Soul of Ladakh
The classic 8-day loop through Ladakh's best-known sights. Explore Leh palace, Shanti Stupa and the Indus–Zanskar confluence, cross the Khardung La to the sand dunes and villages of Nubra, then head to Pangong Tso, the dark skies of Hanle and the shores of Tso Moriri before returning to Leh.
Transfer from the airport to your hotel and rest for the day to acclimatise.
Visit the nine-storey Leh palace and Shanti Stupa above town, then drive west to Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill and the Sangam, where the Indus meets the Zanskar at Nimmu.
Cross the Khardung La (5,359m) into Nubra. Visit Diskit monastery and its giant Maitreya Buddha, then ride a double-humped Bactrian camel on the Hunder sand dunes. Overnight in Nubra.
Choose between a day trip to Turtuk, a Balti village close to the Line of Control, or the Panamik hot springs and the sacred lake of Yarab Tso. Visit Samstanling monastery at Sumur on the way. Overnight in Nubra.
Drive along the Shyok river to Pangong Tso and spend the evening watching the lake change colour. Overnight at Pangong.
Drive south via Chushul to Hanle, home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory and part of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve. Stargazing after dark. Overnight in Hanle.
Drive to Tso Moriri and the village of Korzok on its western shore. Overnight at Korzok.
Drive back to Leh (about 6 hrs) and rest for the evening.
More soul of ladakh
EasyAn 8-day journey through the living heart of Ladakhi Buddhism. Visit the great monasteries of the Sham valley (Lamayuru, Alchi and Likir) and the Indus valley (Shey, Thiksey and Hemis), sit with a Ladakhi oracle, then cross the Khardung La to the gompas of Nubra before ending at the high lakes of Pangong and Tso Moriri. The pace is slow, with time to join morning prayers and simply be still.
EasyA gentle walk up the Sang (Shang) valley, a green side valley off the Indus near Hemis. Starting from Martselang, the trail follows the stream through barley fields and poplar groves to the village of Shang, its old gompa perched high above braided irrigation channels, and on to the new Shang monastery and Shang Sumdo. Do it as a day walk, or stay the night with a local family.
EasyA day in Stok, the village of Ladakh's royal family, just 15 km from Leh across the Indus. Explore Stok palace, built in 1820 by King Tsepal Namgyal and still home to the royal family, with a museum of royal costumes, jewellery, coins and thangkas. Visit Stok monastery, then wander through the barley fields and lanes of the village below Stok Kangri.
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