Nubra Valley
A high-altitude river valley reached over Khardung La, with Bactrian camel rides on the Hunder dunes, the giant Maitreya Buddha of Diskit Monastery overlooking the Shyok River, and the Balti village of Turtuk.
Nubra Valley lies in Ladakh, India, and is reached from Leh by heading north over Khardung La, a pass of more than 5,300 m. The drive is about 4–5 hours and 120–150 km. The valley is formed where the Shyok River meets the Nubra River (which rises at the Siachen Glacier). The valley floor sits at about 3,000 m, lower than Leh, and the dry high-altitude desert is dotted with oasis villages, white sand dunes and sea buckthorn groves. Historically it was a key Silk Road route to the Tarim Basin and Central Asia. There are three main routes: ① the middle Shyok Valley – Diskit Monastery and the Maitreya Buddha, Bactrian camel rides on the Hunder dunes, and Hunder Monastery; ② the Nubra River Valley (toward Siachen) – Samstanling Monastery in Sumur, the sacred Yarab Tso lake, the Panamik hot springs and Ensa Monastery across the valley; ③ the lower Shyok – the Balti village of Turtuk and the Thang village border viewpoint. The best season is Jun–Sep, when Khardung La is most reliably open; in winter it is bitterly cold, camel rides stop, and the pass is often closed by snow. Entry requires a protected-area permit (ILP/PAP, which can be applied for online on the official Ladakh website with an environmental fee paid); foreign visitors have a more limited permitted area, so check the rules for the current year. Plan at least 2 nights: one at Hunder or Diskit and another at Turtuk. You can also continue directly to Pangong Tso via the Shyok road (subject to road conditions). Beware of altitude sickness: acclimatize in Leh for 2–3 days before crossing the pass.
Top sights
- Nubra Valley – A high-altitude desert valley north of Khardung La, home to the 32-metre Maitreya statue at Diskit Monastery and Bactrian camels on the Hun…
- Diskit Monastery & Maitreya Buddha – The oldest and largest Gelug monastery in the Nubra Valley, with a 32-metre Maitreya Buddha on the hillside overlooking the Shyok River val…
- Hunder Sand Dunes – High-altitude white sand dunes at the foot of snowy peaks, where you can ride Bactrian camels descended from Silk Road caravans. This is th…
- Hunder Monastery – A small monastery and fort ruins on the hill behind Hunder village, with a ridge viewpoint over the dunes, the oasis and the Shyok River.
- Samstanling Monastery – A Gelug monastery founded in 1841 on the hillside above Sumur village, with fine murals inside. It is the main monastery on the Siachen sid…
- Yarab Tso – A small lake regarded as sacred in the hills near Sumur, its water a clear green amid barren mountains, reached by a short uphill hike.
- Panamik Hot Springs – A sulphur hot spring village in the upper Nubra Valley, where steaming water runs down the hillside, with simple bathhouses for soaking you…
- Ensa Monastery – An ancient monastery on the cliffs opposite Panamik, reached by crossing the river and then hiking uphill. Its old murals survive, and the…
- Turtuk – A Balti village in the Shyok River valley, under Pakistani control until 1971, known for its terraced fields, apricot trees, stone houses a…
- Thang Village Viewpoint – The last Indian village in the Shyok valley west of Turtuk, with a viewpoint overlooking the villages on the far side of the Line of Contro…
Where to eat
- The Bonfire Restaurant – An open-air café near the Hunder sand dunes with treehouse seating and a bonfire. It is one of the few places in the ar…
Itineraries
- Ladakh: Leh, Nubra Valley & Pangong Tso – Fly to Leh to acclimatize, cross Khardung La into Nubra Valley, and travel along the Shyok River to Pangong Tso.