Julley All!!!
Dream comes true for those who love altitude, barren mountain, snow capped peaks, high passes and you feel overhelming when your flight goes above the cloud and enters to the Land of high passes Ladakh. Thin air but fresh and natural beauty and landscapes will provide the inner feeling of happiness when you land in Leh.
Leh is situated at the altitude of 11500 feet, surrounded by the mountains which often remind you about the vastness of the nature and the importance of finding peace.
Welcome to Land of High Passes Ladakh!!
When you visit Leh it is very important to acclimatize at high altitude and first two days 48 hours you spend in Leh will decide you whether you are going to continue your journey towards the high passes or not.
People always do not take acclimatization seriously and eventually fail to cope up with the high altitude and end up going to hospital or flying back which should be avoided, proper hydration and rest is the key to get it acclimatize at Leh, you need to drink at least 4-5 ltr of water & liquid to adjust with the lower oxygen level.
Leh & Ladakh earlier was a part of Jammu & Kashmir till Oct 2019 and on 31st Oct 2019 it has become Union territory and Leh is the Capital city and major hub of Ladakh.
This blog with highlight most stunning beauty of Ladakh, covering stunning places and activities at each place with the detailed itinerary to follow when you visit to Leh.
Best time of visit Leh
May to September is the best time to visit Leh. Weather is pleasant and all roads remains open for travel including Manali-Leh & Srinagar-Leh highway. If you want fewer crowd then April & October months good to visit.
Want to see Apricot blossom festival then April is the best time but expect little colder weather.
Planning for hike and trekking in Leh then June to September is the best time.
Reaching Leh:
By Road
In summer month both the highways Manali Leh (NH3) (425 km) and Srinagar Leh (NH1) (416km) opens for tourist. Both the highways are scenic with the high passes to see the beauty of Zanskar and Himalayan region.
By Air
Flights from major cities connects to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport Leh.
How to combat Altitude Sickness?
Leh administration has made mandatory for those visiting Ladakh should stay 48 hours in Leh for acclimatization before heading towards other tourist places of high passes.
- Many websites suggest taking Diamox but as a mountaineer I suggest best medicine is the water when you are at high altitude to keep your body hydrated.
- First day take full rest with minimum exertion
- Keep yourself active and do not sleep in daytime as it will slow down breathing and altitude sickness will worsen
- Drink at least 4-5 litre of water and liquid as much as you can
- Eat less spicy light food preferably veg
- Evening time can be spend visiting Leh market
- Monitor your oxygen level and blood sugar frequently
- People with heart condition and diabetes can consult their doctor before visit to Leh
7 Days detailed Itinerary Covering Tourist Places of Ladakh
Day 1: Arrival at Leh
First day when you arrive at Leh, day time full rest & evening you may take little walk and go to Leh Market which is beautiful and shows vibrant Ladakhi culture. Try Ladakhi drink Kava or salt tea with bread at Leh Market.
Day 2: Leh Local Sightseeing
Second day can be kept for local sightseeing in and around Leh, visit Hall of Fame, Magnetic hills, Gurudwara pathar sahib and Sangam confluence of Zanskar & Indus (Sindhu) river in first half and visit Leh Palace, Shanti stupa and in evening explore the Leh market if you need to buy woollen cloths and try local food.
Hall of Fame
Hall of fame is dedicated to our brave soldiers who fought at high altitude to safeguard our country from invasion.
Magnetic Hills
Magnetic hills is situated at Leh Srinagar highway NH1 and the place where magnetic force seems to pull vehicles upward hills, but scientist says its due to optical illusion.
Sangam: Confluence of Zanskar & Indus (Sindhu) River
If you go further towards Kargil then you will reach to the place where two rivers meet Zanskar & Indus at Nimmu valley and this place is called Sangam. We can easily differentiate the water colour of Zanskar which is milky turquoise and Indus is greenish blue colour.
Indus river originates from Tibetan plateau named Bokhar Chu glacier near to Kailash Mansarovar and flows through India and Pakistan and drain in to Arabian sea near Karachi whereas Zanskar river originates from Himalayan range fo zanskar valley and drain in Indus at sangam point near Nimmu. When in winter Zanskar river freezes trekking enthusiastic can take up Chadar trek which is popular trek in Leh.
Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
Plan your day in such a way that you visit Gurudwara Pathar sahib to get the Langar prasad here, it is about 25 km from Leh and maintained by the Indian Army, here you need to cover your head with bandana or scarf available at entrance before going inside to Gurudwara.
Shanti Stupa
Those who would like to spend some time at peaceful environment can visit Shanti Stupa, here meditation hall is also there and one can get beautiful view of Leh from top of Stupa. Here entry fee is Rs 50/-
Leh Palace
Leh Palace can be seen from Leh Market and one of the iconic Royal Palace which gives mesmerizing view of Leh city.
First two days will be very essential if you are visiting high altitude places like Leh first time and cannot be ignored, once you take proper rest and diet your body will start adjusting with low oxygen level and from third day you will feel much better in mountain and ready to go towards Nubra valley. Do not forget to keep yourself hydrated drinking plenty of water and liquid.
Day 3: Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung La
Start early from Leh towards Nubra valley, passing through Khardung La Pass will give you thrilling experience at 18,000 ft, do not stop at Khardung La for more than 15-20 minutes, once passes then you will arrive to different world.
