The 7 day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary
The Best of Leh – Ladakh in 7 Days
Leh, the main town in the district of Ladakh, in Jammu and Kashmir, India is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in India. Being at a high altitude, the access remains restricted throughout the year, with roads blocked for as long as 6 months. The roads usually open up in the month of May till Sept / October , and June – August have become the peak season specially after the popularisation of the region in the movie 3 idiots, Jab Tak Hai Jaan. The best time for the 7 day Trip to Leh – Ladakh is June – July. However, visiting Leh Ladakh in Winters is a different charm all together, if you are that adventurous and can withstand the cold .
With the Leh – Ladakh tourist season round the corner, I have made a sample 7 – day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary which covers almost all the major tourism attractions and can be used as a reference for anyone planning a Trip to Leh – Ladakh.
This 7 Day Trip To Leh Ladakh, also makes for an excellent addition to your One Month India Itinerary !
Contents
- The Best of Leh – Ladakh in 7 Days
- Day 1 – Arrival in Leh and rest for the day.
- Day 2 – Leh Ladakh Local Sightseeing
- Day 3 – Khardung La Pass | Nubra Valley | Hunder Sand Dunes
- Day 4 – Nubra Valley – Leh Ladakh
- Day 5 – Magnetic Hill | Indus – Zanskar Confluence
- Day 6 – Chang La Pass | Pangong Tso
- Day 7 – Back to Leh via Hemis Monastery
- Day 8
- Recommendations to make the most out of your Trip to Leh – Ladakh
- Add Ons
- Where to stay in Leh – Ladakh
- Summary
- Pin this 7 Day Leh-Ladakh Travel Itinerary
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Day 1 – Arrival in Leh and rest for the day.
Start your trip to Leh – Ladakh by landing at Leh Airport during the morning hours. Without wasting too much time, head out to your hotel, make yourself comfortable and stayput for the day in your room. This acclimatization is really important for your body and for you to enjoy the rest of your trip. You may be tempted to step out and explore the city but all you have to do is rope in your excitement for the day and relax in the room and have lots of liquids, to avoid mountain sickness due to less oxygen in the air.
Day 2 – Leh Ladakh Local Sightseeing
After a light breakfast head out to Shanti Stupa to enjoy a panoramic view of Leh. Your next destination should be Tsemo Fort, which is practically visible from all over Leh.
Situated at a height of 4,267 metres (13,999 ft), the stupa is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Leh – the former capital of Ladakh – on a steep hill facing the Leh Palace. The stupa can be reached by a drivable road or on foot using a series of 500 steep steps to the hilltop
The stupa is open for tourists between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sunrise and sunset are considered to provide the best views from Shanti Stupa.
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Built in the 16th century is Tsemo (Victory) Fort, is just 15-minute climb-up opposite Chenrezi Lakhang with its ruins. This structure is actually visible from everywhere in Leh. This fort seems like a crown on the head of the Palace ridge. This small but ruined palace contains of a number of worship flags. Directly underneath it is Tsemo gompa that is Tsemo monastery that consists of two temple buildings built in the 15th century, an eight meter tall gold-faced statue of Maitreya Buddha.
Enjoy a good serving of typical Ladakhi food at one of the popular restaurants in the market, before heading out to Leh Palace, which is a replica of Lhasa’s Potala Palace. A nine storey structure in dun colour, the Leh Palace rises up against the backdrop of the lofty Himalayas, looking more like a painter’s muse. Built mostly of mud, rocks and wood, it is grand in its simplicity. The palace also houses a rich collection of traditional dresses and crowns, thangka paintings and some impressive traditional ornaments. The best part about Leh Palace is its terrace for you can pore over Leh, Stok Kangri and the Zanskar range from it.
Spend the later part of the day at the Hall of Fame, located near the Leh Airfield. Hall of Fame is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian Army in the memories of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo – Pak wars. One of the most interesting sections is the one dedicated to a soldier’s life in Siachen Glacier.
Hall of Fame – Leh City
Do some city shopping if time permits and your body doesn’t give in to the tiredness/fatigue.
