There are many of us who are looking for a budget trip to Leh Ladakh but one of the major challenges in making a budget trip to Leh Ladakh is the cost at which taxis are available. So, in order to cut short the budget, we look forward to Leh Ladakh bus services or other means of transport shared transport like shared taxis to save more money.
Before I share the information about the bus services in Leh Ladakh, let us check out what other options you have to travel in Ladakh apart from the buses.
Let's quickly dive into the details:
Shared Taxis in Ladakh
If you are a solo traveler, then private taxis are very costly in Ladakh, but you will be able to find the shared taxi without much fuss at all, mostly. There are lots of flyers that people put at cafes, dine-ins, restaurants, travel agent desks/shops/whiteboards wanting to share the taxis for different trips within Ladakh.
Even travel agents organize such a shared taxis trip as well but charge a little higher about Rs 200-300 more than it would ideally cost. So, in the 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 meeting new people and share cultural thoughts and values over the trip. Nowhere else in the world you will find more smiling and helpful people as Ladakhis are 🙂
Leh Ladakh Bus Services
If the shared taxi is not your cup of tea, then, in that case, the bus services in Leh Ladakh are the only means of commute left for you. Lately, I was able to get hold of the timetable of bus services in Ladakh.
In a nutshell, today in this article I will be sharing the details of various bus services available in Leh Ladakh. You can opt for these buses in case either you are looking to save budget and not interested in shared taxis OR if you are looking for an adventure of a different kind in a local way 🙂 🙂 …
Yeah, believe me, traveling in Leh – Ladakh by bus or public transport is an entirely different experience. It gives you the local perspective of life.
I will share with you complete details about the rates and timetable of bus services in Leh Ladakh. Apart from the buses within Leh Ladakh, I will also cover buses running on the Manali Leh route and Srinagar Leh bus services too. Recently, HRTC started a direct bus service on Delhi – Manali – Leh route.
I am sure the details in this article will help you plan your trip to Ladakh by public transport.
Local Bus Services in Leh Town
In a welcoming step from Leh administration in 2018, public transport in Leh (as daily public transport buses) has been launched within Leh town. Leh administration has launched buses to operate between Leh and various nearby villages around Leh.
What makes this s special is that now Leh town will be connected with Leh airport by daily buses, which means that you no longer have to rely on just a taxi service for a pickup and drop. These buses will save budget travelers close to Rs 1000 on their Ladakh trip 🙂 …
In other cases, tourists, in general, used to rent scooty or bikes to travel within Leh for visiting tourist attractions around Leh town. Some tourists also opt for private taxis for the commute but they are a bit costly.
If you have been to Ladakh, you might know that the majority of transport within Ladakh is dependent upon private tourists taxis which are costly and for some travelers, it makes it difficult to have a trip to Ladakh on a budget.
Public Transport in Leh – Bus Timetable
The introduction of these bus services in Leh will help many tourists save costs, especially from the airport, moving around Leh, a visit to Phyang or Choglamsar or Spituk monasteries. Some of the bus routes also cover the Shey monastery, Thiksey monastery, Hemis monastery, and Stakna monastery, which are quite popular among the tourist circuits.
All these buses will depart from the Leh main gate and end up on the same location except the ones running between Tourist Information Center and Airport. Well, as the bus will drop the tourists to the Tourist Information Center, it will be easy for the tourists to get the online permit stamped immediately and fees paid for their inner line permits.
You can find below the routes from Leh to nearby villages for which has been started this year.
