Leh Ladakh Itinerary: 5, 6, 7 and 9-Day Plans

A good Leh Ladakh itinerary does two things: it lets your body adjust to the altitude before you go higher, and it links the valleys in a sensible loop so you do not repeat roads. Below are tried-and-tested plans for 5, 6, 7 and 9 days, the same routes we use for our packages, with approximate driving distances and times.

All plans start and end at Leh airport. Add a day to any plan if you are travelling with children or seniors.

1. Day 1: arrive in Leh, rest all day; evening at Shanti Stupa and the market.
2. Day 2: Leh to Nubra Valley over Khardung La (about 125 km, 4–5 hours); camel ride at Hunder.
3. Day 3: Nubra to Pangong Lake via the Shyok river road (about 150 km, 6–7 hours); night at the lake.
4. Day 4: Pangong to Leh over Chang La (about 140 km, 4–5 hours), visiting Thiksey and Shey.
5. Day 5: fly home.

This is a fast plan for fit adults. See our 4-night Ladakh package.

1. Day 1: arrive and drive to Sham Valley (70 km) to rest at a slightly lower altitude.
2. Day 2: Alchi, the Sangam, Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill and the Hall of Fame on the way to Leh; evening at Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace.
3. Day 3: Leh to Nubra over Khardung La.
4. Day 4: Nubra to Pangong via the Shyok road.
5. Day 5: Pangong to Leh via Chang La, Thiksey and Shey.
6. Day 6: fly home.

Our recommended plan for a first visit. See the 5-night Leh Ladakh package.

Follow the 6-day plan, but spend two nights in Nubra and use the extra day for Turtuk and Thang, India's northernmost villages near the Line of Control (about 190 km round trip from Hunder). Alternatively, families can spend two nights in Leh at the start and a relaxed last day in Leh. See Ladakh 6 nights with Turtuk and our Ladakh family tour.

1. Day 1: arrive, rest in Sham Valley.
2. Day 2: Sham Valley sights to Leh.
3. Day 3: Leh to Nubra.
4. Day 4: Turtuk and Thang day trip.
5. Day 5: Nubra to Pangong.
6. Day 6: Pangong to Hanle via Chushul and Kaksang La (about 200 km).
7. Day 7: Umling La and Demchok loop (10–12 hours).
8. Day 8: Hanle to Leh via Chumathang hot springs (about 250 km).
9. Day 9: fly home.

See our Hanle and Umling La tour. For a road trip instead, try the Manali to Leh to Srinagar journey.

Five to seven nights is ideal for a first trip. Three nights is enough only for Leh and a long day trip to Pangong; four nights is possible but rushed. With 10 days or more, you can combine Ladakh with a road trip from Manali or Srinagar, or add Zanskar.

1. Day 1: arrive and rest all day in Leh.
2. Day 2: easy excursion to the Hall of Fame, Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill and the Sangam.
3. Day 3: Leh to Nubra, with only a short stop at Khardung La.
4. Day 4: Nubra to Pangong.
5. Day 5: Pangong to Leh via Thiksey and Shey.
6. Day 6: relaxed sightseeing and shopping in Leh.
7. Day 7: fly home.

Times are approximate and exclude stops; road and weather conditions can add more.

• Never go to Nubra, Pangong or Hanle on your first day.
• Stay at Pangong after Nubra, not before; it is higher than Leh.
• Avoid doing Pangong as a day trip from Leh if you can; it is a 10 to 11-hour day.
• Leave a spare day for weather or road closures if you have a connecting flight.
• Driving times are approximate and depend on road conditions and stops.