Every day on my blog or social media accounts, I get a lot of questions like “What should I wear in Ladakh?” or “What clothes I should carry for Leh Ladakh trip?” or “What should I pack for my Ladakh trip?”. These are very genuine questions, and one should always think about carrying clothes for a Ladakh trip.
In today’s article, I will try to enlist some important tips that will help you pack your Clothes for Ladakh, especially at the start of the season (April to June) and end of the season (September to October).
Let's quickly dive into the details:
Shoulder Season for Ladakh
I specifically want to target the shoulder season months because people living in the plains tend to forget that you may have to face winter-like cold conditions up there in Leh Ladakh even in May – June or September – October.
Hence, you should be prepared with proper clothing when visiting Ladakh in these shoulder months of the season when the cold conditions are about to settle in the region, or they are about to fade away.
It is also important that you should also be aware of the best time to visit Leh Ladakh.
July – August is considered to be pleasant, and light woolens mostly do the job for you in these months. In the winter months, when both Manali Leh Highway and Srinagar Leh Highway are closed due to heavy snow, then the conditions are icy. In such winter months, you need very heavy woolen to survive.
We can talk separately in some other article about preparing yourself for the winter Ladakh tour. Hence, the tricky windows are from April to June and September to October. So, in this article, I will mainly focus on clothes to wear in Ladakh in these months.
![How to prepare for long-distance motorcycle ride to Ladakh or Spiti? [6 Things to Know]](https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/yt_vid_thumbs/ladakh/85.png)
Things to Know for Carrying Clothes on Ladakh Trip
The basic thing for making your Ladakh trip a successful one and learning how to prepare for Leh Ladakh trip is that, at any cost, you MUST KEEP yourself warm enough always with proper woolen clothing and always wear shoes all the time with socks.
This helps you keep yourself warm and reduces the chances of getting hit by Acute Mountain Sickness or cold. You must always protect your chest from the cold winds all the time. When the cold is severe, it is also important to protect the neck portion as well using full Balaclava, maybe.
You should always carry your own water bottle and refill it as many times as you need water. It will not only keep you hydrated always, but you will also help in saving the Himalayas from plastic garbage. Remember, every tiny step counts and you can help save the Himalayas too !! π π
The second thing on clothes to wear in Ladakh is that you must carry clothes that can be worn in layers because it helps you adjust to the fluctuating temperatures in the sun and shades, up there in Ladakh.
Yes, in these start and end season months of Ladakh travel, when the sun is shining, everything appears good and suddenly you enter a shaded portion with the wind blowing, which is cold enough to have a jacket π β¦
Hence, take due care about it and avoid letting the cold flow inside the body in such cases as well.
Keeping such factors in mind, I will recommend below a general list of clothes to carry on a Leh Ladakh trip.
![What are tips for long-distance bike ride in Ladakh or Spiti? [10 Practical Tips]](https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/yt_vid_thumbs/ladakh/86.png)
What should I wear in Ladakh?
- Inner thermals 2-3 pairs (must have)
- A fleece jacket, windcheater jacket or windproof jacket to prevent the winds (must have)
- Good insulated boots or trekking shoes in winter. In summer, any sports shoes should be fine.
- Woolen socks 2-3 pairs
- Heavy woolens 2-3 sets – Sweatshirts, pullovers, warm hoodies
- Comfortable trekking/traveling pants or trousers. Better to be warm in winter or carry a couple of jeans (my favorite)
- A heavy woolen wind-proof jacket or parka is always handy throughout the year as a contingency too if weather changes even in summer months
- Carry at least 1-2 caps to protect yourself from direct sunlight as it is too harsh in this region to protect yourself from UV rays. Kids especially should wear caps or hats all the time when out there in the sun.
- Carry at least 1 Balaclava or monkey cap, especially in winter months
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the reflections of snow
- An extra pair of shoes/gumboots in case people are on bikes and are expecting a lot of water crossings,
- Hand gloves must-have in the months of October to June.
- The remaining list of things to pack for Ladakh trip.
Important Tip: Especially, in the months of September and October, the UV rays are harshest and you must protect your skin using Hats / Caps and good high-SPF sunscreen lotions.
This list of clothes and equipment will answer your question in general. However, the list mainly focuses on shoulder months and suits for all other months too. However, for an appropriate month-by-month reference of what to carry, you can refer to the FAQ section below.
In the end, it is always nice to take some candies, chocolates, books, pens, pencils, crayons etc. anything that you can distribute among the local children. Nothing but the smile on their face would be too much worth it.
FAQs – Leh Ladakh Packing
Let us look at some of the most common questions asked about packing things for a Leh Ladakh trip.
Packing for Ladakh trip depends mainly on the month you are traveling to Ladakh. I have already detailed the list of clothing you can carry on a Ladakh trip in the above sections of the article which also contains the link to the remaining list of important things to pack for Ladakh trip.
Preparing for the Ladakh trip requires planning, patience, and reading some good articles on Discover with Dheeraj blog. This article helps you with what clothes should you pack for a Leh Ladakh trip. You can also refer to Ladakh’s main menu on this website for all the answers you need to prepare for a successful Ladakh trip.
January is a winter month, hence, you must carry heavy woolens for a Ladakh trip in January. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in January are listed as
— a heavy woolen jacket or parka (windproof),
— balaclava or monkey cap,
— inner thermals,
— fleece jacket,
— heavy woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— warm insulated shoes or trekking boots,
— warm hand gloves and
— sunglasses
February is also a winter month. Hence, you must carry heavy woolen for a Ladakh trip in February. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in February are listed as
— heavy woolen jacket or parka (windproof),
— balaclava or monkey cap,
— inner thermals,
— fleece jacket,
— heavy woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— warm insulated shoes or trekking boots,
— warm hand gloves and,
— sunglasses
March is also considered to be a winter month, but snow clearance begins on Manali Leh Road and Srinagar Leh Road. Hence, you must carry heavy woolen for a Ladakh trip in March. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to take to Ladakh in March are listed as
— heavy woolen jacket or parka (windproof),
— balaclava or monkey cap,
— inner thermals,
— fleece jacket,
— heavy woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— warm insulated shoes or trekking boots,
— warm hand gloves and,
— sunglasses
I also consider April to be a winter month in Ladakh even though the snow clearance operations are in full swing on Manali Leh Highway and Srinagar Leh Highway. Hence, you must carry heavy woolen for a Ladakh trip in April. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to bring to Ladakh in April are listed as
— heavy woolen jacket or parka (windproof),
— woolen cap,
— inner thermals,
— fleece jacket,
— heavy woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— warm insulated shoes or trekking boots and,
— sunglasses
May is when the weather starts to change in Ladakh, and the temperature begins to rise. However, most high-altitude places away from Leh town like Khardung La, Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri still have icy conditions. So, you must carry heavy woolen for a Ladakh trip in May as well. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in May are listed as
— fleece jacket or light woolen jacket (windproof),
— heavy woolen jacket or parka,
— woolen cap,
— inner thermals,
— light woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— regular sports shoes or hiking boots and,
— sunglasses
June is when summer finally arrives in Ladakh. Both Manali Leh Highway and Srinagar Leh Highway open up, and tourists begin to flow into Ladakh. Now, you need to make a balance of woolen clothes. Hence, you must carry a mix of light and heavy woolens for a Ladakh trip in June. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in June are listed as
— fleece jacket or light woolen jacket (windproof),
— woolen cap and regular cap or hat,
— inner thermals,
— light woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— regular sports shoes or hiking boots
— gumboots for bike riders,
— sunglasses and,
— heavy woolen jacket or parka only for contingency
July is when it starts to further warm a bit in Ladakh. It becomes pretty pleasant mostly, but overcast conditions can make you cold too. Hence, light woolens are still necessary. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in July are listed as
— fleece jacket or light woolen jacket (windproof),
— regular cap or hat,
— light woolen clothing,
— regular socks,
— regular sports shoes or hiking boots,
— gumboots for bike riders and,
— sunglasses
August mostly gets rains in Northern India, but Ladakh is a rain shadow region. In general, it remains pretty pleasant mostly, but overcast conditions can make you cold in August. Hence, light woolens are still necessary. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in July are listed as
— fleece jacket or light woolen jacket (windproof),
— regular cap or hat,
— light woolen clothing,
— regular socks,
— regular sports shoes or hiking boots,
— gumboots for bike riders and,
— sunglasses
September is the month when the cold starts to set in Ladakh, and winter-like conditions begin to prevail. Snow is mostly gone, but high-altitude places like Khardungla, Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri are pretty cold in the morning and evenings. Not to forget September 2018 when a snowstorm caused lots of casualties. Hence, you must be very prepared with clothing starting from September up to June. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in September are listed as
— fleece jacket or light woolen jacket (windproof),
— woolen cap and regular cap or hat,
— light woolen clothing,
— regular socks,
— regular sports shoes or hiking boots,
— gumboots for bike riders,
— sunglasses and,
— heavy woolen jacket or parka only for contingency
Come October, winter-like conditions further grasp the entire Ladakh, and snowfall starts getting common. Now, you need to make a balance of woolen clothes. Hence, you must carry a mix of light and heavy woolens for a Ladakh trip in October. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to take to Ladakh in October are listed as
— fleece jacket or light woolen jacket (windproof),
— woolen cap and regular cap or hat,
— inner thermals,
— light woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— regular sports shoes or hiking boots,
— sunglasses and,
— heavy woolen jacket or parka only for contingency
November is a winter month. Hence, you must carry heavy woolen for a Ladakh trip in November. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in November are listed as
— heavy woolen jacket or parka (windproof),
— woolen cap or balaclava or monkey cap,
— inner thermals,
— fleece jacket,
— heavy woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— warm insulated shoes or trekking boots and,
— sunglasses
December is a winter month. Hence, you must carry heavy woolen for a Ladakh trip in December. Among the list mentioned in this article, the must-have clothing items to carry to Ladakh in December are listed as
— heavy woolen jacket or parka (windproof),
— balaclava or monkey cap,
— inner thermals,
— fleece jacket,
— heavy woolen clothing,
— woolen socks,
— warm insulated shoes or trekking boots,
— warm hand gloves and,
— sunglasses
Conclusion
I hope these travel tips for the Ladakh trip help you prepare yourself with the right list of clothing items to carry on a Ladakh trip. Now, you know the secrets of how to pack your clothes especially when you are traveling to Ladakh, especially in the shoulder season months.
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265 Comments
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Hello
We are 5 friends and 1 mechanic leaving manali on 2nd sept.
