Going on a holiday to a charming land like Ladakh is surely an experience of a lifetime. So, why would you want to miss out on anything best there? Monasteries, rivers, valleys, lakes, villages and museums – this place is a confluence of so many popular and awesome things. Here’s a list of the top places to visit in Leh Ladakh for a fantastic vacation.

1. Zanskar Valley

Without a doubt, Zanskar valley is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh and the best Ladakh tourist places. It is amongst the most desolate places in the Himalayan range. The steep terrains covered with snow reflect the heavenly skies. The tributaries of the Zanskar River is one of the most famous places for river rafting in India. The Zanskar, Ladakh places of interest are surely among those must-visit places in Leh Ladakh that you just cannot afford to miss while you’re in Ladakh!

Best Time to Visit: Zanskar is best visited between June to September when the road is clear of the snow and the Leh temperature is at moderate. It’s closed for a significant time due to extreme snowfall and winter.

Location: Leh-Ladakh

2. Pangong Tso Lake

Remember the breathtakingly beautiful lake from 3 Idiots where Kareena Kapoor confessed her love? It’s Pangong Tso, a lake among the popular tourist attractions in Leh Ladakh situated on the Changtang plateau in the eastern Ladakh region. The lake offers an awesome site for camping and is the current hotspot for all people making it one of the best Ladakh tourist places. To avoid the crowd, you can visit this place during the off-season. The lake totally freezes during the winter, making it one of the best places to visit in Leh in January.

Best Time to Visit: June to September is the best time to travel to Pangong Tso Lake

Location: Leh district, Ladakh, India

3. Kargil

A trip to Leh Ladakh is incomplete without a visit to Kargil which is one of the prime tourist places in Ladakh. This is the second largest town in Ladakh, situated on the banks of the Indus River. It is a transit hub with roads leading to Leh, Padum (Zanskar) and Srinagar. Also, it is a haven for adventure enthusiasts as they can enjoy sports such as trekking and mountaineering. Make sure you pack sufficiently to enjoy these activities at one of the most famous places in Leh Ladakh!

Best Time to visit: The summer season between May to July is the best time to visit Kargil as the temperature is cool with frigid nights.

Location: Ladakh, India

4. Khardung-la Pass

Khardungla Pass is a gateway which leads to the Nubra and Shyok valley and is one of the best tourist places in Ladakh. While this might not be a typical tourist attraction in Leh Ladakh, it is definitely among the must-visit places to visit in and around Leh Ladakh for adventure junkies. Managed by the Border Roads Organization, Kardung-la Pass is the gateway to the north and one of the most difficult yet thrilling passes to ride on.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Khardung-La pass is during the summer season, between May to September.

Location: Ladakh, India

5. Nubra Valley

Certainly one of the best places to see in Ladakh, it was featured as one of the top 5 places to visit in Ladakh, Nubra valley, a tri-armed valley towards the northeast. The sand dunes of the Nubra Valley offer tourists Arabian Nights experience. Nubra valley is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Leh Ladakh for its two-humped camels.

So, be sure to check out this one while you’re out and about in the scenic land of Leh! One of the famous places here is the Samstanling Monastery, which should definitely be on your list. Panamik village which is famous for hot sulphur springs is another attraction in Nubra Valley.

Best time to visit: As per the climatic conditions, the best time to visit Nubra valley is during the autumn season which is between the month of July to September.

Location: Ladakh, India