Day 3 – Khardung La Pass | Nubra Valley | Hunder Sand Dunes
One of the major highlights of any Trip to Leh – Ladakh is crossing the Khardung La Pass, the highest motorable pass built by the brave men of 201 Engineer Regiment, Indian Army. The road was opened to vehicular traffic on 27 August 1973. At an altitude of 18,380 feet, Khardung La Pass is the gateway to Shyok and Nubra Valleys .
Khardung La is 39 km by road from Leh. The first 24 km, as far as the South Pullu check point, are paved. From there to the North Pullu checkpoint about 15 km beyond the pass the roadway is primarily loose rock, dirt, and occasional rivulets of snow melt. From North Pullu into the Nubra Valley, the road is very well maintained (except in a few places where washouts or falling rock occur).
While at Khardung La, don’t forget to have a cup of hot tea and a plate of hot Maggi at the Highest Cafeteria in the World. It is recommended that the maximum stopping time at the top should not be more than 30 minutes, so once you are done with clicking pictures and having some food, head out to the souvenir shop. The shop also maintained by the Indian Army sells all kinds of souvenirs like, coffee mugs, beer mugs, decorative plates, tee shirts, and caps etc. I personally have all of them with me.
Cross Khardung La Pass and make your way towards Nubra Valley, Diskit Monastery and Panamik. The road from Khardung La pass crosses Nubra Valley goes all the way up to Siachen Base Camp. But Panamik is the last place up to which civilians are allowed on this road towards Siachen. Panamik is also famous for its hot water sulphur springs. Everyone has seen a camel at some point of time, but you should be privileged if you get to see a double humped camel. Head out to the sand dunes in Hunder and catch a sight of the Double Humped Camels, which are an endangered species and the only place in India to see them is here at Hunder . This will remain a highlight of your trip to Leh – Ladakh.
Stay for the night at Hunder/Nubra valley.
Day 4 – Nubra Valley – Leh Ladakh
Start your return Trip to Leh – Ladakh , cross Khardung La top, enter Leh and head out to Thiksey Monastery, after having a good Tibetan lunch. The USP of this monastery is the 15 m high statue of Maitreya or Tara Devi. Covering almost 2 storeys, this is the largest such statue in Ladakh.
Just a couple minutes away from Thiksey Monastery is a quaint little spot named as Indus View point or Sindhu Darshan. Go there to enjoy the cool atmosphere and feel the fresh breeze caress your face. A quaint place like that demands some time where you only feel the breeze and only hear the sound of water gushing through.
Get some rest after the tiring yet fruitful day, only to wake up to a fresh new adventure the next day.
Day 5 – Magnetic Hill | Indus – Zanskar Confluence
Head out to Pathar Sahib Gurudwara which falls in the east of Ladakh on the Kargil Road and attend the langar prepared by the Sikh soldiers of the Indian Army. Do try to help them in whatever way you can and then head to the point where you can witness the confluence of Indus and Zanskar. One can easily identify the flow the two rivers, as one is muddy and the other one is a bit on the bluish green tinge. While you are in the area, don’t forget to get amused by the weird happenings at Magnetic Hill where, your car goes uphill on its own, when put into neutral gear.
Day 6 – Chang La Pass | Pangong Tso
After having an early breakfast, head out of Leh – Ladakh, towards Chang La Pass. When you are at the top of the world’s third highest pass, make sure to click some pictures and have a hot cup of tea and some Maggi. Trust me, the tea and maggi might not have tasted that heavenly ever before !
Cross Chang La Pass and head out towards Pangong Tso Lake which is 140 Km from Leh. Situated at a height of 4350 m and almost 130 Km long, Pangong Tso is one third in India and the remaining in Tibet. The first glimpse of the tranquil, azure blue waters and shaky lake shore remains etched in the memory of tourists. On a bright sunny day, one can see as many as 5 different shades of blue along the length of the lake as you drive at the side of it.
The beauty of Pangong Tso
Stay for the night either at one of the camps or at one of the homestay options in the nearby villages of Spangmik and TangTse.