2nd : manali to jispa
3rd : jispa to Leh
4th : rest and near by places
5th: leh – Nubra
6th: nubra – pangong
7th: pangong to leh
8th: leh- jispa
9th- jispa to manali
And 1 we have 1 day buffer, so how we should utilize it ? IS our plan is ok or we need to change something.
We dont have backup vehicle is it ok ?
We have 5 bikes 3500cc and 5 people only mechanic will be extra isnit fine ??
It should be fine, you all can keep shifting him to different bikes.
The plan looks good to me, you will be fine with this plan and with one buffer days it seals it fine.
Hi Dheeraj
my solo bike ride is starting from sept 23rd 2017 from delhi-jammu-srinagar-kargil-leh-diskit-leh-pongang tso-pang-manali-delhi. my bike is classic 350 ran 16000 km,i have following doubts
1. climate at this time
2. condition of routes/roads
3. which places we can get cheap accommodation
4. any more suggestion
thanks®ards
Sonu,
1. Climate will be cool to cold at places. Days will be warm mostly.
2. Road conditions in general are better in comparison to rest of the season.
3. 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
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 β Ladakh.
thank you so much
Thank u so much
Hiiii dheeraj,
Your suggestions are very helpful.
Yesterday only me & my husband decided to go to leh for 9 days on 28th aug.
I hv very short span of time to manage everything.please tell me about whether.best itinerary.we want to stay at a peaceful and cozy hotel.
What type of clothes we can wear in sep?
Thanx already for each and every advice u share with ur own
Hi Lavina,
I can share the plan only if you tell what is your return date or days you have. How you are traveling to Leh, by road or by air from both sides?
You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh by Air followed by many travelers including me at the link here for 9 days: Leh β Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air.
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 2017 – 18 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. 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.
Check the list of things to carry for Leh – Ladakh or other trip including basic medical kit, clothing, must haves etc. at the link here: List of Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh trip.
To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
I am travelling by air from delhi .return date is 6 sep morning.
The most about i am confused is hotel booking.
We also interested in bike riding but can we roam within the leh city on bike?
Last thing i wanna ask,should i take more clothes as its almost 10 days packing or it would be heavy to take
In September, you can do hotel bookings on the spot as well, just book the taxi by getting in touch with local taxi drivers. They wull also help you finding the right contact. You have about 9 days and the link I shared previously will just suit you and you can follow the same travel plan.
I am travelling by air from delhi .return date is 6 sep morning.
The most about i am confused is hotel booking.
We also interested in bike riding but can we roam within the leh city on bike?
Just replied to other comment.
hai dheeraj
this a wonderful, appreciatable work you are doing here. I and mine 2 friends are planning a trip to lah and nearby places it is totally a 14-day trip [Sep 14 to 28]. I want to know is there any problem to travel through a zoom car. I heard some of the mine friends there a rental mafia they may be blocked or disturb travellers those who rent a car outside the leh. is it true? plz, respond. thank you
First of all thanx to Dheeraj for your wonderful informative article.
Hie Anurag Dabas
It’s actually for you. I am having all most same plan like you. I believe you had a wonderful experience at Leh. So kindly share your experience and clarifyβ the doubts what you have mentioned in your earlier comment as I am having the same too.
Hi Dheeraj,
How are you? I have booked by leh tickets and will be following the itinerary from Aug 8 -Aug 19. How Good is the weather during this time and during the bike trip we would like to do water rafting ? Is this possible ? If yes, where?
I am good, thank you !!
Ladakh is a rain shadow region and it does not rain much in Ladakh but in case you are doing the bike trip from Delhi, well you have to face monsoon hassles in lower hills and other parts of North India. I will suggest read: 10 Tips for a Trip to Ladakh in Monsoons
Thanks for your comment . I am not Travelling from Delhi, I am taking the flight from Delhi to leh and following the ” common itinerary by air suggested by you. Any updates on rafting ?
Well, Rafting closes at times in August if the water level increases in Indus and Zanskar Rivers. On an overcast day I will anyways avoid rafting.
We are planning a road trip from Delhi to leh by self driven car starting from 12th july.how can we plan it? And what type of clothes and medicine needed.we are three persons.we husband, wife and our 22year old son
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 β 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 list of good restaurants in Leh – Ladakh or eateries or food joints where food is enjoyed by many travellers including me, you can check the link here: List of Good Restaurants in Leh β Ladakh | Restaurant Reviews
Check the list of things to carry for Leh – Ladakh or other trip including basic medical kit, clothing, must haves etc. at the link here: List of Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh trip.
To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
Hi,
may be a basic query: what trousers are suitable for Manali to Leh bike trip. normal jeans and cargo pants are good enough?
Vinod, cargo pants are always comfortable. If you are buying it now, better go with a material which dries quickly. You can get such something like: QUECHUA FORCLAZ 50 Quick Dry Pants OR QUECHUA ARPENAZ 100 – Quick Dry Pants
Hi, i am travelling to leh from 23rd June -3rd July of 2017. by this time of the year are all the roads open for sight seeing to places like pangong lake, nubra valley etc etc.??? can u give me some idea about the weather conditions during my travel period as i will be travelling to Manali and then gradually moving towards leh.
also if u can give some valuable suggestions about what kind of clothes should i pack. Because its the early start of the season and i dont know how cold the weather conditions are towards the end of June
Yes, by 23rd June all roads in Ladakh and Manali – Leh, Srinagar – Leh will be open during that time. High passes as Khardung La and Chang la will have snow as well and hence, will be cold. Rest it will mostly be pleasant with nigths at Pangogn tso a bit cold though not much. Regardng clothes, please refer the article above.
Hi Dheeraj,
We are planning for Leh-Laddakh trip which will start on 17th of June(Saturday) from Chandigargh and will end on 25th or 26th of June at same place. We are planning for going via Manali and returning back via Srinagar. We will go through commercial Innova car. So, please suggest us the best location to visit in between these date and also suggest about permit of Rohtang pass beyond travel.
Thanks
Hi Hari,
You can follow below plan for 9 days and since you will be hiring a taxi, the driver will arrange the permit for it.
17: Reach Manali and rest
18: Manali – Jispa
19: Jispa – Leh
20: Leh rest, acclimatize and get inner line permits
21: Leh – Nubra Valley
22: Nubra Valley – Pangong tso, take it only in case there is some vehicle to accompany you on this desolated route
23: Pangong Tso – Leh
24: Leh – Kargil
25: Kargil – Srinagar
Thanks for your quick reply.
If we cancel the Kargil-Srinagar route in returning due to less time we have. Then we can follow below route from Manali:
18. Manali – Sarchu
19. Sarchu – Leh
20. Leh rest, acclimatize and get inner line permits
21. Leh β Nubra Valley
22. Nubra Valley β Pangong tso
23. Pangong Tso – Tso Moriri
24. Tso Moriri – Sarchu
25. Sarchu – Manali
Please suggest how is this route.
Please dont sleep at Sarchu, do Manali – Jispa and Jispa to Leh. Pangong tso to Tso MOriri will be tiring, so do it if you OK with fatigue levels. Else go back to Leh and take rest.
hi
we are planning to leh ladakh with 6 year and 13 year daughter
by a Car ( innova) please suggest which way is better
as we know manali to leh highway is closed now
can we still go form manali ( rohtang pass)
and what thing we need to carry or
what thing we need to know
please help us
thanks
Tanvir alam
Since, Manali – Leh is closed you cannot go to Ladakh from that route. How many days are you planning and are you taking your own car?
Hi , your article will be helpful for us. I and my friends are going to leh at 19 May. Since Manali to leh road opens in mid June , we will by srinagar – leh route. Plz tell whether this route is open or closed at 20 may .
By 20th May Srinagar – Leh route will open but I will also suggest that keep a tab on happenings in Kashmir. In case there are still news of unrest, it is much better to avoid that route and go from Manali β Leh road only.
hello Dheeraj.. Me and my husband travelling to Leh on 30th july, our return flight is on 7th August early morning. Can you please suggest an itiniery that will be best for us. as we are only two.
Thanks
If you are flying in Leh and flying out of Leh, then you can refer: Leh β Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air
Hi Dheeraj,
Your article is very informative. I’m planning Ladakh trip with my 11year old daughter from 6th May -12th May with a group of ladies. It’s a travel group. As I’m from Mumbai I’m very confused to what kid if clothes should I buy. As v don’t need woollen clothes in Mumbai in any season. Also it is impossible to find store to buy warm jackets or woollen clothes. Please suggest me most important clothings to be carried and that can be purchase at Ladakh itself.
Above article describes the clothes to carry for Ladakh trip. Checkout Decathlon store near you to buy stuff.
Hi Dheeraj,
Hope you are doing good.
I am from Delhi and we are 5 guys planning a trip to Leh -Ladakh from 5th May to 12th May 2017. Following is our Itinerary and queries-
Day 1- 5th May- Arrive early morning at Leh. Rest and Acclimatize with the weather.
Day 2- 6th May- Rest and Acclimatizing with the weather and a little bit local sigh seeing.
Day 3- 7th May- Rent Bullet’s from leh and head towards Pangong Tso Lake. Overnight Stay.
Day 4- 8th May- Drive back to Leh from Pangong Tso lake. Evening sight seeing in Leh.
Day 5- 9th May- Ride to Nubra Valley while visiting Khardung la Pass. Overnight Stay.
Day 6- 10th May- Drive back to Leh and reach Leh by evening.
Day 7- 11th May- Magnetic Hill and other nearby places on bike.
Day 8- 12th May- Morning flight from Leh to Delhi.
Queries-:
1-: Road Conditions during that period? Can we ride bikes?
2-: How will be the weather at that time ? Although we are carrying heavy woolens too.
3-: Bike rental tips in Leh. Any specific vendor or dealer to hire bikes from? I had a word with some vendor, he asked me to book 1 month in advance and also to make bank transfer for security deposit. Also what is it all about security deposit thing?
4-: Riding gear/Safety gear can also be taken on rent?
Any other tips/suggestions are welcome.
A quick reply will be highly appreciated.
Thanks & Regards
Anurag Dabas
Hi Anurag,
1. You must do Nubra Valley first and then Pangong Tso lake. Also, in May due to slippery road conditions at the passes because of snow, BRO does allow sometimes to travel by bikes on these routes.
2. Please go through Leh β Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2017-18
3. Weather will be cold, so go prepared.
Hi anurag,
Please advise if one can hire bike gear(jackets, gloves & other stuff) from leh as well.
Yes Vipul, riding gears are available on rent in most Leh bike rental shops
Thank you so much! This is an outstanding web-site!
