Manali–Leh Highway

The highland road from Manali in Himachal Pradesh over four high passes to Leh in Ladakh, extending to Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley and Spiti.

The Manali–Leh Highway is about 430 km long. It runs from Manali, the hill station in Himachal Pradesh, over high mountain passes such as the Atal Tunnel or Rohtang Pass, Baralacha La and Tanglang La (about 5,328 m), into Leh, the capital of Ladakh. It is one of India's best-known motorcycle and self-drive routes. For sightseeing, it is usually planned together with a Ladakh loop. From Leh, you can visit the camel dunes of Nubra Valley and Diskit Monastery, Pangong Lake (Indian side), Tso Moriri, and the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries along the way, such as Thiksey, Hemis and Ramayuru. Another common extension runs from Manali into Spiti Valley (Kaza and Key Monastery), forming a large Spiti–Ladakh loop. A one-way trip usually takes 2 days, with an overnight stop in Sarchu or Jispa. Combined with the Ladakh loop, allow 10 to 14 days. You can hire a car, rent a motorcycle (the Royal Enfield is the most common), or take a Himachal Pradesh state bus. Leh sits at about 3,500 m, so rest for at least 1 to 2 days on arrival to acclimatize. Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley and other areas require an Inner Line Permit (ILP).

Manali–Leh Highway

Along the route