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.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-14
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.
Leh has few sights in town and many on the roads around it. Spend the first days in the old town and let the altitude settle before you head out to the monasteries and passes.
In town
Leh Palace looks over the old town, and above it stands the Namgyal Tsemo monastery. The Shanti Stupa crowns a ridge to the north-west. The old town's lanes, the Main Bazaar and the mosque below the palace are best explored on foot. Wikivoyage also lists the army's war museum at the Hall of Fame, with a display on the Siachen battlefield.
East and south along the Indus
Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery and Hemis Monastery lie along the road east. Stok Palace sits across the river, and Spituk Monastery is the nearest to town, near the airport.
West along the Srinagar road
Magnetic Hill, the Zanskar–Indus confluence and Alchi, with its old wall paintings, make a long day west of Leh.
Khardung La and Nubra
Khardung La, about 40 km north of Leh by road, is the pass to the Nubra valley; Wikipedia gives its height as 5,359 m and says local signs overstate it. We have no routed drive time and no permit details, so ask a driver and the district authorities, and give it a full day.
On foot and on the river
Wikivoyage lists half-day hikes from Leh and white-water rafting on the Indus and Zanskar. We have no verified routes, operators or safety rules; use registered guides.
Plan it
Copy the first-day plan, the monastery day or the western day. Read when to visit Leh and how to reach Leh.
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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The four ways on from Manali: Kasol and the Parvati valley, 75 km; Jibhi and the Tirthan, 90 km; Sissu and Lahaul through the tunnel; Spiti or Leh.
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Questions people ask
What are the main sights in Leh?
Leh Palace above the old town, the Shanti Stupa on its ridge and the old town itself. Wikivoyage says Leh has surprisingly few sights but many day trips, mostly monasteries along the Indus: Shey, Thiksey, Hemis, Stok and Spituk to the east and south, and Alchi to the west.
What is Khardung La?
A pass about 40 km north of Leh by road, on the way to the Nubra valley. Wikipedia gives its height as 5,359 m from GPS surveys and says local signs and shops overstate it. We could not route it reliably, so we give no drive time; ask a driver and allow a full day.
Is there anything free to do in Leh?
Walking the old town and bazaar costs nothing, and Wikivoyage says the Shanti Stupa's entrance fee can be avoided by taking the stairs. We have no verified fees or hours for any site, so ask locally. The first days are best spent walking slowly while you adjust to the altitude.