Heres Why You MUST Visit Nubra Valley in Ladakh

It is really difficult not to 'ooh and aah' at every turn you take in Ladakh, and I say this irrespective of the number of times you visit this breathtaking place! Travelling to Ladakh was like a dream come true for us and trust me, it is worth all the hype.

I couldn't possibly write about Ladakh in one part because it's hard to not get distracted and start dreaming about the mighty mountains, glistening lakes and expansive gorgeous desert. So, I am going to break it into parts, starting with one of the most incredible and offbeat places to visit in Ladakh - The Nubra Valley.

The Shyok river meets the Nubra river to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and Karakorum ranges and this is the stunning Nubra valley we will be exploring. Now that you get a picture geographically, it is easier to imagine the landscape- mighty mountain faces, unreal trails and Shyok river flowing though the Valley.

Before we get into the highlights of Nubra Valley, let's first dive into the logistics.

How to reach?

The closest airport is Leh, about 180 km away. You can hire a taxi or even board a bus from Leh to reach Nubra valley. This drive will take you through the highest motorable road- Khardung La, never ending stunning panoramas, snow-covered mountains. Some permits are required before hand which can be easily arranged once you reach Leh.

PS: While Khardung La gets extremely crowded, it makes for a beautiful photo opportunity amidst the snow-covered mountains.

Here's the full route we followed for our Ladakh road trip:

(Check out the reel)

Best time to visit:

May to August is the peak tourist season for Ladakh. However, we would suggest travelling in the shoulder months of April, September and October. In the winter months of January to March, a lot of areas, hotels and roads remain shut. Having said that, most of Nubra valley remains open in the winter months as well. You will have to check beforehand to go further to Pangong Tso and other location at a higher altitude.

Where to stay?

There are many campsites, hotels and guest houses in this region and finding a place to stay in any budget should not be an issue. Since almost all villages in the valley have accommodation facilities, you can pick one and do day trips from there.

Hunder is the most active commercially as camel safari, ATV rides and more activities take place here. If hot springs is your fancy, stay in Panamik. We stayed at Sumur and can't recommend it enough for it panoramic views. It was a bit of a drive from the more popular side (Hunder side) of the valley but definitely worth it.

Exploring Nubra Valley:

You can spend 2 to 4 days exploring Nubra valley. Well, you can obviously spend more time depending on the length of your trip. Here are our top 5 highlights from our time there (in no particular order):

1. Absolutely stunning Maitreya Buddha at Diskit.

2. ATV rides and the popular Bactrian camels and sand dunes at Hunder.

3. Exploring the gateway to Siachen, the last village - Turtuk.

4. Stay at Nubra Eco Lodge amidst the Karakoram range in Sumur.

5. Can't miss the absolutely gorgeous panoramic views anywhere, everywhere!

We couldn't make it to Panamik Hot springs as we ran out of time which also brings me to the fact that it is very easy to get lost in ticking off a long list while you are here but spend as much time as you can soaking in all the gorgeous views around you. For the rest, there is always a next time :)