Flights for Ladakh leave early in the morning and you tend to be sleepy and lackluster because of the hour of the day! But as you get closer, the view outside your window quickly changes your mood! It's exhilarating to be so close to the Himalayas and the view from the top is stunning. So make sure to get that window seat! Plain and simple - if you have never been to Ladakh, you must!
Apart from Butter Tea and Momo's, Monasteries, and Pashmina, it's the Roof of the World! Breath-taking scenic locales, clean fresh air, strong sunshine, and adventure in the mountains thrills travelers, not only from India but all over the world.
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Leh Ladakh Itinerary: Trip to Leh Ladakh (8 days)
There are many ways to enjoy Ladakh, but here is our favorite itinerary perfected over 15 years and almost 100 trips to Ladakh. It has a bit of everything for everyone!
Looking for a detailed itinerary?
WOW, Club has got you covered, check our itinerary attached below to find our upcoming Leh Ladakh trip and travel with us :)
WOW Pro Tip: On arrival in Leh, rest the first day; this is most important for acclimatization and will make or break your holiday. Avoid going to the higher reaches till your body gets used to the atmosphere. Drink lots of mineral water specifically, not tap water.
- Day 1 ) Arrive at Leh:
The full name of the Leh airport is quite a mouthful - Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport! Take sufficient rest today and have light meals to get adjusted to the high altitude. Later in the evening, in case you are feeling well, you can explore nearby Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace.
- Day 2) Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery easily the largest one in Ladakh, has similarities to the revered Potala Palace In Lhasa, Tibet. This is just about 20 km from Leh city which takes approximately 30 mins to reach. We've found this the perfect, calming way to get our week in Ladakh started.
To know more about Thiksey Monastery and other famous Monasteries of Ladakh go ahead and click the link below:
Heba
- Day 3) Leh to Nubra Valley (160 km) :
Drive to Nubra Valley passing the world's highest motorable road Khardung La Pass! Start early as it's a long journey of approximately 6 hours. Keep your cameras ready! This drive is full of adventure and beautiful views. When you reach K-Top, take pictures and selfies, after all, you are standing at 18,500 feet above sea level! We always advise our travelers to not spend too much time at K-point or to exert themselves here as the air is thin and you'd be prone to getting altitude sickness. Upon arrival at Nubra, have a rest, and later in the evening visit the Sand Dunes in Hunder Village, where you may opt for a ‘Double Hump Bactrian Camel’ ride.
- Day 4) Visit Diskit Monastery
Return back to Leh from Nubra Valley again passing through Khardung La Pass. A must-visit on the return journey is the Diskit Monastery which is famous for its massive 100 ft Maitreya Buddha statue. Explore the nearby Leh market at leisure. Leh market is great for buying things like woolen and traditional handicrafts. Our travelers usually pick up something made in Yak wool!
- Day 5) Leh to Pangong (147 km) :
From Leh and you'll reach in about 7 hours, through Changla Pass which is the third highest motor-able pass in the world. It's a long journey but totally worth it!
- Day 6) Explore Druk White Lotus School
Return to Leh and en route visit the famous Druk White Lotus School (Rancho School) and the richly decorated Hemis Monastery with its prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.
- Day 7) Adventue day in Leh:
This can be a day devoted to adventure! White Water Rafting on the Zanskar River, followed by Magnetic Hill and Chai at the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib.
- Day 8) Time for the goodbyes:
After a refreshing holiday in Ladakh, head to the airport for your flight back home.
WOW Pro Trip: Please do not spend more than 20-30 minutes on K-top or at Changla Pass as it can potentially trigger a bout of altitude sickness. Read more about our Health Tips for Ladakh in our blog The Road to Ladakh: How to plan ALL your logistics
Is Ladakh safe for Women?
Ladakh is indeed one of the safest places for solo women to travel in India. The locals are warm and caring and go out of their way in making visitors, especially women feel welcome. Women love Ladakh because it's a great place for adventure and natural beauty.
Which is the best month to go to Ladakh?
- The best time to visit Ladakh is between May and September. These are the summer months.
- Later in winter, starting from October to April, flights still operate to Ladakh, though there are fewer tourists - And it's really cold!
- Remember that it snows from December to March.
How cold is Leh- Ladakh in winter?
- Ladakh in Winter is for travelers and not tourists! The temperatures in Ladakh drop up to -30 degrees Celsius, so yes, is it very, very cold.
- Also, winter is a great time for photography in Ladakh - Think of barren lands completely covered with white sheets of snow, frozen rivers, clear blue skies, stars at night, and above all, NO hordes of tourists.
- Hotels tend to be a bit expensive at this time because there are only a few that remain open with central heating.
WOW Pro Tip: ⚠️ Especially, in the month of September and October, the UV rays are harshest and you must protect your skin using Hats / Caps and good high SPF sunscreen lotions.
5 BEST Places to Visit in Leh Ladakh
- Zanskar- is one of the most isolated regions of Ladakh. Famous for the Zanskar River frozen trek, remote cave monasteries, and of course the river rafting with its landscape and unusual rock formations.
