A classic tour in Ladakh
In this page, you can know about what could be called our classic tour to Ladakh. It is an ideal tour to immerse yourself into the gigantic Himalaya safely while having a varied experience of Ladakh and its people.
On the Manali-Leh road we come across landscapes that are almost “extraterrestrial”, and we do it in the best way for your acclimatization to the high haltitude of Ladakh.
Beside the incredible sceneries invariably around you, the tour allows you to discover the local culture at the home of the Ladakhi.
You will also go for an easy trek in the Sham valley for three days. Going through Ladakh in a vehicle is one thing, going on your two feet is something else, another level of experience !
And finally you will not miss some of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh, the magic of the Pangong Tso lake and the Nubra valley.
Children are welcome on this tour, even on the trek as we can arrange a mule or a baby carrier if required.
Ladakh tour map
MAP OF OUR CLASSIC TOUR TO LADAKH
The numbers are the location where you spend the night on that particular day.
Ladakh tour itinerary
Day 1
Delhi
Lodhi garden
A very peaceful area in the middle of the frenzy of Delhi.
If you are flying from Europe, you are likely to arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at night. We will arrange for a taxi to pick you up and drop you at a hotel. Our guide will take you on a tour of Delhi, from Lodhi Garden to Old Delhi. You can enjoy the chaotic scenes and architecture. We will also arrange for lunch at a special place
Jama Masjid
In the middle of Old Delhi, this mosque was designed by the one who made the Taj Mahal.
Travel time : 40 min
Hotel: Cat B
Altitude max: 220m
Altitude night: 220m
Day 2
Manali
Beas river
Some stretches of the road to Manali are very beautiful.
The next day, you get to experience a train ride from Delhi to Chandigarh. Our guide will drop you at the railway station. Indian railway stations are a unique experience! A taxi will collect you from the Chandigarh railway station and you will be driven to Manali. There will be a stop for lunch in the plains of Punjab. The scenic views of the Beas river and the higher Himalayas in Beas Valley are a treat. You will spend the night at a hotel. This is part of your acclimatisation as you will be at 2000m as compared to Delhi’s 220m.
The Beas valley
When approaching Manali, the higher Himalayas become visible.
Travel time : 8 hours
Hotel: Cat B
Altitude max: 2000m
Altitude night: 2000m
Day 3
Keylong
Rohtang pass
The first pass to Ladakh at around 3980 m.
Now the journey to Ladakh starts! The first pass you’ll cross is Rohtang pass at 3980m. There’s a discernible shift in the weather. The drive to Keylong, which is located in Lahaul, is gorgeous. You’ll spend the night at a guesthouse with a charming garden.
Keylong
The municipality of the Lahaul sub-district.
Travel time : 2 hours
Hotel: Cat C
Altitude max: 3100m
Altitude night: 3100m
Day 4
Manali to Leh road – Gya
Gata loops
Reaching the higher passes involves going through very interesting roads !
You will cross another pass at 5000m to reach Changthang plateau and Moore plateau. Our guide can take you to Tso Kar, a high-altitude lake. After your last pass of the day, which is Tanglang La at 5328m, you will head to a village called Gya in the Indus valley for your night’s rest at a rustic homestay where you’ll enjoy the hospitality of a local Ladakhi family.
The Moore plains
If you have time (2 hours) you can ask your guide to take you for a hike to see the Tso Kar lake.
Travel time : 9 hours
Hotel: Cat C
Altitude max: 5328m
Altitude night: 4000m
Day 5
Hemis, Thiksey monastery – Leh
Hemis monastery
Monks in the prayer hall in the Hemis monastery.
You can explore the famous Hemis National Park. Our guide and your local hosts will be happy to show you around the village. You’ll set off for Leh and en route visit two important monasteries, Hemis Monastery and Thiksey Monastery.
Thiksey monastery
The Thiksey monastery complex is the largest in Ladakh and has a magnificient statue of the Buddha.
Travel time : 2 hours
Hotel: Cat B
Altitude max: 4000m
Altitude night: 3500m
Day 6
Leh, rafting, Nimmu or Likir
Leh palace
You have free time in the morning in Leh. You could this opportunity to visit the palace.
