Tag Archives: Ladakh road trip

Dos and Donts for Ladakh Road Trip

Leh – Ladakh the crown of India or the Land of high passes is the dreamland of every adventurist. It boasts to be the land where the valleys extend in several kilometers, where mountains are dotted with innumerable ancient Buddhist Monasteries, where the sky is cobalt blue during the day and fill with infinity stars at night, where you can see a shooting star every moment, where there is a desert on one end and the high Rocky Mountains on others. But do you know to see all this, one needs to cross the most Treacherous Roads, with poor connectivity and sometimes huge traffic jams. Yes! You read it right. Here the quote “Difficult roads often lead you to beautiful destinations” perfectly fits in. So, in this post, we have compiled up certain pointers that you must keep in mind before heading for the Ladakh road trip.

Dos and Donts for Ladakh Road Trip

Do make sure you know how to Drive in the mountains

Whether you enter from Manali and take exit via Srinagar or vice –versa, roads are narrow and serpentine with lots of mud, gravel, and potholes. So, take a decision to drive to Leh Ladakh only if you are confident with your driving skills. Otherwise, hire a cab or take a flight to Leh and you can check the Leh Ladakh Road Trip itinerary here.

Don’t Rush

Leh Ladakh road trip is one of the most scenic road trips in India. Indeed, there are unlimited panoramas on the way. So be slow, make unsolicited stops to capture gushing rivers, glaciers, pitch blue skies, and locals.

Near KhardungLa, Ladakh Road Trip

We reached Leh from Delhi on the fourth Day, making multiple stops. And the maximum of these was on the Srinagar  Leh Highway. But have no regrets as every stoppage left a unique impression on the heart.

Do Rest and Acclimatize, before heading to the next stop

While road tripping to Leh Ladakh from Delhi one should gain altitude slowly and gradually. This will give the body enough time to adapt to the low oxygen levels with ever-increasing altitude. Indeed it will help to beat or avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) / Altitude Sickness. In case, you still suffer from it, then take Diamox.

We also suggest you to consult your doctor prior to your Leh Ladakh road trip if you have any breathing issues.

Don’t refer to Google Maps for the time frame

We all rely on Google Maps for getting time estimates to reach a particular destination but at the same time, we suggest you not to rely on Google Maps when in the land of High passes. Here, the map may show you just a distance of 100 kilometers which can be covered in 3 hours, but in actual it takes around 6-7 hours to cover it. So, the only advice is to start your journey early and retire for the day too timely.

Treacherous Roads in Ladakh which will definitely longer

Do make sure your documents are complete

Ladakh lies in a sensitive zone as it shares its border with neighboring countries like China and Pakistan. So, everyone needs special permits to enter and roam in this zone. Indians need  Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit and foreign Nationals need Protected Area Permit to visit them. You can read all about the Inner Line Permit here, before taking a road trip to Ladakh.

Tso Moriri
Tso Moriri

Don’t attempt to take Shortcuts

Shortcuts are alluring. They might take you through the most adventurous routes but can be equally dangerous, especially in Leh Ladakh. So we advise you not to follow GPS in Leh Ladakh and stay on the highways only. Locals can give you the best, recent updates on the routes. Talk to them before leaving.

Do make a visit to the Leh Ladakh Palaces before they Disappear

Leh Ladakh castles are architectural marvels on the hilltop hidden from the rest of the world. They might have been majestic during their eras but today only their ruins and rubble exist. So we advise you to take little detours where ever required and visit these palaces before they completely disappear.

Stok Palace - Ladakh Road Trip

We explored 6 Leh Ladakh Palaces during our Leh Ladakh Road trip and each one was completely unique in its own way.

Don’t depend on Phone and Internet Connectivity

Phone and Internet connectivity is extremely sparse in Ladakh, especially after crossing Sonamarg. Airtel postpaid and BSNL works well in Leh and other tourist towns like Kargil on the way,  whereas in Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Tso Kar only BSNL works. The Leh Ladakh road trip was a perfect way to digital detox but we think it won’t be in the coming years as we saw the phone connection lines getting spread on most of the routes.

During our road trip to Leh Ladakh, most of the guesthouses were offering net connectivity but the speed was really slow because of multiple users.

Do carry some Food Supplies and Medicines

Ladakh is considered as one of the remotest areas, after Spiti Valley. Getting medical supplies and eateries while road tripping can be really tough here. So, we suggest you to always carry some eateries and medicine with you in the car. Also, if there is an emergency do take help from the locals. They are for sure one of the happiest people to help.

Views of Keylong - ladakh Road Trip

Don’t be Fussy about Food and Accommodation

Remember, Leh Ladakh lies at an altitude above 10,000 feet where the living conditions are extremely tough and resources are limited. So, stop cribbing. Go with the limited expectation and accept happily whatever you get. Rest, soak your eyes and soul with natural beauty.

