Rules & legality
What should I arrange before driving to Ladakh?
No Tarmac field guides · Updated 2026-09-12
Before you start: Plan permissions around your nationality and actual route. A fee receipt, entry permit and an open road answer different questions; check each before setting off.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm the requirements for your vehicle, route and travel date with the responsible authority.
Start with district instructions
Leh district says the green fee continues for domestic tourists and can be paid through its linked tourist-management portal. Use that official route to check the process and current charges. An old itinerary or a fee receipt does not establish access to every border-area road.
Check each traveller's requirements
Foreign travellers should check the Ministry of Home Affairs' Protected and Restricted Area Permit requirements with the competent issuing authority. Eligibility, permitted areas and conditions matter. Do not assume domestic-tourist arrangements apply to overseas passport holders or that one approval covers a mixed-nationality group.
Reconfirm before leaving each base
Ask about your named destinations and approach roads. Carry required identity documents and offline copies, check road notices near departure, and leave time for a changed route. Keep travel permissions separate from altitude preparation: an open pass is not a reason to rush the climb.
Before you decide
- What applies to each traveller and destination?
- Which documents and fee receipts must we carry?
- Are our roads open, and are there checkpoint restrictions?
Official references
Check the issuing authority for later changes. Reviewed 2026-09-12.