Leh to Manali Bus Service 2024-Travel on a budget to Leh
As summer begins, throngs of people wait with bated breaths to fulfill their Ladakh road trip plan. Some book flight tickets way in advance, and the only thing ready to be done is pack your bags and take a short flight to Leh.
However, there are two more kinds, that also want to fulfil their Leh-Ladakh dream , albeit in a slightly different manner ; however, both wait for only thing: for the Leh-Manali highway to open as this is how you can travel to Leh on a budget.
But, after completing the trip, you might again wonder, how to reach from Manali on a budget, then this article will provide all necessary details.
There are 3 types of bus services that open in May; that starts when BRO declares the Manali Leh highway open and continues up until October. HPTC buses , HRTC buses and HPTDC buses.
HPTDC Bus
The HPTDC Bus is a luxury one which is inclusive of accommodation and meals. Contrary to common belief, this is actually not a single bus that takes you all the way. The bus runs from Leh to Manali on alternate days. This bus entirely operates on booking system. It only operates if there are a minimum of 10 passengers and will be cancelled for the day, if the number of tickets booked are less than 10.If this happens, HPTDC will make alternative arrangements in the form of private taxis; and you will have to pay the difference between bus and taxi fare. You will have to report to the HPTDC office 30 minutes before the departure of the coach.
You can book a ticket for this bus online. The fare per person is Rs. 2900 which includes your accommodation at Keylong and meals (dinner, breakfast, and tea).The entire journey is split into 2 parts ; Rather, it is you who will break the journey into 2 parts: you will have to board a bus from Leh to Keylong and a connecting bus connecting bus from Keylong for Manali which departs the next day.
Assuming that you plan to travel this way, your first task will be to reach the Leh Bus stand and board a bus for Keylong from there. For this part, you will have the luxury of choosing the bus timing as per your own convenience.
P.S: Please also note that this is not a daily service.
HRTC Buses
You will have to complete journey in two legs: Leh to Keylong and Keylong to Manali. This is pretty much a nonstop bus that only halts for bathroom breaks and meal breaks.
1. Leh to Keylong
There are a few HRTC buses from Leh to Keylong with the first one starting at 3 AM and reaches Keylong by afternoon. Once you arrive at Keylong, please find a hotel as close to the bus stand as you can because you will have to catch a bus again in the morning for Manali; with the first one starting at 5 am. Please note that from Keylong,you will not be boarding the same bus that you boarded from Manali, but a different one.
2.Keylong to Manali
There are buses available from Keylong ; however, they have limited availability. It all depends on the time you reach Keylong. As, from a lived experience in 2023, I reached around mid evening, and luckily there was only one bus available for the day which I could board.
If you miss the bus, you will have to look for a stay option at Keylong for the night, and rooms easily start from 500 and goes upwards. The next bus starts around 5 am ; however, it is best to ask at the local stand as it varies.
Note that you can only buy tickets from Leh to Keylong. From Keylong, you will have to buy another ticket from the Keylong bus stand going towards Manali.
Leh to Manali Bus Ticket Price
Your total fare for this journey too is broken into two parts. Leh to Keylong bus ticket will be for about Rs. 550 and then Keylong to Manali will be for about Rs. 175. Hence the complete journey will cost you slightly over Rs. 700.
Leh to Manali HRTC Bus Timing
There are several buses from Leh to Keylong that leaves at 3am.
Leh to Manali HRTC Bus Booking
There is no booking system available for this bus and you will have to buy the ticket from the counter at Leh bus stand, the same evening you want to leave for Manali. But as I mentioned, seat will be assigned on the ticket that you buy at Leh and will take you uptil Keylong. You will have to purchase another ticket from the counter at Keylong for the bus going towards Manali.
I hope you have all the necessary details to make that Ladakh trip a reality. Comment down below for any queries.