A practical 7-day Leh itinerary covering acclimatisation in Leh, sightseeing, Nubra Valley, an optional Turtuk day and Pangong Lake, with notes on the Shyok route and how to adjust the plan.
Seven days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Ladakh. It gives you time to acclimatise properly, explore Leh, cross Khardung La into Nubra and spend a night at Pangong Lake. This Leh itinerary for 7 days is built around those highlights, with an optional day for Turtuk.
The 7-day plan at a glance
| Day | Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Leh, rest | Leh |
| 2 | Leh sightseeing | Leh |
| 3 | Monasteries and Srinagar highway sights | Leh |
| 4 | Leh → Khardung La → Hunder | Hunder |
| 5 | Day trip to Turtuk (optional) | Hunder |
| 6 | Hunder → Pangong via Shyok | Pangong |
| 7 | Pangong → Chang La → Leh | Leh |
Fly out on day 8 morning.
Days 1–3: Leh and acclimatisation
Day 1: Arrive and rest
Rest for the whole day. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. See our altitude sickness guide.
Day 2: Leh sightseeing
Old town, Main Bazaar, Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa at sunset. Keep the pace gentle.
Day 3: Monasteries and the Srinagar highway
Thiksey and Shey in the morning; Hall of Fame, Magnetic Hill and the Sangam in the afternoon. Collect your permits for Nubra and Pangong.
Our Leh sightseeing guide and monasteries guide cover these days.
Days 4–5: Nubra Valley
Day 4: Leh to Hunder
Cross Khardung La in the morning and descend to Nubra. Visit Diskit Monastery and the Maitreya statue, then watch sunset on the Hunder dunes. Stop for tea at Khalsar on the way down, and take your time on the descent – the change from snowy pass to green valley floor is one of the highlights of the week. If anyone feels unwell at the pass, keep going downhill; Nubra is lower and symptoms often ease.
Day 5: Turtuk day trip (optional)
Drive west along the Shyok to Turtuk, walk through the village and return to Hunder. If you would rather rest, spend a quiet day in Hunder or visit Sumur and Panamik. Turtuk is lower than Hunder, and the drive follows the river rather than climbing passes, so it is a comfortable day for most travellers. Allow two to three hours in the village to walk the lanes, visit a heritage house and have lunch with a view of the river.
See our Nubra Valley guide and Turtuk travel guide.
Why this order works
The plan is designed around acclimatisation. You spend three nights at Leh's altitude, then sleep lower in Nubra for two nights while still crossing Khardung La during the day. Only on day 6 do you sleep higher than Leh, at Pangong – by which point your body has had nearly a week to adjust. Doing Pangong first and Nubra afterwards is possible, but it puts the highest night earlier in the trip.
Days 6–7: Pangong Lake
Day 6: Hunder to Pangong via Shyok
If the Agham–Shyok road is open, drive directly to Pangong. Start early – it is a long day. Read Nubra to Pangong via Shyok before you go.
Day 7: Pangong to Leh
Watch sunrise over the lake, then return to Leh via Chang La. Stop at Tangtse for tea, and if you still have energy, visit Chemrey or Thiksey on the way back into the Indus valley. Spend the evening packing and enjoying a last dinner in Leh.
See the Pangong Lake travel guide.
Packing for this itinerary
This plan takes you from warm afternoons in Leh and Nubra to freezing nights at Pangong, so pack layers: thermals, a fleece, a down jacket, a windproof shell, warm hat and gloves, plus sunglasses and sunscreen for strong sun. A small overnight bag for the Nubra and Pangong nights lets you leave larger luggage at your Leh hotel. See our Ladakh packing list.
Budgeting for a week
The biggest costs of this itinerary are flights, the taxi for days 4–7 and accommodation in peak season. Sharing a vehicle, travelling outside the busiest weeks and choosing homestays in Hunder and Spangmik can reduce costs considerably. Our Ladakh budget trip guide explains where you can save – and where you should not.
