Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air – Best Ladakh Flight Itinerary

by Vargis.Khan

Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air

Ladakh to me is definitely not the place that a person would want to fly to. It is a place best traveled by road. But that is not an option that everyone has. A lot of people would want to catch a flight to Leh and spend the time they have in hand in Ladakh only. If you are also planning on doing the same, below is an itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air that you can follow for your trip.

I agree that not everyone would be able to follow this plan to the last detail. But this should at least give you a fair idea of how you can plan your sightseeing. Depending on the number of days you have in hand, you can add or remove places from this itinerary.

If you have any other questions,  you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.

To organize your trip to Ladakh, book a taxi, rent a bike, or get the best hotel rates, you can contact Kunal @ 9910402252. From luxurious hotels to budget stays, he can help get you the best rates possible.

Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air

The itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air I am suggesting below can be followed in a private car, rented bike as well as by public transport. I will try to include all the famous tourist destinations that you should consider including in your trip. 

For other details on visiting Ladakh like where to stay, the best time to go, and what to see, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide.

Day 1: Arrival in Leh

When flying to Ladakh, the first and foremost concern is in the form of high-altitude acclimatization. Within a matter of hours, you reach from plains to thousands of feet up in the lap of the Himalayas. This can cause high altitude sickness in Ladakh and you should take precautions to avoid it the best you can.

You must allow at least a day (or two depending on how you are feeling) to allow your body to get accustomed to high altitudes. All the flights to Ladakh land there in the early morning hours. So after you reach Leh, check into a hotel and spend the rest of the day in the city itself.

Do not go to any other place. Do not exert yourself and just rest. If you did not get hit by AMS at all, then you are one of the few lucky ones. But if you did, allow some time for the symptoms to subside.

If by evening, you are feeling better, then you can consider taking a walk in Leh market or visiting Shanti Stupa of Leh Palace. Go to Shanti Stupa at the time of sunset as it presents a spectacular view of the sunset and the city.

Day 2: Rest in Leh

This day can be skipped if you were short on time or were not feeling the symptoms of altitude sickness anymore. If you are still feeling unwell, allow another day of rest and stay in Leh.

If you are however feeling better then you can go visit the places nearby. The monasteries in and around Ladakh are great places to visit. Thiksey Monastery and Hemis Monastery are both located at a short distance only.

You can also go for a drive on the Srinagar Leh highway. Just drive to a few famous places closer to Ladakh like Magnetic Hill, Indus and Zanskar River Confluence, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Hall of Fame, Buddha statue at Likhir Gompa, Alchi Monastery, and Basgo Monastery. All these places can be covered easily in a day and you can return to Leh by evening.

thiksey monastery

Day 3: Leh to Nubra Valley

By day 3, I am sure your body would have acclimatized to high altitude completely. Now you should have no problem crossing over Khardung La which not so long ago was considered the world’s highest motorable pass.

Start early from Leh if you can but do not make it too late either. Khardung La is just 35 kilometers from Leh so you would reach there pretty quickly. Spend some time at the top and on the other side of Khardung La, you will descend into Nubra Valley.

Ever heard of Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battleground? This is where it is. The road you are on would run through Nubra Valley and would finally ascend to Siachen Glacier. Interestingly, Nubra Valley is also the place where the Indian border touches both the Pakistan and Chinese borders.

In Nubra Valley, on your day of arrival, I recommend that you drive towards Diskit/Hunder and stay at either of the places for the night. The road here is open until the village of Turtuk. You can definitely cross Diskit and Hunder and drive up to Turtuk but Diskit however is the best place to stay here.

Apart from the mesmerizing natural beauty of the place, you can also visit Diskit Monastery and sand dunes in Hunder. You should also see the two-humped camel, also known as Bactrian Camel, that Nubra Valley is famous for. Please take a look at Leh to Nubra Valley Travel Guide to understand this route better and to also see a map of the place.

nubra valley

Day 4: Nubra Valley to Leh

Now there are 4 different ways how this day can turn out. You can either return to Leh from Nubra Valley or you can continue towards Pangong Tso directly from Nubra Valley via either Agham Shyok Road or Wari La.

For the sake of this article, I would describe all three. If you had time in hand, you can spend another day in the valley and visit Turtuk and Panamik as well.

