If you have always wanted to do something you can boast about your entire life, then this Chandigarh Ladakh Self Drive Tour is perfect for you. It is an adventurous ride, which will show you the entire topography and ecological zones of the trans-Himalayas. Lushness will turn to barrenness and again to lushness, giving you myriad scenes and photographs. Even in summers, the high mountain passes of the Himalayas in the Ladakh region will treat you to cool weather and may be even snow! You will love the relaxed drive on Morey Plains, whereas looking down from Gata Loops and Hangro Loops will thrill you to the core.

The untouched natural beauty of Ladakh will unfold itself at Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Tso Kar in the form of crystal-clear waters, high cliffs and a variety of fauna. Another perk of embarking on this Chandigarh Ladakh Manali Self Drive Trip is sightseeing opportunities. A trip to Mughal Gardens and a shikara ride in Srinagar will create an atmosphere of love. Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and Diskit Monastery will teach you about Sikh and Buddhist beliefs, respectively, while the Magnetic Hill will show you a unique natural phenomenon. You may also explore Leh, Patnitop and Nubra Valley to see more of this region.

Explore more Adventure Tours in Leh-Ladakh

Itinerary:

Day 01: Chandigarh to Patnitop (411 KMS|7-8 hours|6640 feet)
After breakfast, attend a briefing on the route, and then start travelling towards Patnitop, a pristine hill station, on National Highway 1A. At first, you drive on plains, which transform into hills a little further from Pathankot. After a while, you will see the emergence of pines, and by the time you reach Patnitop, deodar will be the dominant trees. En route, stop for lunch and refreshments at roadside dhabas and also for photography sessions at several points. On reaching your destination, you may visit Nag Temple, Nathatop, Sanasar Lake on your own. Later, transfer to the resort for an overnight stay.

Day 02: Patnitop to Srinagar (185 KMS|6-7 hours|5200 feet)
Early in the morning, resume your Chandigarh Ladakh Self Drive Tour by driving further into Kashmir, to Srinagar. Just as you cross Verinag, you will descend into a valley and the terrain will become relatively plainer. After reaching the hotel in Srinagar, have a delicious lunch and relax for the day. If you want, you can head out to explore the city on your own. Blessed with immense natural and aesthetic beauty, Srinagar is the cultural centre of the Kashmir Valley. Its network of lakes and well-laid Mughal gardens have been attracting not only tourists, but also filmmakers for a long time. The cool weather of the region puts another feather in its cap. In the evening, embark on a shikara ride on Nagin Lake or Dal Lake, and click photos of distant mountains. Later, return to the hotel for a scrumptious dinner, followed by a sound sleep.

Day 03: Sightseeing in Srinagar | Srinagar to Sonamarg (90 KMS|2.5 hours|9186 feet)
Following a tasty breakfast, visit Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh, two lakeside Mughal gardens. The layout of these gardens is characterised by a rectangular stream, flowing down along their length. Lush lawns, featuring various types of trees, line the stream, which is broken into sections by fountains and pools. Another feature of the gardens is terraces, built along the slopes of mountains. Post the excursion, have lunch and then continue the trip by heading to Sonamarg, the meadow of gold. The drive will take you on National Highway 1D along the banks of the meandering Sind River. En route, you will see the coniferous vegetation, thinning, and being taken over by velvety grasslands. Upon reaching the hotel in Sonamarg, breathe in the cool, fresh air, and sit and relax on the meadow. Later, have dinner by a crackling bonfire and retire for the night.

Day 04: Sonamarg – Zojila – Dras – Kargil – Mulbekh – Nurla (165 KMS|5-6 hours|10000 feet)
During the ensuing stage of your Chandigarh Ladakh Manali Self Drive Trip, you will cross the Himalayan Ranges and enter the peaceful realm of Ladakh. Drive further on National Highway 1D, cross Zojila, an approximately 11500-feet high mountain pass. Keep on the road to reach Drass, the coldest permanently inhabited place in the country. The town of Kargil will be your next destination on the road trip, beyond which you will cross Fotu La, a mountain pass at an altitude of around 13500 feet. After descending from the pass, drive on the treacherous Hangro Loops, a series of 18 hairpin bends, and feel the adrenaline rush in your veins, and then reach Mulbekh. End the ride in the village of Nurla, reached via Namika La, a mountain pass at a height of around 12550 feet above sea level. Once here, retreat to the campsite for an overnight stay.

