Now and then I keep getting queries on the budget of Ladakh trip. So I believe a post around it will be helpful for many travelers looking forward to preparing the budget for their upcoming Leh Ladakh trip. To be very frank, the budget for any trip including Leh Ladakh depends a lot upon a person to person and the taste + comfort he/she prefers.
Ladakh is such a place where you can get varied stay options, unlike Spiti depending on your choice of comfort, preference, conditions, and circumstances. The variety may range from Rs 125-150 stay at some Dhabha tents to Rs 300 – 800 stay at low-cost hotels/homestays to Rs 1000 – 1500 at medium-cost hotels to Rs 3000 and above for hotels that offer much more comfort & luxury etc.
The same thing applies to food as well and depends on what you want to eat (Pizza or Dal Bhaat or Roti+Dal Fry or Maggie / Veg. Non-Veg. etc.). More importantly, where you want to eat and drink. But, in any case, I would try to sketch a basic average budget analysis for a Leh Ladakh trip based on the choice of accommodation and food by the majority of people.
Let's quickly dive into the details:
What is the budget of Ladakh Trip?
Given below is a basic itinerary for Leh Ladakh tour from Delhi (without any buffer days) covering all major tourist destinations of Leh Ladakh and followed widely by many travelers including me. We will be analyzing or finding the budget or cost for this Ladakh tour as a part of our exercise on what is the cost of Leh Ladakh trip.
You can roughly guess for yourself that for a similar Ladakh trip or based on your point of interest & preferences of stay, what will be the approximate cost or budget for your custom Leh Ladakh trip?
An example itinerary for Leh Ladakh covering almost all basic tourist places –
- Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu/Patnitop
- Day 2 | Jammu/Patnitop – Srinagar
- Day 3 | Srinagar – Kargil
- Day 4 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh
- Day 5 | Leh Local Sightseeing + Rest
- Day 6 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit (Nubra Valley) – Hunder – Diskit
- Day 7 | Hunder/Diskit – Pangong Lake via Shyok route
- Day 8 | Pangong Tso – Hemis – Thicksey – Shey Palace – Leh
- Day 9 | Leh Rest Day or Sham Valley Tour around Leh including Magnetic Hills, Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Alchi, Likir, Basgo, Confluence at Nimmu
- Day 10 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang
- Day 11 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Moore Plains (Manali – Leh Highway) – Pang – Sarchu
- Day 12 | Sarchu – Manali
- Day 13 | Manali – Delhi
So, you can see that for our sample Ladakh itinerary, we have taken 13 days (with one rest day in Leh). You can add/remove and modify the days according to your needs. Of course, the budget outcome will depend a bit on that, but I guess that is very much trivial to say.
Also, consider that while traveling alone, the cost of accommodation and transportation is bound to increase. However, while traveling in evenly balanced groups of 3-5 people, the cost of the Ladakh trip will surely decrease. As of now, I will also assume that you guys are two in number so that the budget can be calculated on a twin-sharing basis.
Now, to analyze the budget for the above or any other itinerary, we can categorize the budget into two major parts described below –
Food + Accommodation + Miscellaneous Budget of Ladakh Trip
Let us break down each of these components to understand the break of Ladakh trip cost in detail.
Accommodation Cost
This example trip will need about 12-13 days at the very least, so roughly you will be spending some Rs 12000 – 18000 per person for food, accommodation and other misc. expenditures.
If you are living in an average budget hotel with decent comfort and are traveling in a group (at least 2 in number) then the average cost per day for food, accommodation, and other misc. things like tolls, permit fees, entry fees to monasteries, etc. come to about Rs 1000-1500 per day.
Again, Rs 1000-1500 figure could be a low budget for someone and a little high for others depending upon the choice of stay and food or other activities you plan to do on your Ladakh trip.
Food Cost
For example, if you dine at a dhaba tent, then the cost of the meal would come out to be around Rs 50-70 only per person, and the same meal if you take at a restaurant at Changspa road in Leh then you might pay Rs 150 – Rs 170 per person or maybe more. Furthermore, in some high-end restaurants, the cost of food will go up much more.
Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian also matters with respect to food pricing, so take that factor into account as well.
You should always carry your 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 your step in this direction can help save the Himalayas too !! 🙂 🙂
![What is the best bike or best motorcycle for Leh Ladakh bike trip? [4 Things to Consider]](https://devilonwheels.com/yt_vid_thumbs/ladakh/81.png)
Miscellaneous Cost
The same thing applies to different activities. Here I have considered what is unavoidable such as toll, permit charges, entry fees, snacks, etc. If you are going paragliding, rafting, shopping, etc.. then that will surely be something additional for you.
Hence, if you are going with a budget hotel or guest house having decent comfort, eating decent quality food, and including only mandatory miscellaneous charges then you may need to shell out Rs 12000 – 18000 per person for your Leh Ladakh itinerary of 12-13 days.
Mode of Transportation Budget of Ladakh Trip
On a trip to Leh Ladakh, the major cost comes out to be for taxis or transportation or fuel depending upon your mode of transport. Using public transport inside Leh – Ladakh is a challenge as the frequency of such vehicles is feeble and based on their schedules you may require 18-20 days to complete the above trip.
So, in Leh Ladakh, travelers mostly commute either by privately hired taxis or shared taxis run by tour operators or by finding travel partners and sharing the cost with them or riding rented bikes or ultimately self-drive on their bikes or cars. All these options will present you with different costs for the trip.
Let’s look at each one of them below to get an idea of the total cost for a Leh Ladakh trip.
Cost of Ladakh trip on Self-Drive Private Vehicle
You will be traveling about 3300-3600 KMs for the above Ladakh trip. So, if your bike gives a mileage of about 25 KMPL on average in mountains + plains, then you are looking for about Rs 13200 – 14400 for fuel roughly. If it gives less, then adjust accordingly. I have assumed average cost of petrol as Rs 100 per litre as of January 2023. In plains, it will be less and in mountains it will be more.
Similarly, you can calculate if you are driving the car. Just keep in mind that in hills, your car or bike will give much lesser mileage than in plains. So, calculate accordingly and divide them among the people traveling in the car to calculate the per-person cost. It is difficult/uncomfortable to travel to Ladakh with a pillion on a bike, so the cost is calculated singularly above.
Finally, taking food + accommodation into account, traveling to Ladakh by self-drive mode of transport, you are looking at about ((Rs 12000 – 18000) + (Rs 13200 – 14400) = (Rs 25200 – 32400)) as the total cost for the entire Leh Ladakh trip.
Self-Drive But Rented Vehicle
Here, the cost of fuel would be the same as for a self-drive private vehicle calculated above, but you will be adding the cost of bike/car rental as well. Usually, you get a decent bike in good condition at around Rs 1400 – 1500 per day depending on the make and model of the bike you rent.
