Leh Ladakh 15 Days Itinerary – How to Plan Your Trip?

When you are on a 15 days trip to Ladakh, number of ways you can plan this journey can be endless. You will be able to cover almost all the places that are worth visiting without stressing yourself with long hours of travel every day. It will really be a relaxed and fun trip with ample of sightseeing involved. As a matter of fact, 14 or 15 days is usually an ideal time that I recommend to everyone for Ladakh trip. The town of Leh is the second largest district in India after Kutch in Gujarat. So yes, the number of places to see here are in ample; and even 15 days can start to feel a bit less sometimes. How can you plan your Leh Ladakh 15 days itinerary to make the best of your time is what I will be discussing in this article.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide

For the sake of this article, I will assume that you are traveling from Delhi. If you were coming from a different place, then only the journey for first and last day will be different; rest of the details will still apply. I will suggest two different type of itineraries. One for a complete road trip to Ladakh starting from Delhi. Second set for people who flew into Ladakh and have all 15 days to spend in Ladakh itself.

Minimum Time Needed for Ladakh Road Trip

I am not saying that a road trip to Ladakh cannot be done in lesser number of days. Minimum time required for this trip in my opinion is just 9 days but that will really be a rushed journey. You will be on the road everyday and most of your sightseeing will happen only on the move. But with 15 days in hand, you can easily restrict your travel time to no more than 5 to 6 hours a day; and spend much time in enjoying the natural beauty around you.

Ladakh in 15 days

I will begin with first mentioning an itinerary that I recommend; followed by a few other ways the same journey can be done. If, after reading the article, you have any other questions, you may use the comments section at the bottom of this page to clarify those.

• Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
• Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
• Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Leh – Day 4
• Leh – Day 5
• Leh to Diskit – Day 6
• Diskit to Turtuk – Day 7
• Turtuk to Panamik – Day 8
• Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 9
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 10
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 11
• Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 12
• Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 13
• Manali to Delhi – Day 14
• Buffer Day – Day 15

Before discussing the itinerary further, let me clarify on a few points first. Mostly, people prefer to plan their trip via Manali but I will recommend reaching Ladakh via Srinagar because of the following reasons.

Acute Mountain Sickness in Ladakh

This remains to be the biggest concern for people traveling to Ladakh. Majority of the people traveling from Manali to Leh end up suffering from AMS around Sarchu and Pang. Reason behind this is because the gain in altitude happens suddenly and tremendously. On the other hand, while traveling from Srinagar, you climb up gradually and the journey is spread over a period of 4 days. This gives your body ample time to adjust itself to the height you are bringing it to. If you were traveling with family then I will strongly recommend that you plan via Srinagar only.

For more details on what AMS is and how you can handle it, please read How to Handle Acute Mountain Sickness in Ladakh.

Rohtang Permits

If you went via Manali then you will also have to arrange for Rohtang permits; without which, you will not be able to cross it. Getting this permit is a hassle in itself and one more thing for your to worry about. It is issued on first come first serve basis and considering the huge tourist crowd in Manali, it is mostly sold out days in advance (and usually bought by the taxi drivers in Manali). If you were unable to get it online then you will have to waste an entire day in Manali obtaining it from DM office.

This permit is however not needed if you were coming from other side of the pass towards Manali. So if you went to Ladakh via Srinagar, this permit will not be needed and you will have one less thing to worry about.

Also Read: How to Obtain Permit for Rohtang Pass

Traffic at Rohtang

Let me just mention a few facts and you will understand what I mean. To get to Rohtang, you need to submit your permit at Gulaba check post and average wait time there is about 2 to 3 hours in tourist season. People get their cabs and cars lined up as early as 3 or 4 AM there; and cars continue to climb down from Rohtang till midnight. Traffic jams are becoming common at the pass and you may be stuck in a long line of cars for hours even. So if you want to avoid all of it, go via Srinagar.

