Ladakh
Nubra Valley
High-altitude sand dunes and double-humped camels beyond Khardung La
Photo: RPSkokie (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
About Nubra Valley
Reached via Khardung La, one of the world’s highest motorable passes, the Nubra Valley is a startling high-altitude desert landscape of sand dunes at Hunder, home to Bactrian camels left over from old Silk Road trade routes.
- The Khardung La pass crossing itself
- Bactrian camel rides at Hunder’s sand dunes
- Diskit Monastery’s giant Maitreya Buddha statue
- Panamik’s hot springs
Things to do
Experiences in Nubra Valley
Cross Khardung La
One of the world’s highest motorable passes, a milestone stop for most visitors.
Ride a Bactrian camel at Hunder
A distinctive, double-humped species unique to this part of the Himalayas.
Visit Diskit Monastery
Home to a 32-metre statue of the Maitreya Buddha overlooking the valley.
When to go
Best time to visit
June-September, when Khardung La is reliably open.
Practical
Travel tips
An Inner Line Permit is mandatory for Nubra Valley — arrange this in Leh before departure.
Questions
Nubra Valley: common questions
Yes — the sand dunes, Bactrian camels and Diskit Monastery’s giant Buddha statue are unlike anywhere else in Ladakh.
Plan my trip
Planning a trip to Nubra Valley?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with an itemized plan you can change.