LEH CITY MONASTERIES TOUR

LEH to HEMIS & SHEY

There is no direct bus specifically for HEMIS or SHEY, but you can always take any bus passing on the Leh-Manali Highway like Leh-Pangong, Leh-Tsomoriri and get down at KARU, say about 200 mtrs further take a right turn. Hemis is 7 kms on that road. Either take a lift from an ongoing local bus OR a car OR simply hike the way.

• LEH to THIKSEY
• THIKSEY is one of the biggest Monastery in the LADAKH region.
• Departure from Leh :- 08.30am & 04.00pm (Daily)
• Distance from Leh    :- 16.5 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.31:00

• LEH to STOK
• STOK is a beautiful village which houses the ancient STOK PALACE & Museum. It also happens to be the base camp for the famous STOK-KANGRI trek.
• Departure from Leh :- 08.00am & 05.00pm (Daily)
• Distance from Leh    :- 15 kms (about 35 to 40 m) 
• Fare from Leh            :- Rs.26/-

• LEH to ALCHI
• ALCHI is a unique gompa on the SRINAGAR – LEH highway.
• Departure from Leh :- 08.00am & 04.00pm (Daily)
• Distance from Leh    :- 66.4 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.107:00

• LEH to LIKIR
• LIKIR is an ancient Gompa located on the SRINAGAR LEH Highway. A left hair pin bend while driving from Srinagar to Leh leads you to LIKIR GOMPA located 7 kms further.
• Departure from Leh :- 04.00pm (Daily)
• Distance from Leh    :- 56.1 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.80:00

• LEH to GURUDEV PATHER SAHIB (23.2 kms), MAGNETIC HILL (26.8 kms) & NIMMOO SANGAM (34.2 kms, Confluence of Indus & Zanskar rivers), BASGO PLAINS (39.5 kms).
• Departure from Leh :- No specific service. All buses passing on the Srinagar Leh Highway including ALCHI & LIKIR pass through these tourist places.

LEH to NUBRA VALLEY

• NUBRA VALLEY is divided into two parts by a “Y” intersection at KHALSAR (93.7 kms from LEH). While the road converging on the left arm extends itself to DISKIT-HUNDER-THOISE-SKURU-TURTUK, the right side proceeds to SUMUR-PANAMIK-WARSHI
• Online booking services are not available & one has to reach Leh Depot to get the bookings.
• Local bus services operated are neither Luxury nor Semi-Deluxe type buses. These buses are basic buses used by locals. In case you are looking at a Luxury travel, you would have to look for taxis.
• Traveling by the Local Bus Services would have its limitation, since it operates with a limited frequency during the week. Hence it may not be as fast as any private tour operator.

LOCAL BUS SERVICES

• LEH to DISKIT
• A route of 114 kms to DISKIT passing over the KHARDUNG LA, on the World’s highest motorable road. Hunder, 11.7 kms further can be reached by a local taxi from Diskit.
• Departure from Leh :- 08.00am (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 3 days a week service)
• Return from Diskit    :- 07.00am (Wednesday, Friday & Sunday, 3 days a week service)
• Distance from Leh    :- 114 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.200:00 (approx.) per side.

• LEH to TURTUK
• TURTUK, one of the most beautiful picturesque & the last village on the Indo-Pak border. In case, you have to reach Turtuk on any day (other than a Saturday), you can reach Diskit or Hunder by the above bus service & opt for a shared taxi till Turtuk used by the locals.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (Weekly service only on Saturday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 208 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.277:00

• DISKIT – TURTUK- DISKIT
• Departure from Diskit          :- 02.30pm (Daily)
• Departure from Turtuk        :- 06:00am (Daily)
• Fare                                        :- Rs.252:00

• LEH to SKURU
• SKURU, a small village beyond HUNDER & THOISE.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (Tuesday & Thursday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 151 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.224:00

• LEH to SUMUR
• A village housing the beautiful SUMUR Monastery is on the right side of the “Y” intersection at KHALSAR.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (Thursday & Saturday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 118 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.156:00

