Ladakh Roadtrip (Leh - Leh)
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- Trip Duration: 9N / 10D
- Max altitude: 5,359m / 17,582ft
- Best Time: June – October
- Start/End point: Leh
Ladakh Road Trip — Memories of a Lifetime in India’s Mini Tibet.
Some road trips take you from one destination to another. A Ladakh road trip takes you into a completely different world.
Known as India’s Mini Tibet, Ladakh is a dream destination for travellers who crave dramatic landscapes, challenging roads and experiences that feel far removed from everyday life. With Altitude Adventure Holidays, this carefully curated road trip from Leh takes you through an incredible variety of landscapes while gradually gaining altitude over the course of the journey.
Don’t Just Visit Ladakh — Experience It.
Ladakh is not a destination that can truly be understood through photographs. The barren mountains, rugged roads, vast valleys and dramatic skies have to be seen, felt and experienced firsthand. Driving through uneven mountain roads, remote landscapes and high-altitude terrain makes the journey itself as memorable as the places you visit. And that’s what makes a road trip through Ladakh so special.
If you’re someone who believes that the journey matters as much as the destination, Ladakh deserves a place at the top of your road-trip bucket list. A road journey allows you to experience the landscape gradually changing around you rather than simply arriving at Leh by flight. You don’t just visit Ladakh. You explore it like a true traveller.
Make memories of a lifetime in India’s mini-Tibet. A journey of high passes, ancient monasteries, and starry skies!
Sitting at the zenith of the most coveted road trips in India is the Ladakh expedition. No camera can do true justice to the stark, barren beauty of this high-altitude desert. It must be seen, felt, and conquered.
Our exclusively curated 10-Day Leh to Leh Road Trip is designed for true travelers who want to explore beyond the tourist traps. We take you off the beaten path to the edge of the border at Turtuk, the celestial stargazing capital of Hanle, and the pristine waters of both Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri.
Brace yourself for an adrenaline-packed journey through muddy trails, spine-chilling mountain passes, Magnetic Hills, and white sand dunes that will make you feel like you’ve landed on another planet.
Overview
Ladakh Roadtrip (Leh - Leh)
Ladakh is one of those destinations that many travellers dream about for years. And when you finally get the opportunity to experience it, don't rush through it. Take the road. Feel the mountains. Embrace the rugged landscapes. Stop for the views. And let Ladakh become a memory you'll carry for a lifetime.
Don't visit Ladakh like a tourist. Experience it like a traveller. Pack your bags, start the engine and get ready for one of India's most unforgettable road trips.
Best Time to Visit: June – October
The best time for Ladakh Road Trip is between June and September. During this time the weather is excellent, all the roads are accessible as the snow has melted, breathtaking views and stunning landscapes, absolutely clear mountain passes.
Point to be Noted: Seating arrangements will be rotated daily while in car so that everyone can enjoy the landscape. Stays at Hanle and Korzok will be bit basic compared to other locations but it will be neat and clean. Tour manager’s instructions need to strictly followed during the tour to avoid any kind of issues. Alcohol consumption is strictly NOT suggested once you reach Kargil. Though it’s a Roadtrip, little bit of walking is necessary to enjoy all the sights. Bit of physical activity before the trip will help you immensely. So please check on your fitness before the trip.
Suitable Age Group: The Ladakh Road Trip can be done by age groups between 9 years to 55 years. For minors make sure they are accompanied by their parents or guardians during the trip. If anyone is above 50 years old, we advise you to consult a doctor before going for this trip as we will be at high altitudes and please submit a medically fit certificate. Please make sure, your fitness level is very good, you should be comfortable with high altitudes and cold temperatures.
Pick up Point- Leh
Drop Point- Leh
Pick-Up and Drop Time: On the first day of our trip, our team will pick you up from Srinagar at 9 am. And on the last day, our team will checkout from Leh by 10 am. We request to make your further return plans from there onwards.
How to Reach
Via Air: The Leh airport or the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is the best way to reach Leh via flight. Leh is connected to all major airports in India. We should advice you to book the tickets in advance as the price of the tickets are bit expensive.
Via Train: If you travel by train, the nearest railway stations are Srinagar and Kalka. You can reach Srinagar by Jammu Tawi Express from Howrah and from Srinagar take a cab for Leh. If you travel by Kalka mail from Howrah, then from Kalka you need to take a cab for Manali and then on the next day, you can reach Leh from Manali.
Via Road: There are two ways to reach Leh via road and both the experiences are adventurous and time consuming. You can either take the Srinagar-Leh highway from Srinagar to reach Leh or the Manali-Leh highway from Manali to reach Leh. The distance from Srinagar to Leh is 416 km which will take around 10 hours to reach and the distance from Manali to Leh is 426 km which will take around 11 hours to reach.
Mobile Network Availability: The mobile network is variable in the Ladakh region. You need a postpaid connection and only BSNL and Airtel works in different region. In Leh and Nubra Valley you will get mobile signals and rest of the places it depends with the network provider.
