Leh in two days: an easy acclimatisation plan

Slow mornings, short walks and the best viewpoints in town, without pushing your body before it has adjusted.

2 days

Duration

~3,500 m

Altitude

Very easy

Effort

May – Sep

Best season

₹1,500+

Daily budget

Leh sits at about 3,500 m, and most people arrive by plane straight from the plains. Your body needs time to adjust, and the two days you “lose” in town are what make the high passes enjoyable later. The good news: Leh is a lovely place to do very little.

Day 1: arrive and rest

Check in, drink water, and sleep if you can. In the late afternoon, take a slow stroll through the old town lanes below Leh Palace and have an early dinner. Thukpa and momos are easy on the stomach.

Skip alcohol and hot showers on the first night.
If you have a headache, rest. Don’t walk it off uphill.

Day 2: short walks, big views

Morning: walk up to Leh Palace at your own pace and look across the Indus valley. Stop often.

Afternoon: browse the main bazaar, sit in a rooftop café and watch the light on the Stok range.

Sunset: take a taxi up to Shanti Stupa rather than climbing the steps, and walk down when you’re done.

Listen to your body

Mild headaches and poor sleep are common at first. If symptoms get worse rather than better, stop climbing, rest, and see a doctor. Going down is the treatment.

Where to stay

Changspa and the old town are walkable and full of family guesthouses. Pick somewhere with a garden or terrace; you’ll spend a lot of these two days sitting in the sun.

From day three you can start day trips to Sham Valley, and on day four cross Khardung La to Nubra. Our 8-day Ladakh route picks up from here.

Coming 2027