In Ladakh, the order of the itinerary matters as much as the places. You arrive by air at about 3,500 metres, so the first days must be gentle.
Days 1–2: rest in Leh
Arrive in Leh and do nothing on the first day: rest, drink water and avoid alcohol. On day two, take an easy half-day to see Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa at sunset.
Day 3: monasteries of the Indus Valley
Visit Thiksey, Shey and Hemis monasteries, all at roughly the same altitude as Leh. Add the Hall of Fame museum and, in summer, rafting on the Indus if you feel well.
Days 4–5: Nubra Valley
Cross Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes, and descend into the Nubra Valley. See Diskit Monastery, the Hunder sand dunes with their Bactrian camels and, if time allows, the village of Turtuk. Nubra is lower than Leh, which helps.
Day 6: Pangong Lake
Drive to Pangong Lake via the Shyok route or back through Leh and over Chang La, depending on road conditions. Spend the night in a lakeside camp. It gets very cold at night even in summer.
Day 7: return to Leh
Drive back to Leh for your last night, or fly out the next morning.
Altitude advice
- Altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness.
- Symptoms include headache, nausea and breathlessness. If they worsen, descend and seek medical help.
- Speak to your doctor before travelling if you have heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions, and about whether preventive medication suits you.
Permits
Inner Line Permits are required for Nubra, Pangong and other border areas. We arrange them and you should carry several printed copies.
When to go
May to September. See Best time to visit Ladakh, and why the season is so short for the seasons, and our Adventure holidays page for longer road trips.
When to go
When to go
When to go
When to go