Every year, thousands of travelers head to Ladakh with big dreams and half-baked plans. Some come back with stories they tell for a lifetime. Others come back with horror stories they wish they could forget. The difference? It usually comes down to a handful of avoidable mistakes.
I have been traveling to Ladakh and other trans-Himalayan regions for over a decade now. In that time, I have seen the same mistakes repeated by first-timers and even by people on their second or third trip. I wrote about the top 12 myths of a Ladakh trip in an earlier article. This one is about the actual mistakes, the ones that can ruin your health, your vehicle, or your entire trip if you are not careful.
Let me walk you through these one by one, based on real experiences from the DwD community and my own travels. If you are planning a trip to Ladakh anytime soon, this article could save you a lot of trouble.
Practical Info
Post type: Mistakes to avoid guide
Region: Ladakh (Leh at 11,520 ft / 3,505 m)
Best time to visit: June to September
Permits needed: ILP for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Hanle, Turtuk
EDF (2026): Rs 400/person + Rs 20/person/day + Rs 10 Red Cross/day
48-hour rule: Mandatory 48-hour acclimatization in Leh before heading to higher areas
Last updated: March 2026
Let's quickly dive into the details:
What Are the Most Common Mistakes People Make on a Ladakh Trip?
Most Ladakh trip mistakes fall into three categories: underestimating altitude, poor planning, and overconfidence. The region sits between 10,000 ft and 18,000 ft above sea level, which means your body is operating in conditions it is simply not built for. Every mistake below ties back to one core problem: not respecting what the mountains demand from you.
Here is what goes wrong most often, and how you can avoid it.
Download your FREE high-resolution PDF copy of this infographic guide on mistakes people commit on a Ladakh trip. If you found it helpful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends.
1. Is Fitness Enough to Avoid AMS in Ladakh?
No, and this is probably the most dangerous assumption people carry to Ladakh. AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) does not care about your age, gender, or fitness level. It can hit a marathon runner just as hard as it hits someone who has never exercised in their life. The only thing that helps is proper acclimatization, which means giving your body time to adjust to the reduced oxygen at high altitude.
I have personally seen the fittest of the fit kneel down and cry when AMS hits them. One person in our group was a gym regular who ran 10 km every morning. He was the first one down with splitting headaches at Sarchu. Meanwhile, the oldest member of the group, a 58-year-old uncle, was doing just fine because he followed the acclimatization schedule without any ego.
The science is simple. At Leh’s altitude of 11,520 ft, the oxygen level drops to about 65% of what you breathe at sea level. Your body needs 48 hours of rest after arriving in Leh to begin producing extra red blood cells. No amount of gym training can speed that up. Hence, follow the acclimatization schedule and respect the process. Your muscles mean nothing up there.
2. Does Previous High Altitude Experience Protect You from AMS?
Not at all. This is a close cousin of mistake number one, and it catches experienced travelers off guard. Many people who have done multiple trips to Ladakh, Spiti, or other high altitude destinations start believing they have “earned immunity” from AMS. That is not how altitude physiology works.
I have been to the trans-Himalayas countless times over the last decade, and I have suffered AMS twice very badly. Believe me, it is not something to be taken lightly. It cries the death out of you when it strikes. In such remote terrain, getting medical help is not as simple as calling an ambulance. The nearest proper hospital could be hours away on a broken road.
Hence, you need to understand and accept that your body needs time to adapt to high altitude every single time you go. It does not matter if you were fine last year. Your acclimatization from a previous trip does not carry over. Each trip starts from zero, and you should respect that basic natural principle rather than relying on past experience as a shortcut.
3. Can Driving Experience on Plains Prepare You for Ladakh Roads?
Having 100,000 km of driving experience on smooth highways means very little on Ladakh’s roads. The terrain here is fundamentally different from anything you have driven on before. Loose gravel, water crossings, sudden drops, boulder-strewn tracks, and roads that disappear entirely after a landslide. These are normal conditions, not exceptions.
Never be overconfident that you are a master driver just because you have done Rohtang Pass a few times or clocked thousands of kilometers on the plains. Driving the Manali to Leh Highway could be one of the most challenging and unpredictable drives you will ever undertake in your life.
Even the smoothest, freshly laid tarmac sections can have sudden washouts or hidden bumps that can damage your vehicle’s underbelly. If you see a big rock lying on the road, especially in loose gravel sections, step out and move it rather than gambling with your car’s clearance. Getting stranded in the middle of nowhere with a damaged vehicle is no joke when the nearest mechanic is 100 km away.
Keep in mind, these are the trans-Himalayas, and they rule the time and life up there. Drive slowly, stay alert, and leave your ego at the foothills.
4. Should You Skip Planning for a Ladakh Trip?
“I never plan my trips” sounds cool at a party. It will not sound cool when you are stranded at 14,000 ft with no fuel, no food, and no network. Ladakh is not Goa or Manali where you can figure things out on the fly. The distances between towns are massive, facilities are sparse, and the weather can turn hostile without warning.
At minimum, you need to plan your daily distances to respect acclimatization schedules, know where the fuel stations are (the last one on the Manali side is at Tandi near Jispa), confirm accommodation availability during peak season, and sort out your ILP permits before you reach restricted areas.
I am advising you from personal experience. I do not want your family and loved ones to go through what one of my close friends and I went through because of that “cool, unplanned” attitude. In a place where even diarrhea can become life-threatening if not treated in time, a little planning goes a very long way. Keep in mind, “trouble never comes knocking at your door” before it arrives.
5. Is It Safe to Copy Someone Else’s Rushed Ladakh Itinerary?
Social media is full of “Manali to Leh in 2 days” and “Ladakh in 5 days” itineraries posted by people who somehow survived them. The problem is survivorship bias. You only see the posts from people who got lucky. You do not see the posts from people who ended up in SNM Hospital in Leh vomiting blood.
Copying a rushed itinerary from someone who “had no issues” is a gamble. Believe me, 80 out of 100 times you may get through with mild headaches and a few sleepless nights. But what if you end up in that remaining 20? I have read accounts on the DwD community forum from travelers who followed aggressive plans and ended up with severe AMS symptoms, some needing emergency evacuation.
Always follow an itinerary that respects acclimatization principles. If a plan looks too aggressive, add buffer days. A 7-9 day itinerary covering Leh, Nubra, and Pangong is a realistic minimum. Anything shorter than that is cutting corners at the expense of your health.
