Flights from Delhi to Leh

I would like to take my parents to go and see Leh, they are in their mid 60's and so traveling such a long distance by road is not feasible for them, so I think to go by air would be best.

I would like some information about the flights from Delhi to Leh.

1. What flight options do I have for flights from Delhi to Leh?

2. How long does the flight take?

3. Are there any special precautions to take when landing in Leh because of the sudden altitude change?

 

Hello, welcome to the forum!

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Overview

The Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is the main airport serving the Leh district in Jammu and Kashmir. Situated at around 3,256 meters above sea level, it is considered as 22nd highest airport in the world. It is about three kilometers away from the centre of the town of Leh. Only a limited number of flights operate to and from this airport daily. They are all domestic flights from cities such as Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai and Srinagar. Only four airlines operate to and from this airport namely: Air India, Go Air, Jet Airways and Vistara. In this guide, we would highlight what are your flight options from Delhi to Leh, the duration of the flight and some tips you can follow before and after landing in Leh.

Flights from Delhi to Leh

As have been mentioned above, only four airlines have direct flights from Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport) to Leh (Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport). Flights are usually only during morning time when the weather in Leh is pleasant and winds aren't as strong. While the road journey to Leh is every bit thrilling and stunning, you are also granted the same scenic views through air journey to Leh, without the longer duration to it. Below are the different airlines along with their flights and schedules from Delhi to Leh.

↬ Air India Flights from Delhi to Leh ↫

Flight Number	Type	Departure Time (Delhi)	Arrival Time (Leh)	Flight Duration	Schedule
AI 445	Non Stop	5:55	7:20	1 Hour and 25 Minutes	Daily
AI 3449	Non Stop	6:15	7:40	1 Hour and 25 Minutes	Daily Except Wednesday and Saturday

These are your flight options from Delhi to Leh if you choose the Air India airline. You can choose between two flights, the first one departs at 5:55 in the morning from Delhi and arrives at 7:20 of the same morning in Leh. This is the flight number AI 445 which is a non-stop flight and has daily schedules every week. The second one departs at 6:15 in the morning and arrives at 7:40 of the same morning. This is the flight number AI 3449 which is a non-stop flight and has daily schedules except Wednesdays and Saturdays. Both flights have journey durations of 1 hour and 25 minutes.

↬ Go Air Flights from Delhi to Leh ↫

Flight Number	Type	Departure Time (Delhi)	Arrival Time (Leh)	Flight Duration	Schedule
G8 215	Non Stop	5:10	6:30	1 Hour and 20 Minutes	Daily
G8 203	Non Stop	6:40	8:05	1 Hour and 25 Minutes	Daily
G8 715	Non Stop	8:40	10:00	1 Hour and 20 Minutes	Daily
G8 221	Non Stop	9:25	10:50	1 Hour and 25 Minutes	Daily

These are your flight options from Delhi to Leh if you choose the Go Air airline. There are four flights with daily schedules each so you have more options here. Flight G8 215 departs at 5:10 and arrives at 6:30, duration of flight is 1 hour and 20 minutes. Flight G8 203 departs at 6:40 and arrives at 8:05, duration of flight is 1 hour and 25 minutes. Flight G8 715 departs at 8:40 and arrives at 10:00, duration of flight is 1 hour and 20 minutes. Flight G8 221 departs at 9:25 and arrives at 10:50, duration of flight is 1 hour and 25 minutes.

↬ Jet Airways Flights from Delhi to Leh ↫

Flight Number	Type	Departure Time (Delhi)	Arrival Time (Leh)	Flight Duration	Schedule
9W 2368	Non Stop	5:40	7:05	1 Hour and 25 Minutes	Daily Except Tuesday and Thursday
9W 2366	Non Stop	6:55	8:20	1 Hour and 25 Minutes	Daily
9W 609	Non Stop	9:40	11:10	1 Hour and 30 Minutes	Daily

These are your flight options from Delhi to Leh if you choose the Jet Airways airline. You can choose from three flights which has daily schedules except 9W 2368 which doesn't fly during Tuesdays and Thursdays. It departs at around 5:40 from Delhi and arrive at around 7:05 in Leh. Flight 9W 2366 departs at 6:55 from Delhi and arrives at 8:20 in Leh. Flight 9W 609 departs at 9:40 from Delhi and arrives at 11:10 in Leh. The first two flights have journey durations of 1 hour and 25 minutes while the third one has a journey duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

↬ Vistara Flights from Delhi to Leh ↫

Flight Number	Type	Departure Time (Delhi)	Arrival Time (Leh)	Flight Duration	Schedule
UK 0701	Non Stop	7:20	8:45	1 Hour and 25 Minutes	Daily

Last we have one flight option from Delhi to Leh if you choose the Vistara airline. Flight UK 0701 departs from Delhi at around 7:20 and arrives in Leh at around 8:45. Flight duration is 1 hour and 25 minutes. The flight has daily schedules, from Mondays to Sundays.

