Leh Ladakh Trip with Hanle and Tsomoriri Lake (8D/7N)

Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights
Group Size: Minimum 3, Maximum 12
Best for Solo Travelers, Friends, Couples
Starting/End Location : Leh Airport

Gallery

Overview of Leh Ladakh Trip with Turtuk and Tsomoriri Lake

Hello Backpackers!

Few places on Earth don’t need a lot of introduction.

Situated at a height of 11000 feet above sea level in the rugged mountains of the Himalayas, Ladakh offers stunning landscapes and enthralling views for travelers.

It’s tough to explain the beauty of Ladakh. The extreme chill of the place is well complemented by the warmth of the Buddhist community here. A road trip to this dreamland will thrill and captivate you to its Monasteries, naked snow-clad Mountains, cold Desert, gravity-defying Hill, pristine Valleys, fast-flowing Rivers, and the best of all: a combination of the highest motorable Pass with insanely stunning Lake.

This backpacking road trip takes you to all the famous, important attractions of Leh Ladakh as well as offbeat places. At the same time, will give you time to get acquainted with the high altitude and lack of oxygen. With Leh as a base, we will explore places like Shanti Stupa, Hall of Fame, Magnetic hill, Pathar Sahib Gurudwara and Sangam to start with. We will then head towards northern attractions like Nubra Valley, Hunder, and Diskit. We will then move towards the most famous destination of Ladakh overlooking eastern borders, Pangong lake. After a night’s stay and experiencing magical sunrise at Pangong, we will move to offbeat and the road less taken places like Hanle, Tsomoriri, and Puga hot springs.

Land of an ancient civilization and captivating people, Ladakh is both alluring and awe-inspiring. Nicknamed ‘Little Tibet’, this sparsely populated, absolute gem of a destination with it’s incredibly sweet and friendly locals is a treat to backpackers.

It’s time to witness the clear blue skies. It’s time to marvel at countless stars. It’s time to dream. It’s time to live it. All at the same time.

Come join Muddie Trails in this incredible journey to the Roof of the World.

Leh Ladakh Trip with Turtuk and Tsomoriri Lake Highlights

The Out of The World: Pangong Lake
The dreamy Nubra Valley
The most beautiful fresh water Lake: Tso Moriri
Hanle Dark Sky Reserve
Puga Hot Springs
Hunder: Desert in the sky, Double humped Camels
Diskit with giant Buddha statue
The gravity-defying Magnetic Hill illusion
Leh Shanti Stupa
Hall Of Fame: Every Indians pride
The serene Pathar Sahib Gurudwara
Thiksey hilltop Monastary
Rancho School
Comfortable stays with Homestays, Guesthouses and Swiss Tents.

Why choose Muddie Trails? 😃

👉 Trusted by 14,000+ travellers over past 8 years, the number keeps growing day by day with numerous new travellers joining our family 🤗
👉 We focus on quality over quantity. We simply cannot compromise on quality of the travel experience. Our itineraries are also considered ‘value for money’ by our guests. The phrase ‘Paisa Vasool’ is a common word we hear on our customer feedbacks ✅
👉 Whether it is South, North or North-East, our team is well equipped with in-depth knowledge on local destinations that enables us in providing a more authentic experience. It’s not just about ticking bucket list of places with Muddie Trails, but also about making memories that will last forever ❤️

Inclusions

Travel (Tempo Traveler or SUV)
Stay for 7 nights on double/triple sharing basis
7 Breakfasts, 7 Dinners (All Veg)
Inner Line Permits for restricted places like Hanle, Tsomoriri etc.
Oxygen cylinder, first aid kit
Airport pickup/drop taxis (fixed timings)
Trip Captain (for Tempo Traveller)
Expert Driver, Operations Manager online support 24x7
Once in a lifetime experience of visiting all places in Highlights section.

Exclusions

Lunches
Any entry tickets, adventure activities, any kind of misc. expenses that are not in Inclusions
Any extra cost arising due to any change in the itinerary/stay/route on account of bad weather, traffic-congestion, landslides/roadblocks, natural calamities, political disturbances and/or any other factors beyond our control.