• LEH to CHARASA
• A small village ahead of SUMUR on the SUMUR-PANAMIK road on the opposite side of SUMUR across the river.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (every Saturday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 162 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.247:00

• LEH to KHIMEE
• KHIMEE is a village between Panamik & Warshi. You can reach Panamik by this bus.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (every Tuesday)
• Fare                            :- Rs.252:00

• LEH to TAKSHA
• This village is a little further to Panamik. You can reach Panamik by this bus.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (every Thursday)
• Fare                            :- Rs.252:00

• LEH to PANGONG TSO
• LADAKH as a whole has got immense popularity, particularly after the release of the famous Aamir Khan starred film “3 IDIOTS”. A couple of decades ago in the year 2000, when I first visited Leh, 80% of the tourists travelling by the State Transport Bus were foreigners, 5% Indian tourits & the remaining were locals. PANGONG TSO was only a heard name & with a very tight Itinerary, we actually did not know whether travelling 159 kms by bus to the lake & returning the next day would actually be worth it or not. Instead we chose to do the local sight seeing & limited ourselves to the monasteries & Khardungla pass.
• Indeed, travelling by local transport buses would have its own limitation in enjoying the real scenery of the beautiful journey compared to travelling by a self owned car OR a private taxi. However, if the itinerary is planned considering the Bus schedules & timings, it would be more economical. Again as mentioned in my earlier notes, the buses are non-luxurious & with basic comfort levels.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (every Saturday & Sunday via KARU, SAKTI, CHANG LA, TANGSTE)
• Departure from Pangong:- every Sunday & Monday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 165 kms (upto SPANGMIK)
• Fare                            :- Rs.250:00 one way

• LEH to CHUSUL
• In case you are not able to make it to the Ist bus at 06.00am on Sunday, you can also board this bus & get down at PANGONG Tso. You can also reach MAN & MERAK villages by these buses. These are the last villages upto which foreign tourist are permitted to travel. Beyond these villages, only Indians carrying a valid ILP are permitted to proceed.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.30am (every Sunday via Chang La, Pangong, Man  Merak)
• Departure from Leh :- 06:30am (every Wednesday via Tangste, Chilam, Harong)
• Distance from Leh    :- 210 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.350:00 one way.

• LEH to TANGSTE
• Thursday is another option, but the bus travel is limited upto TANGSTE. The remaining 50 kms would have to be travelled by taxi / other option which may be a bit difficult to arrange.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.00am (every Thursday & Sunday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 126 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.165:00

• LEH to PHOBRANG
• Phobrang is a little beyond Lukung on the Marsimik La route. In case you are not able to make it by the Ist bus at 06:00am on Saturday, you can board this bus till PANGONG lake.
• Departure from Leh :- 07.00am (every Saturday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 180 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.300:00

• LEH to HANLE
• HANLE is one of the most remote villages in India with a very limited population know for the world’s highest space observatory.
• Departure from Leh :- 06:30am (every Saturday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 254 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.500:00

• LEH to TSOMORIRI Tso
• A very beautiful lake with vivid colours.
• Departure from Leh :- 06.30am (every 10^th, 20^th & 30^th of every month)
• Distance from Leh    :- 220 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.370:00

• LEH to CHUMATHANG
• Departure from Leh :- 12.00 noon (every alternate Sundays)
• Distance from Leh    :- 180 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.300:00

• LEH to NYOMA
• Departure from Leh :- 09.00am (every Monday & Thursday)
• Distance from Leh    :- 180 kms
• Fare                            :- Rs.160:00

TAXI FARES

For those, who can tide over the budgetary limitation of basic bus services & can extend themselves for Taxis can take guidelines from the below options.

TAXI FARES 

For those, who can tide over the budgetary limitation of basic bus services & can extend themselves for Taxis can take guidelines from the below options. 

