So………..! You’ve selected Ladakh for your next budget trip, but is there any confusion about the budget? No worries! Here is a one-of-a-kind travel guide for a budget trip to Leh Ladakh by zingbus.
Leh-Ladakh: This region is now a Union Territory, formerly part of Jammu & Kashmir, lies between the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram mountains, and is one of the most spectacular locations in the world, attracting thousands of tourists each year.
Ladakh is an emblem of pure paradisiacal beauty, awe-inspiring scenery, a stunning green oasis, glittering sacred monasteries, and small villages. Now, imagine how it would feel to be taking a breath of fresh air in the lap of the lovely valleys of the great Himalayas.
Leh is the largest town in Ladakh, so the breathtaking beauty of this unique alpine town takes your breath away from the moment you set foot in the city.
Take the photos of breathtakingly clear blue sky and be carried to a world of utter solitude, admiring the mountain flowers, snow-capped ranges, flowing streams, and deep valleys of this incredibly beautiful place on the planet.
Monks in maroon robes and men walking behind herds of sheep are just a few sights found in Leh and Ladakh.
But when it comes to having a budget trip, can we still say that a trip to Leh Ladakh is feasible? This is most likely the first question that comes to mind after deciding to visit Ladakh, so People unfamiliar with the location question how much it will cost for a Ladakh trip.
This article about your Leh-Ladakh trip will provide essential information on planning and organising your safe budget trip to Ladakh.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Plan for a Budget Trip to Leh Ladakh
- Best Way for Your Leh Ladakh Trip
- Protected Area Permit – PAP (For International Tourists)
- Places to Stay in Leh – Ladakh: From Budget Stays to Luxurious 5-Star Hotels in Ladakh
- Food Costs During the Travel and Stays in Ladakh
- Best Attractions, Activities, Things to Do in Leh-Ladakh
- The Next Stop: Leh – Ladakh
- Top Leh-Ladakh FAQs
- People Also Search For
Plan for a Budget Trip to Leh Ladakh
Honestly, the budget for any trip, including Leh Ladakh, highly depends on the individual’s preferences for taste and comfort. A basic schedule for a Leh Ladakh tour from Delhi (without any buffers) is provided below, covering all of the major tourist attractions in Leh Ladakh, which many travellers widely follow.
As part of the research on the Leh Ladakh tour packages, the place offers a variety of budget hotels based on your comfort, preference, conditions, and circumstances. The range may vary from a few bucks for a reasonable stay at some Dhaba to low-cost hotels/homestays on quite reasonable price tags to luxury and above luxury hotels that offer far more amenities than one may expect!
The same is true for food, depending on what you want to eat (Pizza, Dal Bhaat, Roti+Dal Fry, Maggie / Veg. Non-Veg., and similar delicacies). More importantly, where you want to eat fresh, drink full and enjoy more. Hence, this is the place you must visit!
Best Way for Your Leh Ladakh Trip
The primary Leh Ladakh trip cost is transportation or fuel, depending on your type of commute. Using public transportation within Leh–Ladakh is a bit difficult because the availability of such vehicles is limited and dependent on their schedules.
So, in Leh Ladakh, travellers primarily use privately hired taxis or shared taxis run by tour planners, or you can find travel partners like zingbus and split the cost with them; you may also ride rented bikes or eventually self-drive on their bikes or cars. All of these options will present you with various trip costs.
Now let’s look at each of these options to understand the total Leh Ladakh trip cost.
Self-Drive Private Vehicle
A budget trip to Leh Ladakh will take you approximately 3300-3600 kilometres (Round trip). So, if your bike gets about 25 KMPL on average in the mountains and plains, you should spend around Rs 15000 – 18000 on fuel. If it gives less, make the necessary adjustments.
Similarly, if you are driving a car, you can quantify accordingly. Keep in mind that your car will give much less mileage in the hills than in the plains. Calculate accordingly and divide the total cost by the number of people travelling in the car to evaluate the per-person cost. travelling to Leh Ladakh with a luggage rack on a motorcycle is challenging, so the cost can be calculated separately.
Self-Drive But Rented Vehicle
The fuel cost is the same as for a self-driven private vehicle calculated above, but you must also include the cost of bike/car rent. Depending on the brand and model of the bike, you can usually rent a decent bike in good condition for around ₹1200 – ₹1400 per day. So, if you get a discount, renting a bike from Delhi to Ladakh is around ₹16000 – ₹19000 or more. Adding the fuel cost as calculated above, the price here is roughly ₹26200 – ₹30500 (however, the numbers can vary significantly!).
