Leh Ladakh 5 Days Itinerary
A well-designed itinerary as per your preference and interest is a crucial aspect of a successful trip. The ideal duration for a trip to Ladakh is 7 days. In a week, explore and visit the sought-after attractions like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri Lake and Leh. It also includes the arrival and the departure.
A well-curated itinerary is a crucial aspect of a successful trip. The ideal duration for a trip to Ladakh is 7 days. In a week, tourists visit the Land of High Passes, explore and visit the sought-after attractions like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri Lake and Leh and finally say goodbye.
While shorter trips are surely possible, with enough days, visitors don’t have to rush through sightseeing and activities. They can take their time admiring the architectural excellence of monuments and monasteries, take long walks along the shore of lakes and spend their evening exploring the markets and enjoying Ladakhi food at cafes and restaurants. For such a memorable time, Ladakh itinerary 7 days is the way to go.
It is highly suggested to plan the trip at the perfect season, conducive to sightseeing. If you wish to discover more and indulge in activities like trekking, camel safari, photography, summer would be an excellent time.
To see snow and take part in ice hockey, ice skating, winter treks, December to January would be a more suitable time. Here is a brief Leh Ladakh itinerary. Take a look!
Ladakh 7 Days Itinerary
Day 1 Leh Arrival
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee International Airport is the only airport in Ladakh, offering both domestic as well as international flights.As land at the Leh Airport, book a taxi or cab to reach the main city centre. It is only 2.5 kilometres.
Utilise the first day for getting off the jetlag and acclimatize properly. In the city, check into a hotel or guesthouse. If meals are included with your stay, have you lunch and then rest for a few hours.
Once you have relaxed completely, take a walk to the nearby attractions. Visit the Shanti Stupa or Leh Palace for sightseeing. While the stupa is at a distance of 5 kilometres, the city palace is only 2 kilometres away.
You can easily reach these places on foot in less than an hour. Dine at a local restaurant and enjoy Ladakhi cuisine for your dinner. Come back to your hotel and call it a day!
Night stay in Leh.
Day 2Leh Sightseeing
Second day of the trip will include a thorough exploration of the entire Leh city. Gear up for a whole lot of walking and even more sightseeing. Once you are all done with breakfast and getting ready, book a taxi or cab for a complete day.
Visit the Hall of Fame where all you can witness are the stories of grandeur of Indian martyrs. On your way, stop at the Magnetic Hill which is believed to defy the scientific phenomenon of Gravity.
Next stop would be Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, one of the highest Gurudwara in India. Here, soak in the serenity and enjoy the tasty Langer.
Moving ahead, it’s time to reach various Buddhist Monasteries of Leh and get an insight into the rich history and heritage of the city. Include Spituk, Hemis, Thiksey Gompa in your 7 days itinerary. They are some of the oldest and largest monasteries of Ladakh. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a restaurant. Try Thukpa, Skyu, and other items for your meal.
Night Stay in Leh.
Day 3 Nubra Valley sightseeing
On the third day of the trip, it’s time to move ahead from Leh and cover various other places of Ladakh. Start with a road trip from Leh to Nubra Valley.
Start early in the morning to have enough time for daytime sightseeing and activities. The lush valley is at a distance of 150 kilometres from Leh city and takes about 3-4 hours to cover the distance.
The route goes through the world’s highest motorable pass, Khardung La Pass. As you visit the alpine pass, halt here for sometime and witness the scenic views, standing literally on the top of the world. Enjoy maggie and other snacks at Khardung-cafe.
Once you have reached the Nubra Valley, experience camel riding starting from Hunder, giving you a tour of the snow deserts and surrounding.
Through the ride, you get an opportunity to visit the Diskit Monastery, home to the 32 feet high statue of Maitreya Buddha.
Here, you can choose to stay in a homestay or check in a hotel for more comfortable accommodation.
Night stay in Nubra.
Day 4 Turtuk Sightseeing
Turtuk, India’s last village, is at a distance of only 85 kilometres from Nubra Valley. The drive will take a maximum of 3 hours.
Located near the India- Pakistan Border, the village radiates natural beauty. As you visit here, visit the Turtuk royal Palace, Turtuk Monastery and Mosque. While these places are recognised for sightseeing, explore the walnut orchards found in the village for a rejuvenating time.
Interact with the villagers who will tell you the stories of the times when the village was a part of Pakistan. It was after 1971 that it came under the Indian subcontinent. They will convey the stories of the other side of the border over a cup of butter tea. Since hotels are not found in the village, you can come back to Hunder in Nubra Valley for overnight stay.
Night Stay in Nubra.
Day 5Pangong valley sightseeing
The drive from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake is one of the most exciting road trips in Ladakh. There are majorly two routes. While one goes through the Wari La Pass, the other one is via Shyok village.
You can, depending on the road conditions. With either of the routes, you have to cover a distance of approximately 260 kilometres, taking a total of 4-5 hours.
As you have reached the Pangong Lake, you will surely witness the most gorgeous sight of Ladakh. Throughout the day, notice how the colour changes as day passes. Only 40 percent of the lake is part of the Indian subcontinent and the rest of it(60 percent) is in Tibet. Here, take a light stroll or go for a nature walk along the pristine lake.
The superhit Bollywood movie, 3 idiots, was shot here. Visit the shooting point and reminisce about those bollywood moments. Few cafes are found in proximity. Enjoy snacks and refreshments there. At night, set up a camp near the lake and lie under the star-studded sky. You can even light a bonfire and have a memorable experience.
Stay Night at Pangong.
Day 6 Tso Moriri Sightseeing
Moving ahead, it’s time to visit yet another immensely beautiful and remote lake of Ladakh, Tso Moriri. From Pangong, it is about 330 kilometres away. The travel time is about 9-10 hours.
