Leh
~3,500m · the old capital of Ladakh, and the base every route into the region starts from.
Everything acclimatizes here first.
Leh sits at roughly 3,500m, which means it's not just a town to see — it's the altitude buffer every Ladakh trip needs before going higher. Most itineraries spend the first day or two here on purpose: short walks, the old bazaar, nothing strenuous, while your body catches up to the elevation.
The old town itself rewards that slow pace — narrow lanes below Leh Palace, prayer flags strung between rooftops, and a market that still runs on Ladakhi time rather than tourist time.
A palace modelled on the Potala, and a stupa built for peace.
- 01Leh PalaceA 17th-century royal palace overlooking the town, built in a style that echoes Lhasa's Potala Palace.
- 02Shanti StupaA white-domed stupa built in 1991, reached by a long staircase — the valley's best sunset viewpoint.
- 03Namgyal Tsemo & Sankar GompaTwo of Leh's working monasteries, both an easy walk from the old town.
- 04Leh Main BazaarThe town's central market — Ladakhi handicrafts, pashmina, and apricots from the surrounding valleys.
Best time & getting here.
Best Time to Visit
May–September for road access and full-region travel. Leh itself is reachable by air year-round.
Getting Here
Direct flights from Delhi land right in Leh. By road, the Manali–Leh and Srinagar–Leh highways are seasonal, open roughly May to October.
Activities
Monastery visits, the old bazaar, day trips toward Khardung La, and acclimatization walks before heading further into the region.
Good To Know
If you fly in, we build at least one full rest day into the itinerary before any activity above Leh's own altitude — non-negotiable, not optional.