The utilization of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) to a full extend is limited by the limited energy constraints of the individual sensor nodes. Large part of the research in WSNs focuses on the development of energy efficient routing protocols. Energy usage is the determining factor in the performance of WSNs. Both the methods of data routing and transferring to the base station are very important because the sensor nodes run on battery power and the energy availability for each sensor node is limited. To maximize the lifetime of the sensor node, it is better to share the energy dissipated throughout the sensor network in order to reduce maintenance and enhance the overall system performance. The proposed Cluster based approach is combined with Ladder Diffusion (LD) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) to reduce the power consumption and to solve the transmission routing problems in wireless sensor networks. The LD algorithm is employed to route paths for data relay and transmission in wireless sensor networks and it reduces power consumption and processing time to build the routing table. Moreover, to ensure the safety and reliability of data transmission, LD-ACO algorithm provides backup routes to avoid wasted power and processing time, when rebuilding the routing table in case part of sensor nodes are missing.