Nubra Valley – A Comprehensive Guide for Travelers

For anyone planning a trip to the gorgeous Indian region of Nubra Valley, we have created a comprehensive guide for travelers. One of the must-visit places in Leh-Ladakh in India, Nubra Valley offers visitors phenomenal landscapes, a diverse geography, beautiful trails, and a distinct culture and lifestyle. Read on to find out more about Nubra Valley, the Orchard of Ladakh.

Nubra Valley

Nestled 10,000 feet above sea level in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir in India is Nubra Valley, surrounded by the snow-capped Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges. Nubra Valley was originally called Ldumra, meaning “valley of flowers”. Truly, it is the Orchard of Ladakh.

This high-altitude desert is the ideal place to acclimatize yourself for Ladakh once you reach Leh. When you travel from Leh to the high altitude Khardung La and then spend the night at a low altitude in Nubra Valley, it helps greatly with acclimatization.

Nubra Valley was once part of the old Silk Route to Central Asia. It connected Tibet with Turkistan through the Karakoram Pass. The valley is the gateway to Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world. Tourists need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Nubra Valley.

To reach Nubra Valley, you travel through the Khardung La Pass, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. The road to Nubra Valley is full of steep hairpin bends and stunning views. You will witness snow-capped mountains, deserts, rivers and lush greenery in the same region, along with quaint villages and monasteries. The valley is known for ancient gompas, hot springs, sand dunes, and the double-humped Bactrian camels.

Nubra Valley

How to reach

Here are the different ways you can reach Nubra Valley:

By air

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh is the nearest airport to reach Nubra Valley, which is at a distance of 120 kilometers from the valley. Leh Airport has direct flights from Srinagar, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Mumbai.

By train

The nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi, around 750 kilometers from Nubra Valley. The station is well-connected to other cities.

By road

Nubra Valley is well-connected to Leh by road. You need to take the Khardung La pass, one of the highest motorable passes in the world, to reach  Nubra Valley.

You can find shared cabs and buses, or hire a taxi from Leh Airport to take you to Nubra Valley. You can also drive a car or ride a bike from Leh to Nubra Valley. You can opt for a bike from the many bike rental shops in Leh. However, the road to Nubra Valley is not the safest, so riding a bike is not recommended for beginners.

Best places to visit in Nubra Valley

Nubra Valley is stunning in its landscape, and you will be mesmerized anywhere you go in this region. We have picked some of the best places you will witness in Nubra Valley.

Khardung La Pass

The Khardung La Pass is your gateway to Nubra Valley, considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in the world at 5602 meters above sea level! Nubra Valley is close to the Pakistan border and Siachen glacier, which is why the Indian Army puts maximum efforts to keep the pass open throughout the year.

You can spot wildlife such as Himalayan marmots and grazing yaks on the way to Nubra Valley.

Due to the low temperature, tourists cannot step out of their vehicles for more than 15 minutes, but there is a small souvenir shop at the pass run by the Indian Army. Tourists can stop here to sip on hot tea and check their blood oxygen level at this shop.

Khardung La Pass

Diskit Monastery

The town of Diskit is the main commercial hub of Nubra Valley, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the valley is the Diskit Monastery. Built in the 14th century, the monastery is more than 600 years old, the oldest and largest in the region.

The Diskit Monastery is perched atop a hill and offers panoramic views of the stunning Nubra Valley, snow-capped Himalayan peaks, and sand dunes. The monastery has several prayer halls and shrines, but the most renowned piece of architecture here is the statue of Maitreya Buddha, which is over 32 meters tall.

The statue of Maitreya Buddha atop Diskit gompa overlooks the Shyok river and some stunning landscapes. It was built in 2006 for protection of the home village, prevention of war in Pakistan, and promotion of world peace.

Home to around a hundred monks, the monastery has a few ancient murals, manuscripts, and thangkas, which gives a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the people of Ladakh.

Diskit monastery hosts the annual Dosmoche festival in February every year. The festival involves traditional rituals and dances.

Diskit Monastery

Hunder Village

When you think of the Himalayas, you think of snow, but there is a tiny village in Nubra Valley which houses a desert! Hunder Village, just 8 kilometers from Diskit, is known for its high altitude sand dunes, gorgeous landscapes, and the Bactrian camel. Surrounded by the Karakoram mountain range at an altitude of around 10,000 feet, these sand dunes are called “desert in the sky”. Once a part of the old Silk Route, Hunder is known for the sea buckthorn plants that grow here.

One of the most popular things to do in Hunder is the Bactrian camel ride. Bactrian camels are double-humped and were once used for transportation along the Silk Road. Today, tourists can take rides on these camels along the sand dunes of Hunder. You can also try quad biking at the sand dunes.

Hunder also has many ancient monasteries, of which, the Hunder Monastery is over 350 years old and overlooks the village and the surrounding landscapes.

The village has local markets which you can explore and try traditional Ladakhi cuisine such as momos, thukpa, and butter tea.

Bactrian Camels

Yarab Tso Lake

The pristine Yarab Tso lake in Nubra Valley might be Ladakh’s best kept secret. 15 kilometers from Diskit, you need to trek to get to this sacred lake. The trek starts from Panamik Village and you have to walk for around half an hour to reach the hidden lake. The lake is so clear and pure that you are not allowed to swim or wash yourself here. Just sit by the lake and take in the clean air – you will feel peace like nowhere else.

