Ladakh in 7 Days — An Altitude-by-Altitude Itinerary
Altitude sickness is real, the distances are vast, and the roads are genuinely challenging. Here's how to do it properly.
Ladakh sits at an average elevation of 3,500 metres, and the altitude does something interesting to first-time visitors: it slows everything down. The body adjusts at its own pace, and the landscape — stark, wind-carved, and oceanic in its scale — rewards that slowness in return. A seven-day itinerary, done properly, gives you enough time to acclimatise, explore the major sites, and reach one or two places that most visitors never see.
Days 1–2: Leh — Arrive Slowly
Fly into Leh airport (3,256 metres) and do almost nothing on the first day. This is not indulgence; it is strategy. The most common mistake in Ladakh is rushing to a monastery on Day 1. Altitude sickness (headache, nausea, disturbed sleep) typically peaks between 12 and 18 hours after arrival. Rest in your hotel, drink water, eat lightly, and walk slowly around the Leh bazaar if you feel up to it. On Day 2, begin easy acclimatisation: the Shanti Stupa in the morning, the old palace and Leh Gompa in the afternoon. By the evening of Day 2, most visitors feel genuinely well and the real exploration can begin.
Days 3–4: Nubra Valley via Khardung La
Khardung La pass at 5,359 metres is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. The drive from Leh takes approximately 90 minutes. Cross in the morning before clouds build and descend into the Nubra Valley — a completely different landscape from Leh. The valley floor is wide and green with apricot orchards, sand dunes pushed against the mountains, and Bactrian (double-humped) camels that suggest you have crossed into Central Asia. Stay two nights at a luxury camp in Hunder. The star canopy here, far from any city light, is extraordinary.
Days 5–6: Pangong Tso
The 134-kilometre-long Pangong Lake sits at 4,350 metres and straddles the India-China border. The drive from Leh via Chang La pass takes about five hours. The colour of the water changes from cobalt to teal to indigo across the day, depending on cloud cover and light angle. It is one of those places that genuinely exceeds the photographs. Spend one night at a lakeside camp — the pre-dawn light on the Tibetan plateau is worth the early alarm. The lake is frozen from January to March and at its most vivid blue in October and November.
Day 7: Hemis Monastery and Return to Leh
Hemis is the largest and wealthiest monastery in Ladakh, built around a 17th-century courtyard filled with thangkas, butter lamps, and the smell of juniper incense. It is also home to one of Ladakh's great annual festivals — the Hemis Tsechu in June or July — when monk dancers in silk costumes and gold masks perform the cham dance under an open sky. On your final day, visit Hemis in the morning and return to Leh in the afternoon for a last walk through the market before a dawn flight out.
What to Pack and Practical Notes
Sun protection is critical at altitude — the UV index is significantly higher than at sea level. Carry sunscreen (SPF 50+), quality sunglasses, and lip balm. Diamox (acetazolamide) is worth discussing with your doctor before travel; most Ladakh veterans carry it as a precaution. Layers are essential: mornings can be 2°C and afternoons 20°C in the same day. Our ground team in Leh coordinates all permits (Inner Line Permit, Protected Area Permit) and has vehicles with experienced mountain drivers.
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Dev has trekked across Ladakh by motorcycle four times and led high-altitude expeditions from Spiti to Patagonia. He plans all adventure and high-altitude itineraries at Passage Pioneer.