Chandigarh–Leh–Ladakh Round Circuit
The ultimate Himalayan road loop — up the Srinagar–Leh highway via Zoji La and Kargil, across Ladakh’s Khardung La, Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso, then back over Tanglang La and Baralacha La to Manali and Chandigarh.
Trip Highlights
- Drive the full Srinagar–Leh and Leh–Manali highways in one loop
- Zoji La, Khardung La, Chang La, Tanglang La and Baralacha La — five high passes
- Camel safari on the Hunder sand dunes in Nubra Valley
- Sunrise over Pangong Tso from a lakeside camp
- Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and the Indus–Zanskar Sangam
- Kargil War Memorial at Drass and the Lamayuru moonland
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- 1
Day 1: Chandigarh to Jammu
Chandigarh → Jammu · ~340 km · 8 hrsDrive from Chandigarh to Jammu (about 8 hours) via Pathankot. Evening visit to Raghunath Temple and Bahu Fort overlooking the Tawi river.
Famous stops: Raghunath Temple · Bahu Fort · Mubarak Mandi Palace
- 2
Day 2: Jammu to Srinagar
Jammu → Srinagar · ~270 km · 7–8 hrsHighest point: Banihal tunnel · ~1,790 mCross into the Kashmir Valley through the Jawahar and Banihal tunnels along NH44. Check in to a houseboat and take an evening shikara ride on Dal Lake.
Famous stops: Chenani–Nashri Tunnel · Titanic viewpoint · Evening shikara ride
- 3
Day 3: Srinagar sightseeing
Srinagar local · ~35 kmA day among the Mughal gardens — Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Pari Mahal — with a stop at the Hazratbal Shrine on the lakefront.
Famous stops: Chashme Shahi · Shankaracharya Temple · Old City and Jamia Masjid
- 4
Day 4: Srinagar to Kargil via Zoji La
Srinagar → Kargil · ~200 km · 6–7 hrsHighest point: Zoji La · 3,528 mClimb out of the valley past Sonmarg and the Thajiwas Glacier, cross the dramatic Zoji La pass and pause at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass before overnighting in Kargil.
Famous stops: Sonmarg meadows · Kargil War Memorial, Drass · Drass valley — second-coldest inhabited place on earth
- 5
Day 5: Kargil to Leh
Kargil → Leh · ~215 km · 6–7 hrsHighest point: Fotu La · 4,108 mThrough the lunar landscapes of Lamayuru, then Alchi Monastery, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and the Indus–Zanskar confluence at Sangam before reaching Leh.
Famous stops: Mulbekh rock-cut Buddha · Lamayuru Monastery and moonland · Alchi Monastery · Magnetic Hill · Gurudwara Pathar Sahib · Indus–Zanskar Sangam
- 6
Day 6: Leh acclimatisation and local sights
Leh local · ~15 kmHighest point: Leh · 3,500 mTake it easy at 3,500 m to acclimatise. Stroll Leh market, then visit Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the Hall of Fame museum.
Famous stops: Leh Palace · Shanti Stupa · Hall of Fame museum · Leh Market and Old Town
- 7
Day 7: Leh to Nubra Valley over Khardung La
Leh → Hunder · ~125 km · 4–5 hrsHighest point: Khardung La · 5,359 mCross Khardung La — one of the world’s highest motorable passes — into Nubra Valley. Visit Diskit Monastery’s giant Maitreya Buddha and ride double-humped Bactrian camels on the Hunder sand dunes.
Famous stops: Khardung La · Diskit Monastery Maitreya Buddha · Hunder sand dunes and camel safari
- 8
Day 8: Nubra to Pangong Tso
Hunder → Pangong Tso (via Shyok) · ~160 km · 5–6 hrsHighest point: Pangong Tso · 4,350 mFollow the Shyok river road to Pangong Tso and watch the lake shift through shades of blue from a lakeside camp.
Famous stops: Shyok river valley · Durbuk and Tangtse villages · Pangong lakeside sunset
- 9
Day 9: Pangong to Leh via Chang La
Pangong Tso → Leh · ~225 km · 6–7 hrsHighest point: Chang La · 5,360 mSunrise over the lake, then return over Chang La with stops at Hemis and Thiksey monasteries on the Indus valley floor.
Famous stops: Chang La · Hemis Monastery · Thiksey Monastery · Shey Palace · Rancho School (3 Idiots)
- 10
Day 10: Leh to Sarchu
Leh → Sarchu · ~250 km · 7–8 hrsHighest point: Tanglang La · 5,328 mBegin the Leh–Manali highway: Upshi, the hairpins of Tanglang La, the vast More Plains and Pang, camping overnight on the high plateau at Sarchu.