	TAXI FARES for 2020-21	DAYS	KMS	INNOVA / ARIA / XUV 500	XYLO/ SCORPIO/ GRAND / SAFARI/ QUALIS / TAVERA	EECO / VAN / SUMO
1	LEH-SANKAR-SHANTI STUPA-LEH PALACE- LEH	1		1,195/-	1,136/-	1,030/-
2	LEH-STOK-SHEY-THIKSEY-HEMIS-STAKNA-MATHO-CHEMDAY-TAKTHOKLEH	1		4,578/-	4,349/-	3,944/-
3	LEH-HALL OF FAME – GURUDEV PATHER – SAHIB – MAGNETIC HILL – BASGO – LIKIR – ALCHI – LEH			4,188/-	3,978/-	3,607/-
4	LEH-KHARDUNG LA pass-LEH	1	39	3,179/-	3,039/-	2,773/-
5	LEH – DISKIT HUNDER – LEH	1 2	250 250	8,858/- 10,734/-	8434/- 10,199/-	7665/- 9,246/-
6	LEH – DISKIT – HUNDER – SUMUR – PANAMIK – LEH	2	491	12,784/-	12,145/-	11,013/-
7	LEH – DISKIT – HUNDER – TURTUK – LEH	2		14,431/-	13,709/-	12,431/-
8	LEH – DISKIT – HUNDER – TURTUK – SUMUR – PANAMIK – LEH	2 3		16,000/- 18,000/-	15,000/- 17,000/-	14,000/- 16,000/-
9	LEH – DISKIT – HUNDER – PANGONG (via SHYOK)-LEH	3	438	17,221/-	16,359/-	14,834/-
10	LEH-DISKIT-HUNDER-TURTUK-PANGONG lake (via SHYOK)	3 4	594 594	24,739/- 27,212/-	23,500/- 25,850/-	21,309/- 23,439/-
11	LEH-DISKIT-HUNDER-TURTUK-SUMUR-PANAMIK-PANGONG lake (via SHYOK)-LEH	3	677	26,104/-	24,798/-	22,318/-
	LEH-DISKIT-HUNDER-SUMUR-PANAMIK-PANGONG lake (via SHYOK)-LEH	2		19,085/-	18,150/-	16,459/-
12	LEH-PANGONG – LEH	1 2	318 318	9,518/- 11,331/-	9,043/- 10,765/-	8,201/- 9,762/-
13	LEH-PANGONG – HANLE – LEH	3	637	24,000/-	23,000/-	22,000/-
14	LEH – PANGONG – HANLE – TSOMORIRI – LEH via TSO KAR – TANGLANG LA	4	716	30,00/-	28,500/-	27,500/-
15	LEH – PANGONG – TSOMORIRI – LEH	3	620	23,851/-	22,658/-	20,538/-
16	LEH- TSOMORIRI – LEH	2	441	15,711/-	14,926/-	13,535/-
17	LEH – TSOMORIRI – HANLE -LEH	3	633	24,000/-	23,000/-	22,000/-
18	LEH – DISKIT – HUNDER – TURTUK – PANGONG (via SHYOK)– TSOMORIRI (via TSAGA LA)– LEH (via TSOKAR – TANGLANG LA	5		38,387/-	36,467/-	33,068/-
19	LEH – DISKIT – HUNDER – TURTUK – SUMUR – PANAMIK – PANGONG (via SHYOK)– TSOMORIRI (via TSAGA LA)– LEH (via TSOKAR – TANGLANG LA	5		40,251/-	38,238/-	34,674/-
20	INCLUDE HANLE in TRIP No.18 & 19.	6		3,850/-	3,658/-	3,316/-
21	EXCLUDE TURTUK from TRIP No.18 & 19.	5		-4,366/-	-4,147/-	-3,760/-
22	RETURN from MAHE BRIDGE in Trip 18 & 19			-2,734/-	-2,596/-	-2,354/-
23	INCLUDE MANALI DROP in Trip 18 & 19			17,344/-	16,476/-	14,940/-

TAXI DRIVERS IN LEH for SIGHTSEEING

TAXI fares in Leh Ladakh are governed by the LADAKH TAXI OPERATOR’s union. They have a website www.ladakhtaxiunion.com on which updated fares are listed. While travelling in the Ladakh region, your driver is your companion, your guide & your escort. Having a good driver with you is the very essence of making your trip joyful & memorable. In general, Ladakhi people are very friendly, co-operative & hospitable. They would try to do everything in their limits to make your trip delightful. They are also familiar with various stay options, good food outlets in the region and would guide you to the right sources.