Thank you π
Hi, i am travelling to leh from 5th -12th may of 2017. by this time of the year are all the roads open for sight seeing to places like pangong lake, nubra valley etc etc.??? can u give me some idea about the weather conditions during my travel period.
also if u can give some valueable suggestions about what kind of clothes should i pack. Because its the early start of the season and i dont know how cold the weather conditions are in the mont of may
Hi Piyush,
Weather will be cold in Ladakh even in May early, lakes would have just begun to melt. Roads within Ladakh remain open all round the year barring few days of heavy snowfall which can even happen in the month of May. You should read: Leh β Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air. Better stay at Tangtse not Pangong Tso as it will be too cold to spend night in early May at Pangong Tso
Thank u dheeraj for ur inputs om my quiery, i tinerary fr the trip is as follows:-
day 1 = reach leh and acclimatize and take rest with local mkt sightseeing n all Including shanti stupa, tsemo Fort , leh palace
day 2= heading to nubra valley thru khardung la pass and Diskit monastery and hunder. stay overnight in hunder
day 3= drive towrds leh and visit panamik hotwater springs. Stay overnight in leh
day 4= leave erly morning for pangong tso ( since u said in the comment that it will b too cold for stay in pangong tso, i will stay in Tangtse hope its near pangong tso )
day 5=head back towards leh visiting hemis monastery enroute And visit magnetic hill and stay in leh overight
day 6= Visit tso moriri and stay in sarchu
day 7 = return to leh and relax for one more day in leh and fly back too mumbai next day early morning.
PLS LET ME KNOW IF THIS ITINERARY IS GOOD AND DOABLE IN THE MONTH OF MAY(5th -12th) OR NOT. AND ALSO LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES
Thanks in advance
Hi Piyush,
Please ensure rest day in Leh, going over to these places on Day 1 will exert body for sure. Day 2 is again very risky, I will not recommend going over Khardung La on day 2 itself. In case of a jam or being stuck for long time, you may end up in big trouble. Do sham valley tour on Day 2, Day 3,4 do Nubra Valley. Day 5 make day trip to Pangong Tso or stay back at Tangtse 34 KMs from there. Day 6 you are talking about Sarchu which will not be open. Use Day 6 and Day 7 for Tso Moriri visit if required.
Dheeraj, How great to find your article here. Now we know what to pack!
we are traveling to Ladakh with 12 year old son in mid may.
He is not a big trekker, but we would like to do a little…
We are from New Zealand, and have spectacular scenery here….
Mostly I would like us to do home stays, to get a real feeling for the authentic culture of the area. Love to visit monasteries, even stay there if possible.
Could you suggest an itenery for us?
We can spend 10days – 2 weeks in the area, or less if adequate.
Should we have sleeping bags for home stays?
Can’t wait to hear you suggestions,
Many thanks,
Ruth
Hey Ruth,
Nice to connect and yeah, I am sure New Zealand is incredibly beautiful π .. Great to know you looking forward to visit Ladakh, I am sure it will please you all with great scenery too.
If you want to spend couple of weeks in Ladakh, best is to fly to Srinagar and then take road trip to Ladakh to be acclimatized when you reach Leh. Otherwise, for more adventure, you can fly into Leh and exit from Leh – Manali road. You should be able to stay in monasteries and there should not be an issue.
For home stays, I will highly recommend that you go with sleeping bags. It will allow you quite a bit of comfort.
I will suggest following for you:
Day 1 | Delhi β Leh (By Flight)
— Checkin at Hotel. Many hotels provide free pick and drop from Airport. Ask while you book them.
— Take ample of rest as well as water or anything that keep your body hydrated enough. DO NOT OVER HYDRATE. Take ORS Soluted water or ORS β L tetra packs from home.
— Do not over exert your body at any cost. Avoid too much up-down on stairs or avoid it in entirety, if possible.
— After 5-6 Hrs of rest you can visit Leh Palace, Local Leh market, Shankar Gompa .
— If you feel exerted go back to Hotel, have dinner at Hotel and take rest. Avoid any exertion. Else continue and,
— Follow the sunset by stroll at Changspa road and have a nice dinner on varied cuisines offered in-around Changspa road.
— Go back to hotel for overnight stay at Leh.
Β
Day 2 | Leh Local Sighseeing + Acclimatization
— Hire a taxi from Leh taxi stand or Hotel whichever suits you.
— Bargain hard with taxi driver. Book that single taxi for entire trip after explaining the complete plan.
— Take his inputs if you feel reasonable and if required modify the plan accordingly but should suits you best.
— Ask him to be with you guys starting first day itself, if required and charged reasonable else do it at your own.
— Again DO NOT over exert and take little steps and slow walks only.
— If feeling OK then do Local sightseeing. To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh
— Do not use stairs at any of these places just to see them as it will exert your body much more.
— Overnight at Leh
Β
Day 3 | Leh β Khardung La β Diskit β 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
Β
Day 4 | Hunder / Diskit β Sumur β Panamik β Sumur β Khardung La β Leh
— Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
— Overnight at Leh
Β
Day 5 | Leh β Hemis Monastery β Pangong Tso Lake
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso
— Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung)
Β
Day 6 | Pangong Tso Lake β Thicksey Monastery β Shey Palace β Leh
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh
— Overnight at Leh
Day 7 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour OR You can do tour to Sham Valley
— Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries.
— Sham Valley include Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, Gurudwara Pather Sahib
— Overnight at Leh
Day 8 | Leh β Tso Moriri via Chumathang
— Cover Karzok Monastery
— Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri
Β
Day 9 | Tso Moriri β Tso Kar β Debring (Manali – Leh Highway starts) – Moore Plains – 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
Β
Day 10 | Pang / 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
Β
Day 11 | Manali – Chandigarh
— Return
Β
Day 12 – Buffer day to be kept incase of road closure due to landslides or snowfall or perhaps you want to enjoy more.
OR you can spend few initial days like below:
Day 1 | Delhi – Srinagar
— Fly to Srinagar if you are not self driving because it will almost cost the same and help you save one day plus fatigue of traveling unnecessary in plains or boring hills for 2 days
— Enjoy walk around Dal lake and may be Shikara ride as well
— If you have time then check out, floating market, Shalimar Garden.
— Overnight at Srinagar
Day 2 | Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil
— Enjoy the vistas enroute
— Have late drunch meal at Drass is you are a vegetarian as sometimes it gets difficult to find veg. food at Kargil
— Overnight at Kargil
Day 3 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh
— Cover Mulbekh Maitrey, Lamayuru Moanstery, Lunar Landscapes
— On the way you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu
— Overnight at Leh
Day 4 | Leh Local Sightseeing + Acclimatization
— To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh
— Overnight at Leh
From here follow the plan as suggested in option 1
Hi,
Me & my friend have planned to set off to Leh,Ladakh, Manali, shimla in the mid week of january 2017. Please suggest if this trip caould be made successful as we have learnt that most of the roads are closed etc. We will be on holidays for 12 days. Please help us on this.
Chinthan, the roads to Ladakh are closed and will open in next season now.
what about manali can we plan a visit in 3rd week of Jan.
Yes, you can visit Manali during 3rd week of Jan ad enjoy snow towards Rohtang Pass.
Hello Dheeraj…
I am planning for leh from 22 of October up to 30 oct….with 3 of my friends on bike…is this plan is good or not? bkoz many people told me that its bnot a right time and dont go over there…but i have no other holidays…what u say?
Please read: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali β Leh Highway in October
Hi Dhiraj
I am planning to go leh 12 Sept 2016 with my two friends , I want your suggestion if we go two persons on a bike ?
Sachin, please read: 5 Tips to Rent Bike in Leh β Ladakh and Ride with Pillion
Hai dheeraj..Myself and wife had planned to visit manali at the 1rst of October..How should we prepare.. We have a plan of going to leh too. But will the roads be open ? and how will be the weather condition during october 1rst..
Roads will be open but it starts snowing (already has) and most places of stay and eat are packed up. It is not a recommended time to travel up tthere at Manali – Leh Highway. Are you sur you want to make this trip?
Thanks for your response bro…How is it if we just visit manali and rohtang pass? As this is my first visit what all precautions we should take ? ABout the dress. and local faciliteis.. ets
You can visit Rohtang Pass and Manali. That shall be fine. You can read about: Delhi to Manali, Himachal Pradesh β Travel Guide
Hi,
I am travelling to Leh on 30 Aug with my wife and want to tour by renting bike. Is it safe to travel solo or can I join any group there. Where to find a group to tag along. Anyone else from DOW community travelling in from 30 Aug to 6 Sep ?
Umesh, you should be able to find other people to tag along once you are in Leh. You can also filter the DoW Travel Calendar to see who all are driving/riding there and looking for company.
Hello Dheeraj,
Me and my Husband along with my father and mother in law are planning to go to Leh via Manali by our own car I.e VW Polo from Delhi. We will be going around 22nd of August’ 16. I would like to know few things which can help us plan our trip better and more safer :-
1) Is it OK for people of age above 50 years to travel to Leh by car, like my in-laws!!! They both don’t have any such medical history, but still is it ok for them to travel to this high altitude?
2) We have VW Polo car, can we travel by this car from Delhi to Leh. I know some wear and tear can happen but is it OK to take Polo to Leh, considering its ground clearance and all?
3) Is August end the right time to visit Leh via Manali, considering the heavy rainfall in these regions?
4) How much extra diesel should we carry with us to Leh?
5) Our trip will be for around 9-10 days, can you suggest the itenary for the same as we don’t want to make our trip too exhausting, we can halt at Chandigarh, Manali, etc.
6) Regarding the accommodation and food, what all issues can we face on our way from Manali to Leh. Shall we carry extra food items with us?
7) Any other advise you can give us, which will help us in our trip, like any particular medicine we can carry with us and etc?
Hello Neha,
1. Ages does not matter as long as they can uphold the long journeys in the day.
2. There will surely be some concerning moments with low GC and fully loaded with passengers.
3. It is OK OK time, in case there are predictions of rains, I will not be suggesting it with family.
4. If you are sticking to normal routes, it wont be necessary to carry but still for contingency you can carry about 10 Ltrs
5. You need more days in case you do not want to make it exhausting. About 13-14.
6. Yes, you shoudl carry food items inc ase the road closure.
7. Check: List of things to carry when you go on trip
Thank you Dheeraj for your comments. π
Hii Dheeraj
we a group of four friends are going to leh on 4 sep via flight from delhi and my plan is as follow:
4/9/16 leh local
5/9/16 nubra
6/9/16 pangong
7/9/16 leh
8/9/16 tos moriri
9/9/16 leh
10/09/16 kargil drass
11/9/16 srinagar
12/9/16 local sightseeing
13/9/16 flight from srinagar to chandigarh.
