When you’re on a 15-day trip to Ladakh, the number of ways to plan that journey can be endless. You will be able to cover almost all the places that are worth visiting without stressing out with long hours of travel every day. It will really be a relaxed and fun trip, with many tour options. As a matter of fact, 14 or 15 days is usually the ideal time that I recommend to everyone for the trip to Ladakh. The city of Leh is the second largest district in India, after Kutch, in Gujarat. So, yes, the number of places to see here is wide; and up to 15 days can start to feel a little less at times. How you can plan your 15-day itinerary in Leh Ladakh to make the most of your time is what I will discuss in this article.

For the sake of this article, I will assume that you are traveling from Delhi. If you were coming from a different place, only the journey for the first and the last day will be different; the rest of the details will still be applied. I will suggest two different types of itineraries. One for a complete trip to Ladakh from Delhi. Second set for people who have flown to Ladakh and have all 15 days to spend in Ladakh.

Minimum time required for a trip through Ladakh

I am not saying that a trip to Ladakh cannot be made in fewer days. In my opinion, the minimum time required for this trip is only 9 days, but it will really be a rushed trip. You will be on the road every day and most of your tours will be on the go. However, with 15 days in hand, you can easily restrict your travel time to no more than 5 to 6 hours a day; and spend a lot of time enjoying the natural beauty around you.

Ladakh in 15 days

I will start by first mentioning an itinerary that I recommend; followed by some other ways in which the same journey can be made. If, after reading the article, you have other questions, you can use the comments section at the bottom of this page to clarify them.

• Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
• Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
• Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Leh – Day 4
• Leh – Day 5
• Leh to Diskit – Day 6
• Diskit to Turtuk – Day 7
• Turtuk to Panamik – Day 8
• Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 9
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 10
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 11
• Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 12
• Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 13
• Manali to Delhi – Day 14
• Buffer Day – Day 15

Before discussing the itinerary further, let me clarify a few points first. Mostly, people prefer to plan their trip via Manali, but I will recommend reaching Ladakh via Srinagar for the following reasons.

Acute mountain disease in Ladakh

This remains the biggest concern for people traveling to Ladakh. Most people traveling from Manali to Leh end up suffering from AMS around Sarchu and Pang. The reason behind this is that the altitude gain happens suddenly and tremendously. On the other hand, when traveling from Srinagar, you gradually ascend and the journey extends over a period of 4 days. This gives your body enough time to adjust to the height you are bringing it to. If you were traveling with the family, I strongly recommend that you plan only via Srinagar.

For more details on what AMS is and how you can deal with it, read How to deal with acute mountain sickness in Ladakh.

Rohtang licenses

If you have passed Manali, you will also need to provide Rohtang licenses; without which, you will not be able to cross it. Getting this permission is an annoyance in itself and one more thing for you to worry about. It is issued on a first-come, first-served basis and, considering the huge crowd of tourists in Manali, it is usually sold out days in advance (and usually purchased by taxi drivers in Manali). If you were unable to obtain it online, you will need to spend an entire day in Manali, obtaining it from the DM office.

However, this permission is not necessary if you are coming from the other side of the passage towards Manali. So, if you went to Ladakh via Srinagar, this permission will not be necessary and you will have one less thing to worry about.

Traffic in Rohtang

Let me just mention a few facts and you will understand what I mean. To reach Rohtang, you need to send your permission at the Gulaba checkpoint and the average waiting time is 2 to 3 hours during the tourist season. People get their taxis and cars lined up at 3 or 4 am; and cars continue to descend from Rohtang until midnight. Traffic jams are becoming common on the pass and you can be stuck in a long line of cars for hours even. So, if you want to avoid all of that, go to Srinagar.

Buffer Day

When traveling to a place like Ladakh; and for up to 15 days, you must keep at least one day as a buffer. The region’s unpredictability will always remain during the trip and you may be forced to extend your stay in any of the intermediate places. This is the reason why I kept a day as a reservation on the itinerary above. If your trip went well, you can use that day to stay in any place you want at the end of the trip. Or you can just come home and relax for a day before you get back to work.

Fuel management

Last, but not least, is the issue of fuel management. You will travel long distances without a gas station. After leaving the city of Leh and heading for the Nubra valley, there is no gas station to Manali. Then you will have to make arrangements to transport replacement fuel. A good part, however, is that nowadays, you can get gasoline by diesel almost everywhere on the route in black. The price would be around Rs. 120 per liter, but you don’t have to worry about carrying extra. You can get fuel in Pangong, Hanle, Karzok and even places like pang and Sarchu.

