Hike Above Leh Palace

Wherever you go in Leh, you won't be able to miss the Leh Royal Palace. This massive, towering palace was actually built to resemble the Potala Palace in Lhasa, and is adorned with classic Tibetan inscriptions and Buddhist monuments.

Begin this adventure at the base of the palace in the downtown Leh Bazaar area. There are a few different footpaths, and even a road, that lead up to the entrance. Hike up and through the winding stairs and balconies until you are on the dirt hill above the palace, at a patch of brightly-colored prayer flags, which will serve as your high point for the day.

The palace itself is nine stories high, which means to reach the top you're climbing between 900-1000 feet. An average hiker might not think of this as any big deal, but it's important to remember that Leh's elevation is right around 11,500 feet, so those extra 1,000 make a huge difference - especially if you're coming from sea level.

From the top of the palace, you can see far off to the 7,000 meter Stok range, where adventurers can climb Stok Kangri, or enjoy other treks throughout the Markha Valley. Leh is a great jumping off point for some of these lesser-explored regions of the Himalaya, where you'll enjoy comfort, great cuisine, and awesome service, all at an even better cost.