Take the 0740am Shatabdi train to Kalka arriving at 11.30am. Meet with vehicles and drive to Manali. -7 hrs. It’s a lovely drive as you leave the plains of Chandigarh and climb to the hills that you see from there. The air quickly gets cool and fresh as you continue this scenic drive along the Beas river to the town of Mandi, known as the Gateway of the Kulu valley. The ancient town of Kulu with its traditional wooden houses with slate roofs and carved pillars. The people look distinct with their wool hats with geometric colorful designs and their lovely shawls which one cannot resist buying. From here it is another hour to the busy hill station of Manali

Spend the day exploring Old Manali about 3 kms from the main bazaar. Here we visit the temple of Manu after whom the town of Manali was named. Interesting also is the old Hadimba temple set in a nice setting amidst deodar trees. One can also visit the famous Vashisht sulphur hot springs where there are piped in Turkish style baths. One can also go and visit the well known Roerich Art gallery at Naggar

With the new Atal Tunnel open, one does not need to go over Rohtang pass. The travel time and distance to Leh has been reduced by 46km and is now 428km. We leave leisurely after breakfast to drive to Jispa ( 3 hrs) for lunch. 28km after leaving Manali, you enter the Atal Tunnel and travel through it for a distance of 9km to reach the scenic Lahaul Valley passing Keylong ( district headquarters of Lahaul). The road follows the Chandra river to its junction with the Bhaga opposite Tandi village. The expanding village of Jispa( 3200m) is spread scenically across the Chandra Bhaga Valley. We have to afternoon to explore around. O/N hotel. Spending a night at Jispa also helps in the process of acclimatization.

After early breakfast we drive across the new Darcha Barsi bridge to reach Darcha. From here the road winds uphill steadily to Baralachala pass ( 4892m) from where you get fantastic views of the Zanskar range of mountains. The road from the pass onwards is a bit rough due to avalanches and road building works till Keylong Sarai and short rough sections till Sarchu Nala after which you reach Sarchu at 4253 m ( 176km from Manali). Sarchu has a cluster of fixed tented accommodation as well as an Army settlement. Continue on to Leh driving up the Gata Loops and across the Moore Plains of the Changtang Plateau. This is a journey that one needs to takes in a lifetime. It is a very smooth drive from here on and there’s never a single moment you want to miss. In this barren land you come across the most amazing landscape which keeps your imagination high as you see features like castles spires, arches, boulders balanced on rocky pillars against a bright blue skyline. The colour of the rocky faces and landscape change with the changing light . Finally after crossing Taglangla at 5360m we descend to the Indus Valley where the greenery of the tall poplar trees and gives a contrasting color to the barren landscape. You pass through small settlements where the roads are lined by willow trees . As you reach closer to Leh you can see the dramatically located monasteries of Stakna, Thiksey and Shey Palace.- 10 hrs.