Deli to Jammu – Day 1

Start early from Delhi so you can get to Jammu on time. It is a total of 600 kilometers that can take 11 to 12 hours with ease. The road is in impressive condition and is a good way to Pathankot. However, there are some bad patches between Pathankot and Jammu, but not for long. If you are traveling by car, be prepared for many fares to Pathankot. Don’t walk too deep in the city of Jammu and stay somewhere closer to the road to Srinagar.

If you were traveling by public transport, you can take a direct bus to Jammu from Delhi; or even plan to complete that part of the train journey.

Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2

The distance for this day’s trip is about 270 kilometers in total, but congestion is very common on the Jammu Srinagar road. It will still take about 11 to 12 hours to complete, so start early; which is why I recommended that you stay closer to the road. You will also be crossing the picturesque towns of Patnitop and Anantnag on the way.

Another way to make this journey is through the historic Mughal road; via Rajouri, Peer ki Gali and Shopian. This is the most scenic of the two routes, but also the longest; a total of about 330 kilometers. For more details on how to travel this route; Read how to travel from Jammu to Srinagar via Mughal Road.

Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3

And that’s where you start your journey on the beautiful Srinagar Leh highway. The state of the road is smooth throughout the odd 220 kilometers of the trip. You will be traveling through some stunning views and cities like Kangan, Sonamarg and Drass. Enjoy scenic beauty all day long and learn why Kashmir is affectionately called paradise. Take a break for lunch in Sonamarg or Drass and eat some delicious Kashmir food. It is worth visiting the Kargil war memorial near Drass. You will also be crossing the high altitude pass of Zoji La, which is probably the worst stretch of road on that highway.

There is a daily bus from Srinagar to Leh that you can take on this trip. It starts early in the morning at the Srinagar bus stop, stops at Kargil on the 1st and arrives in Leh on the 2nd.

Kargil to Leh – Day 4

Starting as early as possible is of utmost importance on this day; because there are many tourist attractions involved. The maximum number of tourist attractions you will address on day 4 is likely to be more than on any other day of the trip. Namika La and Fotu La will be two high altitude passes that you will pass through before reaching Leh. Lunar Landscape, Indus Zanskar Confluence, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Buddha Maitreya statue are some of the most popular tourist spots that will fall on the way.

For a list of tourist attractions on the Srinagar to Leh route; read what to see on the Srinagar Leh road – a complete list.

Hotels in Leh are available in abundance these days and across the budget. However, if you are traveling in the high tourist season, I recommend that you call and book in advance. For a list of some recommended hotels, read Good budget hotels in Leh City.

Leh – day 5

You will spend that day in the city of Leh. The most important thing to be done today will be to provide licenses to visit other parts of Ladakh. This permission is called an internal line permission, or ILP, in short; and it is mandatory for the civil movement in the region. Without it, you will not be able to go further in the city of Leh. It can be obtained from the DM office or you can also order online. For a complete step-by-step guide on how to obtain ILP, read How to obtain internal line permission for Ladakh.

After obtaining the licenses, you will have the whole day to tour the city of Leh; and there is so much to see. Leh Palace, Shanti Stoopa, Leh Market are some of the most common areas visited by tourists. For a complete list, please read Tourist Attractions in the city of Leh.

Leh to Diskit – Day 6

Your next destination will be the beautiful Nubra valley. Now that you leave the city of Leh, you will not return and will continue to travel to Manali in a straight line. You will stay at Diskit for your first day; and spend the next few days walking in the valley itself. The entire journey from Leh to Diskit will be about 6 to 7 hours, depending on your speed and intervals; and you will also be crossing the Khardung La high altitude pass on the way.

Diskit to Turtuk – Day 7

You will spend that day in the Nubra Valley itself. From Diskit, continue driving another 100 kilometers to the small and beautiful village of Turtuk. This is the last point as far as the civilian area is allowed and, after that, it is just a steep climb to the Siachen Glacier. The road between Diskit and Turtuk is a mix of medium and bad and can take 3 to 4 hours to complete. Since you have a lot of time today, you can also spend some time touring Diskit before you start; and visit places on the way.

Turtuk to Panamik – Day 8

From Turtuk, drive back to Diskit and then to Khalsar. From Khalsar, you will reach the city of Panamik and explore the other side of the Nubra valley. Depending on the time you have on hand, you can also continue driving to the village of Warshi, the last point where civilians are allowed. From Warshi, return to Panamik and spend the night there.

