Is 12 days a good number for the trip to Ladakh? The answer to this question is yes, but you may still be forced to leave some places off your itinerary. For example, people traveling with their own vehicle may cover routes from Manali Leh and Srinagar Leh; but you may not be able to see some local tourist attractions in Ladakh. Someone taking a flight to Leh will have more time in Ladakh; but you will have to stop traveling on these two highways; and it will also have to depend on public transport; or spend a lot of money on taxis.

Regardless of the above, 12 days is still considered a good enough time for a trip to Ladakh. How can you plan your itinerary to make the most of this time; and covering as many places as possible is what we’ll talk about in this post.

For the purpose of this article, I will assume that you are beginning your journey from Delhi. If you came from a different city, only the travel details for the first and last days will be different. The rest of the details for the rest of the day will still be applied.

Leh Ladakh Itinerary for 12 Days

First, I’ll detail an itinerary that I recommend; followed by some alternative versions of the same journey. Depending on your mode of travel and preference; you can choose and follow any of 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 Pangong via Shyok – Day 7
Pangong to Leh via Chang La- Day 8
Leh to Tso Moriri via Chumathang – Day 9
Tso Moriri to Sarchu via Tso Kar – Day 10
Sarchu to Manali – Day 11
Manali to Delhi – Day 12

Before continuing to provide more information about the itinerary, let me explain first why I am recommending traveling this way. Generally, people prefer to reach Ladakh via Manali and return via Srinagar. However, I advise you to do the exact opposite and below is why.

Acute mountain disease in Ladakh

Also known as altitude sickness or simply AMS, this remains the biggest concern during a trip to Ladakh. No matter how much tourism increases, the fact remains that Ladakh is a high-altitude desert; and when you travel here, you are raising your bodies to a height that you have never been before. Although coming from the side of Manali, this gain in altitude is tremendous and sudden; leaving our bodies with little time to adjust. This is the reason why most people suffer from AMS on the Manali Leh route; in Sarchu, Pang or any high altitude pass.

On the other hand, this increase in elevation is somewhat gradual when passing through Srinagar’s side; allowing more time for our body to get used to it. And therefore, less chance of altitude sickness. For more details on what AMS is and what you can do about it, read How to deal with acute mountain sickness in Ladakh.

Rohtang licenses

Now permission is required to approach and cross the Rohtang Pass on the side of Manali. This permission is a mandate and is issued on a first come, first served basis. There is also a limit to the maximum number of licenses issued per day, which is why it is very difficult to obtain this permission during the high tourist season. It continues to be bought mainly by local taxi drivers in Manali and is just a hassle for anyone traveling to Rohtang Pass.

There are two ways to obtain this permission; online or in person from the DM office. Whatever your purchase, it becomes an additional task that you will have to take care of. But if you were coming from Leh to Manali and crossing Rohtang on the other side, this permission is not necessary. Therefore, taking the Srinagar Leh road to reach Leh would prevent you from worrying about this permission too.

Traffic on the Rohtang Pass

A checkpoint has been installed in Gulaba, where you need to send your permission before moving on to Rohtang. In addition, the number of tourists visiting Manali and Rohtang increases each year; for this reason, the average waiting time at the checkpoint can be 2 to 3 hours. You will find local taxis lined up here until 4 am.

Even after crossing the checkpoint, you will continue to travel the entire 50 km stretch towards the top of Rohtang. It just really spoils the day and becomes a nuisance. This problem can also be avoided by reaching Ladakh via Srinagar.

Fuel availability in Ladakh

The gas station in Ladakh is still the only one in the city of Leh. However, gasoline and diesel are now available almost everywhere in black. You can easily get fuel from Chadar tents or small stores for around Rs. 120 per liter. I bought fuel in Diskit, Pangong, Hanle and Karzok, but it is also available elsewhere. The quality of the fuel, however, is questionable. So, if you can carry spare fuel that can last until the next gas station, do so. Otherwise, ask at the local stores and you can definitely shop there in black.

