Is 14 sufficient for a road trip to Ladakh? The answer to this question is a definite yes. With 14 days in hand, you can rest assured that your trip will be a very comfortable one. You will be able to cover majority of the tourist areas without rushing too much on any given day. It also gives you plenty of window to tweak and mould your itinerary as per your convenience. In this post, I will be sharing a few such examples of a 14 days itinerary for Ladakh.
Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide
After Kutch in Gujarat, Ladakh is the second largest district in our country. Add it with the two highways from Manali and Srinagar and you get a very large region to cover during your trip. So yes, it definitely makes sense to set aside at least 14 days for this trip rather than trying to squeeze it all in a lesser number. Ladakh is a place where the journey itself becomes the destination. Every turn on the road will present you with a mesmerizing sight; and you got to make sure that you savor on the natural beauty around you as much as you can. A 14 days trip to Ladakh will give you ample of opportunity to do so.
I will suggest the itineraries below in a few different ways. First is for people traveling by their own vehicle, either a car or a motorcycle. Second I will recommend an itinerary for people planning to visit by public transport completely. Third set of itineraries will be for someone who is flying into the city of Leh; and has entire 14 days to spend in Ladakh itself.
Leh Ladakh Itinerary 14 Days
For the sake of this article, I will assume that you are starting your trip from Delhi. If you were however coming from a different place, then only the journey on first and last day may be different. Rest of the details will still apply. For someone coming from Chandigarh or someplace nearby, pretty much the same itinerary can be followed as that of Delhi.
- 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 Panamik – Day 7
- Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 8
- Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
- Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
- Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 11
- Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 12
- Manali to Delhi – Day 13
- Buffer Day – Day 14
Before I go on detailing this itinerary, let me first clarify why I am recommending traveling this way. Usually Manali becomes a preferred choice for people to approach Ladakh from. I will however suggest that you go via Srinagar and return via Manali; and below is why.
Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh with Children
Acute Mountain Sickness in Ladakh
This remains to be one of the biggest concerns for people while traveling to Ladakh. No matter how much the tourism increases here, fact is that Ladakh is still a cold barren high altitude desert. It is located at an elevation that you probably have never been to before. This is the first time your body will experience an altitude so high and it may trigger the symptoms of acute mountain sickness, also known as AMS in short.
Slow gain in altitude and plenty of rest is the key to avoid altitude sickness which doesn’t really happen if you went via Manali. In a matter of a couple of days, the gain in altitude happens tremendously as you cross over Rohtang Pass and reach places like Pang and Sarchu. The route via Srinagar however rises in altitude a bit more gradually; and hence allows your body a little more time to acclimatize itself to the change.
For more details on what AMS is and what can you do about it, please read How to Handle Acute Mountain Sickness in Ladakh.
Rohtang Permits
Rohtang in last couple of years has turned into a hassle for people traveling to Ladakh. A permit is now needed to cross over this mighty pass from Manali side; without which, you will not be able to get past even Gulaba. Now this permit is issued on first come first serve basis; and there is also a maximum cap on the number of permits issued per day. It can either be obtained online or in person from DM office Manali. I have explained the entire process step by step at How to Obtain a Permit for Rohtang Pass; but the fact is that in the end, getting this permit is just an additional hassle that you will have to worry about.
In peak tourist season, when the entire Manali is swarming with tourists, these permits get sold out within minutes (and mostly bought by local taxi drivers). If you were not able to obtain it online then you will have to waste an entire day in Manali. The best way to avoid all this unnecessary worrying is to reach Ladakh via Srinagar and return via Manali. You do not need the permit if you were crossing Rohtang from the other side.
Traffic at Rohtang
Traffic jams at Rohtang Pass are getting longer by each year. During my last year’s trip, it took me 4 hours to get down to Manali from Rohtang top; that is how crazy it has started to get. There is a check post at Gulaba where you are required to submit your permit. Average wait time at this check post is 2 hours in tourist season. You will find taxis lined up here as early as 4 AM. Long line of cars at Rohtang top is another matter altogether. All this can be avoided by approaching Ladakh from Srinagar side.