It is suggested to start early in the morning by at least 7AM. The route goes through offbeat villages like Chushul and Mahe Bridge. From the bridge, the sunrise views are unparalleled.
Tso Moriri is the highest lake in Ladakh to reside completely in the Indian subcontinent. It is located at an altitude of 4522 metres. The lake is a favourite spot among Bird-watchers. Home to both local as well migratory birds, you have a guided tour here.
Near the lake, a 300 year old Korzok Monastery is present, overlooking the region. Kurzok village is located near the monastery where you can opt for a homestay to spend the night.
Night Stay at Tso-Moriri.
Day 7 Drive back to Leh
By now, you have explored most of Ladakh, covering major local attractions. In the morning, start your drive back to Leh from Tso Moriri. The total distance to be covered on this drive is about 220 kilometres.
The scenic drive is filled with various enroute sightseeing spots. The most popular place to stop by is Changthang Hot springs. Here, explore the steaming hot spring where tourists even chose to bathe. On this road trip, you witness a magical contrast of lush landscape and rugged terrains. By evening, you will be back in Leh.
Do include a shopping spree in the Ladakh 7 days itinerary. Spend the evening, exploring the Leh local Market. Shop souvenirs and gifts to take back home for your friends and families. Ladakhi architecture, murals, Buddhist artefacts are available to purchase at various shops. Call it a day by relishing a lip-smacking dinner at a local restaurant or eatery.
Night stay in Leh.
Day 8 Departure
On the last day of the Ladakh trip, it’s time to say goodbye to the “Land of High Passes”. Reach the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee International Airport also known as Leh Airport at least two hours before your flight. Enjoy aerial views of the mountains as you bid goodbye to the magical land of Ladakh.
With this short yet flexible itinerary, you must have understood how to spend 7 days in Leh Ladakh. You have the liberty to make altercations in the various places included and activities.
Clothes to Pack for Leh Ladakh Trip
The bigger question than how to spend 7 days in Ladakh is what to wear during those 7 days. It is entirely based on the season you are visiting Ladakh.
- Pack cotton clothes for the day when it is warm and not chilly and waollen ones for the evenings and early mornings.
- During days, you can put on a cotton shirt or shirt that is full sleeved and then a light sweater or cardigan for extra warmth. At night, since it’s chilly, overalls or jackets are needed.
- Wear fleece, jeans, long skirt on the bottom along with boots to walk easily on the ice if remains available. You can also pack a casual sleeper and a pair of walking shoes for the city outings and when you are going for dinners.
- Wear warm accessories like caps, gloves and socks if visiting in winter and you feel cold.
- Carry a few full length dresses for special occasions.
- Goncha is a traditional dress of Ladakh and locals are often seen wearing it. It is a long rob that people usually wear in winters. You can get one of those from local markets. Even bok, a long skirt, made of wool is available to buy and local women wear it as well.
- Carry shawls and scarfs to cover your head in case you visit a religiously significant place.
Accommodation Options in Leh Ladakh
Hotels: There are a number of hotels, from 1 star to 5 stars, that you can find in Leh and Kargil town. The services here are supreme with cosy and comfortable bedrooms. Some even provide you meals, included in the stay.
They are in the main city and hence can cost a pretty much amount of mount. People with no money-restraints can choose this accommodation option.
Homestays: Another excellent option for a safe stay is living with a local family for a couple of days. They are very warm and welcoming and under a budget, you get a place to reside and home-cooked meals to relish.
Government guesthouses: Tourism has flourished a lot in recent times in Ladakh and the Government is doing every bit of effort to improve it. There are many government guesthouses and lodges where tourists often stay. They might have limited service but there is no compromise on your comfort and safety.
Camping: To have an adventurous time in the Region, you can opt for camping as your mode of accommodation. Lying under a star-studded sky is a whole other experience, nowhere to be found in any hotel or guesthouse. Carry all the camping gears like Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats etc.
How to Reach
By flight:
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is the only airport in Ladakh. There are a number of flights scheduled on major airlines that you can book in advance to have a quick and safe trip. Advance booking is suggested to avoid the risk of cancellation and save some money as well. From the airport, book a cab to reach Leh city and to your hotel.
By train:
If you want to travel via a train to Ladakh, unfortunately, there are no functional railway stations as of now. The nearest one is Jammu Tawi Station to where you can book your tickets. Once you have reached the railway station. Book an outstation cab or any bus available to reach Leh city.
By road:
Srinagar-Leh Highway and Leh-Manali Highway are the two routes which can be picked to reach Ladakh by a road trip. They are quite famous. Although Manali-Leh Highway is closed half of the year, Srinagar-Leh Highway is open and you can choose this one for a better experience.
FAQ's
Is 7 days enough for leh Ladakh?
Yes, 7 days are enough for Leh Ladakh. In this time duration, you can have a thorough tour to different stunning locations such as Nubra Valley, Pangong and Tso Moriri and indulge in different activities. Explore the markets of Leh and enjoy meals at local cafes and restaurants.
Which is better, Pangong or Nubra Valley?
Both Pangong and Nubra valley are major tourist spots of Ladakh. While one is a lush valley offering activities like camel safari and trekking, the lake with its pristine blue waters, is ideal for camping and strolls. Both of these places are covered in the 7 days itinerary.
How to plan a ladakh itinerary?
Plan the Ladakh itinerary based on your interests and preferences. Keep an ideal trip duration of about 7 days and include popular local attractions like Nubra Valley, Pangong and Tso Moriri Lake. Create a personalised and flexible itinerary.
What is the cheapest month to visit Leh Ladakh?
The cheapest time to visit Leh Ladakh is in spring and autumn. In months like May and October, lesser crowds are seen. Various discounts are running on Ladakh tour packages and customers get them at lower deals.
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