How to go to Leh

There are various ways of going to leh. How to go to Leh provides you information about how to go to Leh by train, bus, jeep, truck, motorcycle and air.

For Leh by bus, there are state buses running from Srinagar and too privately operated deluxe buses. From Manali HPTDC,( Himachal Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation), operate Deluxe buses that stop for the night in Keylong , between July and September. Costs Rs 2000. HRTC , Himachal Road Transport Corporation, the state run buses ply the road during the formally open period, allowing you to stop in a number of places along the way. Total cost Rs. 130 (Manali-Keylong) + Rs 513(Keylong-Leh) . Private Leh by bus stop in Keylong , Darcha or Sarchu - the final alternative (eight hundred meters higher than Leh ) involving a high occurrence of altitude sickness. There is also a direct Leh by bus from Manali to Leh, which takes around 24 hours. This route is not wise as it radically increases the likelihood of altitude sickness. On some buses late booking passengers end up having a wooden bench instead of more comfortable seats, with no seatbelts, and will be frequently banging their head for the entire journey. Sleep in next to impossible, and by the end of the journey even the most hardy of passengers in this position will have lost the will to live. Drivers also have a propensity to cut corners. Notwithstanding, the views on this course are spectacular. It is possible to book tickets direct Delhi-Leh , but the best alternative is to break off the journey in Manali and at the lower end of Lahaul : Sissu , Keylong (main population center) or Jispa - all around 3100 altitude.

The fastest way to get to Leh from Manali is by Leh by jeep. Shared jeeps accomplish the trip in one long day (of about 20-24 hours) as opposed to two short ones on the bus. Keep in mind that that all single day rides comes with a risk of being trapped near five thousand meters without being acclimatized , with severe altitude sickness as a result. The journey costs up to Rs 1500 for a seat on a shared jeep. During the high season tickets for the jeep rides must be bought in advance of the day of departure and the main street in old Manali is full of ticket touts, you won't have to find them for yourself.

A privately hired Leh by jeep allows the comfort of stopping wherever you like, and allow you to decide on how many people you will travel in your group. If you have a group of five, or can form one with other travellers, this is the most suggested way to get to Leh. While it might be one of the most expensive things you book in the whole of India (around 3000 rupees), the ability to stop whenever you want, take your time and be comfortable for the whole journey is definitely worth it. On the uncomfortable and lengthy bus ride the experience can often be ruined. It is at least worth taking a private Leh by jeep on one of your journeys to really get a level of admiration for the spectacular scenery at your own pace.

It is also possible to travel between Leh and Manali by Leh by truck. These Leh by truck ply the route when it opens in summer and they will be no new sight for anyone who has been in India for even a few days. Making the 490 km (304 mi) journey in the cab of one of these Leh by truck is an experience; they are not as relaxed as the jeeps, nor do they give as good visibility as either jeeps or buses, and take anywhere up to 3 days to complete; but sleeping in the cab and eating the same food as the locals is worth it. You can pre-arrange truck drivers in Manali by going to the main truck stop in the new town. Here the drivers stop on their way from Delhi to Leh and will be more than happy to give you a ride for 500 rupees. Make sure you don't pay before you travel. In Leh there is a similar Leh by truck park. Try to pick a truck with the least amount of passengers already otherwise your trip will be even less comfortable. Travelers staying longer in Ladakh are likely to find themselves traveling by Leh by truck at some point, and probably don't need to go out of their way to take one.

The road from Manali to Leh is frequently known as a Biker's Paradise. Leh by motorcycle (Bikes) are available for rent at Manali. A popular place is Hardev Motors - positioned behind the Private Bus Parking Ground. Also Into Himalayas, near Manali mall road is a great place for Leh by motorcycle bikes, especially Enfields. If you are looking for Pulsars and Royal enfields, you can check Bike rentals manali. Their office is in Vashisht. Heard good reviews about them.

In Leh by air, planes fly year round, and are the only option in the winter. Book early and give yourself at least a few days of flexibility as flights are often delayed due to weather conditions. Air India, Jet Airways and GoAir have daily flights from Delhi. Air India Flights are also obtainable from Srinagar, and Jammu.

When leaving, make sure you have a printed copy of your ticket, otherwise you will not be able to enter the airport.

The closest Leh by train stations are Pathankot or Chandigarh, both at least three days away by bus. A new station added recently is Udhampur which is linked by rail to Jammu. Please check the Train schedule as Leh by train may not run on daily basis.