You can check the updated Leh Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2022-23.
So, the cost of bike rent only from Delhi to Delhi Ladakh trip comes out to be around Rs 20,000 – 24,000 considering if you get a discount. Adding the fuel cost as calculated above, the cost here becomes approximately Rs 33,200 – 38,400.
This is a solo Ladakh ride cost. So, if you have a pillion then divide by two here.
Finally, taking food + accommodation into account, traveling to Ladakh by self-drive rented bike mode of transport, you are looking at about ((Rs 33,200 – 38,400) + (Rs 12000 – 18000) = (Rs 45,200 – 56,400)) as the total cost for the entire trip.
Privately Hired Taxi in Leh
The taxis outside the Leh are not allowed to roam in Leh – Ladakh, and you are always required to hire a taxi that belongs to Leh only. So, I am considering the case when you will be hiring a private taxi in Leh only and to reach Leh you will be using public transport.
It may be the case that you are coming in a privately hired taxi from outside Leh. Or you may be flying directly to Leh etc. but here I will assume that you have used public transport such as the train to reach Jammu, JKSRTC buses to reach Srinagar, and then to Leh, HPTDC buses to reach Manali from Leh and further to Delhi.
Also, I will assume that on Day 11 you will be going to Leh from Tso Moriri since in public transport you cannot travel directly from Tso Moriri to Manali. Traveling in this way means one extra day being spent in Leh Ladakh, making it a 13-day trip. I am again assuming you are 4 in number.
I will break down the private taxi cost and the other transport cost for the entire trip as below –
- Day 1 – Day 4 (Delhi – Jammu – Srinagar – Kargil – Leh) = Rs 3000 per person
- Day 5 (Leh Local) = Rs 2400 / 4 = Rs 600 per person
- Day 6 – Day 8 (Leh – Khardung La – Nubra – Pangong – Leh) = Rs 22000 / 4 = Rs 5500 per person
- Day 9 – Day 10 (Leh – Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Leh) = Rs 14000 / 4 = Rs 3500 per person
- Day 11 – Day 13 (Leh – Keylong – Manali – Delhi) = Rs 4000 per person
Considering a 10-12% discount on the rates of Leh Taxi Union after bargaining, the total cost comes out approximately to Rs 16,000 – 17,000 per person when traveling two in number.
This cost of a taxi in Ladakh per person will come down if there are more people traveling with you to a maximum of 6.
Why only 6? Because one Scorpio taxi can accommodate 6 persons with ease :), anything more than that you need to hire two taxis.
However, I recommend that 5 people in one taxi are the optimum number to share the cost of a taxi.
Finally, taking food + accommodation into account, traveling by privately hired taxi in Leh and reaching Leh in public/shared transport, you are looking at about ((Rs 16000 – 17000) + (Rs 13000 – 19500) = (Rs 29000 – 36500)) as the total cost for the entire trip including 1 day added to travel between Tso Moriri – Leh.
If by any chance you plan to hire a private taxi to travel on Srinagar – Leh Highway and Manali – Leh Highway then the cost will go much higher because charges for Srinagar – Leh, and Manali – Leh in a private taxi are about Rs 20000 and Rs 25000 respectively as per rates in 2023.
If you are less in number, like 2 in this example, it is always suggested to travel by public transport such as shared taxis, JKSRTC buses, HPTDC buses on Srinagar – Leh, and Manali – Leh Highways in Himachal.
Wondering if there is any cheap mode of hiring a private taxi to Leh Ladakh from Manali or Srinagar. I shall say Yes as well as No, as you can find the details in my article on Cheap private taxi to Leh – Ladakh | A Myth or A Reality?
Shared Taxis or Public Transport or Travel Partners (in a group)
Assuming that instead of hiring a private taxi in Leh Ladakh you plan to travel by shared taxis run by tour operators or join with other travel partners to share the cost or you are about 5 in number then you are looking at about Rs 13000 – 14000 approximately.
If you further plan to travel in Ladakh by public buses then this figure as well will go down further considerably. However, at the same time, you may be required to stay for a longer period adjusting to the schedule of these public buses which means an increase in lodging + food costs.
Finally, taking food + accommodation into account, traveling shared taxis (or public transport or along with travel partners) in Leh and reaching Leh in public/shared transport, you are looking at about ((Rs 13000 – 14000) + (Rs 12000 – 18000) = (Rs 25000 – 32000)) as the total cost for the entire trip.
Conclusion
If I look at the above scenarios or examples, then, of course, it may not be the case every time. Sometimes you will be hiring the bike from Delhi only and sometimes partially. There can be cases where you will travel to Leh Ladakh by bus or public transport and then hire a bike in Leh to ride to only a few places.
DO NO forget to check the top 15 tips on Responsible Travel in the Himalayas.
Similarly, you may travel to Manali on public transport and then hire a bike from Manali, etc. There could be similar other cases as well as flying directly to Leh etc. I have tried to cover many general cases here, and we can surely discuss custom cases in the comments section below if you like or have any difficulties.
Have a travel question?? You can follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel to ask your travel questions in a direct message on Instagram or comment on my YouTube videos.
Otherwise, if you are looking at them individually or day by day then you will be able to calculate the cost estimate of your Leh Ladakh trip for any such custom combination with fair ease.
I will look forward to your queries or doubts in the comments section below and know your perspective/tips of cost or budget analysis for the Ladakh trip as well. Kindly share your valuable thoughts/feedback/inputs etc. here with many other fellow travelers.
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1,979 Comments
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Hi Sharma,
Leh is my dream trip…
We are 3 travelling from chennai to leh and car is either VW polo or Honda Amaze.
All 3 can drive and we are planning for 26Days trip
Please help us with itinerary, We just want to cover most of the places if 1 or 2 days can be increased in plan.
Possible = Yes, Difficult = Yes, at quite a few place. 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.
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 have a query on online inner line permit.
Do we have to apply individually if we are travelling as a group of 4? The website alla for a single person’s information when I tried to apply for it.
Thanks in advance.
Sruthy
Yes Sruthy, unfortunately, the website is not much matured to let you apply the permit for multiple people with just one submission. You have to submit form for everyone.
Thank you for the response Dheeraj.
We have got 7 days. Can you please check whether the below itinerary is feasible and which all places should be included in the ILP request?
Day 1: Arrival and rest
Day 2: Leh to Magnetic hill, hall of fame , indus-zanskar confluence, Likir, Alchi, Lamayuru monastery, Moon land, return to Leh
Day 3: Leh to Nubra valley via Khardung La pass, Disket Monastery, Hunder sand dunes, camel safari, overnight stay.
Day 4: Nubra to Pangong tso via Shayok valley, Spangmik Village, Over night stay at Pangong (camping not necessary).
Day 5: Pangong Tso to Leh via Changla pass, Hemis Monastery, Shey Palace, SECMOL School visit.
