Sample itineraries for Ladakh
Every good Ladakh itinerary is built around one non-negotiable principle: acclimatise first, go high later. The plans below all front-load two easy days in and around Leh before touching the high passes and lakes. Do not be tempted to compress them; the "wasted" early days are what keep the whole trip safe and enjoyable. All distances are long and slow, permit-dependent, and weather-dependent, so keep a buffer.
Six days (the essential loop). The most popular first-timer's shape.
- Day 1 — Arrive Leh, rest. Fly in, check in, and do as little as possible. Hydrate, walk gently around the Main Bazaar, sleep. No high passes, no exertion. This is medicine, not laziness.
- Day 2 — Leh acclimatisation. Gentle local sightseeing at Leh altitude: Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, and the nearby monasteries of Shey, Thiksey and Spituk. Arrange your Inner Line Permits today.
- Day 3 — Nubra Valley via Khardung La (permit required). Cross the pass without lingering, descend to Nubra, visit Diskit Monastery and the Hunder dunes with their Bactrian camels; overnight in Nubra at its lower, kinder altitude.
- Day 4 — Nubra to Pangong (or back to Leh, then Pangong) via the Shyok route or over the passes; long driving day. Overnight near Pangong only if well-acclimatised.
- Day 5 — Pangong Tso morning by the lake, then the long drive back toward Leh via Chang La.
- Day 6 — Leh and departure. Sham Valley highlights (Magnetic Hill, Sangam, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib) if time allows, last-minute shopping, fly out.
Eight days (comfortable and complete). Adds Tso Moriri and the western monasteries, and takes the rush out of the driving.
- Days 1–2: As above — arrive and acclimatise in and around Leh.
- Day 3: Sham Valley day trip west of Leh — Magnetic Hill, Sangam, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Alchi and Lamayuru's "Moonland." A relatively low-altitude, monastery-rich day that doubles as further acclimatisation.
- Day 4: Nubra Valley via Khardung La; overnight Nubra.
- Day 5: Nubra to Pangong Tso; overnight near the lake (only if acclimatised).
- Day 6: Pangong back toward the Changthang; the long haul to Tso Moriri via Chushul/Nyoma (route and permits vary) or return to Leh and approach via Chumathang.
- Day 7: Tso Moriri and the Changthang plateau, returning toward Leh.
- Day 8: Leh — Hemis Monastery, remaining sights, and departure.
Add-ons for longer trips (10+ days). With more time you can fold in Kargil and the Zanskar Valley — the gateway to a remote region of monasteries (Rangdum, Phugtal) and dramatic gorges — or dedicate days to trekking (the Markha Valley is the classic) or rafting on the Zanskar. Zanskar is deep, wild and time-consuming; give it its own days rather than bolting it on.
A note on driving days. Ladakh's distances are short on the map and long on the ground: mountain roads, high passes, river crossings and army checkposts mean average speeds are low, and a "120 km" leg can eat five or six hours. Plan fewer things per day than instinct suggests, and always leave a contingency day for a closed pass or a slow acclimatisation.