Monastery and Village Tours in Ladakh

After breakfast, you head west along the Indus River on a 100 km loop through Sham Valley one of the most visited day routes out of Leh, and for good reason.

Hall of Fame Built by the Indian Army, this museum documents the 1999 Kargil War. Straightforward, sober, worth the stop.

Gurudwara Patthar Sahib About 40 km from Leh, this gurudwara was built in 1571 to mark Guru Nanak's passage through the region. The boulder inside the prayer hall is the one his body is said to have left an imprint on. Langar (free community meal) is usually available.

Magnetic Hill Put your car in neutral and it rolls uphill. It's an optical illusion caused by the surrounding terrain, but it still confuses everyone every single time.

Sangam at Nimmu Where the Zanskar meets the Indus. The two rivers run side by side in distinct colors for a stretch before mixing. River rafting is available here if you want the optional activity.

• Distance: 100 km round trip from Leh
• Key Stops: Hall of Fame, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Sangam Point
• Optional: White water rafting on Zanskar River (at own cost)

Early breakfast, then up and over Khardung La at 18,380 ft one of the highest motorable roads on earth. The drive is slow and cold at the top; bring a jacket regardless of the season. Two checkpoints flank the pass and entry requires your original ID.

The descent into Nubra Valley is the real surprise. You've been in high-altitude desert for days and suddenly there are trees. Deskit village is the valley headquarters a row of shops, a weekly market, and the 500-year-old Deskit Gompa perched above it all. The gompa was founded in 1420 AD and around 100 monks still live there; it's a branch monastery of Thikse.

You'll stay at Hundar village, a short drive from Deskit. In the afternoon, head out to the sand dunes for a double-hump Bactrian camel ride these are the same camels that walked the ancient Silk Route through here. The dunes are modest by Sahara standards, but the backdrop of snow peaks makes it unlike any other camel ride in India.

• Max Altitude: 18,380 ft (Khardung La Pass)
• Drive Distance: 125 km from Leh to Hundar
• Highlights: Khardung La, Deskit Monastery, Hundar Sand Dunes, Bactrian Camel Ride

Up early for a quick visit to Diskit Monastery before the day warms up. The view of Nubra Valley from the monastery courtyard is the best you'll get of the entire valley in one frame.

Then the day's main drive: across to Pangong Tso via the Shayok Valley road. It's roughly 150 km and takes 5 to 6 hours. The road follows the Shayok River through narrow gorges before the landscape opens up at Pangong.

Pangong Tso sits at 14,000 ft and stretches 134 km about 60% of it inside Tibet. The color of the water shifts through blue and green depending on light and time of day. There's no dramatic buildup; you come around a bend and it's just there. Most people go quiet for a few minutes.

After some time at the lake, including a stop at the "3 Idiots" filming location if you want, you drive back to Leh. It's a long day roughly 10 to 12 hours total. Overnight at hotel in Leh.

• Altitude: 14,000 ft (Pangong Tso)
• Drive Distance: 150 km Nubra to Pangong via Shayok + ~220 km Pangong to Leh
• Key Stops: Diskit Monastery, Shayok Valley, Pangong Lake, 3 Idiots Point