Manali–Leh Highway — Manali to Leh via Rohtang Pass, Baralacha La, and Tanglang La
Five passes. Four months. Zero margin for error.
The Manali–Leh Highway is one of the highest motorable roads on Earth, climbing from 2,050 m at Manali to over 5,328 m at Tanglang La — for years cited as the world’s second-highest motorable pass. The route threads through the Rohtang Pass (3,978 m) before dropping into the Lahaul Valley and ascending again through Baralacha La (4,890 m), where the Chandra and Bhaga rivers split the landscape. The Sarchu plateau is the classic overnight bivouac — a high-altitude tent city at 4,253 m that forms spontaneously every summer between truckers, bikers, and overlanders. Beyond Lachulung La, the Gata Loops — 21 tight switchbacks — gain 1,000 metres in under 10 km before Tanglang La signals the final descent into the Indus Valley and Leh.
This is a Difficult-to-Expert route depending on season. The road is unpaved between Rohtang and Upshi, with river crossings at Nalachia Nala and Zing Zing Bar that can turn lethal after cloud bursts upstream. A serious 4WD or capable adventure motorcycle is required — low range, snorkelled engine, and a high-lift jack are your friends. The highway is open roughly June through October; by mid-October, snow closes the passes without warning. Carry fuel from Manali — Keylong has petrol but supply is unreliable. Inner Line Permit is not required for Indian nationals on this route, but foreign nationals should confirm current requirements at Manali. Altitude sickness hits hard at Sarchu; acclimatise properly in Manali first.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 298 mi / 480 km |
| Duration | 2-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 17480 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD or capable adventure motorcycle |
| Nearest town | Manali, Himachal Pradesh |
| Land manager | Border Roads Organisation (BRO), India — Project Himank |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BRO Project Himank — Manali–Leh Road Authority Himachal Pradesh Tourism — Highway Info |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Mahindra Thar or Jimny run the Manali–Leh Highway, or do I need a built rig?
A stock Thar or Jimny with decent ground clearance will handle most of it, but the river crossings near Darcha and the broken sections past Baralacha La will punish low-slung vehicles hard. Snorkels aren't required but skid plates are — rocks will find your underbelly. Lifted, high-clearance 4WD is the right call; a modified Scorpio or similar will fare better than a bone-stock SUV.
What's the exact window when the highway is actually open and drivable?
BRO typically clears the road and opens it in early June, though heavy snowpack years can push that to mid-June. It closes again by late October, sometimes earlier if early snowfall hits Rohtang or Tanglang La. Don't plan anything before June 1st or after October 15th without checking BRO Project Himank directly — the window is real and non-negotiable.
Do I need permits to drive through to Leh, and what does that cost?
Indian nationals need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Ladakh, obtainable online via the Ladakh e-ILP portal for a nominal fee (roughly ₹400–500 plus a ₹50/day charge). Foreign nationals require an ILP as well, processed through the District Commissioner's office in Leh or designated checkpoints. Rohtang Pass also has its own separate eco-permit system managed by the Himachal Pradesh government — check current quotas before you go as daily vehicle limits apply.
What's the hardest section of the route and what specifically makes it brutal?
The Gata Loops to Lachulung La stretch — roughly between Sarchu and Pang — is where most rigs and drivers get humbled. It's a combination of altitude above 4,900 m hammering your engine and your lungs, deeply rutted gravel that turns to loose rock, and zero guardrails on sheer drop-offs. Sarchu to Pang also has no fuel, no mechanicals, and weak to zero cell service, so if something breaks there, you're solving it yourself.
Where can I fill up on fuel along the route, and how far do I need to plan between stops?
Fuel is available in Manali before you depart and next reliably in Keylong (~115 km in), then not again until you reach Leh at the end. That's roughly a 360+ km stretch with no guaranteed pump — Sarchu and Pang have jerry can sellers but no formal stations and prices are steep. Carry enough rated fuel capacity to cover 400 km conservatively; this isn't the route to gamble your tank on.
Trail track
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