It is that time of the year again! Time when the high passes in Ladakh open up after its stubborn winters and the rest of the country goes gaga over social media posts that keep popping up about the place. For those who want to do better and discover what the magic is about, a trip to Ladakh awaits. Ladakh has been like an annual pilgrimage to me, helping me curate an itinerary that is easy, comfortable and has everything that a first-timer to Ladakh would like to experience. This 10-day Ladakh itinerary is all that you would need for a good trip.
Day 1-2 Land in Leh, rest
The easiest and fastest way to reach Ladakh is to take a flight to Leh, with a number of daily flights available from Delhi and major cities. Since Ladakh is a high-altitude area, I strictly recommend that you stay put here for another day and acclimatise. When here, you can explore the local markets, cafés, restaurants, monasteries, the Shanti Stupa etc.
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Day 3 Leh to Alchi
While Alchi is not very popular with most tourists, it is a hidden treasure that I definitely recommend. The village of Alchi is home to very ancient monasteries, with some brilliant frescoes, craftsmanship and architecture on display. You’ll easily find a couple of homestays and hotels here.
Day 4 Back to Leh via Lamayuru
On day 4, you can come back to Leh from Alchi via Lamayuru, better known as the Moonland. You will know the reason for its nickname on your way to the famous Lamayuru Monastery as the terrain gets increasingly alien, almost moon-like! Mud-coloured mountains, rocks and crater-like formations here will take your breath away. From Lamayuru, you can head for Leh and also explore the famous Magnetic Hill. It is famous for the optical illusion that makes visitors see vehicles, parked in neutral, move while on the road! Gurudwara Patthar Sahib is another popular pitstop on the route.
Day 5 Leh to Nubra Valley
Leave early in the morning for Nubra Valley from Leh on day 5. You’ll get to cross the famous Khardung La today, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. Wear your best woollens for this, as the mercury dip’s considerably at the pass. You can also visit the very famous Diskit Gompa here.
Day 5 Explore Nubra sand dunes in the evening
One can easily reach the famous Nubra sand dunes from Leh by afternoon. Since it can get hot around the sand dunes when the Sun is high, you can check in at your stay here and explore the dunes around sunset. This is also the place to go on a camel safari and even try archery here!
Day 6 Nubra to Pangong Lake
This would be a more arduous day than before so dress comfortably. You’d be driving across the rather hilly terrain to reach Pangong. Of course, the journey is very scenic with meadow-like Changthang Plateau on the way. Rivulets, grasslands and the famous Himalayan marmots await you on this journey. Stay overnight at Pangong.
Day 7 Enjoy the blues of Pangong
I highly recommend staying a day at Pangong Lake at one of the camps or homestays in the village around. This can be your rest day, capturing the many shades of the lake, enjoying the unforgettable scenery around, photographing the geography and the wildlife here and more. There’s nothing like spending a day at one of the prettiest high-altitude lakes in the world.
Day 8 Pangong to Tso Moriri/Leh
While a lot of tourists usually drive back to Leh from Pangong, you can also head to the very stunning Tso Moriri if you have a day to spare. This will be another arduous drive but definitely worth it. You can head to Leh a day later from Tso Moriri and have a very interesting addition to your Ladakh itinerary.
Day 9 Tso Moriri to Leh via Hemis Monastery
Hemis is one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh, and is highly recommended for every first-timer’s Ladakh itinerary. It is home to a very impressive museum that has one of the finest collections related to Buddhism in the country. It is also a mesmerising experience to witness the daily rituals and ceremonies here. Later in the day, you can explore the other famous monasteries around Leh, including Stakna and Thiksey.
Day 10 Rest in Leh
You can explore the local market of Leh on the last day of the trip and bring back souvenirs for home. Other than the usual souvenirs, I really loved apricot products that are sold here. Head to the Shey Palace and then, Shanti Stupa, for a glorious sunset over the Himalayan landscape before you bid goodbye to Ladakh.
The closest airport to the whole of Ladakh is Leh, its capital. It is just 15 minutes away from the city centre, and offers very easy connectivity.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can be very harsh for some people, while some people might not see any effect. It is advisable to stay in Leh for a minimum of 2 days and rest before exploring further. While people do take over the counter medicines like Diamox, we advise that you consult your doctor before the trip and get a prescribed medicine to help you in need. You can also ask your tour operator, driver or hosts for portable oxygen cylinders.
There are a number of direct flights to Leh/Ladakh from many airports across India. Currently, the direct flights to Leh are from New Delhi, Mumbai, Jammu, Bengaluru, Kochi and other major cities.
Yes, there are two road routes to Leh/Ladakh. You can go via Manali (longer but easier) or Kashmir (shorter yet arduous and considered more difficult owing to the road conditions). Both the routes are very scenic but take a couple of days and are not for those who prefer luxe, comfortable journeys. Reaching Ladakh via road is an adventure of course!
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