A 6 or 7 day loop from Leh fits in most of what people come to Ladakh for. These are the experiences our Ladakh trips include, in the order you usually meet them.
In and around Leh
Day 1 is for rest, so keep the walking for day 2.
- Watch the sunset from Shanti Stupa, above the town
- Climb up to Leh Palace for views over the old town
- Walk Leh market for pashmina, apricots and souvenirs
- See Magnetic Hill, where the road seems to pull vehicles uphill
- Stand at the Sangam, where the Indus and Zanskar rivers meet
- Visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and Spituk Monastery
Khardung La and the Nubra Valley
- Stop at the top of Khardung La, 5,359 m, for the milestone photo, but do not stay long
- Ride a double-humped Bactrian camel on the Hunder sand dunes
- Visit Diskit Monastery and its large Buddha statue
- Try rafting or an ATV ride in Nubra, offered as optional extras on the Moon Land tour
Pangong Lake
- Watch the lake change colour through the afternoon
- Sleep in a lakeside camp and catch the sunrise
- Cross Chang La on the way back to Leh
On the way back to Leh
- Visit Thiksey Monastery, which rises up a hill in tiers
- See Shey Palace and, on the Moon Land tour, Hemis Monastery
- Stop at the Druk White Lotus School, known from the film 3 Idiots, on the Moon Land tour
With a seventh day: Lamayuru
About 120 km west of Leh, Lamayuru's eroded hills look like the surface of the moon, with an 11th-century monastery above them. Our Moon Land tour adds it as a day trip from Leh.
Questions
What is Leh Ladakh famous for?
High passes such as Khardung La, Pangong Lake, the Nubra Valley dunes, monasteries such as Thiksey and Hemis, and its high-desert landscape.
What can you do in Leh in one day?
Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Magnetic Hill, the Sangam, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Spituk Monastery and Leh market. Do this after a rest day, not on arrival.
Where can you ride a camel in Ladakh?
On the Hunder sand dunes in the Nubra Valley, on double-humped Bactrian camels.
How many days do you need to see Ladakh?
At least 6 to 7 days from Leh, including a rest day on arrival.