Day 1 – Delhi to Jammu

There is not much to write about that day, except that it will be a long and monotonous journey. You will cover approximately 600 kilometers in 11 to 12 hours. The good news is that the road is good for most of the journey. There are some bad spots in the middle, but only during the last stretch between Pathankot and Jammu. However, there will be many tolls between Delhi and Pathankot. Hotels in Jammu are available in abundance, but stay close to a Jammu Srinagar highway.

Day 2 – Jammu to Srinagar

There are two ways to travel from Jammu to Srinagar. Take the Jammu – Srinagar highway, which runs a total of about 270 kilometers. Even at this distance, however, it takes you about 11 to 12 hours to complete; because heavy traffic and congestion on that route are quite normal. It will take you through the picturesque cities of Patnitop and Anantnag; and the condition of the road remains a mixture of super smooth, smooth, bad and ugly.

The second route is the historic Mughal road, which runs through Rajouri, Peer ki Gali and Shopian, for a total of about 330 kilometers. This is the longest of the two roads, but it is also the most scenic. The traffic on this stretch is not much either. For more details; Read how to travel from Jammu to Srinagar via Mughal Road.

Day 3 – Srinagar to Kargil

Today’s destination is the small town of Kargil. Start early from Srinagar, so you can have some time to stroll along the way. The entire stretch from Srinagar to Kargil is very panoramic, as it slowly changes from the lush green of Kashmir to the arid brown of Ladakh. The total distance covered will be about 220 kilometers in a total of 8 to 10 hours, depending on the speed and breaks. You will cross the cities of Kangan, Sonamarg and Drass on the way. The high altitude pass of Zoji La is the worst part of the road. It is worth visiting the Kargil War memorial in Drass.

Day 4 – Kargil to Leh

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, Maitreya Buddha statue are some of the most popular tourist spots that will fall on the way.

Day 5 – Leh

Your first agenda for today is to organize your permissions; without which you will not be able to visit other areas in Ladakh. There are two ways to do this. Or you can get permission from the DM office in Leh; or you can pay your hotel to arrange this for you. Currently, many hotels offer this service to their guests for an additional cost of Rs. 100 – 120 per person, in addition to the permission fee. You will have to ask your hotel and, if they deny it, you will have to visit the DM office to arrange the permits.

Day 6 – Leh to Diskit

The destination for this day is the Nubra valley. Once again, I recommend the early start so that you have time to visit some of the tourist areas of Nubra. Diskit is the seat of the Nubra valley and this is where you will stay overnight. From Leh, the road goes up first for 35 kilometers to Khardung La; and then go down to the valley through the village of Khardung. You will arrive at Khalsar from where, a road forks to the left and reaches Diskit.

Day 7 – Diskit for Pangong Tso

You will now be going to Pangong Tso; the beautiful blue lake that in recent years has become the very symbol of Ladakh. But before that, you will do a little more sightseeing in the Nubra valley. From Diskit, return to Khalsar and take the road that leads to Panamik. There is a hot spring in Panamik, which is worth taking a dip in.

Day 8 – Pangong Tso to Leh

On the 8th, you will return to Leh, but follow a different road. You arrived in Pangong via the Khardung La and Shyok roads, but for the return journey, you will be covering the mighty Chang La, incorrectly famous as the third highest road in the world. Higher or not, it’s definitely a very scenic ride that takes about 9 to 10 hours to complete. The road is mostly good with a bad stretch near the top of Chang La.

Day 9 – Leh to Karzok

From here, it’s mostly a trip home, covering the Tso Moriri and Manali Leh road on the way. From Leh, head to Upshi and take the road via Chumathang. You will arrive at Sumdo and continue driving towards Karzok, the small village on the banks of Tso Moriri, where you will stay all night. The road is in good condition, but the last 50 kilometers between Sumdo and Karzok are a complete dirt track. The trip will take about 8 to 9 hours; therefore, start in Leh.

There are several hotels and inns in Karzok, where you can stay all night. For details, read How to plan a trip to Tso Moriri.