As a lot of persons have visited leh in this year and based on that i do have following queries from you:-
1. weather and road condition for bikes.
2. is the itinerary feasible.
3. type and number of clothes to carry there
4. how to deal with Breakdown/puncture on the way.
5. Whether Fuel can we carry is sufficient for nubra and pangong without coming back leh.
6. Route condtions from Nubra to pangong without going leh.
7. BSNL Postpaid or any other postpaid will also work there.
8. Is drinking feasible there after 3-4 days there as we have a friend who is habitual of drinking and smoking i. e. sherry gupta.
thanks in advance.
karan Kapoor.
7.
Below are the answers Karan:
1. Weather and roads are mostly good in September, in fact one of the best time.
2. I will suggest to take out local sightseeing in Srinagar and add for acclimatization in Leh. You need two days of acclimatization before going to Nubra Valley as you are flying in to LEh
3. You should have one heavy jacket and rest have couple of light jackets or sweat shirts. Tips for Carrying Clothes for Ladakh Trip
4. All you can do is pray it does not happen far from mechanic or main cities.
5. Yes, yo should carry about 10 Ltrs of extra fuel and you should be OK
6. Leave Nubra as early as possible in the morning as in later noon it becomes difficult to cross the water crossings or rivers on that route. Do not go without 2-3 vehicles as the route is desolated and in case there is any help needed, you might be in trouble.
7. Best coverage is by BSNL postpaid, otherwise Airtel postpaid works around Leh.
8. I will not recommend but if you feel OK you may have couple of rounds but be in limits as in remote areas medical helps is difficult to find in case required. I Will advise to take a call based on your own wisdom and conditions.
okay dheeraj sir thanks a lot
But dheeraj Sir i have some couple of more queries:
1. Budget for above mentioned itinerary.
2. How to choose Bikes?
3. Accommodation near Pangong or tso moriri means can we easily get budget hotels there?
Thanks in advance
Hi Karan,
1. 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 β Ladakh trip
2. Please refer How to Hire or Rent a Bike or Motorcycle in Manali
3. 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
Hi Dheeraj,
Another good article, these are helping me a lot in planning the trip to Leh.
I’ll be riding on a bike from Manali to Leh on 1-2 July and will be in Leh-Ladakh for around 5 days.
I’ve lived in cities like Kanpur and Delhi most of my life, so have faced temperatures lesser than 10 degree Celsius. I’m planning to carry 1 thermal inner, 1 bomber jacket (for windy situations and moderately cool weather) and 1 jacket (non woolen).
I have few questions:
1. Do we need some woolen/heavy jackets; wouldn’t thermal, a t-shirt and the jacket suffice? As per few sites, the minimum temperature is around 5-10 degrees.
2. Will we need leg thermals? Would only jeans work?
Thanks!
Hi Abhishek,
1. Well, yes in general it will suffice but weather can change at a blink of an eye ther. In case there isnt too much trouble to you, it is advisable to carry one heavy jacket as well for a contingency
2. Not really during that time.
Hi Dheeraj ,
well we are 4 guys planning to do Haridwar-srinagar-Leh-Kla-nubra-Pangong Tso-Tso Moriri via Chumathang-Manali during 13th August to 25 August on bikes (bullets as well as 100 cc)
so ll it be dobale in 12 days or what are the chances of rain during that period .
kindly suggest & help
TIA .
Pankaj
??????
Hi Dheeraj,
We are two people travelling Leh via Manali from Delhi on 1st July, 2016. All your suggestions checked. Need some more help…
1. We will be travelling Manali from Delhi by Bus. But confused by negative comments on Bus services. Heard it gets delayed by 5 to 6 hours. Please suggest a good bus service so that we can reach Manali on 2nd July early morning.
2. We’re planning our Night Stay in our own Tent through out the 10 days trip. Is it a good idea? I mean is it feasible?
3. We will be hiring a bike from Manali. Can I visit Pangong, Nubra Valley and Tso Moriri on the same bike?
Hi Dheeraj
Been following your blog since we have planned our trip to Ladakh.Ur writings have made us plan our itinerary so ease.Thank u.
We group of 6 gals are visiting Ladakh this 22 June 2016.We will carry all the things that u have mentioned in the blog but would like to know if we can carry jeans/casual wear or would u suggest us wearing tracks?We will be staying at pangong and nubra camps.
You can carry Jeans, the only drawback with them is they dont get dry once getting wet, easily.
HI Dheeraj,
we would be reaching leh on july 1st. This is our first trip to Leh and also our first trip to such high altitudes. Also being from mumbai i am not used to much cold.
would like to know if there is an option of purchasing winter wear in leh itself after we land to protect us from cold winds. we would be staying at hotel cho palace. We do have some sweaters handy.
Regards,
mamata
Hlow dheerajβ
Can we get permit from DC office on Saturday?
Is it open on Saturday?
Yes Abhishek, except second saturday or holiday, it is open.
Hi Dheeraj,
We are booked to travel to Ladakh via Delhi on 8th Jul. Will reach Leh around 8.00 am on 9th Jul. I have read the above comments and have a fair idea about the to-do things. Our flight back to Delhi is via Srinagar on 17th Jul. Is there a bus option to commute from Leh to Srinagar? If yes, how long does it take? Can we book the bus when in Leh?
*cannot contain the excitement* π
Shaveena, yes, there is a bus that runs between Leh and Srinagar and will take overnight halt at Kargi before reaching Srinagar. You can book the bus tickets from the bus stand near Fort road.
Thanks man! Cheers.
Best wishes for the trip
Hi Dheeraj,
We are planning for a road trip from Delhi to Leh. We have few questions rather concerns.
– How many hours of driving (breaks not included) will take to reach Leh from Manali?
– What are the chances for rain (blocked road due to rain) in July 1 and 2 week? just your experience
– Will XUV 500 be okay to drive in Himalaya’s – Leh Manali hwy? I feel it is a huge car and it can be a disadvantage on the narrow roads? your suggestions plz
– On an average, how much time will it take to complete the trip Delhi – Leh – Delhi? Is it possible in 7 – 8 days.
thanks in advance:-)
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.
Hi Dheeraj ,
Need your help on this one, as i am travelling to leh from 10th – 25 June 2016.
– Is riding jackets with thermals would be good enough to save someone from cold , or you need some extra jackets as well.
– If i am wearing jeans underneath, would a thermal would be sufficient or we need additional layers
– how do riders protect their hands, are there any tips for the same ?
Thanking you in advance
Hello Girish,
1. Yes, it will be good enough. Many riding jackets also come with inner thermal linings.
2. Yes, again
3. Wearing good quality gloves.
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.
We are 3 people and planing to go on 10 of june ..I have some question if you can help-
if all the roads are open , if not when it will be ?
if we can take the gateway pass online for Leh or this can only be at Manali ?
Should we start our trip fri – sat – or sunday from chandigarh,, So we can get the pass at manali next day , without wasting much time.. Thanks
Yes Pawan by 10th June, all routes to Ladakh will be open. You can get the Online permits to Rohtang Pass online but currently the link is not functioning. May be they will start it once roads to Leh will open.
Thanks Dheeraj for info.
1 more question –
For the Rohtang pass permit at Manali SDM office , what the timing to collect.. I mean if the office open on Saturday Sunday also…. ?
I googled it and found , we have to submit the docs b/w 10AM -1 PM and can collect the permit b/w 3-5 .
But is it open on saturday and Sunday ?
Yes, that is the correct understanding. But sunday it is closed.
Hi Dheeraj,
We are planning to go to ladakh on 10 – 25 june. How many layers should I wear each day? And will photochromatic specs be enough or I have to keep sunglasses?
Reply as soon as possible!
Thank u in advance
Hello!
I am flying to Ladakh from Delhi and I am going to stay in Leh from 7th to 11th of September, then I want to travel to Srinagar via Kargil and then more to south (Dharamshala, Amritsar, Varanasi, Kolkata etc.) I am that kind of guy, who likes people, cities and its surrounding, so (big) treks are not made for me. In south India I am expecting high temperatures, so my “main” clothes will be shorts, shirts and light jacket, in Leh it should be around 15 – 20 degrees by day and I want to travel with baggage as light as I can. Can you recommend me, what clothes should I carry with me? Are woolen clothes really necessary for me?
P.S.: Your web is epic, thanks for everything.
Hi Dheeraj,
Very nicely written .
Well, I and my friends are planning for a Ladakh trip in 1st week of July by Motorbikes. We are all from Bangalore and not prone to cold weather. Any suggestions on Jackets,kind of shoes and clothing that need to be purchased for the trip?
Cheers
Shruthi, the above article explains it all. Shoes, especially for the trip may not be required. Rest you should consider if you guys dont have includin warm socks.
Dheeraj,
We are arriving in Srinagar and travelling to Leh, from June 13. What kind of winter clothing that we need to have for both adults and kids. Do you suggest buying from Srinagar/Leh or from home itself? If you suggest buying from Srinagar/Leh, is there a place that you suggest? We would like to get quality product for reasonable price.
Thank you.
You must have at least one heavy woollen jacket and one light jacket when you travel to Ladakh during that time. Best is to get from home to get at good rates.
Hi Dheeraj!
We booked a trip to Leh for a week from the 10th of May to 17th May. It’s my parents and me. Any suggestions on clothing and shoes? I’ve read about the weather being harsh in May.
Thank you π
Do carry heavy woolens with you and warm socks, may be army socks. Shoes shall be fine as long as you can mantain wramth in feet with good socks.
Hi dhiraj,
I am planing a road trip to leh ladakh with two of my friends. We are so excited about the trip. I own a renault duster 85ps. I am not over confident at all about my driving skills but i do have a fine driving sense.
Though my duster is well maintained and has never let me down till yet, still i have a second thought about taking it to leh.. The plan is all set.. I really need to know if you think duster can do it or not.. Any sort of advices of which you think can be helpful for me about this trip are welcomed.. I really doing this anyhow but i have alot of doubts about taking my car to leh.
Shishank
Duster will breeze through the roads bro π … All you need is just read these and take care of them: 7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh β Ladakh
Hi ,
We are 5 guys planning for a road trip to Leh-Ladakah via Zoom car from Delhi .
We are planning to leave via Srinagar-Leh highway and returning from Leh – Manali Highway , would need your guidance how should be plan our stay and all the activities.
Akash, please read: Rented Self Drive Cars in Leh β Ladakh Banned βFORCIBLYβ
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 β Ladakh.
Hi Dheeraj,
We are planning to go till Leh via rented car and for covering all the places in Leh we are planning to hire a taxi from there itself ; will that work ?
