The Nubra Valley

Affectionately known as ‘The Valley of Flowers’, the untamed Nubra Valley comprises the main Nubra Valley as well as the Shyok Valley and is famed for its spectacularly varied, otherworldly landscape of soaring snow-clad mountains, expansive sand dunes, monasteries and sparsely populated villages where you will encounter a whole new culture. Accessed through the mighty Khardung La pass (5,360m), the main Nubra Valley lies to the north of Leh. It offers splendid opportunities for relaxed bicycle rides through surrounding villages and lazy walks to little oases scattered along the rushing Nubra River. A typical tour of the main Nubra Valley requires two full days, and the quiet Kyaghar village, imaginatively renamed as ‘Tiger Village’, is fast emerging as an important hub for visitors to this region. The main attractions of the Nubra Valley include the 19th-century Samstanling monastery, where you can observe young monks chanting prayers; the crumbling yet atmospheric Zimskhang Palace with its small museum; the picturesque Sumur sand dunes, where you can watch magical sunsets and the sacred Yarub Tso Lake, which is set in the middle of a rocky outcrop and is reached by a short trek from the village of Sumur.

To the northwest of the Khardung-La pass, the broad Shyok Valley is fed by the Shyok River and consists of three distinct villages that were once at the heart of the trans-Himalayan trade along the historic Silk Road. First up is the slightly overgrown village of Diskit, with its striking 15th-century Diskit monastery, perched high up a hill, much like the famous Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, which offers stunning views of the valley. From here, a short journey will bring you to the serene village of Hunder with its green fields, white-washed traditional Ladakhi-style houses and the expansive cold desert often referred to as ‘the desert in the sky’. A walk through this outstandingly beautiful region takes you through the beautiful Hunder Gorge and concludes with a Bactrian camel ride designed to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Silk Route merchants. A tour of the Shyok Valley will not be complete without a visit to Turtuk – a distinct Baltistani village from where you can catch a glimpse of the K2 on a clear day. We recommend a minimum of two full days to explore the Shyok Valley.