Before you leap ahead: All you need to know about Leh-Ladakh tour
Too hot these days, eh ? Summers are on, schools are off and everyone is looking to go for a trip.
It’s time to pack your bags and stay among the lush green valleys of Karakoram ranges and let your soul drenched with the blessings of nature which you are going to experience in this excursion.
Today’s post will take you through all you would want to know before planning a trip to leh. I am sharing my first hand experience. So it would help you plan better in advance.
You can plan your trip either on bike or prefer comfortable air journey. Bikers have an edge over air travelers because of the scenic beauty and the josh of ‘long road trips’.
For Bikers
Delhi to Leh via Manali: Delhi to Manali is 543 kms by bus. If you happen to go on bike to Leh, preferably you should be going to Manali by bus first and thereafter take up conveyance to Leh. You can also take bus from Chandigarh for Manali as well.
From Manali you would be hiring a bike or cab as per your requirement.
Delhi to Leh via Srinagar: Those choosing this route shall reach Jammu or Pathankot by train. At Pathankot Cantt station and Pathankot city station you can book a cab for further journey. Unfortunately you will not find OLA and Uber in service at Pathankot or Jammu.
For Air Travelers
By Air: One can travel by air to Leh from Delhi. Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is the official airport in Leh. Pricing may vary with flights. Basic travel fair would be somewhere between 6000 to 15000 INR from Delhi, depending upon season and demand.
For those Travelling in Bus: Bus seems to be a comfortable conveyance for many & is affordable as well. Bus routes you can follow , just in case you are not planning road trip :
Delhi to Leh Via Manali: You can board HRTC buses for Manali. Distance would be of 543 km and bus fair would be between 600-800 INR. From Manali you can board bus to Leh that would cost you somewhere between 2500-2800 INR per seat. The distance between Manali to Leh would be around 490 km.
Delhi to Leh via Srinagar : For this route you can board JKSRTC buses to Srinagar. The distance would be 815 kms. And from Srinagar you can board bus to Leh which would be near about 418 km. This trip would cost you nearly between 600-800 INR.
Route would be same as that of bikers. Difference would be of affordability and preference.
Thinking about the best time to visit ??
Although you can visit Leh-Ladakh anytime, added the roads are open and be free from any strike. Still you might like to travel sometime other than when crowd visits the area most. Seasonal description would add clarity to your choice of time. . . .
- Leh observes minimum temperature of -10 to -14 degree Celsius in winters and maximum of 25 in summers. Although Leh is considered as cold desert having very thin rainfall of 4 inches per year. So stay relaxed about rainfall or icefall. You might face icefall from Jammu to Srinagar and somewhere ahead, so be cautious about that journey, in case you are visiting in winters.
- Being a dry and cold area you would see more traffic during summers in between June to August and consider it the best time.
- Autumn in Leh last by October which begins by August. Covered in red and pale yellow leafy trees, it would add memorable memories to your journey.
Don’t miss these festivals in case you happen to be there.
- Hemis Monastery celebrates Hemis festival every year. This year it would be happening from 23-24 June 2018 in Hemis Monastery, which is the biggest monastery in Ladakh. It’s a very colorful and popular festival of Ladakh.
- Locals dressed in their traditional attire performs lama dance and adds color to the dark night.
- Polo Festival in Ladakh is again a big sports festival which marks large number of tourists. Though it’s a sports festivals but it marks cultural presentations, various stalls of traditional handicraft and a lot more. It will be happening from 11th to 17th 2018 at Shagaran, Chushot Dongma.
- Phyang Tsedup Festival is yet another festival which will be celeberated from 11th to 12th July 2018 at Phyang Monastery which is near about 19kms from Leh. Attired in traditional lama gowns and deep red masks, they wouldn’t stop to mesmerize you.
Make sure you have permit to visit Leh ??
Leh-Ladakh being a part of Jammu & Kashmir requires you to obtain special permit to visit protected/un-protected areas. The process is different for Indian residents and foreigners.
- Indians are required to obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) before they launch themselves into journey ahead to Leh. This you can obtain from here. ILP would be valid for Indians up to 3 weeks from obtaining.
- Foreign tourists are required to obtain Protected Area Permit (PAP). It shall be valid up to 1 week from obtaining. Link to apply for PAP.
Tourists would need PAP and ILP for certain areas only i.e. Nubra valley, Tso Moriri, Dah, Hanu Villages, Man, Merak, Nyoma, Loma Bend, Turtuk, Tyakshi, Chusul, Hanle, Digger La, Khardung La, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Dah, Hanu Villages, Man, Merak, Nyoma, Loma Bend, Turtuk, Tyakshi, Chusul, Hanle, Digger La, Tangyar (for trekking only).