Privately Hired Taxi
Taxis outside of Leh are not permitted to operate in Ladakh. Because you are always required to hire a Taxi that belongs only to Leh, you will hire a private taxi in Leh and use public transportation to get there. Given the scenario, the per-person fare of a taxi in Ladakh will come down if more people are travelling with you.
The sole reason to consider this scenario using local transportation is to keep a minimum budget, which can only be achieved by commuting in such a way.
Some routes for you:
- (Delhi – Jammu – Srinagar – Kargil – Leh) => ₹2500 – ₹3000 per person
- (Local Leh) => ₹2200
- (Leh – Khardung La – Nubra Valley – Leh)=> ₹9000
- (Leh – Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Leh) => ₹14000
- (Leh – Keylong – Manali – Delhi) => ₹3800 per person
Local Shared Taxis
Assuming that rather than having a personal taxi in Leh Ladakh, you intend to travel by shared taxis run by travel agents or join with other travel companies to split the burden, or you are a group of around five people, you can expect to pay around ₹13000 – ₹14000.
This estimate will significantly drop if you plan a trip to Ladakh by public bus.
Taking public transportation such as shared taxis, JKSRTC buses, and HPTDC buses on the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways in Himachal is always recommended.
Jammu to Ladakh distance?
- The distance between Jammu and Ladakh is approximately 700 kilometres, depending on the specific locations and the route taken. The journey can be made by road, with two primary routes available: via Srinagar and Kargil or via Manali.
Protected Area Permit – PAP (For International Tourists)
International tourists must obtain a Protected Area Permit (PAP), also known as an Inner Line Permit, to visit certain protected areas in Ladakh, such as Nubra Valley, Tso Pangong, Hanle, Tso Moriri, and others. You can obtain the Protected Area Permit through a local travel agent after you arrive in Leh.
The ILP Cost for Ladakh
Permit fees vary based on application method and location: ₹1395 through the Indian Mission or Ministry of Home Affairs, ₹3200 (potentially) per person based on a user report, ILP costs in Ladakh include ₹400 (environment fee), ₹100 (Red Cross donation), ₹20/day (wildlife protection fee), and ₹200 (processing fee), while state-specific fees depend on government decisions.
Required Documents
Upon your arrival in Leh, you will need to provide your original passport and visa to obtain the Protected Area Permit (PAP) or the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
Important Note: Citizens of the following countries (China, Pakistan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) and individuals holding Diplomatic Official Passports must obtain their Protected Area Permits from the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India in New Delhi.
Places to Stay in Leh – Ladakh: From Budget Stays to Luxurious 5-Star Hotels in Ladakh
Many people believe that this will be the most expensive part of their Ladakh trip. However, this is not entirely correct. In Ladakh, the cost of accommodation is not particularly low or very high; you simply need to be more selective in your choices.
Most places provide affordable homestays in Leh Ladakh, like guest houses, for as little as ₹700 – ₹800 per night. Regular campsite fees are a bit steep in places like Pangong. However, there are homestays in Spangmik, Man, and Merak, and their fees will be lower than those of the campgrounds.
#1. Hotel Snow View
- Location: Snow View, a 5-star luxury hotel in Leh Ladakh.
- Accommodation: 27 rooms, including Deluxe Single, Deluxe Double, Suites, and budget-friendly Standard Rooms.
- Outdoor Experience: Offers Luxury Swiss Tents and organises treks in the Ladakh valley.
- Dining: Serves Indian, Indian-Chinese, Continental, and Ladakhi cuisines.
- Facilities: On-request room service, active travel desk, and 24-hour power backup.
- Entertainment: Hosts cultural shows in the evenings, highlighting Ladakh’s history and culture.
- Starting Price: Rooms available from ₹4300.
#2. Ladakh Sarai
- Established in 1978 by Tiger Mountain, a group of British adventure travel pioneers.
- Located 10 minutes from Leh amidst a grove of poplar, willow, and apricot trees.
- Offers stunning views of the Stok Kangri Range, Ladakh’s highest peak.
- Recently upgraded accommodations include a mudhouse, a chalet, a heritage bungalow, and a duplex.
- Customizable configurations are available to cater to various needs.
- Friendly staff and community meals made from fresh ingredients from the on-site organic garden.
- Luxury properties are also available at Pangong Lake and the Nubra Valley.
- Accommodation prices start at ₹10,000 per person.
#3. Stock Palace
- Historic Significance: Former summer retreat for the Ladakh Royal Family.
- Ownership: Currently owned by the 34th generation of the Royal Family.
- Location: 25 minutes from Leh.
- Unique Experiences:
- Roam freely around the palace grounds.
- Participate in monastery prayers.
- Engage in sessions with locals and attend festive launches.
- Accommodation:
- 6 suites in the palace.
- 3 villas in the orchard.