As I have read in ur earlier post that we can go till Leh via rented car and form there on we can hire a taxi from there itself .
Yes, that should work.
Hi Dheeraj
We are planning a renunion of a close friend group in Form of a road trip to Ladkah. We are a gang of 5 and since we stay in diff part of india and two of them are traveling from Middle East, We are meeting in Mumbai on 22nd July and have booked ticket to fly to Srinagar. We all are in age group of 36-38 years. Beyond Srinagar we have not booked anything as of now. That plan is to travel to Leh via Kargil by hiring a car or jeep. Once in Leh we will hire a car and 2 bikes to go to Nubra and Pangong lake. 2 of my friends will fly out from Leh on 31st July and then 3 of us will travel to Manali via spiti valley. Few questions are
1. Do we have to do hotel bookings or can we try it out on iur what, as we would like it to be little more adventurous and with some uncertainty! But need your recommendation
2. Do we have to have rucksack and special tracking shoes? or the normal rolling suitcase and normal leather boots will do?
3. Do we need to get hold of some organiser to plan things for us or booking things on the go from Srinagar onwards will work? We preferably don’t want to join another group.
4. How do I organise the innerline permits? Will I need agent or can be able to organise on our own?
1. Not really if you do not have anything special in mind or want any branded hotel
2. Again not really, earlier i used to travel with almost like anything including strollers and sports shoes
3. DoW has enough info. to make a memorable trip to Ladakh any day, if yuo can read and ask right questions will be happy to help
4. If there is no foriegner in the group, you do not need any permit.
Hi Dheeraj
It’s just another 45 days to our Leh trip and we are all so excited.
Please let me know whether we can cover Turtuk as I read it a most beautiful place. from Sri nagar on 6/6/2016 to 15/6/2016 by direct flight from Leh. Apart from Pangong lake and Tsomoriri Lake, Nubra Valley with Turtuk – Can we cover all these places in the above days of our stay ?!? Please reply soon.
Thanks and Regards
Anuradha
Hi Anuradha,
Effectively you have 9 days if you start the journey to Kargil on 6th June. 2 days will be required to reach Leh from Srinagar, 1 day acclimatization is required, 3 day trip to Nubra Valley to include Turtuk, 2 day will be needed for Pangong Tso trip, 2 day for Tso Moriri trip. This makes it 10 days, so you can make a single day trip to Pangong Tso or skip Turtuk to fit all of them in 9 days.
Hi Dheeraj
It’s just another 45 days to our Leh trip and we are all so excited.
Please let me know whether we can cover Turtuk as I read it a most beautiful place. We are starting from Sri nagar on 6/6/2016 and returning on 15/6/2016 by direct flight from Leh. Apart from Pangong lake and Tsomoriri Lake, Nubra Valley with Turtuk – Can we cover all these places in the above days of our stay ?!? Please reply soon.
Thanks and Regards
Anuradha
ust replied to your other comment.
If I m wearing riding jacket of cremster k2k do I need any additional jackets for cold while staying there
Dhaval, if you have the K2K, then well you may not need with other jacket on the ride with its two inner thermal liners which comes with it. But, those two inner thermal liners that comes with it may not be good enough to wear them without the jacket. If you keep on the jacket always with inner thermal liners, it is OK.
Thank u so much Dheeraj for clarifying my doubt .
Hi Dheeraj,
I’m going to Leh this July, will be doing it part by taxi, part by rented bike. Can you kindly suggest what typ of jacket to carry? I have a light winter jacket(not windproof) which I was thinking of wearing along with thermals, tshirt and a sweater however since I will also be riding a motorbike to Nubray valley and Pangong do you suggest me to carry a riding jacket? Or can I do it with same jacket with external protection guards?
If you think riding jacket offers more protection, can you suggest some good jackets?
Thank you,
Harish
Harish, you will definetly need a jacket to protect you from the wind. Of course, riding jackets does offer lot of protection with riding gear.
HI Dheeraj,
Any riding jackets you suggest?
Harish, I am not an expert bro but lot of people around me use Cramster
No problem Dheeraj. You have helped enough π
Can I take bike trip in May most probably from 4-5 May of this year
Dhaval, chances of Srinagar – Leh Highway being open is very likely BUT Manali – Leh will be closed.
Thank u for the reply ,one more query Manali Leh highway will not open so I ve to come back via Srinagar highway only and I m going for solo trip so is there any problem with it ?
No Dhaval, there should not be any problem with it.
Hi
Very excited as i am almost closer to fulfil my dream to drive to ladakh.
I would be travelling with my one my friend .We both are travelling for the first time to ladakh.Would need your expertise on what all things should we bear in mind things to carry specially for the month of june we will be commencing our journey from 6th June to 16th June. In this short period hopefully we will manger to cover most of the places.
Would much appreaciate if you can take some time in sharing the details that would be necessary for us.
Also if possible can share your no via mail so that we can contact you and get a clear picture of things that we might be unaware of.
Hello Aakash,
You can post your queries here or in DwD Community and get replies for what all your confusions are. To start with, start from below:
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 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 β 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.
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
For the list of good restaurants in Leh – Ladakh or eateries or food joints where food is enjoyed by many travellers including me, you can check the link here: List of Good Restaurants in Leh β Ladakh | Restaurant Reviews
Check the list of things to carry for Leh – Ladakh or other trip including basic medical kit, clothing, must haves etc. at the link here: List of Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh trip.
To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
Hi,
We are planning a road trip from Jaipur to leh i.e. Jaipur -chandigarh-manali-leh.
I wanted to ask like we are commencing our journey from 9th june onwards and in that season we will may have to pass crossing many streams or rivers on manali leh root, so what kind of shoe can we carry with us to protect ourself from the chilled water or only gum boots are the good idea?
Thank you
YEs Hemant, snow melts in June and there will be many water crossings. In general, bikers use gum boots to cross the watercrossings and keep them hanging on their luggage and for rest they carry either trekking boots or other regular casual sports shoes.
Hi Dheeraj,
I along with my 7 friends planned tovisit Leh from Delhi. We will be starting our journey on 20th May, 2016 at 4:30 PM. we will board in two personal cars i.e. i10 & honda amaze (delhi and Haryana number respectively). Taking rest at road side dhabas, will be reaching Patnitop next day till 2 PM. We will stay there and on 22nd we will move to Srinagar and will stay in houseboats (Nageen Lake). On 23rd we will be moving to Kargil through Sonmarg. After Night stay in Kargil, next day early morning we will move to Leh. After two days stay at Leh, on 25th May we will move to Tsomorori Lake (Night stay also). Next day morning we will stay at Sarchu and on 27th evening we will be reaching Manali. on 27th morning, we will start our journey to Delhi again.
Kindly suggest the changes required in this plan.
Thanks
Given the days in hand it looks OK to me. Sleeping at Tso Moriri might be tricky with just little acclimatization only in Leh.
Hi,
I plan to visit Leh via Manali between 24th June to 3rd July.
Are there any chances of rainfall / snowfall which might affect the trip?
Also, what would you suggest to carry?
Hello Raina, highly likely there should not be any rains or snow rest you should at least carry one heavy jacket foor sure.
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning to visit Leh via Srinagar and come back via Manali on June 2016.
as you mentioned in a post the temperature will be around 20 C in the day time.
what kind of dress I need to carry/wear while this time, as I cannot carry so many luggage as I have pillion traveller (in bullet electra) with me.
and also can you please suggest the hotel or lodge expences in that area.
sandeep
Hi Sandeep, do ensure that you carry at least one heavy jacket as at certain pl;aces like Sarchu it still remains in minus only π
Please see the Menu in the website of Ladakh and there are all the links of various region
hi
we guys are planning to go Ladakh in mid January. so can you please suggest what precautions we should take for our trip and what clothes n boots or shoes we should buy n what necessary items should we carry with self
Stuti, please read: 6 Special Tips for a Winter Trip to Ladakh
Hi Dheeraj, Your post explains a lot . I am travelling from 26 sept to 4 oct via srinagar. Could u please suggest woolens , especially jackets i should keep ? do i really need that long huge heavy jacket as i see the temperature is not so low ??
Lovely, I will suggest that you wear layers of clothes. You should have one inner, one fleece and at least one wind cheater / light jacket to be worn in day and one heavy woolen jacket cutting the winds in early morning and night time. I am back from Ladakh this Monday and on Sunday when we slept at Tso Kar, the morning temperature was minus 6 π
Lovely, we are travelling same route 25th Sep – 3rd October from Mumbai and were wondering about the clothing too.. Guess will follow what Dheeraj suggested?
Hi Dheeraj
Its amazing to see the time and patience you put in to answering all the queries put to you.
I too, like the others need your guidance. We are a group of 8 family members (5 men & 3 ladies) taking the trip of our lifetime to Leh. from 12th Sep to 19th Sep 2015.
We are from Mumbai. Our Itinerary is as follows.
11.09.15-Mumbai-chandigarh – flight – evening
11.09.15-Chandigarh – Manali – Bus travel – Night
12.09.15-Manali – Jispa – Tempo traveller – morning ( Is tempo traveller a good option?)
Earlier we planned to take bikes & a car from Manali to Jispa….. but some how the plan got cancelled because of the unfamiliar roads.
So we plan to take 3 bikes & a tavera for the below:
13.09.15 – Jispa-Sarchu-Leh
14.09.15- Indus valley Monastery and Khardungla – Bike
15.09.15- Leh – Pangong Lake – Bike
16.09.15 – Pangong -Leh – Bike
17.09.15- Leh-Kaydung (Sissu Camp)
18.09.15 -Keylong (Sissu to Manali)
19.09.15 – Manali Chandigarh.
Are the dates a good time to visit
Do you think the above is a good schedule?
What about the clothes ? more of warm or rainy wear? or both? for the above dates mentioned.
Any tips for the trip?
Anything that the ladies need to take extra care ? π
Thanks & eagerly waiting for your reply
Ms. Deborah
I replied to your other comment. Please feel free to post in case any leftover queries or doubts.
Hi,
I am going to Leh from 27th Aug – 1st Sep. I am alone in case some groups are travelling on these days, let me know. It would be a great help. I have not yet booked anything apart from my flights because packages for one person seem to be costlier. Expected ο Itinerary is as follows. –
27th Aug – Reaching Leh airport at 7.30 am and then looking for a hotel near by Leh market and entire day rest
28th Aug – LEH β PANGONG TSO – Stay overnight in safari tents by the lake shore
29th Aug – Pangong β Leh – Reach Leh by noon. Post Lunch and some leisure, join the other couple for local sight-seeing in and around Leh. Head to the Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Hall of fame and Confluence point of
Zanskar and Indus River – magnificent view of two rivers in wed-lock having different colors and flow and Wildness. Return to hotel in the evening for overnight stay.
