Leh travel guide
High-alt city
Leh is the cultural and adventure hub of Ladakh, known for monasteries, high mountain passes, alpine lakes, and dramatic landscapes. It attracts adventure seekers, photographers, and cultural travelers with trekking routes, river rafting, Buddhist heritage sites, and access to iconic destinations like Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, and high-altitude Himalayan passes.
Best time to visit Leh
Jun–Sep is the main season, with May and Oct also good. Dec–Feb is bitterly cold with the highways shut, so flights are then the only way in.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | avoid | -13–2 °C | 10 mm | low | Coldest month; highways shut, many hotels closed; flights are the only way in |
| February | avoid | -9–4 °C | 10 mm | low | Bitter cold, clear skies and snow; the road routes in stay shut |
| March | mixed | -4–10 °C | 10 mm | low | Cold nights and snow on high passes; the tourist season has not started |
| April | mixed | 2–15 °C | 10 mm | low | Days warm up, nights still freeze; high passes may hold snow |
| May | good | 6–20 °C | 10 mm | high | Pleasant days, cold nights; highways reopen and crowds build from mid-month |
| June | best | 11–24 °C | 5 mm | high | Clear, warm days and all main roads open; school-holiday crowds |
| July | best | 16–28 °C | 15 mm | high | Warmest month; monsoon rain in Himachal can block the Manali road |
| August | best | 15–28 °C | 15 mm | high | Warm and mostly dry; monsoon landslides can still cut the Manali road |
| September | best | 9–23 °C | 10 mm | medium | Clear, mild days and thinner crowds; nights turn cold by month end |
| October | good | 0–17 °C | 10 mm | low | Crisp, clear days and freezing nights; road routes begin to close |
| November | mixed | -7–11 °C | 5 mm | low | Winter sets in; many hotels and restaurants shut and nights are very cold |
| December | avoid | -12–4 °C | 5 mm | low | Very cold with snow likely; many hotels and restaurants shut; flights only |
How many days to spend in Leh
Three days cover acclimatising, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the Thiksey and Hemis monasteries; five allow day trips down the Indus valley. Nubra Valley needs extra days.
How to reach Leh
- By air: Leh (IXL) — 9 km by road. Year-round flights; the only way in during winter
- By road: From Manali — 420 km. The Manali–Leh highway is open only roughly Jun–Oct
Getting around
Leh town is compact and easy on foot, though the climbs to the palace and Shanti Stupa are tiring at altitude. For the monasteries and day trips, hire a local taxi.
Things to do in Leh
- Pangong Lake Road — Lake
- Khardung La Road — Pass
- Nubra Valley — Valley
- Hunder — Dunes
- Thiksey — Monastery
- Hemis — Monastery
- Diskit — Monastery
- Shanti Stupa — Stupa (1 h · ₹30)
- IDBI Bank — Trek
- Khardung La Approach — High road
- Leh Palace — Palace (1.5 h · ₹25)
- Main market leh — Chadar (2 h · Free entry)
- Leh — Museum
- Alchi — Monastery
- Yerep Tso — Lake (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Magnetic Hill — Hill (30 min · Free entry)
- Spituk Monastery དཔེ་ཐུབ་ དགོན་པ། — Monastery (1 h · Paid entry)
- Zangsti Road — Trek
- Stok — Palace
- Nubra Pika Camp — Camping
- Panamik — Hot spring
- JCFP+PX5 — Views
- Zanskar River — River (4 h · Paid entry)
- Nubra Village — Village
- Nimmoo — River
- Karsha Gompa — Monastery (1.5 h)
- སྟོང་སྡེ་དགོན་པ། Stongday Gompa — Monastery (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Zangla Palace — Fort (1 h)
Food to try in Leh
- Thukpa — Noodle soup, the staple of the Tibetan-style restaurants around the old town
- Momos — Dumplings, served at most Tibetan-style restaurants near the old town and bus station
- Butter tea — Salted tea churned with butter, served in Ladakhi homes and monasteries
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Leh?
Jun–Sep is the main season, with May and Oct also good. Dec–Feb is bitterly cold with the highways shut, so flights are then the only way in.
How many days are enough for Leh?
3–5 days. Three days cover acclimatising, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the Thiksey and Hemis monasteries; five allow day trips down the Indus valley. Nubra Valley needs extra days.
How do I reach Leh?
By air: Leh (IXL) — 9 km by road. Year-round flights; the only way in during winter. By road: From Manali — 420 km. The Manali–Leh highway is open only roughly Jun–Oct.
What are the top things to do in Leh?
Pangong Lake Road, Khardung La Road, Nubra Valley, Hunder, Thiksey, Hemis.
Plan your Leh trip
Open Guide My Holiday to turn these places into a routed, day-by-day itinerary and book a cab that follows it.
Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store
Guide checked on 2026-10-06.