Overview
Drive to Ladakh the way the road was meant to be travelled. Our car and driver collect you in Chandigarh and take you up the Kullu valley to Manali, through the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul for a night at Jispa, and over Baralacha La, the Gata loops, Nakee La, Lachulung La and Tanglang La to Leh. In Ladakh, a Leh-registered car takes over for the city sights and a three-day loop to Nubra and Pangong, and you fly home from Leh. Climbing by road over four days is gentler than flying straight to 3,500 m, though you'll still rest on arrival. Hotels and camps with breakfast and dinner, all transport and permits are included.
Best for: Travellers who want the great road journey, and a gentler climb than flying straight to Leh
- Our own car and driver from Chandigarh to Leh
- Two nights in Manali before the high road
- A night at Jispa in Lahaul
- Four high passes on the Manali–Leh highway
- Leh, Nubra and Pangong with a Leh-registered car
- Fly home from Leh, no return drive
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Manali
About 7–9 hoursOvernight: Manali
Our driver picks you up in Chandigarh, at the airport or the station, and drives up the Kiratpur–Manali highway through Bilaspur, Mandi and the Kullu valley to Manali.
Road guide: Chandigarh to Manali → - Day2
Manali at leisure
Optional local outingsOvernight: Manali
A free day to rest before the high road: Hadimba temple, Old Manali's cafés, Vashisht's hot springs or a short trip to Solang. Resting here helps your body adjust before Lahaul.
- Day3
Manali to Jispa through the Atal Tunnel
About 2½–3 hoursOvernight: Jispa
Through the Atal Tunnel into Lahaul, past Sissu and Keylong to Jispa, a quiet riverside village at about 3,200 m. A short day, deliberately, to help you acclimatise.
Road guide: Manali to Jispa → - Day4
Jispa to Leh over the high passes
About 8–10 hoursOvernight: Leh
An early start over Baralacha La, across the Sarchu plains, up the Gata loops, over Nakee La and Lachulung La, through Pang and across the More plains, and finally over Tanglang La to Leh. A long, unforgettable day.
Road guide: Manali to Leh → - Day5
Rest in Leh
No drivingOvernight: Leh
A full day of rest, as Ladakh's tourism department advises even for road arrivals. Short walks around the old town at most.
- Day6
Leh and the Indus valley
Local sightseeing, about 5–6 hoursOvernight: Leh
Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace above the old town, then the Indus valley monasteries of Shey, Thiksey and Hemis, in a Leh-registered car with a local driver. An easy day with little walking.
- Day7
Leh to Nubra over Khardung La
About 5–6 hoursOvernight: Hunder (Nubra valley)
Over Khardung La, one of the highest roads in the region, and down into the Nubra valley. Visit Diskit monastery and its giant Buddha, then the Hunder dunes. Overnight in a camp at Hunder.
- Day8
Nubra to Pangong along the Shyok
About 5–7 hoursOvernight: Pangong lake (Spangmik area)
A long, scenic drive along the Shyok river through remote villages to Pangong lake, whose water changes colour through the day. Overnight in a camp near the shore; nights are cold even in summer.
- Day9
Pangong to Leh over Chang La
About 5–6 hoursOvernight: Leh
A slow morning by the lake, then back to Leh over Chang La, stopping at Thiksey or Shey if you'd like. A final evening for the market and cafés in Leh.
- Day10
Fly out from Leh
Airport transfer
Transfer to Leh airport for your flight home, which saves the two-day drive back. Morning flights are the norm; we'll time the pickup to your departure.
Why drive in and fly out
Driving the Manali–Leh highway is one of the great road journeys of the world, but doing it twice adds four days and a lot of time in the car. Flying home from Leh gives you the drive once, in the direction that suits acclimatisation best, and saves the return. Leh has direct flights to Delhi and other cities through the season.
Two cars, one plan
Our car and driver handle the Himachal half: Chandigarh to Manali, and the high road to Leh. In Ladakh, local rules mean a Leh-registered car and driver take over for sightseeing and the Nubra and Pangong loop. We arrange both, and the price you see covers both, so it feels like one trip.
Manali to Leh Road Trip price
Per person, by hotel tier and group size. Prices last calculated 21 October 2026 from current rate cards and hotel listings.
3-star hotels, standard camps and homestays
| Travellers | Per person | Group total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ₹61,000 ≈ US$720 | ₹1,22,000 | Innova |
| 4 | ₹43,500 ≈ US$510 | ₹1,74,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹43,500 ≈ US$510 | ₹2,61,000 | Tempo Traveller |
Per person, twin sharing, all-inclusive of the items listed below. Dollar prices are approximate (₹85 = US$1). Your exact price is confirmed in writing before you book; it depends on dates, hotel availability and group size.
