How to build your customized itinerary?
To build your customized itinerary for a trip to Leh-Ladakh, you need to take into account the altitude of the places that you will visit to avoid the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness.
Follow these 6 steps and adjust the duration of each tour according to your interests and time frame.
How to proceed with the booking of an itinerary?
Each individual tour (written in blue) should be booked separately with the booking form. For each tour, click on the BOOK button and you will be redirected to the booking form.
Step 1: Fly to Leh & acclimatize
Duration: 1 or 2 days
The best option to reach Ladakh is to take a flight directly to Leh. The city of Leh is located at an altitude of 3,500m and you need to acclimatize at this altitude for 1 or 2 days before continuing your journey to higher altitude.
During this first 1 or 2 days, you can visit Leh city on your own and at your own pace. All the places of interest are within walkable distance. This includes the Main Bazar, the old town dominated by Leh Palace, the monastery of Namgyal Tsemo and the Shanti Stupa which offers magnificent views of the whole of city.
For more information: Leh city travel guide
Step 2: Visit Sham (western Ladakh)
Tour Duration: 1 to 4 days
The Sham region (i.e. western Ladakh) is at the same altitude as Leh so it is ideal to travel there at the beginning of your trip because it helps acclimatizing gradually to the altitude.
If you have only 1 or 2 days for this area of Ladakh, you can visit some of the main monasteries located in villages along the Indus river (Alchi, Likir, Lamayuru…) as well as Sangam (confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers), Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and the Magnetic Hill.
If you have more time, you could explore the Dha-Hanu valley and spend a night in one of the villages inhabited by the Brokpa tribe. You could also go to Kargil, the second largest city in Ladakh after Leh.
For more information: Sham tour (western Ladakh)
Tour options:
- Indus valley to Sangam, around Leh sightseeing (1-day tour) from ₹ 3,910 / car
- Indus valley to Alchi (1-day tour) from ₹ 6,974 / car
- Indus valley to Lamayuru (1-day tour, 2-day tour or 3-day tour) from ₹ 10,098 / car
- Indus valley to Lamayuru and Kargil (2-day tour, 3-day tour or 4-day tour) from ₹ 20,999 / car
- Indus valley to Lamayuru and Dha-Hanu (2-day tour, 3-day tour or 4-day tour) from ₹ 17,504 / car
- Indus valley to Lamayuru, Dha-Hanu, Batalik, Kargil (2-day tour, 3-day tour or 4-day tour) from ₹ 28,026 / car
Step 3: Explore the Nubra Valley
Tour Duration: 2 to 4 days
A minimum of 2 days is needed for a Nubra valley tour. After crossing Khardung La pass, the world’s highest motorable road, you can visit Diskit monastery and enjoy a double-humped Bactrian camel ride at Hunder sand dunes.
Next, you can head to Panamik hot spring which is well-known for its medicinal benefits. You can also stop at Samstanling monastery in Sumur and hike to Yarab Tso lake.
Finally, if you have enough time, you should not miss the picturesque Muslim village of Turtuk inhabited by the Balti people. Turtuk is located just a few kilometres from the border with Pakistan and it is India’s northernmost village.
For more information: Nubra Valley tour
Tour options:
- Nubra valley (2-day tour or 3-day tour) from ₹ 16,176 / car
- Nubra valley with Turtuk (2-day tour or 3-day tour) from ₹ 21,432 / car
- Nubra valley with Panamik (2-day tour or 3-day tour) from ₹ 18,171 / car
- Nubra valley with Turtuk and Panamik (3-day tour or 4-day tour) from ₹ 28,778 / car
Step 4: Head to Pangong Lake
Tour Duration: 1 to 3 days
The mesmerizing Pangong lake is located at an elevation 4,250m at the border with Tibet. It was made famous when it featured in the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots” in 2009. The lake is accessed from Leh via Chang La, one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world.
During the Pangong lake tour, on the way, you can visit the most famous monasteries in the Indus valley (Hemis, Thiksey, Shey…).
For more information: Pangong Lake tour
Tour options:
- Pangong lake (1-day tour) from ₹ 13,700 / car
- Pangong lake (2-day tour or 3-day tour) from ₹ 17,789 / car
Step 5: Go to Tso Moriri Lake (if time permits)
Tour Duration: 2 to 4 days
If you have time, including Tso Moriri lake in your itinerary is definitely a great option. The 26-km-long lake is located at an altitude of 4,530m in the Changthang region and it is surrounded by several peaks rising above 6,000m. Tso Moriri lake is one of the most impressive places in Ladakh.
On the way from Leh to Tso Moriri lake, you can stop at Chumathang hot springs. On the way back, visit Tso Kar lake (the “white lake” in Ladakhi). The white colour comes from the thick layer of salt deposited along its shores. This area is home to many bird species including the rare black-necked crane. From Tso Kar, you will cross the Taglang La pass (5,328 metres) to reach the Indus valley and Leh.
For more information: Tso Moriri Lake tour
Tour options:
- Tso Moriri lake (2-day tour, 3-day tour or 4-day tour) from ₹ 19,767 / car
- Tso Moriri lake and Tso Kar lake (2-day tour, 3-day tour or 4-day tour) from ₹ 23,652 / car
Step 6: Departure from Leh
Duration: 1 day
Today is the end of a wonderful trip replete with memorable moments. Say goodbye to the enchanting region of Ladakh as you board the flight to Delhi.
Option 1: combine Nubra & Pangong
Tour Duration: 3 to 5 days
Step 3 and step 4 can be combined. Indeed, if you do not want to come back to Leh for one night between the Nubra valley tour (step 3) and the Pangong lake tour (step 4), you could combine these two tours by driving straight from Nubra valley to Pangong lake via Shayok.
If you choose this option, you need minimum 3 days and 2 nights to complete the Nubra valley and Pangong lake tour. You will spend one night in the Nubra valley (Hunder or Diskit village for example) and another night at Pangong lake.
For more information: Nubra Valley & Pangong Lake tour
Tour options:
- Nubra valley and Pangong lake (3-day tour or 4-day tour) from ₹ 31,560 / car
- Nubra valley with Panamik and Pangong lake (3-day tour, 4-day tour or 5-day tour) from ₹ 33,242 / car
- Nubra valley with Turtuk, Panamik and Pangong lake (4-day tour or 5-day tour) from ₹ 42,909 / car
Option 2: combine Nubra, Pangong & Tso Moriri
Tour Duration: 4 to 9 days
Step 3, step 4 and step 5 can be combined. Indeed, you can visit Nubra (step 3), Pangong (step 4) and Tso Moriri (step 4) without going back to Leh in between.
You will drive directly from Nubra valley to Pangong lake via Shayok. And you will go straight from Pangong lake to Tso Moriri lake via Tsaga La pass.
If you choose this option, you need minimum 4 days and 3 nights to complete the Nubra, Pangong and Tso Moriri tour. You will spend the first night in the Nubra valley (Hunder or Diskit village), the second night at Pangong lake and the third night at Tso Moriri lake.
For more information: Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake & Tso Moriri Lake tour
Tour options:
- Nubra valley, Pangong, Tso Moriri (4-day to 7-day tour) from ₹ 50,600 / car
- Nubra valley with Turtuk, Pangong, Tso Moriri (5-day to 8-day tour) from ₹ 58,532 / car
- Nubra valley, Pangong, Hanle, Tso Moriri (5-day to 8-day tour) from ₹ 56,070 / car
- Nubra valley with Turtuk, Pangong, Hanle, Tso Moriri (6-day to 9-day tour) from ₹ 68,405 / car
