Overview
The ultimate Himalayan road trip, in fifteen days: from Chandigarh into Kinnaur's orchards and wooden villages, through Spiti's high desert and ancient monasteries, over Kunzum La to Manali, and up the Manali–Leh highway to Ladakh, finishing with Nubra and Pangong. Our own car and driver take you from Chandigarh to Leh, climbing gradually through Kinnaur so your body adjusts before Spiti's 3,650 m; in Ladakh, a Leh-registered car takes over. It's only possible in a narrow window, roughly July to mid-September, when both Kunzum La and the Leh highway are reliably open. Hotels, camps and homestays with breakfast and dinner, all transport and permits are included, and you fly home from Leh.
Best for: The once-in-a-lifetime Himalayan road trip, for travellers with two weeks
- Kinnaur: Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa's Kinner Kailash sunrise
- Spiti: Nako, Tabo, Key monastery, Kibber and Langza
- Kunzum La and the Chandra valley to Manali
- The Manali–Leh highway over four high passes
- Leh, Nubra and Pangong
- Our own car and driver from Chandigarh to Leh
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Narkanda
About 5–6 hoursOvernight: Narkanda
Our driver collects you in Chandigarh and drives up the NH5 past Solan, around Shimla on the bypass and along the old Hindustan–Tibet road to Narkanda's ridge at about 2,700 m, among apple orchards. An easy first day.
Road guide: Chandigarh to Narkanda → - Day2
Narkanda to Sangla
About 5–6 hoursOvernight: Sangla
Down to the Sutlej at Rampur, up the gorge to Karcham and into the Baspa valley to Sangla at about 2,700 m.
- Day3
Chitkul day trip
About 2–3 hours with stopsOvernight: Sangla
Up the valley to Chitkul, the last village on the road, at about 3,450 m, and back to Sangla for a second night to help with the altitude.
- Day4
Sangla to Kalpa
About 2–3 hoursOvernight: Kalpa
A short day to Kalpa, facing the Kinner Kailash range. Foreign nationals collect their Protected Area Permit in Reckong Peo today.
Road guide: Shimla to Kalpa → - Day5
Kalpa to Kaza via Nako and Tabo
About 8–9 hoursOvernight: Kaza
Sunrise on Kinner Kailash, then into Spiti through Nako and its lake and past Tabo's ancient monastery to Kaza at about 3,650 m. Rest on arrival.
Road guide: Shimla to Kaza → - Day6
Key monastery, Kibber and Chicham
About 3–4 hours with stopsOvernight: Kaza
Key monastery on its ridge above the Spiti river, the high village of Kibber and the Chicham bridge over a deep gorge. Keep exertion light and drink plenty of water; it's your first full day at Spiti's altitude.
- Day7
Langza, Hikkim and Komic
About 3–4 hours with stopsOvernight: Kaza
Up to Langza, with its giant Buddha and fossil-bearing slopes, then Hikkim, with what's often called the world's highest post office, and the monastery at Komic. Back in Kaza by mid-afternoon.
- Day8
Kaza to Manali over Kunzum La
About 7–9 hoursOvernight: Manali
An early start up the Spiti valley to Losar and over Kunzum La at about 4,550 m, down to Batal and along the rough Chhatru stretch to Gramphu, then through the Atal Tunnel to Manali.
Road guide: Kaza to Manali → - Day9
Manali to Jispa
About 2½–3 hoursOvernight: Jispa
A short, restful day back through the Atal Tunnel, past Sissu and Keylong, to Jispa in Lahaul at about 3,200 m. A quiet riverside evening before the long drive to Leh.
Road guide: Manali to Jispa → - Day10
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, and finally over Tanglang La down to Leh. The longest and most dramatic day of the trip.
Road guide: Manali to Leh → - Day11
Rest and Leh sightseeing
Short local outingsOvernight: Leh
A slow day in Leh: Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace in the afternoon, after a morning's rest. A Leh-registered car takes over from here.
- Day12
Leh to Nubra over Khardung La
About 5–6 hoursOvernight: Hunder (Nubra valley)
Over Khardung La to the Nubra valley, with Diskit monastery and its giant Buddha, and the Hunder dunes, where Bactrian camels graze. Overnight in a camp at Hunder.
