Leh Road Trip in 2026

For almost 20 years, I had wanted to drive to Leh by road in my own car. It was one of those plans that stayed with me for years, but somehow never happened. This time, I decided to finally do it.

What made this trip even more special was the car I chose. I was taking my Tata Nano, a car I had been driving for years and knew inside out. I had no idea how it would handle the roads ahead, but I wanted to find out.

The plan was to drive from Manali to Leh, spend a couple of days in Leh and then continue towards Srinagar. I knew the route would be challenging, but I also wanted to take my time and experience the journey.

I started the journey from Manali after spending a relaxed night there. The next morning, I started early and headed towards the Atal Tunnel. Once I crossed the tunnel, the scenery started to change every few kilometres. The road, the mountains and the surroundings all had a different character as I continued through Sissu towards Jispa. I took it slow, enjoying the drive and everything that came along the way.

I was really amazed when we were going downhill and all of a sudden, a river appeared next to our road. It was so beautiful. If you are planning a trip till Sissu, then drive another 25 km to see this amazing river view. When a bridge comes, you will also find a lot of cafés right next to it.

Spending the night at Jispa was not so easy, as in the end, my oxygen level dropped to 74 and I had to take a medicine which is highly recommended by all the doctors and is also clearly mentioned on the official website of Leh. It works really well.

The original plan was to stay overnight at Sarchu after crossing Bara Lacha Pass at around 16,000 ft. But the journey was going much faster than I had expected.

I reached Sarchu in just about 3 hours, crossing Suraj Tal and Deepak Tal along the way.

The roads were good and the surroundings were incredibly quiet. There was hardly any traffic, and the entire landscape had a very different feel. Since I had reached Sarchu much earlier than expected, I decided not to stop. I thought I could reach Leh in another 5 hours, around 7 PM, so there was no reason to stay overnight.

That decision made the next part of the journey much more challenging.

After the serene beauty of Sarchu, I entered the Ladakh region, and the difficulty level increased considerably at Gata Loops. It was the most difficult part of the day.

To reach Nakee La Pass at around 15,500 ft, I had to deal with extreme high altitude conditions. The temperature was freezing, my oxygen level dropped to 70, and the atmospheric pressure was a killer.

The road conditions at Gata Loops were also terrible. I really hope the BRO fixes this stretch as soon as possible so that no one else has to face what I did.

Then, before reaching Pang Village, I came across some beautiful, natural and unique rock formations that made me feel like I had entered another world. I wish I had more time to stop and explore the area. I hope that on my next trip, I will spend some more time there.

After Pang, there were no proper roads for the next 200 kilometres. I may have struggled with the altitude, the atmospheric pressure and the road conditions, but the Tata Nano never gave me a reason to stop. It just kept going without any issues.

And finally, we (me and Nano) reached Leh at midnight.

Reaching Leh by road was a big achievement for me in my life, as I had finally completed the whole journey in my Tata Nano.

Leh has a very laid back attitude, and everyone seems to do everything slowly. So, the 1st day just went by exploring the main market.

On the 2nd day, I roamed around and visited two monasteries. The 1st was Hemis and the 2nd was Thiksey. I found Thiksey to be such a powerful place where you can meditate and feel so relaxed.

I also visited Sindhu Ghat by the Sindhu River.

During my stay, I indulged in a lot of Ladakhi food. I had Skyu, Khambir Sandwich, Timok and Veg Shapta, along with Sea Buckthorn Juice, berries and local fruits like apricots and apples.

So, if you are going to Leh, please try the local food. Stop asking for Parantha, Dal Makhni, dosa and blah blah. You can have all that back home. In Leh, try something local.

There are many more places around Leh that I want to explore, and I will try to cover them on my next trip.

Leh gave me a laid back attitude, and while travelling from Leh to Srinagar, I was also in the same mode. I was travelling like I really did not want to reach anywhere.

So, on the 1st day, I travelled only 225 km from Leh to Kargil and enjoyed the magnificent views of every single village along the way. I also gave a lift to 5 or 6 villagers so that I could hear their side of the story.

Kargil was not the most beautiful city, but it had its own charm. It was also the last part of Ladakh.