Highlights
- The Border Village: Visit the surreal Turtuk Village, India's last northernmost village that was reclaimed from Pakistan in 1971.
- High-Altitude Lakes: Witness the changing colors of the world-famous Pangong Tso and the tranquil, lesser-crowded Tso Moriri.
- The Stargazing Capital: Spend a night in Hanle, home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, for the best celestial views of the Milky Way.
- Highest Motorable Roads: Experience the thrill of driving through Khardung La and Chang La passes.
- Ancient Culture: Get accustomed to ancient Aryan culture, explore 12-story high Buddhist Gompas like Thiksey, and visit the "Moonland" of Lamayuru.
Itinerary
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Your Ladakh Road Trip with Altitude Adventure Holidays begins from Leh. So on day 1 of the trip, you should reach Leh, preferably early in the morning. You can take a cab from the airport to reach the hotel. You will check into our hotel. Today you are recommended to take rest in the hotel for acclimatization. Full rest and good amount of water intake are best advice for this day.
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On this day of the road trip, we will drive to Lamayaru, Sindhu Sangam, and Magnetic Hill. Driving through the magnetic hill is another experience of a lifetime and one of the prime reasons for coming for the Leh Ladakh road trip. We will start after breakfast and at first connect with the Leh Srinagar highway to drive towards Leh. Do not miss the breathtaking landscape throughout the drive today. Every point will surprise you with its unique beauty. Lamayuru is tiny little beautiful hamlet in the Leh district which is also known as the ‘Moon Land’ due to its resemblance to the moon’s surface. The main attraction of this village is the Lamayuru Monastery which is located at an altitude of 3510 m. This monastery was originally a Bon Monastery in Ladakh that also means ‘Swatika’ and is considered to be very sacred and holy place. You can also visit the oldest temple Seng-ge-sgang that is located at the south of the Lamayuru rock. This monastery is one of the largest gompas in the Ladakh region. From Lamayuru we will continue to drive to our next stop – the Sindhu Sangam. The Sindhu Sangam is the confluence of the Zanskar River and the Indus River that is located at Nimmu at the Leh-Srinagar Highway. Spend some time here and engulf the beauty of nature as much as possible. Overnight stay at Leh.
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Today we will stay at Leh and will cover the local sightseeing of Leh. Leh is the largest city in the Ladakh region and is connected to several spots in the Ladakh region. Do not miss the magical sunrise at Leh and after breakfast, we will start our Leh sightseeing. Visit the Leh market, Leh Royal Palace and the Shanti Stupa. We will visit Shey Palace which is 15 km away from Leh and is famous for the huge Shakyamuni Buddha statue. This place is also known as the summer capital of Ladakh and was built in the year 1645 by King Deldan Namgyal. Our next stop is the Thiksey Monastery which is 19 km from Leh and located at the top of a hill in Thiksey. The marvellous 12-storey hierarchal architecture of this age-old monastery will take your breath away and you will remain awestruck with the beauty of this Buddhist Gompa at such a remote location. Another important spot of today is the 3 Idiot Rancho’s School that became famous after the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots. Will return back to Leh and overnight stay at Leh.
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On the 6th day of our trip, we will drive from Leh (3500 m) to Hundar in the Nubra Valley (3160 m) via Khardung La Pass (5359 m). The distance travelled today is 125 km that will take around 3.5 hours to reach. However, with the beauty of the landscape today, you will simply forget about the time and is bound to make multiple stops today to engulf its beauty as much as possible. The roads to the Nubra Valley will look surreal and you will drive through one of the highest motorable mountain passes – Khardung La. Though you may stop here to capture memories but please do not spend much time here because of the high altitude. From here we will drive towards Khalsar to reach Diskit Monastery and the Sand Dunes. The landscape of the Diskit Monastery with the Shyok River flowing and the beginning of the cold sand dunes is a sight that you surely have never seen before. Here you will see the Red Sand Mountains and the White Desert and the lake around will have the perfect reflection. At Diskit, you will also see the large Maitreyi Buddha statue. Night stay at Hundar, Nubra Valley.
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On the 7th day of our trip, we will drive from Hundar (3160 m) to Turtuk Village (3001 m) and will come back to Hunder. The distance is 85 km one way. Turtuk Village is a very important destination and is sandwiched between the Karakorum Range and the Himalayas. This is the only region in India that is inhabited by the Balti people and was previously managed by Pakistan after which India gained control. Turtuk is also the gateway to the Siachen Glacier. This village has extremely beautiful landscape and you can see Pakistan's side from here. After spending some time here and having lunch we will return back to Hundar. Night stay at Hundar.
