Routes
Getting around the hives
Mountain kilometres are slow. Here is how long each road really takes, and what the bus, the shared jeep and a private car cost.
Each route lists every way to make the journey with honest times and indicative 2026 fares, the season the road is open and what is worth a stop on the way. Roads and passes close with snow and landslides: check current status before you travel.
5 routes
Kashmir
Srinagar to GulmargSrinagar to Gulmarg is about 50–56 km west through Magam and Tangmarg, the last 13 km climbing hairpins through pine fo…56 km · 3 waysSrinagar to PahalgamSrinagar to Pahalgam is about 90–95 km south-east via Pampore, Awantipora and Anantnag, then up the Lidder valley. It t…95 km · 3 waysSrinagar to SonamargSrinagar to Sonamarg is about 80–85 km north-east along the Sindh valley via Ganderbal, Kangan and Gund on NH1. It take…85 km · 3 waysSrinagar to Gurez ValleySrinagar to Dawar in Gurez is about 123–130 km north via Bandipora, climbing over the Razdan Pass at about 3,300 m. It …125 km · 3 waysPahalgam to Aru ValleyPahalgam to Aru is a 12 km drive up the West Lidder valley through pine forest, 30–40 minutes by union taxi. Fit walker…12 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Ladakh
Leh to Nubra ValleyLeh to Diskit in Nubra is about 120 km over Khardung La (5,359 m), 4–5 hours by car. A state bus and shared taxis run i…120 km · 3 waysLeh to Pangong TsoLeh to Pangong Tso is about 160 km via Karu and Chang La (about 5,360 m), 5–6 hours by car. Most travellers go by priva…160 km · 3 waysNubra Valley to TurtukDiskit to Turtuk is about 85 km down the Shyok river, 2.5–3 hours by road through a narrow desert gorge. It drops to ab…85 km · 3 waysLeh to KargilLeh to Kargil is about 220 km on the Srinagar highway, 6–7 hours via Nimmu, Khalatse, Lamayuru, Fotu La and Mulbekh. Bu…220 km · 3 waysKargil to Zanskar (Padum)Kargil to Padum in Zanskar is about 235 km via the Suru valley, Rangdum and Pensi La (about 4,400 m), 10–12 hours of ro…235 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Himachal
Shimla to ManaliThe main north–south run of the hive: down from Shimla to the Sutlej at Bilaspur, up through Mandi and the Beas gorge t…245 km · 3 waysShimla to KalpaUp the old Hindustan–Tibet road, now NH5: over Narkanda, down to the Sutlej at Rampur and along the gorge to Kinnaur, t…225 km · 3 waysManali to Kasol and the Parvati ValleyDown the Kullu valley to Bhuntar, then up the Parvati river to Kasol. About 75 km and 2.5–3 hours by car, or two cheap …75 km · 3 waysMcLeodganj (Dharamshala) to Bir and BillingEast along the foot of the Dhauladhar, through the Kangra valley's tea gardens and Palampur, to the paragliding village…70 km · 3 waysMcLeodganj (Dharamshala) to ChambaWest from Dharamshala across the lower Kangra hills to Nurpur, then north over the ridge at Banikhet and down to the Ra…175 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Spiti & Lahaul
Nako to TaboThe stretch where the Kinnaur road becomes Spiti: down from Nako past the Malling slide zone, along the Spiti river thr…63 km · 3 waysTabo to KazaThe heart of the Spiti valley in 47 km: from Tabo's orchards past the Dhankar turn-off and the Pin river confluence to …47 km · 3 waysKaza to Key Gompa and KibberThe short climb from Kaza to Key Gompa at about 4,166 m and on to Kibber village at about 4,270 m. Twelve kilometres to…19 km · 3 waysKaza to Pin Valley and MudhFrom Kaza down the Spiti river to the Attargo bridge, then up the Pin river past Kungri gompa and Gulling to Mudh, the …50 km · 3 waysKaza to ChandratalWest from Kaza up the Spiti valley through Kiato and Losar, over Kunzum La at about 4,590 m, then down to Batal and up …95 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Garhwal
Rishikesh to KedarnathAbout 210 km by road from Rishikesh to Sonprayag via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Guptkashi, then 5 km by shutt…230 km · 3 waysRishikesh to Badrinath & ManaThe Alaknanda road: about 295 km from Rishikesh to Badrinath through Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Cha…295 km · 3 waysRishikesh to GangotriThe Bhagirathi road: about 255 km from Rishikesh to Gangotri via Chamba, Tehri dam, Dharasu, Uttarkashi and Harsil. It …255 km · 3 waysMussoorie & Landour to YamunotriThe shortest way into the Yamuna valley: about 105 km from Mussoorie past Kempty Falls, Nainbagh and Damta to Barkot, t…150 km · 3 waysChopta & Tungnath to Badrinath & ManaThe short cut between the Kedar and Badri valleys: from Chopta down through the Mandal forest to Gopeshwar, then up the…155 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Kumaon
