Cold desert beyond Khardung La
Cross Khardung La and the road falls into Nubra — a Shyok-and-Siachen river valley where sand dunes meet snow peaks. Double-humped Bactrian camels, descendants of Silk Route caravans, still pad the Hunder dunes; Diskit's 32 m Maitreya Buddha watches over the valley, and Turtuk's Balti villages grow apricots at the edge of the map.
Plan my Nubra Valley tripRide Bactrian camels across dunes at 10,000 ft.
The valley's great gompa and its towering Maitreya statue.
Balti culture, stone lanes and apricot orchards near the Shyok's bend.
Sulphur springs on the old route towards the Siachen approaches.
May–September; Khardung La remains open most of the year but Nubra is best in summer.
Leh → Khardung La → Pangong (day trips)
Leh → Alchi → Nubra → Pangong → Leh
Leh → Nubra → Leh → Pangong → Leh