Famous stops: Tanglang La · More Plains · Pang · Gata Loops — 21 hairpin bends
- 11
Day 11: Sarchu to Manali
Sarchu → Manali · ~220 km · 7–8 hrsHighest point: Baralacha La · 4,890 mCross Baralacha La and descend through Jispa and Keylong in Lahaul, then take the Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang range into Manali.
Famous stops: Baralacha La and Suraj Tal · Deepak Tal · Jispa and Keylong · Atal Tunnel
- 12
Day 12: Manali local sightseeing
Manali local · ~30 km (Rohtang optional, +102 km)Hadimba Devi Temple, Old Manali and Vashisht hot springs, with an optional excursion to Solang Valley or a permit drive up to Rohtang Pass.
Famous stops: Hadimba Devi Temple · Old Manali · Vashisht hot springs · Jogini Falls
- 13
Day 13: Manali to Chandigarh
Manali → Chandigarh · ~300 km · 8 hrsDrive down along the Beas through Kullu and Mandi to close the loop at Chandigarh by evening.
Famous stops: Kullu Valley · Pandoh Dam · Sundernagar lake
Permits & Entry Requirements
Ladakh Inner Line Permit (ILP)
Required for: Indian nationals visiting Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and the Shyok road (Days 7–9)
Where to get it: Apply online at lahdclehpermit.in or in person at the DC Office / Tourist Information Centre, Leh. The environment and Red Cross fees are paid along with it.
Carry multiple printed copies — they are collected at checkpoints such as South Pullu, Khalsar and Tangtse.
Protected Area Permit (PAP)
Required for: Foreign nationals visiting Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso (Days 7–9)
Where to get it: Issued through registered travel agents in Leh, usually for groups of two or more; passport and visa copies are required.
The Srinagar–Leh and Leh–Manali highways themselves need no permit for either Indians or foreigners.
Rohtang Pass permit
Required for: All vehicles taking the optional Day 12 drive up to Rohtang top
Where to get it: Book online at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in (Tourism Development Council Manali / Kullu district administration). Daily quota is limited and the pass stays closed on Tuesdays.
Not needed for crossing into Lahaul via the Atal Tunnel on Day 11.
Places Covered on This Trip
Dal Lake
Shalimar Bagh
Nishat Bagh
Pari Mahal
Hazratbal Shrine
Sonmarg
Thajiwas Glacier
Zoji La Pass
Leh
Khardung La
Nubra Valley
Pangong Tso
Manali
Solang Valley
Rohtang Pass
Frequently Asked Questions
Indian nationals need the Ladakh Inner Line Permit for Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso — apply at lahdclehpermit.in or the DC Office in Leh. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit through a registered Leh travel agent. The optional Rohtang top drive needs a permit from rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in; the highways themselves need none.
Mid-June to September, when both the Srinagar–Leh and Leh–Manali highways are open. September offers the clearest skies and thinner crowds; by mid-October the high passes start closing for winter.
This route helps by gaining altitude gradually via Srinagar, but still keep the Leh acclimatisation day, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours, and consult a doctor about carrying Diamox. Descend immediately if symptoms worsen.
On the Srinagar side you get pumps at Drass, Kargil, Khalsi and Leh. On the Leh–Manali highway, Tandi near Keylong is the only pump for roughly 365 km — top up at Leh (or Karu) and carry spare fuel for the Sarchu stretch.
Only postpaid SIMs work in Ladakh (Jio, Airtel and BSNL have the best coverage around Leh); prepaid SIMs from outside J&K/Ladakh do not. Download offline maps before Kargil, and expect no signal at Sarchu and much of the Nubra–Pangong road.
Yes — the loop is the classic self-drive and Royal Enfield route. Carry the RC, licence, insurance and pollution certificate for checkpoints. Note that bikes rented outside Ladakh are generally not allowed for local sightseeing beyond Leh due to taxi-union rules, so plan Nubra/Pangong accordingly.
Thirteen days is a comfortable pace. You can trim to 10–11 days by dropping either Nubra or Pangong, but never cut the Leh acclimatisation day — AMS ends more Ladakh trips than road conditions do.
Yes, in season it is a well-travelled tourist corridor with army presence and homestays throughout. Just plan conservative driving days, book Pangong and Nubra camps ahead in July–August, and keep a buffer day for weather holds at the passes.
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