Where the money goes: 2 travellers, standard hotels
- Hotels and camps (breakfast and dinner)₹42,000
- Leh-registered taxis in Ladakh₹26,345
- Our car and driver in Himachal₹35,060
- Permits (2 Indian nationals)₹1,180
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹15,511
- Total for both₹1,20,096
Included
- Our car and driver from Chandigarh to Manali and from Manali to Leh (Innova or Tempo Traveller)
- Leh-registered car for all sightseeing in Ladakh and the airport drop
- Hotels, camps and guesthouses, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Permits: environment and wildlife fees (Indian nationals) or Protected Area Permit (foreign nationals)
- Fuel, tolls, Himachal entry tax and driver allowances
Not included
- ×Flight home from Leh (Leh–Delhi is about ₹4,000–18,000 one way, depending on season)
- ×Lunches, drinks and snacks
- ×Monastery, palace and museum entry fees
- ×GST on the package, travel insurance and tips
- ×Oxygen cylinders, medical costs or extra nights caused by road closures or illness
Permits, altitude and safety
- Leh is at about 3,500 m. Ladakh's tourism department advises at least 48 hours of rest on arrival before any sightseeing; every plan here starts with a full rest day.
- Driving in helps your body adjust, but the passes on the way are higher than Leh, so altitude sickness is still possible. We sleep at Jispa rather than Sarchu, which is much higher, and add a rest day in Leh.
- Indian nationals pay the Ladakh environment fee and a daily wildlife fee for Nubra, Pangong and similar areas, arranged online or in Leh. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, arranged through a registered Leh agent and usually requiring at least two foreign travellers in the group.
- Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol for the first days, and tell your driver at once about a severe headache, breathlessness at rest or confusion. Descending is the treatment. Talk to a doctor before travelling if you have heart or lung conditions.
- Ladakh is generally safe for visitors. The main risks are altitude, cold and road closures from weather, not crime. Carry warm layers, cash (ATMs are limited outside Leh) and offline maps.
When to go
Plan by month
Where to go in October
☀At their best2
•Fine, check the weather1
Off-peak: quieter and cheaper stays; check the forecast before you set out.
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Kullu, Manali and the Parvati valley
- Manali2,050 mManali: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov; Snow: Jan–Feb, Dec; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
More places
- Jispa3,200 mJispa: Best: May–Oct; Snow: Jan–Mar, Dec
- Leh3,500 mLeh: Best: Jun–Sep; Snow: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec
- • June to September: the Manali–Leh highway is usually open from about late May to mid-November, and June to September is the safest window.
- • June is the busiest month on the highway; September is often the clearest.
- • Outside the season, the highway is closed; choose a fly-in package instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Manali to Leh road trip cost?+
From about ₹42,500 per person for four to six travellers on standard hotels, and about ₹60,000 per person for a couple. See the price table for comfort hotels and foreign-national prices.
Why does a Leh taxi take over in Ladakh?+
Ladakh's taxi rules allow outside taxis to drop passengers in Leh, but sightseeing within Ladakh must be in Leh-registered vehicles.
Can we start from Delhi?+
Yes. Add a day from Delhi to Chandigarh, or drive Delhi to Manali in one long day; we'll re-price the plan.
Can we drive back instead of flying?+
Yes, in season, with a Leh taxi back to Manali over two days. It adds about two days and the return fare.
When is the Manali–Leh highway open?+
Usually from about late May to mid-November; June to September is the most reliable window.
Is the road safe?+
It's a high, remote road, but well used in season. Our drivers run it regularly, and the itinerary avoids sleeping at Sarchu.
Can we add Tso Moriri or Turtuk?+
Yes. Each adds one or two days; ask for a quote.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Manali to Leh by taxi: route and season
- Chandigarh to Leh taxi
- Manali to Jispa taxi
- Taxis in Ladakh: the rules for outside taxis
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Leh–Manali Highway · Discover with Dheeraj: Leh Ladakh taxi union rates · Go360: Leh Ladakh taxi union rates 2026 · Holidify: 3-star hotels in Ladakh · Discover with Dheeraj: Pangong camping 2026 · Discover with Dheeraj: Ladakh permits for Indians 2026 · Discover with Dheeraj: Protected Area Permit for foreigners · Ladakh Tourism: travel advisory
