Offers

Best of Ladakh(7 Nights)

Leh, Uley, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Leh

for Family Traveller

Holiday Overview

Pangong Lake (Nivalink Trip Dated - 15 July 2010)
Views from Pangong - Photos Courtesy Milind Kshirsagar (Nivalink Trip Dated - 30 August 2013)
Pangong Views - Photos Courtesy Milind Kshirsagar (Nivalink Trip Dated - 30 August 2013)
Enroute Pangong - Photos Courtesy Milind Kshirsagar (Nivalink Trip Dated - 30 August 2013)
Enroute to Basgo - Photos Courtesy Milind Kshirsagar
View of Leh from Shanti Stupa - Photos Courtesy Milind Kshirsagar
View from Thiksey - Photos Courtesy Milind Kshirsagar
Leh Palace (Photo Courtesy: Beefy SAFC)
Enroute to Basgo - Photos Courtesy Milind Kshirsagar

Best of Ladakh takes you through the rugged region of Ladakh in North India exploring high mountain passes, remote villages, ancient monasteries, and superb countryside. Best of Ladakh is for those looking for a bit of adventure and experience alongwith cool climate and a holiday experience unlike any other.

Highlights
  • Leh (11500 ft asl) - Shanti Stupa, Shey / Thiksey / Hemis Monasteries, War Memorial
  • Nubra Valley (10000 ft asl) - High Altitude Desert (Bactrian Camel Ride), Diskit Monastery, Hot springs
  • Uley (10000 ft asl) - White Water Rafting, Lamayuru Monastery (Excursion), Alchi Monastery
  • Pangong Lake (15000 ft asl) - High Altitude Lake, Chang La Pass (Enroute)
Route

Uley(2) - Nubra Valley(2) - Pangong Lake(1) - Leh(2)

Summarised Itinerary
  • Day-1 Arrive Leh and Travel to Uley
  • Day-2 Lamayuru Excursion / Rafting
  • Day-3 Uley - Khardung La - Nubra Valley
  • Day-4 Turtuk Excursion with Diskit visit in evening
  • Day-5 Nubra - Pangong
  • Day-6 Return to Leh
  • Day-7 Leh Sightseeing
  • Day-8 Departure
Sightseeing Summary

Leh - Hall of Fame Museum (4.00 kms), Shanti Stupa (5.00 kms), Sindhu Bank (10.00 kms), White Water Rafting in Zanskar (12.00 kms), Shey Monastery (15.00 kms), Thiksey Monastery (19.00 kms), Gurdwara Pathar Sahib (25.00 kms), Khardungla Pass (39.00 kms), Hemis Monastery (45.00 kms), Alchi Monastery (70.00 kms), Lamayuru Monastery (109.00 kms), Pangong Lake (128.00 kms)

Nubra Valley - Double Humped Camel Ride (5.00 kms), Diskit Monastery (14.00 kms), Turtuk Village (80.00 kms)

Pangong Lake - Pangong Lake (0.50 kms)

Uley - Alchi Monastery (39.00 kms), Lamayuru Monastery (87.00 kms)

Preferred Arrival /Departure Destination
Arrival - Leh Departure - Leh
Best Season to Travel
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Popular Extensions to the Itinerary

Given an additional night, can stay at Sumur side of Nubra Valley to visit Siachen Base

Distances
  • Leh to Uley -70 kms (2 hrs)
  • Uley to Nubra Valley -178 kms (7 hrs)
  • Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake -170 kms (6 hrs)
  • Pangong Lake to Leh -150 kms (5 hrs)
Route

Leh - Uley(2) - Nubra Valley(2) - Pangong Lake(1) - Leh(2)

Detailed Itinerary

Day-1 Arrive Leh and Travel to Uley Arrive at Leh airport (11000+ ft) and travel to Uley (80 kms - 2 hours). Uley is the Orchard district of Ladakh and renowned for its ancient monasteries, riverside character and apricot orchards. Spend rest of the day resting and acclimatization.