Do carry multiple layers of clothes

While heading from one destination to another in Leh Ladakh there is a high altitude variation. For e.g. while heading to Nubra valley from Leh, you cross KhardungLa at 18,000 feet to reach 11,000 feet, which itself means a lot of temperature change. So, the advice is to carry multiple thin layers of clothes. This will keep your body as warm as required, without making you sick.

At Sonamarg - ladakh Road

Don’t forget to charge your Camera Batteries

Every frame on the Leh Ladakh road trip is click-worthy. So remember to charge your camera batteries and also carry some extra batteries along. Electricity supply is there in all the major towns on the way except at Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Tso Kar.

That is all you need to remember about planning a Leh Ladakh Road Trip. If you plan well nothing can stop you from soaking yourself with gorgeous panoramas.

The humble request is to travel responsibly. Please do not litter anywhere in the Himalayas and get your plastic waste back. Help locals wherever you can.

Dos and Donts for Ladakh Road Trip

Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi – 13 days itinerary

Some of the places are always your dream destinations; even after knowing that they are well connected by roads but still cut out from the rest of the world. Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi was one of our dreams. We were trying to accomplish this 3500 km road trip dream for three years and finally, it happened in 2017.

Route Map for Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Route Map

The each landscape, mountain, road, stream throughout the road trip is unique and has its own tale. So, now do we have?

Starting with Julley! Joolay! Julley from Ladakh- the land of high passes is a mesmerizing, indeed a magical word to say Hi, Hello, Namaste, Welcome and goodbye. It brings a smile whenever we say it. Anyways we have lots to talk about this epic road trip; starting with the itinerary or travel guide for Leh Ladakh road trip.

13 days itinerary for Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi

13 days Itinerary for Leh Ladakh road trip

There are two routes to reach Leh – one from Manali and another from Srinagar, Sonamarg. We did the circuit route, starting from Jammu to Leh and back via old Manali. So, we will be talking about the 13 days guide on it.

Day 1 (Delhi – Jammu)

Start from Delhi around 6-7 am and try to cover the distance till Jammu.

Route: Delhi – Ambala- Khanna- Ludhiana –Pathankot- Jammu

Total Distance: 588 Km

Total Time: 10 -12 Hrs

The condition of roads: Excellent; National Highway with multiple tolls. The whole route is plains.

Places to explore on the way: Nothing much except the huge swaying paddy field of Punjab.

Route to Jammu - Leh Ladakh Road trip from Delhi

Day 2 (Jammu – Srinagar- Sonamarg)

Start from Jammu around 7 am to reach Srinagar or Sonamarg. We planned to stay at Sonamarg instead of Srinagar because of the unrest going in Srinagar from the past few days.

Route: Jammu – Udhampur – Ramban- Anantnag – Srinagar – Sonamarg

Total Distance: 336 km

Total Time: 8-10 hrs

Condition of roads: Excellent; National Highway with tolls, plain as well as hilly drive

Tunnels: India’s longest 9 Km tunnel; Chenani – Nashri (also known as Patnitop tunnel) has got opened in 2017 itself and it has cut short the total distance by 41 km. Another, 3 km long Jawahar Tunnel; also known as Banihal Tunnel.

Places to explore on the way: Dal Lake, Shikara ride in Srinagar, and huge golden meadows of Sonamarg.

Dal Lake, Srinagar - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Dal Lake, Srinagar

Day 3 (Sonamarg – Drass – Kargil)

In the morning get up early to see the first sun rays striking the mountain peaks of Sonamarg, roam and feel its golden meadows (the real Kashmir). And leave for Kargil by 10 -11 am.

Route: Sonamarg- Baltal- Drass – Kargil

Total Distance: 125 km

Total Time: 3 -4 hrs direct-drive whereas 6-7 hrs with sightseeing

Condition of roads: Excellent roads but few broken patches too

Passes: Zoji La Pass at 11,575 feet which connects Kashmir and Ladakh Valley

Places to explore on the way: Zojila Pass, Zero Point, Baltal from where Amarnath yatra begins, Drass war memorial, Elephant ridge, view of Tiger Hill, Kargil War Memorial and apricot plantations

Zero Point at ZojiLa - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Zero Point at ZojiLa

Day 4 (Kargil- Lamayuru – Leh)

Leave from Kargil around 9 am to have full time for sightseeing on the way.

Route: Kargil – Mulbekh-  Fotu La pass – Lamayuru – Leh

Total Distance: 217 km

Total Time: 8 -9 hrs with sightseeing

The condition of roads: Continuous ascent and descents; good roads with few broken patches in between.

