The Best Leh-Ladakh Itinerary For a Splendid Holiday

A trip to Leh Ladakh can be a magical experience if you plan well. A popular holiday destination, Leh-Ladakh has many touristy places to see and things to do. However, if you don’t plan your Leh Ladakh itinerary well,  you may end up being disappointed as there are different seasons for different activities and things to do in Ladakh.

For the best experience in Ladakh, it is better to follow a structured travel plan. To help you have a great holiday, we have put together this easy to do Leh-Ladakh itinerary. Have a look at it below.

A Comprehensive Leh-Ladakh Itinerary

The ideal time to spend in Leh-Ladakh is about a week. You would want to spend the first day of your visit at your hotel, resting and trying to acclimatise yourself to the climate.

Once you have acclimatised yourself, you can begin exploring Leh-Ladakh and enjoying all the activities that the place has to offer. Here is a list of things you can include in your trip.

1. Explore the Leh Palace

The Leh Palace was the royal home of King Sengge Namgyal. Today, the palace stands vacant and it has been converted into an exhibition centre. Visit the palace and stumble up Leh’s rich history through the many exhibits on display. Meander around the palace and catch glimpses of old architecture and click pictures of the palace.

• Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Indians, Rs. 200 for foreigners
• Ideal Time to Spend: 1 Hour

2. Leh Old Town

For a taste of local Leh Ladakh culture, head down to the Leh Old Town. In the town, you will come across old houses and get a taste of local Ladakhi culture. In the old town, there are some shops selling local products and food items.

After you have finished exploring the old town, stop over for coffee at the Lala’s Art Café where you get amazingly delicious coffee.

• Entry Fee: Free to explore, carry money to buy stuff at the market
• Ideal Time to Spend: 2 hours without shopping, 3 hours if you plan on shopping.

3. Visit the Monasteries

You must not miss out on exploring all the Buddhist monasteries in the region. These are very old and have a close connection to Ladakh’s culture.

Some famous monasteries in Leh-Ladakh are the Thiksey monastery, the Hemis and the Shey monasteries. You can also visit the Tsemo Gompa.

• Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Indians, Rs. 200 for foreigners
• Ideal Time to Spend: 3-4 hours exploring all the monasteries

4. Adventure Sports at Hunder Valley

Located just a few miles away from the Nubra Valley, the Hunder Valley is a hotspot for outdoor activity. There is a lot of adventure sports that you can enjoy at this place. Take a camel ride, go horseback riding or sit in a hot-air balloon and catch amazing sights of the area.

On Fridays, due to the rush, prices of adventure sports are hiked, you could bargain for a decent fare.

• Ideal Time to Spend: 3-4 hours

5. Camping at Nubra Valley

At the Nubra Valley, there are many camping sites near the lake where you can set-up a tent. If you don’t want too and prefer a comfortable camping site, book yourself into one of the already set-up camps in Nubra, where you can spend a few days enjoying the great outdoors. They have all the comfortable amenities and even organize a few events for you.

• Ideal Time to Spend: 1 to 2 days

6. Pangong Lake

Spend an entire day at the Pangong Lake. The lake was made famous in the movie 3 Idiots and since then has seen a spike in tourism. There are plenty of places to stay nearby, each offering comfortable amenities.

If you go, during the migratory season, you might just be able to spot a few exotic birds on the lake. End your trip to the lake by visiting the Spangmik village for scenic walks. It is only 7 kilometres away from the Pangong Lake.

• Ideal Time to Spend: A day

7. Trek to the Zanskar Valley

A must do activity when in Ladakh is the trek to Zanskar. Although it is best experienced in winter, summer is not bad. Challenging and exciting, you’ll witness a whole new experience trekking at the Zanskar Valley.

If you are not adept at trekking, we suggest that you take it slow and do the hike at your own pace.

• Ideal Time to Spend: Normally, this trek would take you 9 days to reach the summit.

8. Visit the Magnetic Hill

The unique feature of these hills is that cars, when parked, automatically go backwards up the hill. This stunning gravitational phenomenon is something that every tourist to Ladakh should witness.

If you are up for some sightseeing, visit the Alchi Monastery that is about an hour’s drive away from the Magnetic Hill.

• Ideal Time to Spend: Spend around 5 hours doing both activities.

9. Drive to the Khardung La Pass

When you are in Leh, you must not miss out on the opportunity to travel to the Khardung La Pass. It is India’s highest motorable pass and the sights around are simply majestic. The drive from Leh to the pass is around 37 kilometres. Spend half a day here and then on your way back stop at the Tibetan market for some shopping and visit the Shanti Stupa.

• Ideal Time to Spend: An entire day.

10. Phyang Fortress Ruin

On your way lack to the city, visit the Phyang Fortress Ruin for a brief time. A guided tour of the ruined fort should not take you more than an hour to explore. Walk around the fort, listening to stories of the past, all the way to the top. From the top of the fort, soak in stunning views of the valley and click a few pictures for memories.

• Ideal Time to Spend: About an hour

11. Hemis Festival

Normally, you would want to travel to Ladakh between the month of May and June. If you around town during these months, visit the Hemis Monastery, the site of the famous Hemis Festival. Held in June every year, this festival is celebrated with pomp, show and colour.

A great experience for out of towners, during this festival tourists, can witness Ladakhi culture at its best.

• When to visit: June
• Where is it Held: Hemis Gompa

For the best experience in Leh-Ladakh, follow this itinerary. Our Leh-Ladakh itinerary has all the important places for you to explore listed down. Whether you are going with family, friends or alone, you will certainly soak in the best of what Ladakh has to offer with our Leh-Ladakh itinerary.