Travel My Country · road open May 1 – October 31 · Crysta from ₹26,000 one-way · Fortuner ₹42,000 · driver acclimatised to high altitude · +91-700 66 88 931
I’ve driven this road 73 times since 2016. The single best moment is sunrise at the Drass war memorial. The second is the first sight of Lamayuru’s moonland after the long climb from Mulbekh. The third is the moment you cross Sangam — where the milky Zanskar meets the green Indus — and you know Leh is 35 km away. This is the most beautiful drive in India, and it is safer, more scenic, and more practical than the Manali–Leh route.
Why Srinagar–Leh beats Manali–Leh
- Acclimatisation — Srinagar–Leh climbs gradually. Manali–Leh jumps from 2,000 m to 5,300 m in one drive; AMS is common.
- Road opens earlier — May 1 vs late May/early June for Manali–Leh.
- Better quality road surface — BRO has resurfaced most of this stretch.
- Cultural depth — Drass war memorial, Kargil’s Aga Khan culture, Mulbekh’s 9th-century rock Buddha, Lamayuru monastery, Indus-Zanskar Sangam.
- Photogenic from minute 1 — Sonamarg’s pine forest, Zojila’s snow walls, Drass’s brown plateaux, Lamayuru’s lunar landscape.
Distance, time, altitude
- Total distance: 420 km
- Driving time: 12–14 hours net
- Recommended split: 2 nights, 3 days (or 3 nights, 4 days for slow acclimatisation)
- Highest pass: Fotu La (4,108 m). Zojila is lower (3,528 m)
- Major stops: Sonamarg, Drass, Kargil, Mulbekh, Lamayuru, Nimmu, Leh
Day-by-day 4D/3N itinerary
Day 1 — Srinagar → Sonamarg → Drass (170 km, 5–6 hr)
Pickup at 8 AM in Srinagar. Drive 87 km to Sonamarg through Ganderbal. Quick chai stop. Climb Zojila Pass (3,528 m) — the dramatic switchbacks where the green Kashmir Valley ends and the brown Ladakh plateau begins. Cross into Drass. Stop at the Kargil War Memorial (entry free, allow 90 minutes — the museum is genuinely moving). Overnight at Drass Hotel Siachen or Drass Continental.
Day 2 — Drass → Kargil → Mulbekh → Lamayuru (215 km, 6–7 hr)
Morning drive to Kargil (60 km, 2 hr). Photo stop at the Kargil War Memorial Park. Continue via Pasht Kum and Mulbekh — the 9th-century 7-metre Maitreya Buddha carved into a cliff. Cross Namika La (3,720 m) and Fotu La (4,108 m). Drop to Lamayuru — the ‘Moonland’ — with its 11th-century Drikung Kagyu monastery. Overnight at Hotel Moonland or Niranjana.
Day 3 — Lamayuru → Magnetic Hill → Sangam → Leh (105 km, 3 hr)
Easy day. Photo stops at Magnetic Hill (gravitational illusion), Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Hall of Fame Indian Army museum, and the Indus-Zanskar Sangam at Nimmu. Reach Leh by lunch. Afternoon free for acclimatisation — short walk on Main Bazaar, no exertion.
Day 4 — Optional Pangong Tso side trip (or fly out from Leh KUU)
Most travellers extend with our Kashmir + Ladakh combined tour from this point — Pangong, Nubra, Khardung La. Or fly out from Leh airport (KUU) — early morning flights to Delhi and Mumbai.
Vehicle options
- Innova Crysta — ₹26,000 one-way / ₹38,000 round-trip. Best for 2–4 adults.
- Scorpio-N / XUV700 — ₹28,000 one-way. Higher ground clearance.
- Fortuner 4×4 Legender — ₹42,000 one-way / ₹62,000 round-trip. 4×4 helpful in early-season Zojila.
- Tempo Traveller 12-seater — ₹48,000 one-way. For groups of 8–11.
Permits & checkpoints
- Inner Line Permit (ILP) — not needed for the Srinagar–Leh route itself. Needed only for Nubra, Pangong, Hanle, Tso Moriri.
- Aadhaar/passport check — at Zojila, Drass, Kargil and Khaltse. Carry originals.
- Foreigners — need a Protected Area Permit for Nubra and Pangong but not for the highway itself.
When is the road open?
Officially May 1 to October 31. Zojila clears around late April/early May (BRO announces). Closes after the first heavy snowfall — typically third week of October. We don’t run civilian transfers between November 1 and April 30.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Srinagar–Leh highway open in 2026?
Typically May 1. The exact date is announced by Border Roads Organisation in mid-April after Zojila snow clearance. We confirm 7 days ahead of your trip.
Is Zojila Pass safe for civilian cars?
Yes during the open season. The road is single-lane on the steep sections but BRO controls traffic by direction. We always cross Zojila before 11 AM to avoid the afternoon convoy.
Do I need an Inner Line Permit?
Not for the Srinagar–Leh highway itself. You need ILP only for side trips to Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Hanle and Tso Moriri.
Where do we stop overnight — Drass or Kargil?
We prefer Drass for acclimatisation (3,200 m vs Kargil’s 2,676 m — though Drass is colder). Kargil has bigger hotels if you want comfort. Either works.
Will I get AMS on this route?
Possible but rare with the gradual climb. The biggest jump is Zojila (3,528 m) on Day 1, and you sleep low at Drass. By Day 3 you arrive in Leh (3,500 m) already partly acclimatised. Carry Diamox; start it 24 hours before Zojila.
Book your Srinagar–Leh transfer
WhatsApp +91-700 66 88 931 with your dates. We send the driver profile, hotel options at Drass/Kargil/Lamayuru, and a route map within 30 minutes.
See also: Kashmir + Ladakh combined tour · Innova Crysta cab · Fortuner cab · Full Kashmir cab service · Best time to visit