Things to do in Leh — the palace, the monasteries and the passes
Things to do in Leh: Leh Palace and the Shanti Stupa, the monasteries along the Indus, Alchi and the Zanskar confluence, Khardung La and the war museum.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-14
How to reach Leh — flights, and the Manali and Srinagar roads
How to reach Leh: flights all year, the seasonal Manali and Srinagar highways, bus options, measured road distances, and why there is no railway.
Leh can be reached by air all year and by two mountain highways in the warm months. There is no railway in Ladakh, though Wikipedia says two lines are proposed.
By air
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport has flights from Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar and Chandigarh, by Wikipedia's account, and Wikivoyage says it is about 5 km from the centre and the only option in winter. Flights are often delayed by weather, so keep a day or two of flexibility. We have no verified fares or timetables.
By road from Manali
The Leh–Manali highway is about 473 km by Wikipedia's account, and our routing measures about 425 km. It is open from June to late October and crosses Tanglang La at 5,325 m. Wikivoyage says the trip takes two days, with a night at Keylong or in camps at Sarchu or Pang; stopping at Keylong lowers the risk of altitude sickness.
By road from Srinagar
The Srinagar–Leh highway is about 434 km by Wikipedia's account, and our routing measures about 417 km. State buses halt overnight at Kargil. The road runs at lower altitude than the Manali road, which Wikivoyage says lowers the risk of altitude sickness, and usually runs from about June into October.
By bus
Wikivoyage describes a chaotic bus terminal in Leh with sections for local, state and private buses, and advises booking regional tickets a day ahead. We have no verified timetables or fares; ask at the terminal.
Plan the stay
Read when to visit Leh for the season and things to do in Leh, then copy the first-day plan or the monastery day.
Places around Leh
The Leh guide →
Leh Palace — the nine-storey royal palace above the old town
Shanti Stupa — the white stupa on the ridge above Leh
Spituk Monastery — the hilltop gompa near Leh's airport
Shey Palace — the old royal hill complex and its great Buddha
Stok Palace — the royal summer home across the Indus
Thiksey Monastery — the hilltop Gelug monastery with the great Maitreya
Magnetic Hill — the roadside illusion on the Leh–Srinagar highway
Zanskar–Indus confluence — where two rivers meet near Nimmu
More stories to read
All stories →
Best time to visit Leh — season, roads and temperatures
When to visit Leh: roads open from June to October, summer days are warm and dry, and winter is very cold. Month-by-month temperatures from Wikipedia's table.
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Questions people ask
What is the best way to reach Leh?
By air, for most visitors. Wikipedia says Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport has flights from Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar and Chandigarh, and Wikivoyage says planes fly all year and are the only option in winter. The two highways are open only in the warm months, and there is no railway in Ladakh.
When are the roads to Leh open?
Wikipedia says the Manali highway is open from June to late October, and that the Manali and Srinagar roads are often blocked by snow in winter. Wikivoyage says the Srinagar road usually runs from early June into October. Conditions change by the week, so check the road before you set out.
How long does the road trip take?
Wikivoyage says the Manali road takes two days, with a night at Keylong or in camps at Sarchu or Pang, and that stopping at Keylong lowers the risk of altitude sickness. State buses from Srinagar halt overnight at Kargil, by Wikipedia. Our routing measures about 425 km from Manali and 417 km from Srinagar.