Spiritual4 days
Leh & Indus valley
Monasteries and palaces on a gentle acclimatisation loop around Leh.
- Leh
- Shey
- Thiksey
- Hemis
- Stok
Union Territory · North
Ladakh
High desert, Buddhist monasteries and electric blue lakes
Land of high passes: monasteries clinging to hills, Nubra dunes, Pangong's blue water and Zanskar's lonely valleys. Acclimatise carefully, travel May to September, and expect permit rules for border areas.
- Best time
- May to September; Zanskar winter road/Chadar trek in January-February
- Allow
- 7–12 days
- Getting there
- Leh (IXL) airport; nearest rail head Jammu Tawi or Chandigarh; roads via Manali and Srinagar open in summer
- Permits
- Indians: Inner Line Permit for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Dah-Hanu and other border areas. Foreigners: Protected Area Permit via registered agents (group of 2+). Environment fee applies. Verify current rules with Leh administration.
- Capital
- Leh
- At a glance
- 8 districts · 29 places · 14 off the beaten track
Must-see
The unmissable Ladakh
01
Leh Palace & Old Town
Nine-storey Namgyal palace ruins above the bazaar lanes.
02
Pangong Tso
Colour-shifting lake spanning India and China; camp at Spangmik or Merak.
03
Nubra Valley
Khardung La, Hunder dunes, Bactrian camels and Diskit monastery.
04
Hemis & Thiksey Monasteries
Two grand gompas; Hemis hosts a famous mask festival.
05
Tso Moriri
High-altitude lake and Korzok village in remote Changthang.
06
Lamayuru Moonland
Eroded lunar landscape with an old monastery on the ridge.
07
Alchi Monastery
Eleventh-century Indus-side murals in a quiet village.
08
Zanskar Valley
Padum, Karsha and Phugtal monastery in a remote hidden valley.
Tourist circuits
Ready-made routes
Join the dots: each circuit links places that make sense together.
Adventure6 days
Nubra & Pangong
The classic high-pass road trip over Khardung La, camels in dunes and dawn on Pangong.
- Leh
- Khardung La
- Diskit
- Hunder
- Turtuk
- Pangong
Culture7 days
Srinagar-Leh highway
Overland through war-memorial town and Buddhist villages, a gradual way up.
- Srinagar
- Sonamarg
- Drass
- Kargil
- Mulbekh
- Lamayuru
- Leh
Offbeat5 days
Changthang & Hanle
Nomad plateau, salt lakes and one of the world's highest dark-sky observatories.
- Leh
- Tso Kar
- Tso Moriri
- Hanle
Offbeat7 days
Zanskar valley
One of Ladakh's most remote valleys, reached via Pensi La in summer.
- Kargil
- Rangdum
- Padum
- Karsha
- Phugtal
Heritage3 days
Western Ladakh Buddhist route
Ancient murals and monastery art in the lower Indus valley.
- Alchi
- Likir
- Basgo
- Lamayuru
District by district
Every district, place by place
8 districts. Open any to see what's worth your time — gold tags mark lesser-known places.
LehHQ Leh · 4 places · 1 offbeat
Historic capital with palaces, monasteries, markets and the base for most trips.
- HeritageLeh Palace17th-century royal palace overlooking the old bazaar.
- SpiritualThiksey MonasteryHilltop gompa with Maitreya statue and sunrise prayers.
- SpiritualHemis MonasteryLadakh's richest monastery in a hidden side valley.
- AdventureMarkha Valley TrekOffbeatClassic multi-day trek via Hemis Shukpachan and Kongmaru La.
KargilHQ Kargil · 3 places · 2 offbeat
Suru-Zanskar crossroads town with Balti culture and Buddhist pockets.
- SpiritualMulbekh MaitreyaRock-carved Maitreya statue by the highway.
- SpiritualShargole MonasteryOffbeatCave monastery above a small village near Mulbekh.
- CultureKargil Bazaar & Old TownOffbeatKargil's lanes with Balti food, dried apricots and Silk Route history.
NubraHQ Diskit · 4 places · 2 offbeat
Valley beyond Khardung La with sand dunes, camels and Turtuk's Balti culture.
- SpiritualDiskit MonasteryOldest Nubra monastery with a giant Maitreya statue.
- NatureHunder Sand DunesCold-desert dunes with double-humped camels.
- OffbeatTurtukOffbeatBalti village by the Shyok river; permits required.
- NaturePanamik Hot SpringsOffbeatNatural hot spring and Sumur monastery farther along the valley.
ShamHQ Khaltse · 4 places · 2 offbeat
Lower Indus valley with ancient murals, apricots and moonland rock.
- HeritageAlchi MonasteryEleventh-century murals in a quiet Indus village.
- SpiritualLamayuru MonasteryRidge-top monastery above a moon-like landscape.
- HeritageBasgo PalaceOffbeatRuined palace and monastery on a hill.
- OffbeatSaspol CavesOffbeatPainted cave shrines above the Indus.
ChangthangHQ Nyoma · 4 places · 2 offbeat
High Rupshu plateau with nomads, salt lakes and the Hanle observatory.
- Must-seePangong TsoLarge Himalayan lake, camps at Spangmik and Merak.
- NatureTso MoririRemote lake and bird habitat near Korzok village.
- OffbeatHanle Dark Sky ReserveOffbeatOne of the world's highest observatories; permits needed.
- OffbeatTso KarOffbeatSalt lake with wild asses and nomad camps.
ZanskarHQ Padum · 4 places · 2 offbeat
Remote glaciated valley with cliff monasteries and high passes.
- SpiritualKarsha MonasteryZanskar's largest gompa, stacked on a hillside above Padum.
- OffbeatPhugtal MonasteryOffbeatCave-honeycomb monastery reached after a trek from Purne.
- SpiritualStongde MonasteryOffbeatHilltop monastery with Padum valley views.
- NaturePensi La & Drang Drung GlacierPass entry to Zanskar and the glacier below it.
DrassHQ Drass · 3 places · 1 offbeat
One of the coldest inhabited places in India, below Zojila.
- HeritageKargil War MemorialMemorial and museum honouring the 1999 conflict.
- HeritageTololing ViewsOffbeatPeaks seen from the memorial; no private access.
- AdventureZojila PassDramatic gateway pass between Kashmir and Ladakh, open in summer.
SankooHQ Sankoo · 3 places · 2 offbeat
Newest district (Oct 2026) in the Suru valley with views of Nun and Kun peaks.
- NatureSuru Valley DriveWide valley with villages, poplars and Nun-Kun glacier views.
- NatureParkachik Glacier ViewOffbeatViewpoint toward Parkachik glacier, Nun Kun massif nearby.
- OffbeatPanikharOffbeatRoadside village and base for Nun Kun treks.
Nothing matches — try a different word.
Eat
Signature flavours
- Thukpa
- Momos
- Skyu
- Butter tea
- Chhurpi
Homestays in Leh and Nubra villages, camps at Pangong, simple guesthouses in Zanskar, a few luxury camps.
Festivals
When to time your visit
- Hemis Tsechu — June-July
- Losar (Ladakhi New Year) — December-January
- Sindhu Darshan — June
- Ladakh Festival — September
Insider tip
Spend two nights in Leh before going over passes and avoid alcohol on arrival; altitude sickness can strike fast.
Our detailed guides
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Start planning Free trip plannerCompiled from public tourism information and our own knowledge; permits, entry rules, district boundaries, timings and prices change — approximate, verify before travelling. Last reviewed 2026-11-09.