About This Tour
Overview
This 5-night circuit is Ladakh in its classic form - a gently ascending loop built around acclimatization, high passes and water the colour of lapis. Land at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (3,500 m) and give your body a full day to adjust in Leh. Day two circles the Sham Valley: the white-domed Shanti Stupa, the seventeenth-century Leh Palace, the gravity illusion of Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, and the gorge where the jade Zanskar meets the silt-brown Indus. Day three climbs Khardung La (5,359 m) - among the highest motorable roads on earth - down to Diskit Monastery and a double-humped camel ride across the Hunder sand dunes. Day four follows the wild Shyok river route to a lakeside cottage at Pangong Tso (4,350 m) for sunset; day five returns over Chang La (5,360 m) with a stop at the twelve-storey Thiksey Monastery, and day six flies home. Private SUV, ILP permits, oxygen cylinder and an experienced Ladakhi driver throughout.
Duration
5 Nights / 6 Days
Tour Type
High-Altitude · Lakes · Monasteries · Private
Region
Ladakh · Leh · Nubra Valley · Changthang
High Passes
Khardung La (5,359 m) · Chang La (5,360 m)
Lakes & Dunes
Pangong Tso · Hunder Sand Dunes · Sangam
Season & Permits
May – September · ILP arranged for you
Top Experiences
Highlights
Pangong Tso at Golden Hour
A 134-kilometre inland sea at 4,350 m that changes colour by the hour - sunset and sunrise from a lakeside cottage at Spangmik
Khardung La Pass
At 5,359 m, one of the highest motorable roads on earth - prayer flags, chai at the summit, and thin air in every direction
Hunder Dunes & Bactrian Camels
Cold-desert dunes between snow peaks, crossed on the double-humped camels of Nubra's old silk-route caravans
Diskit Monastery
Nubra's largest and oldest gompa, watched over by a 32-metre golden Maitreya Buddha gazing down the Shyok valley
Indus–Zanskar Sangam
The dramatic gorge confluence near Nimmu - jade green meeting silt brown - with Magnetic Hill and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib on the same road
Shanti Stupa & Thiksey
The white-domed hilltop stupa above Leh, and the twelve-storey "mini Potala" of Thiksey with its morning prayers
Visual Journey
The High Desert at a Glance
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What's Covered
Includes / Excludes
✓ Included
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis - Leh hotel, Nubra camp/cottage & Pangong lakeside cottage
- Daily breakfast and dinner (MAP plan) throughout
- Private air-conditioned SUV (Innova/Xylo class) with an experienced Ladakhi driver for all 6 days
- Airport pickup and drop at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh
- All Inner Line Permits (ILP), environmental and green fees for Nubra & Pangong
- Oxygen cylinder in the vehicle for the high passes
- Tolls, parking, fuel, driver allowance and wildlife fees
- WhatsApp support throughout the trip
✕ Not Included
- Airfare to and from Leh
- Monastery and monument entry fees
- Camel ride, ATV and other optional activities
- Lunches, snacks and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities & tips
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Day01
Arrival in Leh & Acclimatization
Airport transfer · Full day of rest
Kushok Bakula Airport · Leh
- Arrive at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh (3,500 m). Meet our driver at arrivals for the short transfer to your hotel.
- The rest of the day is kept deliberately free for acclimatization - rest, hydrate, walk slowly, and skip exertion and alcohol.
- If you're feeling well by evening, a gentle stroll through Leh Market for tea and momos.
- Overnight stay in Leh.
Day02
Leh Local & Sham Valley Sightseeing
~120 km · Full-day circuit
Shanti Stupa · Leh Palace · Magnetic Hill · Sangam
- Morning: the white-domed Shanti Stupa for panoramic views over Leh, then the seventeenth-century Leh Palace.
- Afternoon: drive the Sham Valley road west - the gravity illusion of Magnetic Hill and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib.
- Late afternoon: the Indus-Zanskar Sangam near Nimmu, where jade green meets silt brown inside a gorge.
- Overnight stay in Leh.