Day 4 (a): Nubra Valley to Leh

Assuming that you stayed the night in Diskit on Day 3, today you will be returning to Leh. But before you do that, take a turn towards Panamik village. If you had not yet, then I suggest that you take a look at the map I posted at the link above so you better understand what I am referring to here.

Do visit the hot water springs while you are in Panamik. From there, it is a drive back to Leh on the same road via Khardung La that you took yesterday to reach Nubra Valley.

If you are traveling by Public transport, this is the only option you have. There is no bus or shared cab available on Agham Shyok Road or Wari La Pass. The only other option you can look for is to find someone who was heading straight to Pangong and take a lift. If not, you will have to board the bus or a shared cab back to Leh.

Day 4 (b): Nubra Valley to Wari La Pass to Pangong Tso

If you were traveling by a rented bike or taxi, you may choose to reach directly from Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso via Wari La pass. I have posted an article on this entire route with a map that you can take read at Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso via Wari La.

Day 4 (c): Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake via Agham Shyok Road

Another easier and shorter route that exists between Pangong and Nubra Valley is Agham Shyok Road. This way, you can reach the lake from the valley in only about 5-6 hours. I have explained this route with a map in Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso via Agham Shyok Road. This route is also doable only in a taxi or a rented bike.

Day 4 (d): Sightseeing in Nubra Valley

If you have a day to spare, I will highly recommend spending in Nubra Valley itself. If you stayed in Diskit, you can go to Turtuk today or Panamik. There are shared cabs and a daily bus available to these places from Diskit. So it is doable even if you were traveling to Ladakh by public transport.

Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air

Day 5: Leh to Pangong Tso

I assume you returned to Leh on Day 4 and would call this Day 5. You can adjust the day count if you are planning to reach Pangong from Nubra directly. If you are already at Pangong on Day 4, then move to Day 6 in this article.

On this day, you will visit the famous Pangong Lake. From Leh, you would take the Manali Leh highway until Karu. From there, you would turn towards the mighty Chang La which once was considered as the third highest motorable pass in the world.

Near Karu, you can also see the Druk White Lotus School where the movie 3 Idiots was shot (the Ladakh part). Shey Palace and Monastery and Thiksey Monastery are also on the way if you want to stop and pay a quick visit. The journey ahead is long so please manage your time accordingly.

Atop Chang La, you can pay a visit to Chang La Baba Mandir and have a cup of tea at the army-run canteen. Once you start descending Chang La towards Pangong, you will reach the town of Durbuk.

From Durbuk, you will descend to the village of Tangtse and then straight to Pangong. Please read Leh to Pangong Tso Travel Guide to understand this entire route in detail and take a look at the road map. For your accommodation options at the lake, you can read Accommodation at Pangong Tso – Guest Houses & Campsites.

pangong lake

Day 6: Pangong Tso to Leh

This day again will have two different variations as mentioned below. Again, which one you chose will depend on your mode of travel. Your entire itinerary for Leh Ladakh by air will in fact heavily depend on your mode of travel.

Day 6 (a): Pangong Tso to Leh

Today you will return to Leh via the same road that you took yesterday to reach Pangong. Before you do so, do pay a visit to the army shop near the lake where you can buy monuments to carry back home.

If you reached Leh by Bus or a shared cab, this is the only option you have. The other route I will explain does not have public transport available at all. Not many tourists also go this way so your chances of hitchhiking are also minimal.

Day 6 (b): Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri (Karzok)

A variation to this day can be that rather than returning to Leh, you head straight to Tso Moriri via Chushul. Be advised though that this part of the journey needs permits that you would have obtained while you were in Leh.

You can either drive all the way to Karzok or you can add another day to the trip with a night stay at Hanle. This way, you will reach Hanle on Day 6 and go to Tso Moriri from there on Day 7.

If you do want to take this route, you will have to mention these places in your inner line permit. Otherwise, you will be sent back to Leh. For more details, please take a look at Pangong Tso To Tso Moriri Travel Guide to read more about this route.

Day 7: Leh to Tso Moriri

Today you will be visiting yet another beautiful lake of Ladakh, Tso Moriri. Unlike Pangong Tso, which is a saltwater lake, Tso Moriri has sweet water. It has a lot of vegetation around it, is a wetland reserve, and is a sanctuary of migratory birds.

