The beauty and tranquility of Leh Ladakh cannot be described in words. What we see in pictures and videos does not truly justify the mesmerizing views of Leh Ladakh. If you’re planning a trip to Leh Ladakh, you must visit the places below. A trip to Leh Ladakh will be incomplete if you leave visiting any of these.

Pangong Tso Lake

Featured in the popular Bollywood movie “3 idiots”, Pangong Tso Lake became a popular attraction among national as well as international travelers. Situated on the Changtang plateau in the eastern Ladakh region, Pangong Tso Lake should be on the top list of places to visit in Leh Ladakh. This place is one of the best picnic spots on your trip to Leh Ladakh and also this lake is an awesome site for camping.

Best Time to Visit: June to September

Thicksey Monastry

Also known as Thikse Gompa, Thicksey Monastery is located on top of Thicksey hill, approximately 18-20 Km east of Leh. Thickesy Monastery is considered one of the most wonderful Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh. This monastery has 12 storeys and hosts 500+ monks, exhibiting the Buddhist scriptures, paintings, statues, and their culture, and lifestyles.

Best Time to Visit: October to November

Khardung-la Pass

This is another popular tourist attraction in Leh Ladakh and a must-visit place in Leh Ladakh for adventure lovers. Kardung-la-pass is a gateway to the north, leading to Nubra and Shyok valley. This is one of the most thrilling and difficult passes to ride on. Roads were opened for vehicles in 1988. And since then, this places attracts a large number of motorcycle enthusiasts.

Best Time to Visit: Summer Season, Between May to September

Checkout our Magical Leh Ladakh Luxury Tour Itinerary 

Markha Valley

Markha Valley is the best place for camping during your visit to Leh Ladakh. We bet, this place will give a lifetime experience to camping lovers. Visitors can trek up to wonderful sites such as Skiu, Hankar, and Markha. After reaching your destination, you can place your tent and enjoy a bonfire.

Best Time to Visit: June to October

Nubra Valley

Nubra valley is a popular place on a trip to Leh Ladakh because of its beautiful white sand deserts and double-humped camels.   The Siachen and Shyak rivers, slopes of the Karakoram range, Samstanling Monastery, and Panamik village are the main attractions of Nubra Valley. Head to Nubra Valley for Arabian night experiences.

Best Time to Visit: Autumn Season, July to September

Magnetic Hill

You must have heard of Magnetic Hill which defies gravity. Located approx 30 Km from Leh city, a small stretch of road is known as Magnetic Hill, Mystery Hill, and Gravity hill. Here, it has been observed that if a vehicle is left at the base of the hill with locked brakes, it automatically gets starts moving uphill slowly on its own.  Do visit this place to experience the magic!

Best Time To Visit:  The roads are open throughout the year but the best time would be when the roads are clear to drive. So, July to October is considered to be the best time to experience the magic of Magnetic hill.

Also read: 11 Wonderful Places to visit in North Goa

Tso Moriri lake

Also known as the twin of the famous Pangong lake, Tso Moriri Lake is situated in the Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary. The scenic beauty of the surroundings and snow-capped mountains in the backdrop gives an awesome view of the lake and it’s simply breathtaking.

This place is less crowded most of the time, so you can spend some peaceful time gazing at the stars at night. Different species like bare-headed goose, great-crested grebe, Brahmin duck, brown-headed gull, and Himalayan hares can be found here.

Best Time to Visit: May to August

Zanskar Valley

Zanskar Valley is one of the most isolated places in the Himalayan range.  You cannot afford to miss this place on your trip to Leh Ladakh. And if river rafting is your thing, you’ll be happy to know that the tributaries of Zansankar valley are famous for river rafting across India.

Best Time to Visit: June to September is the best time to visit Zanskar Valley when the Leh temperature is moderate and the road is clear of snow. This place is also closed for a significant time due to harsh winter and extreme snowfall

Chadar Trek

Is walking on a frozen lake your fantasy? Visiting Chader Trek will give you an exciting experience that you will cherish for a lifetime. ‘ Chadar’ is known as a blanket, during the winter season the famous Zanskar lake freezes into a blanket of ice. If visiting this awesome place in winter, you will be able to witness the transformation of colors while you trek on this frozen river. The Chadar trek journey is only meant for experienced trekkers, not for beginners.

Best Time To Visit: January and February

Also Read: A ultimate Guide to Golden Triangle Tour of India

Royal Leh Palace

Located on a cliff overlooking Leh town, the royal Leh Palace is one of the best examples of medieval Tibetan architecture.  This place is compared and resembled the famous Potala Palace in Lhasa.  This palace is built with wood, stones, and sand, the walls of this palace create a cool ambiance in summer and provide warmth in winter. The beautiful statue of Buddha placed at the back of the palace, and scenic views of the valley below and surrounding mountain range add more charm and glory to this palace.

The interior of the palace is embellished with jewelry, crowns, ceremonial dresses, and artistic paintings.  You need to talk a short walk uphill from Leh market or you can straight away drive up to the entrance.

 Best Time To Visit: August

Entry Fee: INR 100 for foreigners and INR 20 for Indians

Timings: 07:00 AM to 04:00 PM every day

Other places to visit in Leh Ladakh are:

  • Shanti Stupa
  • Spituk Gompa
  • Hemis National Park
  • Hemis Monastery
  • Alchi
  • Diskit Monastery
  • Stakna Monastery
  • Phyang GompaLikir Monastery
  • Phugtal Monastery
  • Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
  • Stok Palace
  • Chemrey Monastery
  • Tso Kar
  • Dha Hanu
  • Rohtang Pass
  • Lachungla La
  • Tanglang La
  • Mulbekh Monastery
  • Central Asian Museaum
  • Zorwara FortWamla Monastry
  • Lamayuru Monastery
  • Turtuk village, etc.

A trip to Leh Ladakh offers numerous places to visit.  If you are planning a long trip to Leh Ladakh, you’ll definitely love to visit all the above-mentioned places.

We, at Custom Tours India, provide Car Rental India to make your tour comfortable and hassle-free. Connect with our Customized Tour Specialist to get the best itinerary for your trip to Leh Ladakh.

Leave everything on us. Be it flight booking, hotel booking, airport transfers, car rental India for local sightseeing, camping, and trekking arrangements, making pre-booking wherever necessary, and more. We make India Bespoke Tours to give you a lifetime experience and make your journey soothing and memorable.