- Bus from Leh to Sakti (via Shey – Thicksey) –
- 8.15 AM Departure, 9.45 AM Arrival
- 1.30 PM Departure, 2.30 PM Arrival
- 2.30 PM Departure, 3.30 PM Arrival
- 3.30 PM Departure, 4.30 PM Arrival
- 4.30 PM Departure, 5.30 PM Arrival
- Bus from Sakti to Leh (via Shey – Thicksey) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- Bus from Karu to Leh (via Shey – Thicksey) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- Bus from Cemday to Leh (via Shey – Thicksey) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- Bus from Igoo to Leh (via Shey – Thicksey) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Stakna (via Chuchot) – 4.30 PM Departure, 5.30 PM Arrival
- Bus from Stakna to Leh (via Chuchot) – 8.45 AM Departure, 9.45 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Martselang (via Changa and Hemis) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- Bus from Martselang (via Changa and Hemis) to Leh – 4.30 PM Departure, 5.30 PM Arrival
- Bus from Choglamsar to Leh (frequency every 10 minutes) – 8.30 AM Departure, 8.50 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Choglamsar (frequency every 10 minutes, last bus 8.00 PM) – 9.00 AM Departure, 9.20 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Shara (via Shey – Thicksey) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.45 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Spituk (frequency every one hour, last bus 6 PM) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.00 AM Arrival
- Bus from Spituk to Leh (frequency every one hour, last bus 6 PM) – 9.00 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Phyang –
- 9.00 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- 2.30 PM Departure, 3.00 PM Arrival
- 4.30 PM Departure, 5.00 PM Arrival
- Bus from Phyang to Leh –
- 8.00 AM Departure, 8.30 AM Arrival
- 4.15 PM Departure, 4.45 PM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Agling (frequency every one hour, last bus 6 PM) – 8.30 AM Departure, 9.00 AM Arrival
- Bus from Agling to Leh (frequency every one hour, last bus 6 PM) – 9.00 AM Departure, 9.30 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Skalzangling (frequency every 15 minutes, last bus 8 PM) – 8.30 AM Departure, 8.45 AM Arrival
- Bus from Skalzangling to Leh (frequency every 15 minutes, last bus 8 PM) – 8.45 AM Departure, 9.00 AM Arrival
- Bus from Leh to Gompa and back –
- 8.45 AM Departure, 9.15 AM Arrival
- 4.30 PM Departure, 5.00 PM Arrival
- Bus from Tourist Information Center to Leh Airport and back –
- 6.00 AM Departure, 6.15 AM Arrival
- 6.30 AM Departure, 6.45 AM Arrival
Leh – Nubra Valley Bus Services
Nubra Valley is well connected to Leh by buses and other public transport. Many buses run from Leh to many villages of Nubra Valley including Diskit, Turtuk, Panamik, Skuroo, Charsa, etc..
Even within Nubra Valley, Diskit village is also well connected from both the ends of the valley that is Diskit to Panamik and Diskit to Turtuk.
Sightseeing in Nubra Valley is divided into two parts, one section has Diskit – Hunder – Turtuk on one side and the other section has Sumur – Panamik villages.
Leh – Diskit – Hunder – Turtuk Bus Services
Bus from Leh to Diskit, Nubra Valley leaves at 6.00 AM every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The bus from Diskit to Leh returns the next day and leaves from Diskit at 7.00 AM in the morning.
Then, a starts from Leh to Skuroo at 6 AM every Tuesday and Thursday, which is a bit ahead of Thoise. Hence, if you want to stay at Hunder, you can travel by this bus because it will fall on the way from Diskit to Skuroo.
Finally, on this side of Nubra Valley, one bus goes to Turtuk from Leh every Saturday at 6 AM from Leh bus stand.
Leh – Sumur – Panamik Bus Services
If I talk about the other side of the Nubra Valley, the bus from Leh to Panamik leaves every Tuesday from Leh bus stand. You can get down at Sumur if you are interested in visiting Sumur else go all the way up to Panamik.
Finally, one bus runs between Leh and Charsa village which is a little ahead of Sumur every Saturday. This bus leaves Leh bus stand at 6 AM.
Diskit – Turtuk & Diskit – Panamik
There is a daily bus that runs from Diskit to Turtuk at 2.30 PM, and then the same bus returns to Diskit from Turtuk at 6.00 AM. The daily bus from Panamik to Diskit runs every day at 7.30 AM.
Bus Fares | Leh – Nubra Valley Buses
- The one-way bus fare for Leh to Diskit bus service costs about Rs 197.
- The one-way bus fare for Leh to Skuroo bus service costs about Rs 256.
- The one-way bus fare for Leh to Turtuk bus service costs about Rs 316.
- The one-way bus fare for Leh to Charsa bus service costs about Rs 280.
- The one-way bus fare for Leh to Panamik bus service costs about Rs 287.
- The one-way bus fare for Panamik – Diskit bus service is about Rs 75
- The one-way bus fare for Turtuk – Diskit bus service is about Rs 80
You can refer the detailed guide on Leh to Nubra Valley Bus Service – Timings, Rates & FAQs
Leh – Pangong Tso Bus Services
There are only a couple of buses that run between Leh and Pangong Tso. The buses from Leh to Pangong Tso starts every Saturday and Sunday at 6.30 AM from Leh bus stand. The one-way bus fare from Leh to Pangong Tso is Rs 256.
