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Nubra Valley

Nubra Valley

adventure spot · Leh & Ladakh

Nubra Valley is a striking tri-armed high-altitude river valley positioned north of Leh, sitting at an average elevation of nearly 3,048 metres.

State
Leh & Ladakh
Type
Adventure Spot
Best season
Monsoon
Things to do
3+

Nubra Valley is a striking tri-armed high-altitude river valley positioned north of Leh, sitting at an average elevation of nearly 3,048 metres. Carved over millennia by the confluence of the Shyok and Nubra rivers, it acts as a dramatic buffer separating the Ladakh mountain chain from the giant peaks of the Karakoram range. The geography presents an incredible landscape transition, shifting rapidly from jagged mountain cliffs and lush village oasis farms to rolling white sand dunes. The core tourism activity is centered around Hunder village, home to a cold desert ecosystem populated by rare double-horned Bactrian camels. The entire valley floor is overlooked by the historic Diskit Monastery, which houses a colossal outdoor statue of Maitreya Buddha facing down the valley.

When to go

The valley is best visited between June and September when the Khardung La highway pass is completely dry and safe for driving.

Why visit

Over Khardung La and down the other side: sand dunes with Bactrian camels at Hunder, a thirty-metre Maitreya above Diskit, and Turtuk, a Balti village that was in Pakistan until 1971 and has only been open to visitors since 2010.

Cultural notes

Historically referenced as Ldumra, the valley formed a strategic section of the ancient Silk Road trading corridor connecting India with Yarkand and Central Asian routes.

How to reach

Accessible from Leh by driving across the famous Khardung La pass using high-ground clearance private or commercial utility vehicles.

Nubra Valley guide & itineraries

Popular attractions

The places in Nubra Valley most people come for.

Hunder Sand Dunes

Hunder Sand Dunes

Attraction

Diskit Monastery

Diskit Monastery

Attraction

Turtuk Village

Turtuk Village

Hidden Gem

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More to explore in Leh & Ladakh

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Zanskar Valley
Place

Zanskar Valley

Zanskar is one of the last genuinely difficult journeys left in India, and that is the whole appeal. The valley is cut off by snow for around seven months of the year. In summer a single road comes in over the Pensi La from Kargil, and it is long, rough and worth every hour of it. Padum is the only real settlement. Phuktal monastery is built into a cliff cave above a river and takes a walk of several hours to reach — there is no road to it, which is why it feels the way it does. In deep winter, when the road closes, the frozen Zanskar river itself becomes the route: the Chadar trek, walked on the ice in temperatures well below freezing. It is a serious undertaking, not a holiday, and it needs a proper operator and real cold-weather experience. It has also become less reliable as winters warm, and trips are cancelled. If you are coming in summer, budget more days than the distance suggests. Landslides close the road, and there is no alternative route. July to early September for the road. Late January and February for the ice.

Details
Alchi Monastery
Spiritual

Alchi Monastery

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Thiksey Monastery
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Thiksey Monastery

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Pangong Tso
Attraction

Pangong Tso

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Tso Kar
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Tso Kar

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Stok Palace
Culture

Stok Palace

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Kyagar Tso
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Kyagar Tso

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Shey Palace
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Shey Palace

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Startsapuk Tso

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Basgo Fort
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Basgo Fort

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