30th Aug – LEH β Enroute Khardungla β Nubra Valley β Night stay in Nubra Valley
31st Aug – Nubra β Leh (Visit the Shanti Stupa) – Night stay in Leh
1st Sep β Taking morning flight back to delhi
Rgds,
Vivek Gorakh
Vivek, please explore DoW Travel Calendar from the menu above for finding travel partners.
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning to visit Leh from the 1st – 15th of Sept 2015.
I am from Ahmedabad and plan to do Ahmedabad-Chandigarh-Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Manali and back.
I have been visiting your blog for the past 2 weeks, and has helped me in planning for preparations, stay and terrain of the area.
You guys are making a good use of technology and doing a fantastic job.
I will share my itinerary with you soon. Have mainly borrowed it from the one you have posted.
Thank you Anand, best wishes for your trip to LAdakh π
Hi Dheeraj,
We are group of 20 odd friends going leh from 29 Jul to 9 Aug..
Below is the tour plan..Let us know if its fine…
Delhi, Manali & Ladakh 11 Nights /12 Days
DAY 01: 29 July: ARRIVE DELHI – MANALI (Approx 550 Kms)
DAY 02: 30 July: ARRIVE MANALI
DAY 03: 31 July: MANALI (MANIKARAN SAHIB EXCURSION 80 Kms One Way)
DAY 04: 01 Aug: MANALI TO SARCHU (Approx 225 Kms)
DAY 05: 02 Aug: SARCHU TO LEH (Approx 250 Kms)
DAY 06: 03 Aug: LEH
DAY 07: 04 Aug: LEHβNUBRA VALLEY VIA KHARDUNG LA 18,390 FT (BIKING) (Approx 120 Kms)
DAY 08: 05 Aug: NUBRA VALLEY β LEH (BIKING) (Approx 120 Kms)
DAY 09: 06 Aug: LEH TO PANGONG LAKE (Approx 140 Kms)
DAY 10: 07 Aug: PANGONG LAKE TO LEH (Approx 140 Kms)
DAY 11: 08 Aug: LEH – EXCURSION TO SHAM VALLEY
DAY 12: 09 Aug: DEPART LEH (FLY OUT)
Thanks,
Sandeep Khatwani
Sandeep, plan looks OK just that please sleep at Jispa instead of Sarchu as your body will not be acclimatized for it and you guys might get hit by AMS. Also, you can directly go to Kasol – Manaikaran instead of reaching Manali first and then coming back to Kasol – Manikara.
Hi Dheeraj!
Thanks a lot for such informative posts that you have been doing. You are doing a great job in responding to the queries of everyone. Really enjoyed reading all your articles on Ladakh Trip.
We, a group of 8 people, are travelling to ladakh on 31st july 2015 from Delhi by our own cars, i20 and Scorpio. We have exact 10 days to complete the trip and come back to Delhi, didn’t get more leaves from office π
Anyway, we are planning to go via the srinagar route and come back from the manali route. Can you please design an itinerary for us? Also, would like to know your if taking a hashback like i20 would be advisable or not?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Thank you so much Deep, glad you appreciate the hard work put in here π …
It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side. 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.
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.
Thank you so much for the response Dheeraj! really appreciate it.
hi, tommorow i m going to leh on my bullet , if anybody likes to join plz call me on 9466024422
Best wishes for the trip Gaurav !!
hi
just read your article. I am leaving for leh on 15 July,15…. you have mentioned in yoour article to carry goodies for little children out there and i would love to do so…. can you please tel me where can i distribute them… like in schools or ? do schools accept such goodies ??.. or any refrence if you could give me… but my only concern is it should go to the needy and not taken for granted…
pls reply…
Amrita, thanks for coming forward and help in this initiative of spreading smiles in Himalayas by DoW. You should yourself walk into the schools and distribute the material there only by your own hands so that you connect with the feeling too. Every school will welcome it and allow you to do the noble cause. You can go through many such stories under the link: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/india/responsible-travel-f38/
Hi ,
We are planing to go Leh Ladhakh in the month of Sep (21st Sep to 30th Sep). Is that a good time to go because Someone told me that everything will be closed by that time. Pls suggest.
Namita, usually by end of September things starts to pack up but I prefer that period as Ladakh is full of colors during that time and less people/crowd plus better bargains on hotels and stays.
Sir we are planning to go leh via manali in mahindra bolero….is there any need for permit to go leh for personal vehicle..and what type of cloths is required in last week of august….and sir can we di camping anywhere in leh. In personal camping tent…and give more tips on behalf of your experience …what should we remember during nd before start journey…..give mre information sir
Yes Gurpreet, if you are going from Manali to Leh, you need to get permit to cross Rohtang Pass. Details are under: Rohtang Pass Rules & Restriction of Vehicles β Demystified You can pitch your own tents anywhere but I will suggest you pitch them at a place where there are some dhabha tents put up by locals or where other camping guy pitch theirs or somewhere near some house in village or in their garden/lawn. All you will need is to gently ask them (villagers/dhabha guys/camping guys) for permissions. Most likely they will allow, other wise negotiate for small little tip or move on to some other such place nearby. This will give you sense of security too.
But, keep in mind that camping at the lakes both Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri is not allowed as they are under Ramsar site. Hence, you need to pitch these camps away from the lakes where either other camps are there or at near by village.
Hi Dheeraj,
We are from Maharashtra and have planned a trip to Leh Ladakh from 1st August to 10th August. Here is our schedule. Kindly let me know if it’s feasible and also if we can reach Srinagar Airport to catch a flight at 7.25am from Dal View Resort if we leave by 5.30am.
Day # Date Journey Details Stay Time Vehicle
1 Aug-1-2015 Chandigarh > Manali Manali 8 HRS Innova
2 Aug-2-2015 Manali > Jispa> Sarchu Sarchu 8 HRS Innova
3 Aug-3-2015 Sarchu > Leh Leh 7 HRS Innova
4 Aug-4-2015 Leh > Nubra Valley Nubra Valley4.5 HRS Bike
5 Aug-5-2015 Numbra > Leh Leh 4.5 HRS Bike
6 Aug-6-2015 Leh > Pangong Pangong 6 HRS Bike
7 Aug-7-2015 Pangong > Leh Leh 6 HRS Bike
8 Aug-8-2015 Leh > Nimmoo > Kargil Kargil 7 HRS Innova
9 Aug-9-2015 Kargil > Srinagar Srinagar 6 HRS Innova
10 Aug-10-2015 Srinagar > Pune/Mumbai –
Also suggest how we can make the trip better. Thank you π
Regards,
Shaziya
Hi Dheeraj,
With above, please advise about bikes as well. We are planning to take bikes in Leh.
Is it okay if we go on bike from Manali? (Two are planning on bike and rest four on car from Manali).
Also with the limites time we have, will it be possible/feasible if we travel all 10 days on bike?
Please suggest.
Thanks.
Outside rented bikes are not allowed for sightseeing in Ladakh to Nubra and Pangong tso by taxi union. Hence, the problem is you will have to again rent a bike in Leh. Are you fine with it?
Thanks Dheeraj, we will update the plan accordingly! π
Any more suggestion for the people going on bike ?
Amol, this is what I suggest: 5 Tips to Rent Bike in Leh β Ladakh and Ride with Pillion
Shaziya, it is hectic and prone to AMS. I will not suggest night halt at Sarchu as your body will not be acclimatized to sleep at such high alitutde. Then you are planning to skip rest day in Leh as well which will also may get you in trouble of AMS
Hello Dheeraj,
I have become a great fan of your blogs!!! Kudos to you man!!! Your blogs has all the details which a travellar is looking for with extreme information as do’s and don’t.
May I request you for a favor, I am travelling to Leh for 7 days from July 12th to 18th with my family. We will reach Leh by air on 12th from Delhi. The major concern for my wife is about the altitude and the effects of weather on my health as I wasn’t keeping well from last 1 year wherein I was diagnosed with TB (Tuberculosis). Please suggest !!!
Also in my family, I am travelling with my daughter who is 4 and half year old. Please suggest any further precautions considering her age!!!
Thanks in advance for your support and I will keep going through your blogs to plan any further trips in advance!!!
Regards,
Surya Pratap
Hello Surya,
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.
You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh by Air followed by many travelers including me at the link here for 9 days: Leh β Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air.
Please use this plan above and cut short the last few days to suit your needs. Day 1 to Day 4 should be followed strictly.
Regards
Dheeraj
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning for Leh-Ladakh trip from Aug30th to Sept 6th. Will you please let me know what kind of shoes I need to carry.
Thanks
Lakshmi
Lakshmi, you can carry sports shoes.
Thanks Dheeraj..:)
Hi Dheeraj,
Have one more doubt. Are winter clothes available for rent in Leh/Ladakh?
Lakshmi, they are available for rent in Leh. Almost everything is available in Leh on rent π
Hi,
WE are planning Leh trip in August. Below is out plan as of now – we have hired a self drive SUV from Chandigarh.
Date From To
6th August Chandigarh Pathankot
7th August Pathankot Srinagar
8th August Srinagar Kargil
9th August Kargil Leh
10th August Leh
11th August Leh to Nubra and back to Leh
12th August Leh Pangong Tso
13th August Pangong Tso Leh
14th August Leh Sarchu
15th August Sarchu Mandi
16th August Mandi Amabala
Do you think the above plan is feasible. And also we want to reach on the last to Amabala by 1 as we have our train – that is the reason we are planning on the penultimate day to travel from Sarchu – Mandi. Will this be possible – considering the rain in rohtang pass?
Need your valuable input.
With the amount of time in hand, I feel it is fine, though you can also try to have a lower risk of AMS as:
11th August Leh to Nubra
12th August Nubra to Pangong Tso via Wari La pass. Keep in mind that route is a bit desolated
13th August Pangong Tso Leh
14th August Leh Sarchu
15th August Sarchu Mandi
16th August Mandi Amabala
OR
11th August Leh to Nubra
12th August Nubra to Leh
13th August Leh to Pangong Tso
14th August Pangong Tso to Sarchu
15th August Sarchu Manali
16th August Manali Amabala
Thanks a lot Dheeraj..we will make the changes according to your first suggestion.
One last question – do you think we need to keep a buffer day considering the rain in August while we are returning via Rohtang pass?
Mitul, in case you can keep a buffer day it will be very beneficial.
