Ladakh, the “Land of High Passes,” sits on a vast Tibetan plateau where snow-streaked peaks meet emerald rivers and moonscape valleys. Once a vital artery of the Silk Route, it blends Buddhist heritage with rugged Himalayan wilderness—think prayer flags, cliff-hugging gompas, apricot orchards, and skies so clear you can chart constellations by eye.

Base yourself in Leh to acclimatize at 11,500 feet (3,500 m), then venture over Khardung La into the Nubra Valley for sand dunes and Bactrian camels, and out to Pangong Lake for that surreal cobalt glow. Monasteries like Hemis and Thiksey offer morning chants and centuries-old thangka art; the Indus–Zanskar confluence adds a splash of adrenaline with rafting in season.

Practical notes: Build in 24–48 hours to acclimate, hydrate constantly, and avoid alcohol early on. Carry cash (ATMs in Leh and Diskit; card acceptance is limited). Indian postpaid SIMs (Airtel/Jio/BSNL) work best; many prepaid cards don’t. Permits are mandatory for Nubra and Pangong (Inner Line Permit for Indians, Protected Area Permit for foreign nationals)—arrange through your hotel or a local agent and carry multiple copies.

Leh

Leh is Ladakh’s friendly hub—part mountain town, part museum. Its old town lanes climb to a 17th-century palace, while sunset at Shanti Stupa paints the Stok Range in molten gold. Cafés hum with travelers swapping road intel; bazaars pile up pashmina, prayer wheels, and dried apricots.

• Top sights: Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Sankar Gompa, Hall of Fame Museum, Old Town heritage lanes, and day trips to Thiksey, Shey, Hemis, and the Indus–Zanskar confluence near Nimmu.
• Local flavor: Try Ladakhi skyu (pasta stew), butter tea (gur-gur cha), momos, thukpa, and apricot jam.
• Where to stay: Browse stays near Changspa and Fort Road for easy dining/walking.

Book accommodations: VRBO: Leh | Hotels.com: Leh

Getting to Leh: Fly from Delhi (about 1.5 hours, often US$60–150 one-way in summer), Mumbai (usually via Delhi; ~4–6 hours total, US$110–250), or other Indian hubs. Search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Note: There are no trains to Leh; roads from Srinagar/Manali are seasonal (typically open May–Oct).

Food and coffee picks: Gesmo Restaurant & Bakery (Fort Road; flaky pastries, yak cheese sandwiches), Pumpernickel German Bakery (breakfast, good coffee), Namza Dining (Ladakhi tasting menus with seasonal ingredients), Bon Appetit (garden seating; stone-oven mains), Tibetan Kitchen (classic momos and thukpa), Il Forno (wood-fired pizza with mountain views), and Lala’s Café (Old Town rooftop for sunset chai).

Nubra Valley (Hunder & Diskit)

Nubra feels like a secret valley tucked behind a 17,582 ft pass: a river braid of silver sand, poplars, and villages guarded by a massive Maitreya statue. Watch evening light sweep Diskit Monastery, then stroll Hunder’s dunes and meet the valley’s star residents—the double-humped Bactrian camels.

• Top sights: Khardung La pass, Diskit Monastery & Maitreya statue, Hunder sand dunes and camel rides, Sumur and Panamik hot springs; extended trips can reach Turtuk’s apricot orchards.
• Travel time: Leh to Hunder via Khardung La takes 5–6 hours (one way), depending on weather and roadworks.
• Transit: Hire a local taxi (union rates; expect roughly INR 12,000–16,000/US$145–195 for a 2-day Nubra loop). Your hotel can arrange a reliable driver and permits.

Book accommodations: VRBO: Nubra Valley | Hotels.com: Nubra Valley

Stay suggestions: In Hunder, look for tented camps or boutique cottages with stargazing-friendly dark skies; in Diskit, small hotels near the monastery keep drives short. Many properties serve hearty Ladakhi dinners—ideal at altitude.

