This itinerary is a curated travel guide to the beautiful part of the northern Indian Himalayan region, Leh Ladakh. This place is a high-altitude cold mountain desert with breathtaking landscapes, rich Buddhist culture and friendly locals.
Included in this guide:
🗻Overview of Ladakh
✈️How to reach
⌛best time to visit
🚗How to get around
🏠stay options (budget, mid-range, luxury)
📍points of interests
🧳compete 6-day itinerary
This in-depth information ensures that you no longer have to research for hours to collect details from different sources. This is my personal travel itinerary, but you can cover these destinations in any order. One requires at least 5-6 days to be able explore prime attractions of Ladakh.
Extending from the Siachen Glacier to the main Great Himalayas, Ladakh is a land like no other. The region is a riot of intricate murals, fluttering prayer flags, and whitewashed stupas, with red-robed monks adding to its vibrant cultural tapestry. Dominated by dramatic landscapes, Ladakh is known as the world's coldest desert.
📇Permit:
Tourists need protected area permit to travel to certain areas in Ladakh. It is mandatory to obtain the permit for domestic as well international tourists visiting the protected areas of Ladakh. This can be obtained through the website given below and also with the help of hotel staff.
There are many buses going from Manali to Leh and adventure lovers doing a self-drive road trip. Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HRTC) operate buses. Distance from Manali to Leh is 428 km and is the longest route taking almost 2-3 days to complete. It is opened for about six months a year from the first week of May to October.
Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HRTC) operate buses. Distance from Manali to Leh is 428 km and is the longest route taking almost 2-3 days to complete. It is opened for about six months a year from the first week of May to October.
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⌛Best time to visit
The peak season to visit Ladakh region is between May-October. It receives heavy snowfall during winters and most areas are inaccessible.
🚌How to get around Ladakh
🔹Ladakh is a vast area where all the attractions are situated far from each other. If you are comfortable riding a bike in the mountain areas of Ladakh, you can rent one for some days. Another option is hiring a taxi with a local driver which is more expensive.
🔹There are rental bikes and scooters available in Leh city for full day if you want to explore the nearby attractions on your own.
🛏️Stay options:
Ladakh is a huge area and with places scattered far from each other it can be confusing for the first timers when choosing stay options. It is best to stay at Leh city which the center point for many popular attractions and the city can be explored by walking.
Raybo Hostel in Leh provides adults-only accommodation with a garden, a shared lounge and a terrace. Located around 2.5 km from Shanti Stupa, the hostel with free WiFi is also 700 metres away from Soma Gompa
Located in Leh, 4.7 km from Shanti Stupa, Ladakh Kingdom, Leh provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. This 3-star hotel offers a shared kitchen and room service. The hotel features a restaurant, and War Museum is 2.6 km away.
Set in Leh and only 1.6 km from Shanti Stupa, Raku Guest house offers accommodation with mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking. The property has garden views and is 2.7 km from Namgyal Tsemo Gompa and 5.2 km from War Museum. The property is non-smoking and is located less than 1 km from Soma Gompa.
Located in Leh, less than 1 km from Shanti Stupa, Ladakh Residency provides accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, a garden and a restaurant. This 4-star hotel offers room service, a tour desk and free WiFi. War Museum is 5.7 km from the hotel.
Located in Leh, 4.9 km from Shanti Stupa, Ladakh Eco Resort provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. The property is around 1.9 km from Soma Gompa, 3.8 km from Namgyal Tsemo Gompa and 4.2 km from War Museum. The accommodation features free shuttle service, room service and luggage storage for guests.
Located near Namgyal Tsemo Gompa and Soma Gompa, Rock Castle Residency is in Leh and provides free private parking and a restaurant. With quiet street views, this accommodation features a terrace.
Located in Leh, 4.5 km from Shanti Stupa, The Grand Dragon Ladakh provides accommodation with a fitness centre, free private parking, a garden and a shared lounge.
Located in Leh, 1.5 km from Shanti Stupa, Ashoka Ladakh provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant.
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🧳6-day travel itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive and explore the city
Depending on the time of your flight, the first day is usually meant for relaxation and getting acclimatized to the weather. You can use this day to explore the Leh market, try some local cuisines and fill your shopping bags with souvenirs.
Leh market is a colorful, bustling place filled with shops selling all kinds of stuffs and lots of restaurants where you can savor some local cuisines. Don't forget to have a hot bowl of Tibetan thukpa soup!