6. Can You Cover 400 km in a Day in Ladakh Like You Do on Highways?
On the NH44, 400 km takes about 5-6 hours. In Ladakh, 400 km can take 12-14 hours, and that is if everything goes well. The roads are narrow, often unpaved, and interrupted by water crossings, military convoys, and landslide debris. Add altitude fatigue to the mix, and your reaction time and judgment both suffer.
You may be able to do 400 km on your last day when you are descending to lower altitude. That is fine because your body is moving towards conditions it is used to. However, things change completely when you plan something like doing the Manali to Leh Highway in a single day while ascending to Ladakh.
Now imagine this very possible situation: you are running without proper acclimatization, and your tire gets a puncture just below Taglang La at 15,547 ft. You are exhausted, breathless, the sun is going down, and the next settlement is 30 km away. That is not a story you want to tell, my friend.
Limit yourself to 200-250 km per day maximum, and plan night halts at places where your body can rest and recover. The Manali to Leh route has well-spaced stops at Jispa, Sarchu, and Pang for a reason.
7. Is It Safe to Take Infants and Small Children to Ladakh?
This is a sensitive topic, and the short answer is: it depends on the child’s age and your preparedness. Children under 3 years cannot communicate what they are feeling, which makes it extremely difficult to detect early signs of AMS. Older children tend to exert themselves physically because they treat high altitude like any other playground, which increases their AMS risk.
The key issue is monitoring. With infants, you have to be hyper-vigilant because they cannot tell you about headaches, nausea, or breathing difficulty. If you notice any unusual behavior, loss of appetite, excessive crying, or lethargy, do not ascend further. Either descend to a lower altitude immediately or stay put and watch things overnight. If symptoms increase, start descending without delay.
Keep everyone adequately hydrated, including children. The dry air at high altitude causes rapid dehydration even when you do not feel thirsty. I have covered this topic in much more detail in a separate article: Traveling to Ladakh with Kids or Babies. If you are planning to take young children, please read that guide thoroughly before you go.
8. Can You Drink Alcohol Safely at High Altitude in Ladakh?
I know you are a champ when it comes to Patiala pegs, but please hold them for after your trip. Alcohol, tobacco, and sedatives like sleeping pills all decrease your respiratory drive during sleep, which directly worsens AMS symptoms. At altitude, your body is already working harder to get enough oxygen. Adding alcohol to the equation dehydrates you further and makes everything worse.
The specific problem is that alcohol acts as a depressant on your central nervous system. At sea level, this is manageable. At 11,500+ ft, where your oxygen saturation is already reduced, it can push you into dangerous territory. Many cases of severe AMS that I have heard about from the community involved alcohol consumption on the first or second night in Leh.
If you absolutely must celebrate, save it for the last two days of your trip when you have already completed the high-altitude portions. Your body will thank you, and you will actually enjoy the drink more when you are not fighting a splitting headache.
9. Why Should You Never Remove Clothing at High Altitude Passes?
That shirtless selfie at Khardung La (17,582 ft) or Chang La (17,585 ft) makes a great profile picture on Instagram. It can also land you in SNM Hospital in Leh or on the next morning flight home.
Exposing your bare chest or neck to the cold, high-altitude winds when your body is not fully acclimatized is a genuinely dangerous combination. The wind chill at these passes can make the effective temperature feel like -10C even in summer. Your body loses heat rapidly, your core temperature drops, and your already-stressed respiratory system takes another hit. This is how people develop high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), which is a medical emergency.
Stay layered up, keep your extremities covered, and save the posing for lower altitudes. A good photograph is worth nothing if it costs you your health.
What Other Mistakes Should You Avoid on a Ladakh Trip?
Beyond the 9 classic mistakes above, here are some additional ones that I have seen travelers make in recent years. These have become more common with the increase in Ladakh tourism.
Not Arranging Permits and EDF in Advance
As of 2026, Indian tourists need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Hanle, and Turtuk. You also need to pay the Environmental Development Fee (EDF) of Rs 400 per person plus Rs 20 per person per day plus Rs 10 per day for the Red Cross fund. These can be arranged online through the Leh District Permit System, but doing it at the last minute often leads to delays. Apply before you arrive in Leh, or at least on Day 1 while acclimatizing.
Ignoring Fuel and ATM Planning
Ladakh has limited fuel stations and ATMs. On the Manali side, the last petrol pump is at Tandi (about 32 km before Jispa). In Leh city, there are reliable fuel stations and ATMs, but once you head to Nubra or Pangong, options become scarce. A new IndianOil pump opened at Tangste in 2023 (34 km before Pangong), and Diskit in Nubra has one. But do not assume fuel will always be available. Carry extra if you are in a self-drive vehicle. For ATMs, carry enough cash (at least Rs 10,000-15,000) because UPI coverage outside Leh is unreliable.
Underestimating Mobile Network Coverage
If you are relying on Google Maps or making emergency calls, know this: mobile connectivity in Ladakh is limited. BSNL postpaid has the widest coverage across Nubra, Pangong, and highway checkpoints. Jio and Airtel have expanded to Leh city with 5G, but coverage drops sharply outside town. Prepaid SIMs from other states often do not work at all. Get a BSNL postpaid SIM or at minimum download offline maps before you leave Leh.
Not Carrying Essential Medications
Pharmacies in Leh are reasonably well-stocked, but beyond Leh, you are on your own. Carry Diamox (acetazolamide) for AMS prevention (consult your doctor for dosage before the trip), basic painkillers, oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrheal medication, and any prescription medicines you need. SNM Hospital in Leh has 24/7 emergency services, but reaching it from Pangong or Nubra takes 5-7 hours.
What Should You Do Instead? Quick Summary
Here is a quick checklist of what the smart traveler does differently.
- Rest for 48 hours in Leh before heading to any high-altitude destination, no exceptions
- Limit daily driving to 200-250 km and plan stops that allow gradual altitude gain
- Plan a minimum 7-9 day itinerary for Leh, Nubra, and Pangong coverage
- Carry cash, offline maps, and medications because infrastructure is sparse beyond Leh
- Arrange ILP and EDF online before arriving to avoid delays
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, and sleeping pills for the first 3-4 days at minimum
- Stay layered and hydrated, drink 3-4 liters of water daily even if you do not feel thirsty
- Drive carefully, carry a spare tire and basic tools, and always check road status before heading out
Related Reading
If you are planning a Ladakh trip, these articles will help you avoid more pitfalls and plan better.
