Blog · India
Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake: how to route your Ladakh trip
Nubra and Pangong are the two big excursions from Leh. The order and overnight stays make a big difference to comfort.
Leh to Nubra Valley
Nubra is reached over Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes. The drive back from Nubra to Leh is roughly 120 km and 4–5 hours in our itineraries. In Nubra you see Diskit monastery, the sand dunes at Hunder and the double-humped Bactrian camels.
Leh to Pangong Lake
Pangong is roughly 140 km from Leh, about 4–5 hours each way. The lake changes colour through the day, from deep blue to turquoise. You can visit it as a long day trip, but staying overnight lets you see it in the soft light of evening and early morning.
Overnight or day trip?
Day trips save a night but mean 8–10 hours on the road in one day at altitude. Overnight stays in Nubra and at Pangong are easier on the body and much more rewarding. Camps and simple stays at Pangong are cold at night, even in summer.
Our recommended order
- Arrive Leh and rest.
- Leh monasteries or Sham Valley (lower, for acclimatisation).
- Leh to Nubra over Khardung La (overnight).
- Nubra back to Leh.
- Leh to Pangong (overnight).
- Pangong back to Leh.
- Departure.
This is the shape of our Panorama Ladakh tour (6 nights / 7 days).
Questions travellers ask
Is there mobile network at Pangong and Nubra?
Coverage is limited and usually only on some postpaid networks. Plan to be offline for part of those days.
