Night scene of Leh city from Shanti stupa

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Leh

Few places in India are at once so traveler friendly and enchanting as mountain-framed Leh. Dotted with stupas and whitewashed houses, the Old Town is dominated by a dagger of steep rocky ridge topped by an imposing Tibetan-style palace and fort. Beneath, the bustling bazaar area is draped in a thick veneer of tour agencies, souvenir shops and tandoori-pizza restaurants, but a web of lanes quickly fans out into a green suburban patchwork of irrigated barley fields. Here, gushing streams and narrow footpaths link traditionally styled Ladakhi garden homes that double as charming, inexpensive guesthouses. Leh’s a place that’s all too easy to fall in love with – but take things very easy on arrival as the altitude requires a few days' acclimatization before you can safely start enjoying the area's gamut of adventure activities.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Leh. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Get started

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Leh

Art

Exploring India's remote Nubra Valley

Feb 6, 2014 • 9 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Leh

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Leh with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.