Pangong Tso beneath a sky of scattered clouds

All ridesSummer 2027

The Grand Ladakh Circuit

Leh, Nubra, Turtuk, Pangong & Changthang
14 days · 13 nights · Leh → Leh
Easy to moderate · About 5,360 m (Chang La)

Check dates & book From ₹1,48,000 per person Full itinerary

Per person, 2 travellers · Private SUV · GST extra. Private and tailor-made versions on request.

Overview

All of Ladakh, without the rush

This is the journey for travellers who want to see the whole of Ladakh properly. We start with the monasteries of the Indus while you acclimatise, cross Khardung La to Nubra and the Balti village of Turtuk, then swing east to Pangong and the high plateau of Changthang, where herders graze pashmina goats around Hanle and Tso Moriri.

Every night is in a carefully chosen stay — a heritage home in Leh, lakeside camps and family homestays — and every route is planned so altitude is gained gradually. Your driver stays with you throughout, and a local guide joins you for the monastery days.

Day by day

The itinerary

14 days, Leh → Leh. Open a day for the route, travel time, stay and meals.

Acclimatise in LehDays 1 – 3

Monasteries of the Indus.

Day 1Arrive in LehRest

Route Leh airport → hotel Travel 15 min Stay Leh Meals Dinner Altitude 3,500 m

Rest, hydrate and let your body adjust to the altitude.

Day 2Shey, Thiksey & HemisThe great monasteries

Route Leh → Shey → Thiksey → Hemis → Leh Travel 3 hrs with stops Stay Leh Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 3,600 m

Spend the day with a local guide at three of Ladakh's best-known monasteries, each with its own character.

Day 3The Sham valleyLikir, Basgo & Alchi

Route Leh → Basgo → Likir → Alchi → Leh Travel 4 hrs with stops Stay Leh Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 3,200 m

A lower-altitude day along the Indus: the ruined fort at Basgo, Likir's giant Buddha and Alchi's 11th-century murals.

North to NubraDays 4 – 6

Dunes, orchards and the Shyok river.

Day 4Over Khardung LaInto Nubra

Route Leh → Khardung La → Diskit → Hunder Travel 5 hrs Stay Hunder Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 3,100 m

Cross Khardung La and drop into the Nubra valley. Late afternoon on the dunes at Hunder.

Day 5To TurtukA Balti village

Route Hunder → Turtuk Travel 3 hrs Stay Turtuk Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 2,900 m

Follow the Shyok river west to Turtuk, a Balti village of stone houses, apricot orchards and irrigation channels.

Day 6Turtuk to DiskitMorning walk, afternoon monastery

Route Turtuk → Diskit Travel 3 hrs Stay Diskit Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 3,100 m

A morning walk through Turtuk with a local host, then back to Diskit for its monastery and the giant Maitreya Buddha.

The lakesDays 7 – 11

Pangong and the Changthang plateau.

Day 7Nubra to PangongThe Shyok road

Route Diskit → Agham → Shyok → Pangong Travel 6–7 hrs Stay Pangong camp Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 4,250 m

A wild road along the Shyok river brings you to the shore of Pangong Tso for sunset.

Day 8A day at PangongLakeside villages

Route Spangmik → Man → Merak Travel 2 hrs Stay Pangong camp Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 4,250 m

Sunrise over the water, then a slow day exploring the lakeside villages of Man and Merak.

Day 9Pangong to HanleInto the Changthang

Route Pangong → Chushul → Loma → Hanle Travel 7 hrs Stay Hanle homestay Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 4,300 m

South through Chushul onto the high, open plateau of the Changthang, arriving at Hanle by evening.

Day 10HanleObservatory and night sky

Route Hanle Travel Short drives Stay Hanle homestay Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 4,300 m

Visit the hilltop monastery and the observatory hill, then spend the evening under one of India's darkest skies.

Day 11Hanle to Tso MoririHerders' country

Route Hanle → Mahe → Sumdo → Korzok Travel 5 hrs Stay Tso Moriri camp Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 4,520 m

Cross the plateau to Tso Moriri, a long blue lake ringed by mountains, with herders' camps along its shore.

ReturnDays 12 – 14

Back to Leh.

Day 12Tso Moriri to LehDown the Indus

Route Korzok → Sumdo → Upshi → Leh Travel 6–7 hrs Stay Leh Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 3,500 m

Leave the plateau and follow the Indus back to Leh.