- Most Common Itinerary for Leh Ladakh
- How to Calculate the Cost of a Ladakh Trip
- What Clothes to Carry for a Ladakh Trip
- 7 Tips for a Self-Drive to Leh Ladakh
- 14 Mistakes People Commit on a Spiti Valley Trip
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you not do in Ladakh?
Do not skip acclimatization, do not drink alcohol in the first 48 hours, do not rush your itinerary beyond 200-250 km per day, do not travel without an ILP permit, and do not expose your body to cold at high altitude passes. These are the most common mistakes that ruin Ladakh trips every season.
How many days are enough for a Ladakh trip?
A minimum of 7-9 days is recommended if you are covering Leh, Nubra Valley, and Pangong Tso. This includes 2 days for acclimatization in Leh, plus travel days. If you want to add Tso Moriri, Hanle, or Zanskar, plan for 12-15 days. Rushing below 7 days significantly increases your AMS risk.
What is the 48-hour rule in Ladakh?
The Leh District Administration has made it mandatory for all tourists arriving in Leh to undergo at least 48 hours of acclimatization before initiating their journey to higher altitude areas. This means no active physical exertion or travel to places above Leh’s altitude (11,520 ft) for the first two days. This rule significantly reduces AMS incidents.
Can you drink alcohol in Ladakh?
Alcohol is available in Leh and some tourist areas, but drinking it during the first few days at altitude is strongly discouraged. Alcohol dehydrates your body and depresses your respiratory system, both of which worsen AMS symptoms. If you want to drink, wait until the last couple of days when you have completed the high-altitude portions of your trip.
Is Ladakh safe for first-time travelers?
Yes, Ladakh is very safe for first-time travelers as long as you plan properly. The locals are welcoming, the roads (while challenging) are well-documented, and medical facilities in Leh are adequate. The main risks are altitude-related health issues and vehicle breakdowns, both of which are preventable with proper planning. Read our guide for solo travelers to Ladakh for more specific advice.
Do you need a permit for Ladakh in 2026?
Yes, Indian tourists need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Hanle, and Turtuk. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) arranged through a registered travel agent in Leh. Additionally, all visitors must pay the Environmental Development Fee (EDF). Permits can be applied for online through the Leh District Permit System.
What medicines should you carry for a Ladakh trip?
Carry Diamox (acetazolamide, consult your doctor before use), Disprin or paracetamol for headaches, ORS packets for dehydration, Imodium for diarrhea, Avomine for nausea, and any personal prescription medicines. Carry enough for the entire trip because pharmacies beyond Leh are scarce to nonexistent.
I hope this guide helps you avoid the most common mistakes on your Ladakh trip. Most of these sound like common sense when you read them, but trust me, common sense is the first thing that goes out the window when you are excited about Ladakh. Plan well, travel slow, and let the mountains work their magic on you at their own pace 🙂
Have you experienced any other mistake that I missed? Feel free to share in the comments below or on the DwD community forum. It might just help another fellow traveler plan a safer trip.
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A suggestion.
If you do want to use four-letter English words – which by definition is quite inelegant as well as rude of course – then good familiarity of such words will help to use them correctly.
“I never plan my trips, I give a shit on planning…..”
It seems that you meant – “I never plan my trips, I DON’T give a shit on planning……”
Uppercase is only to emphasize the aforesaid point – no need in actual use!
To not use such kind of words in a public forum, of course, will be desirable!
I agree with you and I should edit the article, you are correct. I should not have used it, may be I got swayed by emotions 🙁 … thanks for the correction but I hope you enjoyed the article.
hi Dheeraj
Fantastic blog
Is one full day acclimatising enough?I will be reaching leh early morning and planning Nubra via khardungla the next day.
I am on short trip hence will 1 day acclimatising be enough?
Thanks..
It is highly recommended to have two nights sleep at Leh if flying in to Leh. If you reach Leh by road, it should be OK to go to Nubra next day
Hi Dheeraj,
Need your expert advise. ill will be travelling with pillion(wife) and Avenger 220 cruise on June 2018.
I weight 100+. Is this bike ok to go ahead? Also Do we need DC permission for Pangong Lake & Khardungla pass? If yes, will online permmision save the hassle?
Awaiting you views buddy!
Thanks in advance!
Abhi
Hey Abhi,
You should anyways have to travel as light as you possibly can. With pillion it is going to be tough but not impossible as I have seen similar people doing it as well. Travel as light as possible and save weight whereever else possible.
You will need permission from DC office or can apply online but anyways have to pay the fee in person either at DC office OR at Tourist INformation Center in Leh.
Very nice article
I am planning to visit Leh June 2018 i want to know what will be the best season to visit leh on bike and should we go on our own or should join some group because they have better facilities.. like mechanic oxygen medicine etc…
Also, which medicine we should take as a precautions from AMC..
Hi Harsh,
There is no medicine to cure AMS, only some preventive ones are there but they also does not guarantee anything. To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
June mid to July mid will be good time to travel to Ladakh on bike if interested in snow. However, if you need easy roads and beautiful colors, then September is a good time to travel.
How many people are you there, alone? If alone it depends on what kind of comfort you are looking forward to.
Regards
Dheeraj
hi harsh
i am bhavesh shah from mumbai
also planning to go manali to leh on bike in june end to july
i am from mumbai my cell number is 9820128488 also looking for company
please call if you are looking for company
thanks DHEERAJ FOR WONDERFUL INFORMATIONS
Bhavesh, you can also post a travel calendar entry as well.
Very informative. Thanks for sharing. Am diabetic , obese and borderline hypertensive, . Advisable to go to leh ladakh ?. Am 40 yrs old and now wish to travel around for few months.
I will highly recommend to consult a doctor and then only take a call !!
Hi Dheeraj,
Thank God, one of my friend suggested me about DoW. Then I came across your blogs, without any second thought, I can say, I found what I was looking for while planning for Leh-Ladakh trip. You have done a remarkable job. I need few suggestions from you. (sorry for putting it here as, it is some thing which doesn’t relate to the title of article)
We(Two couples) are planning Leh trip in July reaching Leh on 1st July and have return flight on 8th July. Currently our Itinerary is as below –
Day 01st:-LEH-ARRIVAL:-
Day 02nd:- LEH-MONASTERIES: –
Day 03rd:–LEH-PANGONG LAKE: –
Day 04th:–PANGONG LAKE-LEH- (166KMS))
Day 05th:–LEH-NUBRA VALLEY: — (130KMS)
Day 06th:–NUBRA VALLEY-LEH: — (130KMS)
Day 07th:–LEH-(an extra day)
Day 08th:–LEH-AIRPORT: —
This was the itinerary given by travel agent. But we want few modifications in it and want to add Tso Moriri in it.
