Acclimatization in Leh Ladakh — My First 48 Hours

Last updated on May 30th, 2026 at 05:38 pm

Reading Time: 10 minutes

I had an early morning flight from Delhi to Leh. The plan was to reach earlier at the airport and take some rest before boarding. Instead, I was awake the entire night, sitting in the terminal, running on no rest.

The flight landed in Leh at 9 AM. And the altitude hit differently than I expected.

Leh is at 3,500 metres. When you fly in from Delhi to Leh your body has no gradual adjustment. It’s an abrupt shift. Add a sleepless night to that and the first few hours are uncomfortable in ways that are hard to describe unless you’ve experienced them.

Here’s how you can spend your first 48 hours in Leh Ladakh.

Delhi Altitude	216 meters (709 ft)
Leh altitude	3,524 metres (11,500 ft)
Recommended rest on arrival	Minimum 24 hours — ideally 48 hrs
Common acclimatization symptoms	Headache, breathlessness, fatigue, nausea
What to avoid on Day 1	Alcohol, heavy meals
What helps	Water, sleep, light food,
Bike rental cost	Rs. 1,500–2,500 per day depending on model
RE Himalayan 411cc (recommended)	Rs. 1,800–2,200 per day with bargaining
Documents for bike rental	Driving licence + any government ID
Nearby Leh places to visit (only if body allows)	Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shey Palace, Shanti Stupa

Why Acclimatization in Leh Ladakh Matters

The standard advice says rest for 48 hours after arriving in Leh. Most travellers read it, acknowledge it, and then ignore it because they have a packed itinerary and limited days.

I wasn’t ignoring it intentionally, I just hadn’t slept before landing.

The first day I had to work on my laptop. By 2 PM I was done and immediately slept for a couple of hours. Then dinner. Then slept again properly through the night.

The next morning I woke up feeling genuinely active.

What actually helps:

• Sleep as much as your body asks for, don’t fight it
• Drink water consistently, dehydration at altitude is faster than at sea level
• Eat light
• No alcohol for the first 48 hours, it dehydrates and worsens altitude symptoms
• No rushing to higher altitude passes on Day 1 or 2

Symptoms that are normal: Mild headache, slight breathlessness when climbing stairs, fatigue, reduced appetite.

Symptoms that need attention: Severe headache that doesn’t ease with rest or water, vomiting, confusion, loss of coordination. If these appear, descend and seek medical help.

Web Story

You can view the Web Story regarding the 48hrs in Leh Ladakh.

What to do in the First 24hrs in Leh?

Rest completely, and give your body time to adjust to Ladakh’s climate. Eat light food on time.

If you are feeling okay, then, in the evening, you can visit Leh market.

You can stay near Leh market if you fancy shopping and seeing a happening environment.

Leh Market

It’s the main commercial stretch of Leh city. You can easily spot prayer flags, shops selling Ladakhi handicrafts, outdoor gear, dried fruits, and everything a trekker or biker needs.

From all the places I visited in the mountains, I genuinely haven’t seen any site that spread like the Leh market. So I am sure your evening will be joyful, and you won’t feel bored.

The streets of Leh market are so eye-grabbing that you can’t stop taking pictures. Multiple big light lamps and the Ladakhi prayer flags hanged above provide an exquisite feel.

Don’t buy anything significant on Day 1. You’re still figuring out the place. Come back later when you know what you actually need.

The most important thing to do at the market on Day 1 — rent your bike for the next day.

Bike Rent in Leh

When all things are done, in the end, don’t forget to Rent a Bike in Leh for the next Day.

However, you’ll come across multiple Bike rental shops if you are wandering the Leh market. But, also, ensure you reach before 8-9p.m as I have experienced that the Bike rental offices were usually closed by then.

Which Bike Do I Recommend After Experiencing Leh Ladakh?

My recommendation: Royal Enfield Himalayan 411CC. We rode it to the other places and on the Leh to Turtuk route. It handles the mountain passes, the rocky sections, and the elevation changes better than most alternatives. Built for exactly this terrain.

