Places on our routes
Altitude, best season and what to see at every stop.
Ladakh, Spiti and Kinnaur at a glance
Our routes cross three high-altitude regions of the Indian Himalaya. Ladakh is the high desert around Leh, with Khardung La, the Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and the Moon Land at Lamayuru. Spiti is the cold-desert valley of monasteries, fossil villages and Chandratal Lake. Kinnaur is the green, apple-growing valley you drive through on the way up to Spiti.
Every place below lists its altitude, the best months to go and what to see there. Roads over the high passes open and close with the snow, so check the trip planner for the season, then compare our Ladakh and Spiti trips: a Leh Ladakh bike trip, a Ladakh Moon Land tour, a summer Spiti tour, a Spiti bike trip and a winter Spiti 4x4 expedition.
For each region in route order, with height, best time and how many days to plan, read places to visit in Spiti Valley and places to visit in Leh Ladakh.
Height and best time for every place
Heights are above sea level and approximate. Each place has its own page with distances, what to see and which of our trips go there.
| Place | Region | Height | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leh | Ladakh | 3,500 m (11,480 ft) | April – October |
| Nubra Valley | Ladakh | 3,000 m (9,840 ft) | May – September |
| Pangong Lake | Ladakh | 4,300 m (14,110 ft) | May – September |
| Khardung La | Ladakh | 5,359 m (17,582 ft) | May – October |
| Lamayuru (Moon Land) | Ladakh | 3,500 m (11,480 ft) | May – September |
| Spiti Valley | Spiti | 3,600 – 4,500 m (11,810 – 14,760 ft) | May – October (summer), October – March (snow) |
| Chandratal Lake | Spiti | 4,300 m (14,110 ft) | June – September |
| Kinnaur: Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa | Kinnaur | 2,300 – 3,500 m (7,550 – 11,480 ft) | March – November |
| Hikkim, Komic and Langza | Spiti | 4,400 – 4,513 m (14,440 – 14,810 ft) | May – October; winter by 4×4 |
| Tabo and Key Monasteries | Spiti | 3,280 – 4,166 m (10,760 – 13,670 ft) | Year round (road permitting) |
| Kaza | Spiti | 3,650 m (11,980 ft) | May – October for the full circuit; winter for snow |
| Chitkul | Kinnaur | 3,450 m (11,320 ft) | March – November |
| Nako | Kinnaur | 3,660 m (12,010 ft) | May – October; winter for the frozen lake |
| Kunzum Pass | Spiti | 4,551 m (14,931 ft) | June – October, depending on snow |
Where they are
- 1Lehabout 3,500 m
- 2Nubra Valleyabout 3,000 m
- 3Pangong Lakeabout 4,300 m
- 4Khardung La5,359 m (17,582 ft)
- 5Lamayuru (Moon Land)about 3,500 m
- 6Spiti Valley3,600 – 4,500 m
- 7Chandratal Lakeabout 4,300 m
- 8Kinnaur: Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa2,300 – 3,500 m
- 9Hikkim, Komic and Langza4,400 – 4,513 m
- 10Tabo and Key Monasteries3,280 – 4,166 m
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