There is plenty to do and see in Leh such as the Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa. We’ll leave at noon to the Zanskar or Indus rivers. The choice of river depends on the weather and the mood of the water. After all the driving, it’ll be a change to have some adventure in the river! You can enjoy water games and rafting. The night will be spent at a boutique guesthouse in Nimmu or a traditional guesthouse in Likir.
Rafting on the Zanskar
It is a great way to enjoy the arid landscape of the Zanskar valley.
Travel time : 2 hours
Hotel: Cat C
Altitude max: 3500m
Altitude night: 3500m
Day 7
Sham valley trek – Yangthang
Likir monastery
Have a short visit of the Likir monastery before you start your trek.
You will start the day with a visit to Likir Gompa before embarking on 4- to 5-hour-trek to Yangthang. This trek is a great way to get close up with the Ladakhi landscape. It is an easy trail but we will have the car around if anyone needs a drive from time to time. You will stay with a local family in the charming Yangthang valley.
Yangthang
The perfect break for the first night. What a pleasure to reach such place on foot !
Travel time : No driving
Hotel: Cat D
Altitude max: 3590m
Altitude night: 3650m
Day 8
Sham valley trek – Hemis Shukpachan
Hiking to Hemis Shukpachan
Half way to Hemis Shukpachan you cross a pass after which it is gentle descent.
It’s another day of trekking. This one will be a shorter 3-hour trek till Hemis Shukpachan village, which is located after Tsermanchang La pass at 3880m. You’ll come across a lovely little river as you climb 300m from Yangthang to the pass. As you descend to the village, you will see apricot orchards and the local irrigation system, which makes the most of what water is available in these arid mountains and valleys. A massive Buddha statue looms over the village. You can learn more about the local life here from the family you’ll stay with.
Hemis Shukpachan
The Buddha overlooking the village of Hemis Shukpachan. !
Travel time : No driving
Hotel: Cat D
Altitude max: 3880m
Altitude night: 3016m
Day 9
Lamayuru and the moonland
Villager working in the fields
Walking through the villages of the Sham valley will allow you to see the real life of the Ladakhi.
You will be on foot again, which is good as you will experience more and observe more while trekking. There’s a steep climb ahead of you as you head to the Mebtak La pass (3850m). After crossing the Ang village, you’ll reach Temisgang village, where you will rest overnight in a comfortable guesthouse.
Irrigation system
The villagers cleverly use the little water of the arid mountains for their farming.
Travel time : No driving
Hotel: Cat B
Altitude max: 3850m
Altitude night: 3270m
Day 10
Lamayuru and the moonland
Moonland of Lamayuru
The erosion of sandstone around Lamayuru shaped this very special landscape.
Lamayuru is another quaint Ladakhi village best known for its moonland. The sandstone here has eroded to create some interesting and stunning geologic formations. There is a monastery here too. Lamayuru is also the starting point for the trek to Padum, Zanskar. You’ll spend the night at a comfortable guesthouse.
Lamayuru
TThe village and the monastery of Lamayuru.
Travel time : 1 hour
Hotel: Cat C
Altitude max: 3550m
Altitude night: 3550m
Day 11
Alchi, Basgo – Leh
Basgo Gompa
The Basgo village has a monastery and some historical ruins.
Two beautiful villages that you will discover today are Alchi and Basgo. Alchi has a 1000-year-old monastery while Basgo too has a monastery and some historical ruins. You can take it easy, rest, and meander. You will stay in Alchi with dinner at a hotel.
Alchi monastery
Enjoy the unique ambiance of Alchi, a historical place.
Travel time : 1 hour
Hotel: Cat C
Altitude max: 3150m
Altitude night: 3150m
Day 12
Nubra valley
Nubra valley
Do not miss the Nubra valley and its beautiful waters flowing from the largest continental glaciers on Earth.
There are many reasons to look forward to this day. We go back to Leh and after a scenic drive, you get to cross the Khardungla at 5359m, the world’s highest motorable pass! Your descent ends at Diskit village in Nubra valley. You can do this stretch on a mountain bike for a good old rush. In the sand dunes of Hunder village, another ride awaits you: a Bactrian camel ride!