Day 6: Vist Leh City, market and near by places like Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace.
Day 7: Return.
We may have an extra day, so is there anything we missed which could be covered in a day?
Thanks in advance.
Sruthy
Hello Sruthy,
Do you mean you have one more day that is 8 days? If yes, you can use Day 6 and that extra day to make a two day visit to Tso Moriri lake. Else, your plan looks OK and can be much better is you do two day trip to Nubra Valley and two day trip to Pangong TSo or use Day 6 to visit Turtuk in Nubra Valley as a day trip.
Yes Dheeraj. We have 8 days in hand.
Could you please let me know the places to be included in the ILP request?
Thank you!
Select the circuits for Pangong tso/Sampgmik, Nubra Valley, Chumathang, Tso Moriri ones
Hi Dheeraj,
How are you? I am Ashek from Bangladesh. I am following your blog from couple of months. It’s very helpful. I along with my wife want to make a trip in ladakh. I have made a tour itinerary by taking help of your above writing and it’s about 8 days. Below is my details plan:
Day 1 Delhi-Leh (by air); Rest day in Leh
Day 2 Leh local sightseeing; Innerline permit
Day 3 Leh-Nubra valley
Day 4 Nubra valley-Leh
Day 5 Leh-Pangong Lake
Day 6 Pangong Lake-Tso Moriri Lake
Day 7 Tso Moriri Lake-Tsokar Lake-Leh
Day 8 Leh-Delhi (by air)
I have few questions. Please help me.
1. I’m planning to make this trip from October 14 to October 21. Is it feasible to go to ladakh that time?
2. As I’m going along with my wife, what will be the costing of two persons for privately hired taxi at that time?
3. Do you have any suggestions to us as we are foreigners?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Ashek
October will be very cold to sleep at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri. You will not be able to travel to Pangong tso to Tso Moriri direct route being a foreigner. Also, you need Protected Area Permit not Inner Line Permit. Costing will be high and for above route itself it will be about 40-42K
I have dropped Tso Moriri from my plan. Now the itinerary is:
Day 1 Delhi-Leh; Rest day in Leh
Day 2 Leh local sightseeing; Innerline permit
Day 3 Leh-Nubra valley
Day 4 Nubra valley-Leh
Day 5 Leh-Pangong Lake
Day 6 Pangong Lake-Leh
Day 7 Leh-Delhi-Kolkata
1. I have two options for above route. one is from October Oct 14 to Oct 20. Another one is from Oct 7 to Oct 13. Is it possible to make trip in the mentioned two times?
2. Sorry, I’m asking you same ques again and again. How much will be the transport cost for Day 2 to 6 for privately hired taxi?
1. I will go with Oct 7 – 13 and book Himalayan Wooden Cottages in Pangong Tso in advance because they will be the only one running during that time.
2. Taxi cost as per union will be around 22K. 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.
Hi Dheeraj,
We are five friends planning for Leh trip from delhi via Srinagar and coming back through Manali. We are planning to leave in a day or two. Below is the itinerary we had planned yet in short:
Day From To
1 Delhi Amritsar
1 Amritsar Patnitop, (night stay)
2 Patnitop Kargil / Drass, (night stay)
3 Kargil Leh, (Night stay)
4 Leh Khardung La, Nubra Valley (Night Stay)
5 Nubra Valley Pangong Tso (Night Stay)
6 Pangong Tso Manali (Night Stay)
7 Manali Delhi
We will be having only 7 days available in our calendar. Does the above plan looks feasible with little breaks in between and having fun at the places we cover? We are planning to start the trip on early midnight of day 1 around 01:00 AM.
Do we need any permits for any of the above mentioned places in Leh ? If you can also suggest better places or stops for staying in night and continuing the journey from there which can help achieving this plan in this short amount of time.
Mayank, your plan is very hectic and does not involve any rest. It is highly possible to get stuck with AMS. You are also not resting in Leh which is highly recommended and Pangong Tso to Manali directly is too too much about 20+ hrs of drive.
Thanks Dheeraj.
Actually we are three drivers, does that make any possibilities? Or can you suggest any itinerary for Leh in such less time.
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.
That is the best I can suggest considering the risk of life involved due to AMS issues.
Hi dheeraj we are group of 4 people starting our travel from Delhi to Leh on 2nd June via Srinagar. Please confirm if it’s okay to travel via Srinagar owing to current unrest in the valley , is there any affect on the vehicular movement.
Meenakhsi, it is not OK to travel from Srinagar – Leh route. PLEASE avoid it. Read all the updates posted by other community members at the thread: https://devilonwheels.com/india/road-status-conditions/srinagar-leh-highway-status-2017-2018-t5264-140.html
I am planning to do the Spiti trip in September 1st and 2nd week. Is it okay or should it be 3rd and 4th week? Also, I’ll take my own car (Ecosport), which I believe should be fine. I have a very stretched trip as I want to enjoy the drive.
Day 1. Delhi-Kasauli
Day 2. Kasauli- Rampur/Sarahan
Day 3. Rampur/Sarahan – Kalpa
Day 4. Kalpa- Sangla- Kalpa
Day 5. Kalpa- Tabo
Day 6. Tabo- Nako
Day 7. Nako- Kaza
Day 8. Kaza (need to get info on places)
Day 9. Kaza- Manali
Day 10. Manali
Day 11. Manali- Chandigarh
Day 12. Chandigarh- Delhi.
Does this seem okay? Have a missed anything or do I need to add something here. Would really like your inputs on it.
Thanks.
Eco Sports should be fine. I will suggest following updates
Day 3. Rampur/Sarahan – Sangla
Day 4. Sangla – Chitkul – Kalpa
Day 5. Kalpa – Nako – Tabo
Day 6. Tabo – Dhangkar – Pin Valley
Day 7. Pin Valley – Kaza – Ki, Kibber in afternoon – Kaza
Day 8. Kaza – Langza – Komic – Hikkim – Kaza
Day 9. Kaza – Chandratal
Day 10. Chandratal – Manali
Day 11. Manali- Chandigarh
Thanks Man.
Chandratal was not on my list, but it is now :). Could you also help me with an option for night halt near chandratal. Is there any homestay option in any closely village?
Sunil, please read the stay options section in the article: Delhi to Chandratal Lake Spiti Valley – Travel Guide
Hello Sir,
I am planning to visit Leh by road from 04th to 15th Aug from Delhi by road my details are as follows:
Car – Indica Vista
Person – 4
Itinerary:
Leaving Delhi on 4th (fri evening ), night stay at Jalandhar
Leaving Jalandhar on 5th early morning, night stay at Srinagar
Leaving Srinagar on 6th early morning for leh (is that possible to cover this route?)
