Nubra Valley Travel Guide: Dunes, Camels and Diskit Monastery

The Nubra Valley is a cold desert over the Khardung La pass from Leh, with sand dunes, Bactrian camels, Diskit monastery and Turtuk village. It is one of the classic stops on a Ladakh itinerary, usually reached on day three after acclimatising in Leh.

• The sand dunes, home to double-humped Bactrian camels
• Diskit monastery
• Turtuk village
• The drive itself, over the Khardung La pass

One night is the usual allowance, reached on day three of a classic Ladakh week and followed by a crossing to Pangong Lake the next day.

May to September is the season, when the pass and roads are open. Nubra is a restricted area and needs a permit — a Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors, an Inner Line Permit or environmental fee for Indian travellers — which a registered operator arranges.

Nubra is reached by road from Leh, over the Khardung La pass, one of the classic stages of a Ladakh itinerary. Go gently: this is higher and further from help than Leh, so it should follow, not replace, your acclimatisation days.