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Experience My India

Leh, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake circuit

Private tour

Tour packageLadakh

The Leh-Nubra-Pangong circuit is Ladakh's signature route: two days acclimatising in Leh, a drive over Khardung La to the cold-desert dunes and double-humped Bactrian camels of the Nubra Valley, then on to a night by the blue-green water of Pangong Lake. Both Nubra and Pangong are restricted areas needing a permit, which a registered operator arranges. Six to eight days is the sensible length, run June to September.

Reviewed by Experience My India Editorial Team · Updated 13 Sept 2026

Government-approved operatorApproved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • RouteNubra Valley & Pangong Tso
  • Best seasonMay to September
  • IncludedHotels, transfers and sightseeing
  • Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
  • Private guide and vehicle throughout
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm ISTA named specialist, the same person from first reply to departure.
  • No payment to start planningYou receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 — Fly in and rest

    Step 1

    • Arrive in Leh and rest completely; the acclimatisation days at the start are not wasted, they are what make the rest of the circuit possible.

  2. Day 2 — Leh, gently

    Step 2

    • Same-altitude sightseeing around Leh — Shanti Stupa, the palace, a monastery or two — before climbing any higher.

  3. Day 3 — Over Khardung La to Nubra

    Step 3

    • Drive over Khardung La to the Nubra Valley for the dunes, the Bactrian camels and Diskit Monastery.

  4. Day 4 — On to Pangong Lake

    Step 4

    • Cross from Nubra to Pangong Tso for a night on the shore, watching the lake's colours shift through the evening.

  5. Day 5 — Return to Leh

    Step 5

    • Drive back to Leh, with a spare day built in for the mountain weather that regularly closes roads.

  6. Days 6–8 — Tso Moriri and Hanle (optional)

    Step 6

    • Extend the circuit to the remote lakes of Tso Moriri and Hanle for travellers who want to go beyond the main route and its crowds.
Stunning view of Pangong Tso Lake reflecting arid hills and blue sky. Perfect for travel inspirationStep 1 · Day 1 — Fly in and rest
Stunning view of Pangong Tso Lake reflecting arid hills and blue sky. Perfect for travel inspiration

For reference only. The final plan is confirmed in your written quote.

Highlights

  • Travellers who want more than Leh's monasteries — the dunes, the camels and a night by Pangong's water are the reason most people put Ladakh on their list in the first place.
  • Both Nubra and Pangong are restricted areas and need a permit to enter — a Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors, an Inner Line Permit or environmental fee for Indian travellers — which a registered operator arranges.
  • Acclimatise before you ascend further: the two days in Leh at the start of this itinerary are mandatory, not optional, and skipping them is the single most common cause of a spoiled trip.
  • Accommodation in Nubra and by Pangong is mostly cottages and tented camps rather than hotels — part of the adventure at these altitudes, so we book well-run camps with proper bedding and heating.

Full description

This is the itinerary most people mean when they picture a Ladakh trip: Leh to acclimatise, then over Khardung La into the Nubra Valley, a cold desert where dunes and double-humped Bactrian camels sit improbably beneath bare mountains, and finally across to Pangong Tso, the famous blue-green lake on the Indo-China border. Both Nubra and Pangong are restricted areas and need a permit to enter — a Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors, an Inner Line Permit or environmental fee for Indian travellers — which a registered operator arranges.

Along the way, Nubra's Diskit Monastery and the border village of Turtuk fill out the valley beyond the dunes, and travellers with extra days sometimes push on to the remote lakes of Tso Moriri and Hanle, among the darkest skies in India.

Includes

  • Private vehicle and driver
  • An experienced local Ladakhi guide
  • Accommodation in Leh and camps or cottages in Nubra and by Pangong
  • The Protected Area Permit or Inner Line Permit for the restricted areas
  • Entry to the monasteries on the route

Not included

  • International and domestic flights
  • Visa fees
  • Personal shopping and tips
  • Travel insurance
  • Any altitude medication
  • Which is a decision to make with your own doctor before you travel

Price

Experience My India quotes this trip in INR after confirming your dates, hotel category and group size. The written quote names every hotel and inclusion, and nothing is charged until you approve it.

