Ladakh road trip: Leh and the high passes

It is safe when the itinerary is built altitude-first. Leh sits at about 3,500m and this route goes higher at Khardung La, so we build in a mandatory rest day and ascend gradually. Skip the rest days and a headache can become something serious; keep them and the trip is genuinely enjoyable.

Khardung La itself sits on the road to the restricted Nubra Valley, so travelling beyond it typically needs the same permit as a Nubra trip — a Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors, an Inner Line Permit or fee for Indian travellers. We arrange this for any route that requires it.

Five to seven days for a first trip based around Leh and Khardung La. Add extra days if you want to continue on to Nubra Valley or Pangong Lake as part of the wider circuit.

Flying into Leh is the gentlest arrival for altitude and the quickest on time. The Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh drives are spectacular in their own right but are long, summer-only, and the Manali route in particular raises the altitude-sickness risk, so they need extra acclimatisation days if you choose to drive.

Warm layers even in summer — temperatures drop fast with altitude and after dark — sun protection, and comfortable clothing you are happy to travel in for long drives. We brief every guest on what to bring before departure.