Day 7 – Back to Leh via Hemis Monastery
Start early and take your return trip to Leh – Ladakh, and on your way back, stop by at the Hemis Monastery, which is roughly 7 Km from Karu. Hemis Monastry or Hemis Gonpa is one of the richest monasteries in Ladakh, as it was protected by foreign invasions because of its remote location .
On your way back from Hemis, get your adrenaline rush at an all-time high by trying out White Water Rafting on the mighty Indus or Zanskar.
Day 8
With loads of memories amidst mesmerising landscapes, it’s time to say good bye to Leh and fly back to your respective places, bringing your trip to Leh – Ladakh, to a memorable end.
Recommendations to make the most out of your Trip to Leh – Ladakh
- Leh is full of tourists from all over the globe, so make sure to try out different cuisines like Ladakhi, Israeli, Tibetan, and Russian etc.
- Things to Shop in Leh to remind you of your Trip to Leh – Ladakh
- Tibetan Inspired Crockery
- Souvenirs from Khardung La and Pangong Tso Lake.
- Chinese herbs.
- Home Decorative items ( Tankha, paintings, giant fans)
- Miniature prayer wheel
- Tibetan prayer flags.
- Leh – Ladakh souvenir T Shirts.
- Sea Buckthorn Juice (A kind of berry grown in Leh – Ladakh)
Add Ons
For those of you who want to extend their Trip to Leh – Ladakh, to enjoy the beauty of Leh – Ladakh for a few more days can try out various trekking options in the Zanskar Valley. There are plenty of tour operators offering competitive prices for these short and long treks.One of the popular treks to do is the Markha Valley trek.
For the biking enthusiasts, the option of renting a bike and riding all the way to Khardung La and beyond is always open. Due to the huge demand, you will be able to find a lot of garages offering Royal Enfield’s on a rental basis.
On your way back, you can drive to Srinagar, via Drass, Kargil and the mighty Zoji La Pass stopping at the Drass War Memorial on your way. And further fly out of Srinagar instead of Leh.
If you like this, you might also like checking out the 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary to Bhutan from India
Where to stay in Leh – Ladakh
We recommend staying in home-stays to fully experience the local life of Ladakh and to support the local economy. Apart from that, here are our recommendations :
Guest Houses – Gonbo Guest House | Youthok Guest House
Hostel – HITCHHIKERS HOSTEL LADAKH | goSTOPS Leh
Mid Range Hotels – Shaolin Ladakh | Tushita Ladakh | Beyond Stay – The Leh Berry Boutique – Leh
Luxury – The Grand Dragon Ladakh | Ladakh Eco Resort | The Indus Valley | Gomang Boutique Hotel | TIH The Zen Ladakh
Summary
Day 1 – Arrive in Leh and rest for the day.
Day 2 – In and around Leh city, cover Shanti Stupa, Tsemo Fort, Leh Palace and Hall of Fame.
Day 3 – Cross Khardung La Pass and head out to Nubra Valley, visit Diskit Monastery and witness Double Humped Camels at Hunder. Hot springs at Panamik.
Day 4 – Return to Leh, and head out to Thicksey Monastery and Sindhu Darshan.
Day 5 – Cover Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahib Gurudwara and Indus – Zanskar Confluence.
Day 6 – Cross Chang La Pass and be spellbound when you get a glance of Pangong Tso Lake.
Day 7 – Return to Leh via Hemis Monastery. Optional River Rafting near Karu
Day 8 – With loads of happy memories, bid adieu to Leh and board your flight back.
Trip to Leh – Ladakh Ends.
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Thank you for your sharing! Ladakh is truly a remarkable place with its unique culture, stunning landscapes, and peaceful atmosphere.so I want to go again and again there.
Hello, I’ve seen your blog about leh ladakh it was amazing .Thank you for giving us this information.
I visited Ladakh in 2017. Loved the Tso Moriri lake and the monasteries. Stunning beauty everywhere. Thank you for writing this post. I am having fond memories of the trip.
Amazing post. Really, Ladakh is a wonderland with spectacular landscapes dotted with lakes, mountains and monasteries. Everyone must go to this place at least once in a life time.
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Thanks for the amazing post…. keep sharing.