Buffer Day

When traveling to a place like Ladakh; and for as many as 15 days, you must keep at least one day as buffer. The unpredictability of the region will always remain during the trip and you may be forced to extend your stay at any of the places in between. This is the reason why I have kept one day as buffer in the itinerary above. If your trip went well then you can use this day to stay at any of the places per your liking towards the end of the trip. Or you could just return home and relax for a day before getting back to work.

Managing Fuel

Last but not the least is the question of managing fuel. You will be traveling some long distances without a gas station. Once you leave Leh city and head for Nubra valley, there is no fuel station until Manali. So you will have to make arrangements to carry spare fuel. Good part however is that these days, you can get petrol pr Diesel almost everywhere on the route in black. Price would be around Rs. 120 per liter but you won’t have to worry about carrying extra. You can get fuel at Pangong, Hanle, Karzok and even at places like pang and Sarchu. Read Fuel During Ladakh Trip – How to Manage for more details.

Now let me run down the itinerary for a better understanding.

Delhi to Jammu – Day 1

Get an early start from Delhi so that you can reach Jammu in time. It is a total of 600 kilometers that can easily take you 11 to 12 hours to complete. Road is in awesome condition and it is a smooth drive till Pathankot. There are however some bad patches between Pathankot and Jammu but not too long. If traveling by car then be prepared for a lot of tolls till Pathankot. Don’t wander too deep into Jammu city and stay somewhere closer to the highway to Srinagar.

If you were traveling by public transport then you can either catch a direct bus to Jammu from Delhi; or even plan to complete this part of the journey by train.

Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2

The distance for this day’s travel is about 270 kilometers in total but traffic jams are way too common on Jammu Srinagar highway. It will still take you about 11 to 12 hours to complete so start early; and that is why I recommended you should stay closer to the highway. You will also be crossing the scenic towns of Patnitop and Anantnag on the way.

Another way to do this journey is by the historic Mughal road; via Rajouri, Peer ki Gali and Shopian. This is the more scenic of the two routes but is also the longer one; a total of about 330 kilometers. For more details on traveling by this route; please read How to Travel from Jammu to Srinagar by Mughal Road.

Depending on your own preference, you can either stay at a hotel in Srinagar or opt for a houseboat.

Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3

And this is when you start your journey on the beautiful Srinagar Leh highway. Condition of the road is mostly smooth for the entire 220 odd kilometers of the journey. You will be traveling via some stunning vistas and towns like Kangan and Sonamarg and Drass. Enjoy the scenic beauty all day and know why Kashmir is fondly called a paradise. Take a lunch break at either Sonamarg or Drass and have some delicious Kashmiri food. Kargil war memorial near Drass is definitely worth a visit. You will also be crossing the high altitude pass of Zoji La in between which is probably the worst patch of the road on this highway.

There is a daily bus from Srinagar to Leh that you can board for this journey. It starts early in the morning from Srinagar Bus stand, breaks the journey in Kargil on Day 1 and reaches Leh city on Day 2.

Kargil to Leh – Day 4

Starting as early as possible is of utmost importance on this day; because there is so much of sightseeing involved. The maximum number of tourists attractions that you will cover on Day 4 will probably be more than any other days of the journey. Namika La and Fotu La will be two high altitude passes that you will cross before reaching Leh. Lunar Landscape, Indus Zanskar Confluence, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Maitreya Buddha statue are some of the well known tourist places that will fall on the way.

For a list of tourist attraction on Srinagar to Leh route; please read What to See on Srinagar Leh Highway – A Complete List.

Hotels in Leh are available in plenty these days and in all budget. However, if you were traveling in peak tourist season then I would recommend that you call and book in advance. For a list of some recommended hotels, please read Good Budget Hotels in Leh City.

Leh – Day 5

You will be spending this day in Leh city itself. The most important thing to do this day will be to arrange permits for visiting other parts of Ladakh. This permit is called Inner Line Permit, or ILP in short; and is mandatory for civilian movement in the region. Without it, you will not be able to go any further then Leh town. It can be obtained from DM office or you can also apply for it online. For a complete step by step guide on obtaining ILP, please read How to Obtain Inner Line Permit for Ladakh.

