About the Manali to Ladakh Road Trip
Eleven days doing it the long way: Delhi to Manali overnight, two nights there, then the Manali-Leh highway over Rohtang and up through Keylong, Jispa and Sarchu — one of the highest motorable roads anywhere — into Ladakh.
Three nights in Leh either side of Nubra and Pangong, then the whole road back to Manali. You gain altitude by road rather than by plane, which is the harder way and the better one for acclimatising.
Day by day
01Delhi to Manali | Overnight Journey
- Evening departure from Delhi by private vehicle.
- Overnight journey towards Manali.
02Manali Arrival | Check-in & Leisure
- Arrive in Manali and transfer to the hotel. Check in and rest after the drive.
- Evening free for Mall Road, the market and the cafes.
- Dinner included. Overnight stay in Manali.
03Manali | Local Sightseeing
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Manali local sightseeing: Hadimba Temple, Manu Temple, the hot springs at Vashisht, Van Vihar, the Tibetan monastery and Mall Road.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay in Manali.
04Manali to Jispa or Sarchu
- Breakfast, then check out and start the road trip proper.
- Over Rohtang or through the Atal Tunnel, then Keylong and Jispa.
- On towards Sarchu depending on the road and where the stay is arranged.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay in Jispa or Sarchu.
05Jispa or Sarchu to Leh
- Breakfast, then the long drive on to Leh across the high plateau.
- Reach Leh by evening, check in and rest.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay in Leh.
06Leh | Acclimatisation & Local Sightseeing
- Breakfast, then a slow day to let the altitude settle.
- Later: Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Namgyal Tsemo Monastery and the market.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay in Leh.
07Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung La
- Breakfast, then north over Khardung La.
- Diskit Monastery and the Hunder sand dunes.
- Check in at the hotel or camp.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay in Nubra Valley.
08Nubra to Pangong Lake
- Breakfast, then check out and drive to Pangong.
- The lake, and the way the colour shifts as the light moves.
- Check in at the camp, evening at leisure.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay at Pangong Lake.
09Pangong to Leh
- Breakfast, then the drive back to Leh.
- Check in and rest. Evening free for the market.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay in Leh.
10Leh to Manali
- Breakfast, then check out and start the long road back over the passes.
- Reach Manali by evening and check in.
- Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight stay in Manali.
11Manali to Delhi | Departure
- Breakfast, then check out from the hotel.
- Return journey to Delhi.
- Breakfast included. Drop at Delhi.
On this trip
✓What’s included
- Ten nights’ accommodation as per the itinerary
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Private vehicle for the whole Manali to Ladakh road trip
- Delhi pick-up and Delhi drop
- Manali local sightseeing
- Manali to Jispa or Sarchu transfer
- Jispa or Sarchu to Leh transfer
- Leh local sightseeing
- Leh to Nubra Valley transfer
- Nubra to Pangong Lake transfer
- Pangong to Leh transfer
- Leh to Manali transfer
- All sightseeing and transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- Fuel, toll tax, parking charges and driver allowance
- Applicable hotel and camp taxes
✕Not included
- Lunch, and any meal other than those mentioned
- Inner Line Permit, environmental or other applicable permits, where not included
- Rohtang Pass permit and charges, where applicable
- Bike rental or additional vehicle charges
- Entry fees to monasteries, monuments, museums and other attractions
- Adventure activities, ATV rides, camel rides, rafting and the like
- Personal expenses such as shopping, laundry, tips, room service and telephone calls
- Medical expenses and travel insurance
- Oxygen cylinder or medical assistance, if required
- Any additional accommodation needed because of weather, road closure or other unforeseen circumstances
- Costs arising from landslides, snowfall, traffic restrictions or route closures
- Any extra sightseeing or vehicle use not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any increase in government taxes or permit charges, where applicable
- Anything not specifically mentioned under inclusions
✓What to pack
- A 40-60L rucksack plus a small daypack
- Warm layers — thermals, fleece and a windproof jacket (nights stay cold even in summer)
- Trekking shoes with grip, plus slippers for the stay
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, cap, lip balm and a personal water bottle
- Power bank, torch and any personal medication
- Original government photo ID — mandatory at all checkposts
?Still deciding
Tell us when you want to go and we’ll send the exact dates with seats left.
!Good to know
- Ladakh is high altitude. Leh sits at 3,500 m and Khardung La above 5,300 m, so the first day is for acclimatising and the itinerary is built around that.
- Inner Line Permits are required for Nubra, Pangong and Turtuk, and are arranged locally. Permit and green-tax charges are not in the price unless stated.
- Routes and passes can close at short notice for snow or landslide. The order of days may change to suit the road.
