Leh Ladakh Explorer
The classic Ladakh loop: acclimatise in Leh, cross Khardung La to Nubra's dunes and spend a night beside Pangong Lake.
Trip at a glance
- Duration7 days / 6 nights
- Starts inLeh
- RouteLeh · Nubra Valley · Pangong Lake
- Places3 destinations
- StateLadakh, India
- Ideal forAdventure holidays, Road trips
- Trip stylePrivate, customisable
- Package codeNX-1BVBF4
Best time to visit: May to September
Trip overview
The classic Ladakh loop: acclimatise in Leh, cross Khardung La to Nubra's dunes and spend a night beside Pangong Lake.
The route spends 3 nights in Leh, 2 nights in Nubra Valley and 1 night in Pangong Lake, so you get time for the main sights without changing hotels every day. It suits adventure holidays, road trips and photography holidays, and every day can be shortened, swapped or extended.
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Leh
- Arrive via Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) and transfer to your hotel
- Check in and settle in
- Later: Rafting on the Indus and Zanskar
Day 2Leh: Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa
- Leh Palace: Seventeenth-century royal palace
- Shanti Stupa: White stupa with sunset views
Day 3Leh: Thiksey Monastery and Hemis Monastery
- Thiksey Monastery: Monastery resembling the Potala Palace
- Hemis Monastery: Largest monastery, with a summer festival
Day 4Leh to Nubra Valley
- Travel from Leh to Nubra Valley by private vehicle
- Check in at your Nubra Valley hotel
- Khardung La: One of the world's highest motorable passes
Day 5Nubra Valley: Hunder sand dunes and Turtuk
- Hunder sand dunes: Bactrian camel rides
- Turtuk: Balti village near the border
Day 6Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake
- Travel from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake by private vehicle, with stops on the way
- Check in at your Pangong Lake hotel
- Pangong lakeshore: Changing colours of the lake
Day 7Depart from Pangong Lake
- Breakfast and hotel check-out
- Transfer to Leh Airport (IXL) for your journey home
How this version is planned
- Activities booked with licensed, insured operators
- Fitness level and experience checked before we confirm each activity
- Weather and season buffers built in for outdoor days
- Travel insurance covering the activities strongly recommended
- Daily driving kept to comfortable distances with scenic stops
This is a suggested itinerary. Sightseeing order may change with opening days, weather and local conditions; your final plan is in your written quote.
Good to know
- Leh: Rest completely on arrival day; altitude sickness is common if you rush.
- Nubra Valley: An Inner Line Permit is needed for Nubra; carry several printed copies.
- Pangong Lake: Nights at Pangong are freezing even in summer; camps provide heaters or electric blankets at a cost.
Questions about this trip
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View itinerary →Read more about each stop
LadakhLeh
Leh, at about 3,500 metres, is Ladakh's capital and the base for exploring the region.
LadakhNubra Valley
Nubra Valley lies beyond the Khardung La pass, a high desert where the Shyok and Nubra rivers meet.
LadakhPangong Lake
Pangong Tso is a long, high-altitude lake at about 4,250 metres, stretching from Ladakh into Tibet.
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