Kashmir and Ladakh share a highway and a season, which makes combining them in one trip genuinely practical - not just possible. Here is how the 10 days actually break down, and why doing Kashmir first, then driving into Ladakh, works better than the reverse.
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Kashmir and Ladakh are usually planned as separate trips, but they don't have to be - the Srinagar-Leh highway physically connects them, and both are workable in the same May-to-September window. Combining them means one flight in, one flight out, and a genuinely varied trip: alpine valley, then high-altitude desert. Ten days is a realistic minimum, not a rushed one.
Why Kashmir first, then Ladakh
Every flight lands in Srinagar, so starting there is automatic. From Srinagar, you then drive the Srinagar-Leh highway into Ladakh rather than backtracking - and fly out of Leh at the end instead of returning the way you came. This avoids doing the long highway drive twice.
Days 1-2: Srinagar
Arrive, settle into a houseboat or hotel, and use day 2 for Dal Lake, the Mughal Gardens, and Shankaracharya Temple. This also serves as a gentle acclimatisation buffer before the altitude gain later in the trip.
Day 3: Gulmarg
A day trip to Gulmarg for the Gondola. See our Gondola ticket guide for current phase pricing.
Days 4-5: Pahalgam
Move to Pahalgam for two nights - Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, and the Lidder riverside. A more relaxed pace than Srinagar or Gulmarg.
Days 6-7: The Srinagar-Leh highway to Leh
The highway is about 420km, usually driven over two days with an overnight in Kargil, crossing Zoji La en route. This is a genuinely long, spectacular, tiring drive - not a day to schedule anything else. Day 7 ends in Leh; plan to rest, not sightsee, once you arrive given the altitude gain to roughly 3,500m.
Day 8: Leh acclimatisation and local sights
A full day in Leh town itself - Leh Palace, the main market, Shanti Stupa - at a gentle pace while your body adjusts to the altitude before any further travel.
Day 9: Nubra Valley or Pangong Tso
Pick one, not both - each is usually an overnight trip from Leh over a different high pass (Khardung La for Nubra, Chang La for Pangong), and both require an Inner Line Permit, which we arrange as part of planning your trip. See our Leh Ladakh planning guide for the full permit and pricing picture.
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Day 10: Return to Leh and departure
Fly out of Leh (Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport) rather than driving back to Srinagar - this is what makes the 10-day version workable instead of adding another 2 driving days.
Ladakh is a newer part of what we do - we don't yet have a bookable network of vetted Ladakh hotels and cabs the way we do in Kashmir, so this trip is quoted and arranged individually. Tell us your dates and we'll send a written plan and price.
Book a Leh Ladakh trip with Via Kashmir
These Ladakh trips are live and bookable on Via Kashmir, priced per person for groups of 4 or more. Smaller groups and custom routes get a written, itemised quote. Flights to Leh are booked separately.
| Package | Days | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Ladakh Explorer - Leh, Nubra & Pangong (Fly-In) | 6 days | From ₹30,292 |
| Kashmir with Leh Ladakh - 7 Day Express | 7 days | From ₹34,112 |
| Kashmir & Ladakh Grand Tour - Srinagar to Leh Highway | 9 days | From ₹42,385 |
If you would rather plan it yourself, we also have 24 verified hotels in Leh from ₹2,062 a night (see Leh hotels), and a private cab from Srinagar to Leh over Zoji La from ₹19,200 in a sedan or ₹20,500 in an Innova (route and fares). Full planning guide: Leh Ladakh tour packages.
Is Ladakh closed in winter?
Ladakh as a place stays open in winter, but the road from Kashmir usually does not. Zoji La, the pass at about 3,500 m between Sonamarg and Drass on the Srinagar-Leh highway, has traditionally been closed by snow from around December to April, and the Manali-Leh road closes for even longer. Leh airport runs all year, so from December to April Ladakh is a fly-in trip.
The closures have been getting shorter. In winter 2024-25 the pass was shut for only about a month and reopened on 1 April 2025, the shortest closure on record, and in 2025-26 the Border Roads Organisation kept it open past the end of February for the first time, with short closures after heavy snow. That depends on the weather each year, so a winter drive is never guaranteed.
The Sonamarg (Z-Morh) tunnel, open since January 2025, keeps Sonamarg reachable in winter but does not get you past Zoji La. That is the job of the new Zoji La tunnel, about 13 km from Baltal to Minamarg, which broke through in June 2026 and is now due to open around February 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you combine Kashmir and Ladakh in one trip?
Yes - they share the Srinagar-Leh highway and the same May-to-September season, which makes combining them genuinely practical rather than just possible. 10 days is a realistic minimum.
Should I visit Kashmir or Ladakh first?
Kashmir first, since every flight lands in Srinagar. Drive the Srinagar-Leh highway into Ladakh afterward, then fly out of Leh at the end, rather than backtracking the highway to return to Srinagar.
Do I need a permit for a combined Kashmir-Ladakh trip?
Not for Kashmir or Leh town itself. Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso specifically require an Inner Line Permit, which we arrange as part of planning the trip.
Planning more than this? Get a full itemised Kashmir quote