective of Ladakh, on the road at any time. Conquer a number of the best mountain passes within the world, visit the cold mountains, the desert, and the Nubra natural depression, and immerse yourself within the charm of the favored Pangong Tso throughout a 10-day bike ride through Ladakh.

A 10-day Manali to Leh Ladakh bike trip can have to be compelled to begin from Manali and drive to popular attractions, like the Jispa, Sarchu, Khardung La, Leh, and the Lake of Pangong. Then, to travel into the land of the lamas, capture a number of the very best mountain passes within the world.

Manali To Leh Bike Trip Details

Day 1: Reach to Manali

Upon arrival in Manali, go over your edifice and relax till there’s a fast dinner. You’ll be wanting to test out your bike, so take a test drive on the road beforehand. Then relax and have a pleasant ride within the lovely Kullu natural depression. After that, return to the tower to sleep in Manali.  

Day 2: Manali to Jispa (Approximately 150 kilometers)

Wake up early in the morning, begin your journey. Begin your journey to the Rokhtan Pass (3,978 m), an attractive pass that is the entrance to your bike ride. This is often the primary stage of the tour, your 1st task, because the road is extremely unhealthy, and also the weather is unsure. For your initial tests, you are going to travel through the Lahaul natural depression. Lahaul can introduce you to the mountains lined with snow on the bottom. Visit Jispa by your feet day by day. An attractive and engaging dinner within the mountains. Steamed Momus and Thukpa could be in style, ancient range culinary art. Please enter your stuffed abdomen, and move to a well-deserved vacation. Overnight stay in Jispa.

Day 3: Jispa to Sarchu (Approximately 85 kilometers)

Today we tended to area units aiming for Sarchu. Once you leave the behind-the-Jispa, the majestic range scenery welcomes the U.S.A.. this is often the means to enter the center of the mountain. Relish the spectacular views as you suffer the Baralacha Pass (5000 m higher than ocean level). Keep moving towards Sarchu that is the border between the geographical area and Himachal. From there, visit Sarchu camp. Rest for the rest of the day, sustain your fluid intake to stop AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Overnight stay in Sarchu.

Day 4: Sarchu to Leh (Approximately 215 kilometers)

The day starts with heaps of challenges. Nowadays, you’ll have to be compelled to ride your motorcycle through flatlands and find the mountain horizon. Drive through the Tanglang-La Pass, which is the second-highest motorable pass within the world at the peak of 5300 meters. When crossing this pass, you’ll ride through well-maintained roads, all the thanks to Leh. En-route, get to ascertain the monasteries of Thiksey and Shey. These ancient monasteries area unit assault the highest of a hill and area unit attractions of your tour. Arrival at the tower within the borders of Changspa in Leh. Spend some time exploring the native places. Rest for the night. Overnight the edifice in Leh.

Day 5: Leh to Nubra Valley (close to 160 kilometers)

Today is the 5th day of the trip, and you will be pleased to reach Nubra via Khardungla Pass, at an altitude of 18,360 feet, which is the highest road pass in the world. Nubra will allow you to see it. It’s the first stop in the South Pullu, grab some food, and then set off again on Khardung La road. Take a photo and feel like you’re standing on one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The next stop is the North Pullu. Get some rest and eat something. Nubra way to visit the Monastery at Diskit. The statue of the Maitreya, Budhi, which is 32 meters high, can be seen far away from here. Nubra is well-known for its dunes and double-humped camels. In the evening, the camel’s back came back to the camp. You can have a delicious dinner and overnight stay at the camp in Nubra.  

Day 6: Nubra valley to Pangong lake (Approximately 190 kilometers )

Wake up early to get pleasure from a charming natural read. You’ll be by yourself, and you’ll conjointly get pleasure from your breakfast. Then you’re progressing to attend Pangong Lake, next to the Shek, the River. Get pleasure from the fantastic scenic thing about the route. Stop in and revel in breakfast and dinner. Once stopped, the drive to the Chang-La (5500 meters higher than ocean level) continues into the military of the border scrutiny post, alongside the foremost necessary Tangse. Upon arrival at the camp, examine your tent. For the remainder of the night, you will have free time. You’ll opt for a walk around the lake and pay a small amount of your time within the wild. Lake Pangong, it’s the biggest mountain of salt lake in the world. A pair of 1/3rd of the lake lies in China. Get pleasure from a sunset, read on the lake, the beaches. Have a relaxing stay in your tent for the night.

Day 7: Pangong Lake to Leh (Approximately 150 kilometers)

Then an honest breakfast within the morning, you’ll take a photography shoot, round the lake, and pay a touch of your time in there. Then you’re reaching to move to Leh. Transfer to the building upon arrival. Then you’ll endure an excursion and a tour. You’ll back up the markets, and a visit to Shanti Stupa could be a Buddhist white-domed style of the location that includes a read of the opposite languages used. Fancy the scenic reading of the Indus vale, and also the Zanskar vary. To locate the road. The market area unit is significantly alive, and you may love her energetic Leh vibration.

