Ladakh · 10 Days
Ladakh — The Grand Himalayan Journey
The fullest Ladakh itinerary — Leh, the low Sham valley and Alchi's wall paintings, the Nubra valley, and Pangong Lake, at an easy pace.
Day by Day
10 Days, In Full
Ladakh with time to spare. The extra days go on a proper acclimatisation build-up and on the Sham valley, west of Leh, at a lower and kinder altitude. That day takes in the Indus–Zanskar confluence, Magnetic Hill and the eleventh-century paintings at Alchi. From there the trip follows the full circuit: the Indus monasteries, Nubra over Khardung La, and Pangong by the Shyok road for two nights. It ends back in Leh with an easy last day. Ten days is the right length if the altitude worries you or you simply want to slow down.
Leh
Arrive in Leh — Rest and Acclimatise
You fly into Leh in the early morning, over the main Himalayan range. The airport sits at 3,500 metres, so the first day is a rest day, and this is not optional. Your guide checks you in and asks you to do very little. Drink water, eat lightly, sleep if you can. A short, slow walk to Leh market in the afternoon is as much as you should do. Giving the body a full day here now prevents altitude sickness later.
Leh
Leh — Old Town, Palace and Shanti Stupa
A gentle first full day, still close to the hotel. The morning is Leh's old town: the bazaar, the mosque, and the nine-storey palace above it. The climb through the palace floors is slow but short. In the afternoon, drive up to Shanti Stupa for the view over the valley. Sankar Monastery, a working gompa a short way from the centre, fills any spare time. An early night before tomorrow's monastery run.
Leh
The Sham Valley — Confluence, Magnetic Hill and Alchi
A day trip west down the Indus, at lower altitude, which helps. First the Sangam, where the green Indus meets the grey Zanskar and the two run side by side. Then Magnetic Hill, a quick stop where the road plays a trick on the eye. The main sight is Alchi, an eleventh-century monastery with wall paintings found nowhere else in Ladakh. Likir, with its own hilltop gompa and large gold Buddha, rounds out the day. Return to Leh in the late afternoon.
Leh
The Indus Valley Monasteries — Thiksey and Hemis
A full day among the great monasteries south-east of Leh. Start early at Thiksey, a twelve-storey monastery on a hill, for the dawn prayers if you are up to it. Then Hemis, the largest and richest in Ladakh, hidden in a side gorge. Shey, the old royal palace with its giant seated Buddha, and Stok are on the way back. It is a lot of driving, but the roads are good and the valley is beautiful. Back in Leh by evening.
Leh → Nubra Valley
Over Khardung La to the Nubra Valley
The drive to Nubra crosses Khardung La, at about 5,360 metres one of the highest motorable passes in the world. You stop briefly at the top for photos and tea, but not long, because of the altitude. The road then drops a long way into the Nubra valley, green and wide after the bare passes. You reach your Nubra hotel by mid-afternoon. The rest of the day is at rest by the river. The full drive takes five to six hours with stops.
Nubra Valley
Nubra — Diskit Monastery and the Hunder Dunes
A full day in the Nubra valley. The morning is Diskit Monastery and its 32-metre Maitreya statue, which looks down the valley towards Pakistan. In the afternoon, the white sand dunes at Hunder, with their two-humped Bactrian camels. A short camel ride runs in the last hour of light, when the dunes turn gold. Turtuk, a Balti village near the border that only opened to visitors in 2010, is an option for those with the time. A second night in Nubra.
Nubra Valley → Pangong Lake
Nubra to Pangong — The Shyok River Road
A long, rough and spectacular drive that avoids going back over Khardung La. The road follows the Shyok river east, through a wide, empty valley of braided river channels and bare rock. Parts of it are unpaved and slow. There are no towns and few people for hours. You reach Pangong from the north in the late afternoon, with the lake opening up ahead. Plan on seven to eight hours on the road. It is worth it.
Pangong Lake
A Day on the Shore of Pangong
A slow day by the lake, which is the point of coming this far. The water changes colour through the day, so it rewards sitting still and watching. A short drive along the shore towards the villages of Man and Merak gets you away from the day-trip crowds at Spangmik. The altitude here is 4,350 metres, so walking is slow and naps are normal. After dark, the sky fills with stars. A second night on the shore.
Pangong Lake → Leh
Pangong back to Leh — Chang La and the Long Valley
An early start to be over Chang La before the afternoon wind. The pass is at about 5,360 metres and often holds snow even in summer. Below it the road runs down past Hemis and Thiksey, so there is a chance to stop at either if you missed them. You are back in Leh by mid-afternoon, at a lower and easier altitude. The last evening is free for the market and for packing. The drive is five to six hours in all.
Leh
Depart Leh
Leh's flights leave early, so this is usually a dawn transfer to the airport. The take-off, back over the Himalayan range, is as good as the flight in. If your flight is later, there is time for a last walk in the market or a visit to the Hall of Fame museum near the airport. Your guide sees you off. Most onward flights connect through Delhi.
Book This Itinerary
Priced Packages On This Route
This route is already built into these packages — real inclusions and pricing on each one's own page.
luxury · 9 Nights
Ladakh Grand Himalayan Journey — Luxury
per person, twin sharing — enquire for current pricing
premium · 9 Nights
Ladakh Grand Himalayan Journey — Premium
per person, twin sharing — enquire for current pricing
luxury · 9 Nights
Ladakh Photography Expedition — Luxury
per person, twin sharing — enquire for current pricing
premium · 9 Nights
Ladakh Photography Expedition — Premium
per person, twin sharing — enquire for current pricing
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
Get In Touch
Start Planning Your Trip
Full itinerary, real pricing, one honest conversation — no sales pressure, just answers.