Ladakh
High desert, monasteries and lakes above 4,000 m. Altitude needs respect. 8 places, grouped into circuits you can combine in one trip.
Leh & the Indus valley
Plan this circuitLeh, the monasteries, Lamayuru and the Markha Valley trek.
Lamayuru
One of Ladakh's oldest monasteries, above the eroded 'moonland' cliffs.
Leh
The old trading town of Ladakh — Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the monasteries of the Indus valley.
Markha Valley
A homestay trek through desert canyons and tiny villages, over the Kongmaru La.
Nubra valley
Plan this circuitOver Khardung La to sand dunes, Diskit and Turtuk.
Ladakh lakes
Plan this circuitPangong Tso and Tso Moriri — high, cold and unforgettable.
Pangong Tso
A 130 km long high-altitude lake that changes colour through the day, reached over Chang La.
Tso Moriri
A remote, quiet high lake at Korzok, with nomad camps and black-necked cranes.
Zanskar
Plan this circuitThe remote Padum valley and the winter Chadar trek.
Chadar (frozen river) trek
A winter walk on the frozen Zanskar river through a deep gorge, at temperatures far below zero.
Zanskar Valley
A remote valley of gompas, glaciers and river gorges, reached over Pensi La.
Before you go
Ladakh: good to know
Getting in
Most people fly to Leh. By road it is two days from Srinagar (open roughly May to November) or from Manali (roughly June to October).
Permits and paperwork
Indian visitors no longer need an Inner Line Permit for Nubra, Pangong or Tso Moriri, but pay an environment fee, online or in Leh. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, arranged through a registered agent. Rules here change often; confirm in Leh.
Permit rules change. Treat this as a starting point and confirm before you travel.
Worth knowing
Only postpaid SIM cards work. Leh is at 3,500 m: rest for the first two days whatever your fitness. ATMs exist in Leh but are unreliable elsewhere; carry cash.
What to eat
- Thukpa
- Noodle soup, the everyday meal.
- Skyu
- A thick stew of hand-rolled pasta and vegetables.
- Butter tea
- Salty tea churned with butter; an acquired taste that helps in the cold.
- Khambir
- A thick local bread, eaten with butter tea or apricot jam.
- Apricots
- Fresh in August, dried and as jam the rest of the year.
Festivals and seasons
- Hemis festivalJune or July
- Masked dances at Hemis monastery; the biggest monastic festival.
- Ladakh festivalSeptember
- Processions, polo and archery in Leh.
- LosarDecember or January
- The Ladakhi new year.
- DosmocheFebruary
- A winter festival in Leh and Likir.
Many of these follow the lunar calendar, so the dates move each year.
Ladakh: questions people ask
What are the best places to visit in Ladakh?
This guide covers 8 places in Ladakh, grouped into 4 circuits: Leh & the Indus valley, Nubra valley, Ladakh lakes and Zanskar. Each page says who the place suits and who it does not.
What is the best time to visit Ladakh?
June to September are the best time for most places in Ladakh. Seasons differ by altitude, so check each place.
Which places in Ladakh are easy for families and first-timers?
Lamayuru is rated easy and good with children.
Where can you see snow in Ladakh?
Snow is likely for part of the year at Zanskar Valley, Nubra Valley & Turtuk, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Leh and Lamayuru. Each page lists the snow months.
Which are the main treks in Ladakh?
Chadar (frozen river) trek and Markha Valley.
What is the highest place in Ladakh in this guide?
Pangong Tso, at 5,360 m.
Do you need a permit to visit Ladakh?
Indian visitors no longer need an Inner Line Permit for Nubra, Pangong or Tso Moriri, but pay an environment fee, online or in Leh. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, arranged through a registered agent. Rules here change often; confirm in Leh.
How do you get to Ladakh?
Most people fly to Leh. By road it is two days from Srinagar (open roughly May to November) or from Manali (roughly June to October).
What food should you try in Ladakh?
Thukpa: noodle soup, the everyday meal; Skyu: a thick stew of hand-rolled pasta and vegetables; Butter tea: salty tea churned with butter; an acquired taste that helps in the cold; Khambir: a thick local bread, eaten with butter tea or apricot jam; Apricots: fresh in august, dried and as jam the rest of the year.
What are the main festivals in Ladakh?
Hemis festival (june or july), Ladakh festival (september), Losar (december or january), Dosmoche (february).