Classic Leh-Ladakh With Srinagar

Arrive at Srinagar airport and meet your guide. Drive through the scenic Kashmir valley to Sonamarg, the Meadow of Gold, a stopping point before the mountain passes ahead.

• Airport transfer and breakfast
• Drive through willows and rice paddies to Sonamarg
• Chai break at Sonamarg, 80 km from Srinagar
• Evening walk and acclimatisation

• Overnight in Srinagar

Today brings the dramatic highlight of the Srinagar route, crossing the legendary Zojila Pass and descending through Drass, the gateway to Ladakh. Visit the Kargil War Memorial and settle into your hotel in Kargil for the night.

• Cross Zojila Pass at 11,500 feet with hairpin bends and mountain vistas
• Stop in Drass, the second coldest inhabited place on Earth
• Visit the Kargil War Memorial and historical exhibits
• Arrive in Kargil and evening at leisure

• Overnight in Kargil

This is a long and scenic driving day. Bring warm clothes and stay hydrated at altitude.

Drive from Kargil to Leh, stopping at two of Ladakh's most iconic Buddhist sites. See the ancient rock-carved Maitreya Buddha at Mulbekh and explore the 10th century Lamayuru Monastery surrounded by moon-like eroded rock formations.

• Visit the 9-meter tall Maitreya Buddha statue at Mulbekh, carved in the 7th century
• Stop at Lamayuru Monastery, one of the oldest in Ladakh
• Walk through the distinctive moonland landscape near Lamayuru
• Arrive in Leh and settle into your hotel

• Overnight in Leh

Spend your first full day in Leh acclimatising to the 11,500 foot altitude while exploring the capital of Ladakh. Visit ancient monasteries, the royal palace, and spiritual sites, all easily accessible from the town.

• Visit Shanti Stupa, the white domed peace monument with Himalayan views
• Explore Leh Palace, the six storey royal residence of former kings
• Visit Hall of Fame, dedicated to soldiers of the Kargil War
• Evening walk through Leh Bazaar and monastery visits

• Overnight in Leh

Continue exploring Leh and its surroundings. Visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, the sacred Sikh temple with its legends of miracles, and the famous Magnetic Hill where gravity seems to pull uphill.

• Visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and learn its spiritual history
• Experience the optical illusion of Magnetic Hill
• Visit Sangam, where the muddy Zanskar and clear Indus rivers meet
• Browse local markets and monasteries around Leh

• Overnight in Leh

Travel north from Leh through one of the world's highest motorable passes to reach Nubra Valley, a stunning high altitude desert ringed by mountains. Visit Diskit Monastery and explore the unique landscape.

• Drive over Khardung La Pass at 18,380 feet
• Arrive in Nubra Valley and visit Diskit Monastery overlooking the valley
• Walk around the 32-meter tall Maitreya Buddha statue at Diskit
• Explore the stark beauty of the high altitude desert

• Overnight in Nubra

Spend a full day in Nubra experiencing the unique landscape of the high altitude cold desert. Ride Bactrian camels across sand dunes and visit local villages, then drive to Pangong Lake, one of the world's highest saltwater lakes.

• Camel safari on the Hunder sand dunes
• Visit local villages and interact with Balti communities
• Drive to Pangong Lake through mountain passes
• Settle in and explore the stunning turquoise waters at sunset

• Overnight in Pangong

Spend the morning at Pangong Lake, one of the most beautiful high altitude lakes in the world, with its water shifting from turquoise to deep blue. Then begin your return journey, completing this unforgettable Ladakh adventure.

• Morning by Pangong Lake with photography and meditation
• Begin return drive to Leh
• Transfer to airport for departure flight

• Tour ends

Pangong Lake sits at 13,900 feet. The lake spans 134 km and is shared with Tibet. Early morning light offers the best photography.