How to Reach Leh Ladakh: Flights, the Manali Road and the Srinagar Road

There are three ways to reach Leh: by air, by the Manali–Leh highway from Himachal Pradesh, or by the Srinagar–Leh highway from Kashmir. Flying is the quickest and works all year; the two highways are open only in the warmer months but turn the journey into an adventure.

This guide explains each option, with distances, travel times and tips, so you can decide how to reach Leh Ladakh for your trip.

Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is one of the highest commercial airports in the world, about 4 km from the town centre. Delhi to Leh flights take about 1 hour 20 minutes, with several direct flights a day through the year. Mumbai has direct flights on some days, especially in summer, and there are flights from Srinagar, Jammu and Chandigarh; most other cities connect via Delhi.

• Flights land in the morning: winds in the afternoon make landings difficult, so schedules are concentrated early in the day.
• Book early: fares rise sharply in June to August and on long weekends.
• Sit on the left from Delhi (usually) for views of the Himalaya on a clear day.
• Keep a buffer: flights can be delayed or cancelled by weather, so avoid tight connections on the way home.

Flying straight to 3,500 metres means you must rest on your first day. Read our altitude sickness guide.

The Manali–Leh highway is about 425 to 475 km, depending on the route, and is usually done in two days with a night at Jispa, Keylong or Sarchu. Since the Atal Tunnel opened, most traffic bypasses Rohtang Pass. The road crosses Baralacha La, the Gata Loops, Nakee La, Lachung La, the More Plains and Tanglang La, one of the highest passes on the route. It is usually open from late May or June to October.

From Delhi, Manali is about 540 km (12 to 14 hours by road or overnight Volvo bus), so the total Delhi to Leh by road journey is three to four days.

The Srinagar–Leh highway is about 420 km, usually done in two days with a night in Kargil. It crosses Zojila, passes Drass, Kargil, Mulbekh and the moonland at Lamayuru, and joins the Indus near Khalsi. It usually opens earlier in spring than the Manali road and stays open until November, depending on snow; the Zojila tunnel under construction is expected to make it an all-weather route in the future. Going from Srinagar to Leh is easier on the body because the climb is more gradual.

Kargil is Ladakh's second town and the usual overnight stop on the Srinagar road. Nearby Drass is often described as one of the coldest inhabited places in the world, and is home to the Kargil War Memorial, built to honour the soldiers who fought in the 1999 conflict, with views of Tololing and the peaks where the battles took place. It is a moving stop for every Indian traveller.

Both highways can close for a few hours or days due to landslides, snow or traffic control, especially at Zojila and on the Manali road in July and August. Opening and closing dates change each year. Check with us or with official sources a few days before travel, and keep a spare day. Read about the passes in our Ladakh mountain passes guide.

In summer, state transport and private buses run on both highways. Buses from Manali and Srinagar take about two days with an overnight halt, and are the cheapest way to reach Leh by road, though long and tiring. Shared and private taxis are also available from Manali and Srinagar. Schedules change each season, so check close to travel.

Ladakh has no railway. The nearest major stations are Jammu Tawi (for the Srinagar route) and Chandigarh or Kalka (for the Manali route). From there, you continue by road to Srinagar or Manali before starting the drive to Leh.

• Short trip, families and seniors: fly in and out.
• Road-trip lovers: drive in from Manali or Srinagar and fly out, or do the full loop. See our Manali to Leh to Srinagar road trip.
• Bikers: join a guided ride from Leh, or ride in from Manali. See the Ladakh bike trip guide.