On 7th stay put in leh for local sight seeing
On 8th leh to pangong
On 9th pangong to leh
On 10th leh to nubra and stay night at khalsar
On 11th khalsar – khardungla – leh
12th rest day
From 13th onwards start for Delhi thru Manali.
Kindly advice on above, out of 4 we 2 people know driving. And also covered Rohtang pass with same car 2014.
Thanks & Regards,
Akhil
Please do Nubra before Pangong Tso, rest looks OK.
Thanks Mr. Dheeraj
I have 2 more query.
First, can I travel Srinagar to leh in one day with my hatchback.( I also take halt at drass or kargil).
Secondly, monsoon how affected me on srinagar to leh after then leh to manali route and what is the best point to stay in leh to manali route.
Regards,
Akhil
You must take night halt at Kargil. It is monsoon time in general up there in North and at some parts of Manali – Leh Highway (like before Baralacha La) and Srinagar – Leh Highway (like before Kargil) you might need to face monsoon hassles but once you get closer to Ladakh, then Ladakh being rain shadow region is least affected by monsoon rains, though rains does reach Ladakh now but to minimum and mostly it might remains overcast conditions. There is no thumb rule of certainty about weather conditions but above is generally common pictures seen over last few years except ugly 2010 …
Please refer the link in our community: FAQ | Is Monsoon season good time to travel to Ladakh? for more details.
Best point of stay on Manali – Leh Highway is Jispa but many people stay at Sarchu too which you should only sleep in case you had a good sleep at Pangong tso lake.
Thank you Mr. Dheeraj for your prompt response.
Hi Dheeraj,
If I shift my plan to Sep. first week then its ok for my car? B’coz I am very worried about my hatchback as in monsoon slush and water stream are so obvious.
I already read your article about travelling in Sept. and the best time to visit. So my question is do I expect fresh snowfall during Sep,? and at which places I can find snow except rohtang pass.
Regards,
Akhil
Yes September will be much better. Also, nowadays it snows once or at max twice in September that too towards the end or first week of October. So, you will not get the snow anywhere.
Hi Dheeraj,
Thank you for all the information. You are doing an awesome job for us.
A bit of an enquiry from our side.
My group consist of 4 friends and we are thinking of visiting Leh in the last week of June or in the 2nd week of Aug.
Travel routes will be from Delhi to Manali to Leh & then Same way return.
kindly help us in listing the things that should be taken care of:
1. Driver/Guide For Leh
2. Accomodation
we are trying to get the whole trip under an affordable costing only. Please help us how we should manage.
Thanks
Hi Ajitesh,
I will suggest to go in June.
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.
Hi Dheeraj,
Thank you for a very informative, helpful and relevant posts.
I am a resident of Pune, Maharashtra. I plan to take a road trip from Delhi to Leh Ladakh this June-July 2017. As of now, I am solo but I would like to be part of a group if it works out.
Yesterday I have purchased a RE Thunderbird 350 for this purpose. I am considering transporting the bike by train to Delhi and starting the road trip from Delhi.
I have a free calendar and am considering a 15-16 day itinerary covering New Delhi-Manali-Rohtang Pass-Tanglang La-Chang La-Pangong Lake-Nubra Valley-Khardung La-Kargil-Shrinagar-New Delhi.
Can you help me with a few points that I can think of and are given below?
1. Do I need to book accommodation for the entire itinerary in advance?
2. Are there any loosely defined groups that I can tie-up with for the above itinerary in full or part?
3. Are there any organisations that take care of the logistics such as accommodation, food, fuel and maintenance support (if required)?
4.Which route option is better and why? Delhi-Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Manali-Delhi or the other way around i.e Delhi-Manali-Leh-Kargil-Srinagar-Delhi?
Thanks and regards
Atul Deshpande
Hi Atul,
My replies below:
1. There is no need to book any accommodation if you are OK with basic stays and searching them here and there after reaching it.
2. Please search the DoW Travel Calendar where travellers post their events looking for other partners
3. Not that I know of but if you get some plan together with the help of all the info. available on this website, you should be able to make the trip.
4. Srinagar – Ladakh – Manali is always better as it helps in acclimatization.
I will suggest that you go through the calendar and patch up with other like minded people
Thanks Dheeraj… you are a gem !!
Thank you Atul 🙂
Hi,
I’m planning for a Leh- Ladakh trip this July(2017) for two person.
We are willing to travel mostly by shared taxis. Also we are planning on staying on rented tents at some locations.
So it would have been helpful if you could tell me the approximated budget for this trip of around 16-18 days starting and ending from New Delhi.
Contacts of some local trekking groups is appreciated if you can provide.
Thank You.
Please refer: How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport
Hi Dheeraj,
1) I am planning a solo bike trip from manali-leh-manali for approx 10-15 days in the month of june
I want to cover tso moiri(both the routes) , pangong tso, masrsimik la and panamik
I would be glad if you could help me to plan accordingly.
2) Is inner line permit is required for these places?
3)What would be the approx budget I should set for this trip?
4)Any reliable contact from where I can rent a RE in manali?
Thank you,
Hi Ansh,
1. Please refer: https://devilonwheels.com/india/plan-ladakh-zanskar-trip/manali-leh-ladakh-manali-common-itinerary-t148.html
2. Yes, inner line permit and environment fee is now required again for Indians too from this year
3. Please refer article above
Hi Dheeraj,
First of all a big thank you for such wonderful detailed insights on various amazing places. Really loved reading your blog, its well written, detailed and most importantly helpful.
Further, I am planning to visit Leh this year in the 1st week of Jul. Will be starting from Mumbai. As of now I am planning to go solo (Another friend of mine may join, but i really want to go solo). let me know if this is advisable.
I wish to Start from Mumbai>> Srinagar by flight, Srinagar to Leh>> By Road and finally take a flight back from leh to Mumbai. I have 9 days in hand. Please suggest the best possible route map. I also wish to spend a good time at one of the monasteries.
Look forward for your revert.
Warm Regards,
Zahir
Thank you so much Zahir !! 🙂 🙂
1000s of people travel solo to Ladakh every year, it shall not be an issue at all. You should read: Top 10 Tips for a Solo Trip to Ladakh or Spiti Valley
Your plan should be like:
Day 1 | Reach Srinagar and rest
Day 2 | Srinagar to Kargil
Day 3 | Kargil to Leh
Day 4 | Leh rest and acclimatize, check out the shared taxis and patch up with them
Day 5, 6 | Nubra Valley trip
Day 7, 8 | Pangong Tso trip
Day 9 | Rest in Leh
Day 10 | Fly back
Hi Dhiraj,
Me and wife have booked the ticket for Srinagar and we will be arriving on 17th May morning and our return flight is also from srinagar on 30th May. We are planning to do Srinagar-Leh-Srinagar. Please suggest how do we plan this.
Thanks!