Day 05: Nurla to Leh (175 KMS|4-5 hours|11500 feet)
Have breakfast at the campsite before proceeding towards Leh, the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district. On the way, pay homage at Gurdwara Pathar Sahib, which is associated with Guru Nanak Dev. Next, head to the Magnetic Hill, which is believed to contradict the Laws of Gravity by pulling vehicles, even when not in ignition, uphill. Thereafter, resume the road trip to arrive in Leh to rest at the hotel.

Day 06: Day at Leisure
This leisure day allows you to sightsee in the city and acclimatise to the weather conditions at higher elevations. Leh is known for its peace quotient, which is a result of the prominence of Buddhism here. In your leisure time, you may visit Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Shey Palace, Stok Palace, Sankar Monastery and Druk White Lotus School. After the sightseeing excursion, retreat to the hotel and get some sleep.

Day 07: Leh to Hunder (114 KMS|4-5 hours|10000 feet)
On this stretch of the Chandigarh Ladakh Self Drive Tour, you may get to see snow as it will take you to an altitude of around 18000 feet at the summit of Khardung La! Descend from the pass and enter Nubra Valley to reach Hunder. The village is mainly known for its riverside sand dunes and the rare two-humped Bactrian camels. Upon arriving here, get some sleep in your camp.

Day 08: Sightseeing in Hunder (50 KMS|10000 feet)
In the morning, travel to Diskit Monastery, dedicated to Maitreya, the future Buddha.His idol is kept in the assembly hall, which is decorated with colourful banners, depicting religious symbols. It overlooks a hill, on which an around 100-feet tall statue of the deity is perched. Following the visit, come back to the campsite for lunch, and then spend the day as you wish, ending it with an overnight stay.

Day 09: Hunder to Leh
Leave the campsite and journey back over the highest motorable road in the world towards the hotel in Leh. In the evening, you are free to explore the local markets and buy souvenirs like Buddhist statues and scroll paintings, and woollens. Later, retire for the night at the hotel.

Day 10: Leh – Chang La – Pangong Tso (140 KMS|5-6 hours|14270 feet)
This section of your Chandigarh Ladakh Manali Self Drive Trip will take you to Pangong Tso across Chang La, a mountain pass of about 17600 feet. A high-altitude lake, shared by India and China, Pangong Tso has been the shooting location for many Bollywood movies. See reflections of the surrounding brown mountains in its crystal-clear waters and just relax on its shores. Witness an enchanting sunset while heading to the campsite for a night of music and merrymaking around the warming bonfire before retiring to bed.

Day 11: Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri (235 KMS|7-8 hours|15075 feet)
Early in the morning, resume the drive, this time to Tso Moriri, another alpine lake. En route, travel through the Changthang Plateau, a part of Ladakh as well as Tibet. The grassy banks of the lake are home to numerous regional mammals like snow leopards, grey wolves and bharals. Its waters provide refuge to birds such as black-necked cranes, brown-headed gulls, great crested grebes, black-necked grebes and bar-headed geese. Sit and chat on its shores, and then transfer to the campsite to rest at night.

Day 12: Tso Moriri to Sarchu (228 KMS|7-8 hours|14070 feet)
This is going to be yet another high-thrill stage of this Chandigarh Ladakh Self Drive Tour as it will take you through a difficult section of the Leh-Manali Highway. Upon resuming the trip, head to Tso Kar, an alpine lake, and stop here to click photographs. If you are lucky, you may spot wolves, foxes, yaks and numerous species of birds. Thereafter, enjoy a leisurely ride for around 40 km on the flat Morey Plains towards Pang. Take a small break here for refreshments, and gather energy for the tricky ride ahead. From Pang, cross Lachulung La a mountain pass at an elevation of around 16600 feet above sea level. Then, drive carefully on the series of 21 hairpin bends, known as Gata Loops, and reach Sarchu. Here, gaze at the clearly visible Milky Way before retiring for the night in your tent.

Day 13: Sarchu to Manali (230 KMS|7-8 hours|6726 feet)
Relish a healthy breakfast at the campsite, and then start riding towards Manali and cross Baralacha La. At an altitude of about 16000 feet, it is another mountain pass in the region. Further ahead, drive past Suraj Tal, an alpine lake, and then Jispa and Keylong. As you cross the renowned Rohtang Pass, the barren landscape of Ladakh will turn to the lush meadows of the Himalayas. Drive through forests of deodars, firs and spruces en route Manali, and after arriving in the town, move to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 14: Manali to Chandigarh or Delhi
Following a delectable breakfast, begin the final stretch of this Chandigarh Ladakh Manali Self Drive Trip by driving towards Chandigarh or Delhi. On reaching the destination, move on for your onward journey.