Hi Dheeraj… Have raised few other questions in other threads and received excellent responses from you. Thanks a lot… To continue with my questions… We are a team of 6 travelling from Srinagar-Leh-Manali between July 3rd and 12th and are gonna follow your itinerary. Would like to know the type of clothes we should carry(though you had discussed in detail in this thread would like to get into specifics).. Do we NEED to have woolen clothes? We are from Chennai and haven’t had a chance to buy or wear woolen clothes.. Is this a must and if so can we buy them in Srinagar? We thought of carrying a rough Jacket and just a pair of shoes thinking of less weight to carry.. Do you agree or would u like to suggest us something else? is thermal wear a must? and what type of cap are you referring to!! Thanks in advance once again
Yes, Shankar, always carry one heavy woolen jacket and one light woolen jacket for a ladakh trip along with one pair of heavy woolens as you never know when it snows up there. Though anyhow the weather mostly will be pleasant but you should be ready with such exigency.
Hi Dheeraj..
We are 5 of us and are travelling from Srinagar to leh from 13th June to 21 st June by car.. would like to know if i am interested in riding a bike.. which will be the best place to hire it from.. as in is it a good idea to ride from srinagar to leh and can we drop of the bike at leh.. also we are in leh for 4 days.. what are the things we can cover during our stay.. any activities that we can do.. like paragliding / small treks etc..
Thank you for sharing such useful info..
Regards
Sangram Pawar
Sangram, best will be that you hire the bike upon reaching Leh. In order to know the flow of Ladakh travel, 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 β Ladakh.
HI dheeraj,
Commendable job by you guys…not an easy task.
Just to add to the list, must carry an extra pair of shoes/gum boots in case people are on bikes and are expecting a lot of water crossings.
Thanks
Thank you Raunaq, updated the list.
Thanks for the precautions. We’re visiting Leh-Ladakh from June 11th to June 18th. Should we carry light woolens or the heavy ones? And should we carry inner thermals? We’re leaving by a morning flight (Delhi to Leh). My family insists on carrying woolens only. But I feel like I can wear half sleeves too. Please help π
Do carry heavy woolens, its quite freezing up there at most passes as of now. Half sleeves, you might be able to wear in some low land areas π
Hi There,
We (6 friends) planning to visit Leh . September 9 to 16, we are taking Delhi β Leh morning flight, we wanted to know about the weather at that time , recommendations for cloths (specially for night) and medicines during our visit , we also want to hire a local motorbike (bullet) and want to drive it to magnetic hill , is this feasible , how much distance we have to travel ? . can you please help β¦.
Thanks in advance,
Rahul
Yes Rahul September is a very good time to visit Ladakh. Please read: 5 Tips to Rent Bike in Leh β Ladakh and Ride with Pillion
Hi Dheeraj,
thanks for your suggessions for the clothing, but please can you please let me know if any medicn is also required?? and what shoes we need to wear, sports shoes are ok or do we need high boots.
we are 5 people planning to go in mid june by road while driving our own safari, so is there any precautions required.
Keshav, please refer: List of things to carry when you go on trip
Thanks mate very informative, We are planning to travel in 3rd week of june.
Just my opinion disabling copy just made me type up everything if it servers no real purpose could you please reconsider so that its useful for people.
Cheers
Binoy
Binoy, we are in process of providing print option in the article. There are many people who have started copying the articles from the blog straight away and started putting them into their websites without permission / consent and without link/back or credits even. It is frustrating to see such articles in which a lot of hard work has been put.
Hi Dheeraj,
I must say im in awe of your blog! It is the main reason my husband and I are travelling to Ladakh in August this year. We are from Singapore (where its hot and humid throughout!) so I am a little worried about the weather in Ladakh. We reach Leh on the 1st of August and depart on the 9th by flight both ways due to time constraints. We will be covering the following:
1. Rafting from Phey to Nimoo
2. Nubra Valley
3. Panamic Hot Spring
4. Pangong Lake
5. Tsomoriri Lake
6. Tsokar Lake
Basically we would like to know what are the essentials we need and whether are any of the springs/ lakes ok for a dip. Also, is it safe for a couple to travel to Ladakh?
Any help will be much appreciated!
Neeta
Hi Neeta,
The temperature will not be that high and it will be kind of pleasant in Ladakh during August. You can follow the plan as: Leh β Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air
Regarding essentials, clothes you can refer above and others you can refer the link: List of things to carry when you go on trip
Hi Dheeraj,
I will be driving to Leh from Chandigarh through Kullu-Manali with my friend in June’15 3rd Week. We will biking on Pulsar 150’s individually. can you suggest things to do or not to do during travel.
Pls advice.
Neel, how many days do you have? Also, can;t you start from Srinagar and come from Manali?
Hi Dheeraj,
Basically I, myself and my friend belong to Himachal Pradesh (Bilaspur and Kangra Distt. respectively. I Live in Parwanoo while my friend lives in Nalagarh of Distt. Solan H. P. So going to Srinagar is not feasible. We will be starting from Nalagarh in evening, will reach Manali at Night and will spend a night there. then next morning we are planning to move. we have 5 days. Also we would be carrying our own Pulsar’s.
Pls advice.
reg,
Neel
Neel, with just 5 days you planning this trip? It will take two days to reach Leh and two days to come back to Manali from Leh. So, 4 days are then and there gone. 1 day is required for rest in Leh. You need 2 more days to travel from Manali to Nalagarh too. Roads will be tough as they would have just opened.
hi Dheeraj,
I am replying to my comment as there is not option available to reply to your suggestions.
We have plannned 5 day trip, based on
Day-1:: Nalagarh (evening) to Manali (Night) stay at Manali 6 Hrs.
Day-2:: Manali (Early Morning 4 AM) to Leh (night) non-stop.
Day-3:: Stay at Leh (roam around)
Day-4:: Leh to Manali/Keylong.
Day-5:: Manali/Keylong to Home
it can be streached to 1-2 more days if required. it’s a tentative plan. once started, noway to come back. :)…
Neel, I will recommend, that you add at least on day and do Manali – Keylong/Jispa and then Jispa – Leh next day.
Awaiting suggestions.
Pls advice.
Guess I replied today.
Thanks Dheeraj, will Keep in mind. Rest depends on the condition of Manali to Jispa. Thanks for the advice. will come back if some help required.
Hi Dheeraj. Thanks for the article. I will be travelling from Manali to Leh in June 2nd week this year. I have a pair of sports shoes and I was told in the beginning the road might be muddy . So as far as I can understand they might not be enough but in deep mud while pulling the bike even trekking shoes might not be enough. Somebody suggested to carry an extra pair of shoes and change them if they are too wet. Or I could look for some rubber boots which might be difficult to find in Mumbai as I have size 12. My question is what do you suggest would be the best way to go about this ?
Thanks in advance .
Cheeers π
Mayank, I will advice you to have gum boots tied at the back along with normal shoes. Otherwise, if you can get hold of Review | Quechua Forclaz 500 Ventiv Shoes nothing like it but in deep water crossings they will also get wet. Hence, tie a pair of gum boots always help. You can get them from any army store and even in Manali as well.
Also, it might be a heart break fro you, but Manali – Leh Highway is expected only to open 15th June as per BRO.
Understood . Thanks Dheeraj π . I ll be travelling with a friend and we have decided to reach Leh via Srinagar. We are planning to rent bikes there and visit Nubra, Pangong, Tso Mori and Zanskar majorly . The reason being we can’t delay the trip as the tickets are already booked.
On second thought we were also wondering if it’s possible to rent bikes in Srinagar and there will be nothing like it if we could drop them at Manali π (although that seems quite improbable right now) . Would you happen to know anything regarding that ?
Cheers π
Mayank, Leh shops will have Gum Boots available too and also apart from Zanskar you will not get much water streams to these places. For Srinagar bike rental you can refer the link: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/india/ladakh-zanskar-travel-guides/outside-rented-bikes-banned-ladakh-t1009-50.html#p12858
But, do read the article: 5 Tips to Rent Bike in Leh β Ladakh and Ride with Pillion
hi i am travelling from new delhi ( janak puri) to leh on 15thMay Evening with one friend on bullet. Please suggest me whether if we go with 2 bullets or a single bullet. And the essential things to take with while travelling.
And would love if someone is travelling on same dates, can join us for the journey.
My contact no is 8010098885 or email me at puneet.chhabra143@gmail.com
Thanks.
Puneet, it will better that you go with two bikes in order to have better comfort of ride.
Thanks for your response. I want to ask you one more thing regarding permit. Do we need to take permit this year for bikes as well? And you suggested for 2 bikes. Can i ask why? Because would it not be better that if one person is tired then the other rides instead of taking to 2 bikes?
Puneet, yes permits will be required as per last year though as the pass opens, things will be much more clear. Regarding second question read: 5 Tips to Rent Bike in Leh β Ladakh especially the section of riding bike with a pillion to Ladakh.
HI Deer Deeraj.
I’m LJ. I’ll go to Leh- Ladakh-Kashmir with my friends. I want to know. Could I wash our cloth at hotel in Leh and leave our luggage while I stay night hotel in Nubra valley? Thank you very much. ^_^
Should not be an issue for you to do it π π Else there shall be laundry service too. You can keep the luggage in some store room of the hotel but then you have to come back to same hotel in Leh for stay π
Dear Dheeraj,
We 4 friends have decided to travel from Mumbai to Leh Ladakh via Srinagar…kargil on 14 the may 2015 by our Toyota Fortuner. Could you please help us in planning the detail itinerary. Time and days are no constraints.
Regards,
Ninad Ranjit….Mumbai
Ninad, 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 β Ladakh.
However, the road to Leh – Ladakh will not be open as I feel seeing the weather conditions in March and there is no progress on opening of Srinagar – Leh Highway or Manali – Leh Highway. Stay tuned to the updates: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/srinagar-leh-highway-status-2015/
hello sir,, i am planning to visit leh ladakh via manali on 2nd june by road on my bullet with my friend on same bike ……
plz suggest me clothes i must need on bike……
and dheeraj sharma we are also planning to stay in tents there..plz suggest things we should carry with us…and plz let us know the climate of leh in june
Nikhil, clothes you can check at the link above and to know all about tips for bike trip to Ladakh, please read the comprehensive article at the link: All About Bike Ride to Ladakh & Himalayas
which month is best to travel on bike to leh ladakh via manali ????????
