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Things to do in Leh

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The best things to do in Leh–Ladakh: Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, Khardung La, Leh Palace, Thiksey Monastery, and 7 more. Below, each one with how long it takes, the best time of day and a local tip. Ideal stay: 5–6 nights.

12 things to do in Leh–Ladakh

Pangong Lake

Pangong Tso is a long, high-altitude lake famous for shifting shades of blue, about five hours' drive from Leh over Chang La.

1 night recommended.

Local tipVisit only after two days in Leh.

Nubra Valley

Nubra is a high desert valley north of Leh, reached over Khardung La, known for Hunder's sand dunes, Bactrian camels and Diskit monastery with its giant Maitreya statue.

1–2 nights.

Local tipCross Khardung La early in the day.

Khardung La

Khardung La is the pass on the road from Leh to Nubra, 39 km from Leh.

15–20 minutes at the top.

Local tipLimit your stop to 15–20 minutes.

Leh Palace

Leh Palace is a 17th-century, nine-storey royal palace above the old town, built during King Sengge Namgyal's reign.

1 hour.

Local tipVisit on day two, not the day you arrive.

Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey is a hilltop monastery about 19 km from Leh whose stacked white buildings are often compared to Lhasa's Potala.

1–1.5 hours.

Local tipArrive for morning prayers.

Shanti Stupa

Shanti Stupa is a white-domed Buddhist stupa above Changspa, built in the early 1990s with Japanese support, and one of Leh's best sunset viewpoints.

45 minutes.

Local tipDrive up if it's your first days in Leh.

Hemis Monastery

Hemis is one of Ladakh's largest and wealthiest monasteries, about 45 km from Leh in a side valley.

1.5 hours.

Local tipCheck Hemis festival dates for your year.

Magnetic Hill

Magnetic Hill is a stretch of the Leh–Kargil highway, about 30 km from Leh, where an optical illusion makes vehicles appear to roll uphill.

15 minutes.

Local tipStop only where marked; it's a highway.

Turtuk

Turtuk is a Balti village deep in Nubra, near the Line of Control, opened to tourists in 2010.

1 night.

Local tipCarry cash; card acceptance is limited.

Tso Moriri

Tso Moriri is a remote, protected high-altitude lake at 4,522 m in Changthang, around 219–240 km from Leh.

1 night.

Local tipAcclimatise fully before going.

Kargil

Kargil is Ladakh's second town, about 204 km from Srinagar and 234 km from Leh at roughly 2,704 m, and the natural night halt on the drive between them.

1 night.

Local tipBook hotels early in peak season.