Delhi to Leh travel

Get an "all in one" ticket, if possible

We start our treks in Leh because of huge variability in ticket prices and the fact we are not a bonded travel agency. So, you are responsible for getting yourself to Leh and here is the info to make this as smooth as possible. Book flights early for better value!

2025: while there are plenty of options, flying Air India all the way from home and back or flying Indigo with codesharing are obvious options. (Links show flight maps/destinations.)

Planning your flights

Leh airport code IXL (Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport)

Delhi airport code DEL (Indira Gandhi International /IGI Airport)

Booking flights can be an ordeal and so set aside a good amount of time and carefully research your flight options between your home and Leh, perhaps using Google first. There is plenty of choice and sometimes a minor extra cost or using an alternative airline can be substantially more convenient. An all-in-one ticket means the airline is responsible for rearranging your flights at no extra charge if a connecting flight is missed because of delays. Whereas if you have separate tickets, if you miss a flight because of a delayed flight, then you are on your own. While travel insurance may cover this, you will have to sort out a new flight rather than the airline, the major advantage of an all-in-one ticket.

While it is obvious to book an all-in-one return flight, equally, you could book your trip start flights as an all-in-one one way ticket then a separate all-in-one for the way back. This allows more convenience sometimes.

Flight options

For an all-in-one ticket all the way to Leh, there are several options. The easiest to book is Air India, a Star Alliance member, and they fly from five US airports and three UK airports. Pricing is competitive however their inflight service is basic. All their flights leave/arrive at Delhi T3 (terminal 3), which is convenient, and if you buy the whole route with them, your international luggage allowance is applicable to the domestic flight too.

There are other options that mix Star Alliance carriers, eg Singapore Airlines with Air India although SIA doesn't list Leh. 

Indigo, India's biggest domestic airline is expanding internationally, and while they don't yet fly to London or the USA, they  codeshare. For example, Virgin Atlantic has a tie up with Indigo, which a 2024 trekker booked.

Alternatively, take your fav international carrier then get a separate domestic ticket. There is some choice however we recommend IndiGo and Air India. Be wary of SpiceJet unless booking on short notice as several airlines have gone bankrupt over the years and they could be next. Plan with flight delays in mind, often international flights into Delhi arrive an hour or two late.

All Leh flights are by Boeing 737's or a similar-sized airbus 320 jets (unlike Nepal where domestic flights are in small planes).

There are more than a dozen Leh flights beginning very early through to around midday. Most international flights arrive into Delhi late at night/early in the morning and so it is possible to arrive in Delhi and transfer to your domestic flight with only a few hours in-between, meaning you do not need to leave the airport.

The end of the trek is not always as smooth though as there are few afternoon international flights out of Delhi (Singapore Airlines is the exception) which means either hanging around the airport or taking trip into the city (we can arrange). This is where booking all-in-one one way flights might be better. There are also paid lounge services after check-in however you can only check in at maximum 4 hours before your flight.

Transit timing

Allow a minimum 3 hours for transiting in Delhi, better 4 hours if mid-morning. It is compulsory to pick up your checked in luggage on arrival at Delhi and take it through customs yourself before checking it in again for the domestic sector, which adds considerable time to the process. Early in the morning there are few queues however during the day security lines and passport lines can be half an hour each. There are also some long walks to and from air gates in T3, 15+ minutes for some.

Transiting between T3 and T2 takes around 15-20 minutes, and walking is often the best. Perhaps watch a Youtube video on it. From T3 to T1/T1D takes more than half an hour by vehicle as you drive around to the other side of the airport.

Booking options

Check how booking directly with an airline compares with Expedia, MakeMyTrip.com, Kayak and other aggregating services and note that not all airline options will show with Expedia. Singapore Airlines and Qatar are best booked direct with the airline.

Particularly if coming from the USA, with the large time zone difference and long flights, it is better to arrive in Leh a day early for additional recovery time. We still arrange an airport transfer and hotel booking, and additional hotel nights are good value, USD50 a single/USD60 a double.

Do feel free to discuss travel options with us too.

Airlines Delhi-Leh

If buying a separate ticket, the normal price for Delhi-Leh one way is ~USD150, so any deal that starts at around $100 (with add-ons to be added) is good value. Most use the budget airline model and so have a 15 kg luggage allowance and the additional weight is best bought before as part of the ticket as the price is relatively steep.

Indigo is a huge operator who add flights when busy and have been expending internationally.

Air India (T3) is the national airline and with new owners are steadily improving.

SpiceJet - be wary of in that they have a risk of going broke, search news headlines first.

Which seat? Consider where the wing is and take a window seat on the left (A) side to Leh, which means you are not squinting or shooting into the sun. The flight time is approx 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Transiting Delhi

One option for recovery between flights without leaving the airport are the Plaza Premium lounges and conveniently they have several lounges and two shoebox hotels that are immediately outside the gate area, so you can catch a nap or shower when moving between international and domestic, especially handy with a long transit time, when you pick up your baggage but are not allowed in to the next check in area until 4 hours before your flight.

The Holiday Inn Express in T3 (terminal 3) is only an option if your domestic flight is also from T3, so with Air India, and you must have flights all on the same ticket.

Delhi hotels

There are a handful of good hotels in the true Aerocity (obviously close to the airport), however another reasonable, cheaper hotel still very close by is:

Hotel Classic Diplomat
Block B, Mahipalpur Village, Mahipalpur, New Delhi 110037
tel: 011 40419900, 1800 1211080

and this is best booked through one of the booking apps, Expedia, Agoda or Tripadvisor. Their sign is readily visible from the main IGI Rd intersection and taxis invariably drive against the one way flow for the short distance to the door. Eat at their restaurant. The hotel is not fancy but is OK, and better than most on that strip.

For other options and for buying air tickets or bus tickets, and for Taj Mahal packages, contact our friends at Kipling India, and do mention that you are travelling with us.

Overland to/from Leh

Driving between Leh and Manali is an absolutely stunning adventure and well worth doing once, although it is most definitely a multiday journey.

Currently, we suggest avoid flying via Srinagar, security is very tight and with flights, there are often delays.

Flying health

Studies prove you are at risk of getting a cold/flu/covid if you are sitting relatively close to someone who is sick on the plane so mask up for the flight, use hand cleaning gel (a small tube to get through security) or anti-bacterial hand wipes, and especially before meals, and especially avoid touching your face and eyes.