Ladakh is a beautiful place that you can visit during the holidays and is best visited by taking a flight. It will save travel time and also help avoid hassles generally experienced with road trips.
6-day Itineraries for Leh-Ladakh
Day 1
The sudden increase in altitude is likely to make you experience acute mountain sickness. This is common among most first-time travelers and hence, you need to spend quality time at the hotel on your arrival. This will give your body sufficient rest and time to acclimatize to the immediate surroundings. It will be better to take the help of a reputed travel agent to get the hotel booking done in advance along with necessary permits and travel arrangements. By evening, if you feel better, you may visit Shanti Stupa to watch the sunset and buy gift items at the local market. Hiring the best travel agent also provides you with the opportunity to enjoy a Trek in the Markha valley.
Day 2: Local Sightseeing
With improving health and better acclimatization, you can enjoy local sightseeing. Visit monasteries like Hemis, Thiksey, Shey, Stakna, and Leh Palace.
Day 3: Leh-Diskit
Your body is likely to have fully acclimatized to this high altitude while AMS symptoms will subside. You can now visit the enchanting and mesmerizing Nubra Valley by crossing Khardng La, the very first high altitude pass. From Leh city, Khardung La is located at a distance of just 30 kilometers. You can order some refreshments at the Army canteen and click a few pictures. You may prefer to stay at Panamik, Diskit, Turtuk, Hunder or Sumur. Do check out the grand Buddha statue, Diskit Monastery, Bactrian camels, and Hunder sand dunes.
Day 4: Diskit – Panamik/Turtuk
To explore Nubra Valley further, you can stay at Turuk, a small village about 80km from Diskit and India’s last village on the border. Village culture here is much different from that of other parts of Ladakh. People residing here are mostly Muslims and of Balti heritage. Also, its landscape is quite different, being all lush green. From here, visit Panamik located on the valley’s other side.
Day 5: Nubra Valley – Pangong Tso:
This lake is considered to be Ladakh’s symbol. To visit this place, you are to drive to Khalsar Village and continue your journey to Agham Village. Drive close to Shyok River to reach Shyok Village. Then continue to Durbuk Village from where you reach Pangong Tso (Spangmik). The journey from Panamik or Diskit to Pangong takes about 5 hours to complete. From Turtuk, it takes about 7 hours. There are several guesthouses and campsites near the lake for accommodation.
Day 6: Pangong Tso – Leh
Being your trip’s last day, you are to drive through a different route to reach Leh city. From Pangong, you drive on Chang La Road and spend some quality time at the pass at its top. The journey from here to Leh takes around to 8hours. You may also visit the Thiksey monastery before reaching Leh.
Day 7: Return
Catch the early morning flight home to complete your trip and take back rich memories.