Once you decent from Khardung La pass, you will be welcomed by Nutra valley which is situated at much lower altitude then Leh.
Welcome to Nubra Valley!!
At Nubra you can enjoy double hump camel ride at Hunder sands dune, Archery and hot maggiiee, thukpa, visit to oldest monastery of Nubra valley diskit Gompa monastery & Maitri buddha. One can enjoy ATV riding & Ziplining in this cold desert.
Diskit Monastery
You need to pay entry charges here INR 50/- per person to visit Maitri buddha & Diskit monastery.
Day 4: Turtuk & Thang Last Villages of India
Visit Last Village of India Turtuk & Thang border point which provides glimpse of our border with our neighbor country with the history of 1971 war with Pakistan and story of local people who become part & citizen of India overnight when we captured 4 key villages which was earlier part of Gilgit Baltistan.
At Thang locals sell Apricots, almond, blue berry, sea buckthorn and many more locally procured products which is good to buy with negotiation.
At turtuk Balti heritage museum can be visited and local Balti food can be enjoyed and organic products from Apricot, Sea buckthorn can be purchased from local shops.
Hunder Sand Dunes: Bactrian Double Hump Camel Ride
Now it’s time to go to Hunder Sand dunes which is famous for its double hump Bactrian Camel ride and ATV ride at this cold desert which looks really beautiful and riding here gives experience like never before.
Day 5: Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake
It’s time to say bye bye to Nubra valley, hospitality at Walnut Resort gives feeling of happiness which can be seen in the form of dance.
After the pleasure stay for two days at Nutra now moving towards Pangong through Shyok valley will be adventurous journey as at few stretch you won’t find roads and need to drive through muddy roads alongside Shyok river. Then you reach to Shyok village from where need to show ILP at check post and road divides for Galwan valley & Pangong.
Tangtse is the village where usually tourist take Lunch break enroute to Pangong and have good options of eateries. If you want to buy any stuff you forgot there are shops here to purchase.
After 5 to 6 hours journey from Nubra finally bluish lake is visible and the magic begins with largest endless lake Pangong Lake, even you travel an hour you will not find the end of this lake. Border between two countries also cannot distinguish the beauty of this Lake.
At Pangong many stay options are available which operates only during the season mostly from April to September. You can enjoy coffee overlooking the Pangong lake. The lake looks very different from morning to evening and in night usually temperature dips to minus degree which leads the freezing of taps. Sunrise gives different aura of this area. In night if sky is clear than star gazing can be done here.
Day 6: Pangong Lake to Hanle via Rezang la
Morning can be spent around Pangong lake to click at 3 idiot scene scooter and horse riding is also available at lake. One can sit here for sometime to get peace of mind overlooking beautiful this lake and surrounding mountain ranges. Pangong Tso is located at the high altitude approx. 13900 ft and spread about 160 km area in which one third is in India and remaining is in Tibet region China.
It has come in light and bcome famous tourist destination after featuring in climax scene of Bollywood movie 3 idiot and Jab tak hai Jaan.
Rezang La
After spending time at Pangong lake, next destination is Hanle which is approx. 6 hr journey with stop at Rezang La war memorial at Chushul.
Rezang La is war memorial is build in the memory of our brave soldiers who fought in Sino Indian war 1962 till last man at this high altitude border post.
Hanle
Hanle is beautiful village situated near the LAC and known for its clear sky and Indian Astronomical observatory has one of the world’s second highest Cerenkov telescope & Himalayan Chandra telescope. Hanle Observatory is located at hill top at the elevation of 4600 meter.
The 17th Century monastery located at Hanle which belongs to Drukpa Kargyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Many cottages and stays has telescope and give experience of star gazing at night and provide knowledge about the basic astronomy to tourist. If you want to see milky way galaxy then you have wake up at 2 am and you will be able to see if the sky is clear.
Day 7: Hanle – Tsomoriri – Taklang La – Leh
Hanle to Leh via Tso Moriri and Taklang La will be the good option if you don’t want to stay at Tso Moriri Lake as it has limited options to stay but you should not miss to see this high altitude around 26 km long and located in Changthang region at Korzok village. It freezes in winter and in summer it turns deep blue colour. This place is good for bird watching and beautiful views of surrounding by snow-capped mountain peaks.
Once return starts towards Leh from Korzok route will take you to Puga hot water spring and beautiful lake Tso Kar which is Salt Lake then road joins to Manali-Leh highway at Debring.
Manali Leh highway takes you to high altitude pass Taklang La which is situated at 17000 ft, this route closes in winter due to heavy snow fall at Leh Manali highway.
Rancho School Wall
The view from this pass is awesome and breath-taking. Shey Palace, Monastery and famous ‘Rancho wall’ from Bollywood movie 3 idiot can be visited before reaching to Leh.
Day 8: Departure from the Leh with the life time memories of Leh Ladakh
Conclusion
Memories that will always present and remind us how mesmarizing the Ladakh is right from historic city of Leh, High altitude passes to cold desert of Nubra valley sand dunes and the pristine Pangong lake, peaceful Tso moriri lake, Rezang la and world’s highest observatory at Hanle showing the unforgettable beauty of Ladakh.