Important information

Nubra Valley & Pangong Tso, Ladakh

Know before you go

  • Nubra, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Hanle all require a permit — a Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors, an Inner Line Permit or fee for Indian travellers — which we arrange in advance; fees and rules change from year to year, so we confirm current requirements before you travel.
  • Accommodation in Nubra and by Pangong is mostly cottages and tented camps rather than hotels — part of the adventure at these altitudes, so we book well-run camps with proper bedding and heating.

Best season and starting point

May to September is the season, with June to September the sweet spot for Nubra, Pangong and the high roads, when the passes are most reliably open. The circuit starts and ends in Leh.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

  • Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.

Who it suits

  • It is a good fit for photographers and anyone drawn to landscape over pace, and for travellers comfortable with basic camp accommodation for a night or two at altitude, since Nubra and Pangong offer cottages and tented camps rather than hotels.
  • Travellers who want more than Leh's monasteries — the dunes, the camels and a night by Pangong's water are the reason most people put Ladakh on their list in the first place. It suits anyone willing to give the trip the days it genuinely needs: this is not a circuit to compress into a long weekend.

Honest cautions

  • Acclimatise before you ascend further: the two days in Leh at the start of this itinerary are mandatory, not optional, and skipping them is the single most common cause of a spoiled trip.
  • Mobile connectivity is limited once you leave Leh, with little or no signal around Nubra and Pangong; our team and drivers stay reachable on the routes we run.

How booking works

  1. Send an enquiry

    Dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel. Two fields to start.

  2. We check availability

    Hotels, guides and permits for your dates, with honest alternatives if something is full.

  3. Price and hotels named

    Every hotel and inclusion is named before you pay anything.

  4. Written quote in INR

    One document, no hidden lines, valid for the dates it quotes.

  5. You approve

    Change anything you like. Nothing is charged until you say yes.

  6. A named specialist runs it

    The same person from first reply to departure, Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST.

Your trip designer

Gurudutt Kaushal

Founder, Experience My India · IIT Jodhpur

Gurudutt Kaushal founded Experience My India and set the two rules every trip here runs on: hotels and guides are named before you pay, and a human replies within four hours. Your itinerary is designed by one of the 35+ destination specialists on his team and checked against our vetting standard.

About GuruduttMeet our founderHow we vet

Trust and protection

  • Ministry of Tourism approved

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Registered business

    GSTIN 09BZFPM8067A1Z9

  • 4.3 / 5 on Tripadvisor

    Independent guest reviews

  • No payment to start

    A written quote first; charged in INR only after you approve.

Why book with Experience My India

  • Government-approved operator

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • 500+ vetted local guides

    35+ destination specialists plan every trip by hand.

  • Human help, every day

    Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST · +91 73022 65809

  • No payment until you approve

    You receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

How we vet every guide, stay and routeIndia e-Visa: who needs one and how to applyHave a specialist design this trip

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake?

Yes. Both are restricted areas: a Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors, and an Inner Line Permit or environmental fee for Indian travellers. A registered operator arranges this, and foreign visitors usually need to travel with an agency to get the protected-area permit.

How many days do I need for the full circuit?

Six to eight days: two acclimatising in and around Leh, then a night in Nubra and a night by Pangong. Add two or three more for Tso Moriri and Hanle, or for arriving overland by the Srinagar or Manali roads instead of flying.

What is Nubra Valley known for?

A cold desert reached over Khardung La, known for its pale dunes and double-humped Bactrian camels, Diskit Monastery, and the remote border village of Turtuk.

Is Pangong Lake worth an overnight stay?

Yes — the lake's colour shifts through the evening and morning, and a night by the shore is the point of coming this far rather than a rushed day trip. Accommodation is tented camps rather than hotels.

Is altitude worse on this circuit than a Leh-only trip?

Yes, because you cross Khardung La and spend nights at high altitude in Nubra and by Pangong rather than returning to Leh each evening. That is exactly why the two acclimatisation days at the start matter more here, not less.

Request a quote

Tell us your travel dates and we will build an altitude-first Leh-Nubra-Pangong circuit, with the permits handled and a local guide and driver.

Ask on WhatsApp
  • Private guide and vehicle throughout
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm IST
  • No payment to start planning

Customer reviews

No reviews for this experience yet — we publish guest reviews after each trip.

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