Air Fare Rates from Delhi to Leh

As you known, air fare rates differ depending on the season of travel and just how early you book your ticket. But for comparison sakes, say your trip to Leh is in August 7, 2017, which is a Monday. Then, we can compare the fare rates for these different airlines for this date accordingly. Do keep in mind that the rates mentioned below are for return flights already.

↬ Fare Rates from Different Airlines for Flights from Delhi to Leh ↫

Airline	Type	Fare Rate	Inclusion/s	Baggage Allowance
Air India	Return	Rs. 31,254	Ticket + Taxes	25 Kilograms
Go Air	Return	Rs. 22,151	Ticket + Taxes	15 Kilograms
Jet Airways	Return	Rs. 20,117	Ticket + Taxes	15 Kilograms
Vistara	Return	Rs. 27,224	Ticket + Taxes	15 Kilograms

From the table above, you would notice that Air India has the highest fare rate at Rs. 31,254 per adult. The good thing about this airline though is that it allows up to 25 kilograms of checked baggage allowance, also the highest as compared to the other airlines. If you're looking for the cheapest air fare rate, then you can opt for Jet Airways, which costs Rs. 20,117 per adult for a flight from Delhi to Leh. Go Air is a good option too at Rs. 20,117 per adult from Delhi to Leh. Vistara is on the higher side at Rs. 27,224 per adult from Delhi to Leh. These last 3 airlines have 15 kilograms of checked baggage allowance per adult.

Precautions for Taking the Flight from Delhi to Leh

One problem with taking a direct flight from Delhi to Leh is that the possibility of acquiring Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is higher. This type of condition occurs due to the sudden increase in altitude that results to the decrease in the intake of oxygen of the individual. It can also be acquired whilst going by land to Leh but the chances are lower if the journey takes time. With air journey, you are exposed to the high altitude so suddenly that your body won't be able to acclimatize properly. As such, you have to take some necessary precautions before and after you land in the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport.

First, let us describe Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), also known as High Altitude Sickness. For many individuals who live in the plains, their bodies are not used to the high altitude that Leh is situated in, around 3,500 meters above sea level. Once you arrive in Leh, you might experience symptoms such as dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, high temperature and nausea. These symptoms are indicative of AMS and may or may not occur in individuals visiting Leh. Those with heart conditions and low red blood cell count are at higher risks of acquiring AMS. And if someone experiences coughing, mental disturbances, inability to walk and chest congestions, these symptoms are indicative of severe forms of AMS such as High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

So what precautions can you take to avoid acquiring AMS if you're taking a flight from Delhi to Leh? Prior to your flight or travel journey, make sure that you have a check-up with your physician. The physician can assess your overall physical conditions and health, thereby the best person to tell you whether you can continue on with your trip to Leh or not. The physician can also prescribe for medicines that you can take prior to your trip. One such medicine is Diamox, which is a medicine that helps a person breathe faster, increasing the oxygen intake. However, this is a preventive medicine and needs to be taken at least a day before your trip and until two days after landing in Leh. Again, consult a physician prior to taking this medicine or any other medications.

Once you land in the airport, head straight to your hotel and have some rest. Do not indulge in heavy sightseeing during your first day though some walking is allowed. An even better option would be to descend to lower areas like Alchi, 41 kilometers away from Leh and situated around 3,100 meters above sea level only. Uleytokpo is another lower lying town, just 43 kilometers from Leh and situated at around 3,040 meters above sea level. You can stay overnight in these places and just ascend to Leh the following day for a better acclimatization process. It's also just acceptable to stay in Leh but remember to not over-exert yourself and rest for the duration of the day, or even two if you have the time to spare.

If you intend to stay a few days in Leh, then make sure you plan your itinerary properly. You can cover the main attractions located in the town of Leh within your first few days. On your third day, you can take an excursion to Nubra Valley but make sure you do not spend too much time to Khardung La en route. On your last few days, you can allow them for excursions to other places like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri. Basically, those places that are at a higher altitude than Leh should be visited only on your last few days when your body has properly acclimatized to the altitude already. If you can, just take day trips to these places and return to Leh on the same day.

There are some more tips that can help you avoid AMS. Make sure you hydrate properly but also avoid over-hydrating. Just drink enough water and fluids to keep you from getting thirsty, as too much can lead to edema and even vomiting. Do eat frequent but light meals, especially food loaded with carbohydrates so that you have enough energy during your trip. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes as these activities can exacerbate the AMS symptoms. If you feel any of the symptoms above, get ample rest and if that doesn't help, descend to a lower lying area to relieve yourself off the symptoms. Do not hesitate to reach a hospital if you feel that you are not getting better as they are well-equipped to handle medical emergencies.

Conclusion

This ends our short guide about the flights from Delhi to Leh and the precautions you can take for this journey. If you're short on time and still want to enjoy a getaway to one of the best hill station destinations in the country, it is very much possible. You have all the information that you might need about air journey from Delhi to Leh. The airlines, along with their flights, schedules and air fares, were highlighted above. You can also follow the short guideline on the precautions you can take prior to your trip to Leh and after you land in Leh.

I hope this helps you!