Kulu Manali – Leh Ladakh – 8 Nights / 9 Days
Himalayan Highway Adventure
Duration
8 Nights / 9 Days
Location
Kulu Manali – Leh Ladakh – 8 Nights / 9 Days
Explore Kulu Manali – Leh Ladakh – 8 Nights / 9 Days
One of India's most iconic road trips – from the apple orchards of Kullu-Manali through the world's highest motorable passes to the lunar landscapes and monasteries of Leh Ladakh.
Experience Highlights
Tour Itinerary
Day 1-2: Manali – Arrival & Acclimatization
Arrive in Manali by air (Delhi-Kullu) or overnight Volvo bus. Day 1: Rest and acclimatize (important at 6,700 ft). Evening: Explore Old Manali village cafes and the Hadimba Devi Temple. Day 2: Visit Solang Valley, Vashisht Hot Springs, and Naggar Castle. Prepare gear for the high-altitude journey ahead.
Day 3: Manali to Sarchu via Rohtang Pass
Early morning departure. Navigate the iconic Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft) with its snow fields and panoramic views. Drive through the Lahaul Valley – a dramatic shift from pine forests to high-altitude desert. Cross the Baralacha La pass (16,040 ft) and descend to Sarchu plains for overnight camping under a canopy of a billion stars.
Day 4-5: Leh City & Monasteries
Day 4: Arrive in Leh via Lachulung La and Tanglang La (world's second highest motorable pass at 17,480 ft). Rest and acclimatize. Day 5: Explore Leh Palace (9-storey medieval palace), Shanti Stupa, and the Leh Market. Visit Spituk Monastery and Sankar Gompa. Traditional Ladakhi Thukpa (noodle soup) dinner.
Day 6: Khardung La & Nubra Valley
Drive over Khardung La Pass (17,582 ft) – one of the world's highest motorable roads. Descend into the scenic Nubra Valley. Visit the sand dunes of Hunder and take a double-humped Bactrian camel ride across the desert landscape with the Himalayas as backdrop. Overnight at Nubra valley camp.
Day 7: Pangong Tso – The Blue Jewel
Early drive to the iconic Pangong Tso Lake (14,270 ft) – immortalized in Bollywood's '3 Idiots'. The 134 km long salt water lake straddles India and China. Watch the lake change color from blue to green to purple. Overnight camp at the lake shore for a surreal starlit experience.
Day 8: Return to Leh & Local Explore
Drive back to Leh via the Chang La Pass. En route, visit the stunning Hemis Monastery (largest in Ladakh) and Thiksey Monastery (resembling a mini Potala Palace). Evening: stroll through Leh market for Buddhist artifacts, pashmina, and local apricot jam.
Day 9: Departure from Leh
Early morning flight from Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport back to Delhi. As the plane climbs over the Himalayas, get one last aerial view of the lunar landscape that will stay with you forever.