Nainital to Almora and Kasar DeviThe classic Kumaon transfer: down from Nainital to Bhowali, past Kainchi Dham, then along the Kosi river and up to Almo…65 km · 3 waysNainital to MukteshwarFrom Nainital to Mukteshwar the road climbs through Bhowali and the orchard country of Ramgarh to a 2,171 m ridge. Abou…50 km · 3 waysAlmora and Kasar Devi to JageshwarA short, pretty drive east from Almora on the Pithoragarh road, past the Chitai Golu temple to Artola, then into the Ja…36 km · 3 waysAlmora and Kasar Devi to KausaniNorth from Almora down to the Kosi river, past the turning for the Katarmal sun temple and through the Someshwar valley…52 km · 3 waysKausani to MunsiyariThe long road to Munsiyari: down to Baijnath and Bageshwar, east to the Udiyari Bend near Chaukori and Thal, then up pa…185 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Nepal
Kathmandu to PokharaNepal's main tourist transfer: west out of the valley on the Prithvi Highway via Naubise and Mugling, along the Trishul…200 km · 3 waysKathmandu to BandipurBandipur sits on a ridge above the Prithvi Highway, roughly two-thirds of the way from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Ride any w…143 km · 3 waysPokhara to GhandrukFrom Pokhara's Baglung bus park, the road runs west to Nayapul, then up the Modi Khola valley to Kimche below Ghandruk.…50 km · 3 waysPokhara to Marpha and JomsomTwo very different ways into the Kali Gandaki: a 20-minute morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, or a long day by bus …160 km · 3 waysKathmandu to BhaktapurThe easiest heritage trip in the valley: 15 km east from Thamel to Bhaktapur's old town, by local bus for under ₹60 or …15 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Darjeeling to KalimpongDown from the Darjeeling ridge past Ghum and the Lopchu tea gardens, then a long descent through Peshok to the Teesta r…50 km · 3 waysDarjeeling to MirikWest from Ghum through forest past Lepchajagat and Jorepokhri to the market at Sukhiapokhri, then down through tea gard…49 km · 3 waysKurseong to DarjeelingThe upper half of the Hill Cart Road, from Kurseong through Tung and Sonada to Ghum, the highest point of the toy train…30 km · 3 waysKalimpong to LavaEast from Kalimpong along the ridge to Algarah, then up through mixed forest to Lava at about 2,195 m, the gateway to N…32 km · 3 waysDarjeeling to Sandakphu and SingalilaFrom Darjeeling down to Manebhanjan, the trailhead at about 2,150 m, then up the Singalila Ridge by trail or vintage La…59 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Sikkim
Gangtok to Tsomgo LakeThe classic permit day trip from Gangtok: 40 km east on the Nathu La road, climbing about 2,100 m past army camps and w…40 km · 3 waysGangtok to LachungGangtok to Lachung is the first leg of every North Sikkim permit tour: north via Kabi, Phodong and Mangan to Chungthang…115 km · 3 waysGangtok to PellingGangtok to Pelling crosses from the east to the west of Sikkim, via Singtam and Ravangla or via Rabongla and Legship. A…125 km · 3 waysPelling to YuksomA short, scenic drive from Pelling to Yuksom, Sikkim's first capital, past Rimbi and Kanchenjunga falls and the turn fo…35 km · 3 waysGangtok to ZulukGangtok to Zuluk follows roads east via Rongli to the old Silk Route, then climbs through Lingtam and Padamchen to the …90 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Bhutan
Phuentsholing to ThimphuThe road from the plains to the capital climbs from about 300 m to 2,300 m in 5–6 hours, through the fog belt at Gedu, …150 km · 3 waysParo to HaaBhutan's highest road climbs from the Paro valley through blue pine and rhododendron to Chele La at 3,988 m, then drops…65 km · 3 waysThimphu to PunakhaThe classic Bhutan drive: east from Thimphu up to Dochu La at about 3,100 m with its 108 chortens, then a long descent …72 km · 3 waysPunakha to Phobjikha (Gangtey)From the rice valley at 1,200 m, the road follows the river to Wangdue Phodrang, climbs the Lateral Road east through o…80 km · 3 waysTrongsa to Bumthang (Jakar)A short, scenic drive east from Trongsa over Yotong La at about 3,400 m, through fir forest and the yathra-weaving vill…68 km · 3 ways
5 routes
Arunachal
Bhalukpong to BomdilaThe first climb into western Arunachal: from the Kameng at about 200 m through Tippi and Tenga to Bomdila at about 2,40…100 km · 3 waysBomdila to DirangA short drive down from Bomdila's ridge to the warmer Dirang valley, about 42 km and 1.5 hours, past apple and kiwi orc…42 km · 3 waysDirang to TawangThe great day of the western circuit: up from Dirang through Baisakhi to Sela Pass at about 4,170 m, or through the Sel…140 km · 3 waysPasighat to MechukaThe long road into the upper Siang: north from Pasighat to Aalo, then up the Siyom valley through Kaying and Tato to Me…280 km · 3 waysRoing to NamdaphaAcross the Assam plains from the Mishmi foothills to Namdapha: over the Dhola–Sadiya bridge, through Tinsukia district …230 km · 3 ways
How we plan a drive
Slow roads, honest times
- We drive in daylight and keep long road days to about one in three.
- We add a spare day to any route that crosses a pass above 4,000 m.
- Above 3,000 m we pace the climb so sleeping height rises no more than 300–500 m a day. This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor before a high trip.
On a budget
Buses and shared jeeps
State buses and shared jeeps run most valley roads in season. Saver trips use them where they run reliably.