8N / 9D · Leh Ladakh
Srinagar → Kargil → Leh → Nubra → Turtuk → Pangong → Leh
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Arrive Srinagar airport and transfer to a houseboat. After lunch visit Nishat Bagh, the 'Garden of Pleasure' (1633), Shalimar Garden, the 'Garden of Love' built by Jahangir for Noor Jahan (1619), and Chashme Shahi, restored to its past glory.
Depart early through Sonamarg, 'the meadow of gold' at 9,000 ft, with an optional pony visit to the Thajiwas glaciers. Cross the Zoji La, stop at Drass — the second-coldest inhabited place in the world — then follow the Drass river to Kargil.
Drive to Leh past Mulbekh's 9-metre rock-carved Maitreya Buddha (7th–8th century), over Namika La (12,198 ft) and Fotu La (13,479 ft) — the highest point of the highway — descending the famous Hangro loops to Lamayuru, the oldest gompa in Ladakh. Continue via Khaltsi and Nimmu, visiting Sangam and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib en route.
After breakfast visit the monasteries of Shey, Thiksey and Stok Palace. Shey was the ancient capital of Ladakh, ringed by an enormous number of chortens; Thiksey is one of the largest and most impressive gompas, housing a two-storey statue of the Buddha and exquisite wall paintings.
Drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La (18,350 ft), passing Horzey and Gangles villages. In the valley, visit Diskit — Nubra's headquarters town — and its monastery, then continue to Hunder, where you may spot the double-humped Bactrian camels on the dunes.
Full-day excursion to Turtuk, a picturesque Balti border village 80 km from Hunder on the old Silk Route. Part of the area's dramatic recent history, its five villages came to India after the 1971 war; locals live by farming and supporting the Indian Army with mules and porters.
Drive from Nubra to Pangong via the Shyok route. Pangong — from the Tibetan 'Banggong Co', the long, narrow, enchanted lake — is saline, home to gulls and ducks rather than fish, with a famous ramp of land running into the water that photographers love.
Morning walk on the banks of Pangong Lake — the world's most famous high-altitude salt-water lake, shared between India (25%) and China (75%) — watching its fascinating changing colours. Drive back to Leh.
After breakfast, transfer from Leh to the airport for your onward flight — with sweet holiday memories. Our service terminates.