This means that only two buses are available in a week to travel from Leh to Pangong Tso by bus. So, plan your trip to Pangong Tso lake on these dates only in case you are interested in traveling by bus from Leh to Pangong.
Some buses travel to nearby villages of Pangong Tso like Tangtse, about 34 km away from Lukung. Then there is another bus that travels to Phobrang, and you can get down at Lukung on that bus. Lukung is the first village that comes on the Pangong Tso shore.
Finally, some buses make a trip to Chusul from Leh, which you can board as well. You will have to get down at Tangtse and then cover the rest of the journey to Pangong Tso by hitchhiking.
So, there is limited connectivity of buses from Leh to Pangong Tso in a week and you have to match the schedule accordingly.
You can refer the detailed guide on Leh to Pangong Tso Bus Service – Timings, Rates & FAQs
Leh – Tso Moriri Bus Services
Bus from Leh to Tso Moriri leaves at 6.30 AM every 10th, 20th and 30th day of the month, return the next day. The charges are about Rs 370.
When it comes to traveling to Tso Moriri from Leh, the options are very limited in a month. Only three buses in a month run from Leh to Tso Moriri every 10th, 20th, and 30th day of the month. The Leh to Tso Moriri bus leaves at 6.30 AM on these dates from Leh bus stand.
So, you are pretty much tied down when it comes to traveling to Tso Moriri by public transport.
The bus fare of Leh to Tso Moriri bus service is Rs 370.
If you miss the bus to Tso Moriri from Leh or the bus dates are not matching your schedule, few buses run from Leh to Chumathang, Koyul, Tsaga, Loma. You can travel to either Chumathang or get down at Mahe ridge on the buses going towards Loma, Nyoma, or Hanle. Then hitchhike from Chumathang or Mahe to Tso Moriri.
You can refer the detailed guide on Leh to Tso Moriri Bus Service – Timings, Rates & FAQs
Leh – Hanle Bus Services
Bus from Leh to Hanle leaves at 6.30 AM every Saturday and returns the next day from Hanle to Leh. The charges are about Rs 492. There is also a bus that travels to Koyul, you can get down near Rhongo or Loma bend and then travel to Hanle by hitchhiking.
Srinagar Leh Bus Services
Srinagar Leh route is well connected by bus services and public transport in Ladakh. JKSRTC runs some of these buses, and private tour operators run some. The shared local taxis are also an option to travel between Srinagar and Leh.
These buses are deluxe, semi-deluxe with cushioned seats and standard buses. So, you can see that quite a few options exist on this major route connecting Ladakh with Srinagar.
You can get the bus from Srinagar at the Tourist reception center near Dal lake at 8 AM every day. The bus will halt ar Kargil and will reach Leh next evening. The Kargil stay is not included in the bus fare and has to be managed by yourself.
The super deluxe bus from Srinagar to Leh charges around Rs 1320 per person and semi-deluxe bus fare is Rs 925 per person from Srinagar to Leh. If you prefer to travel by a standard bus from Srinagar to Leh, the bus fare is Rs 470. You can also split the journey at Kargil and then take Kargil to Leh bus service the next day.
Leh Srinagar Bus – Return Journey
The return journey of Leh to Srinagar bus service starts at 2.30 PM every day from Leh bus stand. It does the 434 KM long journey on Srinagar Leh Highway without night stop to arrive in Srinagar at 7.30 AM.
The private bus operators who run tempo travelers and other mini-buses between Leh and Srinagar charges between Rs 1000-1500. They start in the evening and run overnight to reach Srinagar the next day. The mini-buses provides good comfort because of the cushioned seats.
In the early season, the timings of the buses will be dependent on the timings of Zojila pass.
You can refer the detailed guide on Srinagar to Leh Bus Service – Timings, Rates & FAQs
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Jammu Leh Bus Services
You should be aware that there does not exist any direct bus from Jammu to Leh. So, you have to reach Srinagar first and then travel from Srinagar to Leh. However, in this article, I can provide the details of Jammu to Srinagar by bus.
