Ladakh, the land of high passes, is one of India’s most picture-perfect adventure destinations. Every view as one enters the Ladakh territory is simply awe-inspiring. It makes you stop and savor the stunning vistas. Made up and bound by barren and snow-clad mountains, the beauty of Ladakh is merely inexplicable.
Embarking on a journey to the newly made UT of Ladakh is a unique experience. There are two distinct routes to choose from. One is a scenic drive from Srinagar via the Srinagar-Leh Highway, and the other is a thrilling adventure from Manali via the Manali-Leh Highway. This blog is dedicated to the latter, a route that promises an unforgettable journey to Leh Ladakh.
However, planning your trip with Leh Ladakh India offers you the freedom to choose your preferred route for a Ladakh trip. With 34 years of expertise in curating Ladakh travel packages, our experts will handle all your hassle and craft a custom-built package according to your tastes and budgets.
Let’s begin with the travel guide of Manali- Leh highway
Understanding the route of Manali- Leh Highway
To start with, let’s look at some essential stopovers or villages. Note these places because this Manali to Leh road map will help you travel on your road trip.
Some quick facts about the Manali- Leh highway
Here are some quick facts that will help you improve the entire Manali to Leh road trip.
- Total distance covered (Not from Atal Tunnel): 474 km
- Days required to complete the journey comfortably: 2 days
- Points where you can stay for the first night: Keylong, Jispa, and Sarchu
- The highest altitude you will gain on the trip: Taglang La (5328 m)
Route map Manali to Leh
Here is the entire route that you will have to follow while traveling from Manali to Leh:
Manali- Rohtang La- Suraj Tal- Baralacha La- Gata Loops- Nakee La- Lachung La- More Plains- Taglang La- Leh
Places to stay and eat on Leh Manali Highway
While planning a motorbike trip to Leh from Manali, it is very important to know where to stay and eat. Traveling to Ladakh on a motorbike is a dream of every biker. Not just Indians but a large number of foreign tourists choose to travel to Ladakh on a motorbike.
Bikers come driving from as far as Bangalore, but most adventure seekers either start from Manali or Srinagar and then travel towards Leh. So, as much as it excites travelers, one should not refrain from taking the right precautions and educating themselves with the right knowledge. Here are some places where you can stay during your traveling time.
- Khoksar
- Sissu
- Keylong
- Jispa
- Dharcha
- Bharatpur
- Sarchu
- Pang
- Rumtse
- Upshi
There are some other places where you will get eateries but not places to stay for a night.
- Marhi
- Deepak Tal
- Zingzing Bar
- Debring
- Whisky Nala
Availability of mechanics on the Manali- Leh Highway
While planning your trip to Ladakh from whichever direction you do- knowing the availability of mechanics en route is critical. Considering the quantum of challenge offered by the road and high-altitude passes along the Manali- Leh route map, it is vital to keep a list of places to get help. Mechanics are available in certain areas on the Manali- Leh highway, and knowing them is essential so that if there is any niggle, you can get it fixed as soon as possible. So make a note of these places:
- Khoksar
- Tandi
- Keylong
- Darcha
- Sarchu
- Pang
- Upshi
Availability of fuel on Manali- Leh Highway
You might have heard a lot of people talking about the scarcity of fuel available on the Manali – Leh highway. The villages or hamlets on this route are also minimal compared to those on the other side. Therefore, for avid adventurers who traverse this route, knowing the locations where you can refuel is critical. Listed below are the places:
- Tandi
- Karu
The distance between Manali to Leh is approximately 474 km, with critical fuel stops about 365 km apart. But in an emergency, one can get petrol in Sarchu, Pang, and Zingzing Bar.
Availability of ATMs on Manali Leh Highway
Keeping cash in your wallet while traveling to any destination is always advised. This statement becomes more critical when you are on the Manali- Leh highway. So, if you are running low on cash, these are the places where you can refill your wallet. To know more, Click here!
Medical Facilities on Manali- Leh Highway
While you plan to take a trip to Leh from Manali, there are many important things to look for or keep in mind. One amongst them includes the medical facilities. Medical facilities are also one of them. With challenging roads, daunting altitude, and the weather, the need for medical help in an emergency can be inevitable. These are the places where you can find some help. But that doesn’t mean you should not keep the first aid kit in your backpack. Here are the areas where medical facilities can be found on this highway:
- Sissu
- Keylong
- Sarchu
- Pang
Important Tips while you go on the Manali- Leh highway
As exciting as it may sound to travelers, traversing the Manali—Leh highway still requires precautions. This highway’s weather, altitude, and road conditions matter a lot.
