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Major city · India

Lehགླེ

Give Leh 4–5 nights minimum: 2 to acclimatise at 3,500 m, then monasteries and the Nubra or Pangong run. Fly in, don't rush the first 48 hours.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Leh sits at about 3,500 m in the Indus valley and is the base for Ladakh. The town itself is small and walkable; the reason to come is the high desert, the gompas and the passes. Almost everyone arrives by air from Delhi, and the first two days are about altitude, not sightseeing. Roads to Manali and Srinagar open roughly June to October.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Dec–Feb (deep cold, many places shut); avoid the first 48 h at altitude for hard activity
Airport
IXL
Nights
4–5
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Leh112 ▾
  • All services (police, fire, ambulance)112
  • Tourist helpline (India)1363

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Leh, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a bazaar café₹80–200 (≈ US$1–3)
  • Metro or bus rideLocal bus ride₹20 (≈ under US$1) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹1,000–2,000 (≈ US$12–25)
  • Museum or sight ticketMonastery or museum entry₹20–100 (≈ US$1–2) (check)
  • Budget bedGuesthouse or hostel bed, a night, per person₹700 (≈ US$8)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room₹3,000 (≈ US$35)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room₹7,000 (≈ US$80)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹2,200 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₹4,500 (≈ US$55) · High ₹9,000 (≈ US$110)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Shanti StupaLeh PalaceNamgyal Tsemo GompaGateway to Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake
Airports
IXL Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (5 km (3.1 mi) from the centre; flights from Delhi year-round, weather delays common, book with slack.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −2°C (28°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    1°C (34°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    6°C (43°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    0°C (32°F)

Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (25°C (77°F)), coolest Jan (−16°C (3°F) low), wettest Jul (7 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Leh: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−2°C (28°F)

−16°C (3°F)

1 rd

Feb

1°C (34°F)

−13°C (9°F)

1 rd

Mar

7°C (45°F)

−8°C (18°F)

2 rd

Apr

12°C (54°F)

−2°C (28°F)

3 rd

May

17°C (63°F)

3°C (37°F)

4 rd

Jun

22°C (72°F)

9°C (48°F)

5 rd

Jul

25°C (77°F)

12°C (54°F)

7 rd

Aug

24°C (75°F)

11°C (52°F)

6 rd

Sep

20°C (68°F)

7°C (45°F)

4 rd

Oct

14°C (57°F)

0°C (32°F)

2 rd

Nov

6°C (43°F)

−8°C (18°F)

1 rd

Dec

0°C (32°F)

−14°C (7°F)

1 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is small enough to walk. Local buses from the bus station serve Spituk, Choglamsar and Alchi cheaply; taxis run on fixed fares from Fort Road. For Nubra, Pangong or the monasteries, a shared or private taxi is the usual move.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Lamayuru

go

Door to door: 3–4 h each way by road

Taxi or bus on the Srinagar road, about 125 km (78 mi)

Moonland badlands and one of Ladakh's oldest gompas; long day, better as an overnight.

Alchi

go

Door to door: About 2 h each way

Government bus from Leh bus station, or taxi

Old wall paintings in a low, warm valley; an easier altitude day.

Kargil

overnight

Door to door: About 6–7 h

Bus or shared taxi on the Srinagar–Leh highway

A stop on the Srinagar road, not a day trip; useful for acclimatisation.

Hanle

overnight

Door to door: A full day or more each way

Taxi via the Changthang plateau; permit needed

Remote high-altitude village and observatory; only with a permit and proper acclimatisation.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Main Bazaar and Old Town

Central, walkable, guesthouses and cafés; noisier and busier in season.

Changspa

Northwest of the centre, guesthouse cluster, a short walk to the bazaar; slightly higher than Main Bazaar.

Fort Road

Taxi stand, agents and hotels; convenient for day-trip pickups.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹1,800–3,000 (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed
Mid
₹3,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
High
₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse double room1 × 4 nights × ₹3,000₹12,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 4 days × ₹4,500₹36,000
Airport prepaid taxi to the centre1 × ₹550 · check₹550
Local bus ride2 × ₹20 · check₹40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹1,500₹3,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹5,160
Trip total≈ ₹7,090 per person per day, bed included₹56,750≈ US$650

2026 estimate in rupees; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a bazaar café₹80–200 (≈ US$1–3)
Thukpa or momos₹150–350 (≈ US$2–4)
Local bus ride₹20 (≈ under US$1) (check)
Airport prepaid taxi to centre₹550 (≈ US$7) (check)
Monastery or museum entry₹20–100 (≈ US$1–2) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₹1,000–2,000 (≈ US$12–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Leh is generally safe for tourists, including solo travellers. The real risks are altitude sickness, seasonal road closures and winter shutdowns, not crime.
  • Altitude: 3,500 m at Main Bazaar. Take the first 1–2 days easy, drink water, skip alcohol, and know the signs of AMS.
  • Some areas near the Pakistan and China borders need a permit from the District Magistrate (DC) Office; carry photocopies of your passport and visa.
  • Winter (roughly Nov–Mar) closes many hotels, shops and trekking offices: call your hotel directly rather than trusting an online booking.
  • Manali–Leh and Srinagar–Leh roads are seasonal and can be blocked by snow or landslides; check road status before committing.
  • Travel agents selling 'just one more person needed' tours are usually just reselling a taxi ride at a markup.

Emergency numbers

All services (police, fire, ambulance)
112
Tourist helpline (India)
1363

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Lehགླེ

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

इस पते पर चलिएTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All services112
  • Tourist helpline1363

Embassy

No embassies in Leh; most countries are represented in New Delhi. Carry your embassy's number.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport → Leh centre, prepaid taxi: ₹550 (≈ US$7) (check)
  • Airport → centre, local bus: ₹20 (≈ under US$1) (check)
  • Leh → Alchi, government bus: cheap, departs 8AM and 2PM (check)

Say or show

  • नमस्ते — Hello / Namaste (namaste)
  • धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
  • कितना है? — How much is it? (kitna hai)
  • शौचालय कहाँ है? — Where is the toilet? (shauchalay kahan hai)
  • मुझे मदद चाहिए — I need help (mujhe madad chahiye)

Altitude is the main thing to plan around, not the town.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Leh. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (deep cold, many places shut); avoid the first 48 h at altitude for hard activity · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for IXL: prepaid taxi versus the ₹20 bus, first-night altitude plan.
  2. Four walking clusters: Main Bazaar and Old Town, Changspa, the Palace and Namgyal Tsemo, Shanti Stupa.
  3. Permit and road-status fixtures for Nubra, Pangong and the seasonal highways.
  4. Monastery and day-trip pages with opening hours and last-entry cutoffs.

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources