17 Places to Visit Near Leh for that Great Trip You Always Desired

Ladakh is one of the most beautiful places that can be visited in India. The beauty of the place is unmatched in any other place and cannot be defined in words. Ladakh is the perfect blend of Indian, Tibetan and Buddhism religion and culture and thus makes its visit worth.

There are many attractions that hold the attention of the tourists including a number of places to visit near Leh. If you’re planning then consider this list and make your trip a lifetime experience to be remembered.

17 Exciting Places to Visit Near Leh

1. Zanskar Valley

This is one of the most beautiful places in Leh Ladakh. The beauty of the place is such to leave you spellbound. Popularly known as the desolate place amongst the Himalayan range, it has been attracting the attention of the visitors. The place is also famous for experiencing white river rafting which can rarely be experienced at any other place.

• Things to do: White river rafting
• Major attractions: The beautiful Himalayan region
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 462 Km
• Best time to visit: June to September

2. Pangong Tso Lake

The Pangong Tso Lake makes the eastern region of Ladakh more beautiful with its presence. It is the same lake that was witnessed in the movie 3 Idiots.

The beauty of the place has been amazing and breath-taking and thus this place happens to be the major attraction of the Leh Ladakh region. The place can be visited for enjoying and relaxing in the most peaceful and beautiful surroundings.

• Things to do: Camping, ice skating, bird watching
• Major attractions: Spectacular View
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 160 km
• Best time to visit: June to September

3. Kargil

This place, without a doubt, is one of the most adventurous places in Leh Ladakh. Your Ladakh trip will not be completed without paying a visit to this location. It is situated on the Indus River and leads its way to Leh, Srinagar, and Zanskar. The place attracts millions of tourists throughout the year. Don’t miss this beautiful place on your trip.

• Things to do: Trekking and mountaineering
• Major attractions: Landscapes
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 218 km
• Best time to visit: May to July

4. Hemis Monastery

If you are looking for a place in Leh Ladakh that brings colour and celebration in your life then this is the right place to visit. The place is a well-known Buddhist monastery which celebrates a 2-day festival attracting the majority of eyes.

The festival is celebrated in the memory of Guru Padmasambhava, who is believed to be the reincarnation of Gautam Buddha.  The festival is one of the major events of the year for the people of Leh Ladakh.

• Things to do: Attend the cultural festivals
• Major attractions: Mask festival, the various rituals performed
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 42 km
• Best time to visit: June

5. Shanti Stupa

This is the place that symbolizes peace and relaxation. The place is one of the popular places for meditating and relaxing the mental stress level.

The Buddhist monument that is placed in this stupa is one great attraction of the place. It is located at Chanspa on one of its highest hills and thus has beautiful surroundings. This place is generally visited by the tourists for experiencing beautiful sunrise and sunset.

• Things to do: Meditating, Watch the landscapes and beautiful sunrise & sunset
• Major attractions: Buddhist statues
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 5 km
• Best time to visit: anytime throughout the year

6. Hemis National Park

This place is nothing less than the perfect destination for the nature lovers. This national park is South Asia’s largest national park. If you are a nature lover and want to experience the view of many animals like leopards, brown bear, red fox, Tibetan wolf then this place can be the right place to head towards. The place is free from any harmful pollution or waste and is in the pure form of nature’s beauty.

• Things to do: Experiencing the various species of animals, bird watching
• Major attractions: The endangered species
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 52 km
• Best time to visit: May to September

7. Magnetic Hills

Though this place may not have any beautiful surroundings but is still one of the most visited places in Leh Ladakh. The major reason that makes this place as one of the attractions amongst the people is the magic of magnetic hills.

It is believed that if a vehicle with unlocked brakes is parked in the base of the hills, it will slowly move uphill. There is still no clue behind the scientific reason behind this but people visit this place a lot to experience this act.

• Things to do: Clicking pictures, recording the auto movement of the parked vehicles
• Major attractions: The phenomenon of gravity
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 27 km
• Best time to visit: Whenever you visit Leh Ladakh

8. Nubra Valley

This place is very popular for experiencing the ride of two-humped camels. The place is covered with dunes of sands for as long as you can see. This lets the visitors and tourists the amazing fun of Arabian nights.

It is one of those few places in Leh Ladakh that despite no major attractions, still manages to hold the attention of the visitors. This place looks more beautiful in the autumn season.

• Things to do: Admiring nature’s beauty, visiting nearby villages
• Major attractions: Apple and apricot orchards
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 160 km
• Best time to visit: July to September

9. Spituk Gompa

This place is the highlight of Ladakh as the place stands high on top of a hill in the most beautifully craved manner. The place is a well-known monastery of Ladakh amongst the various other monasteries and monks available in the place.