The next morning, I got really emotional after visiting two war memorials. The 1st was in Kargil, and the 2nd was the newly built memorial in Dras, right beneath Tiger Hill.

There is so much to learn from and be inspired by at these memorials. Do visit.

From drass war memorial, it was almost a straight run till Srinagar, but before that, I had to cross Zoji La. The problem was not the altitude at around 11,500 ft, but the road conditions. The roads are extremely steep, and in places, it feels like someone just put blocks together and called it a road.

For a small car like mine, and especially for bikes, this can be quite dangerous. I really hope the Zoji La Tunnel becomes available before the next season.

The change from Ladakh to Kashmir was striking. After days of dry mountains, high passes and rough roads, suddenly there was greenery everywhere. The rivers, villages and mountains looked completely different, and I found myself stopping the car simply because I did not want to drive past everything.

The highways in Kashmir were much better, and with the tunnels around Sonmarg, I reached Srinagar just around sunset. I decided to end the journey by parking the car at Dal Lake and enjoying the sunset there.

After completing this road trip, there are a few things I would strongly recommend keeping in mind if you are planning to drive from Manali to Leh and continue through Ladakh.

1. Carry portable oxygen
Carry at least 1 portable oxygen cylinder per person as a backup. At high altitude, you may not always know when you will need it, so it is better to have it with you.

2. Carry the medicine prescribed for altitude sickness
Keep commonly used altitude sickness medication with you, but take it only after consulting a doctor. Do not wait until you start feeling seriously unwell.

3. Stay hydrated
Keep yourself well hydrated throughout the journey. I would recommend carrying some rehydration drinks such as Fast&Up Reload or ORS, especially for the high altitude sections.

4. Refuel whenever you get the chance
Do not wait for the next petrol pump if you still have fuel left. I would recommend filling up at every petrol pump you come across because you never know how much extra fuel you may need on the passes or if you get stuck in traffic. In my case, I intentionally skipped the Indian Oil petrol pump at Keylong, and after that, I did not find another petrol pump until Karu, around 30 to 35 km before Leh.

I did not face any issues because my Tata Nano gave me a superb average of 24.5 kmpl, but it was still better to have the extra fuel than to worry about finding a pump later. Also, keep the timings in mind, as most petrol pumps on this route close around 10 or 11 PM.

I had also read somewhere that there is a petrol pump at Sarchu, but that information is incorrect, so do not rely on it while planning your journey.

5. Dress for the temperature drop
After around 4 PM, the temperature can drop very quickly. Keep your jacket handy and put it on before you start feeling cold. Do not wait until you are already feeling uncomfortable.

6. Protect yourself from the sun
The sun at high altitude can be extremely harsh. Use a sunscreen with SPF 70 and PA++++, wear a hat and keep your hands covered as well. The sun can feel quite intense even when the temperature is cold.

7. Carry your own garbage
Please do not throw garbage on the road or in the mountains. Carry a garbage bag in your car and bring your waste back with you. I did the same throughout my journey.

8. Carry enough snacks and water
Carry enough snacks and water before leaving Manali. Once you are on the road, there are long stretches where you may not find shops, especially between the smaller villages.

9. Carry a puncture kit and air pump
I hardly saw any puncture repair services on many of these roads, so do not depend on finding help when you need it. Carry a proper puncture repair kit and a portable air pressure pump in your car.

10. Eat What the Locals Eat
Do not crave food that you can easily get in a city. Try what the local villagers are selling instead. You are likely to enjoy it, and it also means you are not putting unnecessary pressure on these small local businesses to serve the same food options you would expect in a city.

11. Respect the local culture
Be respectful at monasteries and towards the people of Ladakh. Their culture, traditions and way of life are different from what many of us may be used to. A little respect goes a long way.

When I look back at this road trip, I do not just remember Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh or Kashmir. I remember the roads, the unexpected stops, the people I met, the changing landscapes and all the small moments that made the journey what it was.

I had wanted to drive to Leh by road in my own car for almost 20 years, and when I finally made it happen, I did it in my Tata Nano. That made the journey even more personal. I was not just following a route or trying to reach a place. I was finally doing something I had wanted to do for years, in my own car and at my own pace.