Can you go from Manali to Leh by taxi, and what does it cost?
Yes. Leh is about 475 km from Manali, normally driven over two days with a night at Jispa, Keylong or Sarchu, via the Atal Tunnel, Baralacha La and Tanglang La. A one-way Innova Crysta costs Rs 27,070 Pay Now to Reserve and a Fortuner Rs 39,900 Pay Now to Reserve before 5% GST. Under Ladakh's local rules, outside taxis may drop you in Leh but not do sightseeing there.
The Manali–Leh highway is the road trip Indian travellers dream about. In two long days it climbs out of the green Kullu valley, tunnels under the Pir Panjal, crosses the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, and then rises through a landscape that becomes steadily higher, drier and more astonishing: Baralacha La, the Sarchu plains, the twenty-one hairpins of the Gata Loops, Nakee La and Lachulung La, the vast More plains at around 4,700 metres, and finally Tanglang La before the descent into the Indus valley. Few roads anywhere pass so much sky.
It is also a serious drive, at altitudes where the air holds far less oxygen, on a road that is open for only part of the year. This guide explains the route, the season, the altitude precautions, the Ladakh permit fees and local-taxi rules that shape any trip, what to see in Leh, and exactly what RutzIndia.com offers and charges. If you are starting further south, the Delhi to Manali taxi and Chandigarh to Manali taxi pages cover the approach.
The route, stage by stage
- Manali to the Atal Tunnel and Sissu (about 40 km). The 9 km Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang ridge, opened in 2020, delivers you into the Lahaul valley in minutes instead of the old half-day over Rohtang Pass. Sissu's waterfall and the Chandra river greet you on the far side; our Sissu and Atal Tunnel guide covers this stretch.
- Keylong and Jispa (about 75 to 95 km). Keylong is the Lahaul district headquarters; Jispa, 20 km on along the Bhaga, is the favourite first-night halt, at roughly 3,200 metres, a sensible height for sleeping.
- Darcha, Zingzing Bar and Baralacha La (about 150 km). The road climbs past Deepak Tal to Baralacha La at around 4,900 metres, the watershed where the Bhaga, Chandra and Yunam rivers rise.
- Sarchu (about 220 km). A high plain on the Himachal–Ladakh border with seasonal tented camps. Sleeping here at over 4,200 metres is a common cause of altitude sickness; we generally prefer Jispa for the night.
- Gata Loops, Nakee La and Lachulung La (about 250 to 290 km). Twenty-one hairpins up the mountain face, then two more passes above 4,700 metres.
- Pang and the More plains (about 300 to 340 km). Pang's army transit camp and dhabas, then 40-odd km of flat, surreal high plateau.
- Tanglang La (about 400 km). At around 5,300 metres one of the highest motorable passes in the region. Stop briefly, then descend.
- Upshi, Karu and Leh (about 475 km). Down into the Indus valley, past Thiksey and Shey, into Leh.
Fuel is available at Tandi (just beyond the tunnel) and then not reliably until Karu near Leh, a gap of about 365 km. Our drivers fill up at Tandi and carry spare fuel. Mobile coverage disappears for most of day two.
The Srinagar alternative. Leh can also be reached from Srinagar, about 420 km via Sonamarg, the Zojila, Drass and Kargil, with a night in Kargil. It is lower, greener and a better route for acclimatisation, and it usually opens earlier in spring than the Manali side. See Sonamarg by road for the Kashmir start.
When the road is open
The Manali–Leh highway is kept open by the Border Roads Organisation from roughly late May or June until October or early November, depending on snow at Baralacha La and Tanglang La. Opening and closing dates vary every year. June and early July bring towering snow walls on the passes; July and August are the peak months but bring occasional rain and slush at water crossings; September is often the best, with clear skies and fewer trucks. By late October, freezing nights and early snow make the road risky, and we will only run it with confirmed road reports.
In Leh itself, summer days are warm and sunny while nights are cold. Hemis festival, the masked dance at Hemis monastery, falls in June or July according to the Tibetan calendar and is the town's busiest time.
Altitude, health and pace
Leh sits at about 3,500 metres, and the passes on the way are far higher. Take these precautions seriously:
- Break the journey at Jispa or Keylong rather than Sarchu where possible.
- Spend your first 36 to 48 hours in Leh resting, drinking water and walking gently before heading to Nubra or Pangong.
- Avoid alcohol and heavy exertion on arrival. Anyone with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor before the trip.
- If someone develops a severe headache, breathlessness at rest or confusion, descend and seek medical help; Leh has a well-equipped district hospital.
Ladakh's permits and local-taxi rule
Two rules matter more than anything else when planning a Ladakh road trip:
Permit fees. Indian nationals no longer need an Inner Line Permit for areas such as Nubra, Pangong and Tso Moriri, but each visitor pays an environment and development fee (with a wildlife fee for some areas) through the Leh hill council's official permit portal at lahdclehpermit.in. Carry printouts or screenshots of the receipt. Foreign nationals still need a Protected Area Permit arranged through a registered agency.