Once you have the permits, you will have the entire day for sightseeing in Leh city; and there is plenty to see. Leh Palace, Shanti Stoopa, Leh Market are some of the most common areas visited by tourists. For a complete list, please read Tourist Attractions in Leh City.

Leh to Diskit – Day 6

Your next destination will be the beautiful Nubra valley. Now once you leave Leh city, you will not be returning back and will continue traveling to Manali straight. You will stay in Diskit for your first day; and spend the next couple of days sightseeing in the valley itself. The entire journey from Leh to Diskit will be of about 6 to 7 hours depending on your speed and breaks; and you will also be crossing the high altitude pass of Khardung La on the way.

For a list of must visit places in the Valley, please read A Complete List of Tourist Attractions in Nubra Valley.

Diskit to Turtuk – Day 7

You will be spending this day in Nubra valley itself. From Diskit, continue driving another 100 odd kilometers to the small yet very beautiful village of Turtuk. This is the last point till where civilians area allowed and after this, it is just a steep climb to Siachen Glacier. Road between Diskit and Turtuk is a mix of average and bad and can take about 3 to 4 hours to complete. Since you have plenty of time today, you can also spend some time sightseeing in Diskit before you start; and visiting places en route.

Turtuk to Panamik – Day 8

From Turtuk, drive back all the way to Diskit and then to Khalsar. From Khalsar, you will then reach the town of Panamik and explore the other side of Nubra Valley. Depending on the time you have in hand, you can also continue driving all the way to the village of Warshi, last point till where civilians are allowed. From Warshi, return to Panamik and spend the night there.

Also Read: A Complete and Comprehensive Road Map of Ladakh

Panamik to Pangong – Day 9

Get a tankful for fuel done at either Diskit, Hunder or Panamik. Your next destination will be the beautiful lake of Pangong; which over time has become the very symbol of Ladakh. It is in fact this lake that put Ladakh on tourist map after the release of 3 Idiots. From Panamik, drive back to Khalsar and then take the Agham Shyok road to reach Durbuk; and continue driving to Pangong. Total journey will take you about 7 hours depending on your speed and breaks.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Pangong Tso

Pangong to Hanle – Day 10

If you did not get fuel in Diskit then get it from the chadar tents at Pangong. You will be exploring the beautiful Changthang valley today. Roads from here on will be a mix of good, bad and ugly. Continue driving on the banks of Pangong towards Chushul via the village of Man and Merak. After you arrive at Chushul, visit the famous war memorial here and continue your journey to Loma. There is a check post at Loma where you will register yourself and turn left on the 50 kilometers long road to Hanle.

Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Hanle

Hanle to Karzok –  Day 11

Next place to visit on our itinerary is the lake of Tso Moriri. It is smaller in size than Pangong but no less in beauty. Karzok is the village on its banks and that is where you will be staying for the night on Day 11. From Hanle, you will first drive back 50 kilometers to Loma and then take the road towards Sumdo via Nyoma and Mahe. Road until Mahe will be good and average till Sumdo. After Sumdo, it is completely a dirt trail for the last 50 kilometers till Karzok. For accommodation choices at Karzok, please read How to Plan a Trip to Tso Moriri.

Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 12

From Karzok, drive back 50 kilometers to Sumdo again. Now take the road via Polo Kongka La to drive straight to Tso Kar across the More plains. Road till Polo Kongka La is quite bad but then a smooth drive all the way till Tso Kar. Spend some time at the lake and then you will exit on Manali Leh highway nearby Debring. Now depending on how long you took to reach here, you can either spend the night at Pang; or drive a little further to Sarchu and break the journey there.