From Leh, you will again take the Manali Leh highway but this time only until Upshi. After Upshi, you will turn towards Chumathang and then dead to Karzok via Sumdo.

For more details on this route, please take a look at Leh to Tso Moriri Travel Guide. There are a lot of guesthouses and campsites in Karzok where you can spend the night, depending on your budget. Please read Guest Houses, Camp Sites, and Hotels At Tso Moriri for the names of a few recommended ones.

tso moriri lake

Day 8: Tso Moriri to Leh

Today you will again reach back to Leh. This time, however, you will take a different road and will also visit another lake on your way back.  From Tso Moriri, you will head back to Sumdo. But rather than continuing towards Upshi, you will take the road to Polakongka La, another high-altitude pass.

On the other side of this pass is the beautiful Tso Kar. As a matter of fact, you will come across several other lakes as well which will be smaller in size but equally beautiful. Kiagar Tso and Spartspuk Tso are the two prominent lakes that you will notice.

After Tso Kar, the road will merge into the Manali Leh highway, just before Debring. From here you will start your journey back to Leh, crossing Tanglang La pass on the way. This pass was once considered the second-highest motorable pass in the world.

Day 9: Rest in Leh

If time allows and you can spare another day, stay in the city of Leh and rest your body before you head back home. You can use this day to either just rest; or you can visit any of the nearby areas like Leh Palace, Shey Palace, Shanti Stupa, Leh market, or the nearby monasteries.

You can also take a drive on Srinagar Leh road until Lamayuru and return to Leh by evening. If you were short on time, you can remove this day entirely from your Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air.

Day 10: Return Home

On this day, you will fly back home with memories that will last a lifetime.

Itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air – Conclusion

This was a basic itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air that you can follow for your trip. It allows you to visit all major tourist destinations in Ladakh. You can either hire a taxi or rent a motorcycle depending on your convenience.

I hope the information above on planning an itinerary for Leh Ladakh by Air was of help. If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.

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70 comments

Deepak Jain March 31, 2023 - 5:48 pm

Hi Vargis,
Thanks a lot for maintaining this website. It has been a great help while planning the trip.
We are total 5 (2 Adults, 1 kid (7 Year old) and 2 Senior citizen (60+ age without any health issue)).

Below is the planned itineray for ladakh and zanskar regions from 13th May to 23th May, 2023. We
Arrival in Leh by air – Day 1
Leh to Kargil – Day 2
Kargil to Padum, Drang Drung glacier on the way – Day 3
Padum to Lamayuru – Day 4
Lamayuru to Leh – Day 5
Leh to Diskit – Day 6
Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 7
Pangong to Hanle – Day 8
Hanle to Karzok – Day 9
Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 10
Fly Out – Day 11

Is it really logical to go till Padum, stay overnight at Padum (No full day stay) and come back? Rather go till Drang Drung glacier and come back to stay at Rangdum and save time & energy. Please suggest.
Should we do Zanskar first (as above itinerary) or first ladakh followed by Zanskar? Please suggest.
Thanks a lot!

Reply
Vargis.Khan April 1, 2023 - 7:04 am

Hi Deepak – It depends on what exactly you want to see. Kargil to Drang Drung glacier can also not be a day trip, you will have to stay overnight in Rangdum. So might as well go all the way to Padum and exit via Lamayuru as you planned. Just keep in mind that the roads on this stretch will be terrible, and I mean really terrible, so be prepared.

Reply
Deepak Jain April 1, 2023 - 5:07 pm

Thank you Vargis for responsing!
Few further clarifications and your expert suggestion:
1. Is it recommnded to add a overnight stop at Rangdum? which means Leh to Ladum in 3 days, which means i need to cut a day from Ladakh side. Could you please suggest which particular day can cut or optimized?
2. You mentioned about route from Padum to Leh via Lamayuru is very terrible. I have kept 2 days for that. First day for Padum to Lamayuru and next day for Lamayuru to Leh. Do you still think it is very terrible to complete and suggest to come via same kargil route only?
If you have any suggestion about itinerary, please.. It will be a great help!