Most likely Mehul the road from Srinagar to LEh will be open by that time of the year. You have enough number of days to plan the trip and can follow the below plan easily:
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
Day 5 | 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 6 | Turtuk – Hunder
— Spend whole day at Turtuk and reach Hunder by evening
— Overnight at Hunder
Day 7 | 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 8 | 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 9 | Pangong Tso Lake – Thicksey Monastery – Shey Palace – Leh
— Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on return to Leh
— Overnight at Leh
Day 10 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang
— Cover Karzok Monastery
— Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri
Day 11 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring (Manali – Leh Highway starts) – Taglang La – Upshi – Leh
— Come back via Tso Kar and Manali – Leh Highway to Leh
— Overnight at Leh
Day 12 | Leh – Lamayuru – Kargil
— Cover Mulbekh Maitrey, Lamayuru Moanstery, Lunar Landscapes
— On the way you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu
— Overnight at Kargil
Day 13 | Kargil – Drass – Zozi La – Sonamarg – Srinagar
— Enjoy the vistas enroute
— Have late drunch meal at Sonamarg
— Overnight at Srinagar
Thank You Dhiraj, this itinerary looks perfect to me. But I am on a budgeted trip so hiring a private vehicle is out of my pocket. So also if you can suggest the mode of transport that I should consider.
Mehul, you should refer: Top 10 Tips for a Solo Trip to Ladakh or Spiti Valley and How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport
Hi Dhiraj,
Me and my 10 Friend is planning to visit Leh between 8 June to 20 June
we have taken Tampo Travel from Jammu -Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Sarchu-Manali ,Which Charge us Rs13500 per for Traveling & stay in buguest hotel .
But we are not sure how much will cost per perosn in Local Leh sight seen for 3 -4 days,
Could you please guide us ,which mode of transport we will take and what will be cost
Kamlesh, tempo are charges 35% more than the taxi rates. As per the taxi union rates of year 2016-17 (https://devilonwheels.com/leh-ladakh-taxi-rates-2016-17/) following is the break up
Srinagar – Leh in 2 days = 18400
Leh Local sightseeing = 2500-3000
Leh – Nubra Valley 2 Day = 10566
Leh – Pangong Tso 2 Day = 10301
Leh – Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Sarchu – Manali 2-3 days = 29056
Leh – Manali 2 Days = 21588
Leh – Pangong Tso 1 Day = 8653
Leh – Nubra Valley 1 Day = 8053
You can usually get about 10-15% discount on these taxi rates after getting in touch with the driver directly.
You can call the local drivers directly to connect with them and check the comprehensive List of Taxi Drivers for Ladakh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali with recommendations/reviews for DoW community members.
hi i am sumit sharma from iit bombay. we also planning to visit leh and ladakh at the same time. can you please give me your mobile no. so i can ask about the travelling agencies from where you booked your tickets. my no. is
Hey Dheeraj we and our group of 4-5 friends are planning to travel to leh by the end of may we all have our own personal bikes.
I own a pulsar 200 adventure sport and I’m the only one with a pillion Rider my partner she isn’t much tall or heavy .
I’m only Planning on to cover the manali leh route this time.
I just wanna know how may i plan my trip, time duration and how much will it cost us per person.
Hello Abhishek,
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 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
Hello Sir,
8 of us are planning trip for ladakh 9days-8nights, we want to hire tempo traveller/winger from srinagar to leh-back srinagar,
we want to explore ladakh by bikes, can you please help me out planning our trip economically,
Siddhesh, 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.
For bike rentals, please refer: Leh – Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2017-18
Can you please let me know any package(budget) which is having the same itinerary you have provided?
Because this following itinerary provided by you is the best itinerary i have found through a lot of exploring.
So i thought of booking a package which have almost the same itinerary as yours.
Thanks in advance.
Deepak, you can If you are looking for competitive and customized budget Ladakh tour and packages, you can connect with [email protected] as most of the readers in the past couple of years have had very good feedback about them and especially their transparent policies along with being there with you all the time in need. So, we trust them the most. You can refer my name or DoW to Gaurav, the guy who runs it. He knows us very well and should be able to offer some special rates being a DoW Member. You can just refer him the DoW Community Member Username in such a case or screenshot of this reply here.
Thank you for your reply.
But,i couldn’t find any packages from the link given by you.They only offer hotels and camps and no tour packages isn’t it?
Deepak, you can write a mail to them and they should be able to offer you a customized package.
Hello Deeraj,
I am planning for bike ride to Leh from Chandigarh to Leh and back to Delhi via Manali. I will be sending by bike to Chandigarh via train. The following is my itinerary.
2/6/2017 Chandigarh
3/6/2017 Amritsar
4/6/2017 Patnitop
5/6/2017 Srinagar
6/6/2017 Kargil
7/6/2017 Leh
8/6/2016 Diskit,Nubra Valley
9/6/2017 Leh
10/6/2017 Pangong Tso
11/6/2017 Tso Moriri
12/6/2017 Sarchu
13/6/2017 Manali
14/6/2017 Bilaspur
15/6/2017 Delhi
2 days backup.
Is the above itinerary doable? Let me know if any suggestions for the itinerary.
Also as of now it is only 2 people in the group. what are the things to keep in mind for self ride trips.
Any one interested to join us from bangalore can reply to the comment.
Vinay, use at least one of the backup days to rest in Leh for acclimatization ofLeh and getting permits if you are taking direct route from Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri. Also, in case you are taking direct route, it will be hectic and you need to arange th spre fuel.
You can also post your travel calendar entry for better visibility and connect to other riders or travel partners.
HI Dheeraj –
We are planning a trip to Leh during Mid may.
1. Delhi – Leh – By Flight
2. Rest and local sight
2. 3 Days in leh to explore
3. Leh – Manali by hired Taxi.
Do you think its sufficient to cover most of the attractions in leh
Hi Sanjay,
The first two days will be rest days and acclimatization with light localsightseeing. Rest 3 days in Ladakh looks OK but Manali – Leh Highway in general opens by end of May or first week of June, so that might not be possible.
Hi Dheeraj, we are 2 of us planning to fly down to leh in June end. We are planning a 7 – 8 night long trip.
How can we go about booking shared taxis?
Also, should we stay at nubra and pangong or just let them be a day trip? Should we make leh as our base and spend all the nights at one hotel and keep taking day trips?
Any sort of help is appreciated.
Hi Akshay,
You should refer the plan at the link: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air. Regarding shared taxis, you will be able to find the shared taxi without much fuss at all. There are lots of flyers which people put at cafes, dine-ins, restaurants, travel agent desks/shops/whiteboards wanting to share the taxis for different trips within Ladakh. Even travel agent organize such shared taxis trip as well but charge a little higher about Rs 200-300 more than it would ideally cost. So, in worst case you can always go back to them and book a seat for yourself. Gelling up with people in Ladakh is more or less easy because many people travel solo and look forward to meet new people and share cultural thoughts and values over the trip. No where else in the world you will find more smiling and helpful people as Ladakhis are 🙂
Hi Dheeraj,
Thank you for the detailed blogs and discussions.