Jammu – Srinagar Bus Service
The public transport buses from Jammu to Srinagar leave at 7 AM from JKSRTC stand which is located nearby Tourist Reception Center at Residency road. The bus running from Srinagar to Jammu also leaves at 7 AM in the morning.
The Jammu – Srinagar bus takes about 10-11 hrs to reach depending upon the traffic situation and any roadblocks on the way
The bus fare of Jammu – Srinagar bus service is Rs 445, Rs 325 and Rs 220 for super deluxe, deluxe and standard buses respectively.
If you plan to stay overnight at Jammu, it is better to stay near Residency road only. The auto-rickshaws will take about Rs 70-80 to take you to the TRC or JKSRTC counter in the morning.
Bus Services from Manali to Leh to Manali
There are two types of buses that run on Manali Leh Highway by govt. department. One bus service is run by HRTC (transport department) and the other bus service from Leh to Manali is run by HPTDC (tourist department).
The HRTC bus service starts as soon as the Manali Leh Highway is opened for tourists. While HPTDC semi-deluxe bus from Manali to Leh starts in July and runs up to 15th September.
As per the departments, the HPTDC being a tourist bus stops at all sightseeing places on Manali Leh Highway while the HRTC bus will stop only for tea or food stops.
Manali Leh HPTDC Bus Service
The semi-deluxe HPTDC bus starts from Manali at 10.00 AM and reaches Keylong in the evening around 4-5 PM. The bus will then begin the journey from Keylong to Leh 4-5 AM in the morning and reaches Leh by late evening. Every year HPTDC publishes the schedule of Manali Leh bus service on its official website.
In the opposite direction, the bus starts from Leh at 5 AM, reaches Keylong at 7 PM. Then the bus leaves Keylong at 7 AM and reaches Manali by afternoon.
The total fare of the HPTDC semi-deluxe bus from Manali to Leh with an overnight stop at Keylong is Rs 2900 (as of 2018). The bus includes a night stay at HPTDC Hotel Chandrabhaga in tents. Dinner and breakfast are also provided within the fare of the bus.
You can book the bus tickets from the official website of HPTDC.
HRTC Bus Service from Manali to Leh
HRTC runs two buses between Manali and Leh. One is the direct bus that starts from Manali and reaches Leh by evening, covering the journey in 17 hrs. You can take this direct bus from Manali to Leh from Manali bus stand.
This bus leaves at 4 AM from Manali and reaches Leh in the late evening. The one-way fare of this direct bus service from Manali to Leh is Rs 833.
You can also take the bus from Manali to Keylong, which leaves at 8 AM from Manali and reaches Keylong at 2 PM. Next morning you can travel from Keylong to Leh by another HRTC bus that leaves at 5.00 AM from Keylong.
The Manali – Keylong bus fare is about Rs 174 and for Keylong – Leh bus service, you may have to pay Rs 550.
You can refer the detailed guide on Manali to Leh Bus Service – Timings, Rates & FAQs
Delhi – Leh Bus Service
HRTC runs a daily direct bus from Delhi to Leh that starts from Kashmere Gate every day around 2-4 PM (2.30 PM as of now). The total distance of 1050 KM from Delhi to Leh is covered by this direct bus in about 35 odd hrs over two days. The bus takes the night halt at Keylong.
The bus reaches Keylong in the late afternoon the next day from its start in Delhi. Like other HRTC buses from Manali to Leh, this bus does not bear your stay and food prices at Keylong. You have to search for your hotel and find food for you for night and morning. The next morning, the bus leaves Keylong at 5 AM and reaches Leh by sunset.
In the opposite direction, the HRTC bus starts from Leh at 5 AM and reaches Keylong by sunset for an overnight stay. The next morning, it starts from Keylong at 6.30 AM to reach Delhi by 3.30 AM in the night.
The total bus fare for Delhi to Leh direct bus service is Rs 1380. Hence, a return journey in this direct HRTC bus service from Delhi to Leh and Leh to Delhi will cost you Rs 2760.
You can book the tickets for this direct bus from Delhi to Leh at the HRTC ticket counter at Delhi, Kashmere Gate ISBT terminal. You can only purchase these tickets from the ticket counter at Delhi or Leh bus stand.
Private Taxis in Leh – Ladakh
You can check the Leh Ladakh taxi union rate list 2020 – 21 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh. The rates of the taxis are pretty costly. However, you can get about 12-15% discount by directly getting in touch with drivers and of course, talking in person rather on the 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.
