The altitude in Ladakh varies from about 3000m in Kargil to more than 8,000m in the Karakoram. Due to its high altitude, the climate is extremely cold and dry. The air at this altitude is so thin that the heat of the sun can be felt intensely. The day temperatures in summer are just above zero degree and the night temperatures well below 30°C. It is freezing cold in the winters when the temperatures may remain below 40°C for most of the time.

Due to high aridity, the vegetation is sparse. There are scanty patches of grasses and shrubs for animals to graze.