Reply
Deepak Jain April 1, 2023 - 5:11 pm

Just to add, we are planning to have a private taxi with us (Total 5 (2 Adult, 1 kid (7 Years) and 2 Senior citizen (60+ without any health issues))).
-Regards

Reply
Vargis.Khan April 2, 2023 - 6:52 am

Deepak Bhai you cannot remove a day from anywhere. If you want to do Kargil to Padum in 3 days, you will have to add a day to the overall trip. Kargil to Padum can be done in a day but will be a long journey so start early.

Pagum to Lamayuru via Lingshed is a bad road. Lamayuru to Leh is Ok. Check with your driver that he is ready to take you on this route. Better to clarify with him first.

Take a look at the videos below from my journey on these roads last year. This will give you an idea on what you will be traveling on.

Kargil to Rangdum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcLA8as3ugo

Rangdum to Padum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quZtmsN4Cmo

Padum to Lamayuru

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki-8Fr6mA_0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t11OZDcBqMY

Deepak Jain April 3, 2023 - 4:05 pm

Thank you Vargis Bhai for detailed reply!
Since our flight booking already has been done, we don’t have an option to add another day to the trip.
For now, I am proceeding with original plans that is Leh to Padum via Kargil in 2 days and Padum to Leh via Lamayuru in 2 days. We will check with Travel agent/driver on spot if something to change/adjust.

A last query, Is there any risk that some route won’t be open by 13 May?

Thanks a lot Vargis Bhai!

Vargis.Khan April 4, 2023 - 5:35 am

Welcome Bhai. It should all open by 13th May. If you want, you can check back with me before starting your journey.

MUKUNDA MISHRA September 25, 2022 - 1:45 pm

Hi Vargis, is planning for Leh with families (my son is 10 years old) in late October possible? Provided that we will take Delhi-Leh flight and back. We frequently travel different destinations in Himalayas, the temperature of Leh in the late october is what we had previously got other places. Still, please suggest as Ladakh is quite different. Thanks in advance.

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 29, 2022 - 3:43 pm

It will be extremely cold in late October Mukund. If there was a snowfall, the passes en route Nubra and Pangong can also get closed temporarily.

Reply
ankita verma May 17, 2022 - 5:29 am

Hi Vargis…i am.plamninh to travel in mid – August. Wanted to check if rains can be a blocker for sight seeing etc

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 18, 2022 - 7:24 am

Hi Ankita – Not in Leh. It is a problem more around Kashmir and Manali areas.

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Shyamal kr sarkar February 20, 2022 - 11:26 am

Sir i am planning to visit ladhak in sept’22.We are 5 to 7 peoples in our group. We want to see both zanskar and ladhak. We interested to visit zanskarr. Pangong tso. Nubra valley with turtuk and leh local.kindly let me know the minimum days require to cover the places and what would be our best route from manali and srinagar. Your advice is requested thanking you Shyamal s

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 22, 2022 - 10:10 am

Hello Mr. Sarkar – If you want to visit both, you should keep at least 9-10 days in Ladakh.

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Arun dubey February 2, 2022 - 11:36 am

I read your entire counseling which is very elaborate , and logical . we are planning a trip in June 2022 by Air from Delhi. A couple amongst our nine member group has silver jubilee celebration of marital anniversary due on 14 June. there are two senior members aged about 74 and 77 yrs in the group ; one child 12 yrs old and the other is 15 yrs old . we have seven days for the trip including air travel on day one and day seven. Please advise us with a itinerary .

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 5, 2022 - 11:20 am

You can travel like this

1. Leh – Rest
2. Leh – Go for a drive towards Sham Valley
3. Leh to Diskit
4. Diskit to Turtuk / Panamik
5. Turtuk to Pangong Lake
6. Pangong to Leh via Chang La
7. Return

Reply
Amandeep February 9, 2020 - 11:19 am

Hello varghis sir , please guide if a package tour is more helpful or can we make a self tour of ladakh if we come by air . Can we arrange stay and travel guide independently. Please guide

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 14, 2020 - 3:52 pm

Hi Amandeep – It will be better yo manage your trip on your own. When are you planning to go?