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On our 8th day, we will drive from Hundar (3160 m) to Pangong Tso (4225 m) via Shyok village. On our way we will drive through Durbuk and Tangtsee village in the Changthang region. The distance covered today is 240 km that will take around 6.5 hours to reach Pangong Tso. We will start our journey after breakfast and drive till Khalsar. From Khalsar, there is a bifurcation away from Khardung La and go to Shyok village. The Shyok River will accompany us all the way to the Shyok village. The river freezes in the winter hence the river is also known as river of death. Shyok is a picturesquely beautiful village by the Shyok River. From Shyok, our next stop will be Durbuk village and then Tangtsee village. Both of these villages falls in between Chang La Pass and the Pangong Tso lake. Finally from Tangtsee we will drive another popular destination of this road trip – the Pangong Tso Lake. The beauty of Pangong Tso is unparallel that cannot be described in words but needs to be felt with heart and eyes. The Pangong Tso is the world’s highest saltwater lake that appears complete blue in colour with stark contrast with the golden brown mountains at the backdrop. Night stay at tents in Pangong Tso. Do not forget to capture the Milky Way from Pangong Tso.
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On our 9th day of the road trip, we will drive from Pangong Tso (4225 m) to Hanle (4300 m) via Chuskul or Karu village. Hanle is one of the most high altitude villages in the Ladakh region at a staggering height of 4300 m. Hanle is a large historical village in the heart of Ladakh that has the world’s highest observatory. The Indian Astronomical Observatory is very sensitive as it close to the Chinese border. Many notable events and telescopes have been launched from here. It is located in the Changthang platue and has beautiful landscape all around. Night stay at Hanle village in a homestay.
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On our 10th day, we will drive from Hanle (4300 m) to Tso Moriri (4522 m) which is another high altitude lake in this region. Tso Moriri is a high altitude alpine lake in the Changthang Platue and is protected by the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve. This place is famous for variety of animals and birds – Marmots, Tibetan Wolves, and Migratory Birds. The lake is surrounded by high lofty mountains. Night stay at Tso Moriri in camps.
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Slowly our journey is about to end and today we will drive back to Leh. The distance travelled is 240 km which will need 6.5 hours to reach Leh. Relax at Leh and explore the town and the market in the evening.
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Our journey ends today after checking out from Leh. You can plan your further return from Leh onwards. You can either take a flight back from Leh or visit Manali at your own cost and arrangement. Its time to say goodbye with a heart full of warm memories of a lifetime.
So its high time to make memories of a lifetime in Leh Ladakh with Altitude Adventure Holidays!!!
What's Included
- Twin/triple shared rooms(as per requirements) at all places.
- Tempo traveller for the entire trip.
- Breakfast and dinner on all days.
- All permits.
- Local sightseeing.
- All drivers charge.
What's Not Included
- Any kind of bottled water.
- Any meals other than breakfast and dinner.
- Entry fees of any places of interest.
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the inclusions.
- Tips/rewards for hotel/homestay staffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Indian tourists require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to travel to protected areas like the Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Pangong Tso, Hanle, and Tso Moriri. Foreign nationals require a Protected Area Permit (PAP). But don't worry—when you book this 10-day Leh to Leh package with Altitude Adventure Holidays, we handle all the permit paperwork and environmental fees for you!
To comfortably explore the region, acclimatize properly, and cover all major destinations without rushing, you need at least 12 to 14 days. Our comprehensive Srinagar to Manali itinerary covers the entire circuit in 13 Days and 12 Nights.
Yes, it is generally safe for age groups ranging from 9 years to 55 years, provided they have good physical fitness. Because Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, travelers above 50 years of age are highly advised to consult a doctor and submit a medical fitness certificate before embarking on the journey.
Yes. While Indian citizens do not need a permit to enter Leh town, Inner Line Permits (ILP) are mandatory to visit protected border areas like Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Pangong Tso, Hanle, and Tso Moriri. (Note: Altitude Adventure Holidays handles all necessary permits for you!)
Hanle (4,300 m) is one of the most stunning, remote, and high-altitude villages in the Changthang plateau. It is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory and is India's first Dark Sky Reserve. It is an absolute paradise for astrophotography and witnessing the Milky Way.
AMS is a common risk when traveling above 10,000 feet. However, our itinerary is carefully designed to start from Srinagar, ensuring a slow and safe ascent. Staying heavily hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity on the first day in Leh, and carrying prescribed AMS medication (like Diamox, after consulting your doctor) are the best ways to prevent it.
Absolutely! The weather in Ladakh is extreme and highly unpredictable. While the daytime sun can be harsh and scorching, nighttime temperatures at high-altitude lakes like Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, and Hanle can drop close to freezing, even in July. Layering with thermal innerwear, fleece, and windproof jackets is essential.
Yes, tourists can visit the Hanle Observatory, but access inside the actual telescope facilities is highly restricted and subject to on-ground permissions from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics staff. However, simply being in Hanle—one of the world's highest dark-sky reserves—offers an unparalleled, naked-eye view of the Milky Way that is a dream come true for astrophotography lovers.
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