Day 10 – Karzok to Pang / Sarchu

For today’s journey, you first drive 50 kilometers to Sumdo and then take the road towards Tso Kar via Polo Kongka La. There are some dhabas in Tso Kar, where you can take a short break. This road will enter the Manali Leh road, near Debring. You will start driving towards Manali and will soon reach Pang. Depending on how long it took you to get here, you can stay in Pang or continue in Sarchu for another 70 kilometers.

Day 11: Sarchu / Pang to Manali

If you stayed in Pang, start at 7 am, because it will be a long journey. If you stayed at Sarchu, make sure you are on your way to 8 am. You will cross 4 high altitude passes, drive across the stretch of Manali Leh and reach Manali at night around 5pm to 6pm. The reason I’m so stressed about starting early is because the traffic in Rohtang will consume at least two hours before you finally reach Manali.

Day 12 – Manali to Delhi

It will be a long and boring journey from Manali to Delhi. The total distance is about 550 kilometers and can take 14 to 15 hours to complete. Personally, this is a stretch I hate to drive because of the long line of trucks you find here; very annoying.

12-day itinerary for Ladakh

The trip described above was best for those traveling with their own vehicle. If you were planning to use the public transport service for your trip, plan it as follows.

Delhi to Manali – Day 1
Manali to Keylong – Day 2
Keylong to Leh – Day 3
Leh – day 4
Leh to Diskit – Day 5
Diskit for Leh – day 6
Leh to Pangong – Day 7
Pangong to Leh – Day 8
Leh to Kargil – Day 9
Kargil to Srinagar – Day 10
Srinagar to Jammu – Day 11
Jammu to Delhi – Day 12

This itinerary is via Manali and not by Srinagar because, in my opinion, getting from Manali to Leh by bus is easier than Srinagar to Leh. Take a bus from Delhi to Manali first. Then board the bus from Manali to Leh, which completes the trip in 2 days with an overnight stop in Keylong.

To visit Diskit and Pangong, go to the Leh Bus booth early in the morning. If there are no buses available, board a shared taxi along this route. The next day, you will return to Leh in shared taxis again. You have no choice but to return to Leh from both places, as there is no public transport on internal routes, such as the Shyok road.

12 Days in Ladakh

If you were flying into Leh City and have entire 12 days to spend in Ladakh itself, then your itinerary can be like the one mentioned below.

Leh – Day 1
Leh to Diskit – Day 2
Diskit to Turtuk – Day 3
Turtuk 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 Leh – Day 10
Buffer Day – Day 11
Fly Out – Day 12

The day I left as a reservation here can be spent anywhere you like mentioned in the itinerary. In my opinion, however, I will recommend that you use it as day 2 and stay in the city of Leh just for another day. People who take a flight to Ladakh are more prone to AMS and allowing an additional day before going to Diskit via Khardung La will give your body more time to get used to.

Leh Ladakh in 12 Days

I suggested the first itinerary starting from Srinagar and ending at Manali. But if you wanted to then you can definitely do the journey other way around as well. Staring from Manali, your itinerary then will change into something like this.

Delhi to Manali – Day 1
Manali to Jispa – Day 2
Jispa to Keylong / Sarchu – Day 3
Keylong / Sarchu to Leh – Day 4
Leh – Day 5
Leh to Diskit – Day 6
Diskit to Pangong – Day 7
Pangong to Leh – Day 8
Leh to Kargil – Day 9
Kargil to Srinagar – Day 10
Srinagar to Jammu – Day 11
Jammu to Delhi – Day 12

12 Days Itinerary for Leh Ladakh

There is another way to change this itinerary from Manali. You can incorporate a visit to a few more places in Ladakh, but you will need to ask someone in Ladakh to arrange your permission in advance. The best option is to contact a hotel and, if they agree to arrange permission, book your stay with them. You will send your IDs and payments in advance so that when you arrive in Leh, your permission is already there waiting for you.

