Leh district · Ladakh
Leh
The old trading town of Ladakh — Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the monasteries of the Indus valley.
Leh is an easy hill destination in Leh district, Ladakh, reaching 3,600 m. The best time to go is May to September. Plan 4 to 6 days on the ground from Leh and about ₹3,500 per person per day.
What to do in Leh
The one thing not to miss
Shanti Stupa at sunset
And Leh Palace above the old town.
- 2Thiksey and HemisThe two great monasteries up the Indus.
- 3SangamWhere the Zanskar meets the Indus, near Nimmu.
- 4Rest firstSpend your first two days doing very little; the altitude is 3,500 m.
A sample plan: 6 days
Day 1
Leh to Leh
Check in and take a short walk to get your bearings; go gently, you have gained height.
Day 2
Shanti Stupa at sunset
And Leh Palace above the old town.
Day 3
Thiksey and Hemis
The two great monasteries up the Indus.
Day 4
Sangam
Where the Zanskar meets the Indus, near Nimmu.
Day 5
A free day
Go back to whatever you liked best, or do nothing at all.
Day 6
Leh to Leh
Leave after breakfast; hill roads are slower than the map suggests.
A starting point built from the things to do above. Move days around to suit your pace.
When to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
Why go
Thiksey, Hemis and Alchi monasteries, old-town lanes and big desert-mountain light, all from one base.
Why not
You land at 3,500 m — the first two days must be rest, or altitude sickness will spoil the trip.
Before you go
- 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.
- Guide
- Not needed in town; hire a local driver for monastery days.
- Safety
- Rest completely for the first 24–48 hours after flying in. Drink water, skip alcohol, and descend if symptoms worsen.
- Phone & internet
- Good in Leh; postpaid SIMs most reliable.
Altitude
Leh reaches 3,600 m, high enough for altitude sickness to be a real risk whatever your age or fitness.
- You arrive already high. Rest for the first two days: no long walks and no drives over high passes.
- Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and sleeping pills.
- Headache with nausea, dizziness or exhaustion means stop going up. If it does not improve with rest, go down.
- Breathlessness while resting, a wet cough, confusion or trouble walking straight is an emergency: go down at once, by night if necessary, and get medical help.
- Medicines such as acetazolamide (Diamox) are for a doctor to prescribe; they are not a substitute for going up slowly.
General guidance, not medical advice.
Permits, food and festivals in Ladakh →
These details haven't been field-verified yet. Confirm permits, road status and weather locally before you travel.
If something goes wrong
Nearest help: Police control room, Leh, Leh; SNM Hospital, Leh.
All emergency contacts for Ladakh →What to pack for Leh
Worked out from its season, altitude and terrain. Tick things off as you pack; tap a name to find it in a shop.
Clothing
8 items
- Fleece or light sweater Evenings turn cold in the hills even in summer.
- Thermal inner wear (top and bottom) It is cold at 3,600 m, especially at night.
- Down or padded jacket Your main warm layer for mornings, evenings and high points.
- Woollen cap that covers the ears Most body heat is lost from the head.
- Woollen socks, 2–3 pairs Dry woollen socks for the night matter more than you expect.
- Sun cap or hat Hours in open sun, with little shade above the tree line.
- Compact umbrella Showers are frequent in the rainy months.
- Rain jacket or poncho The season here overlaps the rains.
Footwear
1 item
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip Hill towns mean slopes, steps and wet stone.
For day outings
2 items
- Day pack, 20–30 litres For day outings: water, a layer, a camera.
- Water bottles, 2 litres in total Refill rather than buying plastic bottles.
Health and sun
8 items
- Sunscreen, SPF 50 UV is much stronger at altitude and on snow.
- Small first-aid kit and your own medicines The nearest chemist may be hours away.
- UV-protection sunglasses Protects against snow glare and strong high-altitude light.
- Lip balm with SPF Cold, dry air cracks lips within a day.
- Motion-sickness bands or tablets The approach roads are long and winding.
- Insect repellent Mosquitoes and midges at lower altitudes and in the wet months.
- A word with your doctor about altitudeYou will go above 3,500 m (to 3,600 m). Ask a doctor about altitude sickness before you travel, and plan a slow ascent.
- Moisturiser and a saline nasal spray The air is very dry; skin and the inside of the nose crack within days.
Documents and money
4 items
- Government photo ID and two photocopiesAsked for at hotels, check posts and permit counters.
- Enough cash for the whole tripATMs are scarce and often empty beyond the gateway town.
- Permits and registrationsNone for Leh town. Trips beyond Leh (Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri) need the online Ladakh protected-area permit and fees — check the current LAHDC process.