Day 13Leh at leisureA free day

Route Leh Travel — Stay Leh Meals Breakfast & dinner Altitude 3,500 m

Cafés, the bazaar, or a quiet afternoon at Sankar monastery.

Day 14Depart LehMorning flight

Route Hotel → Leh airport Travel 15 min Stay — Meals Breakfast Altitude 3,500 m

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Where you'll stay

Stays along the route

Chosen for warmth, cleanliness and character. Exact properties are confirmed when you book.

Leh

Heritage home

A restored Ladakhi house with deep windows, courtyard breakfasts and views of the palace.

Pangong & Tso Moriri

Lakeside camps

Insulated tents with real beds, attached bathrooms and hot water in the mornings.

Hunder & Turtuk

Orchard guesthouse

Family-run guesthouses among apricot and apple trees, a short walk from the dunes.

Dates & prices

Departures and prices

Prices are per person. Private journeys can start on any date in season.

Departure	Type	Status	Enquire
Any date, 1 Jun – 20 Sep	Private journey	Open	Enquire

Option	Indian residents	International
Private · 2 travellers	₹1,48,000	USD 2,450
Private · 4 travellers	₹1,12,000	USD 1,850
Private · 6 travellers	₹98,000	USD 1,620

Per person, 2 travellers · Private SUV · GST extra. Single rooms, upgrades and extra nights on request.

What's included

13 nights in hotels, camps and homestays
Breakfast and dinner every day
Private SUV with driver throughout
Local guide for monastery days
Protected-area permits and environment fees
Oxygen cylinder and pulse oximeter in the vehicle

Not included

Flights to and from Leh
Lunches and drinks
Monastery entry fees
Travel and medical insurance (required)
GST at 5%

Before you go

Good to know

Practical notes on altitude, kit, permits and connectivity for this journey.

Altitude and acclimatisation

Leh sits at about 3,500 m. Every Ladakh journey begins with at least two easy days there, and we gain height gradually after that. Drink plenty of water, skip alcohol for the first few days and tell your guide about any headache or breathlessness straight away.

Fitness

You don't need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking for an hour or two on uneven ground at altitude. If you have a heart or lung condition, please speak to your doctor before booking.

Permits

Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Hanle and other border areas need protected-area permits. We apply for them once we have copies of your ID — passport for foreign nationals, any government photo ID for Indian citizens.

Phones and connectivity

Most Indian prepaid SIMs don't work in Ladakh; postpaid connections on BSNL, Jio and Airtel usually do. Expect patchy signal outside Leh and limited Wi-Fi in remote areas.

Journey essentialsLeh → Nubra → Turtuk → Pangong → Hanle → Tso Moriri · Jun – Sep

Route notes: getting there & permits

Along the way

Photographs from the route

A few of the places you'll pass through.

Bactrian camel caravan crossing the Nubra valley — **Nubra valley**Hunder

Shoreline of Tso Moriri in Changthang — **Tso Moriri**Changthang

Hanle Monastery on its hill in Changthang — **Hanle Monastery**Hanle

Alchi village and fields along the Indus — **Alchi**Sham valley

Lamayuru Monastery on its cliff with peaks behind — **Lamayuru**On the Kargil road

Before you book

Questions we're often asked

Is two weeks too long?

Not for Ladakh. The distances are large and the altitude rewards a gentle pace. If you have less time, we can shorten the route to 9 or 10 days.

Can foreign nationals visit Turtuk and Hanle?

Turtuk is open to all with permits. Rules for foreign nationals in parts of the Changthang, including Hanle, change from time to time; we'll confirm and suggest an alternative if needed.

How long are the drives?

Most days are four to seven hours including stops. We break the longest legs with tea breaks, short walks and photo stops.

Can I travel solo on a private journey?

Yes. Private journeys run for one traveller too; the per-person price is higher because the vehicle and guide aren't shared.

Can you change the itinerary?

Almost always. Private journeys can be reshaped around your dates, pace and interests, and on small-group departures we can add nights before or after the trip.

How do I pay?

A 25% advance confirms your booking and the balance is due 30 days before you travel. We accept bank transfer, UPI and cards.

What if I need to cancel?

Our cancellation terms are set out on the booking terms page — the earlier you let us know, the more we can refund. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and high-altitude evacuation.

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Start planning

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