Ladakh Travel Guide: Leh, Monasteries, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Permits and Travel Tips
Welcome to our Ladakh travel guide. Ladakh is a high-altitude desert in the far north of India, between the Karakoram and the Great Himalaya, cut by the Indus river. Its villages, monasteries and palaces sit among bare brown mountains under a deep blue sky, and its culture is closely linked to Tibetan Buddhism. This guide covers the best places to visit, things to do, festivals, food, permits, altitude, how to get there, the best time to visit and travel tips.
Ladakh at a Glance
Here are the key facts in our Ladakh travel guide.
- Main town: Leh, at about 3,500 metres
- Airport: Leh, with flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities
- Languages: Ladakhi; Hindi and English are widely understood
- Known for: monasteries, high passes, Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley and its camels, festivals and apricots
- Days needed: five to ten, starting with a rest day
- Best time: May to September
Leh: Palace, Stupa and Old Town
Every Ladakh travel guide starts in Leh. See the 17th-century Leh Palace, built in the style of Tibetan palaces, and climb to the Namgyal Tsemo monastery above it. Watch the sunset from Shanti Stupa, a white peace pagoda built by Japanese Buddhists, and walk the lanes of the old town and Leh Market. The Hall of Fame, run by the Indian Army, tells the story of the soldiers who serve in these mountains.
Shamrock travel tip: spend your first day in Leh resting. Walk slowly, drink water and avoid alcohol until your body adjusts to the height. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Around Leh: Magnetic Hill, Sangam and the Western Monasteries
West of Leh, our Ladakh travel guide suggests a day for Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill, a famous optical illusion where cars seem to roll uphill, and the Sangam, where the green Indus meets the brown Zanskar river. Further on are Likir Monastery, Alchi with its old painted temples, and Lamayuru, set above a moon-like landscape, about three hours from Leh.
The Indus Valley Monasteries
East of Leh, along the Indus, this Ladakh travel guide lists the great monasteries:
- Shey Palace: the old summer palace with a large seated Buddha
- Druk Padma Karpo School: near Shey, the school seen in the film “3 Idiots”
- Thiksey Monastery: rising up a hill, often compared to the Potala Palace in Lhasa
- Hemis Monastery: home of the Hemis festival and its masked dances
- Stakna and Stok: a hilltop monastery and the royal family’s palace museum
Nubra Valley
Next in our Ladakh travel guide is Nubra. North of Leh, the road climbs over Khardung La, one of the high road passes of Ladakh, and drops into Nubra Valley. See Diskit Monastery and its large Maitreya Buddha, ride a double-humped Bactrian camel on the sand dunes at Hunder, and, if you have time, visit Turtuk, a Balti village close to the border, or the hot springs at Panamik.
Pangong Lake
No Ladakh travel guide is complete without Pangong. About five hours from Leh over Chang La, Pangong Lake stretches for many kilometres into Tibet. Its waters change from deep blue to green with the light. Stay in a lakeside camp to see sunset and sunrise. The lake freezes in winter.
Tso Moriri, Hanle and Changthang
Our Ladakh travel guide also covers the high plateau of Changthang, south-east of Leh. Tso Moriri is a quiet lake by the village of Korzok, where Changpa nomads graze their herds. Hanle is known for its observatory and dark skies, ideal for stargazing, and the road continues to Umling La, one of the highest roads in Ladakh. These areas need extra permits, and some are closed to foreign nationals.
Zanskar and Kargil
West of Leh, Kargil and Drass lie on the road to Srinagar, with the Kargil War Memorial at Drass. South of Kargil, the remote Zanskar Valley and its capital Padum are reached over high passes in summer. In winter, trekkers walk the Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river.
