Restricted areaAsiaYourself or an operatorCheck · Sep 2026
India: Ladakh Protected Area Permit
A Protected Area Permit for foreigners to visit Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Dah-Hanu and other areas beyond Leh; Leh town itself needs none.
The permit
- Who issues it
- Leh district administration under Ministry of Home Affairs rules
- How to get it
- Yourself or an operator. Apply through a registered agency in Leh or the online portal; the permit usually names at least two travellers even if you travel alone (agents can group you).
- Lead time
- 1 day+ · Usually 1 day in Leh; spend your first 2 days acclimatising there anyway.
- Cost (check)
- Environment, wildlife and Red Cross fees add up to roughly ₹600–1,000 per person, plus agent commission (check).
- Documents
- Passport and Indian visa
- Copies of both
- Route and dates
- If you skip it
- Army and police checkposts on the roads out of Leh stop anyone without the permit.
- Official site
- Leh permit portal
Worth knowing
- Indian citizens no longer need an Inner Line Permit for most of Ladakh but still pay the environment fee (check).
Check before you pay
Fees, quotas and closed areas change, sometimes with days of notice. These figures were last checked in Sep 2026; confirm on the official site or with a licensed operator before you book flights.