đď¸ My Trip to Leh-Ladakh âA Journey Iâll Never Forget, Leh-Ladakh Trip is something else. no photos / videos can ever do justice to what it actually feels like to be there.
Okay, so let me just start by saying: Leh-Ladakh Trip is something else. Like, no photos or videos can ever do justice to what it actually feels like to be there. Iâd been dreaming of going there for years, and finally, I just booked the trip without overthinking it too much. And Iâm so glad I did.
âď¸ How I Got There
I took a direct flight from Delhi to Leh, which is honestly the best and fastest way if you’re short on time. The flight is around 1.5 hours, but the view from the plane is INSANEâsnow-covered mountains, rivers, everything just looks so surreal. Try to get a window seat if you can!
As soon as we landed at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, I could feel the difference in air pressure. It’s at a super high altitude (over 11,000 ft), so just walking out of the airport made me feel a bit breathless. But donât worryâitâs normal.
đ P.S. Planning More Himalayan Getaways?
If you loved reading about Leh-Ladakh, you might also enjoy my travel experiences in Mussoorie and Rishikeshâtwo other beautiful spots in the Himalayan belt, each with their own vibe.
- đ˛ Mussoorie Travel Guide â A peaceful hill station with colonial charm, misty walks, and stunning valley views. Iâve shared all my favorite cafes, hidden viewpoints, and tips for avoiding the tourist crowds.
- đď¸ Rishikesh Travel Diary â From river rafting to peaceful Ganga aartis, yoga retreats, and some seriously good foodâRishikesh was a perfect mix of adventure and calm.
Check them out if you’re planning more trips to the northâboth places are worth adding to your bucket list!
đ§ââď¸ Precautions I Took (And You Should Too!)
1. Acclimatization is IMPORTANT.
One thing I canât stress enoughâtake acclimatization seriously. A lot of people get excited and try to explore right after landing, but honestly, thatâs where they go wrong. I played it safe and just took it easy on Day 1.
As soon as I got to Leh, I checked into my hotel and stayed put for the day. No rushing around. I did the smart thing and rested for the whole day. I drank a lot of water, skipped alcohol completely, and avoided heavy or oily food and kept it super chill.. Even climbing a few stairs left me short of breath at first, so I made sure to move slow and let my body adjust.
I know it sounds boring to âwasteâ a day just resting, but trust meâaltitude sickness is no joke. I saw a couple of travelers struggle with it, and it really ruins the trip. Taking it slow in the beginning made the rest of my journey way smoother and a lot more enjoyable.
2. Carried medicine for AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness) â just in case. I didnât need it, but some of my friends felt dizzy and it helped.
3. Layered clothing.
One thing I quickly learned in Leh-Ladakh is that the weather can be super deceptive. During the day, especially when the sunâs out, it actually feels pretty warmâyou might even think you donât need much. But the moment the sun starts to dip, the temperature drops fast. It gets really cold, especially in the evenings and at higher altitudes.
What worked best for me was dressing in layers. I started each day with thermals, then added a fleece, and kept a light but windproof jacket on top during the dayâit was perfect for blocking that cold breeze. But come evening, I added another warm layer, sometimes even a heavier jacket depending on how chilly it got.
The key is being able to add or remove layers easily depending on how the temperature changes throughout the day. Donât underestimate itâstaying warm and dry honestly makes a huge difference in how much you enjoy the trip.
4. Sunscreen & lip balm.
Sounds random, but the sun is HARSH up there. My lips were cracked by Day 2 because I forgot lip balm đ
so donât be like me.
đď¸ Where I Stayed
For my stay in Leh trip, I booked a cozy hotel called The Grand Dragonâand honestly, it turned out to be such a great decision. Itâs a bit on the pricier side budget-wise, but totally worth it. The rooms were super clean and warm, which felt amazing after being out in the cold all day. What really stood out, though, was how kind, thoughtful and the staff were so sweet.. They even provided oxygen cylinders for guests who were struggling with the altitudeâsuch a thoughtful touch that made me feel really taken care of.
If youâre going for budget options, there are tons of homestays and guest houses in and around Leh trip that are also lovely and give you a more local vibe.
đ˝ď¸ Food Spots I Tried
Okay, Leh is small but surprisingly has some amazing places to eat around the trip. Here are my faves:
- The Tibetan Kitchen â”We ate at The Tibetan Kitchen one evening, and oh my godâthe thukpa there was exactly what I needed after a long day out. Warm, comforting, and full of flavor. And the momos? So soft and juicy, I couldnât stop eating them. The place had such a cozy vibe tooâit felt like a perfect little food hug in the middle of Leh.”
- Gesmo Restaurant â “I ended up at Gesmo Restaurant kind of by chance, and it turned out to be one of my favorite food spots in Leh. Their pizzas were surprisingly goodâlike, legit cheesy and satisfyingâand the breakfast? So pleasant, especially with the mountain chill in the air. I actually liked it so much, I went back the next day. You know a place is good when you repeat it on a trip!”
- Lamayuru Restaurant â “Lamayuru Restaurant had this really nice local, down-to-earth vibeâit wasnât fancy, but thatâs what made it feel authentic. I tried a couple of traditional Ladakhi dishes there, and it honestly felt like proper home-cooked food. If youâre looking to taste something local and comforting, this is definitely the kind of place you should check out in this trip.”.
- “One of my favorite little moments was stumbling upon this tiny street-side stall near Leh Market. I decided to try the butter tea thereâand wow, it totally surprised me. It was salty, creamy, and definitely not what I expected at first, but after a few sips, I actually started to love it. There was something really comforting about it, especially in the cold weather. It felt like a real local experience.”