I will be a lone (male) traveler. Is it a good idea to contact the local taxi drivers upon reaching Leh, the ones that you have listed, for possible shared taxi rides to Nubra valley and Pangong Tso Lake? Or should I want to advertise in advance? I am leaving out time to rest and acclimatize before the start of the trip.
They might not be available for shared taxi rides. You will need to find the shared taxis from Changspa road or main market Leh. Or check the DoW Travel Calendar for more people looking out for travel partners around same dates.
Hi dheeraj.i m vipin from kanpur uttar pradesh.planning tour with my friend on my bike royal Enfield. We wants to start our journey 28 may 2017.by manali to leh. Then penghon lake .then kargil .srinagar and ends at jammu.
Wat will the overall budget of tour.if we prefer budgets hotels.
We r only two person
Vipin bhai you can go through the article above and all your budget queries should be solved. Also, take look into How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport
Dear Sir,
we are 8 friends planning for a trip of manali-leh-ladakh for 8-10 days in month of june. please send me the possible best route to see the most of it as well as inform me the indicative per head expense via mail.
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. 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.
Opt to go via Manali – Leh Highway and I will suggest that you refer the thread for more details on the route and night halts though it is of 9 days: Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days. You can fit in plan I suggested in above para in this plan
Hi DHEERAJ SHARMA we are 2person going to leh ladakh bike trip we have only 9 days 1st we are going via jammu patnitop and return via manali please suggest what we do for our bike ride in days and coincidence my name also DHEERAJ SHARMA
Hey Dheeraj, nice to connect. I will suggest you read: How to make a Ladakh trip in 9 days
hi dheeraj
we are 3 couples, planning to travel leh-ladakh on motorcycles in may-june for 6-7 days
can u please give me approx budget per person ex delhi
It takes 4 days to reach Leh from Delhi via Srinagar and 3 days via Manali. Same will be required to come back too. You have just 6-7 days so, you can just sleep a night in Leh and have to come back the very next day. Are you sure you want to do it and being couples too?
Hi Dheeraj,
We are 8 people and planning a trip to ladakh in April, what will b the average cost carried by per person. Also want to know that can we carry our own tents in ladakh, or we have to arrange them from there only.
Prashant, you can read the above article to get the cost of the Ladakh trip. Regarding camping, check: Top 10 Tips for Camping in Ladakh & Spiti Valley
Could you please tell me the location of some dealers who will rent out reliable and good bullets for the trip from delhi?
Aseem, sorry on that front. However, you should know that outside rented bikes are not allowed to roam in Ladakh for sightseeing. You will have to hire the local Leh rented bike again.
i am planning for manali from vskp.and from manali to ladakh,,,is it safe,on jan 2017.! also can u ensure the cost from manali to ladakh for 3nights on the bike which gives 30kmph
The roads to Ladakh remain closed from mid of October to mid/end of May, especially Manali – Leh Highway
Hi Dheeraj,
We have booked flights from delhi to leh round trip 29th sept to Oct 4th. We have 5 days in all. I wanted some clarity from you. We want to cover nubra valley,pangong lake and tso moriri. Most of the travel packages said its hectic but some are ready to give us all three of them.
29th – leh (acclimatization etc)
30th – leh to pangong
1st oct – pangong to tso moriri via chusul
2nd – tso moriri to leh
3rd – leh to nubra and back to leh
4th – flyback to Delhi
Is this literary fine? He is asking 75k for 6 persons including fooding lodging and travel. Should we take hotels and cars separately to cut cost?
One more package I got is
29th sept- leh (rest)
30th – local sightseeing leh
1st Oct – leh to tso moriri
2nd Oct – tso moriri to leh via pangong
3rd Oct – leh nubra leh
Which seems better between the two?? Any suggestions from your side??
Thanks in advance
hi. can u tell me about the best climate to visit Ladakh. i wants to go there with my friends on bike of 26th dec to 6 jan. & how much i carry cash to visit delhi to Ladakh.
Hi Dheeraj. I am a girl, planning a a solo trip to Ladakh in the first week of October. I reach Delhi on 1st Oct at 1:30 AM. And the return flight is on 11th Oct at 8:15 AM. Being a girl, all these posts about budget places to stay and all are a little confusing. Can you please help me with the itinerary as there are hell lot of them available and I don’t know which one to go for. I will be taking the public transport to Leh. Probably Manali- Keylong-Leh. And return to Delhi via Srinagar. I have already booked flight tickets for a round trip from Pune to Delhi and back. Can you suggest something to make my trip happen in a cheapest and way possible?
Hi Itisha,
It is not a good time to make a solo trip to LAdakh as the season would have ended and there will be limited sharing options for taxis, private taxis being very costly for the pocket for a solo person. I will suggest you start from Read: How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport and Top 10 Tips for a Solo Trip to Ladakh or Spiti Valley
nice to see your advices to all tourists dheeraj ji .i want to know whether we can use maruti dezire to travell from manali to leh further to nubra and tso pangong
Yes, Mukul it can surely do the whole circuit of Ladakh. 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.
hai neraj me and my friend are palning to a trip to leh ladakh with our own car frm kearala to ladhakh is that posibile to travel in a sedan car with thoos like roads in thair or need an bigger suv tipe wehichile
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.
we are 5 frndz, planning for leh trip for 15 days from nainital… can u tell the budget….
mode : bullet
average budget hotels, 3 days in camp..
visit as many places as we can in the route…
plz rply me on my mail add
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
Also, check the article: 5 Tips for a Budget Trip to Ladakh
Hi Dheeraj, thanks for this excellent forum.
Wanted to ask you a couple of things here.
We are 5 frnd, for this trip, here’s our itinerary.
Aug 29 – Land in Srinagar at 12pm – Hire a cab for Leh with overnight at Kargil (preferably someone from the reviewed one’s), overnight in Kargil
Aug 30 – Leave early from Kargil for Leh & visit the valleys enroute. Arrive Leh by 4-5pm
Aug 31 – Stay in Leh & do the bike rental thing & visit local monasteries.
Sep 1 – Leave for Nubra Valley via Khardung La, Overnight in Diksit/Hunder
Sep 2 – Diksit to Turtuk, overnight in Turtuk
Sep 3 – Leave from Turtuk for Leh, Reach Leh by 4-5pm
Sep 4 – Leave for Pangong Tso, Overnight at Pangong
Sep 5 – Pangong to Leh, visit monasteries along the route.
