Ladakh Kashmir Road Trip

Today we drive to the famous Nubra Valley by crossing Khardung La Pass at 17,582 ft. You will feel like you are on top of the world. After a short photo stop at the top, we descend into the valley of flowers. We visit the Diskit Monastery, which has a massive golden Buddha statue. In the evening, we visit the Hunder Sand Dunes for a ride on the unique Double-Humped Bactrian Camels. Staying in a deluxe camp at 3,000m is very pleasant. This 160 km journey shows you the dramatic change from snow to desert.

We take an early morning drive to Turtuk village, which is the northernmost point of India near the Line of Control. This village was under Pakistan's control until 1971 and has a very unique Balti culture and language. You will see beautiful apricot orchards and stone houses. The village is very green and sits at a lower altitude of 2,800m. After exploring the village and meeting the friendly locals, we drive back to Hunder for the night. This 140 km round trip is one of the most scenic and culturally interesting parts of the journey.

We drive 170 km from Nubra Valley to the world-famous Pangong Lake. The road follows the Shyok River and has some adventurous sections with water crossings. Pangong Lake is a high-altitude saline lake at 4,225m and is shared between India and China. The water reflects different shades of blue and green throughout the day. You can spend the evening walking along the shore and taking photos at the famous movie spots. We stay in a campsite or guest house near the lake. It is very cold here at night, so keep your woolens ready.

Today we start our drive toward Kashmir, covering 210 km to Kargil. On the way, we visit the Magnetic Hill, where the road defies gravity, and the Sangam point of Indus and Zanskar rivers. We stop at the ancient Lamayuru Monastery and see the Moonland landscape which looks like the lunar surface. We cross the Namika La and Fotu La passes before reaching the historic town of Kargil. We also visit the Maitreya Buddha at Mulbek, a huge statue carved into a rock. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kargil town.

We start early for our final destination, Srinagar. We drive 210 km and cross the famous Zojila Pass at 3,528m. On the way, we visit the Drass War Memorial to honor the Indian army heroes. We then enter the lush green Kashmir Valley at Sonamarg, which is known as the Meadow of Gold. By late afternoon, we reach Srinagar and check into a traditional wooden houseboat on Dal Lake. In the evening, enjoy a peaceful Shikara ride on the lake. This is a perfect end to your Ladakh Kashmir road trip packages.

Your 9-day Himalayan road trip concludes today. After breakfast on the houseboat, our driver will transfer you to the Srinagar International Airport for your flight home. You leave with wonderful memories of high mountain passes, blue lakes, and the warm hospitality of both Ladakh and Kashmir. From the dry mountains of Leh to the floating gardens of Srinagar, you have seen the best of the Himalayas. We hope you enjoyed the journey with Mountain Intelligence and look forward to seeing you again. Safe travels back to your home.