Ladakh is true heaven nestled in the Himalayas far away from the chaos, pollution and hullabaloo of other cities. The beauty of Ladakh makes it one of the top travel destinations of the world.
Whenever we plan a trip to any such place the questions like “when to go?” and “how much the trip will cost?” pop up in our minds. Some people think that Ladakh is an expensive destination and eventually never plans a trip to Ladakh.
Just like any other Indian destination, you can plan a trip to Ladakh in a moderate budget. All you have to do is proper planning after gaining adequate information about the place.
People who follow a well-laid itinerary for Ladakh tour can explore this heavenly land within a decent budget. You can also consider buying Ladakh tour packages for a budget-friendly tour.
If you are also worried about the travel expenses of your Ladakh trip then, read the given guidelines and basic information. Yes, wise planning can save your extra bucks while exploring Ladakh.
Minimum Budget for Ladakh Trip:
Your trip cost depend on many factors like the number of trip days, the number of people visiting, eating habits, number of places you wish to cover and mode of transport. However, we can give you a rough estimation of all these factors so that you can calculate your own budget as per your requirements.
1. Ladakh Travel Cost:
The mode of transport is a major factor in deciding your trip budget while travelling to Ladakh. You won’t find many public transport options in Ladakh due to challenging roads and scarcely populated area. Hence, most of the tourists opt for personal transportation or private cabs/taxis.
• Private Motorcycle/Car:
The main concern while travelling through a personal vehicle is the cost of fuel. You will be covering around 3300 – 3600 km on your Ladakh Trip. If your bike gives your mileage about 25 KMPL then, INR 9,500 – 11,000 will be the estimated fuel cost of your Ladakh trip. If it gives less mileage, then you can calculate accordingly.
You can also estimate the cost of car fuel in the same manner. The total cost can be divided into the number of travellers if you are travelling with friends. Just remember that car gives comparatively less mileage in hills than plains.
• Self-drive Rented Vehicle:
The cost of fuel will remain the same in this case. You have to just add the rent charges of the vehicle (car/bike). For instance, you can hire a decent bike in approx. INR 1,200 -1,400 per day. So, the cost of 10 days will be around INR 12,000 – 14,000. After adding the cost of fuel into it, the final cost will be around INR 24,000 – 26,000.
• Private Cab:
Travelling via private cab can enhance your travel expense as compared to the other modes of transport. The charges of the private cab will be:
* From Manali to Leh: INR 15,000 – 20,000
* From Srinagar to Leh: INR 13,000 – 16,000
* 2-day Tour to Destinations like Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri: INR 10,000 – 12,000.
* Total Taxi Fare after Discount: INR 50,000 – 60,000 approx.
Non-local taxis are not allowed for LehLadakh sightseeing. So, hire one from Ladakh for visiting special permit areas.
• Shared Taxi:
You can save a lot by choosing these shared taxis over the personal cabs. If you are travelling solo or with only 1-2 people then, this option can be looked upon. Per person charges from Manali to Leh or Srinagar to Leh are INR 2,500 in these. After adding up local sightseeing charges, it will cost somewhere between INR 8,000 – 10,000 per person.
• Bus service:
The bus can be the cheapest travelling option but, it is also the most inconvenient one in Ladakh. The bus timings can vary from your schedule and at some places the buses don’t run regularly. It runs 2-3 times in a week in high altitude areas of Ladakh. The one-way bus fares are:
* From Manali to Leh: INR 2,500 (deluxe), INR 500 (Regular)
* From Srinagar to Leh: INR 1,000 (deluxe), INR 500 (Regular)
Hence, you can calculate your total trip cost as per your mode of transport and the number of people from the given rates.
2. Food + Accommodation Budget for Ladakh Trip:
For a pocket-friendly trip, it is advisable to stay in an average budget hotel on your Ladakh tour. Or else you can buy Ladakh tour packages which will cover your stay, travel and food at a fixed rate.
The cost of a decent hotel, three time food and other miscellaneous expenses like permit etc. will be around INR 900-1000 per day. This rate will apply on per person if you are travelling in a group where you can share the expenses. For a 10 day trip, you will have to spend INR 10,000 – 11,000 approx. on your food, accommodation and other extra expenses.
Again, this estimated rate can fluctuate on the basis of your choices. For example, you can have a wholesome meal in INR 50-70 at a Dhaba, and the same meal will cost you approx. INR 150 – 170 in a restaurant at Changspa Road. Your preferences like vegetarian and non-vegetarian also affect the total budget.
3. Budget for Activities in Ladakh:
You can participate in various adventurous activities offered in Ladakh. Trying them is totally your own call if you want to spice up your trip more. We are mentioning the per person approximate cost of a few activities:
* Trekking:INR 15,000 –43,000
* Camping:INR 8,700 – 27,000
* Quad Biking: INR 7,000 – 9,000
* Rafting: INR 1,800 – INR 3,000
Hence, the total trip amount can be estimated from the given figures. The figures are high for some while low for others. You can have an awesome trip at Ladakh by choosing the low cost options if budget is an issue for you. Remember that, you shouldn’t stop living your dreams. With a wise plan and proper research, everything is possible!