List of items you can’t forget to pack
- Riding gears cannot be forgotten. You must have jackets, winter pants, gloves, bandanas and helmet to cover up your body properly.
- Food shall be in abundance to avoid any risk while long bike trip. Maggie, dry fruits, biscuits to name a few.
- Documents of your bike, driving license and all the required permits including IS proofs and Aadhar Card, Atm Cards
- Camping gears
- Motorcycle spare parts
- Cameras, phone, charger, sim cards and any other means of connectivity.
- Contact details of local police, hospitals & emergency numbers
- First aid kit
- Clothing & toiletries
- We would advise you to save emergency contact number in your phone. Just in case… !
- Handy route maps so that you don’t miss the right turn.
Hotspot Places: You can’t miss Visiting them
Leh Palace
Leh palace is where Kings and queens once lived when Ladakh was the capital. It is a 9 storey building and it gives spectacular view of entire city build at its base and Himalayan mountain ranges. Temperature remains between -3 to 10° C during May to September and falls down below -3°C in winters. You can visit the palace between 7am to 4pm. Palace is 2.3 kms from Leh. You can take up old Leh road from Leh to reach at its doors.
Pangong Tso Lake
Pangong Tso Lake is an endorheic basin lake which bears crystal clear water. You can easily see reflection of birds, clouds and mountains over its fresh but saline water. Lake does not have much living species except few small fishes.
Pangong Tso Lake is at a distance of 225kms from Leh and it usually takes 5-6 hours from Leh to reach there. In winters lake gets frozen and usually people avoid visiting then. You can visit it from 8am to 5pm.
Shanti Stupa
Shahnti Stupa is a magnificent old Buddhist architecture. It gives a pleasant sense of Buddhist culture and Tibetan culture. You can visit Vishva Shanti Stupa from 5 am – 9pm during months of May to September. It is 4.5 km from Leh and takes approximately 16 minutes to travel.
Magnetic Hill
Magnetic hill of Ladakh is a Cyclops hill situated at Leh Leh Mera Khana. You will find your car performing a phenomenon which defies the law of gravity. You will find a yellow box marked on road. You are supposed to place your car in that box and the car shall move at its own at a speed of 20 kms/hr. Amazing thing is, that it climbs the height of mountain at neutral gear. Magnetic hill is 26.7 kms from Leh and takes near about 40 min to reach there. Best time to visit the site would be between 8am to 5pm.
Tso Moriri Lake
Changtang wildlife sanctuary has many lakes but few are majorly spotted by tourists for their scenic beauty. Tso Moriri Lake is one amongst them. The lake is 28 kms in length and 5 kms wide. Temperature on an average stays between -3 to 13°C. Tso Moriri Lake is 365 kms from Pangong Lake and 220 kms from Leh. It would take 5-6 hrs from Leh to reach there. You can visit it between 8 am to 5 pm.
Khardung La pass
Khardung La is a major tourist attraction and sees number of biking expeditions every year. Maintained by Border Road Organizations Khardung La used to be the highest road in India at 17,582 ft. It is pronounced as Khardzung La by locals. It is the gateway to Nubra valley, Shyok Valley and Siachin glacier.
Hemis Monastery
Hemis is a small village in Ladakh, situated 45 kms from Leh. It is one of the famous monasteries of Leh-Ladakh and is centre of attraction for outsiders. Tourists come here for two things. One, the two big statues of Buddha and Guru Rimpoche. And second, the museum which has huge collection of Buddhist relics and several other historical items which suggest rich history and culture of Ladakh. You can reach there by bus or personal vehicle from Leh. Best time would be in June, July when Hemis festival is celebrated. This year it will be celebrated from 23-24 July 2018.
Nubra Valley
Yet another place to visit in Leh is Nubra Valley. It is located in north-east of Ladakh and was enroute route from eastern Tibet to Turkestan. Nubra valley is famous for bactarian camel safari,Panamik village,Diskit Monastery, Samstanling Monastery and much more. You should take Khardungla Rd to reach there. It is 160.3 kms and 5 hours from Leh.
Precautions that would save you in turmoil
- Make sure you are not forgetting your documents.
- To avoid any serious injury wear helmet all the time while you ride your bike. You can wear helmet in car as well…. Oops!!!
- Carry tools to repair basic damages to bike, tires and brakes.
- Don’t miss the first aid kit. Stay prepared for reduced oxygen levels, motions sickness etc
- Make sure to get your bike serviced before you head for a long ride.
- Get a proper medical checkup before you step ahead.