Panamik to Pangong – Day 9

Get a full tank of fuel at Diskit, Hunder or Panamik. Your next destination will be the beautiful Pangong Lake; which in time became the very symbol of Ladakh. In fact, it is this lake that put Ladakh on the tourist map after the launch of 3 idiots. From Panamik, return to Khalsar and then take the Agham Shyok road to reach Durbuk; and continue driving to Pangong. The total journey will take about 7 hours, depending on your speed and intervals.

Pangong a Hanle – Day 10

If you didn’t get fuel at Diskit, get it from the chadar tents in Pangong. You will be exploring the beautiful Changthang valley today. The roads from now on will be a mix of good, bad and ugly. Continue driving on the banks of Pangong towards Chushul through the village of Man and Merak. After arriving in Chushul, visit the famous war memorial here and continue your journey to Loma. There is a checkpoint in Loma, where you will register and turn left on the 50 km road to Hanle.

Hanle to Karzok – Day 11

The next place to visit on our itinerary is the lake of Tso Moriri. It is smaller in size than Pangong, but no less in beauty. Karzok is the village on its shores and is where you will stay overnight on the 11th. From Hanle, you will first drive 50 kilometers to Loma and then proceed to Sumdo via Nyoma and Mahe. The road to Mahe will be good and medium to Sumdo. After Sumdo, it is completely a dirt track for the last 50 kilometers to Karzok. For accommodation options in Karzok, read How to plan a trip to Tso Moriri.

Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 12

From Karzok, return 50 km to Sumdo again. Now take the road via Polo Kongka La to drive straight to Tso Kar across the plains of More. The road to Polo Kongka La is pretty bad, but then it’s easy to go all the way to Tso Kar. Spend time at the lake and then take the Manali Leh road, near Debring. Now, depending on how long it took you to get here, you can spend the night in Pang; or drive a little further to Sarchu and interrupt the journey there.

Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 13

If you stayed in Pang the night before, start at 7am. You will be driving on the Manali Leh road today; which is famous and notorious at the same time. Your day’s journey will include crossing 4 high altitude passes before finally reaching Manali in the evening. If you were able to reach Pang at 7 am; or Sarchu before 8, you can easily reach Manali at 5 pm.

Manali to Delhi – Day 14

There is not much to write about that day, except that it will be a long and monotonous journey home. You will return to Chandigarh and then take the NH1 to return to Delhi. Depending on your speed and breaks, it may take up to 14 to 15 hours before you finally get home.

Buffer Day – Day 15

You can use that day to stay longer at any of the destinations on the itinerary above. My recommendation, however, would be to use it on the Manali Leh road. After Karzok, you must return to Pang and stay there. From Pang, instead of going back to Manali, make your trip more relaxed and spend the night in the beautiful village of Jispa. You will arrive in Manali on the 14th and Delhi on the 15th.

Leh Ladakh 15 days itinerary

• Delhi to Manali – Day 1
• Manali to Jispa – Day 2
• Jispa to Pang – Day 3
• Pang to Leh – Day 4
• Leh – Day 5
• Leh to Diskit – Day 6
• Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik – Day 7
• Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 8
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
• Karzok to Leh – Day 11
• Leh to Kargil – Day 12
• Kargil to Srinagar – Day 13
• Srinagar to Jammu – Day 14
• Jammu to Delhi – Day 15

OR

Leh Ladakh 15 days itinerary

• Delhi to Manali – Day 1
• Manali to Keylong – Day 2
• Keylong to Leh – Day 3
• Leh – Day 4
• Leh to Diskit – Day 5
• Diskit to Leh – Day 6
• Leh to Pangong – Day 7
• Pangong to Leh – Day 8
• Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 9
• Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 10
• Leh to Kargil – Day 11
• Kargil to Srinagar – Day 12
• Srinagar to Jammu – Day 13
• Jammu to Delhi – Day 14
• Buffer Day – Day 15

OR

• Arrival in Leh – Day 1
• Leh – Day 2
• Leh to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Leh – Day 4
• Leh to Diskit – Day 5
• Diskit to Turtuk – Day 6
• Turtuk to Panamik – Day 7
• Panamik to Pangong – Day 8
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
• Karzok to Sarchu – Day 11
• Sarchu to Jispa – Day 12
• Jispa to Leh – Day 13
• Leh – Day 14
• Fly Out -Day 15

OR

• Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
• Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
• Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Padum – Day 4
• Padum – Day 5
• Padum to Kargil – Day 6
• Kargil to Leh – Day 7
• Leh – Day 8
• Leh to Diskit – Day 9
• Diskit to Pangong – Day 10
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 11
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 12
• Karzok to Pang / Sarchu – Day 13
• Pang / Sarchu to Manali – Day 14
• Manali to Delhi – Day 15