Passes: Namika La at an altitude of 12139 feet and Fotu La pass at an altitude of 13,478 feet

Places to explore on the way: At Mulbekh, the future Buddha statue dating back to the 1st century, Fotu La Pass, the ruins of Chiktan Fort; at Lamayuru the old Lamayuru monastery and moon lands, Gurdwara Pathar Sahib at Nimu, the magnetic hill and confluence of Indus – Zanskar River.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW_XX9oB-H7/?taken-by=suruchimittal

In between the journey there are several attractions to explore on Srinagar Leh Highway. Don’t miss them!

Day 5 & Day 6: (Leh)

Take rest, get acclimatized, and explore the city of Lamas.

Places to explore: Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Hall of fame; Hemis monastery (45 km from Leh); and Leh market. Take a permit from the DC office to further explore Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.

Also on the way, you must explore –6 must visit Leh Ladakh Palaces before they disappear

On the way to Leh - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi

Day 7 (Leh –Nubra/Nobra Valley – Hunder)

Route: Leh – North Pullu -Khardungla Pass – South Pullu – Diskit – Hunder

Total Distance: 127 km

Total Time: 6-7 hrs with sightseeing

The condition of roads: Completely broken patch of 20 km at and around Khardung La till South Pullu.

Passes: Khardung La, the highest motorable road and pass at an altitude of 18380 feet

Places to explore on the way: Khardungla Pass, Diskit Monastery; the tallest statue of Maitreya Buddha and Hunder Sand dunes.

Nubra Valley - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Hunder; Nubra Valley

Day 8 (Hunder – Pangong Tso)

There are two routes to reach Pangong Lake from Khalsar (33 Km from Hunder); one via Shyok and another via Leh. Check with the BRO (Border roads organization) or locals if the route from Shyok is accessible or not. During our travel, there was a major landslide on the Shyok way, so we had to travel all the way from Khardung La again to reach Pangong Tso.

Route: Hunder – Khardungla- Leh – Thiksey – Changa- Tangtse – Pangong Tso  OR  Hunder – Khalsar – Shyok – Tangtse – Pangong Tso

Total Distance: 240 Km via Shyok and 351 km via Leh

Total Time: 8 hrs via Shyok and 11 – 12 hrs via Leh

The condition of roads: The roads are bad at and around Kardungla. Gushing streams; and the paved road is on the way to Pangong from Changla whereas for the other route via Shyok; local taxi driver narrated that the route has many streams flowing on the road itself and sometimes it gets impossible to judge the depth and condition of the road.

Passes: Kardungla Pass at 18380 feet and Chang La pass at 17590 feet

Places to explore on the way: Pangong Lake, Chang La pass, Shyok River, ruins of Shey Palace, Thiksey monastery, Hemis monastery.

Pangong Lake - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Pangong Tso

Day 9 (Pangong Tso – Tso Moriri)

Route: Spangmik- Man- Merak – Chushul- Nyoma -Tso Moriri

Total Distance: 215 km

Total Time: 7 -9 Hrs

The condition of roads: Gravel and dirt tracks with streams flowing in between and you can drive maximum at a speed of 20-30 km/hr.

Places to explore on the way: Kaygar Tso, Tso Moriri, Chushul pass, Rezang La, Tsaka La, Namashang La  and straight roads traversing among the barren mountains

Tso Moriri - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Tso Moriri

Day10. (Tso Moriri – Tso Kar)

Route

Total Distance: 90 km

Total Time: 4-5 hrs

The condition of roads: Gravel and dirt tracks, enclosed amidst the mountains. One can drive max at a speed of 20-30 km/hr (which can be irritating after a span). The road at Tso Kar village is metalled, a well-made road.

Places to explore on the way: Kaygar Tso, Puga hot springs, Polo KongKa La, and Salt deposits around Tso Kar Lake.

Kyagar Tso - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Kyagar Tso

Day 11 (Tso Kar – Keylong)

Start early from Tso Kar to reach Keylong by evening and trust me this is the most scenic ride.

Route: TsoKar – Debring – Pang -Sarchu – Zing Zing Bar –Jispa – Keylong

Total Distance: 250 km

Total Time: 8-10 hrs

Condition of roads: From Tso Kar to Manali Leh highway dirt road whereas afterward excellent paved roads till Pang, then continuous ascents, and descents with paved as well as dirt road patches, and too have to cross the famous Gata loops i.e. 21 loops within 6.5 kilometers

Passes: Lachalung La at an altitude of 16,616 feet, Lakeela at 15547 feet and BaraLacha at 16,040 feet

Places to explore on the way: Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal, Gata loops, Lachalung, Lakeela, and Baralacha pass

Gata Loops - Leh ladakh road trip from Delhi
Gata Loops (21 loops in 6.5 km)

Day 12 (Keylong – Manali)

The Keylong to Manali route is lush green and it’s just a 4-5 hr drive if the ascent to Rohtang pass is in good shape.