Very nice and useful blog!!!
Thank you very much for your information.
I have read your blog and found informative for Ladakh Tour information. Thanks for sharing great information.
Great article with such wonderful itinerary.
I have heard a lot about the place but never visited after reading this article now I am feeling like to visit the place asap.
Thanks for writing such beautiful article and for such amazing photos.
Cheers!!!
Most informative article with great thoughts and knowledge to let us know wt all to do in a trip to leh ladakh, thanks for the tips while bike trip and really beautiful pictures, Thanks for sharing with us this helpful knowledge.
I have this blog this is such an amazing place for hill lover and thanks for sharing information.
Hi there! In the first place, thank so much for a post all this information, it is being really helpful. I am planning to reach Tso Moriri by motorbike, but I would like to divide all the way up in two days, doing some stay in the middle of the trip Leh Ladakh is more likely to heaven thanks for the amazing post.
I like your way of blogging Very nice photographs. Thanks for sharing.
I like your way of blogging Very nice photographs. Valuable Information. Thanks for sharing.
I like your way of blogging Very nice photograph. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing the itinerary through your blog. i am planning to go on a tour to Leh-Ladakh on my own and your blog will surely act as perfect guide. The detailed plan is really helpful. Keep travelling and keep sharing.
Hi Arnav. Loved your blog completely.
Just like you, I did Leh Ladakh trip with 3 of my friends from 23rd June to 1st July, 2018. We started from Srinagar and moved towards Leh. I have started writing blog after experiencing and living the days in Leh. Wanted to share the feeling with people and convey them to must visit this place. I would love if you can kindly view and give some comments for my blog. Any appreciation or a critic view will be more than welcome.
Thanks for sharing this amazing information with us. The photograph projects the mesmerizing beauty of Leh Ladakh.
Nice article with good information Thank you for shring.
Awesome post! Thanks.
One thing to ask is, shall I make Leh as a base and travel back to and fro from all the valley visits as mentioned in this blog or shall I start with Leh and visit different places and at the end return to Leh?
Hi Rohit, sorry for butting in here but I just visited Leh this April.
We stayed in Leh for 2 days, visited Nubra Valley for one night, came back to Leh. Then visited Pangong Lake and came back to Leh again.
It can get really cold in the high altitudes, so it would be great to keep Leh as a base. This also depends on how long you go for or how much you budget for stay.
I made a small snippet of my time in Leh as well, if you’d want to check that out!
Planning this june with family. Hoping for some peace time. Is it gone high on tourist inflow?
Planning this June with family. Is it gone heavy on tourist in flow? Want some peace time not that rush all around
I googled where to travel on summer vacation and I reached on your post and Realized Leh Ladakh is nice adventure place. so I plan a trip for Leh Ladakh.
Thanks for sharing
A well-written and informative article. Kudos 🙂
Also, visit http://www.wheelstreet.com to rent all your favorite bikes at the most affordable prices in the country and begin your adventure to conquer all the roads that lead to Ladakh!
Hey, Thank you for compiling such useful itinerary. It would really help me plan my summer trip. Keep writing. 🙂
This 7 day itinerary is well detailed and it’ll be very helpfull. India has a lot of surprises and that trip seems to be very interesting. The view from Shanti Stupa is unbelievable!
Thank you for sharing.
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this article reminds me of my leh-Ladakh trip. Its like am there and I remember every thing in detail. Thanks you so much for sharing this with us much appreciated.
I have often heard that in less than 7 days you can’t do justice to Leh-Ladakh trip. So, your itinerary looks just perfect. Thanks for all the tips and details, I have bookmarked it for future reference. Will really help me plan out mine.
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Ladakh is one place which needs a minimum of 7 days to cover the popular spots at the least.
This is an excellent and all-inclusive itinerary, Arnav!
Thank you.
This is a great itinerary. I will follow it step by step when I come because I know nothing about the area. Your photographs are beautiful and make me want to visit soon
You definitely should plan a trip to Leh Ladakh soon, before it gets too touristy and commercialized.
