7-day Ladakh tour: Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, high passes

Leh to Pangong Lake: seven days across high passes and remote valleys

A 7-day private tour of Ladakh starting and ending in Leh, with hotel pickup, private transportation, protected area permits and 3-star accommodation included. The itinerary covers Sham Valley monasteries, Nubra Valley via Khardung La pass (18,390 feet), Pangong Lake at 14,000 feet, and the return route through Changla Pass and Thiksay Palace. A tour guide is available as an add-on option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Leh arrival and local sightseeing

• Arrive at Kushok Bakula airport
• Meet representative and transfer to hotel
• Receive warm welcome drink at hotel
• Rest to acclimatize to altitude
• Evening walk to Leh bazaar

Day 2: Around Sham valley

• Early breakfast
• Drive towards Sham valley
• Visit Lamayuru monastery and moonscapes
• Visit Alchi Monastery
• Visit Likir monastery and Basgo castle

Day 3: Leh to Nubra

• Breakfast
• Drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La pass
• Admire views at Khardung La Pass
• Check-in at hotel in Nubra
• Evening camel safari

Day 4: Around Nubra Turtuk

• Explore Turtuk valley
• Visit Diskit monastery
• Visit Hunder Chamba
• Experience Balti culture and architecture
• See old mosque of 16th century

Day 5: Nubra to Pangong

• Start drive towards Leh via Khalsar
• Take left route to Shyok and Durbuk villages
• Drive to Tangtse and follow traditional route
• Reach Pangong Lake and explore area
• Overnight stay at wooden cottage

Day 6: Pangong to Leh

• Enjoy sunrise at Pangong Lake
• Breakfast
• Drive back to Leh
• Stop at Changla Pass for tea
• Visit Thiksay and Shey palace
• Overnight stay in Leh

Day 7: Transfer

• Breakfast
• Transfer to Leh airport for onward journey

The experience

Leh sits at 3,500 meters, and the first full day is built around acclimatization. You arrive at Kushok Bakula airport, transfer to your hotel, and take an easy evening walk through Leh bazaar once your body adjusts. The next morning starts early toward Sham Valley, where Lamayuru Monastery rises from moonscape terrain, and Alchi Monastery holds 10th-century monuments and scriptures. Likir Monastery and Basgo Castle sit along the same route.

Day three crosses Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world at 18,390 feet, then descends into Nubra Valley: known as the Valley of Flowers and Ladakh's warmest region. You stay in a local homestay and ride camels in the evening. The next day explores Turtuk Valley, Diskit Monastery and the 16th-century mosque, staying in a deluxe camp. Then comes the long drive to Pangong Lake: 165 kilometers through Shyok and Durbuk villages, climbing to 14,000 feet where the lake straddles the India-China border and more than half lies in Chinese territory. You stay overnight in a wooden cottage and catch sunrise over the water before the return drive to Leh, stopping at Changla Pass for tea and visiting Thiksay and Shey Palace on the way back.

Private transportation and a driver are included throughout. Protected area permits and wildlife fees are covered. Hotel pickup from the airport is part of the booking. Lunch, monumental fees and personal insurance are not included. If you want a guide for the seven days, you can add one at checkout.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the seven days.
• hotel pickup from Kushok Bakula airport and transfer to your hotel.
• protected area permits and wildlife fees.
• 3-star accommodation in Leh, a local homestay in Nubra Valley, a deluxe camp near Turtuk, and a wooden cottage on Pangong Lake.
• camel safari in Nubra Valley in the evening of day three.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30 and 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 70 years) · Youth (14 to 18 years) · Child (6 to 13 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Active Adventures

Is this one for you?The drive to Pangong Lake crosses two high passes and covers long distances each day (Khardung La at 18,390 feet on day three, then the steep road to Pangong on day five), so this tour suits travelers comfortable with full days in a vehicle and high altitude. Early starts and long drives are built into the itinerary to reach remote valleys and the lake before returning to Leh.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 18 years); Child (6 to 13 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Pangong Lake like when I get there?

Pangong Lake sits at 14,000 feet in the Himalayas and is one of the largest natural brackish lakes in the region. More than half of it lies within Chinese territory, and only one-third is in India. The tour includes time to explore the lake area and watch for rare wildlife. You stay overnight in a wooden cottage and wake for sunrise over the water.

How high is Khardung La pass and what happens there?

Khardung La reaches 18,390 feet and is the highest motorable road in the world. The drive crosses it on day three en route to Nubra Valley, and you spend time at the pass to take in views of snow-capped mountain ranges before descending into the valley.

What kind of accommodation do I stay in across the seven days?

You stay in 3-star hotels in Leh on days one and six, a local homestay in Nubra Valley on day three, a deluxe camp on day four, and a wooden cottage on Pangong Lake on day five. All accommodations are included in the tour price.

Is a tour guide included, or do I need to arrange one separately?

A tour guide is optional and available as an add-on at checkout. Your private driver is included throughout the seven days, and the itinerary covers all the major sites and valleys whether or not you add a guide.

What happens on the drive from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake?

The drive covers 165 kilometers over six hours, following the route back toward Leh until Khalsar, then turning left at Agyam bridge toward Shyok and Durbuk villages. The road becomes steep after Shyok. You continue toward Tangtse and then to Pangong Lake, watching for rare wildlife along the way.

Does the tour include Leh bazaar and local sightseeing?

Yes. On the first evening after arrival, you take an easy walk through Leh bazaar to get oriented. The second day explores Sham Valley with stops at Lamayuru Monastery, Alchi Monastery, Likir Monastery and Basgo Castle before returning to Leh.