Leh–Manali Highway

In Himachal Pradesh:

The Rohtang Pass becomes impassable during winter.

• 1: Manali (altitude 1,950 m (6,400 ft)) to Marhi at 3,300 m (10,800 ft) elevation 33 km (21 mi). It is a steady climb.
• 2: Marhi to Rohtang Pass at 3,980 m (13,060 ft) elevation 18 km (11 mi). It is a steady climb.
• 3: Rohtang to Gramphu at 3,200 m (10,500 ft) elevation 19 km (12 mi). It is a steady descent. Turn left (towards west) at Gramphu on the highway along Chandra river to proceed towards Leh. The right turn (towards east) at Gramphu leads to Spiti valley and Batal, Kunzum La and Kaza on a road along Chandra river that is paved for some distance and then unpaved.
• 4: Gramphu to Kokhsar, the first village north of Rohtang Pass. 6 km (3.7 mi). Foreign nationals have to show their passports with valid visa at the police check post here.
• 5: Kokhsar to Sissu at 3,130 m (10,270 ft) elevation 15 km (9.3 mi). The highway runs along the left (south) bank of the Chandra River, with a beautiful waterfall on the other side of the river. There is a helipad at Sissu with service to Manali during the winter.
• 6: Sissu to Tandi at 2,570 m (8,430 ft) elevation 17 km (11 mi). Tandi is at the bottom of a river valley, where the Chandra River and the Bhaga River (flowing from the north) merge to form the Chandra-Bhaga river (which becomes the Chenab downstream in Ladakh). Cross the Bhaga river over the bridge towards the right, take the right turn at the fork, and the road again starts climbing.
• 7: Tandi to Keylong at 3,080 m (10,100 ft) elevation 8 km (5.0 mi).
• 8: Keylong to Jispa at 3,310 m (10,860 ft) elevation 22 km (14 mi). Jispa is a village where two nullahs (small streams) join the Bhaga River.
• 9: Jispa to Darcha at 3,360 m (11,020 ft) elevation 6 km (3.7 mi). All tourists have to register at the police check post here.
• 10: Darcha to Zingzingbar 4,270 m (14,010 ft) elevation 26 km (16 mi). The steep ascent to Baralacha La starts at Zingzingbar.
• 11: Zingzingbar to Baralacha La pass at 5,030 m (16,500 ft) elevation 22 km (14 mi). It is a steady climb.
  A stream (from a glacial melt) flows across the highway just after Zingzingbar. It is advisable to cross the stream before noon because the flow of ice-cold water increases as the temperature rises. If the flow of water is too powerful for a vehicle to cross, or if the weather worsens en route to Baralacha La, turn back to Zingzingbar or Darcha, and seek accommodation before trying on the next day.
• 12: Baralacha La to Bharatpur 6 km (3.7 mi). It is a steady descent. The Bhaga river and the Chandra river originate from melting snow at opposite sides of Baralacha La, the former flowing southwest and the latter flowing first southeast and then northwest to merge at Tandi.
• 13: Bharatpur to Sarchu at 4,300 m (14,100 ft) elevation 28 km (17 mi). Sarchu is a military base and has a police check post. Register at the police check post here.

In the union territory of Ladakh:

The Taglang La pass is the highest elevation on the Leh–Manali Highway.

• 14: Sarchu to Pang 4,600 m (15,100 ft) elevation 77 km (48 mi) climbing 500 m through the Gata loops (22 hairpin bends) at 4,190 m (13,750 ft) elevation and traversing through Nakee La pass at 4,739 m (15,547 ft) and Lachulung La pass at 5,065 m (16,616 ft) elevations. Register at the check post at Pang.
• 15: Pang to Taglang La pass at 5,328 metres (17,480 ft) elevation, 66 km (41 mi). This stretch crosses a plateau at 4,700 m (15,400 ft) called the More plains or Morey plains.
• 16: Taglang La pass to Upshi 61 km (38 mi). The highway crosses the Indus river to reach Upshi village on the north.

Upshi has a Customs and Excise taxation check post where vehicles are inspected.

• 17: Upshi to Karu 14 km (8.7 mi) After crossing the Indus river at Upshi, the highway bears left for Karu. The right turn is an ancient trading road heading east toward Pangong Lake and Tibet. There is a helipad on this road.
• 18: Karu to Leh at 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) elevation, 35 km (22 mi) Staying to the left and following the Indus River leads toward Leh. There is another turn-off to the right that goes to Shyok, Pangong Lake, and Tibet.

Visiting some locations beyond Leh requires special permission, which can be obtained at Leh.

The distance from Lachulung La to Taglang La is 87 km (54 mi) via Pang.

Fast-flowing water eroded the highway on the More plains.

Snow and rain can make the highway slushy or too slippery to travel. Past precipitation can also create travel hazards. Much of Rohtang Pass remains covered by snow even in summer. Adjacent glaciers melt (more so as the day wears on) and water overruns the highway in many places. This water is ice-cold and travellers should avoid situations where they might have to wade through it.

There are no fuel stations in the final 365 kilometres (227 mi) between Tandi and Leh. Vehicles should fill up at the start of this stretch, and motorcycles and vehicles with small tanks should carry additional fuel in cans. In an emergency, fuel may be available at small towns en route (Sarchu, Pang, etc.), but this fuel may be adulterated.

At high altitudes, the air is thinner and contains less oxygen. Acute mountain sickness is possible, whose symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. It can be fatal. If reaching the area by air from lower terrain, the traveller should acclimate to the high altitude by staying at least one night at the starting point (typically Manali), and plan to stay over at either Keylong, Jispa or Darcha before ascending to the highway's highest passes and plains after Darcha. Travellers should minimise the time spent at the high altitudes and therefore not stay over at Sarchu or Pang. They should carry chocolates, glucose or other high-energy food on the journey.

Yaks in More plains

Ladakh is a cold semi-arid desert. It is cold along the highway even in summer (June onwards); the days are warm in bright sunshine but the nights are very cold. Light woollens are required during the day and thick woollens are required at night. There is no rainfall between Rohtang Pass and Leh even during the monsoon season in July–September as the entire region lies in rain shadow.