Reply
Mandar August 22, 2019 - 3:20 pm

Hi Vargis. I need help in deciding the travel plan.
My itinerary is;
day 1: Leh (acclimatize leh market, shanti stuppa etc..)
day 2: Leh (zanskar river etc..)
day 3: Leh to Nubra Valley
day 4: In Nubra Valley (Turtuk etc.)
day 5: Nubra Valley to Pangong
day 6 Pangong to Tso Moriri
day 7: Tso Moriri to Leh
day 8: Fly back from Leh

The above looks perfect only if i think i am travelling this via car. (Heard the cars are too expensive and I am accompanied by my wife, so we are only 2).

Or should I reduce the day of Nubra and travel to Leh (so I can take a bike from Leh – Nubra – Leh) and the following trip can be fone by Car.

Regards,
Mandar

Reply
rohit barnwal April 28, 2019 - 8:50 am

Sir can we go leh by direct flight from delhi in first week of october?
Sir we selected this itenary,, is that good in that season?
Itinerary:
———-
Day 1 (6th October) : Arrive in Leh (8 KM from Airport)
Day 2 (7th October) : Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung La (200 KM)
Day 3 (8th October) : Nubra Valley to Leh (200 KM)
Day 4 (9th October) : Leh to Pangong Tso (223 KM)
Day 5 (10th October) : Pangong Tso to Leh (223 KM)
Day 6 (11th October) : Leh to Tso Moriri (220 KM)
Day 7 (12th October) : Tso Moriri to Leh (220 KM)
Day 8 (13th October) : Back to Delhi

Hotels:
——-
6th-7th October : Leh
7th-8th October : Nubra Valley
8th-9th October : Leh
9th-10th October : Pangong Tso (Camp)
10th-11th October : Leh
11th-12th October : Tso Moriri
12th-13th October : Leh

Reply
Vargis.Khan April 28, 2019 - 4:09 pm

Hi Rohit – Camping at Pangong Tso has been banned this year onward. So you may have to make that a day trip and return to Leh by evening. Rest looks good.

Reply
Nishi Jain March 12, 2019 - 7:40 am

Hii Vargis,
Thank you for such a detailed itinerary.
I have a question to you….Can I visit Leh in mid April (By Air) ?
Thanks,
Nishi Jain

Reply
Vargis.Khan March 12, 2019 - 12:55 pm

Hi Nishi – Yes you definitely can.

Reply
MANDEEP KAUR September 14, 2018 - 4:43 am

Thank you so much..We have last question.
21 Sep- Arrive at Leh
22 sep-drive towards Sham valley on Srinagar Leh highway until Lamayuru
23 Sep-Leh to Nubra covering Hundek,Turtuk & Diskit
24 sep-Nubra to Pangong
25 sep – we are confused,,,some suggest go to tso moriri directly some suggest to come back and then go next day..what you suggest as its long journey can we stay in between or should we come back ..if we go directly we will left with two free days..what to cover in that

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 14, 2018 - 2:13 pm

Go straight to Tso Moriri, that will be better. Do Pangong to Hanle and Hanle to Moriri and then Moriri to Leh via Tso Kar.

Reply
MANDEEP KAUR September 12, 2018 - 9:17 am

Hi if we have to choose one between Tso Morriri and Hanle what would you recommend from Pangong?
Is i safe to go to Pangong via Shayok from Nubra?6 people

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 12, 2018 - 12:06 pm

1. Tso Moriri would be a better choice in my opinion
2. Yes it is safe to go

Reply
MANDEEP KAUR September 14, 2018 - 3:14 am

Thank you so much..We have last question.
21 Sep- Arrive at Leh
22 sep-drive towards Sham valley on Srinagar Leh highway until Lamayuru
23 Sep-Leh to Nubra covering Hundek,Turtuk & Diskit
24 sep-Nubra to Pangong
25 sep – we are confused,,,some suggest go to tso moriri directly some suggest to come back and then go next day..what you suggest as its long journey can we stay in between or should we come back ..if we go directly we will left with two free days..what to cover in that

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 14, 2018 - 2:13 pm

Go straight to Tso Moriri, that will be better. Do Pangong to Hanle and Hanle to Moriri and then Moriri to Leh via Tso Kar.