Day-2 Lamayuru Excursion / Rafting  Today you undertake excursion to Lamayuru (50 kms - 1 hour), one of the oldest and most revered monasteries in Ladakh region. Rest of the day you enjoy the riverside character. Those looking for a bit of adventure may opt for White Water Rafting (Season : June-Sept)

Day-3 Uley - Khardung La - Nubra Valley  Today you drive to Nubra Valley (Known as the Valley of Flowers and the warmest region in Ladakh) via Khardungla pass (18360 ft asl - one of the highest motorable passes in the world). En route, admire the spectacular views of the never-ending snow-capped mountain ranges around Khardungla Pass and North Pullu (Riverside)/ After spending some time at Khardungla, proceed to Nubra (210 kms from Uley - 6 hours). You arrive by afternoon and later in the evening proceed to Hunder, the high altitude desert area for a Camel ride.

Day-4 Turtuk Excursion with Diskit visit in evening Today you undertake a day excursion to Turtuk (100 kms one way), a village on the Indo-Pak border having its unique ethnic character and stunning views enroute. In the evening you visit Diskit Monastery for spectacular views of the Nubra Valley.

Day-5 Nubra - Pangong Today you travel to Pangong (15000 ft asl - 190 kms - 7 hours) via Durbuk. This is one of the most remote, adventurous and exhilarating drives of Ladakh. You reach Pangong by afternoon. Pangong is breezy and where you arrive for stunning views of the lake. Rest of the day you walk around Pangong lake reliving the "3 Idiots" moments.

Day-6 Return to Leh Today you return to Leh (150 kms - 4 hours - One way) via Chang La Pass (16000 ft). Enroute you will sight Marmots and have an option to visit Ancient Monasteries of Shey, Hemis and Thiksey. In the evening you may do market visit or enjoy some local style Tibetan dining.

Day-7 Leh Sightseeing Today you explore around Leh visiting You Visit the Hall of Fame (War Memorial), Gurudwara Patthar Sahib Gurdwara and Leh Palace. You may enjoy a leisurely lunch before ending the day with evening visit to Shanti Stupa for stunning views.

Day-8 Departure Depart for onward journey.

Detailed Sightseeing

Leh :

  • Hall of Fame Museum - Hall of Fame Leh is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian army in memory of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak wars

  • Shanti Stupa - Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist stupa on a hilltop near Leh built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura. The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama himself. The stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

  • Sindhu Bank - Sindhu Ghat is situated at 10 km up stream the Indus River from Leh near the Shey monastery. It is a peaceful river bank offering excellent views of the area around.

  • White Water Rafting in Zanskar - White Water Rafting starts in July-August season from Phey at 12 kms from Leh and ends at Nimo which is 36 kms from Leh. This is mostly of Grade II or III easy rapids and one can experience amazing natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, villages and monasteries.

  • Shey Monastery - The Shey Monastery and the Shey Palace complex are located 15 kilometres south of Leh on the Leh-Manali road. Shey was the summer capital of Ladakh in the past

  • Thiksey Monastery - Thikse Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Yellow Hat sect at 19 kms and is noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet and is the largest gompa in central Ladakh. The monastery is located at an altitude of 11,800 ft asl and is a 12-storey complex and houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords.

  • Gurdwara Pathar Sahib - Gurdwara Pathar Sahib was constructed in 1517 to commemorate the visit to the Ladakh region of Guru Nanak Dev in the region. Gurdwara is located at about 25 kms from Leh, on the Leh-Kargil road, 12000 ft above sea level.

  • Khardungla Pass - Khardung La (17582 ft asl) is one of the worlds highest motorable passes at 39 kms from Leh. Khardung La offers spectacular views and is kind of must visit for any traveller to Leh.

  • Hemis Monastery - Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage, located at 45 kms from Ladakh. The monastery existed before 11th century and was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king. The annual Hemis festival honoring Padmasambhava is held here in early June.