Local taxis only for sightseeing. The Ladakh taxi union does not allow taxis and rented vehicles from outside Ladakh to carry tourists for sightseeing within the region. A RutzIndia.com car from Manali or Srinagar can drop you in Leh (and pick you up there for the return), but day trips around Leh and journeys to Nubra, Pangong and Tso Moriri must be done in Leh-registered union taxis, paid at the union's rate. Our travel desk can help you plan that local leg once you are in town. See Nubra Valley by road and Pangong Lake by road for how those trips work.
What to see in Leh
- Leh Palace and Namgyal Tsemo. The nine-storey 17th-century palace of the Namgyal kings towers over the old town, with the red Tsemo gompa on the crag above.
- Shanti Stupa. The white stupa on a ridge above Changspa, best at sunset.
- Thiksey, Shey and Hemis. Thiksey's hilltop monastery, often compared to the Potala, Shey's palace ruins and giant Buddha, and Hemis, the wealthiest monastery in Ladakh.
- Sangam and Magnetic Hill. The meeting of the green Indus and the brown Zanskar near Nimmu, and the famous optical-illusion slope on the Srinagar road.
- The old town and bazaar. Mud-brick lanes, bakeries selling Ladakhi bread, apricot jam and butter tea.
The Leh district administration publishes visitor information, advisories and contacts on the Leh district website.
RutzIndia.com services and fares for the Leh road
- Manali to Leh one way over two days in an Innova Crysta, Fortuner or Tempo Traveller, with an experienced high-altitude driver.
- Leh to Manali one way at the end of your trip, collecting you at your Leh hotel.
- Srinagar to Leh one way via Kargil, about 420 km.
- Delhi or Chandigarh to Manali as the first leg of the journey; see the Manali taxi service for local and airport options at Bhuntar.
- Groups in a Tempo Traveller or Urbania.
| Vehicle | Per km | Manali to Leh one way (475 km) | Srinagar to Leh one way (420 km) | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan (Dzire class) | Rs 36 | Rs 17,100 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 15,120 Pay Now to Reserve | Not recommended on this road |
| Innova Crysta | Rs 57.6 | Rs 27,070 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 23,940 Pay Now to Reserve | Best all-rounder |
| Toyota Fortuner | Rs 84 | Rs 39,900 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 35,280 Pay Now to Reserve | Highest clearance and comfort |
| Tempo Traveller | Rs 78 | Rs 37,050 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 32,760 Pay Now to Reserve | Groups of 8 to 12 |
| Force Urbania | Rs 102 | Rs 48,450 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 42,840 Pay Now to Reserve | Groups up to 17 |
The sedan figure is shown only because it is the per-km base: we do not advise sedans over Baralacha La and Tanglang La. All fares exclude 5% GST. Ladakh environment fees, Himachal and Ladakh entry or green taxes, tolls and parking are passed through at the amount actually paid. Because this is a two-day drive, the chauffeur's night allowance of Rs 1,500 applies, and if you book the car for a return journey it is billed on at least 250 km for each calendar day. Vehicles are within four model years and are checked specifically for the high passes before departure. Pay through the online booker by card or UPI; a GST invoice is available for company-funded trips. If you need to cancel, nothing is charged more than 72 hours before the start, 10% is charged inside 72 hours, 50% inside 48 hours and the whole fare inside 24 hours or on a no-show. Our cancellation policy explains how road closures are handled.
A sample plan: Manali to Leh and back
Day 1: Manali to Jispa (about 95 km). A short day on purpose. Atal Tunnel, lunch at Sissu, overnight at Jispa beside the Bhaga to acclimatise.
Day 2: Jispa to Leh (about 380 km, 11 to 12 hours). A 5 am start. Baralacha La, Sarchu, the Gata Loops, Pang for lunch, the More plains and Tanglang La, arriving in Leh by early evening. Our car drops you at your hotel.
Days 3 to 7: Ladakh with local taxis. Rest, then Leh sightseeing, Nubra and Pangong in union taxis.
Days 8 and 9: Leh to Manali (or fly out). We collect you in Leh and drive back over two days, or you fly out of Leh and we meet you in Delhi. Want more of Himachal on the way? The Himachal taxi service and our Spiti Valley by road guide suggest detours.
Practical tips
- Carry photo ID and permit receipts; there are checkposts at Darcha and on the passes.
- Pack for four seasons: sun hat and sunscreen for the glare, down jacket and gloves for the passes.
- Cash: ATMs are scarce between Keylong and Leh.
- Snacks and water: dhabas exist at Zingzing Bar, Sarchu and Pang but food is basic.
- Parking in Leh: the old town is narrow; hotels in Changspa and Karzoo have parking. Charges are billed at actual.
