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The journey
Explore Ladakh's dramatic high-altitude landscapes on a 7-day journey through Leh, Nubra Valley, and Pangong Lake. Visit revered sites such as Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Diskit Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, and Shanti Stupa, while crossing Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world. Experience the beauty of the Sham Valley, the sand dunes of Hunder, and Pangong Lake, the world's highest saltwater lake at 14,270 feet. The tour also includes a visit to The Druk White Lotus School, known as a shooting location for the Bollywood film '3 Idiots'.
At a glance
Day by day
Start the tour after arriving at Leh airport and meeting your Leh tour guide, who will drop you at the hotel.
Spend the day acclimatizing and resting, as Leh is at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level.
Overnight stay in Leh.
After breakfast, drive to Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill, Sangam (the confluence point of the Zanskar and Indus rivers), and the Hall of Fame.
In the evening, visit the Shanti Stupa.
Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, drive to Nubra Valley, also known as the Valley of Flowers, via Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world, at 18,380 ft.
Visit Diskit Monastery after driving to Hunder.
After arriving in Hunder, check in at the camp.
After enjoying lunch, proceed for a walk on the banks of the Shayok River. You can also enjoy a ride on a double-humped camel on the sand dunes between Diskit and Hunder Village.
Overnight stay in Hunder.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Pangong Lake via Shyok and onward to Tang Tse and Spangmik (Pangong). It is a short cut and a beautiful route. The road follows the Shyok River and climbs up a mountain before finally descending into Shayok village. It takes less than an hour to reach Shayok, where you can enjoy the sight of the rather big village surrounded by barren mountains. The entire setting is very picturesque.
Reach Pangong Lake in the afternoon and enjoy your day at the lake.
Overnight stay at camp.
After breakfast, leave Pangong/Tangtse and retrace the Leh route across Chang La.
Upon reaching Karu, drive across the Indus and visit the famous Hemis Monastery, the biggest monastery in Ladakh.
Later, drive on to Leh, en route visiting the picturesque Thiksey Monastery, Stok Palace, and The Druk White Lotus School, a shooting location for the movie '3 Idiots'. After sightseeing, check in to the hotel for an overnight stay.
Enjoy a full day of rest, shopping, and local activities in Leh.
Transfer to the airport early in the morning to take your flight back home.
The route
The fine print
Transport: Innova car with English-speaking driver
Pick up from Leh Airport
All sightseeing by personal car
Hotel type: 3-star
Camp: Deluxe camp
Food: breakfast and dinner (Veg or Non-Veg)
Leh: 3 nights
Nubra: Deluxe camp
Pangong: Deluxe camp
Any lunch and mineral water
Nubra and Pangong permit (Note: Permit charge Rs. 550 per person)
Camel ride
Monument fee
Any insurance
5% service tax extra
Pangong Lake is the world’s highest saltwater lake, situated at an altitude of 14,270 feet. Magnetic Hill is located near Leh city on the Leh-Kargil National Highway, about 30 km from Leh, at an elevation of 14,000 feet above sea level. The Sindhu River flows along its eastern side, originating in Tibet and continuing into Pakistan. The hill lies on the Leh-Kargil-Batalik National Highway and is bordered by the Sindhu River. The Indian Army maintains a Sikh Gurudwara near the hill, where Guru Nanak Dev, the first of the ten Gurus of Sikhism, is believed to have meditated in the 15th century. Together, the Gurudwara and the gravity hill have made the area a popular sightseeing destination.
Sangam, the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers, is located 6 km from Nimo Valley towards Leh city on the Kargil-Leh highway. If you are travelling to Leh from Manali, you can visit this site from Leh city, which is just 35 km away. If you are travelling from Leh to Kargil, you can stop at this well-known viewpoint of the Indus-Zanskar confluence. Authorities have developed designated points that offer an elevated view of the meeting rivers. The Zanskar appears a bright blue, while the Indus has a greenish hue. In winter, the Zanskar freezes completely for parts of the season, enabling the Chadar Trek; the Indus continues to flow, although it may freeze in patches. In every season, the confluence is a striking sight.
Shanti Stupa is a white-domed Buddhist stupa located on a hilltop in Changspa, Leh district, Ladakh, in the north Indian region of Jammu and Kashmir. A prominent addition to Leh’s skyline, the bright white Shanti Stupa stands above Changspa village, 3 km west of the bazaar. Inaugurated in 1983 by the Dalai Lama, the “Peace Pagoda” features gilt panels depicting episodes from the life of the Buddha and is one of several monuments erected across India by a Japanese Buddhist peace sect. The stupa is circular, with markings indicating a clockwise circumambulation route. A platform in front offers panoramic views of Leh town and the surrounding area. The outer wall also includes markings indicating the direction of Shindu Ghat and Khardungla Pass. Based on the information provided, the aerial distance to Khardungala Pass is 9.5 km (38 km by road).
Diskit Monastery (Leh), also known as Diskit Gompa, is the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh. Founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo in the 14th century, the monastery stands atop a hill overlooking the plains of the Shayok River. Its main attraction is the 100-foot-high statue of Maitreya Buddha, inaugurated by the Dalai Lama. From the gompa, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the Nubra Valley.
Hemis Monastery is one of Ladakh’s popular tourist destinations, located on the west bank of the Indus River, 45 km from Leh city. It is the largest and among the most renowned monasteries in the region. Constructed in 1672 AD during the reign of King Singge Namgyal, Hemis Monastery hosts the annual Hemis Tsechu festival, which attracts visitors from around the world. During this vibrant day-long celebration, locals commemorate the victory of good over evil and perform masked dances.
Thiksey Monastery is approximately a 45-minute drive from Leh. Leh offers a wide range of accommodation options; alternatively, visitors can stay at the Chamba Hotel at the base of Thiksey Monastery, which is operated by the monastery and features traditional Ladakhi architecture.
Indian films have also contributed to the popularity of certain locations. The Aamir Khan-starrer *3 Idiots* is a notable example, with scenes filmed at Pangong Lake and at a school near Leh known as The Druk White Lotus School. The school is located 15 km from Leh town on the Leh-Manali highway in the village of Shey. Following the film’s success, the school became a popular tourist attraction. After its building was damaged by a cloudburst in August 2010, Aamir Khan visited the school and helped raise funds to rebuild the damaged structure.
Logistics
Your 7 days finish where they began, in Leh airport.
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