Buffer Day
You will notice that in the itinerary above, I have kept Day 14 as buffer. When traveling to a place like Ladakh; and for as many as 14 days, it is important that you keep at least one day over and above your actual days of travel. The unpredictability of the region and weather here can force you to prolong your stay by a day or two anywhere on the route. Keeping a day over an above your entire trip plan will at least give you the ability to afford to do so. If everything went as planned, then you can use this day to relax at any place of your liking towards the end of the trip. Or you could just return home and rest for a day before getting back to work.
Managing Fuel
Last but not the least is the question of how to manage fuel during this trip. Petrol pump in Ladakh is still limited to just Leh city which means that you will have to carry spare fuel depending on your vehicle’s mileage; and distance you intend to cover before coming across another gas station. Good part is that these days, petrol and Diesel in Ladakh is available at almost everywhere in Black. True that you will be paying about Rs. 120 per liter but it will at least save you the hassle of carrying liters of gas; specially if you were on a bike. You can get fuel in Nubra, Hanle, Karzok and at the chadar tents at Pangong. For more details, please read Fuel During Ladakh Trip – How to Manage.
Now getting back to our itinerary, let me now give a day by day run down of how your journey will be.
Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
- Start early from Delhi
- Total distance of about 600 kilometers
- Travel time of 12 to 13 hours
- Roads are mostly good with a lot of tolls in between
- Overnight at Jammu
Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
- Start early again from Srinagar. Long traffic Jams are common on this route.
- Overnight at Srinagar
- Total distance of 270 kilometers
- Travel time of 11 to 12 hours
- Either stay at a hotel in Srinagar or a houseboat. Read Hotel Grand Valley Inn – A Great Place to stay in Srinagar.
- You can also take the alternate route via Mughal Road to reach Srinagar. For more details, read How to Plan a Journey on Mughal Road.
Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
- Travel through the beautiful vistas of Kashmir Valley
- Overnight at Kargil
- Total distance of 200 kilometers
- Travel time of 8 to 9 hours
- Cross Zoji La and see Kargil War Memorial at Drass
Kargil to Leh – Day 4
- The vistas start to change from lush green to barren desert as you get closer to Kargil and approach Leh.
- Total distance of 220 Kilometers
- Travel Time of 7 to 8 Hours.
- Plenty of sightseeing to do today including Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Mulbekh Maitreya, Indus Zanskar Confluence etc. For more details read What to See on Srinagar Leh Highway – A Complete List.
- Overnight in Leh
Leh – Day 5
- Spend the day in Leh City
- Arrange permit for journey ahead. Read How to Obtain Inner Line Permit for Ladakh for details.
- Visit local attraction in Leh city like Leh palace, local market, Shanti Stoopa etc. Read Tourist Places in Leh City for details.
Leh to Diskit – Day 6
- Start early from Leh
- Cross Khardung La and reach Nubra Valley
- Overnight in Diskit
- Total Distance of 120 kilometers
- Total Travel time of 6 to 7 hours
- See Bactrian Camel, Diskit Monastery, Hunder Sand Dunes. Read Tourist Places in Nubra Valley for complete list.
Diskit to Panamik – Day 7
- Spend the day exploring Nubra Valley
- Drive all the way to Turtuk and have lunch there
- Drive back to Diskit and then reach Panamik
- Overnight Stay in Panamik
- Total drive of 200 to 250 kilometers
- All day of sightseeing
Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 8
- Reach the famous lake of Pangong, the very symbol of Ladakh
- From Diskit, reach Back Khalsar and take Agham Shyok road to reach Pangong
- Total 190 kilometers to be covered
- Travel time of 6 to 7 hours
- Also Read A Complete and Comprehensive Road Map of Ladakh
Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
- Travel through Changthang Valley and reach Hanle via Man, Merak, Chusul and Loma.