Is it possible to follow this track -> Leh -> Nubra -> Pangong -> Tso Moriri -> Return to Leh.
I mean instead of coming back to Leh from Nubra and Pangong each time respectively, Can we directly goto Nubra from Leh then to Pangong and then Pangong to Tso Moriri and then return to Leh on 7 th day of the trip?
How are the roads?.
Will it become too exhaustive?
Thanks in Advance
Thank you Ruchir !! 🙂 🙂
First two days are good, then you must do Nubra Valley, then finally Pangong Tso to acclimatize in bst way.
It will be hectic to add Tso Moriri in the overall plan. Best you can do is make three day trip to Nubra and Pangong Tso by taking direct route from Nubra to Pangong Tso. Then remaining two days make two day trip to Tso Moriri. Keep in mind it will surely become a bit hectic and you should have company with you to travel the desolated direct route from Nubra to Pangong Tso.
Thanks Dheeraj,
We decided to skip Tso Moriri this time. As it is our first time to be in Leh-Ladakh and making it hectic with too much travel, A small problem may spoil our tour. Best is, we should not rush to visit whole ladakh in one go.
Any way…Thanks a lot Dheeraj have a good day.
That’s great Ruchir !! I am sure with eased out trip you will enjoy it a lot and of course, one you go to Ladakh you always keep going back to it. So, do Tso Moriri and Hanle next time together 🙂
Hello RUCHIR,
Your plan day wise is fine. Coming to your question of adding Tso Moriri. Let me put my points as below…if you like follow this itinerary…(Myself and a rider friend followed this route in June 2016)
1) Leh > Khardung La > Diskit (Nubra Valley) > Hundar (Sand Dunes) (You can stay at Diskit or Hundar villages.
2) Early morning start from Diskit/Hundar >> Pangong ( Two Routes)
a) Diskit > Shyok Valley (Shyok River Crossing) This is short cut route…But please note this
route is not advisable..because of Shyok river water might rise up sometime and you may
have to come back to and take another route mentioned below.
b) Diskit > Agam village > Wari La > Chang La > Pangong [Stay at Pangong]
3) Early start from Pangong > Man > Merak > Chushul > Nayoma > Mahe Check Post > Tso Moriri [Stay at Tso Moriri (Karzok Village) [PLEASE NOTE – You need to obtain ILP – Inner Line Permit for this Route. Get this route permit from Leh DC office]
You can go back to Leh next day.
We moved towards Manali Highway from a short cut road (Muddy Road) from Puga village and join Manali highway via Tso Kar on the way.
Check out this option if it suits you. All the best…
Cheers – Ravi
Thank you Ravi for sharing details and helping hand 🙂
That’s a good route sir…But tell me how do u managed with fuel in this route? I’m also planned this route itself but worried with fuel..even if I carry extra fuel of 10lt it is difficult..
Please refer: Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips
Hi Ruchir,
This is Tukuna from Hyderabad. Me and my wife too have a similar plan for Ladakh trip. Only difference is we are returning on 9th July. The plan is something like this.
1st July:- Acclimatization
2nd July:- Leh local sight seeing (Will prefer a bike ride)
3rd July:- Leh to Nubra ( Night stay at Dixit/Hunder)
4th July:- Nubra to Panggong ( Night stay at Panggong)
5th July:- Panggong to Leh
6th July :- Leh to Tso Moriri (Night stay at Korzok)
7th July :- Tso Moriri to Leh
8th July:- Extra day to explore
9th July:- Return
We are planning to book local taxi for Nubra, Panggong and Tso Moriri. If you are interested then we can share the taxi costs together.
Dear friend …
Learned a lot through your pages here. Old and New !! You will not believe back in 2013 me and my colleagues set a national record (it now stands broken 🙂 by 20 minutes) of driving from KanyaKumari to Leh non-stop in 62.20 Hrs. and most interesting part was starting at Manali at 4pm and reaching Leh at 4am. Then I was 51 now 55, Your words of cautions I took very seriously as I intend to do a solo photography trip covering turtuk and nubra, all the lakes and the remote Zanskar. I am planning to drive from Mumbai and complete the trip in 21 days. Need your words of wisdom.
Regards
Our video is in youtube : search kanyakumari+to+kashmir+mahindraXUV500
Sure Jyoti ji, feel free to let me know in case you have questions. You can try to follow the below plan:
Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu / Patnitop
— Overnight at Jammu or Patnitop
Day 2 | Jammu / Patnitop – Srinagar
— 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 3 | 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 4 | Kargil – Padum (Zanskar Valley)
— Head straight to Padum
Day 5 | Padum Local Sightseeing
— Enjoy Zangla, Stongde, Karsha
Day 6 | Padum – Zongkhul Monastery – Penzi La Pass – Rangdum
— Start back and stay at Rangdum
Day 7 | Rangdum – Panikhar – Sankoo – Kargil
— Checkout rock carved statue at Khartse Khar
Day 8 | 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 9 | Leh Local Sightseeing + Inner Line Permits
— To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh
— For more details on inner line permits process and to download application form read the link here
— Overnight at Leh
Day 10 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder – Turtuk
— Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Turtuk
— On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La
— enjoy the culture in the Turtuk Village
— do mention Turtuk on the permits
Day 11 | Turtuk – Hunder
— Spend whole day at Turtuk and reach Hunder by evening
— Overnight at Hunder
Day 12 | Hunder – Deskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh
— Diskit has monasteries with tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari
— Enjoy drive upto Panamik, visit Yarab Tso Lake and back Leh
— Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
— Overnight at Leh
Day 13 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso
— Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung)
Day 14 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh
— Overnight at Leh
Day 15 | 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 16 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang
— Cover Karzok Monastery
— Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri
Day 17 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – 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
Day 18 | Pang / Sarchu – Baralacha La – Jispa
— On the way cover Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal which are on the road sides only
— Overnight at Jispa
Day 19 | Jispa – Keylong – Rohtang Pass – Manali
— On the way cover Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal which are on the road sides only
— Overnight at Manali
Day 20 | Manali – Delhi
— Return home
Ah … awesome 🙂 You really laid out a thoughtful plan. Pretty doable. Thanks a lot. Will keep you posted on my progress. Btw checked the online permit issuance portals. I am impressed with technology adoption of HP and JK !! Last time i remember we had such harrowing time !!