Day03
Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung La
160 km / 05-06 hrs
Khardung La (5,359 m) · Diskit · Hunder Dunes
- Morning: the big climb - over Khardung La Pass (5,359 m), one of the highest motorable roads in the world. Chai and photos at the top.
- Afternoon: descend into the Shyok valley to Diskit Monastery and the 32-metre Maitreya Buddha gazing over Nubra.
- Evening: ride the double-humped Bactrian camels across the silver Hunder sand dunes.
- Overnight stay at a camp or cottage in Nubra Valley.
Day04
Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake via Shyok
180 km / 06 hrs
Shyok River Route · Pangong Tso (4,350 m)
- Morning: follow the wild Shyok river route east - cliffs, gravel flats and river bends on the drive toward Pangong.
- Afternoon: first sight of Pangong Tso - an inland sea of blue shared with Tibet, at 4,350 m.
- Evening: watch the sunset as the lake shifts through shades of blue, then dinner at your lakeside cottage.
- Overnight stay in a lakeside cottage near Pangong Lake.
Day05
Pangong Lake to Leh via Chang La
160 km / 05-06 hrs
Chang La (5,360 m) · Thiksey Monastery
- Early morning: catch sunrise over Pangong - the water turns copper and gold before the day's blue returns.
- Morning: cross Chang La Pass (5,360 m), one of the highest passes on the planet, on the drive back toward Leh.
- Afternoon: stop at Thiksey Monastery, the twelve-storey "mini Potala", ideally during afternoon prayers.
- Overnight stay in Leh.
Day06
Leave Leh
Airport transfer
Kushok Bakula Airport · Departure
- Check out from the hotel after breakfast.
- Private transfer to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport for your return flight - with a camera roll full of passes, dunes and blue water.
- Tour concludes - Julley, and we look forward to hosting you on your next Himalayan journey.
Where You'll Stay
Hotels
Leh
Handpicked Leh Hotel - 3 Nights
Heated rooms, garden views of the Stok range, short walk to Leh Market
Heated rooms, garden views of the Stok range, short walk to Leh Market
Nubra Valley
Luxury Camp / Cottage - 1 Night
Canvas cottages near the Hunder dunes, en-suite baths, evening bonfire
Canvas cottages near the Hunder dunes, en-suite baths, evening bonfire
Pangong Tso
Lakeside Cottage - 1 Night
Steps from the shore at Spangmik - wake to the lake turning blue
Steps from the shore at Spangmik - wake to the lake turning blue
We will arrange and confirm your hotels, camps and cottages as per the trip and budget - stay options are not fixed and can be customised to your preference. Contact us for details
Good to Know
FAQs
Will I get altitude sickness? How is acclimatization handled?
- Day 1 in Leh (3,500 m) is deliberately kept free for acclimatization - rest, hydrate and avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours. An oxygen cylinder travels with the vehicle for the high passes, and the itinerary ascends gradually. Consult your doctor if you have heart or lung conditions.
Do I need permits for Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake?
- Yes - Indian nationals need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) and foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso. We arrange all permits and environmental fees as part of the package; just carry a valid photo ID.
When is the best time to do this circuit?
- The season runs May to September, when Khardung La and Chang La are open and Pangong is at its bluest. June-August is peak; September offers clearer skies and fewer crowds.
What about mobile connectivity and cash in Ladakh?
- Only postpaid SIMs work in Ladakh (prepaid connections are disabled). BSNL and Airtel work in Leh and patchily in Nubra; Pangong has almost no signal. Carry sufficient cash - ATMs are limited to Leh and card acceptance is sparse beyond it.
What kind of stays should I expect?
- Three nights in a heated Leh hotel, one night at a luxury camp or cottage in Nubra, and one night in a lakeside cottage at Pangong - all with attached washrooms and all meals included at the camps. Stays can be upgraded to premium categories on request.
Can I extend this tour?
- Yes - popular add-ons include Tso Moriri and the Changthang plateau, a Hanle stargazing night, the Alchi and Lamayuru monasteries, or a rafting run on the Zanskar. Just share your dates.
Full Route
Tour Map
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