The peaceful and beautiful surroundings of this place also add to the charm of this place. However, one must be careful with the chilly winter nights of the place.

• Things to do: Experiencing the peaceful surroundings, clicking pictures
• Major attractions: viewing the Buddhist sculptures
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 264 km
• Best time to visit: June to September

10. Khardung La Pass

If you have an adventurous streak in you and are looking for a destination that can provide you with the major attractions of the adventure, then this well-known highest motorable road can be the best choice.

This is not that place that might excite much of the tourists but it is one of the most visited places of Leh Ladakh. Most of the travelling enthusiast generally pay a visit to this place before wrapping their trip.

• Things to do: Trekking, biking
• Major attractions: the beautiful surroundings
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 40 km
• Best time to visit: May to September

11. Leh Palace

This palace was built by a Buddhist king in the year 1553 and was once worldwide famous for being the highest building in the world. The beautiful exteriors having a colour that makes it the perfect attraction for the tourists.

The palace can be seen from a distance and thus is hard to miss during the trip. The interiors will let you see the beautiful sooth paintings which enhance its beauty.

• Things to do: Admiring the beautiful view, viewing the amazing architecture of the palace
• Major attractions: Nearby museum
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 3 km
• Best time to visit: July to September

12. Jama Masjid

Amongst the many beautiful places in Leh Ladakh, Jama Masjid also makes its place for attracting many people and tourists. It was built in the year 1400 by Sultan Sikandar and has a beautiful architecture that catches the eye of the visitors. It is one of the most visited places on Friday as many Muslim devotees gather to offer their prayers.

• Things to do: Offer prayers, knowing the scarcity of the place
• Major attractions: The surrounding main market of Leh
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 2 km
• Best time to visit: Throughout the year

13. Hall of Fame

This is one of the most visited places in the Leh trip. The place is maintained by the Indian soldiers in the memory of those soldiers who lost their lives in the war zone.

While the exterior of the place is beautifully crafted, the interior of the place is no less than a majestic beauty. The place is also attached to a museum which consists of the various belongings of the soldiers.

• Things to do: Experiencing various stuff and belongings of the soldiers
• Major attractions: Museum
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 4.2 km
• Best time to visit: Throughout the year

14. Chang La Pass

If you are an adventurous person and love trying many adventures then this pass in Leh can be one of the best places to visit near Leh. This pass is at a height of 17, 590 ft. and is known to be the world’s highest mountain roads.

The pass is surrounded by snow which gives it a beautiful view. However, the dangerous curves and bends of the pass will test your driving at its best.

• Things to do: Trekking, camping, and biking
• Major attractions: Surreal surroundings
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 74.3 km
• Best time to visit: June to September

15. Tso Moriri Lake

The lake is one of the beautiful places to visit near Leh Ladakh. The beauty and peace around the place will leave you spell-bound. The lake is situated at a latitude of 13,123 ft. and is mostly frozen during the winter months from January till March.

The place is charming and catches the eye of the tourists from the very first sight they witness. Experience the beauty of the place with this memorizing view in your Leh trip.

• Things to do: Camping, taking amazing photographs, experiencing sunrise
• Major attractions: The frozen river, beautiful surroundings
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 250 km
• Best time to visit: June to September

16. Alchi

This is one of the most famous places to visit near Leh Ladakh because of its connection with the different cultures. The place has a perfect combination of the diversifying cultures of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.

The beauty of the Alchi monastery makes the visit to this place even more worth and attractive. The place also will offer some beautiful sights to the eyes of its tourists and visitors.

• Things to do: Alchi monastery views and landscapes around
• Major attractions: Sumtsek Temple, Manjushree Temple, Monk Cell, apricot trees
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 70 km
• Best time to visit: June to September

17. Lamayuru Town

The place lies within Leh and Kargil and thus can be seen as a perfect blend of both the places. The beauty of the town is so beautiful that it is hard to believe. The place is near the Sind River and thus it adds to the charm and beauty.

The brown coloured soil of the place gives it a yellowish-orange formation that highlights this place amongst the various places to visit near Leh Ladakh.

• Things to do: Visit the frescoes, Buddhist guardian deities
• Major attractions: Lamayuru monastery
• Distance from Leh Ladakh: 127 km
• Best time to visit: June to September

Leh Ladakh is such a place that can give you an amazing experience that you will cherish throughout your life. Make sure that you include all these mentioned places to visit near Leh Ladakh for making the trip memorable one.

All these places are near to Leh Ladakh and can be visited at an affordable range. Don’t hesitate and fill yourself with the memorizing beauty of Leh Ladakh. Let us know about your experience while visiting these places by commenting below.