Leh-Ladakh Travel Guide

Leh-Ladakh's stark high-altitude landscape — passes above 5,000 metres, blue lakes ringed by barren mountains — makes it one of the most distinctive trips in India. It's also one where timing and altitude planning genuinely matter for a safe, enjoyable trip.

When You Can Actually Go

May–September is the main travel season, when the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh highways are open and most high passes are accessible by road. From October–April, the region is largely cut off by road due to snow, though Leh itself remains reachable by air, with extreme cold to plan around.

Altitude Comes First

Leh sits at roughly 3,500 metres, and altitude sickness is a real consideration for every visitor, not just trekkers. Most well-planned itineraries build in a mandatory acclimatisation day in Leh before heading to higher points like Khardung La or Pangong Lake — this isn't a formality, it's what keeps the rest of the trip comfortable.

How Many Days to Plan For

A short Leh-only trip works in 3–4 nights, including that acclimatisation day. If you want to add Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley for a fuller circuit, plan for around 5–6 nights instead.