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Day 2: Visit popular attractions near Leh city
Leh has some of the most beautiful Buddhist stupas and monasteries which reflect the strong Buddhist culture of Ladakh. You can hire a local taxi driver and don't forget to negotiate the prices because they charge way higher than the standard rates.
Leh Palace, also known as Lachen Palkar Palace,is a former royal palace overlooking the city of Leh in Ladakh, India. Here you can learn about the history of Ladakh.
The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama. The Stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of Leh city.
Thiksey Monastery is the largest monastery in central Ladakh district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated 18 km from Leh in the Indus valley. The Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism is located at the top of hill.
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Day 3: Visit the iconic Pangong lake
The pangong lake tour requires a full day because it is far from Leh city (223 km). It takes six hours to reach this lake. You will also come across Changla pass in this route.
Located within a stunning landscape, the beautiful Changla Pass beckons adventurers and nature lovers alike.
This third-highest motorable route, carved through majestic peaks and verdant valleys, offers an unforgettable journey filled with breathtaking vistas and serene surroundings.
In Ladakh, you never know what surprise nature has in store for you. Pangong Lake, situated at a height of almost 4,350m, is the world’s highest saltwater lake. Its water, which seems to be dyed in blue, stand in stark contrast to the arid mountains surrounding it. Extending to almost 160km, one-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.
Pangong Lake, one of the most famous lakes in Leh Ladakh, derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”.
Pangong Lake is also known to change colors, appearing blue, green and red at different times
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Day 4: Marvel at the beautiful monasteries and visit 'Sangam'
Make the most of this day by visiting two beautiful monasteries of Ladakh, Alchi (66 km from Leh city) and Lamayuru (114 km from Leh city). Enroute you will come across 'Sangam' viewpoint, which is which is a confluence of two rivers, Indus and Zanskar.
Sangam is the confluence of Indus and Zanskar Rivers in Ladakh. It is located 35km from Leh in Nimmu, on the Leh Srinagar highway. The two rivers can be separately seen meeting at this point.
While the Indus River appears as shiny blue, Zanskar River appears muddy green. It is a spectacular site to witness.
Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa (Tibetan: ཨ་ལྕི་དགོམ་པ།, also Alci) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, known more as a monastic complex of temples in Alchi village. Don't forget to purchase colorful jewellery and souvenirs from the monastery.
Alchi is a small village with several tourist homestays, most offering modern conveniences for overnight stays.
Alchi kitchen is my favorite cafe in Alchi where friendly local women make the most delicious local Ladakh food. Do try their dim sums and apricot tea (Ladakh is famous for its apricots!)
Lamayuru is one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, with a population of around 150 permanent monks resident. It has, in the past, housed up to 400 monks, many of which are now based in gompas in surrounding villages.
Lamayuru hosts two annual masked dance festivals in the second and fifth months of the Tibetan lunar calendar, when all the monks from the surrounding gompas gather together to pray.
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Day 5: Visit Nubra valley and Diskit monastery
The trip to Leh is incomplete without visiting the majestic Nubra valley and Diskit monastery. Surrounded by snowcapped Himalayan ranges, Nubra valley lies sandwiched between Tibet and Kashmir.
If time permits, you can also visit Turtuk, a picturesque mountain village situated at the border of India. Nubra valley tour requires a whole day.
Surrounded by snowcapped Himalayan ranges, Nubra valley lies sandwiched between Tibet and Kashmir. The view of the valley is picturesque and breathtaking.
During winter, the whole valley looks like landscape of the moon (reason for calling Moonland) and in summer full of greenery.
Diskit Monastery is a major tourist attraction in the Nubra Valley, not just for its incredible location, but for the 106 feet Maitreya Buddha statue which is located just below the monastery.
The interiors of the Diskit Monastery are as beautiful as its exteriors, as they are adorned with intricate frescoes & wall paintings. The prayer hall, called Dukhang, is home to enormous drums & beautiful images of the Buddhist guardian deities.
Turtuk is a remote and picturesque village, surrounded by the majestic Karakoram Mountain range. The village has a rich history, having been part of the ancient Silk Road and a major trading center.
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Day 6: Depart for the airport
You conclude your amazing Ladakh trip filled with wonderful experiences and memories to take back home.
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I hope you have the most amazing time at Leh.
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Hello wanderers,
I am Ishita Khemariya and I have traveled extensively in many parts of India, exploring its vast majestic landscapes, learning about its diverse culture, history and people. I am the person to trust when it comes to planning your perfect India trip. If it's your first time in India, you can be assured of having a great time. I know all about the overrated tourist hotspots which you should skip and also about the hidden gems which are not found on tourist maps.
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