Delhi - Manali - Leh (Ladakh) Itinerary

Delhi - Manali - Leh (Ladakh)

Route: Delhi - Manali - Kokhsar - Tandi - Keylong - Darcha - Sarchu - Pang - Upshi - Leh

Distance: Delhi - Manali 580 kms + Manali - Leh 490 kms = 1070 kms

The Journey: Usually the Delhi - Manali - Leh circuit is covered in the span of three days, while few like to take it easy and cover it in four to five days depending on the time at hand.

Here is a sample itinerary for a three day journey to Leh, starting from Delhi:

Day 1 Delhi – Manali (580 kms): this journey can take any where between 11 hours to 18 hours depending on the number of breaks and your driving/riding speed. After you reach Manali the first thing you need to do is tank up on petrol, because you need start early in the morning to reach Sarchu and the petrol pumps might not be open at that time.

Day 2 Manali – Sarchu (230 kms): this is where the fun starts, after riding/driving for 52 kms you will reach Rohtang Pass, the first of many high altitude passes that you will encounter on your journey to Ladakh. Take a breather at Rohtang La (13050ft); there are Dhabas at Rohtang parking (couple of kms before the pass) where you can have your breakfast if you decide not to stop at Marhi.

Journey from here is mostly downhill till Tandi (110 kms), which is the last petrol pump till you reach the outskirts of Leh roughly 380kms from here, so don't forget to tank up and in case you are not sure if your vehicle will be able to cover these many kms in a single tank of gas than do get spare petrol/diesel.

Next up is Keylong which is the last place where your mobile phone will work (until you reach Leh) and also the last place where you can hope to find a mechanic (before Leh); in case you are having some problems with your vehicle get it checked ASAP!

Next stop Darcha; this is the place where you cross into the state of Jammu and Kashmir, all tourists need to register themselves at the check post. Relax and tank up on water and snacks, because now you will be riding to Baralacha La (16500ft). Roads are mostly in bad shape and as the altitude increases, you might start noticing the first effects of Acute Mountain Sickness. From Baralacha La it's again a downhill but a rough ride till Sarchu.

Accommodations: Before reaching Sarchu you will start noticing camps put up by various travel companies; one can stay in these tents which are normally referred to as luxury tents or one can cross the Sarchu Bridge and get a bed in tent cum Dhabas which normally charge Rs. 30 per person. Don't bother looking for a hotel, there aren't any!

Day 3 Sarchu – Leh (260 kms): After a cold and windy night in Sarchu rise early, have breakfast and start off for Leh as early as possible you have a long journey ahead. Roads from Sarchu till the start of Gata Loops are mostly in good condition and the ride/drive is mostly fast.

The first chore of the day is Gata Loop which is a collection of 21 loops that take you to an altitude of 15302 ft. Next up is the first pass of the day, Nakee La located at an altitude of 15547ft. Soon after Nakee La you will encounter the second pass of the day, Lachulung La (16616 ft). The road from here will take you to Pang which is another temporary collection of tents and also has a check post where travelers need to register themselves. Take a breather here and eat some thing for the tough journey ahead.

The road from Pang will take you to the famous Moore Plains; situated in a plateau you will be hard-pressed to believe that this relatively flat land is located at an altitude of 15400ft. Road here is relatively straight and in good condition, inviting you to indulge in speeding. But don't! Road is mostly bumpy due to Marmot digging holes under them which will test your vehicles suspension to the fullest.

After the fast paced journey you will find your self climbing the third highest pass you will encounter in Ladakh, Tanglang La (17582ft). Final few kms to the summit of the pass are in bad condition and the steepness coupled with lack of air takes a toll on vehicles performance. But once you reach the top you will be greeted with spectacular views, in fact Tanglang La offers the best views than the rest of the passes. The pass itself is quite windy and it's not uncommon to encounter snow, so take a few photographs and start your journey again.

Roads from here on are downhill all the way to Leh, after a few kms of bad roads you will be greeted with spectacular tarmac and coupled with decreasing altitude and change in scenery from arid to green is sure to be a fantastic reward for your hardship over the past couple of days.