Hi Arnav,
I’d have to give that motorable road a look. And of course, hopefully stay on the road LOL. Awesome pics and post!
Ryan
This Leh Ladakh trek is so incredibly stunning that it must be so popular with tourists. I would definitely climb to the Shanti Stupa for the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and towns.
The panoramic views from up there are really worth the effort.
It is such a surreal place. I am waiting for my kiddo to grow up a little before visiting here. Since i heard kids sometimes face issues at such altitude. Your itinerary is just a perfect week long one. No matter when I take the trip, I will refer back to it
The first time I visited, my younger brother was in 3rd standard, and he had a gala time. You should plan a trip soon before you find hoards of tourists everywhere.
Ladakh is an absolutely out of the world experience. It is such a surreal experience which touches you at the core of your heart and leaves you with memories for a lifetime.
So true, and am glad I experienced the beauty before the place got touristy.
Very detailed itinerary!
Very well paced keeping in mind the altitude and weather
Have been to Leh Ladakh for a week long trip….wonderful experience.
So I have never heard of this place at all. Not sure why because it is absolutely amazing!! The pictures are literally to die for. You covered a lot of ground in just 7 days!! The Hot Springs would probably be one of my favorite to just unwind from a long day of travel!
I have never heard of Leh, but you did a great job showcasing the beauty of of this place. Shanti Stupa is so gorgeous when covered in snow. Tsemo Fort looks beautiful from afar – a 15-min climb doesn’t sound too bad at all!
We did a week long trip to Ladakh from Delhi visiting Katra, Jammu and Srinagar on the way. We could do Khardungla and Pangong but our wish to visit the Nubra valley still remains a dream. Hope to make it soon sometime in future.
How was your trip? Did you trek all the way to Vaishno Devi when you were in Katra?
A crisp itinerary! But for the much needed acclimatization time rest of the days are well spent trekking. I am keen to see the magnetic hill, the science of it is so interesting.
That’s a wonderful itinerary. I was in Ladakh for 16 days last year and had covered exactly the same places in the first week. The remote Diskit and Nubra valley were my favourite. Hope to go there again this year.
The last time I went, was not that lucky to visit Nubra Valley, as the road was blocked, but this time am all set to experience the untouched beauty of Nubra valley and the Diskit Monastery.
I would love to visit this region! The palace, the highest cafeteria in the world, and even rafting all sound like an adventure. It would take a while to adjust to that altitude though. Very interesting and looks beautiful!
This looks amazing!!! Great itinerary!
Thanks for sharing your itinerary for the tip. We haven’t considered coming here so if we did we would use your itinerary. The details you go into are great and so useful
I’ll be honest, I hadn’t heard of Ladakh before reading this but your itinerary and the beautiful pictures are making me want to book a flight! I have a colleague that visits Kashmir a lot and he constantly talks about it’s beauty but this post has confirmed it!
You should definitely tag along with your colleague on their next visit to Kashmir, to see the beauty of Leh Ladakh for yourself.
Just looking through these stunning photos, I completely understand what you mean when you describe this as one of the most beautiful places in India. I feel it would be one of the most beautiful places in the world. This would be such a fabulous thing to experience and your advice in the early stages about being careful to get used to the high altitude is a very good point. But it would be so worth it to see this in person.
Yes it would be. And you should definitely plan a trip to see this beautiful part of India soon.
Wow, that first photograph is stunning. I’d love to visit the mountainous regions in India. I’ll be honest, I’m not much of one for huge cities and crowds but this places appeals to me.
Even though Leh, is in the Himalayas, the terrains are not something which you see in any other Himalayan destinations.You should definitely plan to keep Leh on your mind, he next time you visit India.
Quite a useful itinerary. This sums up all the must dos of the region along with the time taken in each. Great tips to sum it up too. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you . Waiting for you to get mesmerized too with the beauty of Leh
Ladakh – my favourite place in the world. I have done it several times and still can’t get enough of it. Good post.
Pretty interesting ways to spend your days in Leh Ladakh. I’d love to have a cup of hot tea and a plate of hot Maggi at the Highest Cafeteria in the World, sounds unique!
It is truly a heavenly experience.