- Passport-size photos and photocopies of your IDPermit counters and check posts ask for them, and there is rarely a photocopier nearby. Carry four of each.
Phone and power
3 items
- Power bank Charging is limited, and cold drains batteries fast.
- A SIM that works thereGood in Leh; postpaid SIMs most reliable.
- A postpaid SIMPrepaid SIMs from other states do not work in Ladakh or Kashmir. Only postpaid connections, or a prepaid SIM bought locally, will have signal.
For what you're going for
3 items
- Light travel tripod For sunrise, night skies and long exposures.
- Spare memory card and camera battery Cold drains camera batteries; there is nowhere to buy spares.
- Car phone mount and charger Hands-free navigation on mountain roads.
Read before you go
1 item
- A guidebook for Ladakh Worth reading before you go, and it works without a signal.
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Homestays in Ladakh
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Getting there
The nearest gateway is Leh.
Directions open in Google Maps with today's road time. In the mountains, add a third to whatever it says.
- Normal car?
- Yes, any car can make it. Self-drive rental cars from outside Ladakh are not allowed for local sightseeing; use local taxis.
By road
From
Srinagar
- Distance
- about 420 km
- Drive time
- two days
- Srinagar
- Sonamarg
- Zoji La
- Drass
- Kargil
- Lamayuru
- Leh
Open roughly May to November. Stay the night at Kargil.
Live directions from SrinagarFrom
Manali
- Distance
- about 430 km
- Drive time
- two days
- Manali
- Atal Tunnel
- Keylong
- Baralacha La
- Sarchu
- Tanglang La
- Leh
Open roughly June to October. Very high; the Srinagar road is kinder for acclimatising.
Live directions from Manali
Buses and shared taxis. Flights from Delhi take about an hour and a half and run all year. Buses run both roads in summer.
Pickups & drivers
From Leh. Call or WhatsApp the driver directly.
No drivers listed for Leh yet. Drive this route? List your cab.
Leh: questions people ask
What is the best time to visit Leh?
The best months for Leh are May to September. April and October are possible but not ideal. Snow is likely in December to March.
How difficult is Leh?
Leh is rated easy. No trekking is needed, starting at 3,500 m and reaching 3,600 m.
How many days do you need for Leh?
Plan 4 to 6 days on the ground, counted from Leh. Add travel days to reach the gateway from your city.
How much does a trip to Leh cost?
Expect about ₹3,500 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and local transport). That is roughly ₹21,000 for 6 days, before the cost of getting to Leh.
How do you reach Leh?
By road: from Srinagar it is about 420 km, two days (Srinagar → Sonamarg → Zoji La → Drass → Kargil → Lamayuru → Leh); from Manali it is about 430 km, two days (Manali → Atal Tunnel → Keylong → Baralacha La → Sarchu → Tanglang La → Leh). Flights from Delhi take about an hour and a half and run all year. Buses run both roads in summer. The nearest gateway is Leh.
Do you need a permit or a guide for Leh?
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. Guide: Not needed in town; hire a local driver for monastery days.
Is Leh suitable for children and senior citizens?
With children it is possible with care; with seniors it is possible with care. It is busy in season. Rest completely for the first 24–48 hours after flying in. Drink water, skip alcohol, and descend if symptoms worsen.
What should you pack for Leh?
Pack fleece or light sweater, thermal inner wear (top and bottom), down or padded jacket, woollen cap that covers the ears, woollen socks, 2–3 pairs, sun cap or hat, compact umbrella, rain jacket or poncho, comfortable walking shoes with grip. Also carry a government photo ID, enough cash and any permits. The full list is on this page.
Is there mobile network and internet at Leh?
Good in Leh; postpaid SIMs most reliable.
Will I get altitude sickness at Leh?
Leh reaches 3,600 m, high enough for altitude sickness to be a real risk whatever your age or fitness. You arrive already high. Rest for the first two days: no long walks and no drives over high passes. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and sleeping pills. Headache with nausea, dizziness or exhaustion means stop going up. If it does not improve with rest, go down. This is general guidance, not medical advice.
Who should not go to Leh?
Leh is not a good choice for families with small children, older travellers who find long walks or rough roads hard and anyone with a heart, lung or blood-pressure condition unless a doctor has cleared them for 3,600 m. Also keep in mind: You land at 3,500 m — the first two days must be rest, or altitude sickness will spoil the trip.
More in Leh & the Indus valley
- Lamayuru3,600 mcompare
- Markha Valley5,150 mcompare
- Chadar (frozen river) trek3,400 mcompare
- Nubra Valley & Turtuk5,359 mcompare
- Pangong Tso5,360 mcompare
- Tso Moriri4,600 mcompare