Ancient fortress built into a rocky mountainside under blue sky

Leh

Leh is the capital of Ladakh in northern India. Travelers come for its monasteries, the old Leh Palace and the mountain roads that run out from town.

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Leh is the capital of Ladakh, a high-desert region in northern India, at about 3,500 m above sea level. The town sits in a wide valley with bare mountains on every side. The old bazaar lies below Leh Palace, which rises above its lanes. Most visitors come for the monasteries in the valley and the hills around it, and use Leh as the base for trips to high passes and lakes farther out.

Altitude sets the pace. Take at least two easy days after arriving before any long drive or hike, and drink water steadily. Plan three to four nights in town, since the valley is the easiest place to adjust before the roads climb higher. Pack warm layers, because nights stay cold even in summer. Leh suits travelers who want culture, mountain scenery and a slower pace. The main season runs through summer, when the roads from Manali and Srinagar are usually open. A week allows time for the town and a few day trips.

Leh in five

Rest for two days before anything strenuousAltitude sickness hits some visitors even when they are fit. Walk slowly, drink water, avoid alcohol on arrival and ask a doctor before you go if you have heart, lung or blood conditions.
Visit the Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa at the end of the dayBoth sit above town and give sunset views over the valley. Take it slowly on the steps; the palace and stupa are good first outings on your second day.
Use Leh for the monasteries on the IndusThiksey, Shey and Hemis lie within an hour's drive. A half-day taxi to Thiksey and Shey is the easy first trip, and Hemis is better on its own day.Ladakh
Arrange Nubra and Pangong permits through LehForeign visitors need permits for some border-area valleys. Agents in Leh file them, and the process and fees change, so confirm the current rules before you commit to a route.
Carry cash and warm layersATMs and cards work less reliably outside Leh, and nights are cold even in summer. Pack a warm jacket, sun protection and a refillable bottle.Kashmir & Ladakh

Things to do in Leh

See all attractions in Leh

Landmark · LehLeh PalaceWalk slowly on the steep, dusty path and carry water, since the altitude makes the climb tiring.

Sight · LehSpituk Gompa

Tower · Leh5H8R+W6V Namgyal Tsemo

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to LehPut the places you like in Leh on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee (IXL), close to town
Getting there: Fly from Delhi; or road from Manali (about 2 days) or Srinagar
Getting around: Walking in town; taxis and drivers for excursions
Best base: Leh town near the Main Bazaar
Time needed: 3 to 4 nights, plus any excursions

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-16°Low-24°Freezing, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-13°Low-23°Cold, roads shut
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-9°Low-19°Cold, few open
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-4°Low-15°Roads reopening
MayPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh0°Low-11°Passes opening
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy days4 snowy days2 days with stormsHigh4°Low-6°Peak season
JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy day2 days with stormsHigh8°Low0°Peak, dry
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy days2 days with stormsHigh9°Low1°Peak, dry
SeptemberPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy days1 day with stormsHigh5°Low-5°Clear, quieter
OctoberClear5 rainy days2 snowy days1 day with stormsHigh-3°Low-14°Cold, closing
NovemberClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh-10°Low-21°Most places close
DecemberClear6 rainy days2 snowy days1 day with stormsHigh-14°Low-24°Freezing, quiet

Average daily high and low in Leh, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Leh

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

-3

Feels like: -6°
Humidity: 46%
Wind: 2 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Leh

02:06 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5:30

Today4°-4°0%Tuesday: Snow. High 4°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed4°-4°16%Wednesday: Snow. High 4°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 16%.
Thu4°-4°12%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 4°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 12%.
Fri1°-5°17%Friday: Snow. High 1°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 17%.
Sat3°-6°0%Saturday: Clear. High 3°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun4°-6°0%Sunday: Clear. High 4°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 01:36 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR

Amount

Converted to

INR · Indian Rupee

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Thiksey and Sheyabout 30 to 45 min by taxiA hillside monastery and an old palace ruin, an easy first excursion after acclimatizing.
Hemisabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadA large monastery in a side valley, with a museum and a high-altitude courtyard.
Alchiabout 2 hours by roadA small, painted temple complex on the Indus, usually combined with a Sham Valley drive.

Before you go to Leh

Monastery and valley toursThiksey, Shey and Hemis with a driverCompare day tours

Guesthouses with heatingOld-town homestays and hotelsCheck availability

eSIM for Leh and LadakhCheck network coverage before you goRead the guide

Cover for 3,500 m travelAltitude illness and evacuationRead the guide

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Rules for Leh, checked

Some Ladakh areas, such as Nubra and Pangong, need a Protected Area Permit for foreign nationals. Confirm the current rule for your route before you travel.
Check whether your nationality can use the Indian e-Visa on the official government portal before you book flights.Source
Remove your shoes before entering gompas and temples, and walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels.
Some monasteries restrict photography. Ask the monks or caretaker before you take pictures.

Plan around Leh

All of India

Entry rules, regions and trip planning

Read the guide Ladakh

Nubra, Pangong and the monasteries

Read the guide Kashmir & Ladakh

Combine Srinagar and the high road to Leh

Read the guide Manali

The overland road into Ladakh

Read the guide Srinagar

Dal Lake and the road to Leh

Read the guide Travel insurance guides

Altitude cover and medical evacuation

Read the guide

Leh FAQ

How many days do you need in Leh?

Three to four nights allow two days to acclimatize and one or two for local monasteries. Add three to five days for Nubra, Pangong or a longer circuit.

What is the best time to visit Leh?

June to September, when roads from Manali and Srinagar are open and lodges run. May and October are cold but quiet; most places shut in winter, though some stay open for hardy travelers.

How do you get to Leh?

Most fly from Delhi in about 1.5 hours. Overland routes from Manali and Srinagar take two days with an overnight stop, and open only in the warmer months.

Do I need a permit to visit Leh?

Not for Leh town itself, but foreign visitors need permits for some valleys and lakes beyond. Agents arrange them, so confirm the current rules and fees when you book.

Is altitude sickness common in Leh?

Yes, because the town sits at about 3,500 m. Rest, hydrate, avoid alcohol and heavy exertion for the first two days, and descend if headache, nausea or breathlessness worsen.