At times while traveling from Srinagar to Leh, you might need to work out a few things if there have been some tensions in the taxi unions of Kargil and Leh. To settle it out, what they do is that they make 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. But, that happens only when there is an issue.
Conclusion
I am sure this article will help you make a trip to Leh Ladakh by bus and plan your sightseeing in Ladakh by bus services or public transport.
This will help you save money on the Ladakh trip and also help you get a different kind of adventure and experience altogether. It is like living the life of a local in Ladakh.
You can also follow me on Instagram and ask your questions in a direct message on Instagram too. I also conduct a weekly Q&A session every Saturday evening on Instagram.
If you like this article, please share it with your friends and family who are on a budget and planning to make a trip to Ladakh by public transport. Of course, if you have any questions or doubts, please feel free to ask me in the comments section of the article.
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500 Comments
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Great post ! Really helpful. Just one quick question, doest this bus schedule operate throughout the year ? Or any season or months when there is no bus service at all ? Thanks much.
Melti, the schedule is throughout the year. However, these could be stopped in case road and weather conditions are not favorable.
Hello Dheeraj,
I am planning for Chandrataal Turtuk and Hanle this season in July 2018, Looking at the fact that there is no bus to Chandrataal 🙁
Can you please suggest if I can hire a cab from Manali to Chandrataal on first day and then on next day if I can get dropped at Keylong and then catch bus from Keylong to Leh on third day? Basically I don’t want to waste one day by coming back to Manali from chandrataal and then catch Leh bus from Manali
Also, can you suggest if I need any permits while travelling through bus or cab?
You can first read: Chandratal Lake | Cheapest Ways To Travel There
Once you are through it, we can talk about more options on other questions
Hello dheeraj.
Will you please tell me about the buses from leh to Manali.
Hello Ravina,
The buses from Leh to Manali? You mean the timing and all? HRTC buses have started running for the season.
Hi Sir,
Thank you for the info
I am planing leh trip in mid june.
I plan to go to jammu tawi by train
Then from jammu tawi to jammu bus stand (Can you help in transport options here)
From Jammu bus stand to Srinagar by bus (Can you help in transport options here)
Then from Srinagar to Leh i will search for Pvt cab (Where will find pvt cab and how much will be the cost)
Is the above plan fine?
Hi Jack,
1. You will surely get some mini buses or shared taxis/auto running between Train station and bus station
2. Srinagar buses usually leave in the morning from Jammu to Srinagar and shared taxis leave in night or early morning.
3. A private taxi can be booked either by calling the drivers directly or by going to tourist reception center taxi stand. 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.
Also, go through: How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport
Thanks, thank you for such valuable info.
I’l call up these taxi guys specially the ones of Srinagar to Leh
Great, best wishes for the trip !!
Hi Dheeraj sir.. you can give me your email id , i’l send you a draft about my ladakh trip, gimme feedback on it
Just replied to your comment. Sorry for the delay.
Hi Dheeraj,
I’m planning to take a bus from Leh to Srinagar this march 18. do you think it is possible? I mean the road. is it open?
thanks 🙂
No, the Srinagar – Leh Highway will open in the month of May
Do you know any other alternative from leh to srinagar aside from taxi? N cheaper
Thank you
Public transport, JKSRTC buses run between Srinagar and Leh. Also, shared taxis cost about Rs 1500 per seat
Hai.. Dheeraj thanks for your post
Is the srinagar-leh bus service available on may first week.. i will plan for a leh trip on may first..
Ajeer, the first week of May is when the road from Srinagar to Leh gets open or is about to open. The JKSRTC bus service generally starts only after BRO declares the highway to be safe for travel and stabilized from snow slides. I will suggest postponing the trip by mid May.
Hi Dheeraj, really appreciate your valuable post.
I’m planning for Leh by next July. Please let me know if I can book the ticket from Manali/Keylong to Leh.. on the same morning of departure? And is it crowded while boarding?
Hey Nikum, you can book the tickets on the same morning but mostly the station gets crowded. It is recommended to get the ticket, a minimum of evening/day in advance. It does get crowded mostly.
Is there any Jksrtc buses available from leh to nubra valley and leh to pangong tso ???
Yes, Tony. Please refer the time table above. Deskit/Hunder is Nubra and Spangmik/Lukung is Pangong Tso.