Rental cost (Must confirm th price) – Rs. 1,800–2,200 per day for the Himalayan 411CC with reasonable bargaining. Prices are higher in peak season (June–August).

Documents needed:

• Original driving licence
• Any government-issued ID (kept by the rental shop as deposit)

Before you take the bike:

• Check tyre condition carefully — especially for longer routes like Turtuk & Pangong
• Test brakes
• Check fuel level
• Confirm whether the total rental amount is paid upfront or split

Important: Share your planned itinerary with the rental shop. They’ll tell you about road conditions, off-road sections, and how much petrol you’ll need for specific routes. When we mentioned Turtuk they told us about the off-road section after North Pullu, that information genuinely helped us prepare.

You’ll also receive a Biker’s Association slip when renting, keep this with you. You’ll need to show it alongside your permit at Khardung La and other checkpoints.

Read here, If you’re looking for car rentals in ladakh.

Petrol Pumps in Leh

You can easily spot Petrol Pumps in Leh whenever you plan to go out of the town.

It would help if you do some calculations on distances or the most sensible thing. Share your Itinerary at the Petrol filling station, and they can guide you on how much Petrol would suffice for your bike journey.

Day – 2 Monastery Circuit on a Bike

Wake up at 5 AM to explore nearby places in Leh.

Today, we decided to explore the Monasteries.

The monastery circuit covers significant distances and the morning prayers at Thiksey happen between 6–9 AM.

The circuit: Thiksey → Hemis → Shey Palace → back to Leh. Total distance approximately 80 km return.

1. Thiksey Monastery (20 km from Leh)

Thiksey Monastery stands 20km away from Leh city. On your Bike, you can cover this space in around 50 mins.

You can spot Thiksey Monastery almost 1-2 km before.

Why Visit Thiksey Monastery in the Early Morning?

In Thiksey Monastery, you can attend the daytime prayers that monks regularly do. 

Don’t try to rush to visit every Monastery within a matter of time. Spend some time observing the happenings.

When you step towards Thiksey Monastery, undoubtedly, Breathtaking views and the Divine feeling will be the foremost thing that comes to your mind.

The beautifully painted buildings that stand next to each other appear more pretty in the bright daylight. I spent a lot of time photographing the surroundings.

But, as I proceeded, indeed, the indoors were eye-grabbing too.

I noticed the batch of shoes of individuals kept at a specific place before the stairs. That made me curious. I removed the boots and climbed the stairs.

With every step forward, the voices became clear.

I could see a big dim room where monks were present, and some tourists were seated behind them.

Besides, if you want to do photography inside, you shouldn’t use artificial light that disturbs the practice. You have to be in complete silence mode.

Keeping this in mind, I got seated.

It was almost 9:00 a.m. when I left the Thiksey Monastery.

2. Hemis Monastery (40 km from Leh, 20 km from Thiksey)

The drive from Thiksey to Hemis follows the Indus River — one of the better stretches of road in this part of Ladakh. Straight road, mountains on both sides, river alongside.

There’s a small food stall right next to Hemis Monastery, you’ll need it by the time you arrive.

Entry fee: Rs. 100 per person.

So, you can visit the following spots in Hemis Monastery:

1. Main Assembly Hall
2. Second Main Assembly Hall
3. Old Temple (1st Floor)
4. Museum
5. Butter lamp offering room
6. Main Courtyard
7. Guru Lhakhang (2nd Floor)
8. Tsom Lhakhang (2nd Floor)
9. Ka Chupa (3rd Floor)

The surroundings of Hemis Monastery were captivating.

To visit the Hemis Museum,

• You must remove your shoes,
• Keep your belongings in a safe locker that is present there—no mobile phones and cameras will be allowed inside the museum.

The museum inside Hemis is worth time — historical religious artifacts, detailed Buddhist iconography. Shoes off before entering, no cameras or phones inside the museum.