Also Read: How to Plan a Journey on Manali Leh Highway

Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 13

If you stayed at Pang the night before, then start as early as 7 AM. You will be driving on Manali Leh highway today; which is both famous and notorious at the same time. Your journey for the day will include crossing 4 high altitude passes before you finally make it to Manali by evening. If you were able to reach Pang by 7 AM; or Sarchu by 8 then you should be able to reach Manali by 5 PM easily.

Manali to Delhi – Day 14

Not really much to write about this day except for that this will be a long and monotonous journey back home. You will drive back to Chandigarh and then take NH1 to reach back Delhi. Depending on your speed and breaks, it may take you as many as 14 to 15 hours before you finally made home.

Buffer Day – Day 15

You can use this day to stay longer at any of the destinations in the itinerary above. My recommendation however would be to use it on Manali Leh highway. After Karzok, you should drive back to Pang and stay there. From Pang, rather than driving back to Manali, make the journey more relaxed and spend the night in the beautiful village of Jispa. You will then reach Manali on Day 14 and Delhi on Day 15.

This was of course just one way that the journey can be done. Based on your own preference and liking, the same journey can be done in multiple other ways. I will suggest a few other alternate versions as well.

Leh Ladakh 15 days itinerary

If you wanted to start the trip from Manali and end at Srinagar, then below is how it will turn out. You will have to keep Rohtang Permit arranged in advance online; or spend a day in Manali getting it. Or you can contact a hotel or travel agent there to arrange it for you.

• Delhi to Manali – Day 1
• Manali to Jispa – Day 2
• Jispa to Pang – Day 3
• Pang to Leh – Day 4
• Leh – Day 5
• Leh to Diskit – Day 6
• Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik – Day 7
• Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 8
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
• Karzok to Leh – Day 11
• Leh to Kargil – Day 12
• Kargil to Srinagar – Day 13
• Srinagar to Jammu – Day 14
• Jammu to Delhi – Day 15

The above itineraries however would be more suitable if you were traveling by your own transport. If you were planning to go by public transport, then I will recommend the itinerary below.

15 Days Leh Ladakh Itinerary

I am recommending this plan from Manali side because by public transport, it is easier to go from Manali and return via Srinagar.

• Delhi to Manali – Day 1
• Manali to Keylong – Day 2
• Keylong to Leh – Day 3
• Leh – Day 4
• Leh to Diskit – Day 5
• Diskit to Leh – Day 6
• Leh to Pangong – Day 7
• Pangong to Leh – Day 8
• Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 9
• Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 10
• Leh to Kargil – Day 11
• Kargil to Srinagar – Day 12
• Srinagar to Jammu – Day 13
• Jammu to Delhi – Day 14
• Buffer Day – Day 15

If you were planning to fly into Ladakh and spend all 15 days there, then you can travel in the following manner.

15 Days in Ladakh

For the itinerary below, I am assuming that you are renting either a private taxi; or a motorcycle in Ladakh.

• Arrival in Leh – Day 1
• Leh – Day 2
• Leh to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Leh – Day 4
• Leh to Diskit – Day 5
• Diskit to Turtuk – Day 6
• Turtuk to Panamik – Day 7
• Panamik to Pangong – Day 8
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
• Karzok to Sarchu – Day 11
• Sarchu to Jispa – Day 12
• Jispa to Leh – Day 13
• Leh – Day 14
• Fly Out -Day 15

Ladakh Trip in 15 Days

If you wanted to include Zanskar valley in your trip too; then the journey can be done in the following manner.

• Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
• Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
• Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Padum – Day 4
• Padum – Day 5
• Padum to Kargil – Day 6
• Kargil to Leh – Day 7
• Leh – Day 8
• Leh to Diskit – Day 9
• Diskit to Pangong – Day 10
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 11
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 12
• Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 13
• Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 14
• Manali to Delhi – Day 15

Conclusion

I hope the information above on planning a Leh Ladakh 15 days itinerary was of help. If you have any questions; or need any further details on any part of the trip; please feel free to ask in the comments section below; or at our Community Forum; and I will be glad to answer.