Source : http://traveltalesfromindia.in
As tourist season approaches, fares increases. And Ladakh is not an exception to this rule. The taxi rates for the year 2019-2020 have increased by 8-12 percent. For the people who are visiting this place for the first time, you might feel the rates as a bit exorbitant. The cost of the taxi fare depends upon the vehicle you opt for.
XUV, Innova and Aria are the most expensive vehicles which are used as taxis. While Xylo, Scorpio, Tavera and Qualis vehicles come under the mid-range budget. Eeco, Omni and old boleros are the cheapest taxis available.
You could also opt for sharing cab to save money. It is very easy to find a sharing cab, as a lot of people in Ladakh are solo/duo travellers who look for other people to share the journey with. There are also a lot of flyers around the capital Leh about the availability of sharing taxis.
It is recommended to directly call the taxi driver and discuss the cost in person rather than doing it over the phone. You get higher discounts whilst haggling in person. Apart from this, the taxi drivers of Ladakh are a friendly bunch. Ask them to take you to their favorite spot in the city and prepare to go to a spot known only to the locals of Ladakh.
Taxi rates to the popular spots in Ladakh region :
There are two major highways leading in and out of Ladakh. These are the Manali-Leh highway and the Srinagar-Leh highway. Other famous routes include the Pangong Tso lake, Tso Moriri lake and Lamayuru monastery trips. Fear not for I will give you the approximate fare details for most of the famous spots in Ladakh region.
| Important Spots in Ladakh | Taxi rates |
| Srinagar-Leh (2 days) | 20,000 |
| Leh Local sightseeing | 2,000 |
| Leh-Nubra valley (2 days) | 12,500 |
| Leh-Nubra-Pangong lake (3 days) | 20,000 |
| Leh-Pangong Tso lake (2 days) | 11,500 |
| Leh-Tso Moriri-Tso Kar-Taglang La-Leh (2 days) | 18,000 |
| Leh-Tso Moriri via Mahe bridge (2 days) | 13,000 |
| Leh-Tso Moriri-Tso Kar-Sarchu-Manali (3 days) | 32,000 |
| Leh-Sarchu-Manali (2 days) | 24,000 |
| Leh-Pangong Tso | 9,000 |
| Leh-Nubra valley-Leh (1 day) | 8,500 |
| Leh-Nubra valley-Diskit-Hundar (2 days) | 11,000 |
Leh-Ladakh region does not permit the use of taxis and self driven cars from other states for local sightseeing in this region. You can only use these modes of transport as means of transfer to and from the Ladakh region. One can use private vehicle which has a white number plate and is registered on their own name for local sightseeing.
Plan your mode of transfer carefully. If you take a car on subscription model and enter Ladakh region, you will not be allowed to visit any places and you might have to hire a cab for this purpose. You can take a self-driven vehicle from Ladakh and use this vehicle for your transportation purposes.
Lastly, Ladakh is a land of adventures. So, make the most out of your trip when you are in the mystical land of the llama.
Also read:
Major Ladakh routes and Passes
Health precautions to be taken during Ladakh bike trip
Guide to plan your own Ladakh trip