Hemis Monastery buildings have lovely colors and designs. I waited for some time, a monk passed by that white wall, and I snapped the moment.

Also, I told my cousin’s brother to photograph me the same way. So he stood there with the camera, and passed by the white background.

The rooftop of Hemis gives you a view of the school building below — I composed a shot using the geometry of the courtyard and the building lines. Got some of the cleaner architectural frames of the entire trip there.

The students stood outside in preparation before Independence Day.

So, I have applied all symmetry—and geometry in the beautiful Ladakh because this place holds nature’s most pleasant equation.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t see the Monks praying in Hemis, but I saw them in Thiksey Monastery. Likewise, as I expressed before, if you ran to see everything, you would remain to see nothing.

I had a considerably good time in Hemis Monastery before returning.

Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.

3. Shey Palace (between Hemis and Leh)

A pleasant surprise — no entry fee, and the elevated position gives panoramic views of the valley.

Shey Palace has its own monastery attached but by this point in the day energy is running low. We explored the palace exterior and the views rather than going into the monastery.

Don’t skip it just because it’s between two bigger places. The views alone justify 30 minutes.

Our visit to the Shey Palace lasted shortly, and we headed towards our Homestay in Leh.

I Took Rest for Some Time

It would be best to rest adequately so your body can relax and prepare for future explorations in Ladakh.

4. Shanti Stupa in the Evening

Shanti Stupa sits on a hill above Leh with a 10-rupee entry fee and one of the better sunset viewpoints in the city.

The parking is genuinely tight — auto-rickshaws and walking are easier than driving up.

The evening I visited it started raining. Almost everyone left. My cousin and I stayed — umbrellas out, watching the light change on the surrounding hills through the rain. When the shower stopped the sky cleared to something you couldn’t have photographed before the rain.

That’s the thing about Ladakh evenings — even when the weather goes against you, it finds a way to give you something.

Does It Rain in Leh Ladakh?

Less than most Himalayan destinations, which is why Ladakh stays desert-like and dry.

But rain does happen. August and September see the most precipitation. Short sharp showers that can last 30–60 minutes and stop completely. The intensity can soak you quickly even if it doesn’t last long.

Getting wet in Ladakh at altitude is not advisable — the temperature drops fast with wet clothing. Carry a light rain jacket or compact umbrella if you’re going between July and September. It packs small, weighs little, and you’ll be grateful you have it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 48 hours of acclimatization really necessary in Leh? Yes, especially if you’re flying in from a low-altitude city like Delhi. Your body needs time to adjust to 3,500 metres. The first 24 hours should involve minimal activity, proper sleep, and light food. Skipping this and heading straight to Khardung La on Day 1 is how people end up in serious trouble.

What are the symptoms of altitude sickness in Leh? Mild headache, breathlessness on stairs, fatigue, reduced appetite, all normal in the first 24 hours. Severe persistent vomiting, confusion, inability to walk straight, severe chest pain, descend immediately and seek medical help.

Which bike is best for Leh Ladakh? Royal Enfield Himalayan 411CC built for exactly this terrain. Handles passes, rocky sections, and elevation changes well. Available for rent in Leh market at approximately Rs. 1,800–2,200 per day with bargaining.

Can you visit monasteries without a guide in Leh? Yes, all the main monasteries are open to independent visitors. A guide adds context but isn’t necessary. The Thiksey morning prayer session is the one experience that requires no guide, just arrive early and sit quietly.

Conclusion

The first 48 hours in Leh will set the tone for everything that comes after.

Sleep well, drink water, eat on time, and don’t rush the first day, not even for the Leh market if you don’t feel like.

By Day 2, if your mind and body allows, you can start exploring Leh and nearby Leh like monasteries.

That’s how Ladakh works.

Read next from Ladakh:

Leh to Pangong – Why I wouldn’t do it one day again

Jig Gyas Guest House in Leh – An Unexpected Stay but Worth it