Delhi to Manali – Day 1
Manali to Keylong / Sarchu – Day 2
Keylong / Sarchu to Leh – Day 3
Leh to Diskit – Day 4
Diskit to Pangong – Day 5
Pangong to Hanle – Day 6
Hanle to Karzok – Day 7
Karzok to Leh – Day 8
Leh to Kargil – Day 9
Kargil to Srinagar – Day 10
Srinagar to Jammu – Day 11
Jammu to Delhi – Day 12

You will complete Manali to Leh journey in 2 days and collect your permits from the hotel once you reach there on Day 3. Whatever little sightseeing you can do in Leh city will have to be squeezed into the evenings of Day 3 and Day 8.

Leh Ladakh Itinerary 14 Days

If this is your second trip to Ladakh and this time you want to cover Zanskar valley as well; then you can plan your itinerary like the one below.

Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
Kargil to Padum – Day 4
Padum to Kargil – Day 5
Kargil to Leh – Day 6
Reach Leh – Day 7
Leh to Diskit to Leh – Day 8
Leh to Pangong – Day 9
Pangong to Pang – Day 10
Pang to Manali – Day 11
Manali to Delhi – Day 12

Leh Ladakh Itinerary for 12 Days

Many people try to cover a little bit of Ladakh and Kashmir on their trip. You can also do this by planning your journey as below. But you will have to reach Ladakh by air and fly out of Srinagar. It cannot be a complete trip from your home. You will land in Leh, rent a private taxi for sightseeing in Ladakh and travel to Srinagar; take some sightseeing tours in Kashmir and then fly out of Srinagar airport. Remember that to visit places in Kashmir, your registered taxi in Ladakh will not do and you will have to rent another taxi in Srinagar.

Leh – Day 1
Leh to Diskit – Day 2
Diskit to Pangong – Day 3
Pangong to Hanle – Day 4
Hanle to Karzok – Day 5
Karzok to Leh – Day 6
Leh to Kargil – Day 7
Kargil to Srinagar – Day 8
Srinagar – Day 9
Srinagar to Gulmarg – Day 10
Gulmarg to Srinagar – Day 11
Fly Out of Srinagar – Day 12

12 Days Leh Ladakh Itinerary

Another way to go about the same journey is like below. In this particular itinerary, you will give up a day in Srinagar in favor of visiting Pahalgam

Leh – Day 1
Leh to Diskit – Day 2
Diskit to Pangong – Day 3
Pangong to Hanle – Day 4
Hanle to Karzok – Day 5
Karzok to Leh – Day 6
Leh to Kargil – Day 7
Kargil to Srinagar – Day 8
Srinagar to Gulmarg – Day 9
Gulmarg to Pahalgam – Day 10
Pahalgam to Srinagar – Day 11
Fly Out of Srinagar – Day 12

Your sightseeing in Srinagar will then have to happen on Day 8 and Day 11. Pahalgam to Srinagar is just about 3 to 4 days of travel time so you can use this day for visiting places in Srinagar City after you reach there.

Ladakh Trip in 12 Days

This is another version of an itinerary covering Ladakh and Kashmir both. In this particular one, you will give up Hanle and Tso Moriri in favor of gaining more time in Kashmir valley.

Leh – Day 1
Leh to Diskit – Day 2
Diskit to Pangong – Day 3
Pangong to Leh – Day 4
Leh to Kargil – Day 5
Kargil to Sonamarg – Day 6
Sonamarg to Srinagar – Day 7
Srinagar to Gulmarg – Day 8
Gulmarg – Day 9
Gulmarg to Pahalgam – Day 10
Pahalgam – Day 11
Pahalgam to Srinagar – Day 12
Fly Out of Srinagar – Day 13

Your journey on the 6th and 7th will not be that long. On the sixth day, after arriving in Sonamarg, plan a trip to Thajiwas Glacier, which is highly recommended. On the 7th, it will take you no more than 3 hours to reach Srinagar, after which you will be able to visit some of the city’s sites.