Sep 6 – River Rafting in Leh & shopping (if any)
Sep 7 – Leh to Mumbai flight
Have a couple of Q’s
1. How is the itinerary as per you?
2. What would be the approx individual budget of this trip with Individual bikes RE 350cc (flight tkt excluded)?
3. Should we do the hotel bookings prior? Or we would find better deals there face to face?
4. Which place to stay whilst in Nubra Valley
5. Is Turtuk worth it, it has hotels for staying?
6. Considering the current tension in Kashmir, Srinagar to Leh route would be open for us?
7. Additional tips, if any?
All i am looking for hotels is it must have attached toilets, electricity backup & hot water. (easy accessible in city, if applicable)
P.S. Sorry for the long list of Q’s. Planning it all by myself and on behalf of my lazy friends.
Hello Dheeraj,
I am arriving in Srinagar on 18th of September and would like to travel by road to Leh. can you please give me some viable options under the current scenario.
Thanks much!
Well, the curfew has been eased out. I will suggest to keep a tab on situation as you have still 20 odd days left for your trip and then take a call around 10th September.
Hi Dheeraj,
Thanks for establishing this forum! I am planning a trip to Ladakh from 20-29th September and DoW has been a great help in this. Would need your input on the following:
1. Stay options near Tso Kar – Are there any homestays/ camps nearby or we need to stay at Debring?
2. We are flying in&out of Leh and plan to hire Scorpio/Xylo for the entire Ladakh trip. What would be the approx taxi rental cost considering 7 days travel and full circuit from Leh-Hunder-Tyakshi-Agham-Shyok-Man-Hanle-Korozk-Tso Kar-Leh (Without returning to Leh). We plan to finalize a guy from one of your blog’s list.
3. Is Man-Chusul-Hanle-Tso Kar (Korozk) doable in a single day or we split in 2 days? In that case, is Hanle the best place to halt at night?
4. Considering the timing of our trip (End September), is it better to pre book accommodation or take it up upon reaching? We plan 2 days in Leh, 2 days in Hunder, a day each in Man, Hanle, Korozk, Tso Kar & Leh, in that order.
5. Can we visit Gorkha Ridge ahead of Tyakshi? Or any place nearby LOC/LAC (With proper permissions, ofcourse!)?
Looking forward to your ever informative suggestions!
Cheers,
Ujjwal
Hi Ujjwal,
1. There are manu homestays/small guest houses in Tso Kar.
2. About 45K
3. It will be too too much. Better halt at Hanle and then next day move to Korzok
4. No, you should be OK in booking on the spot.
5. No, Tyaksi whill be the last place you will be allowed.
Hello Dheeraj,
First, thank you for assembling such a great blog here, it is helping a lot.
Now my question, I am travelling with my wife around 20th Aug. And we have no group to travel with. I am vary of organized trip groups as I fear I won’t get enough freedom to explore as we do if we go with acquaintances.
I want to know how easy it is to find people to share taxis or find shared transport for routes like from Manali to Leh or from Leh to whole Nubra area or Leh to Srinagar (as they are long and costly and take more than one day to complete)
Also, let me know if there is a better way of doing it.
(There are many articles, but I guess I can’t get article which shows how one or two people can pull off whole trip by sharing taxis and how it works)
Darpan, please read: Top 10 Tips for a Solo Trip to Ladakh or Spiti Valley, you will get all your answers.
Also, you can refer: How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport
Hey Dheeraj,
We are 4 friends and planning to go leh on 9th of september to 19 september via road (hired bullet). So I want to know what precautions(any emergency nos, things which must have while biking) we should take , where we can find out best plus cheaper bikes for rent at Manali, Can we share bikes. Moreover, could you please tell me at which places we should stay.
we are three boys and a girl, we are looking for a travel group who can join us so that we can happily and safely.
Thanks
Pravi
[email protected]
Pravi for emergency numbers, check: https://devilonwheels.com/india/ladakh-zanskar-travel-guides/important-emergency-contact-numbers-leh-ladakh-t1369.html
You should land in Manali and check for bikes after checking the condition, then rent them. You can share bikes but pillion have to get down at places, especially when high altitude comes and slush stretch or water crossing. You have these 11 days from Manali to Manali?
HI Dheeraj,
Me and my frnd are planning to travel to leh by bike from delhi via Manali on 27Aug, so can you please guide me in getting rented bike n best route….
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.
Yes, you can rent bikes in Leh and Fort Road in Leh is full of such shops that rent bikes. Depending upon the condition, model, make and tourist rush you can get bikes starting from Rs 900 to Rs 1300. Rather than booking over phone, it is much better to visit the Fort road, check 4-5 shops over there and get a good deal after checking the bike conditions. I will suggest you read this for sure to understand few tips on hiring bikes from Manali or Leh: How to Hire or Rent a Bike or Motorcycle in Manali
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 DoW Community thread: Leh – Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2016 – 17 & 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 DoW 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.
hello dheeraj,
i have planned delhi to ladakh bike trip (2or3 of august 2016) 2 on 1 bike, so want a little help about which way is better for me cause this is my first time. i dont want to go with any group or trip packages, plz assist me about this, and is there any kind of permit or something to go ladakh. I want to ride on my own bike… plz suggest
Sunny, you need to get permit to cross Rohtang Pass. Currently, I will not suggest goping from Srinagar side so take Manali side. Refer article: Ladakh from Manali – Most Common Itinerary
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning to Travel from mumbai to leh max 10 days . On 6 aug (2 adults) .
Can you suggest how to plan it on such a short notice, do i book tour plan from agents or is there any other way?
also please can you mention the places to visit there?
thanks,
komal
Hi Komal, can you tell how are you planning this trip? I mean are you flying in and out of Leh? or doing the road journey from some place?
hi dheeraj,
actually I was going to kashmir and have tickets till jammu but due to curfew and issues over there we have cancelled our plan to visit there.
now, when we have leave from office i.e thinking to plan a trip to ladakh, I have to and fro tickets till jammu.
so, now please help me out as its really getting difficult to plan anything new.
So, you have tickets booked for Jammu or is there any scope of cancelling them? It does not make sense to start the trip from Jammu and go and come back from Manali side. It will be long day to reach Manali in one day from Jammu but you can try. Opt to go via Manali – Leh Highway and I will suggest that you refer the thread for more details on the route and night halts though it is of 9 days: Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days. You can fit in plan of 10 days in this itinerary
Hello Komal, I am also from Mumbai, Me and my wife are planning to visit Ladakh around 20th Aug. Let me know if you have not yet started your trip. We can plan something quick together.
Hi Darpan
Have you planned your trip already or planning in Sept?