- Nubra Valley- located at a distance of about 100 km from Leh, on the other side of Khardung La Pass, it is also referred to as the 'valley of flowers
- Pangong Lake- The Bluest of Blue, it's the world’s highest saltwater lake. One-third of the lake lies in India and two-thirds in China. The lake is 5 km wide at its broadest point and its total length is 134 km. Being highly saline, there is no trace of fish or any aquatic life in it. Surreal.
- Tso Moriri- Also known as Mountain Lake, it is located in the Changthang Plateau of Ladakh. Beautiful and stunning like Pangong but less commercialized and you need to have more time in hand if you wish to visit here, as compared to visiting Pangong.
- DHA and Hanu - are two village settlements in the Kargil region of Ladakh, whose claim to fame is that they are the last Aryan villages of India. Some of the villagers are supposed to be the descendants of Alexander the Great. They came here more than 2000 years ago.
What is the famous food of Ladakh?
- Hot momos and chutney with the local thukpa are things that you will enjoy in Ladakh.
- Remember to visit the nearby markets in Ladakh to purchase the yummy apricot jam.
- Don't forget to bring home some Yak Cheese. Delicious.
- Have you ever had Pink tea Butter Tea or Sea Buckthorn Juice? Unusual, so try it out when you are here.
- And then there is the Chaang, a Tibetan wine made from barley, millet, or rice grains, it's a little heady at this altitude, so be careful!
- Eating local food is the best way to experience a destination's cuisine and so you must eat home-cooked food by a local Ladakhi family.
- You could check out the Stok Village, about 17 km away from Leh where you can enjoy homemade food & Chaang, and homestays!
BEST Restaurants in Leh
- Bon Appetit (Outdoor) - Multi Cuisine
- ChopStick - Thai and Chinese
- Lichen Bar and Restaurant - Multi Cuisine with Bar
- Amigo - Korean Restaurant
- Coffee Culture - For Coffee and Cakes
- Bodhi Greens - Vegan Restaurant
- Tatami at Wazwan - Kashmiri Cuisine
The approximate rate per person is 500 to 700 INR.
Important things you must know before leaving for Leh Ladakh:
- Primarily, we must be aware that Leh Ladakh is a high-altitude destination, all should take Diamox a day before the date of departure.
Moreover, we must remember that Leh acts as a midpoint in Ladakh and is at a height of approx. 11,000 ft. Nubra is 10,000 ft. whereas Pangong is approx 14,000 ft.
Hence, we always come back to Leh from Nubra for a night, before we leave for Pangong for better acclimatization. Medicines have to be carried to Nubra and Pangong, as there are no hospitals or pharmacies in the areas. - There is a shop called 'ORGANIC LADAKH' where we get good organic lip balms made out of Apricots and essential oils.
Plus you get Ladakhi keychains at a lower cost here than in the rest of the market. Good and authentic apricot jams and oils with bath and body products can be bought here. It is within a walking distance from Spic and Span hotel, a little outside of the local market.
Want to know more about the famous places to shop in Ladakh and what is special to buy in Ladakh? Click on the link below to get the best markets and shops found by our travelers:
Heba- Organic Ladakh also has solid perfumes in cute little containers which are either wooden containers or brass containers with a bit of painting on them. There are Yak and Goat cheese also available, these are usually in small batches as they are freshly prepared and brought there. They also have eco-friendly and sustainable wooden combs, toothbrushes, and an organic variety of soaps and scrubs with them.
- There are good places to eat in the local market. Tibetan food is readily available in all places. However, there is a 5* hotel named 'CHOSPA' right in front of Spic N Span.
They have a cafe and a restaurant on the ground floor right when you enter the premises. The food is delectable with an elite vibe and they serve good cheesecakes and ginger beer. - Leh Chen Bar is a good place for drinks, especially beer, and overall has a pleasant ambiance. But do note - we strongly advise all our travelers to not consume alcohol at least for the first 2 days because this makes acclimatization very problematic.
- The weather in Ladakh can be unpredictable. It might get hot in the afternoons in Leh and Nubra. Pangong is cold at all times and freezing at night
- Thangka paintings are scroll paintings painted on cotton cloth and the borders/ frame is made of silk cloth. These paintings are available in a lot of shops but it is important to find trustworthy shops. The small paintings can range from INR 2500-3000 but can often be bought for INR 1800-2000.
The most famous paintings in these are of Tara Devi, Tree of Life, and Buddhas. One of the shops which our travelers have appreciated is Zhanskar Arts. - Generally, all our travelers are excited to see the woolen headbands that the local women knit in the market, outside Leh palace, and can be found easily on the side of the roads and pavements and you can ask them to make a color of your choice. Almost everyone buys them.
Ready to travel to Ladakh?
It's extremely important to stay in good hotels so here's our list of recommendations - The Road to Ladakh: How to plan ALL your logistics, do check it out. Hopefully, you've now got it all together - plan and checklist for Ladakh.
And of course, you're most welcome to hop on to our women-only trips in Ladakh. Check out our upcoming trip here Ladakh is a great option for solo women travel or with a small group of friends who are ready for adventure!
Read more:
- How To Prepare for a Trip to Ladakh
- Shopping in Ladakh – Hits, and misses
- The Kumbh Mela of Himalayas – Naropa Festival
- The Road to Ladakh: How to plan ALL your logistics
- The Monkey year festival at Hemis
Happy Wandering :-)
