Leh vs Markha Valley
Pick Leh for
culture and heritage, a spiritual journey, road trips, an easier walk, fewer days
Pick Markha Valley for
adventure, a real challenge, nature, fewer people
| Leh | Markha Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Ladakh, Leh district | Ladakh, Hemis National Park, Leh |
| Highest point | 3,600 m | 5,150 m |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Trek distance | No trek needed | about 70 km |
| Days on the ground | 4–6 | 9–10 |
| Best months | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep |
| Snow likely | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar | Rarely |
| Crowds in season | Busy | Moderate |
| Daily spend | about ₹3,500 | about ₹3,000 |
| Gateway | Leh | Leh |
| With kids | Possible | Not advised |
| With seniors | Possible | Not advised |
| Permits | None for Leh town. Trips beyond Leh (Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri) need the online Ladakh protected-area permit and fees — check the current LAHDC process. | Hemis National Park fee and Ladakh permits. |
Leh: when to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely
Markha Valley: when to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely