Planning a trip to Ladakh? Confused about the best way to write your itinerary? You will not be the only one to do so. Leh becomes India’s second largest district after Kutch in Gujarat. Add to that the areas close to Kargil and Zanskar and you will have a very large region during your trip here. So, yes, the list of places to visit is long and squeezing it in a limited number of days can be a bit complicated. To make understanding a little easier, I will suggest some examples of Ladakh’s itinerary by plane; explaining how you can get around and the places you should cover.

Even if you are unable to follow any of these itineraries down to the last details, at least you will have an idea of ​​how to design your own final travel plan. If you have any more confusion, you can clarify by commenting and asking at the bottom of this page.

Go back about a decade ago and a trip to Ladakh was considered best by road; while covering the Manali Leh and Srinagar Leh highways. To be honest, at that time, it was not Ladakh that excited people about the journey. On the contrary, it was the challenging nature of the road from Manali to Leh that everyone wanted to follow. But the days are gone when Ladakh was a place for adventurers only; or motorcycle enthusiasts. After the recent boost in tourism here, everyone wants to go to Ladakh now. You will find families on vacation here with the elderly and children now. I’ve had couples wondering if they could go on a honeymoon to Ladakh.

Ladakh is safe to visit

So, if you were wondering if Ladakh is safe for a family trip, the answer is yes. You will find several other families here and you will definitely not be the only one. This still does not exempt you from meticulous planning. Ladakh is still a high-altitude desert and there are things you need to prepare for. Below is a list of some articles that I would recommend reading before embarking on this journey.

  • How to deal with acute mountain sickness in Ladakh
  • How to travel to Ladakh with children
  • What clothes to bring to Ladakh?
  • Things to take for the trip to Ladakh
  • Ladakh is safe for tourists
  • What to see in Ladakh?
  • How did I travel to Ladakh by public transport?

Flight Ladakh Itinerary

Now, getting back to the topic of the itinerary, there is really no way to do that. There are two main contributing factors on which your final travel plan will depend. The first is its mode of travel; and the second, the number of days you have at hand.

Upon arrival in the city of Leh, you can rent a taxi or a private motorcycle; or travel using public transport. If you were using a taxi or a bicycle, you can move around freely and cover more places. Public transport, however, will greatly restrict your movement, as there are no shared buses or taxis available on direct routes between Nubra, Pangong or Moriri. Thus, some areas such as the Shyok road and the Changthang valley (Chushul route) would have to be kept apart; and you will need to return to Leh to take a bus to the next area on your list.

Bearing in mind the two factors above, let me share some itinerary examples. I will start with a two-week trip and then continue to decrease the number of days.

Leh Ladakh Itinerary 14 Days

For a 14 days trip, you can plan your trip in the manner below.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Diskit – Day 4
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 5
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 6
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 7
  • Hanle to Karzok – Day 8
  • Karzok – Day 9
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 10
  • Leh – Day 11
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 12
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 13
  • Fly Out – Day 14

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 4
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 5
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 6
  • Hanle to Karzok – Day 7
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 8
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 9
  • Kargil to Padum – Day 10
  • Padum – Day 11
  • Padum to Kargil – Day 12
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 13
  • Fly Out – Day 14

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Diskit – Day 4
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 5
  • Panamik to Leh – Day 6
  • Leh to Pangong – Day 7
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 8
  • Leh to Karzok – Day 9
  • Karzok – Day 10
  • Karzok to Leh – Day 11
  • Leh – Day 12
  • Sham Valley Tour – Day 13 (Book a one day taxi or rent a bike / Activa for this day)
  • Fly Out – Day 14

Ladakh Itinerary for 13 Days

For 13 days, you can plan your trip like this. It is more or less the same itinerary like for 14 days; changed by just removing a rest day in between.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Turtuk – Day 4
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 5
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 6
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 7
  • Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 8
  • Karzok – Day 9
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 10
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 11
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 12
  • Fly Out – Day 13

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 4
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 5
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 6
  • Hanle to Karzok – Day 7
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 8
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 9
  • Kargil to Padum – Day 10
  • Padum to Kargil – Day 11
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 12
  • Fly Out – Day 13

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Diskit – Day 4
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 5
  • Panamik to Leh – Day 6
  • Leh to Pangong – Day 7
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 8
  • Leh to Karzok – Day 9
  • Karzok – Day 10
  • Karzok to Leh – Day 11
  • Leh – Day 12
  • Fly Out – Day 13

Leh Ladakh 12 days Itinerary

With 12 days in hand, your trip can be planned like this. It is more or less the same journey that I mentioned for 13 and 14 days with rest days removed.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Turtuk – Day 4
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 5
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 6
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 7
  • Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 8
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 9
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 10
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 11
  • Fly Out – Day 12

