If there’s one must-see destination you’d definitely want to experience in Inda, it should definitely be Leh Ladakh. Considered a dream destination for many this place has everthing that an adventure or a nature seeker wants. While the maddening beauty of Pangong Lake attracts tourists from all over the world, adventures like Chadar Trek is a real thrill-magnet for adrenaline seekers. So I’ve compiled a 10 day Leh Ladakh Road Trip Itinerary that could get your vacation plans in rolling.
Not just the destination, the journey in itself is a memorable experience. This is why people put
in a lot of planning in not only what to do when they get there but also how to reach Leh.
Whether they should take a flight or hit the road with friends, there are quite a number of travel
options depending upon your feasibility and budget to reach Leh and return.
How to get to Ladakh?
By Air
A direct flight to Ladakh is currently accessible only from Delhi.The tickets are quite expensive in the peak season (June-September) while it is relatively cheaper in the months of December-January. Therefore, if you are planning for Stok Kangri Trek or Markha Valley Trek, prior booking is advised because. not only it will save you some money but also get a confirmed seat.
If you book six months in advance, one-way ticket may cost you around INR 4-6k and INR 8-10k
if you book 3 months in advance.Alternatively, you can board a flight from Delhi to Srinagar and then take a road trip to Ladakh. Though it will add an extra cost of shared taxi. The road trip from Srinagar to Leh is scenic that you won’t mind spending extra few bucks.
For your return journey, you can either take a flight from Leh to Delhi or Leh to Srinagar. Flight
from Srinagar to Delhi are cheaper as compared to Leh- Delhi (around INR 2-4 k). So, that can
be spent on road trip from Leh-Srinagar.
By bus
If you are travelling to Ladakh solo on a shoestring budget, then you wouldn’t mind taking a bus
all the way to Ladakh. However, it is more time consuming. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) runs a direct bus from Delhi to Leh which costs INR 1,365 per person. You can get the tickets online.
The non-stop bus service starts from ISBT, Delhi and covers a distance of 1,050 km in 33 hours.The bus will halt overnight at Keylong and will depart from there at 4am. For the night stay, a special camping site has been developed at Keylong for the passengers by the HPTDC. You can also take a halt in Manali and then board an HRTC bus from Manali to Leh if 33-hour long bus journey is too much for you.
Coming back from Leh, you can board a bus to Keylong from where you can get many buses to
Delhi. Mind you this option can only be opted when the highway is open in summer. If you are going
for Chadar Trek in winters, this is not feasible.
By car or taxi
You can either self-drive with friends all the way to Leh if you love driving or you can take a
shared taxi (Innova or Xylus) from Manali. it will cost you around INR 2500-3000 per seat and
should take about 18 hours to reach. At least one day rest for acclimatization in Leh is needed.
On motorcycle
Because four wheels move the body, two wheel move the soul.If you have your own, then it’s well and good. Otherwise the fuel guzzlers can be hired from Delhi / Chandigarh / Manali @ INR 800 to 1500 per motorcycle per day. At least one day rest & acclimatization in Leh needed. You can acquire your permits for Rohtang Pass online in advance. The above info was through a guest post collaboration by Dhaarna.
A gypsy with a heart of a writer, Dhaarna has just stepped into the world of trekking and she is falling in love with the mountains with one Himalayan trek at a time. When not trekking, she can be found talking and thinking about the food all day long. She is also a cinephile.
A friend of mine recently went on a 10 day long Delhi-Manali-Leh trip ( by bus/bike) and was kind enough to share his Itinerary for my travel blog . So here it goes.
10 Day Leh Ladakh Road Trip Itinerary (via Manali)
Day 01 : Delhi – Manali (560 kms/12-13 hours)
From Delhi, board a bus to Manali and arrive the next day morning , with a journey time of around 13 hours.
Day 02 : Sightseeing Manali
Hire the motorbike for your Leh trip . Spend the rest of the day cruising withing the small town of Manali.
Day 03: Manali – Rohtang Pass – Jispa (140 kms/ 8 hours)
Ride towards Jispa through Keylong. On the way pass through the most famous Rohtang Pass , truly a wonder in India.Spend the day in Rohtang with Skiing. Ride further till you reach Chandra and Bhaga rivers. Finally reach Jispa and spend the night at a camp.
Day 04 : Jispa – Baralacha Pass & Sarchu (190 kms in roughly 6 hours)
On day 4, post breakfast , head towards Sarchu crossing the Baralacha Pass. Visit the Deepak , Suraj Tal Lakes and several other lakes/rivers along the way. Stay at the camp in Sarchu.
Day 05: Sarchu , Leh (253 kms in roughly 10 hours)
As you head to Leh from Sarchu, get to cover the most famous 22 Gata Loops on the Manali-Leh Highway . Also get to see the popular Tanglang La, the second highest motorable pass in the world. Reach Leh by evening and spend the night there.
Day 06: Leh – Khardungla Pass (40 kms in 1 hour)
As you begin your day in Leh, start with a super sumptuous breakfast. Start riding towards Khardungla, considered to be the highest motorable pass in the world at an altitude of 18380 feet. Return to Leh by afternoon and explore the small town. You can visit the famous monasteries around, the ancient Leh Palace and the Magnetic Hill.
Day 7 :Leh – Pangong Tso – Leh (150 kms/ 9 hours – one way)
Day 7, go for a day excursion to Pangong Tso. This Himalayan masterpiece is at a height of 14270 feet and is one of the highest situated salt water lakes in the world! The changing colours of the lake will definitely stun you! Back to Leh for the night.
Day 08: Leh – Tso Moriri (240 kms/ 8 hours)
Day 8 is where you head towards the most beautiful Moriri Lake. The lake is apparently compared with Pangong Tso, but of course starkly different.Spend the day in leisure while overnight at Leh.
Day 09: Tso Moriri – Sarchu (200 kms/ 8 hours)
The last but one day, ride towards Sarchu. You will pass through another Ladakh beauty called the Kar Lake. Reach Sarchu by evening and stay overnight.
Day 10: Sarchu – Manali (222 kms/ 8-9 hours)
The final day of motorcycling takes you back to Manali by evening.
Loved your post.we are planning with 10yrs kid,is it ok?
Depends on which month you are going 🙂
And hope your are not doing a bike trip but rather in a car
Looks like a really comprehensive Itinerary! Leh is on my dream bucket list! 🙂 Do check out my travels around Manali and other hill stations
THanks a lot Nikita.. Sure thing
its amazing beautiful location thanks for sharing ur travel guide with us
Thanks a lot 🙂
Wow! A great article. Loved the read, will definitely share with my friends.
Well written Leh Ladakh trip guide ….thanks for sharing
In response to Stok Kangri’s rapid degradation, the Stok Village Committee and ALTOA (All Ladakh Tour Operators’ Association) have announced a three-year ban on trekking and climbing on Stok Kangri peak. Stok Kangri will remain closed from 2020 to 2022.
You can try Kang Yatse 2 in place of Stok Kangri. Click here for Kang Yatse trek preparation guide
https://www.altitudeadventureindia.com/trip/kang-yatse-2/
Nice article as a travel blogger myself, The Social Girl Traveler, there are several travel bloggers I admire for their amazing creativity, talent, and sense of adventure.