Reply
MANDEEP KAUR September 6, 2018 - 10:09 am

21 Sep- Arrive at Leh
22 sep-drive towards Sham valley on Srinagar Leh highway until Lamayuru
23 Sep-Leh to Nubra covering Hundek,Turtuk & Diskit
24 sep-Nubra to Leh or directly Pangong
25 Sep Leh to Pangong
26 Sep Pangong to tsomoriri
27 sep tsomoriri to leh
28 sep Not decided
Is this Ok ?what we can cover on last day ?

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 6, 2018 - 12:02 pm

How are you traveling around in Ladakh?

Reply
MANDEEP KAUR September 6, 2018 - 1:52 pm

what all to cover in that ?

Reply
Rupeet Singh September 1, 2018 - 2:45 am

We are goinf for 9 days… should we go to kargil or sham valley

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 2, 2018 - 9:08 am

Take a day trip until Lamayuru and that should cover most of the tourist attractions en route including Sham valley

Reply
MANDEEP KAUR August 29, 2018 - 7:23 pm

What is worth going Kargil or sham valley?

Reply
Vargis.Khan August 30, 2018 - 12:23 pm

If you have 2 days then Kargil and Sham valley both can be covered. If you have only 1 day then just plan Sham valley.

Reply
vishal prasad August 29, 2018 - 3:05 pm

hi vargis, i’m planning to do this 9 day fly to leh trip in mid sep this year.. i just want to know that is it covering all the things to be done and experience which is their to be.. this plan doesn’t miss any part that’s all i want to know! thank you for all the detailed itinerary…these solved all the major quires about the trip and the planning.
Thank you

Reply
Vargis.Khan August 29, 2018 - 7:19 pm

Hi Vishal – For a 9 days trip, this pretty much covers all that can be covered. If you wish to visit more places than you would have to add more days.

Reply
vishal prasad August 30, 2018 - 6:28 am

hi, i can save a day journey on day 4 by directly going from diskit towards Pangong Tso via Wari La pass as you have suggested in one of the options… my fights are done actually landing in the morning of 10th and flying back on 19th morning.. i have actually kept that 9th day as u suggested for leh… but i can use it if it is needed… suggest me if any thing can be covered or planning this way is good as i am travelling solo.. and mode u suggest for traveling to all these destinations once i land…

Reply
Vargis.Khan August 30, 2018 - 12:20 pm

Yes you can. Better choice would be to take the Shyok road instead for going to Pangong from Diskit. For traveling, you can either board a bus, or shared cab or rent a bike.

Reply
vishal prasad August 30, 2018 - 6:26 pm

hi, actually i am returning from diskit to leh on the 4th day after spending my night on day 3 at diskit or hunder… after doing all the planning my real question arises is when i am starting my day 5 travel:
day 5 from leh to pangong tso stayng their at night
day 6 from pangong tso to hanle.. night at hanle
day 7 from hanle to tso moriri.. night at tso moriri
day 8 from tso moriri to leh
actually their is no fuel pumps anywhere… what is the best suggestion from u..
for day 5 travel u have suggested some buses and taxis… but after that if i plan my visit to pangong tso with these means.. how am i going to cover all these places which i have planned to vist..i am travelling solo… what would u suggest.
and what is the minimum amount of budget should i think i would be needing for this trip excluding my flights.. like from landing till takeoff.
thankyou.

Vargis.Khan August 30, 2018 - 7:05 pm

Hi Vishal – What is your complete itinerary and how are you traveling exactly?

vishal prasad August 31, 2018 - 5:15 am

hi vargis,
i am taking a flight from delhi on 10th morning…
so:
1oth sep day1: staying at leh.. local market..
day2: near by places around leh
day3: leh-phyang-khardangla la-khardangla village-khalsar-warshi-khalsar-turtuk (night stay either at diskit or hunder) this journey i am thinking to complete with rented bike.. it is possible right?
day4: Diskit to leh…. night stay at leh.
day5: leh to pangong tso.. leh-karu-sahti-changla-durbuk-tangtsevillage-pangong (staying the night here.
day6: pangong tso to hanle: spangmik-man-merak-chushul-changgela-tasaga-loma-hanle-
photila (staying at hanle)
day7: hanle to tso moriri: hanle-loma-nyoma-mahe-sumdo-namashagala-karzol (staying the night)
day8: tso moriri to leh.. via polakongkala-tsokar-debring-leh
day9: rest nearby places..or naropa festival or river rafting
19th sep day 10: morning flight back to delhi…

i have not decided with the travel medium from places to places…
can i trust the rented bikes to complete my journey for day 3 and 4?
rest i have not figured it out.

