Leh / Ladakh

Leh sits at 3,500 metres in the high cold desert of Ladakh — geographically Tibetan, politically Indian, culturally Buddhist. The town itself is small (10,000 residents); the surrounding monasteries — Hemis, Thiksey, Diskit, Lamayuru — are the actual visit. Acclimatise for 48 hours before any high-altitude excursion or you will get hit. Khardung La (5,360 m) is overrated and not actually the world's highest motorable pass anymore; Pangong Tso (the lake from 3 Idiots) is the real day-trip. Open by air all year, by road only mid-June to mid-October. Avoid winter unless you specifically want -25°C and frozen-river treks.

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