Blog · 4 November 2026
Ladakh trip: Leh, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake, how many days, and what it costs
Ladakh is a high desert of bare brown mountains, blue lakes and old monasteries perched on the rock. Leh sits at about 3,500 metres, so the trip is different from any other holiday in India: you land, you rest, and only then do you head out over some of the highest roads in the world. It needs no passport, the flight from Delhi is short, and the views more than make up for the slow first day.
How many days do you need?
Plan on six to seven days. The first day, and ideally part of the second, is for resting in Leh while your body gets used to the thin air; don't skip it, as altitude sickness is the most common way Ladakh trips go wrong. Then spend a half day each on the monasteries east of Leh and the Indus valley sights to the west. Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley each take a full, long day by road, and many people prefer to stay a night at each rather than drive back the same day. Keep a spare day at the end in case a pass closes for snow or a flight is delayed.
What a trip costs
For a couple flying from Delhi and staying in a midrange hotel, a 4-day Ladakh trip in December comes to about ₹92,500, or ₹46,250 per person. That covers return flights, airport transfers, the hotel, food, local transport, the trips we pick for you and a 10% buffer. The biggest lines are the flight and the taxi for the long drives: Leh's taxis follow fixed union rates, so sharing a vehicle with another couple or a family cuts the cost a lot.
You can change the dates, travellers, hotel and trips on our Ladakh trip cost page and see every line update.
Things worth paying for
- Pangong Lake day trip: about ₹3,500 per adult. The lake changes colour from turquoise to deep blue through the day, and the drive crosses the Chang La pass.
- Nubra Valley via Khardung La: about ₹4,000, for sand dunes, double-humped camels at Hunder and the big Maitreya Buddha at Diskit.
- Thiksey and Hemis monasteries: about ₹1,500. Reach Thiksey early to hear the morning prayers.
- Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahib and Sangam tour: about ₹1,200, an easy half day where the Indus and Zanskar rivers meet.
- River rafting on the Zanskar: about ₹1,500, best in July and August when the water is up.
- Hall of Fame museum: about ₹100, the Army's museum on the region's history and the soldiers who served here.
- Leh Palace: about ₹30, a nine-storey mud-brick palace with views over the old town.
Free and cheap things to do
Your rest day doesn't have to be dull. Wander the main bazaar for apricots, pashmina and Tibetan handicrafts, and walk the narrow lanes of old Leh below the palace. Climb to Shanti Stupa for the sunset over the valley; there's a road to the top if the steps feel too much on day one. Sit in one of the town's cafés with a cup of butter tea or a plate of momos and thukpa, which cost little and keep you warm.
When to go
June to August is the main season: every road and pass is open and the days are warm, though it's also when flights and hotels cost the most. May, September and early October are quieter and cheaper, with clear skies and fewer cars at the lakes; September is many people's favourite month. From November to April it is very cold, many hotels close, and the trips to Khardung La and Pangong can be shut by snow, so a winter visit is only for people who want the cold.
Do you need a permit?
Indian citizens don't need a passport or visa for Ladakh, but you do need to pay the Ladakh environment fee before you head to Nubra Valley or Pangong Lake. It is done online through the Leh district's official permit site, and your hotel or taxi driver can help. Print the receipt or keep a copy on your phone, and carry a photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, as it is checked at posts on the way. Our trip cost already includes this fee.
Tips that save money
- Book flights to Leh early for June to August. Fares from Delhi rise sharply as the summer fills up.
- Pick a hotel with heating and hot water if you're going in May or late September; nights get close to freezing.
- Share a taxi for Pangong and Nubra. The fare is per vehicle, so four people pay half as much each as two.
- Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol for the first two days and walk slowly; a doctor's visit for altitude sickness costs far more than a lazy first day.
- Carry cash. Mobile signal and card machines are patchy outside Leh.
Want the numbers for your own dates and group? Plan your Ladakh trip and send it to us for live flight and hotel prices.