Thanks again !!
Yeah, they are improving day by day. Rohtang Pass permit is completely online while Inner Line Permit for Ladakh is online from documentation perspective yet you have to pay the fee in person at Tourist info center or DC office in Leh, hopefully, that may get automated soon too.
Hi
We almost planned the leh and Spiti valley by road for around 16days itinerary.mostly by July 2nd week
Need ur expertise view on cigarette smoking.
Will it affect really on the trip or it is manageable like 2 or three cig / day.
Please advice
I will recommend to avoid to your best possible extent. From my side, best will be not to intake at all 🙂
Very useful.. see you soon for the ride in June.
Thank you Hari, feel free to post any questions you may have.
Hi Dheeraj,
i had gone through few of your articles. Those are very informative. Thanks.
We 14 people wish to travel and explore Ladakh through Srinagar-Kargil-leh-Nubra-Pengong-sarchu/Jipsa-Manali in 8 days. In these 14 persons, there are 9 persons in age group of 40-46, children (4) of 15-16 years, and one old lady of 77 year. I have diabetes and mild hypertension (take pills for both). So we require your help to finalize itinerary, preparation we should to do over come any medical contingency and should travel our own through some know travel agency (pl share name and contact detail for economical rate).
Awaiting for your revert.
What a small world Manish Ji 🙂
Dhiraj Mahindra from Delhi (Text100) if you can recognize me
Thank you for all the awesome posts Mr. Dheeraj, I always make sure I check DoW before embarking on any of my trips.
Thank you Dhiraj, glad you love them 🙂
Hello Manish,
It is not at all recommended to do such a trip in 8 days and with such large group having adults and kids, it will be nightmare for them. PLEASE DO NOT make this trip.
It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi with stopovers at Sarchu, Manali. This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization.
This will be too taxing for families.
You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh.
Hi Dheeraj,
I am visiting second time Ladakh on 21st September 2016 and will be returning on 26th Sept Morning (by flight). During my first trip, I have covered Nubra, Pangong, Sham Valley and all the local sight seeing. This time, I would again like to visit Pangong and rest I am open for suggestions. Being an expert, could you please help me with an itinerary. Thanking you in advance.
Thanks and Regards
Aarun Sharrma
Hi Aarun, the biggest trouble with Ladakh trip is acclimatization and to explore other parts of Ladakh your body has to be acclimatized properly otherwise as it is your second trip, you know what can go wrong. First two days will be strict rest days and acclimatization around Leh. You are left with 3 days where last day I will suggest for Pangong Tso day trip. On Day 3,4 you would have a choice of Nubra Valley but then that you have done, so better make a trip to Kargil – Batalik – Dah Hanu – Lamayuru in these two days.
Thanks a ton Dheeraj,
Please advise as to where can I stay overnight while doing Kargil-Batalik- Dah Hanu- Lamayuru and what all places I can explore. Thanks.
Thanks and Regards
Aarun Sharrma
Aarun, you should make the trip to Kargil via Lamayuru and stay overnight at Kargil and then next day cover Dah Hanu going via Batalik and reach Leh by evening.
It’s a mistake what I did –
I fly in to leh flights were cheaper and will always be you just need to keep checking it at different time before departure – drastic change in flights rate –
But opting for arrival leh flight is always cheaper then departure flight from leh airport for the same reason as – flight industry understand your need to quickly go out of the place and reach home so that you can meet up your schedule like office on Monday or other thing .. And flight is a easy and quick option – so the departure leh flight are always expensive then arrival – never think to book departure leh flight at the last moment as it will be too expensive .
So the basic is
For arrival flight keep checking rate till the last moment , you may get the ticket at the half price but for departure flight book before as ur budget suggest as the last minute booking will cost u double or more price ..
…
Dear dheeraj it was a suggestion – as your information are really very good and appropriate ..
But these flight operator just taking an advantage of the natural transportation issue ..
From srinagar flight rates are similar not much change –
Thank you, will surely be helpful
Hi Dheeraj,
Superb article!! I’m happy to say that I strictly followed your instructions on this blog last year and had a cool trip with 2 other friends last year!! We followed the guidelines of controlled hydration, staying at Leh for a day to acclimatize etc. I got away with just minor headaches.
Thanks to you and this wonderful website! 🙂
Thank you bro !! glad you loved the article.
HI Dheeraj,
Its is nice article, I thank you for taking this effort and write here. I need your advicee on below things.
1) If I plan to fly directly to Leh from delhi, how much time will it take for acclimatization for 32 year old (normal) person.
2) Is it a good idea to take road from leh to srinagar after sightseeing in Leh for 4 days.
3) Is it advised to stay in one hotel and take round trips in Leh to nubra valley, leh – pangong lake and leh – tsomorri lake or I need to change hotels and stay overnight somewhere on each day.
4) Do I get shared cars for the trips especially for Leh to srinagar
thanks for your advice
thanks,
-Diwakar
Hi Diwakar,
1. It takes about 2 days to acclimatize in Leh and some people may take more time. It depends upon how much rest you take initially and how much body you keep hydrated.
2. If you have to take the road, better fly in to Srinagar and fly out of Leh.
3. In just 4 days after 2 days of acclimatization, you can make 2 day trip first to Nubra and then to Pangong Tso
4. Yes, you should be able to get it with ease.
It’s better to fly in to leh and later take the road route leh to srinagar and fly out –
Reason
1-Flight from srinagar to Delhi or other places are cheaper then from Leh
2-plan about leh laddakh is such that in start if u reach srinagar you feel like reaching to laddakh first thus making the Srinagar around trip waste .and if if you try Srinagar at last then you may have time or no time to try out the places around Srinagar –
Do you see it as mistake or are you suggesting it this way?
Hi Dheeraj, I read your articles and loved the information provided in them. I wanted to ask that we are group of few people planning to travel Delhi to Leh-Ladakh by bike in June end. I have my Suzuki Gixxer 155CC (which is new and in fine condition). So this bike is ok or do I need to rent Royal Enfield only.
I don’t know about the bike specifications for this trip. Thanks!!
No Rohan, the bike will do just fine. Make sure you have done service of bike about couple of weeks before the trip so that you have a chance to ride it within plains after service and figure out any overseen issues.