Hi Dheeraj we are planning to visit Leh (Delhi to Leh by Air) to srinagar in month of Oct.
Actually this our family trip with the members of 7 people and one child.
Pl suggest best possible way to reach Srinagar from Leh via bus.
Pl also mention the availability of sleeper buses and their fares in that location.
As you are 7 people, best will be to hire a taxi and reach Srinagar from Leh. Cost will be almost similar with added comfort.
Sir, From which point can i catch Jksrtc jammu to Srinagar bus.. From Jksrtc bus stand or some where else ?
I believe from JKSRTC bus stand only.
Sir, May i know the Jksrtc bus timings of Jammu to Srinagar ?
I am sharing below more info. shared by one of the members of DoW Community recently. Hope this will help you
May I know if Jksrtc bus from Jammu to Srinagar advance booking is available?
No Tony, there is no advance bookings available. Max. you may be able to do will be buying the ticket from the counter an evening before.
Sir, We are from Kerala and we are plaining a low budget trip ladakh by bus coming october. So that how can we go to Srinagar by bus if we reach jammu tawi railway by 2 pm ? If we will reach Monday by 2 pm at jammu tawi, can we catch a Jksrtc bus that day itself to srinagar ? And is there any Jksrtc bus starting afternoon and time ?
Tony, you will not get any bus AFAIK in evening to Srinagar. There may be some shared taxis that might be leaving for Srinagar at night though.
AFAIK means ?
As far as I Know 🙂
Hi Dheeraj,
Please tell me if there any bus service/shared taxi service from tso moriri to manali, as I want to return back to manali from tso rather that I go to leh and than take bus for manali.
Regards,
Manoj Chauhan
No Manoj, you will not find any such bus service or shared taxi. You have to arrange such a tourist taxi either from Leh or return back to Leh to travel back to Manali.
Hi Dheeraj,
Thanks for such a detailed post. I have few queries though.
1> Where is the ST stand located in Leh?
2> Iam planning to go to Nubra by local bus, so have some questions. Have you or anyone u know traveled by these local buses? wanted to understand how is the experience? And how early should one book the tickets? does the bus get overcrowded ?
3> Will the HPTDC bus services be available till end of Sept? I am planning to travel back from Leh in the last week of Sept. If it is not, then what is the other way to get back from Leh other than flights and how much will that cost?
4> Can u suggest some offbeat places in Ladakh one can explore?
Suddu
Hi Suddu,
1. Anyone will be able to easily guide you to Leh bus stand, it is near Old Leh road.
2. I have not personally travelled on it. Bus tickets can be booked day in advance. If budget is not too much concern, best will be to get shared tourist taxi that will allow sightseeing too.
3. HPTDC bus service generally ends by September 15th
4. How many days do you have in hand?
Thanks Dheeraj.
I am reaching on 1st sept, will be doing a trek till 10 sept, planning to return on 20th sept. So I have 10 days in hand to see places-from 10-20 sept. If HPTDC bus is only till 15th, can you suggest any alternate cheaper way to get out of leh on 20th?
Thanks
Suddu, there will be shared tourist taxis available there running between Manali and Leh. Also, HRTC buses continue to run unless it is declared unsafe to travel in October.
Can you suggest some offbeat locations to visit in Ladakh?
Suddu, there is Turtuk, Hanle, route from Pangong tso to Hanle to Tso Moriri, Around Hanle, Dah Hanu Villages, Ride to Chilling village from Nimmu.
Hi there,
I would like to know are the deluxe buses from Srinagar to Leh or Leh to Srinagar with sleeper seats or normal seats ? How much does it cost? We are looking for a comfortable travelling.
Now Sean, these buses have normal seat and do not have sleeper seats. The ticket is about Rs 700 up to Leh from Srinagar.
Hi Dheeraj,
Its really helpful, Thanks. Could u please tell me if I go Leh to Pangong Tso by bus, where the bus will stop and how to reach Pangong TSO Lake from there? and when the bus will return to LEH? Please suggest some budget accommodation near lake.
Bus will reach the Lukunk village and I think it goes all the way up to Spangmik. Both the villages are at the Pangong tso lake only from where lake is about 600-800 Mtrs walk. Best will be to stay at homestays at Spangmik village
Hi Dheeraj
I have a question for you
Two of us will be traveling from Srinagar to Leh on August 31. Is it necessary to break the journey at Kargil OR can one reach Leh on the same day. We are in our early sixties, but more or less physically fit. What are the traveling options? Share taxis available? What will be the cost per head ? what time do they depart from Srinagar usually and from where ?