Hello Sir, Me and my 5 Friends have a plan to visit Leh -Ladakh on this Pooja holidays( from 8th october). As we all are working we are not having as much of time to spend for the journey.Still we have 8 Days and 8 nights available so we have to plan accordingly. In order to explore maximum days there in Leh Ladakh we prefer our journey via Air.We will start from cochin by on 8th of October and will reach Delhi on the same day itself before noon. From Delhi we are planning to proceed Leh -Ladakh on the same day itself.Can u please please provide a day wise chart for the days to be spend in each places and places to be visited and all..expecting response from your end.
Hello Tony,
You should follow: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air
Dear mr dheeraj
I want to Travel from lucknow to leh max 10 days . On 1st week of agust 2 adults .
Can you sugges chepest & proper way .
Thanks& rigards
Vijay dubey
Cheapest way of travel is by bus. You should take bus from Delhi ISBT to Leh and back which csots 1339 one side.
Hi Dheeraj,
me and my wife are going to ladakh 16/8 to 21/8. 5 nights and 6 days.
first day local sight seeing.
taxi to sham valley water rafting,hall of fame, magnetic hill.
taxi to numbra and return
taxi to pangong and return.
taxi to tso marori and return.
we have quotation from a travel 38k for both in private cab. and 25k in groups.
i would like to go for private if it is worth for. what do you suggest.
To go in group and save money or worth to go in private cab of tour agent.
I estimated 32k for taxi alone if i hire my self in leh for 5 days. and for 5 nights stay and food would pay 10k.
i was suggested not to stay night at pangong because of cold there and can manage to see sun set ?
do taxi’s start from pan-gong to leh after sun set on the same day return taxi ?
Thank you
Well, your plan is too much to do in too little time. You should only plan two day trip to Nubra Valley and one day trip to Pangong Tso. Not more than that. For this the taxi should be around 20-23K including the local sightseeing.
Hi Dheeraj
I am Suriya and I am from Chennai. I planned to ride my bike SOLO from Jammu to Leh. Now the problem is as I am from south state so basically I don’t know Hindi. Is this create any problem in finding room or getting permission in check post. Can local people understand English ? My poor English?
i am from Lucknow and planning to go Leh via Srinagar , can we go in eartiga with 4 adult and 3 child.
It seems too many in less space for such a long journey. The car is fine to do that route. I will strongly suggest that you go through and read my series on Ladakh Self Drive tips at the links below:
7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh – Ladakh, Routes and Road Conditions In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips, Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips
Hi Dheeraj
Please give advise about this tour
15/8/16 to 3/7/16
Ahmedabad – bokaner – amritsar – srinagar – kargil – leh – manali – delhi – ahmedabad
15/8/16 to 3/8/16
Sorry but date is 15/8/2016 to 3/9/2016
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 Vikram Gadhavi,
My self Pravind, I belong from Jharkahand. I would like to visit the way of Lah Ladhak by bike riding but problem is that I have no group and I have never visited on that place so I am trying to join a group. so if I can join you group on this visit then kindly call me on my no. 9771480236.
Hi Dheeraj,
Is there any shared vehicle? if yes ,then how wil i get it.
Shared vehicles are available all around ladakh for sightseeing. There are lots of flyers which people put at cafes, dine-ins, restaurants, travel agent desks/shops/whiteboards wanting to share the taxis for different trips within Ladakh. Even travel agent organize such shared taxis trip as well but charge a little higher about Rs 200-300 more than it would ideally cost. So, in worst case you can always go back to them and book a seat for yourself. Gelling up with people in Ladakh is more or less easy because many people travel solo and look forward to meet new people and share cultural thoughts and values over the trip.
These shared trips are only for trips within ladakh (Does visit to Nubra valley /Pangong also are ‘within ladakh’ trips? if not, do they get shared taxis easily?)
Darpan, which tips are you talking about? The article? If yes, it covers entire road trip of Ladakh from Delhi to Delhi including Nubra, Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri
Hi Dheraj,
I am planning to do a bike trip from Tuesday 9th august for 8 days. I am from UK and will be coming to India foe 3 weeks from 5th august to 27th August. So I really want to do a roadtrip to ladakh for 8 days. I have friends in delhi so we will be taking overnight bus on Monday night to arrive to manali. Planning to do 8 days trip from manali to manali. But struggling to workout budget per person. Can you help me out with budget calculations and the travel plan for 8 days and how to cover the most places in those days. I know you would recommend from Srinagar but we want to do it from Manali as we are going to hire the bike from there. we will be in group of around 3-4 people. can you give the budget for each person including bike rent, food, and hotel stay for 8 days. my friends in india wants to know the price per person so they can plan their finances. And can you advise me the permits I need as a foreign traveller and what tips would you give me about this trip.
We are a group of 3 girls who are planning a leh ladhak trip in mid september and we have been getting varying info on local hired taxis.. ur itinerary has been of great help, and I also went through ur budget calculation too, but since that is from 2011, cud u plz help with a budget for 2016?
Our plan is to travel to Srinagar via flight. So we need help with the approximate budget for a 7 day trip (17-24 Sep) starting from and back to Srinagar.
Hello Kavya,
Things have not changed much you can increase around 200-300 per day for food + stay. Currently, it should not cost you more than 1000-1200 per day per person for food + stay in case you are staying with guest houses and mid budget camps. As per the taxi union rates of year 2016-17 (https://devilonwheels.com/leh-ladakh-taxi-rates-2016-17/) following is the break up
Srinagar – Leh in 2 days = 18400
Leh Local sightseeing = 2500-3000
Leh – Nubra Valley 2 Day = 10566
Leh – Pangong Tso 2 Day = 10301
Leh – Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Sarchu – Manali 2-3 days = 29056
Leh – Manali 2 Days = 21588
Leh – Pangong Tso 1 Day = 8653
Leh – Nubra Valley 1 Day = 8053
You can usually get about 10-15% discount on these taxi rates after getting in touch with the driver directly.
Hi Dheeraj,
I have a couple of queries.
– How widely is Credit card accepted in Leh area?
– Do the shared taxis traveling from Srinagar to Leh stop at the war memorial near Drass?
Thanks,
Suhas
No Suhas, they are not. Do carry cash but now there are many ATMs too in Leh town. Still, will advise you to carry some cash for sure. No, the shared taxis are meant for locals who dont have much interest in tourist places. They wont be stopping for any sightseeing.
Thanks Dheeraj. So there is no way I can do sight seeing unless I am in a private taxi or bike?
And I have not booked any hotel for Kargil stay. Can I get a decent one for single accommodation for 800-1000 rs., Can I find it once I arrive there?
Hai dhreraj
Me and my 5 friends plan a trip to Srinagar-ladhak.16/09/2016 evening we will be in Srinagar, 22/09/2016 return from Srinagar at noon by flight. Please give a plan including one day full in Srinagar
You have just 6 days in hand, 1 day you want full in Srinagar. This leaves just 5 days. It needs two days to reach Leh and two days to come back from Leh. 1 day is required for acclimatization in Leh. So, are you sure you want to make this trip?