Hello Dheeraj, loved your blog and the details therein about places. We are planning to go to leh by air from Delhi in the first week of June 2016 for 9 days. We are a group of 8 adults and 4 kids ranging from 3.7 years to 13. Would you kindly point out the important things we need to keep in mind regarding the younger kids? Also pointers regarding acclimatisation? Thanks . Anu.
It depends on person to person 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 less than 3 year child, I think he/she will also be NOT able to convey the uneasiness she may feel. You have to be vigilant and 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.
Hi Dheeraj
We are planning for ladaakh in June. I just want to know where we can pitch out tent ⛺??
Nitin, please read: Top 10 Tips for Camping in Ladakh & Spiti Valley
Nice article Dheeraj. I have already completed delhi-manali_leh twice, and this year planning for Delhi-Srinagar-Leh from 26th June 2016.
I liked this article coz I loved the way you pointed out common mistakes. In fact I also feel, there is no proud in hitting Manali-Leh road wit out any preparation. Yeah I do agree, most of them may not face any problem, but few people may. So it is always advisable to understand the conditions very well.
keep up the good work bro.
Thanks a lot, glad you liked them 🙂
Hi dheeraj
I am planning a trip to ladakh in the first week of june. We will be travelling there for the first time. We live in bangalore. We were planning to go on our own instead of a package. We are 3 couples. Is it ok if we go by road to ladakh from delhi? Or it ll be better if we directly go to ladakh from bangalore? We wanna go by road because they day tht d road trip to ladakh is just amazing. Can u please help me out?
Just replied to your query, you said you wanted to travel by road?
HI Dheeraj,
We are a couple who are first time travelling to Laddakh in may end. We have only 7-8 days in hand to cover Ladakh.
We are planning to Fly direclty to Leh from mumbai.
We want to take the direct route from Nubra to Pangong if possible , so that we could go on a trekking trip that starts on 29th May from Leh. Can you please help us in planning the trip?
🙂
Thanks
Anshu
Anshu, 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 – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air.
hey Dheeraj..
we are 5 friends and planning a trip to leh via manali buy a sedan car. Can u tell me time when the manali leh highway will be opend compltly for tourists. we r planning to leave around May 10.
Hi Manish,
It is pouring snow heavily now a days up there in Rohtang PAss, Lahaul and Spiti Valley. It does not look like that Manali – Leh Highway will open by third week of May.
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. Hundreds of people I know who have taken that car to Ladakh
Can you update on manali leh highway, your article says it will open in march-april.. so is it open as we are planning to leave in first week of june and reach rohtang pass by 15th june.
No sunny, due to snowfall in April month, in fact couple of days back too it snowed heavily, snow clearance operations are stranded and it will take about a month to open Manali – Leh Highway
Hi dheeraj
Your web site has lot of Information for ladakh travel. My question to you is that I am travelling first time bike trip to ladakh. So what is d best time to do this, my preference is June second week. So is it perfect as I want to experience snow as well at the same time have a easy road journey too. Also if you know any bike travel groups who plan the entire itinerary. Secondly you suggest to start from Srinagar so this remain same for bike as well?
Sunny, when going to Ladakh there is nothing easy ride. If you want easy ride in comparison to rest of season, do it in last two weeks of September when water crossings are tamed and there is snow slush. Yes, going from Srinagar remains the same.
Thank for quick reply. Can u tell me how does the weather play’s in June? Does it rains as well? And if you could share your experience and important information for bike travel will be very handy.
Sunny, yes sometimes it rains but it should not be of bother unless you are absolutely out of luck. 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.
Hi Deeraj,
We are 4 people from Surat(Gujrat) planning to do self driving(Tata Safari 2*2) to Leh starting from surat.
We have planned for 20/24 days excluding the days spent.
We wanted to cover the route Surat -Amritsar-srinager–sonmarg-kargil-leh-nubra valley-pangonglake – Manali-kaza -sacha pass-Dalhusie-Chamba-surat.
Can you please suggest us the important spots to visit on the listed place?
How much time can be spent on each place to cover the above ?
Would be great if you can customize the itinerary to suite us.
Regards
ALOK PATEL
Hello Alok,
You can follow the below plan:
Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu / Patnitop
— Overnight at Jammu or Patnitop
Day 2 | Jammu / Patnitop – Srinagar
— 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 3 | Srinagar – 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 4 | 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 5 | Leh Local Sightseeing + Inner Line Permits
— To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh
— For more details on inner line permits process and to download application form read the link here
— Overnight at Leh
Day 6 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder
— Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder
— On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La
Day 7 | Hunder – Sumur/Kyagar – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh
— Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
— Overnight at Leh
Day 8 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour
— Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only.
— Overnight at Leh
Day 9 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso
— Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik)
Day 10 | Pangong Tso Lake – Shey – Thicksey – Leh
— Overnight at Leh
Day 11 | 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. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only.
— Sham Valley include Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, , Gurudwara Pather Sahib
— Overnight at Leh
Day 12 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang
— Cover Karzok Monastery
— Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri
Day 13 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – 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
Day 14 | Pang / Sarchu – Baralacha La – Jispa
— On the way cover Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal which are on the road sides only
— Overnight at Jispa
Day 15 | Jispa – Chandratal
Day 16 | Chandratal – Kaza on the way (Ki, Kibber, Gette)
Day 17 | Kaza/Langza Homestay (Hikkim, Koumik, Langza)
Day 18 | Kaza – Pin Valley – Dhankar – Tabo
Day 19 | Tabo – Kalpa
Day 20 | Kalpa – Narkanda
Day 21 | Narkanda – Chail / Shimla – Delhi
I will suggest that you make the trip to Sach Pass some other time. Or you really want to include the trip of Sach Pass in this only?
Dheeraj. Great show. You are a real good samaritan. A big saviour from the tour operators who are out to fleece a traveller. Good luck and best wishes…
Thank you sir, glad you liked it.
spiti is osm keylong and also visit kinnaur
Nice article, sensible hints; did this trip many times, last summer too, after a few years away from the Himalayas; amazed by the number of Bullet riders, mostly Indians; nowadays riders are hardly a space oddity in Ladakh (Zanskar or Spiti a bit more though). My record was 15hrs solo from Leh to Manali, October around road-closing time, no camps left, didn’t feel like pitching in the snow, so direct. wouldn’t advise it at all, if only for the fact that where is the enjoyment if one does not take the time to discover this amazing scenery!
