2024 Leh Ladakh Road Trip - Most Common Itinerary for Tourists

On request of some avid readers of the blog and so many like-minded travelers seeking guidance for their tour to Leh – Ladakh, I would like to sketch below one of the most popular Ladakh itineraries. Many of Leh – Ladakh lovers follow it, including me, as it covers all three major tourist destinations of Ladakh, including Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, and Tso Moriri Lake.

Hindi – Best Ladakh Road Trip Itinerary in 12 Days | 2024 Leh Ladakh Trip by Road Plan

The itinerary also covers the Srinagar Leh Highway as well as the Manali – Leh Highway, so it is apt for those looking forward to covering the entire Ladakh circuit. If you are making a trip to Ladakh in winter, then better refer most common itinerary for a winter trip to Ladakh

Download your FREE high-resolution version pdf copy of this Leh Ladakh day by day plan infographic guide. If, you liked it and found it helpful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends to help them too.

Let's quickly dive into the details:

Why travel Ladakh from Srinagar side?

I have started from Srinagar side because it gives at least two benefits, if not more. First, the body gets better acclimatized due to gradual ascent by the time you reach Leh and when you return from Manali Leh Highway, hence fewer chances of getting stuck with Acute Mountain Sickness (more info on AMS) and more enjoyment of views on Manali – Leh Highway.

If you start via Manali – Leh Highway, then most of the terrain runs over 4000 Mtrs of altitude, and by the time you reach such altitude, your body is not properly acclimatized. Hence, many people fall sick on Manali – Leh Highway despite covering in a 25:75 ratio (Manali – Keylong, Keylong – Leh) in terms of distance.

Dheeraj Sharma

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Secondly, you save one day as Tso Moriri and Tso Kar Lakes can be adjusted once you start towards Manali from Leh. This way, you are not required to return to Leh from Tso Moriri to go toward Kargil or Srinagar.

~~Finally, you need to get inner line permits to travel to Tso Moriri which you will not get when traveling from Manali side. The permits need to be stamped in Leh Information Center or Leh DC office.~~ Since 2022, permits are not required for domestic tourists to travel anywhere in Ladakh including the Umling La pass. You only need to pay the environment/green/ecology fee and carry a receipt of the payment

For now, these reasons are good enough to start your Ladakh journey from Srinagar side 🙂 …

Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso Direct Route via Shyok Village — Looking for an itinerary for Leh Ladakh trip?

12-14 Days Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Road

When you plan for the Ladakh trip, it is better to plan the trip with a good number of days in hand. Cramming too many places in the Ladakh road trip does not make any sense because you will not enjoy the real beauty of the trip. Hence, I have kept about 12-14 days for this common itinerary of Ladakh trip.

Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu / Patnitop

Overnight at Jammu or Patnitop
About a 12-13 Hours drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 2 | Jammu / Patnitop – Srinagar

Enjoy a walk around Dal Lake and maybe a Shikara ride as well
Overnight at Srinagar
About an 8-9 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 3 | Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil

Enjoy the vistas en route near Sonamarg
Have a meal at Drass during lunch
Overnight at Kargil
About an 8-hour drive, depending upon the traffic movement at Zozila and the breaks you take in between.

Day 4 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh

Cover Mulbekh Maitreya, Lamayuru Monastery, Lunar Landscapes
On the way, you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, and other parts of Sham Valley
Overnight at Leh
About a 9-10 Hours drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 5 | Leh Local Sightseeing

To know about the places to visit in/around Leh, check my Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh
Since 2022, permits are not required for domestic tourists to travel anywhere in Ladakh including the Umling La pass. You only need to pay the environment/green/ecology fee and carry a receipt of the payment.
Check the Leh – Ladakh taxi union rate list for 2024 – 25 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh.
You can call the local drivers directly to connect with them and check the more comprehensive List of Taxi Drivers for Ladakh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali with recommendations/reviews for DoW community members.
Overnight at Leh

Chusul Village - Leh to Pangong Tso Bus Service ends here — A Village in Ladakh

Day 6 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder

Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder / Diskit
On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La
Diskit has monasteries with the tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari
About a 5-6 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between and at Khardung La

Day 7 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh

Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
Overnight at Leh
About a 7-9 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 8 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake

Cover either of Hemis, Thiksey, and Shey on the go toward Pangong Tso
Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung)
About a 5-6 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 9 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh

Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey, and Shey on return to Leh
Overnight at Leh
About a 5-6 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 10 | Rest day at Leh

Enjoy local culture, shopping, or rest in Leh
Sham Valley includes Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, Gurudwara Pather Sahib
Overnight at Leh

Day 11 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang

Cover Karzok Monastery
Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri
About a 7-8 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 12 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring (Manali – Leh Highway starts) – Moore Plains – Sarchu

Try to start early in the day so that you reach Sarchu where the accommodation options are better than in Pang
Overnight at Sarchu
About 8 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 13 | Sarchu – Baralacha La – Keylong – Atal Tunnel – Manali

On the way cover Suraj Tal, and Deepak Tal which are on the roadsides only
Overnight at Manali
About 6 Hrs drive

Day 14 | Manali – Delhi

Return Home
About a 12-14 Hrs drive from Manali to Delhi, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Day 15 + 16

Buffer days are to be kept in case of road closure due to landslides or snowfall or perhaps you want to enjoy more.

Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso Direct Route Option

You can save a day by making a direct trip to Pangong Tso from Nubra Valley as suggested below.

Day 7 | Hunder / Diskit – Shyok village / Wari La route – Pangong Tso

Take the direct route from Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso either via Shyok village or Wari La pass whichever is open.
Since 2019, the direct route between Nubra Valley – Shyok Village – Pangong Tso has stabilized a lot. It is not at all desolate in the season anymore as it used to be a few years back.
A lot of people do this route nowadays, so it should be fine for you to do that route as well. Just enquire at Agham village on the safer side or wait for a couple of cars to tag along on the route.
Overnight at Pangong Tso.
About a 6-10 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between and the route you take between Shyok and Wari La.

Day 8 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh

Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey, and Shey on return to Leh
Overnight at Leh
About a 6-7 Hrs drive, depending upon the breaks you take in between

Alternatively, you can also make a day trip to Pangong Tso (if Shyok village and Wari La pass routes are closed) as below but that makes it a bit in case.