Getting there
How to reach Leh
Leh has direct flights from Delhi year-round, about ninety minutes. Overland, it is roughly 470 km from Manali and 420 km from Srinagar, both taking two days and both open only from around late May to October. Flying in means two full days of rest before going higher.
- By air
- Delhi to Leh, about 90 minutes, year-round
- From Manali
- About 470 km, 2 days, late May to October
- From Srinagar
- About 420 km, 2 days, late May to October
- If flying
- Two full days acclimatising
Flying against driving
Flying takes ninety minutes and costs you two days of rest at the other end. Driving takes two days and delivers you acclimatised. The total time is similar; what differs is whether you spend it in a vehicle or in a hotel room in Leh. Many itineraries fly in and drive out, which gets the best of both.
The two overland routes
Manali–Leh crosses Baralacha La and Tanglang La and is the higher, emptier road. Srinagar–Leh crosses Zoji La and passes through Kargil, and is the gentler gain. Overland groups going in via Srinagar and out via Manali get the better acclimatisation profile.
Questions people ask
Are there flights to Leh all year?
Yes, Leh airport operates year-round, mainly from Delhi. Winter flights are more prone to weather cancellation, so leave a buffer day if onward travel matters.
How many days does the Manali to Leh drive take?
Two days, with an overnight at Jispa, Sarchu or Keylong. Doing it in one is possible and is hard on the body at those altitudes.
Bookable now
Tours that go there
Every one of these is run by our own team, with the drivers and the permits arranged.
Read next
- Leh travel guideLeh sits at about 3,500 metres and is the base for all of Ladakh. Two full days of rest on arrival are not optional if you fly in, because everything else in the region is higher. Most itineraries run seven to nine days from Leh, taking in Nubra, Pangong and the Indus valley monasteries.
- Best time to visit Leh LadakhMay to September is the Ladakh season. The Manali and Srinagar road passes open from around late May and close by October, while flights to Leh run year-round. June to August gives the most reliable access to Nubra, Pangong and Tso Moriri.
- Altitude sickness in Ladakh and SpitiAltitude sickness typically begins above 2,500 metres and is common in Leh at 3,500 metres, particularly for travellers who fly in. Headache, nausea and breathlessness at rest are the warning signs. The only reliable treatment is descent, which is why itineraries are built to ascend gradually.
- Ladakh bike trip guideLadakh bike trips run from late May to September, when Baralacha La and Tanglang La on the Manali road and Zoji La on the Srinagar road are clear. A standard circuit is eleven to fourteen days from Manali, with a backup vehicle carrying luggage, fuel and spares.
Plan your trip
Tell us where you want to go
Leave your name, number and email. One of our travel experts calls you back with a written itinerary and a real price, usually the same day.
- 1Choose your destinationPick a route that matches how long you have and what you want out of it.
- 2Book and pay securelyConfirm the itinerary and pay online through a secure gateway.
- 3Pack and start exploringYour transfers, stays and sightseeing are arranged before you land.
Get a free quote
Three details, nothing more.
Do not take our word for it
Reviews from our travellers
Filmed on their trips, by the families who took them. Nothing here is scripted.
On the road with us
Happy customers
Photographs travellers sent back from their trips. Real families, real places — not a stock photo among them.