Route: Keylong – Sissu – Rohtang Pass – Marhi – Manali

Total Distance: 115 km

Total Time: 4-5 hrs

The condition of roads: From Keylong to Sissu excellent paved roads, then continuous bad road while the ascent of Rohtang pass and the good road while descents. Few gushing water streams in-between the roads.

Passes: Rohtang pass at an altitude of 13,050 feet

Places to explore on the way: Lots of seasonal waterfalls; Tourist Sissu village, Rohtang Pass, Old Manali, and lots of apple orchards. Note: You don’t need Rohtang Pass Permit while coming back from Leh to Manali. Also, shop the famous Bhuttico Kullu Shawls & Accessories known as the Gift of Kullu Valley.

Old Manali Bridge - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
Old Manali Bridge

Day 13 (Manali – Delhi)

It is always tough to say goodbye to the valleys and it was toughest for Leh Ladakh road trip. The last day is going to be a long hectic drive day.

Route: Manali – Mandi – Rupnagar- Ambala – Panipat – Delhi

Total Distance: 537 Km

Total Time: 11-12 hrs

Condition of roads: Excellent, national highway

Places to explore on the way: Mandi; Chandigarh and delicious Punjabi food at Dhabas.

On the way to Mandi - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
On the way to Mandi

Certain important Points for Leh Ladakh Road Trip

  • All these routes can be covered in a lesser time than mentioned, but we suggest stopping and taking the enthralling views.
  • There is neither a hurry to rush and reach anywhere in the valley, so drive slowly.
  • Listen to the locals for advice as they know the valleys better than a traveler.
  • Don’t drive at night as first you will miss the views and it is really risky. And if your vehicle breaks down there is nobody to help around for miles.
  • Spend a day or two at Leh, to get acclimatized for the higher altitudes.
  • Prepare yourself for AMS (Acute mountain sickness) which can vary just from a mild headache to breathlessness. If one is feeling severe restlessness, look for immediate help at the nearest shack or with BRO.

  • For certain areas in the valley, you need to take the Inner Line Permit.
  • Always have a day or two buffers in the Leh Ladakh road trip, as one never knows neither can predict the present and future situation of roads and landslides here.
  • Get your vehicles fuelled up at Leh as the next fuel station is available at Tandi, 365 km from Keylong.
  • For covering Tso Moriri and white Lake Tso Kar on the way from Pangong Lake, do carry extra fuel; at least 20 liters or even more.
  • If you are planning to go to Tso Kar directly from Pangong lake (which is 7-8 hrs journey), on the way you will cross Taglang La which is the world’s second-highest pass at an altitude 17,582 feet.
    TaglangLa - Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi
    Taglang La
  • Drink lots of water and say complete no to drinks while driving and during your whole Leh Ladakh road trip. This is for the safety as well as helps to get acclimatized
  • Don’t litter around in the valley.
  • The idea of Leh Ladakh road trip itself means being in the lap of nature; away from the daily hustle-bustle and social media. We simply mean that here there is no network. If you want to be in continuous touch with your family and friends do carry a BSNL sim.
  • ATM services are available at Srinagar, Leh and then at Keylong. So carry enough cash during your Leh Ladakh road trip and keep some as a buffer.
  • There are a lot of options for accommodations. Luckily, we got nice accommodation everywhere without booking but we recommend to have pre-bookings for the Leh Ladakh road trip.
  • In between, there are multiple shacks to enjoy Maggi, tea, coffee, paranthas, omelet, etc. These shacks do provide homestays too at very reasonable rates.
  • There are washrooms at the shacks for nature’s call and one needs to shell 5 -10 Rs each time.

Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi: 13 days itinerary

This is just the start of our Leh Ladakh road trip travel series. Stay tuned to know and see more in detail.

You might be interested in checking our other series of Ladakh too:

Nubra Valley: The Valley of Flowers in Ladakh

A day at White Lake Tso Kar in Ladakh

Attractions on the Srinagar Leh Highway

Ladakh-The land of High Passes

All you need to know about Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit

6 must-visit Leh Ladakh Palaces before they disappear

A Walk with Indian Soldier at Kargil War Memorial

Leh Palace

Hemis Monastery

Story of Gata loops, Manali Leh Highway

Dos and Donts for Ladakh road trip

All you need to know about Rohtang Pass Permit

Sonamarg Kashmir- The Golden Meadows of India

Our Love for Old Manali over Main Manali

You can also read about our other Spiti Valley road trip here.