Itinerary for Leh Ladakh Trip with Turtuk and Tsomoriri Lake

Day 1 - Arrival at Leh and acclimatize to high altitude

Altitude: 3600 meters (11600 ft)
Once you deboard your flight at Leh airport, we will arrange a taxi to reach our guesthouse.
Spend a relaxing day to get acclimatized to the high altitude of Ladakh.
It is highly advisable not to move around today as travelers may suffer from dizziness, headache, or acute mountain sickness (AMS). Note that acclimatization is an important part of every Ladakh trip.
You can still explore Leh market on foot in the evening if you wish (though its not recommended).
By evening or next morning, our operations manager will brief you about the incredible road trip of the next few days.
Overnight stay on cozy beds of the Leh guest house.

Day 2 - Around Leh: Shanti Stupa, Sangam, Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahib, Hall of Fame

Altitude: 4275 meters
Start time around 9 to 10 AM after having Breakfast.
Today we will explore Leh and the surrounding attractions starting with Hall of Fame by Indian Army – every Indian’s pride. Note that Hall of Fame is closed on Mondays. If our Day 2 falls on Monday, we can visit an alternate place like Leh Palace (needs climbing up).
Head towards Sangam, the beautiful confluence of two mighty rivers: Indus and Zanskar. The Indus river originates from the Holi Mansarovar in Tibet, flows into Ladakh.
Visit legendary Pathar Sahib where Guru Nanak Dev, founder of the Sikh religion, is believed to have conquered a demon. Spend some time in the warmth of Gurudwara built in the 15th century and sit down for a quiet meditation for few minutes.
Stop by at Magnetic Hill – an optical illusion created by wondrous nature, where a slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope because of the surrounding terrain.
Give an evening visit to Shanti Stupa – Buddhist White Domed Statue located on a hilltop.
Head to the guesthouse by late evening, finish Dinner and rest for the night.

Day 3 - Nubra Valley via Khardungla Pass, Diskit Buddha Statue, Hunder Cold Desert

Max altitude: 5350 meters (17,800 feet)
Start time around 9 AM
Roadtrip to amazingly pretty Nubra Valley, known for its Ldumra (flower garden) via one of the world’s highest motorable passes called Khardung La.
Enjoy hot Kawa tea and Maggy noodles at the top of the pass.
Descend towards Diskit Monastery with 100 feet Future Buddha statue to get a stunning view of the valley.
The road to Nubra valley will continue towards international LOC, till the base camp of great Siachen Glacier (which we cannot go) which is well protected by Indian Army.
Stop by at Hunder which is also called ‘Desert in the sky’ to witness double-humped giant Camels. Want more? Take a Camel joy ride and make those cool reels for your Instagram. Hunder is also famous for its adventurous ATV rides.
Explore sand dunes and reach our campsite of Swiss deluxe tents by evening.

Day 4 - Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake

Altitude: 4250 meters
Important note: Gear up for long and tough journeys next 3 days. Try to squeeze in as much rest you can in the form of short naps.
Early morning start!
Head out on a road trip to one of the prettiest places on Earth: “Pangong Lake”, driven by the free-flowing river Shayok at one end and giant mountains with amazing landscapes at the other end. You cannot help but keep your eyes out of the windows as we cross many streams and barren mountains special to Ladakh.
Enjoy the stunning view of Pangong Tso with the purest & bluest sky in the background, pose for those photographs you have been longing for.
Pangong is the only lake we share a border with China, with more than half in its control. You would have had a glimpse of it in the Bollywood 3 Idiots movie.
We will spend quality time at Pangong through the evening.
Note 1: There are power restrictions at Tsomoriri/Pangong/Hanle. Electricity is only available till 9 PM usually. Power is generated by Solar panels & Diesel generators.
Note 2: Nights are usually very cold at Tsomoriri/Pangong/Hanle because of very high altitude.
Dinner and rest.