Mid June to third week of July before the rain starts, is a good time for a bike trip to Ladakh. Then in September as well it is good time to travel. For each month’s pros and cons, you can read: Best Time to Travel Ladakh & Zanskar Valley
As I replied to your other comment, you can refer the article above for clothes and detailed article for bikes and needed list of things to carry in the other link. Please let me know in case anything else you want to know. Temperature will be quite cold in June. So, heavy woolens must on Manali – Leh Highway.
thanks sharma ji,,,,,,
my suggestion to you is u must make an article related to leh ladakh trip on bike…
it might be more helpful to those who r planning a trip on bike …….
and special thanks to u for this ”””DOW””’ site which is awesome for leh warriors!!!!!!!!
Nikhil, thank you and regarding article for bike trip it is already there π .. Check it out at the link: All You Want to Know About Bike Ride to Ladakh & Himalayas
Hi!
We are planning a Leh Laddakh tour in the last week of March. It will be a Family trip with my kids. Could you please suggest what kind of clothings we should carry. Thanks
Anirban, it will be extremely cold in March and only option is to fly to Leh to visit Ladakh. Both lakes will be partially frozen during that time and there will be too much of snow at the high passes. Are you sure you want to take family in such conditions? Only few hotels will be operational during that time.
Thanks Dheerj. We are aware about the condition through your blog. We wanted to experience the beauty of Ladakh in the winter. We decided to fly on the last week of March and stay there for a week. I guess Ladakh will not disappoint us. However we want to take utmost care for the winter.
Sure Anirban, please go prepared with heavy woolens and take good amnount of rest in initial 2-3 days to acclimatize properly.
in the month of February restaurants will be open for tourist
Most of them will be closed only few will be open, may be Lamayuru and Gesmo will be open.
Hi,
I am leaving For Leh on this 15th August in my innova car with my 3 more friends, my itinerary is
15-Aug Delhi(In The Evening around 4pm) To Manali
16-Aug Manali (Manali Sight Seeing In The Evening)
17-Aug Manali To Jispa
18-Aug Jispa To Leh
19-Aug Leh (Hire Bikes For Khardung La, Leh Sight Seeing in the mid afternoon)
20-Aug Leh (Hire Local Taxi) Pangong Lake-Back To Leh
21-Aug Leh To Kargil
22-Aug Kargil To Srinagar (Hault At Sonmarg For 1 Hour)
23-Aug Srinagar->>Gulmarg–>> Kud-Patnitop
24-Aug Kud-Patnitop To Chandigarh
25-Aug Chandigarh To Delhi.
Please suggest
Considering the amount of time you have on hand, I feel it is fine enough plan.
Sir,
I have gone through your Tips for Carrying Clothes for Ladakh Trip. Now I have transferred and posted to Leh from Nagpur (Maharastra). It may not possible for me to get heavy woolen cloths in Nagpur. Can I get these things in Leh?
Manoj, I think you should be able to get all these things in Leh.
Sir,
How can I use mobile there as I have heard that SIM came from outside of Kashmir will not work even of roaming is preactivated.
And what about 3G network accessibility?
Saurabh, it is Postpaid connection of outside states that works in JK. Prepaid does not work. Not sure if I got 3G anywhere in Ladakh though 2g EDGE/GPRS was present last year for BSNL I was carrying with me and Airtel.
Oh and can we swim anywhere there? I heard its pretty sunny during the day! π
Anushka, if you can bear the cold water you can. However, refrain yourself from using some soap or other cosmetics as it will pollute the water bodies. Indeed, in season time it is pretty sunny and warm. However, when wind/breeze is blowing, which mostly is and on high mountain passes, the moment you step into shade, you feel the chill. So, in all optimistic case no heavy woolen is required. I have used half sleeves t-shirts too in Ladakh in August but again if you feeling all good, is the case here.
Hi, I will be travelling to Leh from 2nd Aug – 10th Aug. Do I need to carry thick woolen socks or will normal cotton do? and about shoes, can I carry any open footwear like sandals or is covered better?
Anushka, best is that you carry proper shoes and avoid Sandals. It helps in many ways. Regarding carrying clothes, again I always suggest to carry at least a light jacket which can be put on always in Ladakh so that you are not hitting by cold and one heavy woolen jacket which in season time of July – August is options but only with a risk of in case of weather turning up bad. I generally avoid combating this risk and carry both, one light jacket and one heavy jacket for emergencies.
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning to travel to Ladakh from 20th Aug to 31st Aug. Above article is very good and suggests everythinh about cloting. I wanted to know what kind of shoes will be required? Will sports shoes be fine? Thanks in Advance
Sachin, as long as you are not riding on bikes through water crossings, Sports Shoes will do the job in season time in which you are visiting.
Hi,
I’m planning to visit ladakh in oct can u plz suggest me the clothing and are there any packages from delhi who can take us by road and which r the place v can visit
Syed, road travel should be avoided to Leh – Ladakh in October as snow starts to fall over passes and season closes. Chances of getting stranded in no man’s land increases. Read More info at: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali β Leh Highway in October
Are you open to travel by Air? At max, you can travel by road from Srinagar side but fly from Leh or Srinagar. Manali – Leh should be avoided in October.
Hi dheeraj hw r u? We r planning to leave for leh on our bikes on 6th june from delhi via srinagar leh highway and return by leh manali highway I would like u to plese check my itinary as follows
6th june delhi to jammu
7th june jammu to srinagar
8th june srinagar to gulmarg
9th june gulmarg to kargil
10th june kargil to leh
11th june leh to pangong lake
12th june leh to khardungla
13th june leh to keylong
14th june keylong to manali
15th june manali to delhi
Also dheeraj can u plese tell me wat r the places that we can go in leh?? Waiting for ur reply dheeraj π
Nadeem, your itinerary is fine except the fact you should replace your days of 11th and 12th with each other. Secondly, you should stay at Sarchu while coming to Manali to distribute your journey on Manali – Leh evennly.
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning to travel to Ladakh and Leh from early August to a little after mid august. Please suggest the clothing, medication for altitude sickness, skin and eye care. Also should I consider a large back pack or a suitcase kind of luggage…I am not too sure if a strolley would really help and if we could find help lugging around large strolleys. What I should keep in mind and how to make the most of this trip if I am going to Tso Moriri Lake and plan to stay a day at Leh before starting back to the Mumbai.
Padma, you can refer the article above for clothing. Check the list of things to carry for Leh – Ladakh or other trip including basic medical kit, clothing, must haves etc. at the link here: List of Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh trip.
Hi,
we are visitng Leh Ladakh in the last week of May.
Can you please provide us some tips regarding clothing.
We plan to go there via Srinagar Leh highway after booking cab.
Also if you could provide some insights regarding the Bullets that are provided there on rent.
~Regards,
Prahlad Singh
Please refer the article above brother for clothing. For renting bikes in Leh – Ladakh, you can check the DwD Community thread: Leh – Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2014 – 15 & Reliable Shops
hi dheeraj,
we have planned our ladakh trip from 14th May – 22nd May via srinagar highway( fingers crossed) & returning back through flight from Leh.If the road does not open what is the option we have in hand as we have booked our accomodation & travel.Through your blog i got to know that Inner permits are not required for Indian citizens,so needed your suggestion on the places that can be visited on that day. Also after visiting Nubra valley & Pangong with a one night stay ( followed your itinery)we still have a day at our expense.i have thought of river rafting at Phey(2 children 7 & 13 yrs accompanying us).Can you please suggest if this is a good option or i can visit any other place more interesting.
Well, there is a 50:50 chance that Srinagar β Leh Highway will be opened by mid May. You need to take your chance. Also, beware that in the initial days of road opening the highway is not stable and there are snow slides / landslides common in early days. So, keep your buffer days in hand. If Srinagar β Leh Highway is not open then there is no alternative route other than flying to Leh.
Still you need to acclimatize in Leh for a day and rest to get used to high altitude. So, better keep Hall of Fame and Shanti Stupa for the day sightseeing.
Dheeraj, you are doing great job I must say with the information which you have provided on Leh – Ladakh for us. I have plans to reach sometime around 27th June & would like to know from you that apart from Leh (local sight seeing), Nubra, Pangong is it required to visit any other place which is equally important? Secondly for visiting these places what may be the days I should consider.
Regards –
GM, pleasure is mine. Please let me know how are you traveling there? Flight? Road? If you have more days then you can also visit Tso Moriri lake as well.
Hi Dheeraj. I am planning a visit to Leh for 8 days tarting from 31st March 2014.
I am following the 8 day itinerary recommended by you for travelers coming from delhi by air.
I have 2 questions-
1) Is it a good time to visit/ are there any major tourist spots that would be closed at this time?
2) Can i get the lane permits within 1 day after applying / is it an instant process?
I am following the 8 day itinerary recommended by you for travelers coming from delhi by air.
Thanks!
Hello Karan,
1. All roads inside Ladakh are generally kept open all round the year barring few days of heavy snowfall. So, in case the day it snows when you are there then it might close the passes else not.
2. It is an instant process and you get the permits right on the spot. In case DC is away sometimes, then it takes couple of hours but sometimes the staff if authorized present there can also stamp the permits. For details on inner line permits process and to download application form read the linkΒ here
Please let me know incase you have any other queries. Best wishes for the trip and we will wait for your pictures and trip report back in the community. If by chance you happen to be happy to help the local community, please try and support the DoW Causes up there. You can check more details about them at: DoW – Causes | A Step Towards Responsible Travel
Regards
dheeraj Sharma
N is dat true if i wear coton socks with plastic bag, its also protect my feet to cold wave.
Regards
Vipin
Dhiraj bhai julley,
Any special prepration we needed for sep. 8 to sep.14 2013, sarchu, leh, nubra n for pangong. N is dat woolen socks is realy compulsary for this time of the year in ladakh. Coz i’m alergic to woolen socks. Any alternative pls.
Vipin, well, yess, woolen socks would be required as it is a tricky month and snow starts falling by September. In the evening, it gets decent cold and if you cannot wear the woolen socks then atleast carry the cotton towel type ones OR synthetic ones. Plastic will provide some level of insulation for sure. May be this might help: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?39849-Alternative-to-Wool-Socks
Thanx Dheeraj,but your provided link is not working. pls chk.
Vipin, I just clicked it and it is working fine for me. Can you please chck again?
π i got
Forbidden 403
You don’t have permission to access /forum/showthread.php on this server.
Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
but no prblm, i read it by cached page. π thanx a lot Dheeraj.
Strange things happen with websites and software π … But, good that you at least got to read from Cached Copy π
Thanks i must start packing my bags now for mid-sept tour.
Hi
I would like to know is there any shopping places to buy Himalaya herbal products and warm clothing in Leh. I am going to Mahabodhi Temple for meditation. I am not sure about the places in Leh
Merina, you will get them in the Leh Main Market and there are couple of them at Chanspa road too though I do not remember the exact names.