Ladakh Itinerary: 7-Day Trip Plan, Permits & Budget

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive Leh, REST (no sightseeing)

Morning.Fly into Leh (3500 m). Reach hotel by 9 am, eat a light meal, drink lots of water.

Afternoon.REST. This is the most important rule. Sleep, read, do nothing.

Evening.Short walk near hotel only. Avoid alcohol and heavy food.

Day 2 — Leh local + acclimatization

Morning.Slow walk through Leh Main Bazaar. Shanti Stupa for views.

Afternoon.Lunch at a local kitchen. Visit Leh Palace (a short climb).

Evening.Hall of Fame museum (history of the Indian Army on the LOC).

Day 3 — Nubra Valley via Khardung La

Morning.Drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La (5359 m). Stop at the top for 15 minutes only — altitude is real.

Afternoon.Descend to Diskit. Visit Diskit Monastery and the famous Maitreya Buddha statue.

Evening.Stay in Hunder. Camel ride on the white sand dunes at sunset.

Day 4 — Turtuk + back to Nubra stay

Morning.Drive to Turtuk village (last village before Pakistan border) — beautiful and unique.

Afternoon.Walk Turtuk; small homestays do hot meals. Drive back to Hunder.

Evening.Restful evening in Hunder; mobile network is poor here, embrace it.

Day 5 — Drive to Pangong Lake (via Shyok)

Morning.Long drive (~7 hrs) to Pangong via the Shyok road. The lake first shows itself at noon.

Afternoon.Reach Pangong (4250 m). Stay in tent camp at Spangmik. Walk by the lake.

Evening.Cold + beautiful. Sunset on the lake is the trip highlight.

Day 6 — Pangong morning + drive to Leh

Morning.Sunrise at Pangong. Pack up by 10 am.

Afternoon.Drive back to Leh via Chang La pass (~6 hrs). Lunch at a roadside dhaba.

Evening.Reach Leh by evening. Hot shower, comfortable bed.

Day 7 — Monasteries + fly home

Morning.Quick visit to Thiksey Monastery (the most photographed monastery in Ladakh) and Shey.

Afternoon.Lunch, then to Leh airport. Most flights leave morning to early afternoon.

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Top things to do in Ladakh

Pangong Lake. The famous blue lake from "3 Idiots". Stay overnight for sunset + sunrise.
Nubra Valley + Hunder dunes. White sand dunes, camel rides, and Buddhist monasteries.
Thiksey Monastery. Most photographed monastery; great morning prayer ceremony.
Khardung La. One of the world's highest motorable passes — quick stop only.
Turtuk village. Last village before the border — Balti culture and warm welcome.
Leh Bazaar shopping. Pashmina, prayer flags, apricot oil, and turquoise jewelry.

Food in Ladakh

Ladakhi food is simple and warming. Veg eaters do fine; non-veg options are limited outside Leh.

For vegetarians

Pure veg places in Leh: Lamayuru Restaurant, Bon Appetit, Gesmo. Most kitchens serve veg momos, thukpa, and Indian thalis.

For Jain travelers

Tricky. Tell the kitchen — they can adjust to no onion/garlic but ingredients are limited. Carry packed snacks for outside Leh.

Must-try dishes

Thukpa — hot noodle soup with veggies
Momos (steamed dumplings)
Apricot jam from Hunder
Butter tea (po cha) — try once, it’s an experience

Budget estimate (INR)

~₹35,000 to ₹55,000 per person for 7 days (flights + permits + hotels + jeeps)

Flights (return, peak season)

₹10,000 – ₹18,000

Stay (6 nights mix of hotels + tents)

₹10,000 – ₹18,000

Food

₹3,500 – ₹6,000

Inner-Line Permits (ILP) for Nubra + Pangong

₹600 – ₹900

Shared SUV / jeep transport

₹8,000 – ₹14,000

Estimates. Costs vary by season, group size, and booking choices.

Practical tips

Rest 100% on day 1. Do NOT sightsee. Altitude sickness is real — 1 in 5 visitors gets some symptom.
Carry Diamox only on doctor’s advice. Drink 3+ liters of water daily.
Permits (Inner Line Permits) needed for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Turtuk — your hotel can arrange ₹600-900.
ATMs work in Leh but not in Nubra/Pangong. Carry enough cash for tips and small meals.
BSNL and Jio Postpaid work in Leh. Other SIMs don’t — your Pre-paid normal SIM won’t work in Ladakh by law.
Pack: warm jacket, sunscreen (sun is harsh at altitude), sunglasses, lip balm, a hat, and gloves even in summer.

FAQs about Ladakh

How many days are needed for Ladakh?

Minimum 6 days. Seven is comfortable for Leh + Nubra + Pangong. Ten days lets you add Tso Moriri and Hanle. Less than 6 is risky — altitude needs time.

Is Ladakh expensive?

A 7-day Ladakh trip is ₹35,000 to ₹55,000 per person including flights, hotels, jeeps, and permits. Going in a group of 4-6 brings the SUV cost down sharply.

How do I avoid altitude sickness?

Rest on day 1 — no sightseeing. Drink 3 liters of water a day. Avoid alcohol and smoking. Go up slow. If headache or breathlessness gets worse, descend.

Can I drive to Ladakh from Manali?

Yes, June to early October. Manali-Leh road is 470 km, 2 days driving. Beautiful but harder on the body — acclimatize at higher Lahaul stops first.

Is Ladakh good for vegetarians?

Yes — local food is mostly veg (momos, thukpa, rice and dal). Pure-veg restaurants exist in Leh. Outside Leh, options shrink but most kitchens can do paneer + rice.

Ladakh Itinerary: A 7-Day Plan for Leh, Nubra & Pangong

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