Things to Do in Ladakh
Here are the best experiences in our Ladakh travel guide:
- Visit monasteries at prayer time
- Ride a Bactrian camel at Hunder
- Camp by Pangong Lake
- Trek the Markha Valley or shorter village walks
- Raft on the Indus or Zanskar rivers in summer
- Stay in a village homestay
- Photograph the landscapes and stargaze at Hanle
- Look for wildlife such as wild asses, marmots and, on special winter treks, the snow leopard
Festivals in Ladakh
- Hemis festival: masked Cham dances at Hemis Monastery, in June or July
- Sindhu Darshan: a festival on the banks of the Indus, in June
- Ladakh Festival: music, dance and polo in Leh, in September
- Losar: the Ladakhi New Year, in winter
Food in Ladakh
Food is part of every Ladakh travel guide. Try thukpa noodle soup, momos, skyu (a hearty pasta stew), butter tea, tsampa (roasted barley flour) and the sweet local apricots.
Permits for Ladakh
Permits are a key part of any Ladakh travel guide. Indian nationals register and pay an environment fee to visit protected areas such as Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for these areas, and some places near the border are closed to them. Rules change, so we check them for every booking.
Altitude and Health
Every Ladakh travel guide must talk about altitude. Leh is very high, and the passes and lakes are higher still. Rest for the first day, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and climb slowly. Mild headache and breathlessness are common at first. If you have heart, lung or blood pressure problems, see your doctor before travel, and tell your driver at once if you feel unwell.
How to Reach Ladakh
This part of our Ladakh travel guide explains how to get there.
By Air
Leh airport has flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar and other cities, often via Delhi. Flying in means your body must adjust quickly, so rest well on arrival.
By Road
The road from Srinagar crosses Zoji La and Kargil, and the road from Manali crosses several high passes. Both are usually open only in summer, and they help you adjust to the height on the way.
Best Time to Visit Ladakh
Our Ladakh travel guide suggests May to September, when the passes are open and the days are warm. June to August is the busiest season. September is quieter, with clear skies. Winter is very cold; Pangong Lake freezes and many roads close, but it is the season for the Chadar trek and snow leopard treks.
Ladakh Travel Tips
Before you go, read these tips from our Ladakh travel guide.
- Only postpaid mobile connections from other states work in Ladakh, and the signal is weak in Nubra and at Pangong.
- Carry cash; ATMs are few outside Leh.
- Use strong sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat; the sun is fierce at height.
- Pack warm layers in every season.
- Carry a reusable water bottle and take your rubbish back with you.
- Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels, and ask before taking photos of people.
Ladakh Travel Guide FAQs
How many days do I need in Ladakh?
At least five days, including a rest day in Leh. A week lets you see both Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.
Do I need a permit for Ladakh?
Leh itself needs none, but Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri and other protected areas need permits and fees.
Is altitude sickness a problem?
It can be. Rest on the first day, drink water and go slowly, and see a doctor before travel if you have health problems.
When does Pangong Lake freeze?
Usually from around January to March.
Can I combine Ladakh with Kashmir?
Yes. The road from Srinagar to Leh is open in summer; see our Kashmir Ladakh tour below.
Ready-Made Ladakh Tours
If you want us to plan everything, these private tours include hotels, permits and an SUV with driver. See all our Ladakh tour packages.
- 5-day Leh Nubra Valley tour: Leh, Khardung La, the Hunder sand dunes and Diskit Monastery: the Ladakh 4 nights 5 days tour package.
- 5-day Leh Pangong Lake tour: Leh, the Indus valley monasteries, Chang La and a night by Pangong Lake.
- 7-day Ladakh tour: the complete Leh Nubra Pangong tour package: the Ladakh 6 nights 7 days tour package.
- 10-day Kashmir Ladakh tour: the Srinagar to Leh road trip over Zoji La, with Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.
- 10-day Ladakh Taj Mahal tour: Leh, Nubra and Pangong, then Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal: a Ladakh 9 nights 10 days tour package.
- 11-day Ladakh Golden Triangle tour: Ladakh with Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
Plan Your Ladakh Trip
We hope this Ladakh travel guide helps you plan. See our Kashmir travel guide, Sikkim travel guide, India spiritual tours and all our India tour packages. Request your free quote
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