Siachen glacier

Siachen glacier is the longest glacier in the Karakoram mountain range. Located on the LoC (Line of Control), the 76 kilometer stretch is the highest battlefield in the world. Gained control of by the Indian Army in 1984, Siachen Glacier is still a point of conflict between India and Pakistan.

Siachen Glacier has been opened for tourists since 2019. Tourists can travel from Siachen base camp to Kumar post, located above 4,500 meters. During winters, the temperatures fall below -60 degrees at Siachen glacier.

Siachen Glacier

Samstanling Monastery

A quaint village in Ladakh, Sumur houses the Samstanling Monastery, the second largest in Nubra Valley. The triad colors, red, white, and gold are in full display at this monastery, but the monastery itself is hidden beyond a trail of plants and bushes.

The Samstanling Monastery was established more than 140 years ago by Lama Tsultim Nima. Home to around 50 monks, the monastery has two assemblies featuring Buddha artwork and murals.

From Sumur village, you can take a taxi or walk for fifty minutes to reach the monastery.

Turtuk Village

Known as the last village in India, Turtuk was once an important path on the Silk Route. If you love hiking and nature, you should definitely visit this picturesque village. The place is renowned for apricots and walnuts, and indeed, you will see the landscape of the village filled with rows and rows of apricot trees. This is also the largest apricot producing village in Ladakh, and the fruits are considered to be the sweetest in the region.

Turtuk is a predominantly Muslim province with around 3500 residents. The village has Balti population, an ethnic group of Tibetan and Dardic descent. The Turtuk residents speak Balti language, a mix of old Tibetan and Persian languages.

Turtuk is only 12 kilometers away from the Pakistan border. The village was opened to tourists in 2010. Before that, it was not accessible to outsiders or Indian tourists. 

Turtuk Village

Panamik Village

A small village in Nubra Valley, Panamik is 150 kilometers away from Leh and is in close proximity to the Siachen glacier. Before Turtuk and Siachen Glacier opened to tourists, Panamik village was the last village and northernmost part of Nubra Valley where tourists were allowed.

The village is known for its sulfur hot springs which have many health benefits and medicinal properties. A lot of patients with rheumatism and other ailments visit the village to take a dip in the hot water springs.

It is also a base for the trek to the Ensa Monastery, a 250-year-old monastery. This Buddhist monastery overlooks the white peaks of Nubra Valley. The ancient walls of Ensa Gompa are adorned with dark paintings, while the outside is decorated with prayer flags.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Nubra Valley is from June to October. This is peak tourist season, since the weather is pleasant and perfect for sightseeing and being outdoors. This is the monsoon season in most of India, but since Nubra is at a high altitude, it receives very little rainfall.

You will find crowds in many places in Nubra Valley during this season, but on the upside, there are more restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops open during this time.

From April to May, the weather is less predictable and slightly cooler, but tourists are also fewer in number. The natural landscape of the region at this time is scenic, with wildflowers blooming everywhere.

November to March is off-season in Nubra Valley. The weather is unpredictable and cold, with extreme drops in temperatures at night. Tourists usually avoid the region during this season due to the harsh weather conditions. Quite a few tourist services are shut, but if you do visit during this season, the place is a winter wonderland. Plus, with little to no tourists, you have the valley to yourself. Most of the festivals celebrated in this region happen during this season. Losar, Christmas, and New Year take place in December; Makar Sankranti in January, and Dosmoche in February.

Domosche Festival

Where to eat

You will find a lot of restaurants and food joints in Leh, but there might not be any options at the Khardung La Pass as you travel from Leh to Nubra Valley. Make sure that you carry enough food till you reach Nubra Valley.

Once you reach Nubra Valley, there are many eateries here, especially in Diskit, Turtuk, and Hunder. Most of the places serve Tibetan and Chinese food, including momos and thukpa. You will find a few places known for Balti dishes.

The Tibetan Kitchen, Corretto Leh, Bonfire Cafe, and Gyantse Restaurant are few of the places you should check out for some lip smacking food.

Where to stay

There are many hotels and homestays around Nubra Valley where you can stay during your travels. A popular tourist destination, Nubra Valley offers budget friendly camps to high end hotels for accommodation.

Diskit has a few guesthouses in the mid-budget range. They also provide tents if you want to camp outside. Sumur has a few camps with all the basic facilities. Hunder village also has some good 3 star and 4 star hotels for accommodation. You can even stay in homestays and learn more about the culture and lifestyle of the local tribes like Balti.

Nubra Eco Village, Stone Hedge Ladakh, White Sands Resort, Lchang Nang Retreat – The House of Trees, and Hunder Stay and Camp are few of the popular accommodation options in Nubra Valley.

White Sands Resort

Other essentials to keep in mind

• There is a hospital in Diskit village where you can get basic medical help and treatment.
• Most phones will not get a signal in the remote parts of Nubra Valley. A BSNL postpaid connection works in many parts of Nubra Valley, but there will still be a loss of signal in some places.
• There are no banks or ATMs in Nubra Valley. The last ATM on your way to Nubra Valley from Leh is on Khardung La road, so make sure you carry cash with you from Leh itself.
• There are two petrol pumps around Nubra Valley, one in Diskit, and another in Tangtse.
• Stay hydrated at all times. Try to carry a water bottle that you can refill in order to reduce plastic waste in the Himalayas.

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