While travelling in Ladakh by taxi, you may feel the need to take halts in between to click photographs, enjoy a few moments at a particular place & have no time bindings within reasonable means. Drivers who understand these needs of the tourists & sync their approach in line with the requirements of the guests are always recommended by tourists. Below is the list of drivers with their contact numbers. Although, I have not personally interacted with them, they have been recommended by various people in their reviews who have travelled to Ladakh & have used their services.

DRIVERS FROM LEH

• Stanzin Spalzang :-  +91 9419997044/+919797492614.
• Ali Akbar :-  +91 9419313176
• Rigzen Namgyal :-  +9196222950842, 09419844285
• Rigzin :-  +919622954779, 9469472772
• Manzoor :-  +91-9622973951
• Chamba :-  +91 9596979829 / 09906999808
• Sonam Tsering :-  +91 9419372817, 09906982535
• Naseer :-  +91 9906229203 and 09469293183
• Smanla :-  +91 9469049594.
• Thinley :- +91 9797313132
• Tracey/Tashi :- +91 9906305546
• Dorjay Anbchuk :- +91 9419308051
• Stanzin Angchuk :- +919469626990
• Abbas :- +91 9622971759, 09469271786
• Dorjey :- +919419372742, 09622969317
• Sonam :- +919419371012
• Abbas :- +919622998367

SRINAGAR TAXI DRIVERS for LEH DROP

• JAVED :- +91-9906753778 (Toyota Innova)
• ARIF :- +91-9419060121 / 07298436438 (TAVERA)
• KAZIM :- +91-9419801538
• FIROZ :-  +91-9469190694
• RAMEEZ :- +91-9419021868
• HUSSAIN :- +91-9469736891

MANALI TAXI DRIVERS for LEH DROP

• Ravi :-– +91-9816508774
• Biru :-– +91-9459518549
• Amit :–  +91-9459281888 , 09805670579

KARGIL TAXI DRIVERS for PADUM DROP

• Hasan :- +91–09419843703
• Gulam Rasul :– +91-9419807087 , 01985-232328/232721
• Suroom Singh :- +91-09797389642
• Ashu :– +91-9419222992
• Gulam Akbar :-   +91-9419806358

SHARED TAXI SERVIES

Shared Taxi Services strike the right equilibrium between the Govt. Buses & the private taxis. Most of the travellers travel in various sizes of the groups ranging from a SOLO TRAVELLER to anything between 8-10. It becomes imperative that the group size matches with the Taxi capacity. If typically, you are in a group of 5-6 people, it makes sense to hire a full taxi. However, in case of solo travellers, couples, small families with 3-4 persons, the cost of the entire taxi becomes exorbitantly high. Travelling by Govt. Service buses means inflexibility in the travel timing and travel schedules.

You will find several flyers outside cafes on the Changspa Road displaying SHARED TAXI SERVICES. They charge a bit higher (maybe Rs.200-300) than the optimum cost per person. However, this option serves as the most economical & an optimal solution to the expensive travel in the Ladakh region.

TO SUMMARIZE

Travel within Ladakh being a big ticket item, I have tried to provide as much details possible with contacts for you to pre plan your visit & take correct estimates of travel expenses. In case, you find this article useful, please share the same with your friends, relatives and contacts aspiring to travel to Ladakh.

You can write to me in the note section below. I would be most glad to reply to your queries and assist you in planning your trip.