  • Alchi Monastery - At 70 kms from Leh, Alchi Choskor(10000 - 11000 ft) is situated on the banks of Indus River. It is the Jewel among Ladakhs monasteries. The main attraction here is the Alchi Gompa, a Buddhist worshipping place and study center, with an estimated 1000 years old

  • Lamayuru Monastery - Lamayuru is one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh and visited enroute on the Leh - Srinagar route. It has a population of around 150 permanent monks resident.

  • Pangong Lake - Pangong Lake is an high altitude lake visited ex-Leh (128 kms). The lake is 134 kms long and max 5 km wide. Pangong drive from Leh is most spectacular via Changla pass and staying overnight at Pangong Lake is nothing short of an experience. Pangong area is also renowned for bird watching as its a nesting grounds for migratory birds like Bar headed Geese and being considered for a Ramsar site.

Nubra Valley :

  • Double Humped Camel Ride - Nubra Valley (120 kms from Leh) is known for being the high altitude desert area and home to double humped camels. A camel ride here is popular with tourists.

  • Diskit Monastery - Diskit Monastery is the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery in the Nubra Valley region of Ladakh. Lachung Temple and Hundur Monastery are also located nearby.

  • Turtuk Village - Turtuk Village is a popular excursion for travellers to Nubra Valley. Set at 80 kms from Hunder, The village was part of Pakistan until 1971, when the Indian army occupied the village during a border war along the Line of Control and is the only village in Indian control that has Gilgit - Baltistan ethnicity population.

Pangong Lake :

  • Pangong Lake - Pangong Lake is an high altitude lake visited ex-Leh (128 kms). The lake is 134 kms long and max 5 km wide. Pangong drive from Leh is most spectacular via Changla pass and staying overnight at Pangong Lake is nothing short of an experience. Pangong area is also renowned for bird watching as its a nesting grounds for migratory birds like Bar headed Geese and being considered for a Ramsar site.

Uley :

  • Alchi Monastery - At 70 kms from Leh, Alchi Choskor(10000 - 11000 ft) is situated on the banks of Indus River. It is the Jewel among Ladakhs monasteries. The main attraction here is the Alchi Gompa, a Buddhist worshipping place and study center, with an estimated 1000 years old

  • Lamayuru Monastery - Lamayuru is one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh and visited enroute on the Leh - Srinagar route. It has a population of around 150 permanent monks resident.

Destination Overview

Uley - Uley (or Uleytopko) lies on the Leh - Srinagar highway at about 70 kms from Leh near Alchi Monastery.

Nubra Valley - Nubra Valley (120 kms from Leh) is known for being the high altitude desert area having sand dunes and the double humped camels.

Pangong Lake - Pangong Lake (160 kms from Leh) is situated at about 14,200 feet and is the world’s highest saltwater lake.

Leh - Leh lies at altitude of 10500 ft and the region basically is a high altitude desert and home to ancient monasteries, offers some extreme weather and exceptional views.

Access
Prefered Arrival : No ImageLeh
Prefered Departure : No ImageLeh
Distances
  • Leh to Uley -70 kms (2 hrs)
  • Uley to Nubra Valley -178 kms (7 hrs)
  • Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake -170 kms (6 hrs)
  • Pangong Lake to Leh -150 kms (5 hrs)

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Travel Ideas incorporated in the itinerary

Ladakh Experience

Ladakh (9000 - 17000 ft asl) is home to a number of high altitude monasteries. Guests typically more

Lines indicate the best available driving routes.
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Distances
  • Leh to Uley -70 kms (2 hrs)
  • Uley to Nubra Valley -178 kms (7 hrs)
  • Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake -170 kms (6 hrs)
  • Pangong Lake to Leh -150 kms (5 hrs)

Expert Speak

Best of Ladakh is recommended for first time travellers to Ladakh looking to comprehensively explore popular areas of Ladakh

Expert Connect

Nivalink has taken over 300 trips across India and select destinations overseas over last 10 years to verify hotels, evaluate destinations and understand its suitability with different profiles of customers across different seasons.

At Nivalink you are able to connect directly with experts who have travelled to these destinations and are able to offer novel ideas, honest perspectives and help you narrow down choices.

Email to expert@nivalink.co.in to connect with sector expert for specific ideas and recommendations.

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