Vargis.Khan August 31, 2018 - 2:12 pm

Hi Vishal – Why no rent a bike for the entire duration of the trip? You would have to do that because there is no public transport on Chushul / Hanle / Moriri route.

vishal prasad August 31, 2018 - 3:04 pm

hi, would that be a good option.. bcoz the day 5 to day 8 is a very long route and with all by myself… and renting a bike.. the condition of the bike and fuel… i have never been to these places and i have actually no problem in renting a bike for the whole duration.. what would be the ideal thing to do?
# will i get people whom i can join to travel or like just to be with through the journey.. for the travelling part of it? what would u suggest for the fuel related.. carry jerrycans? mechanics available in the routes?
# actually from chushul to mahe u mantioned about the dogs.. what precautions i need to take if i am crossing the area alone?
# suggest any good bike renting place which can be trusted for the condition of their bikes for this long journey.
#what budget i should be keeping in mind if i rent bike for the whole trip.. and for all the other things keeping in mind. like a rough estimate… exlucding the flights.

Nitin Nayak August 11, 2018 - 6:23 am

Dear Mr. Vargis Khan, My friends and I wish to visit Leh and all the surrounding places of interest during May 2019 for a duration of 10 days at Leh, for which I have been doing a little reading / research on the net.We plan to fly in for want of time or else would have loved driving up all the way from Bengaluru. Your website and posts are really detailed and helpful. It’s all so simply written and yet detailed where it needs to be.Everything is of relevance and all the links provided are very very helpful. Thank you so much for taking the effort to do so and making it so very easy for people like us.

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Vargis.Khan August 11, 2018 - 3:58 pm

Hello Mr. Nayak – Thank you so much for your kind and taking the time to drop a note. I am glad that the information posted was of help. Please let me know if you have any questions and I will be glad to answer.

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Madhu July 21, 2018 - 2:25 pm

Thank you Vargis for such a detailed and helpful itinerary. I am following pretty much the same itinerary except for the last day when I have to travel to Srinagar through Kargil as my flight is from Srinagar . I am a solo traveller and would be travelling in August .I read your Blog on August travel to Ladakh . Very useful guidance on packing and other tips . I would be mostly travelling by shared taxis or public transport . On Day 4 , you have mentioned about visiting Thicksey monastery ,Druk School, Shey palace etc on the way to Pangong. Do the shared taxis stop to show this mid way tourist attractions. Do I get shared taxi for Tso Moriri

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Vargis.Khan July 21, 2018 - 2:45 pm

Hi Madhu,

Shared taxi for Tso Moriri – Yes you will get it from Leh Bus stand easily
Do the stop? Actually no. They will drop you at these places and move on. After you are done sightseeing, you will have to wait by the road for another mode of commute to arrive which these days in tourist season will not take long.

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Aditya Pratap Singh June 19, 2018 - 3:51 am

Thank you Mr Vargis for this wonderful and explained itinerary, found it very helpful compared to other blogs regarding ladakh.
I will be visiting in August via flight and will be renting a bike there to cover all these places, can you please suggest regarding any important items to be carried on bike or whether we can find fuel pumps and repair shops frequently on these routes ?
Thanks 🙂

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Vargis.Khan June 19, 2018 - 4:19 pm

Hi Aditya – Just make sure that bikes are very well serviced and in good condition before your take delivery. Carry a few spare tubes and some tools to change it in case of a flat tire and that will do. Fuel will be available at the local shops almost everywhere in Ladakh now. They sell it in black.

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sukant nayak June 14, 2018 - 1:56 pm

my plan is from delhi to leh by air

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Vargis.Khan June 14, 2018 - 4:11 pm

Yes but then how are you traveling from Leh to Zanskar?

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sukant nayak June 14, 2018 - 6:56 am

Hi vargis
thanx for this post
my question is, if o will add zanskar valley in the above trip then please guide

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Vargis.Khan June 14, 2018 - 1:44 pm

How are you traveling Sukant? Renting a bike in Ladakh or public transport there?

