Overland Approach - The overland approach to Ladakh from Kashmir Valley via Kargil is approx. 434 Km, which remains open for traffic from early
June to November. The most dramatic part of this road
journey is the ascent up the 11,500 feet / 3,505 m high
Zoji-La, the pass in the Great Himalayan Wall that serves
as the gateway to Ladakh. The J & K State Road Transport
Corporation (J&K SRTC) operates regular Deluxe and
Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this
route with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and
jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.
Groups can charter Deluxe and A-class buses for Leh,
Kargil or Padum (Zangskar) from the J & K SRTC at Srinagar.
Manali to Leh - Since 1989, the 473 km Manali-Leh
road has been serving as the second overland approach to
Ladakh. Open for traffic from around mid-June to early
October. This high road traverses the upland desert
plateau of Rupsho, altitude ranges from 3,660m to 4,570m.
A number of high passes fall enroute among which the
highest one known as Taklang-La is world's second highest
motorable pass at an altitude of 17,469 feet/5,235m.
Himachal Pradesh Tourism, HRTC and J & K SRTC operate
daily Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Manali and
Leh. The bus journey between Leh and Manali takes about 19
hours or two days with an overnight halt in camps at
Serchu or Pang. Maruti Gypsy and jeep taxis are also
available, both at Manali and Leh.
Road Distances
Srinagar-Leh 434 Km
Manali-Leh 473 Km
Srinagar-Kargil 204 Km
Delhi-Leh 1047 Kms
Leh-Kargil 234 Km
Kargil-Padum (Zanskar) 240 Km
Leh-Deskit (Nubra Valley) 118 Kms.
Air Travel
Indian Airlines
www.indian-airlines.nic.in operates 3 flight in a
week between Leh and Delhi, 2 flights in a week from
Jammu and once in a week from Srinagar. Jet Airways
www.jetairways.com also operates six flights in a
week between Leh-Delhi and Kingfisher Airlines
www.flykingfisher.com operates daily flight
between Leh-Delhi.
Internal Transport
The cheapest way to
travel within the region is by public buses, which ply on
fixed routes according to fixed time schedules. The most
comfortable and convenient though expensive mode of
travel, however, is by taxi, which are available for hire
on fixed point-to-point tariff. For visits to the newly
opened areas of Nubra, Dah-Hanu, Tsomoriri, Tsokar and
Pangong Lakes. It is mandatory to engage the services of a
registered/recognized travel agency for making all the
requisite arrangements including internal transport.
Detailed information about bus schedules, taxi tariff,
travel agencies can be obtained from the Tourist Office or
Local travels guide "Reach Ladakh", available at Book
Shops.