Leh Travel Guide
Plan your visit to Leh, Ladakh: the best time to go, how to reach, what to see, and practical, current tips from the Way to India Travel Desk.
When to visit Leh Ladakh, and why timing matters
The season is short: June to September, when the high passes and highways are open. The roads close through winter, and the altitude shapes everything, so timing and pacing matter more here than anywhere.
- June to September: the open seasonThe reliable window, when Khardung La, Chang La and the highways are clear and the lakes are at their best. September to mid-October adds golden autumn colour and thinner crowds, with colder nights.
- The highways open lateThe Srinagar-Leh highway usually opens about late March to mid-April once Zoji La is cleared, and the Manali-Leh about mid to late May. Both shut through winter, and the exact dates shift with the snow, so we confirm them for your travel window.
- Fly in any time, but rest firstLeh airport runs year-round, so you can fly in even in winter. But flying lands you straight at 3,500 metres, so the first day must be a rest day to acclimatise, whatever the season.
Ladakh is not a place to rush. The administration requires a 48-hour acclimatisation rest in Leh before you go higher to Pangong, Nubra or Tso Moriri. Build that into the plan from the start, and see the acclimatisation section for how to do it safely.
How to reach Leh
You can fly straight into Leh, or take one of the two great Himalayan highways from Srinagar or Manali. Each choice has a real effect on how well you acclimatise.
- By air to LehKushok Bakula Rimpochee airport (IXL) has nonstop flights from Delhi on IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, year-round. It is the quick way in, but it lands you at 3,500 metres, so the first day must be a complete rest.
- Overland from SrinagarThe Srinagar-Leh highway, open from about April, climbs gradually over two days with an overnight at Kargil, which gives the gentlest altitude gain and the best acclimatisation. The kindest route for first-timers and older travellers.
- Overland from ManaliThe Manali-Leh highway, open from about mid to late May, is the dramatic high-pass road trip, but it climbs fast over several passes above 5,000 metres, so it is harder on the body. We pace it with the right overnight stops.
Fly into Delhi, then take a short morning flight to Leh, or combine with Kashmir and drive in from Srinagar for a gentler climb. There are no direct international flights to Ladakh.
Fly into Delhi and connect to Leh by air, or route via Srinagar for the overland approach. Plan the first day in Leh as a rest day either way.
Leh is a short flight from Delhi, or a multi-day road trip from Srinagar or Manali. The Srinagar and Manali circuits pair Ladakh with Kashmir or Himachal.
The monasteries, the lakes, and the permits you need
Ladakh is its Buddhist monasteries, its high-altitude lakes and its dramatic passes. The big practical thing to sort is the permit, which changed in 2021.
- The monasteries and Leh townThiksey, Hemis (which holds the famous summer festival), Diskit, Alchi and Lamayuru are the great gompas, and in Leh itself the Leh Palace, the Shanti Stupa and the bazaar fill the acclimatisation days perfectly.
- Pangong Tso and Tso MoririPangong (about 4,350 metres) is the famous blue lake, about 5 to 6 hours from Leh over Chang La, and Tso Moriri is the quieter high lake to the south. Go only after your rest days, and an overnight by Pangong is the classic Ladakh night.
- Nubra Valley over Khardung LaCross Khardung La (about 5,359 metres), one of the world's highest motorable roads, into the Nubra Valley, with its sand dunes and double-humped Bactrian camels at Hunder. A long but unforgettable day or overnight.
- Magnetic Hill and the SangamOn the road west are Magnetic Hill, the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and the Sangam, where the Indus and Zanskar rivers meet in two different colours. Easy, lower-altitude sights for the early days.
Indian tourists no longer need an Inner Line Permit; it became the Ladakh Environment Fee, paid online at lahdclehpermit.in (about 590 rupees per person for a typical trip), with the receipt valid 21 days for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Hanle and Umling La. Foreign nationals still need a Protected Area Permit arranged through a registered Leh agent, so tell us your nationality early.
Acclimatise first: altitude, AMS and the 48-hour rule
Ladakh's altitude is the one thing that can make or break the trip, and it is a real medical matter, not a formality. Get this right and everything else falls into place. Here is how.
- Rest the first 48 hours in LehThe administration requires a 48-hour acclimatisation in Leh before you go higher. Use the time for the low-altitude sights, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, the nearer monasteries, and let your body adjust before Pangong or Nubra.
- Know the signs of AMSAbove 3,000 metres most people feel some headache, nausea, breathlessness or broken sleep. Mild symptoms ease with rest and water. Worsening symptoms, confusion or severe breathlessness mean you must descend, so never ignore them.
- Drink water, go slow, skip the alcoholDrink far more water than usual, avoid alcohol and heavy exertion for the first days, and climb gradually. The slower you go at the start, the better the rest of the trip will be.
- Ask your doctor about DiamoxMany travellers take Diamox to help acclimatise, but it is a prescription medicine, so ask your own doctor before the trip. Carry your regular medicines, and tell us about any heart or lung condition so we can plan sensibly.
- Choose the route to suit youIf altitude worries you, enter overland from Srinagar for the gradual climb rather than flying straight to 3,500 metres. We build the itinerary around a gentle, safe altitude profile.
The altitude is a genuine medical consideration. Older travellers, anyone with a heart or lung condition, and very young children should speak to a doctor before booking, and may prefer the gradual Srinagar route or a Leh-only trip. We are happy to advise honestly on whether the high passes are right for you.
Signature experiences in Ladakh
Beyond the views, these are the experiences people remember, and how to arrange them around the altitude.
