Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Fly from Pune to Leh via Delhi; allow roughly 6–10 hours including the connection, and check winter schedules carefully before booking, as flights can be delayed or disrupted by weather. Arrange a pickup with your accommodation in advance. The airport is close to town, but a pre-booked taxi is easiest with luggage; confirm the fare before setting off, as prices vary. At this altitude, keep the first day deliberately gentle: drink water, eat lightly, and rest. Avoid alcohol and strenuous activity, and tell your host if you develop a headache, nausea, or unusual breathlessness.
If you’re feeling well, take a slow, short stroll around Leh Main Market—stay near the central streets and head back to your accommodation whenever you need a break. For an easy first meal, Gesmo Restaurant on Fort Road has familiar dishes alongside Ladakhi options; budget around ₹300–700 per person, and check locally for winter opening hours. Afterwards, have a brief, unhurried wander through the Leh Old Town lanes around the market, then call it an early night. The lanes can be uneven and icy in winter, so wear grippy shoes and don’t push the walk if you feel unwell.
Keep the pace gentle after yesterday’s arrival. In Leh Old Town, visit Leh Palace first; its winter access and hours can change, so check locally before setting out. Allow about an hour to wander through the rooms and terraces, and ask about the current entry fee—carry cash, as ticket arrangements may be limited in winter. From here, Tsemo Fort is uphill above the palace: enjoy the view only if you’re feeling well, and skip the climb if you’re breathless, dizzy, or unusually tired. A short taxi ride can spare you the steepest approach; don’t push yourself at altitude.
Head back down to Jama Masjid in central Leh and take a quiet pause before wandering the nearby market lanes. Dress modestly, check whether visitors are welcome at the time you arrive, and avoid entering during prayers. For lunch, Tibetan Kitchen on Fort Road is a convenient stop for momos, thukpa, and Ladakhi dishes; budget roughly ₹400–900 per person. Winter hours can be reduced, so call ahead or ask your accommodation to confirm it’s open.
Leave the rest of the day unplanned: return to your accommodation by taxi or on foot if you’re comfortable, sip water, and rest rather than adding more sightseeing. Keep warm layers handy—the temperature drops quickly after sunset—and avoid alcohol and strenuous activity while you acclimatize.
Leave Leh at first light in a pre-arranged local SUV, but only after your driver confirms with local authorities that Khardung La is open and conditions are safe. The crossing can take 6–8 hours or longer in winter, so treat this as a travel-first day: carry warm layers, water, snacks and any required permits, and don’t assume you’ll reach Diskit in time for every visit. If the road is closed or deteriorating, follow your driver’s advice rather than pressing on.
If you arrive with enough daylight and the monastery is open, visit Diskit Monastery first; winter access and hours can change, so check locally and take the steep approach slowly at altitude. Then have a gentle wander through the Diskit market area—many shops may be shut in December—before stopping at the nearby Maitreya Buddha statue for a brief look at the valley views, weather and access permitting. Finish with a warm meal at a currently open local restaurant near the village centre; budget about ₹300–700 per person. If the drive runs late, ask your accommodation which stops are still practical and save your energy for settling in.
Leave Diskit early in your pre-arranged SUV, but only once your driver has confirmed Khardung La is open and safe to cross. Allow 6–8 hours or longer in winter; the road can close or slow considerably, so keep someone at your Leh accommodation updated and don’t plan around a fixed arrival time. The return taxi is typically around ₹10,000–15,000 per vehicle. After reaching Leh, check in, warm up and rest first—the sightseeing stops below are possibilities, not commitments, if the drive runs late.
In Leh Old Town, make a gentle indoor visit to the Leh Central Asian Museum to learn about the town’s role in historic trade routes. Winter opening days and hours can change, so call ahead or ask your accommodation to check; allow about an hour and keep roughly ₹50–200 handy for entry, if applicable. Then wander the Leh Main Bazaar lanes at an easy pace. Many shops keep shorter winter hours or close for the season, so treat this as a stroll rather than a serious shopping stop.
If you arrive with enough time and the roads have not left you exhausted, head to Lamayuru Restaurant on Fort Road for Indian or Ladakhi food; budget around ₹400–900 per person. Check that it’s open before setting out, as winter schedules can be irregular. If the return is delayed, skip the outing and ask your hotel about a nearby meal instead—getting warm and rested is the better end to a long mountain-road day.
If OpenHand Café is open, ease into the day with breakfast and coffee; budget about ₹300–700 per person. Winter hours can change, so check with the café or your accommodation before heading out, and ask your host to arrange an airport taxi. Keep the morning unhurried, but check your flight status before leaving.
Head to Leh airport with plenty of time: winter weather can disrupt schedules, and security procedures are thorough. Once checked in, fly from Leh to Pune via Delhi. Total travel time depends on your connection; keep onward plans flexible, and check both flight legs for updates before setting off for the airport.
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