Nubra Valley Tour

Nubra Valley Tour

Day 1, LEH TO HUNDAR

Drive from Leh to the Nubra Valley (150 km, 4-5 hrs) by crossing the Khardong La (5602m), possibly the world's highest motorable mountain pass. From the pass, one can see all the way south over the Indus valley to seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, and north to the giants of the Saser massif.

The villages in the Nubra Valley (meaning Green) are irrigated and fertile, producing wheat, barley, peas, mustard for oil, and a variety of fruits and nuts, including apple, walnut, apricot and even a few almond trees. Most of the Nubra Valley is inhabited by Ladakhis who speak Ladakhi; the majority of them are Buddhist, with a minority of Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Till partition, the Nubra Valley was one of the trade centers, the ancient famous Silk Route passed through this area. Every year, over 10,000 pack animals - horses, yaks, Bactrian camels, and an especiall sturdy breed of local sheep - traversed the Nubra region, carrying Varanasi brocades, Chinese silks, pearls, spices, Indian tea, pashm wool, salt, indigo, opium, carpets, and gold.

You stay overnight in Hundar, 7 km from Diskit, the main district headquarters.

Stay at the Karma Inn.

Day 2, HUNDAR TO KYAGAR

Hundar was the capital of the erstwhile Nubra kingdom in the 17th century, and is home to the Chamba Gompa.

In nearby Diskit, you can visit the 15th century Monastery which is full of thangkas, magnificent giant statues, effigies of the Buddha and old mural paintings. Diskit Gompa, with about 100 monks, is the oldest (more than 500 years old) and biggest of its kind in the Nubra Valley.

Between Hundar and Diskit lie several kilometres of sand dunes, and (two-humped) bactrian camels graze in the neighbouring "forests" of seabuckthorn. You have a unique opportunity to ride on a bactrian camel (double humped) amidst the sand dunes of this high altitude desert with snow capped mountains on the horizon.

The beautiful village of Baigdandu is also located in this area. There is a marked presence of people with startling blue eyes, auburn hair and rosy cheeks as against the typical mongoloid features of the Ladakhis. Local lore has it that they were a Greek tribe who came in search of Jesus Christ's tomb and eventually settled here. Baigdandu is also known for the goats that give you the famous Pashmina shawls.

You round off your tour with a visit to Panamik. A major halt on the caravan trade route, Panamik also has medicinal hot springs. You stay overnight in a hotel at the village of Kyagar.

Stay at the Rimo Hotel.

Day 3, KYAGAR TO LEH

Panamik is literally the end of the road for this trip, as one has to return from this spot. On the return journey you can stop by to visit Samstanling Gompa, a monastery with some strict rules and regulations like not allowing women in the monastery after sunset and before sunrise, no smoking etc. Overlooking the green fields of Sumur village, this 19th-century monastery has impressive images.

You cross the Khardong La again to return to Leh.

Stay at the Kanglachen Hotel

Day 4, ONWARDS FROM LEH

Your tour ends after breakfast. If you want to continue your adventure then you can either travel overland to Srinagar (The Road to Leh in reverse) or follow the Leh Manali Highway. Alternatively, you can fly back to Delhi.

Add "Nubra Valley Tour" to your favourites