- Day13
Nubra to Pangong along the Shyok
About 5–7 hoursOvernight: Pangong lake (Spangmik area)
Along the Shyok river through remote villages to Pangong lake, with time by the water in the afternoon and a cold, starry night in a camp near the shore.
- Day14
Pangong to Leh via Thiksey
About 5–6 hoursOvernight: Leh
Morning at the lake, then back over Chang La, stopping at the monasteries of Thiksey and Shey on the way into Leh. A last evening in the old town.
- Day15
Fly out from Leh
Airport transfer
Transfer to Leh airport for your flight home after fifteen days on the road. Morning flights are the norm; we'll time the pickup to your departure.
Two high deserts in one journey
Spiti and Ladakh are often compared, and seeing both in one trip shows how different they are. Spiti is smaller and quieter, with villages clinging to slopes and monasteries such as Key and Tabo that have stood for centuries. Ladakh is bigger and more varied: Leh's busy old town, the Nubra valley's dunes and orchards, and the vast blue of Pangong. Linking them by road, through Lahaul, is one of the great journeys in the Himalaya.
Pacing and rest days
Fifteen days sounds long, but the drives are long too. The plan has short days after big ones (Chitkul after the drive to Sangla, Jispa after Manali, a slow day in Leh after the high passes) so that nobody is exhausted. If the weather or a road closure costs a day, the short days give us room to recover the plan.
Great Himalayan Circuit: Spiti and Ladakh 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 | ₹1,05,500 ≈ US$1,240 | ₹2,11,000 | Innova |
| 4 | ₹71,500 ≈ US$840 | ₹2,86,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹72,500 ≈ US$855 | ₹4,35,000 | 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)₹62,000
- Leh-registered taxis in Ladakh₹26,345
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹92,100
- Permits (2 Indian nationals)₹1,180
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹27,067
- Total for both₹2,08,692
Included
- Our car and driver from Chandigarh to Leh, via Kinnaur, Spiti and Manali (Innova or Tempo Traveller)
- Leh-registered car for sightseeing in Ladakh and the airport drop
- Hotels, camps and homestays, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Permits for Spiti and Ladakh (Protected Area Permits for foreign nationals)
- Fuel, tolls, state taxes and driver allowances
Not included
- ×Flight home from Leh
- ×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
Good to know: roads, permits and safety
- Foreign nationals need two permits: one for upper Kinnaur and Spiti, usually issued in Reckong Peo, and one for Ladakh's protected areas, arranged through a registered Leh agent. Both are included in the foreign-national price. Indian nationals need only the Ladakh environment and wildlife fees.
- 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.
- 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
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
Kinnaur and Spiti
More places
- Leh3,500 mLeh: Best: Jun–Sep; Snow: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec
- • Roughly July to mid-September is the reliable window, when both Kunzum La and the Manali–Leh highway are open.
- • June can work in some years, depending on snow at Kunzum La.
- • Monsoon landslides in Kinnaur (July–August) can cause delays; the plan has slack days in Kaza and Manali.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Spiti and Ladakh package cost?+
From about ₹70,500 per person for four travellers on standard hotels, and about ₹1,04,500 per person for a couple. See the price table for comfort hotels and foreign-national prices.
Why go through Spiti first?+
The Kinnaur road climbs gradually, so you adjust to the altitude before Spiti and Ladakh. It also avoids retracing any road.
What if Kunzum La is closed?+
We return from Spiti through Kinnaur to Shimla and then up to Manali, which adds about two days, or rework the plan around Spiti or Ladakh alone.
Is 15 days enough?+
It's the minimum for this route at a safe pace. With more time, add a night at Chandratal or Tso Moriri.
Can we start from Delhi?+
Yes. Add a day from Delhi to Chandigarh or Shimla at the start.
Which vehicles do you use?+
An Innova Crysta for up to four, a Tempo Traveller for six. Sedans aren't suitable for Spiti or the Leh highway.
Is this suitable for older travellers?+
Yes, for those in good health who are comfortable with long drives. The gradual climb helps; see a doctor before booking.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Spiti Valley Circuit by private car
- Spiti Valley travel guide
- Manali to Leh by taxi: route and season
- Altitude sickness in Spiti and Ladakh
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Kunzum Pass · 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: Protected Area Permit for foreigners · Ladakh Tourism: travel advisory