- Overnight at Hanle
- Total distance of about 170 kilometers
- Travel time of 8 to 10 hours
- Also Read How to Plan a Trip to Hanle
Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
- Drive back to Loma from Hanle and reach Karzok via Nyoma, Mahe and Sumdo
- Overnight at Karzok
- Total distance of about 150 Kilometers
- Travel time of 8 to 9 hours
- Also read How to Plan a Trip to Tso Moriri.
Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 11
- Drive back to Sumdo from Karzok
- Take the route via Polo Kongka La to reach Tso Kar
- Spend some time at the lake and exit on Manali Leh highway near Debring
- Overnight at either Pang or Sarchu
- Total distance of about 140 kilometers till Pang; 210 kilometers till Sarchu
- Travel time of 7 to 8 hours in total
Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 12
- Reach Manali while crossing the 4 high altitude passes of Nakee La, Lachulung La, Baralacha La and Rohtang La
- Overnight in Manali
- Total distance of 300 kilometers from Pang; 220 kilometers from Sarchu
- Travel time of 9 to 10 hours
Manali to Delhi – Day 13
- Drive back home via Chandigarh
- Total distance of 550 kilometers
- Travel time of 14 to 15 hours
Buffer Day – Day 14
You can use this buffer day to stay at any of the places in your itinerary per your liking. My recommendation would be to wait and use it in last days of your trip; on Manali Leh highway. From Karzok, arrive at Pang and stay for the night. The next day, travel in a relaxed manner and reach Jispa in Lahaul valley; from where you will then continue to Manali. This will give you plenty of time for sightseeing on Manali Leh highway rather than rushing to complete in in a day from Pang to Manali.
14 Days Itinerary for Leh Ladakh
Now the above itinerary was for someone traveling by their own vehicle. If you were however planning to rely upon public transport then the below itinerary would be better.
- 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 Tso – 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
I suggested this from Manali because by public transport, it is easier to go via Manali then Srinagar. For public transport, you will be using both buses and shared taxis throughout the journey. Shared taxi are available in Leh at the main bus stand every morning. So if there is no bus available, you can be sure that a shared cab will definitely be there. There is no public transport available between Nubra, Pangong and Moriri direct so you really have no choice but to return to Leh city.
Take a look at How I traveled to Leh by Public Transport to understand the journey better in an actual travelogue. For further information, you may also want to read How to Travel to Ladakh on Budget by Bus and Shared Taxis.
14 Days in Ladakh
If you were however flying into Leh and intended to spend the entire 14 days in Ladakh itself then the journey can be planned in a manner like below.
- 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
- Fly Out -Day 14
The itinerary above however assumed that you are renting either a private cab or a motorcycle for moving around in Ladakh locally. If you were however planning to do so by Bus and shared cab, then the journey would have to be like below.
- Arrival in Leh – Day 1
- Leh – Day 2
- Leh to Diskit – Day 3
- Diskit to Turtuk – Day 4
- Turtuk to Panamik – Day 5
- Panamik to Leh – Day 6
- Leh to Pangong – Day 7
- Pangong to Leh – Day 8
- Leh to Karzok – Day 9
- Karzok – Day 10
- Karzok to Leh – Day 11
- Leh to Kargil – Day 12
- Kargil to Leh – Day 13
- Fly Out – Day 14
Since there is no public transport available on internal direct routes; you will have to reach back Leh from Nubra, Pangong and Moriri to get a mode of transport to your next destination.
Leh Ladakh in 14 Days
If you also want to include Zanskar valley in your trip, then the plan can be modified to as mentioned below.
- Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
- Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
- Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
- Kargil to Padum – Day 4
- Padum to Kargil – Day 5
- Leh – Day 6
- Leh to Diskit – Day 7
- Diskit 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
If you want, you can also modify it to spend another day in Padum. In order to make up for it, you can remove your stay in Panamik and head straight to Pangong from Diskit.
Conclusion
These are just some examples of how a Leh Ladakh Itinerary 14 Days can be planned. Depending on your mode of travel, budget and preference, you can tweak these travel plans to form your own final itinerary. If you need my help or have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below; or at our Community Forum; and I will be glad to answer.
