Popularly known as the "Land of High Passes" because of the abundance of high-altitude mountain passes that are speckled throughout the region, Ladakh is renowned as a biker's paradise. However, it is a dream for every kind of traveler to tick Ladakh off their bucket list. From Buddhist monasteries preserving ancient relics and thangka paintings in their abode to pristine Himalayan lakes that add charm to its beauty, Ladakh has a lot to offer. 

There are no direct trains to Ladakh so when it comes to transportation, you can either go by road or flight. 

Keep in mind that flying directly to Leh would increase your chances of AMS. You need to acclimatize at least for 48 hours in Leh before going sightseeing. 

When it comes to taking a road trip, there are two routes to reach Leh Ladakh. One is via Srinagar while the other is from Manali. 

The Srinagar Leh route gives you the opportunity for a one-of-a-kind adventurous road trip to Ladakh. Stretching up to a distance of 434KMS, the route offers you a glimpse at the pristine beauty of Kashmir while giving you the chance to drive on some of the highest mountain passes of Ladakh.

The road conditions on the Srinagar Leh route are as follows: 

Sonamarg to Zojila Pass: The roads are moderately good for driving.  

Zojila Pass to Kargil: Fairly good conditions with a few bumps along the way.

Kargil to Leh: The roads are paved smoothly making it easy to drive.

On the other hand, The Manali Leh route offers the ultimate road trip experience to all the adventure enthusiasts. Stretching up to a distance of 474 KMS, the route offers the thrill of riding on jagged roads with the majestic view of the Himalayas in the backdrop. 

The road conditions on the Manali Leh route are as follows: 

Manali to Sissu via Atal Tunnel: The roads are fairly good for driving.  

Sissu to Baralachala Pass: Not as good as before but still extremely easy to drive upon. 

Sarchu to Moore Plains: The dirt tracks will make your ride bumpy.

Moore Plains to Leh: The roads are paved smoothly making it easy to drive.

The best time for a Ladakh road trip is from June onwards. The main reason is that all the motorable high passes that get closed in winters are accessible from thereon.

It also depends on the route that you’re taking to go to Leh. When it comes to the Manali- Leh route, it is roughly accessible for around 5 months. The best time to go to Leh via Manali would be from Mid May Late October. The passes open in early May sometimes. But, BRO only allows a few vehicles to pass through and it depends on the conditions of the roads.

If you’re traveling to Ladakh via Srinagar, then the best time would be from Late June to Mid October.

Nestled at an elevation of almost 11,500 ft Ladakh is a high-altitude region and if you're traveling from the plains, then you will start to face some difficulty. You might get hit by a wave of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) where your symptoms would include headache, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, breathlessness, and more. It is important to keep drinking water and give your body at least 48 hours so that it can get acclimatized properly.

You'll find ATMs in Leh as well as Kargil too. There are many regions in Ladakh where you won't find ATMs. The network is poor as well and hence you can't rely on online payments either which is why it's always a good idea to carry cash. 

BSNL works best in Ladakh. Airtel gets decent coverage in Leh and so does Jio. 

Note that only postpaid SIMs work in Ladakh. However, you can also buy a SIM in Leh itself by showing your passport or voter ID card. However that SIM would only work in Ladakh.

A handful of restaurants and hotels take credit cards but you'll have to pay the service tax along with it.

Ladakh is extremely vast and brims with a rich culture in every corner. For that reason alone, it is required that you take your time to explore the land. 

If you are planning a Leh Ladakh bike trip from Manali or Srinagar then you'll need about 10-12 days. If flying directly to Leh, a minimum of 6 days will be required.  Rest depends on the number of days that you can afford to spend traveling

A medical kit is of utmost importance when traveling to Ladakh. You should always carry the below-mentioned things in your medical kit:

• Tablets for headaches, diarrhea, motion, and altitude sickness
• Dettol
• Bandages
• Cotton
• Strepsils
• Pain relief spray
• Crepe bandage
• Any personal medication advised by the doctor

In the wake of covid restrictions, you need to carry a Double vaccination certificate or a mandatory RT_PCR negative report that shouldn't be older than 72 hours. 

Other Documents required are Identity Proof ( Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Driving License, etc) and in case, you're traveling via your vehicle, then you need to carry all your vehicular documents as well. For Foreigners, a Passport with Visa and OCI Card is necessary.

There are certain Inner Line permits / Protected Area Permits that you need to acquire when traversing through these regions: 

• Khardungla
• Nubra Valley
• Shyok
• Changla Pass
• Pangong Tso
• Turtuk
• Tang Tse
• Chumthang Valley
• Tso Moriri
• Dha Hanu Valley
• Batalik

Permits are delivered via Deputy Commissioner (DC) Office in Leh, open from Monday to Saturday (10 AM - 4 PM). These permits are valid for 3 weeks for Indian Nationals and 15 days for Foreign Tourists.

There are several restaurant options available in Leh. Depending on the kind of food you want to eat. The authentic cuisine includes Chhurpi (Cheese made out of Yak Milk), Gur Gur Chai (Butter Tea), Mokhtuk, Thukpa, Tingmo, etc. 

If we were to recommend, we'd recommend the combo of Tea and Maggi at the world's highest Maggi Point en-route Khardung La Pass.

If you want to have a taste of the best Tibetan food, then you can go to The Tibetan Kitchen. 

Restaurants like Lamayuru, Andrew, Bon Appetit serve north Indian food for those who don't want to experiment and have the taste of food that reminds them of home. 

There are lots of cafe's that you can explore in Leh Market.

However, make sure to carry dry snacks when traveling to Nubra and further because you won't find many outlets there.