Do you have any contact numbers of any shared taxi drivers or agency?
Thanks in advance.. Sharmila
It is highly recommended to break the journey at KArgil. Not only you will get break from 16 hrs journey but also you will be able to acclimatize better before reaching Leh and enjoy more of sightseeing instead of worrying about reach Leh. You should read: How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport
Thanks for the advice. We will have a night halt at Kargil. Next day we plan to take the Batalik Dha Indus Valley Route instead of the Srinagar-Leh highway. Will stop at Lamaru monastery and confluence of Indus-Zanskar, before reaching Leh
Doing all this in one day could be a bit tiring or you will just be touching the place and running to reach the destination.
Dear Dheeraj,
Website for HPTDC is updated as,
http://hptdc.in/index.php/manali-leh-manali-deluxe-bus-schedule/
Thanks
Thank you Yogesh for sharing the updated info.
which is the best way to reach leh/ladakh, whether it from manali or from srinagar
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
hi,
thanks for a great deal of information, it was extremely helpful…i’m planning to do lamayuru to padum trek and i have three questions…1. do i take a leh-kargil bus to get dropped at lamayuru or there’s any other option there!?…2. how long does it take to reach lamayuru by bus!?…3. do i get a bus back from padum to leh!?…
thanks once again…
angshu…
Yes Angshu, yes you need to take Leh – Kargil bus to get a drop to Lamayuru. Shared taxis to Lamayuru will also be available. It will take about 4-5 Hrs to reach Lamayuru from Leh in a bus. No direct bus from Padum to Leh. You need to take the bus from Padum to Kargil OR shared taxi which is more frequent. Then, Kargil to Leh bus will follow.
Thanks for all the posts. Really helpful. Me and my husband are planning Ladak in July and want to book bus from Leh to Delhi. Can I know how I can book it online ?
Hi Aanya,
You can visit the HRTC website to book the basic public transport bus from Leh to Manali or Leh to Manali to Delhi. Or you can go to HPTDC website and book a semi deluxe bus from Leh to Manali that costs Rs 2900 including stay at Keylong and then book volvo to travel from Manali to Delhi.
Hii.. Do all state roadways buses will start plying from July 1 , as i am planning to take a solo trip from June 20 by bus ? Will I be able to get any bus service from Manali ?
Yes Sumit, HRTC buses have already started plying from Manali / Delhi / Keylong.
Hi Dheeraj,
You are a rare gem!!!! encouraging ordinary people (like me -without means) to quench the thirst of their wondering souls.
I visited Tirthan valley last year after reading one of your write up and yes I did stay at Raju’s cottage. Mr. Raju and his entire family (including cats and dogs) were incredible. I was low on cash but their generosity left me speechless…… (Another tale)
And now I want to go to Leh by this HRTC bus in July mid week. I will be traveling solo and have a tight budget. How many days will it take to cover Leh and Ladakh. Any possibility of weather becoming bad? Are there any good hostels available for travelers?
Thanks again for your guidance!!!!
Thank you Deepika, I am glad this blog is of such help in planning your trip !! Raju Bharti and family always rock, they are the pioneers no matter what and who comes there…
I will suggest that you read the entire article dedicated on this topic at: How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport
Hey Deepika,
I’m also planning a solo trip to ladakh in August and I’ve been trying to gather some info on how to make it a budget trip. After your travels, if you find the time, I hope you can briefly share your experiences, specially about traveling from place to place within ladakh using buses or shared taxis. It would be a great help. Thanks and wish you a memorable and fun trip!
Supriya
Supriya, you can also read: How to make a budget Ladakh trip by public transport and Top 10 Tips for a Solo Trip to Ladakh or Spiti Valley
Hi Dheeraj,
I could not find the answer in the comments so I will ask. The bus I see on the pictures look awfully uncomfortable for a 35 hour ride. I expect those are not sleepers. Only the deluxe bus starting on 1st of July has this?
Sam
Yes Sam, those are HRTC buses and the semi-deluxe HPTDC bus starts from Manali on 1st July and has a bus fare of Rs 2900.