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sukant nayak June 14, 2018 - 4:21 pm

taxi

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Vargis.Khan June 15, 2018 - 3:06 pm

If you mean private taxi then the journey will be like this.

1. Leh to Kargil
2. Kargil to Padum
3 Padum to Kargil
4. Kargil to Leh via Batalik

If you mean shared taxi then you may have to remove Batalik from the plan and go back the same way that you came.

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Sara May 15, 2018 - 9:02 am

Hi Vargis, my question is regarding my Day 2 plan. If I leave hotel at 9 am and want to return by 4pm, will I be able to cover Magnetic hill, Indus Zanskar confluence, Thiksey, Hemis monastry? Are they all in the same route? Also, any suggestions to plan this better.

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Vargis.Khan May 15, 2018 - 4:07 pm

Hi Sara – If you leave hotel by early morning and were not depending on public transport, then yes, all these places can be covered in a single day.

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Anuradha Kaundal March 11, 2018 - 6:22 pm

Hello Vargis, i read a lot of travel blogs before planning my trips but havent come across anyone which is as detailed as yours. Thank you for such amazing details. I am planning to visit Leh/Nubra with family in May (parents are 60+). We shall fly to Leh. Will the roads be open? Any advice on clothes to be carried. Thanks.

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Vargis.Khan March 12, 2018 - 8:15 pm

Hello Anuradha – Thank your for your kind words. I really appreciate it.

Yes the roads will be open at the time of your travel. For more details on this and also the kind of clothes you should carry, please take a look at the posts below.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-roads-in-winter/

https://vargiskhan.com/log/clothes-for-ladakh-trip-pack/

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Anuradha Kaundal April 1, 2018 - 9:43 am

Dear Vargis, Thank you for your response. I shall require one more help from you. We shall be in Pangong Tso mid-may. Can you please tell me if tents are warm enough?
Thanks.

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Vargis.Khan April 2, 2018 - 2:41 pm

Hello Anuradha – Yes the tents are very warm and wind-proof. You will be comfortable enough, do not worry.

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Sara March 9, 2018 - 5:35 am

This is very helpful Varghis. I am planning in June, 2018. I am planning to cover Nubra Valley in 2 days. What is a better place to stay with family – Diskit or, Hunder ? We want to do camel rides as well as see sand dunes. Can camel rides be done at any time and how long are they? Thank you

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Vargis.Khan March 9, 2018 - 2:47 pm

Hi Sara – Diskit will be a better place to stay. Camel rides are short ones. You sit on the camel, they take you around for a while in a circle kind of deal.

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Bodhisatya Mookherjee January 7, 2018 - 4:51 pm

Excellent Mr Khan. Thanks a lot. I am going in May 2018.

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Vargis.Khan January 12, 2018 - 4:49 pm

Thank you Mr. Mookherjee. Do let me know how your trip went after you return.

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Gary Low July 16, 2017 - 9:44 pm

Hi Vargis, I’m planning a backpacking trip in Ladakh on a tight budget. Am I correct to say that I cannot rent a private car to self drive in the mountains? And so, I can only either ride a motorbike on this itinerary or hire a taxi?

And if I were to hire a taxi, any idea how much does it cost for the services (I assume it includes overnight stay for the driver)?

Thanks!

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Vargis.Khan July 16, 2017 - 9:49 pm

Hi Gary,

Yes, there are no self drive rentals available in Ladakh. If you hire one from somewhere else (outside of Ladakh), then you can only use it to reach Leh but cannot bring it to places like Nubra valley, Pangong Tso or Moriri (or any other area in Ladakh). If you are planning a backpacking trip, then I would recommend using public transport services as private taxi costs are enough to burn a hole in your pocket. Read the details at the link below. Another reader who went backpacking to Leh by public transport, completed the trip without any problem and within budget. You can get some useful information from here.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/memoirs-first-solo-trip-to-ladakh/

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Sarthak Dasgupta March 29, 2017 - 2:05 pm

I’m so grateful to you Vargis ji. You have an amazing website. So rich with info. Stay blessed.

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Vargis.Khan March 29, 2017 - 2:14 pm

Thanks Mr. Dasgupta. I appreciate you taking time out to drop a note. God Bless you !!!

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