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik – Day 3
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 5
  • Hanle to Karzok – Day 6
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 7
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 8
  • Kargil to Padum – Day 9
  • Padum to Kargil – Day 10
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 11
  • Fly Out – Day 12

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 4
  • Panamik to Leh – Day 5
  • Leh to Pangong – Day 6
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 7
  • Leh to Karzok – Day 8
  • Karzok – Day 9
  • Karzok to Leh – Day 10
  • Leh – Day 11
  • Fly Out – Day 12
  • Leh Ladakh 11 Days

For an 11 days trip, your journey can be planned in the manner below.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk – Day 3
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 4
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 5
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 6
  • Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 7
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 8
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 9
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 10
  • Fly Out – Day 11

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 4
  • Hanle to Karzok – Day 5
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 6
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 7
  • Kargil to Padum – Day 8
  • Padum to Kargil – Day 9
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 10
  • Fly Out – Day 11

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 4
  • Panamik to Leh – Day 5
  • Leh to Pangong – Day 6
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 7
  • Leh to Karzok – Day 8
  • Karzok – Day 9
  • Karzok to Leh – Day 10
  • Fly Out – Day 11
  • Ladakh 10 Days Trip

9 to 10 days happens to be the most common number of days that people visit Ladakh for actually. Your travel plan for 10 days can be like below.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik – Day 3
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 5
  • Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 6
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 7
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 8
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 9
  • Fly Out – Day 10

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 5
  • Hanle to Karzok – Day 6
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 7
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 8
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 9
  • Fly Out – Day 10

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 5
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 6
  • Kargil to Padum – Day 7
  • Padum to Kargil – Day 8
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 9
  • Fly Out – Day 10

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 3
  • Panamik to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Pangong – Day 5
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 6
  • Leh to Karzok – Day 7
  • Karzok – Day 8
  • Karzok to Leh – Day 9
  • Fly Out – Day 10
  • 9 Days in Ladakh

For a 9 days trip, you can plan your trip like this.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik – Day 3
  • Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 5
  • Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 6
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 7
  • Leh to Lamayuru to Leh – Day 8
  • Fly Out – Day 9

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 4
  • Hanle to Karzok – Day 5
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 6
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 7
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 8
  • Fly Out – Day 9

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 5
  • Kargil to Padum – Day 6
  • Padum to Kargil – Day 7
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 8
  • Fly Out – Day 9

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Panamik – Day 3
  • Panamik to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Pangong – Day 5
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 6
  • Leh to Karzok – Day 7
  • Karzok to Leh – Day 8
  • Fly Out – Day 9
  • Ladakh 8 Days Itinerary

Below are a few examples of an 8 day itinerary for Ladakh.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 4
  • Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 5
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 6
  • Leh to Lamayuru to Leh – Day 7
  • Fly Out – Day 8

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 5
  • Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 6
  • Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 7
  • Fly Out – Day 8

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 5
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 6
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 7
  • Fly Out – Day 8

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Leh – Day 3
  • Leh to Pangong – Day 4
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 5
  • Leh to Karzok – Day 6
  • Karzok to Leh – Day 7
  • Fly Out – Day 8
  • 7 Days Itinerary for Leh Ladakh

For 7 days, you can pick and modify either of these itineraries.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Hanle – Day 4
  • Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 5
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 6
  • Fly Out – Day 7

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 5
  • Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 6
  • Fly Out – Day 7

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Kargil – Day 5
  • Kargil to Leh – Day 6
  • Fly Out – Day 7

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 5
  • Leh to Lamayuru to Leh – Day 6
  • Fly Out – Day 7

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 3
  • Diskit to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Pangong or Tso Moriri – Day 5
  • Pangong or Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 6
  • Fly Out – Day 7
  • 6 day Leh Ladakh Trip

For 6 days, a trip can be in the following manner.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Karzok via Chushul – Day 4
  • Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 5
  • Fly Out – Day 6

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Lamayuru to Leh – Day 5
  • Fly Out – Day 6

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 4
  • Leh to Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 5
  • Fly Out – Day 6

Or Like this if you were traveling by public transport

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Leh – Day 3
  • Leh to Pangong or Tso Moriri – Day 4
  • Pangong or Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 5
  • Fly Out – Day 6
  • 5 days trip to Ladakh

For 5 days, plan like this.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 3
  • Pangong to Leh – Day 4
  • Fly Out – Day 5

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit – Day 2
  • Diskit to Pangong to Leh – Day 3
  • Leh to Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 4
  • Fly Out – Day 5

Or Like this

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit to Leh – Day 2
  • Day long drive to Pangong Lake and return to Leh – Day 3
  • Leh to Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 4
  • Fly Out – Day 5

4 days in Ladakh

Finally, for a 4 days trip (which in my opinion is the least possible time for Ladakh), you can plan your itinerary like this.

  • Arrival in Leh – Day 1
  • Leh to Diskit to Leh – Day 2
  • Leh to Pangong OR Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 3
  • Fly Out – Day 5