Day 1: Arrive in Leh (Acclimatize and Ease In)

Afternoon: Land in Leh and transfer to your hotel. Rest, hydrate, and keep plans light—short strolls around Changspa or the Main Bazaar are perfect. Pop into Pumpernickel German Bakery for ginger-lemon tea and a light bite.

Evening: If you’re feeling okay, take a gentle taxi up to Shanti Stupa for a pastel sunset over Leh Palace and the Stok Kangri massif. Dinner at Tibetan Kitchen—order beef or veg momos, thukpa, and butter tea for a warm, local welcome.

Where to stay tonight: See options on Hotels.com or VRBO.

Day 2: Monasteries of the Indus Valley (Thiksey, Shey, Hemis)

Morning: After a slow breakfast at Gesmo (try apple pancakes or an omelet), drive 30 minutes to Thiksey Monastery. Explore the 12-story complex and the serene Maitreya Buddha hall; if you’re early enough, catch monks at morning prayers.

Afternoon: Continue 15 minutes to Shey Palace to wander its hilltop ruins and views over the Indus. Then 40 minutes to Hemis—Ladakh’s wealthiest monastery, home to a remarkable thangka collection. Entry fees at monasteries are modest (typically INR 30–100).

Evening: Return to Leh for dinner at Namza Dining—go for the Ladakhi tasting menu with buckwheat crepes, chutagi, and apricot-based dessert. Wind down with a quiet tea at Lala’s Café in Old Town.

Day 3: Old Leh, Palace, and the Indus–Zanskar Confluence

Morning: Coffee and croissants at Pumpernickel, then an Old Town heritage walk to Leh Palace for sweeping valley views. Stop at Sankar Gompa—close enough to walk from many guesthouses—and enjoy its calm courtyard and frescoes.

Afternoon: Drive west to the Indus–Zanskar confluence (about 45–60 minutes). Along the way, visit Magnetic Hill and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. In season (roughly May–Sept), consider an easy-grade Zanskar rafting run (~INR 1,500–2,500 per person with local operators; allow 2–3 hours on water).

Evening: Dinner at Bon Appetit. Their stone-grilled mains and garden seating are lovely at dusk; pair with a warm soup—the air cools quickly after sunset.

Day 4: Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung La (Overnight in Hunder or Diskit)

Morning: Early start for Khardung La (allow 5–6 hours total to Hunder with photo stops). Roads can be rough—pack snacks and warm layers. Pause at the pass for a quick picture, but don’t linger; oxygen is thin.

Afternoon: Descend to Diskit to visit its hilltop monastery and the towering Maitreya statue watching over the Shyok River. Continue 15 minutes to Hunder and check into your camp or cottage.

Evening: At Hunder’s dunes, book a short Bactrian camel ride (roughly INR 300–600 per person; cash preferred). Dinner at your stay—most offer homestyle Ladakhi and North Indian dishes—then stargaze under incredible dark skies.

Where to stay tonight: See Nubra options on Hotels.com or VRBO.

Day 5: Nubra Valley Villages, Then Back to Leh

Morning: Slow breakfast with apricot jam and hot paranthas. Drive to Sumur village for a walk through poplar-lined lanes; if time allows, continue to Panamik for the hot springs (simple changing areas; bring a towel).

Afternoon: Begin the return to Leh by early afternoon to cross Khardung La in daylight. Expect 5–6 hours back, more if roadworks/traffic near the pass.

Evening: Back in Leh, celebrate with Il Forno’s wood-fired pies or a satisfying bowl of thenthuk at Tibetan Kitchen. If you crave something lighter, Namza’s soups and salads travel well at altitude.

Note: Turtuk is a beautiful extension (2.5–3 hours beyond Hunder, one way), but it works best with an extra night in Nubra rather than a rushed day-return.