- An overnight by Pangong TsoSleep beside the great blue lake under one of the clearest night skies anywhere. Go only after your Leh rest days, carry warm layers for the cold night, and start back early. The classic Ladakh experience.
- Nubra Valley and the camelsCross Khardung La into Nubra for the sand dunes and the double-humped Bactrian camels at Hunder, the old Silk Road oasis. A long high-altitude day, best as an overnight to break the passes.
- The monastery circuit and Hemis festivalThiksey at dawn for the morning prayers, then Hemis, Shey and Stakna. If you visit in summer, the Hemis Tsechu festival fills the monastery with masked dances; the dates follow the Tibetan calendar, so we check them for you.
- Sunset at Shanti StupaThe white hilltop stupa above Leh glows at sunset with the whole valley below. A gentle, moving evening, perfect for an acclimatisation day before the high passes.
- Rafting on the ZanskarFor the adventurous and well-acclimatised, a raft on the Zanskar or Indus through dramatic gorges is a thrilling half-day. We match the stretch to your comfort and the water level.
Mistakes to avoid in Leh Ladakh
Ladakh is remote and high, so a few practical things make the difference between a dream trip and a hard one.
- Do not rush the altitudeHeading straight to Khardung La or Pangong on your first day is the commonest and most dangerous mistake. Rest in Leh for 48 hours first; it is the rule for good reason.
- Do not rely on a prepaid SIMPrepaid SIMs from the rest of India simply do not work in Ladakh; only postpaid connections from outside the region do. Sort a postpaid or local SIM in advance, and remember BSNL reaches the remotest spots.
- Do not run short of cash or fuelATMs are limited to Leh and a few towns, and petrol pumps are far apart. Carry enough cash and fill the tank in Leh before driving out to Pangong or Nubra.
- Do not skip the permit, or photograph border areasCarry your Environment Fee receipt (or, for foreigners, the Protected Area Permit) for Nubra, Pangong and the rest, and respect the photography restrictions near the border and military areas.
Ladakh for every kind of traveller
Ladakh rewards very different visitors, but the altitude shapes what suits whom. Here is what it offers you, and the one tip that matters for each.
- Couples and honeymoonersA Pangong overnight under the stars and the monastery dawns make Ladakh wonderfully romantic. Take it slowly, build in the rest days, and the gentle pace becomes part of the magic.
- Families with childrenOlder children love the camels, the dunes and the lakes, but very young children feel the altitude, so take medical advice and keep to a gentle profile with plenty of rest and water.
- Senior travellersPossible and rewarding with care. Consider the gradual Srinagar route or a Leh-and-monasteries trip rather than the highest passes, speak to a doctor first if you have any heart or lung condition, and let us pace it gently with the right rest days.
- Bikers and adventurersThe Manali-Leh and the high passes are the dream ride, but even the fittest need to acclimatise, so plan the first days in Leh, carry spares and fuel, and ride within the weather and the light.
- Backpackers and budget travellersShared jeeps, guesthouses and the local buses make Ladakh doable on a budget, but carry cash, sort a working SIM, and still respect the rest days; altitude does not care about your budget.
- PhotographersThe lakes, the passes, the monasteries and the night skies are extraordinary. September light is the cleanest, and a Pangong overnight gives you both the sunset and the stars. Carry spare batteries, as the cold drains them fast.
Planning Ladakh from abroad
Ladakh is a bucket-list Himalayan trip, and very doable from overseas with the right planning around the permit and the altitude.
- Sort the Protected Area PermitForeign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Nubra, Pangong and the other protected areas, arranged through a registered Leh travel agent and carried with the passport. Tell us your nationality early so we set it up before you arrive.
- Fly via Delhi, and rest on arrivalReach Leh on a short flight from Delhi, or drive in from Srinagar for a gentler climb. Either way, the first day in Leh is a rest day; the altitude is real and the gradual approach is kindest.
- Plan for connectivity and cashAn overseas or out-of-region prepaid SIM will not work in Ladakh, and ATMs are scarce outside Leh, so plan your connectivity and carry cash. Wi-Fi in Leh hotels is limited and slow.
- Take the altitude seriouslySpeak to your doctor before the trip, especially for older travellers or anyone with a heart or lung condition, and consider the gradual Srinagar route. We will advise honestly on whether the high passes suit you and pace the trip safely.
Tour packages that visit Leh
Every journey below is private, hand-crafted and fully customizable. Tell us your dates and we tailor the itinerary, the pace and the priests or guides around you.
7D / 6NIncredible Ladakh Holiday
- Visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
- Visit Pangola Lake
8D / 7NManali to Leh Tour
- Visit Sarchu
- Visit Nubra Valley
6D / 5NLeh Ladakh Tour Package for Couples
- Visit Leh Palace
- Visit Pangong Lake
10D / 9NSrinagar Leh Ladakh Tour Package
- Pangong Lake
- Nubra Valley
10D / 9NKashmir Ladakh Tour Package
- Shikara Ride
- River Indus and River Zanskar
8D / 7NManali Leh Tour
- Visit of Spituk and Phyang Monastery
- Visit old Pagoda Temple of Hadimba Devi
9D / 8NLeh Ladakh Road Trip
- Tiger Hill
- The Tololing Peak
6D / 5NMajestic Ladakh Tour
- Visit Royal Shey Palace
- Visit Thiksey Monastery
8D / 7NSrinagar To Leh Tour Package
- Visit Dal lake & Nigeen lake
- Visit Shalimar Bagh