In the evening, find the building and treat yourself to a delicious dinner. Fancy the comfort of the building. 

Day 8: Leh to Sarchu (A Distance Of concerning 215 kilometers)

Say goodbye to the kids and also the beginning of your trip. On the means, you’ve got to appear up in an exceedingly stunning location, a spa, Ladakh. Halt at Sarchu. Sarchu is within the middle of the two stunning places, Manali and Leh. Enjoy a snug resident Sarchu Camp.

Day 9: Sarchu to Manali (A distance of concerning 215 kilometers)

The morning starts at Sarchu Plain and reaches Baralakcha before noon. the sweetness that passes in Lahaul could vary and can be in Rohtang pass. Rohtang passes to urge you out of spoken communication in an exceedingly mini mud area. Run through the obstacles within the means of Manali. To be comfy, to relax, and revel in Manali.

Day ten Of Manali (Departure)

This is the last day of the bike journey. We will be with you with pleasant recollections of your journey in Ladakh.

Big thanks to the folks over at https://banbanjara.com/ for providing this piece of content as a guest post. To see similar content, head over to their website.

Interested in seeing more of our content? Head over to https://travelponders.com/ and check out our website as well our current blog posts for more!

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BRO opens new route to reach Ladakh; the third and shortest route linking Manali to Leh

Times of India TIMESOFINDIA.COM / TRAVEL NEWS , LADAKH / Updated : Mar 30, 2024, 11:08 IST

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Against the backdrop of escalating tensions and substantial military deployments along the border since the 2020 standoff, the completion of critical infrastructure projects like the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road assumes even greater im … Read more

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions and substantial military deployments along the border since the 2020 standoff, the completion of critical infrastructure projects like the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road assumes even greater importance. Roads play a pivotal role in providing logistical support and troop mobility, thereby bolstering India’s defence posture in the region. Read less

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Against the backdrop of escalating tensions and substantial military deployments along the border since the 2020 standoff, the completion of critical infrastructure projects like the Nimmu-Padam-Darch...

BRO connects new axis to Ladakh, to be shortest route

New Delhi:  The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been able to cut through the rocky mountains of the Niraq gorge in sub-zero temperatures to establish connectivity by road, which will provide the shortest and all-weather axis to Ladakh after the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes —  a fillip to India’s strategic connectivity to the borders with China.

The new road, which will make it easier for the military to ramp up its operational deployment in the shortest possible time when completed, will connect Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on the Kargil-Leh Highway.

Unlike the current Manali-Leh route which goes through five passes, the new road, being built at a cost of Rs 3,100 core, will have only one: Shinkun La at 16,558 ft. The Srinagar-Leh axis also has one pass: Zoji La.

One of the drawbacks of the Srinagar-Leh axis, despite having just one pass, is that it is susceptible to enemy interdiction.

The new connectivity was established after the BRO rushed in heavy equipment and men in January, taking advantage of the frozen Zanskar river.

The latest project has been 18 years in the making, sources in the BRO told ThePrint. While the initial 240 kilometres of the road was built in the first 10 years, it took roughly eight years to build the remaining 58 kilometres between Niraq and Chilling in Ladakh.

As part of a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project, the tunnel work is ongoing at Zoji La and will take 2-3 years to complete on the Srinagar-Leh axis. On the Manali-Leh axis, tunnel work is ongoing only at Rohtang La. Other passes on the Manali-Leh axis include Tanglang La, Lachulung La, Nakeel La and Baralacha La.

Also read: IAF activates Emergency Landing Facility in Andhra Pradesh, first in peninsular India

In a press statement, BRO Director General Lt General Raghu Srinivasan said equipment and personnel were mobilised when Zanskar was frozen in January and the work of establishing the connectivity was completed.

He added that the work on black-topping the road would start soon. “With the construction of Shinkun La tunnel commencing, the third all-weather axis to Ladakh will be established,” he said.

According to a source, “The new axis will become the shortest and will work round the year, which is not the case with the other two axes. This will help in better preparedness for Indian troops stationed along the northern borders and also save time.”

The road has two stages of construction — one, to provide connectivity, which means cutting through mountains and creating a movable road; and the second, blacktopping. When the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road is connected, it will be possible to travel through it from one end to another using only light vehicles because of the unpaved road. Blacktopping, however, will give the final touch to make it more robust. Sources said 240 kilometres of the 298-km road is already blacktopped.

The construction of the tunnel at Shinkun La is yet to start, though this does not make any difference to the pass being used, a source said. The tunnel will allow the pass to be an all-weather road, he added.

The press statement also said this new link will boost economic development in the Zanskar valley. There has been rapid construction in states along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by India to facilitate smooth movement of troops to forward areas.

India and China have engaged in a standoff along the LAC since June 2020. Several conversations at different military levels are held regularly and multiple key points along the LAC have already seen disengagement. However, friction points between the two countries remain in Demchok and the Depsang plains.

(Edited by Tikli Basu)

Also read: India deploys 11 submarines, a first in nearly three decades