Ladakh High Passes & Lakes Camping
Over Khardung La to the dunes of Nubra, then camps by Pangong Lake at about 4,250 metres, with acclimatisation in Leh at the start and a last night back in town.
Trip at a glance
- Duration9 days / 8 nights
- Starts inLeh
- RouteLeh · Nubra Valley · Pangong Lake
- Places3 destinations
- StateLadakh, India
- Ideal forAdventure holidays, Road trips
- Trip stylePrivate, customisable
- Package codeNX-IHKGWO
Best time to visit: May to September
Trip overview
Over Khardung La to the dunes of Nubra, then camps by Pangong Lake at about 4,250 metres, with acclimatisation in Leh at the start and a last night back in town.
The route spends 3 nights in Leh, 2 nights in Nubra Valley, 2 nights in Pangong Lake and 1 night in Leh, 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: Leh Palace: Seventeenth-century royal palace
Day 2Leh: Shanti Stupa and Thiksey Monastery
- Shanti Stupa: White stupa with sunset views
- Thiksey Monastery: Monastery resembling the Potala Palace
Day 3Leh: Hemis Monastery and Magnetic Hill
- Hemis Monastery: Largest monastery, with a summer festival
- Magnetic Hill: Optical illusion on the Srinagar road
Day 4Leh to Nubra Valley
- Travel from Leh to Nubra Valley by private vehicle
- Check in at your Nubra Valley hotel
- Diskit Monastery: Giant Maitreya Buddha statue
Day 5Nubra Valley: Khardung La and Hunder sand dunes
- Khardung La: One of the world's highest motorable passes
- Hunder sand dunes: Bactrian camel rides
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
- Chang La: High pass on the way
Day 7Pangong Lake: Spangmik and Merak and Lukung
- Spangmik and Merak: Lakeside villages with camps
- Lukung: First viewpoint on arrival
Day 8Pangong Lake to Leh
- Travel from Pangong Lake to Leh by private vehicle
- Check in at your Leh hotel
- Rafting on the Indus and Zanskar
Day 9Depart from Leh
- Breakfast and hotel check-out
- Transfer to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee 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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