Before you go
The Manali–Leh road
The Manali–Leh highway is about 470 kilometres and takes two days, crossing Baralacha La and Tanglang La, both above 4,800 metres. It is generally open from late May to October. Overnight stops are at Jispa, Keylong or Sarchu, and Sarchu is the highest and hardest of the three.
- Distance
- About 470 km
- Time
- 2 days
- Season
- Late May to October
- Passes
- Baralacha La, Tanglang La, both above 4,800 m
- Overnight
- Jispa, Keylong or Sarchu
Where to spend the night
Sarchu sits at about 4,250 m and is where most altitude problems on this road happen. Jispa and Keylong are considerably lower and make for a far better night, at the cost of a longer second day. For anyone unsure about altitude, that trade is worth taking.
Fuel and supplies
The fuel gap between Tandi and Leh is roughly 365 km, and Tandi is the last pump. Drivers carry spare fuel as standard on this route. There is minimal mobile coverage and no reliable roadside assistance for long stretches.
Questions people ask
How long does the Manali to Leh drive take?
Two days, with an overnight at Jispa, Keylong or Sarchu. Doing it in one long day is possible but hard on the body given the altitude gain.
Where is the last petrol pump before Leh?
Tandi, near Keylong. The next reliable fuel is at Leh, about 365 km further on, so vehicles carry spare fuel for this stretch.
Read next
- How to reach LehLeh 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
