The high town that every Ladakh circuit should start in, not rush through
Leh sits close to 3,500 metres on a shelf above the Indus. The palace still holds the ridge, the old lanes drop toward the market, and the first two days here are not wasted sightseeing — they are how the rest of the week stays possible. Fly in if you can. Drive in only if you have already slept high on the Manali or Srinagar road.
A local day covers the palace, Shanti Stupa at dusk, and one nearby gompa such as Thiksey or Hemis. Do not put Khardung La or Pangong on day one. The altitude does not negotiate.
Passes start to open. Leh is quiet, cold at night, useful if you fly in early.
Long days, full rooms, every side trip on the map.
The clearest air of the year and a thinner crowd.
A closed-road town. Flights still land. Circuits do not.
Tell us whether you fly in or drive in. We will pace the rest of Ladakh around those first days.