Day 6: Pangong Lake Day Trip (All Day)

Make this your big-scenery day. Depart around 5:00 a.m. via Chang La (17,586 ft)—a high pass often wrapped in prayer flags—and reach Pangong by late morning. The lake’s color-shifting blues are otherworldly; stroll the Spangmik shore, photograph mirror-like shallows, and enjoy a simple lunch at a seasonal lakeside café. Return to Leh by evening (total driving 12–14 hours; carry layers, sun protection, and snacks).

Book the tour: Pangong Lake Day Trip From Leh (Viator)

Day 7: Slow Morning in Leh, Last Looks, and Departure

Morning: Start with coffee and a pastry at Gesmo or Pumpernickel, then pop into the Main Bazaar for final souvenirs: pashmina scarves, handwoven carpets, local apricot kernels, and prayer flags. If time allows, visit the Hall of Fame Museum (Indian Army) for a concise history of the region.

Afternoon: Early lunch at Bon Appetit or a quick momo stop before your transfer to the airport. Keep permits and ID handy for checkpoints and airport security.

Practical Essentials and Local Insight

• Permits: Nubra and Pangong require permits (ILP for Indians, PAP for foreigners) with copies to be shown at checkpoints. Arrange via your hotel or a local agent in Leh a day before you travel.
• Altitude & health: Acclimatize 24–48 hours; sip water frequently; carry electrolytes. Ask your physician about acetazolamide if you have concerns about AMS.
• Best time: June–September for warm days and open roads. Winter (Nov–Mar) is fly-in only; many Nubra/Pangong accommodations close, but Leh remains open.
• Money & connectivity: Carry cash; ATMs are in Leh and Diskit. Indian postpaid SIMs work more reliably; data can be patchy outside Leh.
• Driving reality: Mountain roads are stunning but slow; always buffer extra time. Keep photocopies of your permits and ID in your daypack.
• Respect: Dress modestly inside monasteries; ask before photographing monks; leave no trace around sacred lakes and dunes.

Suggested Hotels by Style (Search and Check Current Availability)

• Boutique comfort (Leh): Look for properties near Changspa with gardens and mountain views; easy walking to cafés. Search on Hotels.com.
• Heritage vibe (Leh Old Town): Traditional architecture and old-lane access; great for photography strolls. See options on VRBO.
• Desert camps (Hunder): Tented stays for starry skies and quick dune access. Browse Hotels.com and VRBO.

Optional Add-On (If You Prefer a Fully Organized Multi-Day Package)

If you want a guided, high-touch experience that weaves culture with comfort beyond this 7-day plan, consider this curated circuit:

Ethnic Ladakh 4 Star Luxury Tour 9 Days (Viator)

How to book transport: For flights into/out of Leh, compare deals on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. For Nubra and Pangong, hire a local taxi via your hotel (safer and simpler than self-drive; fixed union rates are posted seasonally).

Dining day-by-day quick picks:

• Day 1: Tibetan Kitchen (dinner), Pumpernickel (tea/snack).
• Day 2: Gesmo (breakfast), simple lunch at monastery café or roadside dhaba, Namza Dining (dinner).
• Day 3: Pumpernickel (breakfast), confluence-side dhaba lunch (rajma-chawal, maggi), Bon Appetit (dinner).
• Day 4: Bakery pack-up from Gesmo (breakfast to-go), Hunder dhaba lunch (momos/thukpa), dinner at your camp.
• Day 5: Homestay breakfast, roadside dhaba lunch near Khardung, Il Forno or Tibetan Kitchen (dinner).
• Day 6: Early hotel breakfast, simple lunch at Spangmik café (dal-chawal/maggi), light supper back in Leh.
• Day 7: Gesmo or Pumpernickel (breakfast), quick momo/veg chowmein before departure.

Summary: In one week you’ll acclimatize in Leh, hear morning chants at cliff-top monasteries, cross storied high passes, wander Nubra’s dunes, and gaze at Pangong’s surreal blues. This itinerary balances culture, cuisine, and scenic drives—with practical buffers for altitude and permits—so you leave Ladakh with full heart and an even fuller camera roll.