Full puncture repair kit, spare tube and tools, and previous practice are essential; I wasted 2 hours on top of Tanglang-La last september, to help a group of Northbound Israelis who had no clue nor adequate tools to fix their puncture; “thanks” to them I had to ride solo by freezing night till the camp down from More plains checkpoint…;+)
Thanks Bernard for sharing the details with us.
Hii Dheeraj,
I am planning a road trip to leh from Delhi in first week of june with 3 of my friends. Would really appreciate if you could guide me the route, stoppage points, precautions, places to stay. Would really need your advise, also we luv to see kashmir too, what do you suggest it would be better while going or on the way back. thanks for all your help
Hello Vinod,
You can start from below suggestion
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 – 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 – 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 Dheeraj,
Firstly I would like to thank you for taking time to share your experience and advises which are very helpful.
I am planning for Ladakh trip with my friend, for now there is only two of us committed for this trip, we have fixed our dates for this trip from 6th June – 16th June.
We are travelling from Mumbai – Chandigarh – Mumbai.
Our plans are to start the trip from Manali, would you be so kind to help us plan our trip.
This is our first trip and we are very confused as to how we start out trip.
Thanks again will wait for your response.
Aakash can you fly to Srinagar from Mumbai in some early morning flight? Take return flight from Chandigarh?
Hi Dheeraj,
If that is the best option, yes we can.
Can you please advise how do we plan our journey to cover most of Ladakh.
You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh.
You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Spiti Valley followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 10-11 days: Most Common Itinerary for Spiti Valley.
Manali – Kaza will not be open now, so you have to return back from Kaza the same route as mentioned in the article above.
well said well written!
Thank you sir 🙂
Hi Dheeraj,
We are planning to visit Leh in August or September for around 10 days from Delhi. Can we plan like below:
1. Delhi to Srinagar via Flight. Then Srinagar to Leh via Road
2. Return to Delhi via Manali
Please assist as we would like to enjoy the scenic beauty in between which we could miss if travelling by air all the way.
Waiting for your reply.
Thanks
Aarti
Hi Aarti,
I will suggest to add few more days and plan something like below:
Day 1 | Delhi – Srinagar
— 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
Day 5 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder
— Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder / Diskit
— On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La
— Diskit has monasteries with tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari
Day 6 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh
— Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
— Overnight at Leh
Day 7 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso
— Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik or Lukung)
Day 8 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh
— Overnight at Leh
Day 9 | 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. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only.
— Sham Valley include Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, Gurudwara Pather Sahib
— Overnight at Leh
Day 10 | Leh – Taglang La – Moore Plains – Pang – Sarchu
— Stay overnight at Sarchu
Day 11 | 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
Day 12 | Manali – Delhi
With August, it will be monsoons so you should have some buffer days as well to mitigate landslides.
Thank you for your feedback Dhiraj. Also,it would be great if you can tell the estimated budget for the above plan for two people.
Regards
Aarti
For doubts related to budget for Leh – Ladakh trip, I am sure the link below will help you alot for getting an idea of overall budget:
How to calculate cost or budget for Leh – Ladakh trip
Hi Dheeraj,
I ve been digging so many itinerary’s this seems cool. Thanks man.
Cheers
Mohammed S
Cool, best wishes for you trip.
HI Dheeraj,
I am planning a trip from Ahmedabad to Leh ( 3 of friends). I had been reading a lot on other websites and following / making notes of answers. This website (and your writing style) is hands down the best information I could get. What a time to stumble upon your website.
Precise information on Myths, Mistakes travelers make are amazingly written.
I have recommended your web-link to my other friends as well.
Really wonderful, I will keep following it daily till the time I finish this memorable trip !!
Thanks a ton brother.
Nitin
Ahmedabad
Hello Nitin,
Thank you for the kind words. Feel free to post any queries you have for making your Ladakh trip memorable 🙂
Hi Nitin, When you are planing to for trip? is it by Road/Bike trip ? i AM FROM Mumbai.I wish to go for trip & looking for company to go.
Hi dheeraj..for acclimatisation what are the precautions a traveller should take on a trip to leh..are there any medicines which needs to carry
To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
Hi dheeraj. Thanks for the information ,I hv already booked a flight to leh on 12th may..;when I am reading the article it says road open by 2nd week..not sure if I hv planned the day right;should I reschedule
Shobha, which road are you interested into?
Hi Dheeraj,
Thanks for tremendous information out there. I am planning a bike trip starting 3rd week of April, Manali to Leh. Reading all your threads, I am not sure if roads are open or not in this route. Also given that bikes out of Leh are not allowed for sight seeing, would you recommend fly from Delhi to Leh, hire a bike in Leh?
I am travelling to spend some time out alone..Also I have heard Hemis monastery can allow visitors to stay in their monastery, do you have any idea on this?
I am planning to just go around Leh, for about 2.5 weeks. Any quite and serene place..
Thanks
Dr G
Dheeraj bhai srinagar se leh vala road open huya hai ya nahi?
Nahin Arun bhai, expected to open in mid of April.
Hiiiii Deeraj …We are planning 5days leh trip 19th to 23rd September 2016. Plz advice how can we plan it ?we are above 50.
Hello Renu ji,
By 5 days I think you are flying into Leh and flying out of Leh right? And do you fly out on 6th day or on 5th day?
On 6th day early morning
So, you just have 5 days only 🙁 ..
You can only do something like below in that case:
Day 1 | Delhi – 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 – 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.
Day 2 | Leh Local Sightseeing + 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
Day 3 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder
— Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder / Diskit
— On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La
— Diskit has monasteries with tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari
Day 4 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh
— Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
— Overnight at Leh
Day 5 | Leh – Pangong Tso – Leh
— Do not plan to stay overnight at Pangong Tso as you will not be acclimatized and may fall sick. So, make a day trip only.
— Overnight at Leh
Last day will be tiring, I will suggest to spend in Leh or around
First time when I went to Ladakh in 2002, I was stuck with altitude sickness. I thought I will die but could survive it. Those were the wild days and I had pushed myself to the limit to photograph without acclimatising. Will never ever do that. However not every body is fortunate to do a mistake and come back alive. God Bless!
Very very true Sabyasachi bhai !! Sometimes the small ignorance resulting as a part of arrogance can result fatal and you just need that one bad moment only to turn your life upside down. I believe if there are means to know, prevent and take care of it, once shall always follow. I am hopeful, people will understand and will not commit such mistakes by learning from the likes of our mistakes.
dheeraj,we r planning a trip for around 7 days…..