If the Shyok road is closed
| Day | Revised plan |
|---|---|
| 4 | Leh → Hunder |
| 5 | Hunder → Leh via Khardung La |
| 6 | Leh → Pangong |
| 7 | Pangong → Leh |
This version drops Turtuk but keeps both Nubra and Pangong.
Where to stay each night
| Nights | Base | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Leh | Choose a quiet, heated room; you will spend a lot of time resting here. |
| 4–5 | Hunder | Two nights in the same place make the Turtuk day trip easy. |
| 6 | Pangong | Spangmik or Lukung; book ahead in peak months. |
| 7 | Leh | Close to the airport road for a morning flight. |
The driving days at a glance
Days 4, 6 and 7 are the long driving days. Day 4 crosses Khardung La; day 6 follows the Shyok road; day 7 crosses Chang La. On each of these, leave early, carry snacks and water, and keep stops at the high passes short. Days 1–3 and day 5 are deliberately lighter so that you arrive at the long days rested.
What to book before you arrive
- Flights into and out of Leh, with some flexibility for weather.
- Hunder and Pangong stays, which can fill up in July and August.
- A taxi with driver for days 4–7, if you are not self-driving.
- Permits covering Nubra, Turtuk, the Shyok road and Pangong.
Adjusting the plan
- Travelling with family: skip Turtuk and keep extra rest. See the family trip guide.
- Travelling as a couple: add a slow morning at the lake or an extra night in Nubra. See our couple trip guide.
- On a bike: the same route works well; add a spare day for weather or mechanical issues.
- More time: add Tso Moriri or Hanle. See the tour combinations guide.
- Less time: see our 5-day Leh itinerary.
Alternative 7-day plan: Leh, Nubra and Tso Moriri
If you have already seen Pangong, or prefer a quieter lake, swap the second half of the week:
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Leh, rest and sightseeing |
| 4 | Leh → Hunder |
| 5 | Hunder → Leh |
| 6 | Leh → Tso Moriri via Chumathang |
| 7 | Tso Moriri → Leh |
This version involves more driving but takes you into the Changthang plateau. See our Tso Moriri travel guide.
A 7-day trip by motorcycle
Riders can follow the main plan with a few changes. Collect the bike on day 2 and take a short test ride, ride the monastery loop on day 3, then follow the same route. Keep the Turtuk day flexible as a buffer for weather or repairs, and avoid riding the Shyok route if water crossings are high. Our Ladakh bike trip guide covers rental and safety.
What this itinerary does not cover
A week is enough for the classic highlights, but not for everything. Hanle, Umling La, Zanskar, the villages of the Srinagar highway and – unless you choose the alternative plan – Tso Moriri all need extra days. If any of these are on your list, consider a longer trip or a second visit – many travellers return to Ladakh for exactly that reason.
Practical tips
- Permits must include Nubra, Turtuk and Pangong. See the Leh permit guide.
- Carry cash; ATMs are limited outside Leh.
- Pack layers; nights at Pangong are cold.
- Keep a small buffer: if weather disrupts a day, the plan can shift.
Book a 7-day trip with Tripsdoc
Tripsdoc's Leh Ladakh 7 Days Package page lists its current day-by-day plan and inclusions; compare it with this itinerary. For a custom version, contact Tripsdoc.
Final thoughts
A week in Ladakh is long enough to rest, explore and see some of the region's most memorable landscapes. Keep the first days light, plan around road conditions, and let the trip unfold at an altitude-friendly pace.
Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons): KennyOMG (CC BY-SA 4.0), Bernard Gagnon Canon EOS REBEL T4i (CC BY-SA 4.0), Fulvio Spada from Torino, Italy (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Frequently Asked Questions
Seven days lets you see the classic highlights – Leh, Nubra and Pangong – with time to acclimatise. Remote areas such as Hanle, Tso Moriri and Umling La need extra days.
Yes, by spending two nights in Nubra and making a day trip to Turtuk. This works best if you can take the Shyok road to Pangong afterwards.
Return from Nubra to Leh over Khardung La, spend a night in Leh, and go to Pangong the next day. You may need to drop the Turtuk day to fit this in.