One has to be very specific about these things to have an overall fantastic experience visiting Ladakh. There is no denying that people do take care of a lot of things, but if you have been following this guide till now, here are some crucial tips that shouldn’t be missed at all:
- Throughout the trip, you will have to stay hydrated and warm because if you don’t, there can be repercussions.
- Enjoy the entire ride or drive, but be careful while riding. It is important because the road is highly challenging, and you will see waterlogging in some places.
- Avoid consuming alcohol because of the altitude as well as the Manali-Leh road condition- both of these things can become dangerous if you are found under the influence of alcohol. Staying in your full senses while on the trip is advised.
- Start early and end early! Make this your goal and keep doing it for the entirety of the road trip to Ladakh. Start as early as possible and reach your destination for the day as soon as possible. Driving through the day is comfortable and has fewer chances of mishappenings.
- Wear clothes in layers, which will help you bulletproof your body from chilly winds. Wearing a waterproof jacket on top is also advised, as it will keep you warm and keep chilly winds out.
- While traveling this highway, you must carry jerry cans or a container to store petrol. When you leave Tandi, the next petrol pump will be available approximately 365 km away in Pang.
Conclusion
Ladakh is also known as the Land of Lamas, and if you travel by road and observe enough, you will see a number of warning signs erected by BRO (the company in charge of road building and maintenance) advising, “Don’t be a Gama in the Land of Lamas.” There are also some really funny warning signs all along the way. At one curve, the road sign reads, “Be Gentle on My Curves,” cautioning riders to drive slowly and safely.
Leh is the largest town in Ladakh, and it is here that tourists make their stops to acclimate to the high altitude conditions. From here, several destinations could be covered depending on the days one has at one’s disposal. The most sought-after rides are Pangong Tso, Khardung La, which is also claimed to be the highest motorable pass in the world, Nubra Valley, Zanskar, Padum, Markha Valley, Drass, Kargil, and Rangdum among others.
My motorcycle trip to Ladakh began from New Delhi, and I traveled from Chandigarh, Manali, and Sarchu towards Leh. Between Manali and Leh, I crossed five mighty mountain passes, starting with Rohtang La. One of the major towns after crossing Rohtang is Keylong, and then a small settlement, Darcha, before arriving at one of the toughest passes our group crossed: Baralacha La (16,500 ft).
My advice would be to stop either at Keylong or at Darcha and not attempt to cross Baralacha in the afternoon, as the currents of water streams on the passes make it really tough to cross on a motorbike. As our feet, shoes, and socks got wet in icy cold water, we had to stop at the descent of Baralacha La, where there were a few tented accommodations.
Staying at that height, acute mountain sickness was inevitable. Notwithstanding the severe headache, the next morning, we started for Sarchu. From there on, the ride was just awe-inspiring, and we had our fair share of acclimatization, too.
Driving on, the urge to stop after every 500 meters is irresistible. As one rides toward Leh, the stunning scenery, stark landscape, and floating clouds across the azure sky are the world experience. After Sarchu traverses through the stunning Gata Loops, Nakee La will lead you to another small settlement in Pang. From here, there are two rugged passes, one of which is Lachulung La at 16,616 feet and Tanglang La before which one rides through the breathtaking ride across Morey Plains, a vast plateau.
The ride to Leh from Baralacha La took one day. Even if one starts from Sarchu, driving to Leh town is a one-day affair. More adventurous souls and travelers keen on photography could make it in two days, with accommodations available at quite a few places along the way.
Keylong is a good choice, and after that, one can stay at Jispa, Darcha, or Zingzingbar. It is advisable to cross the stream before noon because the flow of ice-cold water increases as the day’s temperature rises.
As I found out, to my peril, the stream’s flow was too powerful for the motorbike to cross in the evening. It took us half an hour to wade across the stream, everyone getting down and assisting one bike at a time, and the water was really ice cold.
Also checkout : Best Bikes for Leh Ladakh Road Trip