1 Pangong Lake
Pangong Lake, Ladakh’s most popular tourist destination, is a landlocked lake nestled at 4350 meters. It is also famous for Pangong Tso and extends 12 kilometers from India to Tibet. The Tibetan Autonomous Region encompasses over 60% of Pangong Lake. The lake’s unusual trait is that it doesn’t last blue all year or actually during the day; instead, it changes colors from azure to light blue to green and grey. The lake is one of Ladakh’s top tourist destinations and offers an excellent camping site.
2. Nubra Valley
The breathtaking views of Ladakh should not be hindered by anything like windows etc. and hence the most sought-after mode of travelling to Ladakh is a road trip on a motorcycle. Nubra Valley is a tri-armed valley located to the northeast of Ladakh valley. The common way to access this valley is to travel over the Khardung La pass from Leh town. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra (the valley of flowers). This valley is home to many popular tourist spots scattered across this Ladakhi valley, including the town of Diskit, a landmark statue of Maitreya Buddha that is 32 metres tall, monasteries among other pristine Ladakhi villages of Sumur, Turtuk, Kyagar (also known as Tiger), Tirith, and Panamik. There is also Hundar here, famous for the surreal blend of sand dunes and the flowing river Shyok. In Hundar, you will find the famous two-humped Bactrian camels which make for a rare yet magnificent sight!
3. Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill is one of the finest places to visit ladakh leh. It has been observed that your vehicle will slowly start driving up a hill on its own if you leave the brakes unlocked at the bottom of a hill. However, there is no science behind the phenomenon. It’s absolutely the superpowers you gain once you arrive at this location. This makes it extremely important to include it in your list of locations to explore in Leh Ladakh.
4. Tso Moriri Lake
Located within Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary, Tso Moriri Lake is a less-known alternative to Pangong Tso Lake. The lake’s location contributes to its visual appeal. The view of barren hills with snow-capped peaks in the location is really incredible. Because it is a “lesser-known” area, it is slightly crowded, so you can be certain of having a place by the lake to yourself. Tso Moriri Lake’s clear sky makes it an excellent place for daydreaming at night. The wetland reserve Moriri Tso, commonly known as a ‘Mountain Lake,’ was established.
5. Chadar Trek
Chadar Trek is one of the most stunning places to explore in Ladakh, providing an excellent and exhilarating adventure. Due to the famous Zanskar River in Leh Ladakh freezing into a covering of ice in the winter, the word ‘chadar’ implies ‘blanket.’ Come see how the hues of this ice river change as you walk across it. When the sun glows instantly on it for a few hours throughout the day, the soft blue color shifts to bright yellow. On a moonlit night, it appears milky white. The Chadar Trek is considered one of the most difficult and thrilling treks around the globe.
6. Zanskar Valley
One of the best tourist destinations in Leh Ladakh is the Zanskar Valley without a doubt. The region is one of the most desolate in the Himalayan range. Snow-covered mountains reflect the beautiful skies. River rafting is one of the most famous activities in India’s tributaries of the Zanskar River. When visiting Leh, Ladakh, you cannot afford to miss the Zanskar, Ladakh attractions while you are there. June through September is the best time to visit Zanskar due to the absence of snow on the route and mild temperatures in Leh.
7. Turtuk village
Turtuk village is located in the Nubra valley and is the northernmost village of India. It was recently made popular by the Hollywood film, Mission Impossible 5: Fallout, starring Tom Cruise. Visit the small picturesque village to get a sense of serenity and isolation. Mainstream it may not be but it certainly one of the top tourist spots in Leh Ladakh that you should not miss out on.
8. Khardung La Pass
One of the best tourist places in Leh Ladakh, Khardung La is a mountain pass of historical significance in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. The pass on the Ladakh Range is north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. The Siachen Glacier lays part way up the latter valley. Built in 1976, it was opened to public motor vehicles in 1988. The elevation of Khardung La is 5,359 m (17,582 ft). Khardung La lies on the major caravan route from Leh to Kashgar in Central Asia. About 10,000 horses and camels used to take the route annually.
9. Leh Palace
One of the most spectacular tourist places in Leh, Ladakh capital has the magnificent Leh Palace. Overlooking the town of Leh, this palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century and continued to be the King’s residence. One of the foremost tourist posts in Leh, you can also view the mountain of Stok Kangri in Zanskar towards South from here while the Ladakh mountain range rises behind the palace towards North. The night view of the palace is quite charming too though you will not be allowed inside after sunset.
10. Tsemo Castle
This is another ancient structure that is a little further up from Leh palace, built by King Tashi Namgyal in the 15th century. A 20-minute trek on a dusty zigzag trek will take you to the top of the cliff that houses Tsemo Castle. The castle itself is a quaint sight but the panoramic views you can get from the top are even better than what you will see from Leh palace.