Sand dunes of Nubra valley
The erosion due to the glaciers of the Karakoram range has brought these sands.
Travel time : 5 hours
Hotel: Cat C
Altitude max: 5359 m
Altitude night: 3100 m
Day 13
Pangong Tso
Diskit monastery
Overhanging this magnificient valley, the Diskit monastery is worth a visit.
After visiting the Diksit monastery, we will take you back to Leh. This is a different route and does not cross the pass but there are many river crossings along this route, making it a memorable one. You will set your eyes on the mystical beauty and changing colours of Pangong Tso. You can also look for the stars in the lake at night as we will set camp here.
Pangong Tso
You will be amazed by the incredible colors that can be reflected on the lake.
Travel time : 5 hours
Hotel: Cat D
Altitude max: 4400m
Altitude night: 4400m
Day 14
Changla pass and Leh
Pangong Tso
After sunrise and the last photos,say good bye to the lake.
After experiencing sunrise by the Pangong Tso and a hearty breakfast, it is back on the road to Leh via Chang La pass (5300m). You can enjoy some shopping and pick up souvenirs to take home before tucking in your last dinner in Leh. Our guide can recommend some of the best places for a local meal.
Leh Ladakh
Use your last hours in Leh to be in the market place and enjoy a last Tibetan meal !.
Travel time : 5 hours
Hotel: Cat B
Altitude max: 5300m
Altitude night: 3500m
Day 15
Return flight to Delhi
On the flight to Delhi
Good bye Ladakh.
A taxi will take you to the domestic airport in Leh for a flight back to Delhi. An international flight from Delhi can be booked for the same day from the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
For more information on the Leh Ladakh trip itinerary, Leh Ladakh trip cost, and Leh Ladakh travel guidelines, contact us.
Wisdom of Ladakh
We hope that you get back to home enriched with some of the wisdom of Ladakh !
Travel time : No driving
Hotel: No need
Altitude max: 3500 m
Altitude night:
Ladakh tour – best time to go
Since the tour involves going through the high passes from Manali, the only time to do this is from June to October.
This is also the best time in terms of weather and temperature.
If you want to do this tour outside this short window, it is possible but
1. You will need to fly to Leh instead of going via the Manali to Leh road.
2. we may have to adjust the program as not all the places will be available because of snow.
JAN
Avoid
FEB
Avoid
MAR
Avoid
APR
Avoid
MAY
You may go
JUN
Good to go
JUL
Best time to go
AUG
Best time to go
SEP
Best time to go
OCT
Good to go
NOV
Avoid
DEC
Avoid
From our gallery
Ladakh tour photos
Itinerary
From Home to Delhi.
From Delhi to Manali
From Manali to Keylong.
From Keylong to Gya.
From Gya to Leh.
From Leh to Nimmu or Likir.
From Likir to Yangthang.
From Yangthang to Hemis Shukpachan.
From Hemis Shukpachan to Tingmosgang.
From Tingmosgang to Lamayuru.
From Lamayuru to Leh.
From Leh to the Nubra valley.
From the Nubra valley to Pangong Tso.
From Pangong Tso to Leh.
From Leh to Delhi.
A shorter version
From Home to Delhi.
You reach Delhi by air from your country.
From Delhi to Manali.
By train up to Chandigarh and by private vehicle to Manali.
From Manali to Keylong.
Meet your Ladakhi guide and travel up to Keylong via Rohtang pass.
From Keylong to Leh.
Today your cross the higher passes to reach the Ladakh area.
Stay at Leh.
Free time in Leh and visit of Thiksey monastery.
From Leh to Alchi.
Visit of the Likir and Alchi monasteries on the way.
From Alchi to the Nubra valley.
Crossing the Khardungla pass. Camel ride in the sand dunes of Hunder.
From Nubra valley to Pangong Tso.
Via a spectacular road and then enjoying the camp near the lake.
From Pangong Tso to Leh.
Going back to Leh via the Changla pass. Free time in Leh.
From Leh to Delhi.
By air and international flight to home.
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