Flying in Leh and flying out of Leh?
hi dheeraj loved ur article… im planning a trip to leh in may 2016. will I be able to see some snow anywhere? can u help me out wid an itinerary as to wat I shud do there? thanks…
Sumaiya, there will be loads of snow at all high altitude places you will be passing through to different sightseeing in Ladakh. How many days you have in hand?
we will be flying into leh and heading back via manali by road…
Day 1 | Delhi – 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 – 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.
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
Day 3 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder
— Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder / Diskit
— On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La
— Diskit has monasteries with tallest lord Buddha statue and Hunder has sand dunes and bacterian camel safari
Day 4 | Hunder / Diskit – Sumur – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh
— Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs
— Overnight at Leh
Day 5 | Leh – Taglang La – Pang – Sarchu – Jispa
— Try to start early in the day so that you reach Jispa BY late evening
— Overnight at Jispa
Day 6 | Jispa – Keylong – Rohtang Pass – Manali
— On the way cover Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal which are on the road sides only
— Overnight at Manali
Day 7 | Manali – Delhi
thanks a tonne! dis definitely makes things much easier for us… to be honest v were apprehensive initially but now I think v handle it.. thanks again for ur help
Best wishes for the trip 🙂
Hi Dheeraj
I am planning to visit Ladakh in the last week of April. I was looking for a modest budget package for the same. I’ll be glad if you can suggest me one
Laksh, package? you mean what?
Yes dheeraj .. Will surely post … Any update on road status please let me know ..thanx
Will look forward to it. You can subscribe to Road status threads in DwD Community and you will be notified automatically when there is an update
Hi Dheerej,
Im planning to do a bike trip in the first week of may. Ideally I intend on hiring a bike from Srinigar and dropping it off at Manali but can’t find any bike rentals who would give me that option. Is it a good time to go?
and is there another way to do Srinagar to Manali?
Hello Manik,
Bikes rented outside Leh are not allowed for sightseeing inside Ladakh except Tso Moriri and Tso Kar lakes which can be done while going to Manali from Leh. Private bikes are completely allowed. You can use the outside rented bike to reach Leh but then for going to Pangong Tso, nubra Valley, etc.. you need to hire rented bikes from Leh only.
To know more about this rule and present situation, please refer the link: Bikes Rented Outside Leh Banned in Ladakh
This year as per reports, rule is going to be stricter. Manali rental guys have formalized a deal that for the days Manali bike is parked in Leh and Leh bike is rented, they will charge 50% of the rent of the bike. So, confirm with Manali rental guys first about this signoff.
For renting bikes in Leh – Ladakh along with current Bike Union Prices, you can check the DwD Community thread: Leh – Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2015 – 16 & Reliable Shops
The one way bike rental is quite costly and leave a big dent in pocket for you, sometimes like 12K for just the pickup from Manali. Be sure if you are ready to make that investment or not or if at all it is worth the money spent. My suggestion is unless you are hard core biker and cannot live up the passion of biking, it is not wise to spend that much money just for the pickup of bike.
I will suggest that you go through the articles mentioned under the DwD Community thread for bike trip to Ladakh or any other part of Himalayas at the link: All About Bike Ride to Ladakh & Himalayas. This will help you cover almost all your queries related to bike trip to Ladakh or Himalayas.
Acetazolamide (Diamox) 125mg twice a day, and drinking plenty of water: Works for me.
Thanks for the great article (I will be traveling throughout Ladakh in May)!
Travel Safe,
T.S.
USA
Again, thanks Ted, glad you liked it. Best wishes for your upcoming Ladakh trip, feel free to post any queries whatsoever you have 🙂
OK …I did read ur link.I know travelling from Srinagar is good option but train tickets is issue right now …… I have w/l train tickets to Chandigarh as well as Jammu tawi from Mumbai but I guess Jammu tawi chances of getting confirm are less .. Let’s c .. Also pls send me link of one article which shared numbers of few car operators in leh . I’m not able to get that article …thanking you.. You have been good help
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
Thanx a ton bro for all valuable inputs . . really appreciate it .. If I do this leh trip I will owe u this trip. Thanx a ton again
Best wishes for the trip Vipul, if at all, try to share with us the photo tale or travel tale in DwD Community 🙂
This is amazing. Will surely share it with my friend who is planning to go to Ladakh… Thanks for such a great post.
Thanks a lot, glad you liked it.
Hey..I’m planning manali leh road trip on 21st may .. Is it possible .. Planning with my wife n 10yr old kid .. Do you think its good idea .. Also any input regarding trip will do .thank you in advance
Vipul, this year owing to less snow it is highly likely that Manali – Leh will open by mid of May but still I will say you have a chance of about 20% that it might not open. How many days are you planning?
Hi again…planning for around 10 days.. I know it may open it may not but I need to keep things ready in case its opens…also will like to know is it possible to get decent average rooms to stay if no booking is done . as I have train tickets to Chandigarh I will b starting from manali to leh n back to Jammu.. All this in 11 days..is it possible n advisable?
Yes Vipul, with little search you should get the room. 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
It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi. This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.
Great job you are doing Dheeraj, indeed a very good and extremely informative site you have developed. Thanks. Is it possible to give an approximate budget for a 10 to 14 days trip to ladhak with pangong lake with, with fuel, accommodation with a family of four or two in your next article.
In a four wheel vehicle.
Sorry and thanks Dheeraj. you have already talked about this in your earlier articles, i have just read. Thanks
Good to know that Manish, feel free to post any queries you have.
I think you got the reply Manish 🙂
Very true. I was also hit by AMS despite taking all precautions at Pangong lake on 4th day of trip. I will suggest fellow travelers to carry mini LPG cylinder on Laddakh trip. Which came very handy in case of road blocks.
Glad to know that all went well post that as you know it scares the hell out of you.
Excellent Article!! We experienced most of above during our last year trip to LADAKH
Thank you Sujit !! I am hoping you will share with your friends making trip to Ladakh so that they dont make the same mistakes 🙂 🙂
Very well written article bro.People always assume that they have done some Himalayan trips so there won’t be a problem but Ladakh is really different. Things can go horrible if not planned correctly.
Very true Gurpreet bhai and only someone who has been through such trouble or have seen someone mostly respect this very true fact. I hope the above article helps many other saved from the hassles.