Zanskar–Indus confluence — where two rivers meet near Nimmu
The Zanskar and Indus rivers meet near Nimmu about 35 km west of Leh: the view from the highway, the colours of the two rivers and the drive from town.
Ladakh⛰ 3,524 m3 itineraries
Leh
Leh at about 3,524 m: the palace, Shanti Stupa and the monasteries along the Indus, measured drives, the season and the two highways, with sources.
Itineraries you can copy
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One day from Leh — Shey, Thiksey and Hemis
Day plan · culture lovers · Temples & heritage
A one-day plan from Leh along the Indus: Shey Palace, the Maitreya statue at Thiksey Monastery and Hemis Monastery, with measured drive times.
Best Jun–Oct
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One day in Leh — the palace, Shanti Stupa and Spituk
Day plan · first-time visitors · Temples & heritage
A gentle first-day plan in Leh: the palace and Namgyal Tsemo above the old town, the Shanti Stupa, then Spituk Monastery and Stok Palace in the valley.
Best Jun–Oct
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One day from Leh — Magnetic Hill, the confluence and Alchi
Day plan · road-trip lovers · nature
A one-day road trip west of Leh: Magnetic Hill, the Zanskar–Indus confluence near Nimmu and the old temples of Alchi, with measured drive times.
Best Jun–Oct
See the plan →Going together
No one has started a group going to Leh yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Leh is the largest city of Ladakh, at about 3,524 m on the Indus river, and for centuries a stopover on trade routes between Tibet, Kashmir and Central Asia. Its nine-storey Leh Palace, built around 1600 by Sengge Namgyal, looks over the old town, and the white Shanti Stupa stands on a ridge to the north-west. Wikipedia counts more than 500,000 visitors a year in Ladakh in 2022 and 2023, against a population of about 31,000 in Leh.
Most visitors use Leh as a base. East along the Indus are Shey Palace, about 19 minutes away on our routing, Thiksey Monastery at 28 minutes and Hemis Monastery at 43. South of the river is Stok Palace, and to the west lie Spituk, Magnetic Hill, the Zanskar–Indus confluence and Alchi. Khardung La, about 40 km north by Wikipedia's account, is the pass to the Nubra valley.
The altitude and the season decide everything. Wikivoyage advises taking the first days easy to avoid altitude sickness, and the roads from Srinagar and Manali are open only in the warm months, so flying is the winter option. Read when to visit, how to reach Leh and things to do in Leh, and copy the first-day plan or the monastery day.
Photos: ClickAR89 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · KennyOMG (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Places worth the drive
Stok Palace — the royal summer home across the Indus
Stok Palace across the Indus from Leh: built in 1820 as a summer home, the later home of the Namgyal family, and its nearby monastery and statue.
Shey Palace — the old royal hill complex and its great Buddha
Shey Palace and monastery on a hillock about 15 km from Leh: the old royal seat, the great copper Shakyamuni Buddha and the chorten fields along the road.
Magnetic Hill — the roadside illusion on the Leh–Srinagar highway
Magnetic Hill on the Leh–Srinagar highway about 29 km from Leh: a roadside stretch where cars seem to roll uphill, what to expect and how to stop safely.
Leh Palace — the nine-storey royal palace above the old town
Leh Palace, the nine-storey former royal palace built around 1600 above Leh's old town: its history, the museum, the restoration and the view from the roof.
Thiksey Monastery — the hilltop Gelug monastery with the great Maitreya
Thiksey Monastery on its hill about 19 km from Leh: the twelve-storey Gelug complex, the 15 m Maitreya statue, its history and the drive from Leh.
Spituk Monastery — the hilltop gompa near Leh's airport
Spituk Monastery about 8 km from Leh: the gompa founded in the 11th century, held by the Gelug school since the 15th, its Kali statue and the Gustor festival.
Shanti Stupa — the white stupa on the ridge above Leh
The Shanti Stupa on a ridge above Leh: a modern white stupa built by a Japanese Buddhist group, about 7 minutes from town, with views of the old town.
Hemis Monastery — Ladakh's Drukpa monastery and its June festival
Hemis Monastery in the Indus valley: the Drukpa monastery re-established in 1672, its Mahasiddha paintings, the early-June festival and the drive from Leh.
Alchi Monastery — the old temple complex of wall paintings
Alchi Monastery, the old temple complex west of Leh: its Kashmiri-style temples and early wall paintings, the Alchi group of villages and the drive from Leh.
On the map
Open the Leh map →The places a Leh day reaches, with the road time from town. Each opens on the map with its plans and pages beside it.
Before you go
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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.
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.
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.
Nearby destinations
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Questions people ask
Is Leh safe for altitude sickness?
Leh stands at about 3,524 m, and Wikivoyage warns that even people used to altitude may have trouble, so take it easy for the first days. We give no medical advice; ask a doctor before you go if you have a heart or lung condition, and keep the first day free of long drives or climbs.
When are the roads to Leh open?
Wikipedia says the Manali highway is open from June to late October and that both it and the Srinagar road are often blocked by snow in winter. Flights run all year, by Wikivoyage. Conditions change by the week, so check the road with the district authorities before you set out.
How many days do you need in Leh?
Plan at least three: a first day near town to adjust to the altitude, a day for the monasteries east along the Indus, and a day west towards Alchi. Each of our plans fits one day, and the Khardung La excursion needs its own day with spare time for weather.
Photographs by Wikimedia Commons contributors (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA), resized; each picture is credited on its own page.