How to Reach Ladakh
Stupas and mud-brick houses, cold desert climate, Tibetan-style forts and palaces, souvenir shops and restaurants selling local food- Leh is a tourist's paradise. Leh's easy accessibility by air led to growth of tourism over the years. Somewhere peaceful, somewhere bustling, Leh and its spectacular attractions like Hemis gompha, Tso Moriri and Pangong Lake are true visual treats. So let's got o Leh.
Regular flight from Delhi to Leh and return ( One hour and 10 minutes only ). Though you may have connections from Jammu and Chandigarh. (couple of days in a week and subject to change). Srinagar to Leh or vice versa is just once in a week. As of now Delhi to Leh only 4 flights are operational
Chandigarh is the last railway station if you are thinking to travel via Manali-Leh route. However Jammu or Udhampur will eb last railway station if you wisht o drive via Srinagar-Kargil-Leh by drive.
Ladakh is approx 1050 Kms from Delhi-Manali-Leh. While as Manali to Leh is approx 500 Km. and can be reached by overnight VOLVO from Delhi to Manali and further Manali to Leh in two days ( need to stay en route due to long and high altitude drive, Jispa or Sarchu will be option to stay at).
Srinagar to Leh is Approx 450 Kms from Srinagar to Leh via Kargil. Can be completed in two days.
By Bike
Most tourists visit Ladakh in bike. The place has the world's top three highest mountain passes that can be scaled on a vehicle. Biking along the mountain passes and stopping for a steaming cup of tea is the iconic activity of this place. If you are planning to travel to Leh via bike, you can choose one of two routes.
Srinagar is 434 km away from Leh. The route covers Sonmarg, Zozi La, Drass, Kargil, Mulbek, Lamayaru and Saspol before reaching Leh. This route is open from May to October. It is the most scenic route with many attractions in its path.
This route stretches from 490 km covering Rohtang, Gramphu, Kokshar, Darcha, Baralacha La, Gata Loops, Lachulung La, Tanglang La, Gya and Karu on the way. This route is open from May to September.
If you are planning to reach Ladakh in a bike, choose a brand that can easily take you through rocky terrains. It is better to choose a bike with higher displacements. The most common bike opted is Royal Enfield, Hero Impulse, KTM Duke, Bajaj Avenger and others. You can hire bikes from Srinagar or Manali at the cost of minimum INR 1,700 per day. The cost of the bike varies with service provider, brand, quality, season and others. The documents required for hiring a bike also varies between service providers.
Anyone wanting to enjoy the adrenaline rush of a bike ride but not able to handle the activity can choose jeep. Jeep ride is easier than bike and more comfortable. You can choose either one of the highway routes as mentioned before. If you are choosing jeep, you ought to visit Zoji La, the door of Ladakh that is found in the way from Kargil to Ladkah in the Kashmir Valley. The price of a jeep safari can start from INR 32,000 and the price is subjected to change.
You can hire taxis from Manali to Leh. Bargain before you agree upon a charge. It would cost minimum INR 12,000. Hire local drivers as they have more experience in driving through the rocky terrain. If you are choosing a taxi from Manali for reach Leh, you can hire cars with Manali registration or any other registration. If you are planning to use the same car for sightseeing inside Leh, you ought to have a car registered in Leh or a private (white board) car. Rented cars with other city registrations are not allowed for sightseeing in Ladakh.
You can also choose to ride shared taxi, which would cost minimum of INR 1,200 per person. The frequency of the shared taxi depends on the season. You would be travelling with 6-7 people in a car including the driver.
The most comfortable option is air travel. However, if you are looking for an adventure time, it is recommended to try bike ride or jeep ride. Choose your travel option with at most care with regards to quality, season and cost.