- Price: ₹14,750 per night for a double deluxe room.
Food Costs During the Travel and Stays in Ladakh
For instance, if you eat at a Dhaba/tent, the expense of the food will be more like ₹50-₹70 per person, whereas the same food at a café on Changspa road in Leh may cost ₹150 – ₹170 per person or more. Moreover, the price of food will rise significantly in some high-end eateries.
Local Dhabas are accessible across most areas and are ideal for low-cost meal options. Typically, if you make wise choices, you can efficiently handle your daily meals for a couple of hundred bucks per individual.
Best Attractions, Activities, Things to Do in Leh-Ladakh
Explore the Captivating Zanskar Valley
The snow-covered peaks reflect the heavenly skies. The rushing rivers through these mountains create a simply stunning amalgamation of view and sound. Each point here in the Zanskar Valley is an echo spot, so if you’re in a safe position, you might want to chance a yell to listen to the echoes reverberating from the hills.
Enjoy the Beauty of Pangong Tso Lake
The lake provides an excellent camping location and is a popular destination for visitors to Ladakh. Boating is not permitted on Pangong-Tso Lake, but if the lake freezes in the cold weather, if you’re feeling adventurous, you might also want to ice skate on the lake’s bank.
Take Part in the Thrilling Chadar Trek
The Chadar Trek, as it is famously known, is essentially a trek across defrosted rivers. The most popular trek is the one along the Zanskar River, which is often done in huge groups by adventure junkies. The Chadar trek is usually done in November when the water is frozen and convenient to trek on, but the rest of the environment is still cold enough to allow you to survive. This is among the most challenging and adventurous treks.
Visit Nubra Valley, A Desert in the Hills
A desert is usually the last thing on anyone’s mind when hoping to travel to Ladakh, but it’s there. The Nubra Valley dunes provide tourists with an Arabian Nights-like experience. The region also has famous and well-known camels, often the biggest attraction for animal lovers.
Observe the Anti-Gravity Effect at Magnetic Hill
The scientific knowledge behind the occurrence is unidentified, but if you leave your car at the bottom of the hill with the handbrake unsecured, it will begin moving up the hill gradually by itself. Magic? Surely not. It’s merely the powers you gain when you arrive at the Magnetic Hill.
The Next Stop: Leh – Ladakh
It’s beneficial if you have your own vehicle. And the cost is determined by the number of days you intend to spend there. If it is for 10 to 15 days, the cost will be between ₹20,000 and ₹25,000 … (*with your own mode of transportation or else, it may be more expensive.)
Mentioned above are different scenarios that you can combine and calculate separately for custom cases.
Top Leh-Ladakh FAQs
-
Is there an oxygen shortage in Ladakh?
Ladakh is located at a high altitude, nearly 11,500 feet above sea level. At this height, people frequently experience breathing difficulties or succumb to altitude sickness (sinus headaches). It occurs due to a lack of oxygen in the atmosphere. Allow yourself sufficient time to settle before engaging in any vigorous exercise.
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How long should a trip to Ladakh last?
The best time is calculated by your plans and itinerary. In general, it tends to take 5 to 10 days to visit the major attractions in Ladakh. If backpacking or trekking is your primary goal, you may need to extend the period because some lengthy hiking trails involve more time to finish the road trip.
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What kind of clothing should we bring for our trip to Ladakh?
T-shirts and shorts are appropriate clothing options during the day, but the weather becomes pretty cold after dusk, necessitating a jacket and sweater. Warm, woollen clothing is required for trekking to peaks 4000 metres above sea level.
Rain and snowstorms are possible in June and July, so bring windcheaters and raincoats if you plan to travel during this time. A pair of waterproof footwear is a must if you enjoy trekking.
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Are ATMs available in Leh?
Axis Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Punjab National Bank, and State Bank of India have four ATMs in Leh.
Credit cards are also accepted in a few restaurants and hotels. However, a service tax is applied.
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What are the climatic conditions of the Ladakh desert?
Ladakh experiences a cold desert climate. Summers (May to September) are mild and pleasant, with daytime temperatures ranging between 15°C to 25°C, while nights can be chilly. Winters (October to April) are harsh, with temperatures often plunging below freezing, sometimes as low as -30°C. The region receives minimal rainfall, with the majority of precipitation occurring as snow.
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Which bike is best for Leh – Ladakh trip and the Umling La Pass?
Royal Enfield bikes, such as the Classic 350, Bullet 350, and Himalayan, are popular choices for a Ladakh trip due to their sturdiness, engine capacity, and ability to navigate rough terrains. Bajaj Dominar 400 and KTM Duke series are also considered suitable options for their performance and reliability if you are considering trekking to the Umling La Pass – the highest motorable Pass in the World.
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