đşď¸ Places I Explored (And Loved)
There are many Places we explored in Leh-Ladakh Trip, im going to explain about them now
1. Leh Town & Local Sights
- Leh Palace â Like a mini version of Potala Palace in Tibet. Great view from the top.
“When I visited Leh Palace, I honestly felt like Iâd stepped back in time. There was something so raw and historic about the placeâit really gave me goosebumps. It instantly reminded me of the Potala Palace in Tibet, just smaller and more worn by time, but that somehow made it feel even more real and intimate. The climb to the top was totally worth itâthe view of Leh and the surrounding mountains from up there was absolutely breathtaking. It gave me such a peaceful, almost surreal feeling standing above the town like that.”
- Shanti Stupa â Went early morning and watched the sunrise. SO peaceful.
“I went to Shanti Stupa early in the morning to catch the sunrise, and honestly, it was one of the most peaceful moments of my trip. The whole place was so quiet, just this soft golden light slowly spilling over the mountains. I just stood there for a while, taking it all inâit felt really grounding, like everything slowed down for a bit, and it wasa nice experience of this trip.”
- Local Market â Bought prayer flags, woolen socks, and some handicrafts.
“Wandering through the local market in Leh-Ladakh trip was honestly such a wholesome experience. There was this warm, welcoming vibeâcolorful stalls, the smell of incense in the air, and friendly faces all around. I felt like a curious little kid, stopping every few steps to look at something new.
It wasnât just about shoppingâit was the energy of the place that really stayed with me. I ended up buying these colorful prayer flags that I couldnât resistâthey were hanging everywhere, fluttering in the wind. I also found some super cozy woolen socks (perfect for the chilly evenings), and picked up a few handmade handicrafts as souvenirs. The whole vibe of the market was so warm and lively, with friendly locals and stalls full of beautiful little things.”
2. Nubra Valley
“Nubra Valley was honestly my favorite part of the whole trip. The journey itself was wildâwe drove through “Khardung La Pass”, which is insanely high and absolutely freezing! I remember stepping out for a photo and my fingers went numb in seconds.
But once we reached Nubra, it felt like a different worldâgolden sand dunes, rivers weaving through patches of green, and even camels just casually strolling around. I couldnât believe I was in the middle of the Himalayas riding a double-humped Bactrian camelâit felt surreal, like a mix of desert and mountains all in one place. We spent the night in a tent stay. It was simple, but cozy, and the quiet out there at night⌠it just hits differently.”
golden evening light.
3. Pangong Lake
“Pangong Lake – Youâve probably seen it in 3 Idiots, but being there in person? Being there in person was a completely different experienceâjust pure magic. The water actually changed color throughout the dayâshades of blue I didnât even know existed.
I stayed overnight at a camp right near the lake, and wow, it got freezing once the sun went down. I was bundled up in layers, but still shivering! But waking up the next morning and unzipping the tent to that insanely beautiful, still lake with the mountains reflecting on it⌠it was totally worth every chill. Honestly, it didnât feel real for a moment. it was one of the best place in this trip”
4. Hemis Monastery
We visited Hemis Monastery when it was pretty quiet, and honestly, it was one of the most peaceful places in this trip Iâve ever been to. The soft sound of monks chanting in the background just added to the calmâit gave me chills in the best way. The architecture was stunning too, with all those intricate details and vibrant colors. I still remember just sitting there for a while, soaking it all in. I genuinely couldâve spent the whole day there without even realizing it.
5. Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill was a quick stop, but honestly, such a fun little experience. Thereâs this specific spot on the road where it looks like your car is rolling uphill on its ownâit messes with your head for a second! Itâs just an optical illusion, of course, but still super cool to try. We were all laughing and testing it out like little kidsâitâs one of those quirky things that just sticks with you.
đď¸ When I Went
“I did my Leh-Ladakh trip in mid-July, and honestly, I think itâs one of the best times to go. The weather was perfectâclear skies, sunny days, and all the roads were open, so getting around was super easy. The only thing is, itâs also peak season, so there were quite a lot of tourists. If youâre planning to go around that time, definitely book your flights and stays earlyâit gets filled up fast!”
đŹ Final Thoughts about My Leh-Ladakh trip
Itâs hard to put into words, but my trip to Leh-Ladakh honestly changed something in me. Thereâs this quiet, powerful energy in the mountainsâbeing surrounded by landscapes so raw, and so quiet. It made me feel small in the best way possible. and untouched made me feel small in the most grounding, beautiful way.
It really put things into perspective. And it wasnât just the placeâthe people I met along the way, Every single person I met there in this tripâfrom kind hotel staff to peaceful monks and friendly shopkeepers was warm and welcoming., all had this calm warmth about them. It made the whole experience feel even more special, like I was exactly where I needed to be.
If Leh-Ladakh trip is on your mindâeven just a littleâplease, just go. Iâve done the trip myself, and honestly, itâs one of those experiences that just stays with you. Thereâs something about being up thereâsurrounded by those massive mountains and endless skiesâthat makes it unforgettable.
It wasnât just a vacation for me; it felt like something deeper, something Iâll carry with me for a long time. Donât overthink the planning too much. Just pack smart, keep yourself warm, and most importantly, give your body time to adjust to the altitude. Take it slow, soak it all in. Every moment there felt so real, so raw. I promiseâyou wonât regret a single second..