Day 5 - Pangong to Hanle Dark Sky Reserve

Go on a long journey to Hanle from Pangong Lake travelling through remotest parts of the country: Pangong – Tangste – Man – Merak – Chushul – Mood – Hanle.
Hanle bosats one of the world’s highest astronomical observatories with a giant Telescope located at 14,764 ft. It is a heaven for star gazers and people interested to witness Milky Way galaxy.
Travellers will be treated with magical night if the skies are clear. As the evening sets, be prepared with thick winter clothes to witstand extremely chill night.
The tiny village of Hanle is home to warm welcoming 1000 odd people only. As one can understand, the facilities are extremely basic.
Dinner and rest at a cozy homestay in Hanle.

Day 6 - Hanle to Puga Hot springs, Tsomoriri

Altitude: 4522 meters
Check out of Hanle stay after Breakfast, start journey towards next offbeat destination – Tsomoriri.
Spend quality time at Puga hot springs and marvel at the wonderful nature. This is a great place for the Social Media Reels too!
Reach Korzok village by late afternoon, check into our very basic stay.
Visit the most beautiful fresh water lake – Tsomoriri – wait for the sunset.
Get back to the guest house, finish Dinner and take good rest in the cozy rooms.
Note 1: There are power restrictions at Tsomoriri/Pangong/Hanle. Electricity is only available till 9 PM usually. Power is generated by Solar panels & Diesel generators.
Note 2: Nights are usually very cold at Tsomoriri/Pangong/Hanle because of very high altitude.

Day 7 - Tsomoriri to Leh, Thiksey Monastery, Rancho School

Altitude: 17800 feet above sea level.
Go on a road trip back to Leh.
Visit hilltop Thiksey Monastery with panaromic views of Ladakh landscapes. The artwork and the Buddhist prayer flags fluttering is mesmerizing.
Take a pit stop at Rancho School that got popular by 3 Idiots movie and pose for some pictures.
Get back to Leh guest house by late evening and say goodbye to our driver who has been with us past few days taking us through most rugged routes.
Interested people can walk down to Leh market for a round of shopping.
Finish Dinner, and gather around for social gathering one last time on your Leh Ladakh Trip.
Good night!

Day 8 - Airport Drop, Return Home

Check out of the guest house as per your flight timing. We will arrange one time cab service to Airport around 10 AM.
Take back memories of a lifetime. You will surely want to return to this magical place once again. But this first trip of yours will be etched in your memories forever.
Till the next time, say JULAY to Ladakh.

What to Expect From Leh Ladakh Trip

About Trip:

•⁠ ⁠This trip suits for people who wish to socialize and prefer group travel.
•⁠ Best for solo travellers, couples, small group of friends or family.
•⁠ ⁠If you wish to have privacy & luxury, then check out Private Trips.

Travel:

Trip starting/ending point: Leh Airport.
Tempo Traveler, SUV (Innova/Xylo/Ertiga)

Airport Pick-up/Drop:

Pick up (Day 1):
> 10 AM
Drop (Day 6)
> 9 AM
You may book Flights up/down to Leh based on above timings.

Booking Flight tickets:

We recommend you to connect with the team to review your flight timings before booking the tickets.

Stay:

Total 7 nights of stay
Comfortable Guest Houses / Homestays / Swiss Tents
2 or 3 sharing rooms based on final combination.
Leh 3 nights
Nubra 1 night
Pangong : 1 night
Karzok (near Tsomoriri) 1 night (offbeat place, basic stay)
Hanle village 1 night (offbeat place, basic stay)
You may get in touch with booking team if you wish to see stay pictures.

Food:

Breakfasts & Dinners included (All Veg).
Lunches are self-sponsored as we will be outside at that time.
How much you have to spend for good food?
200 – 250 per meal

Important notes about Ladakh:

Ladakh is a high-altitude destination that may not suit everybody.
Do your research on Acute Mountain Sickness.
Travelers are expected to come with an open heart, respect local culture, care towards the environment & climate change, and help each other.

Special disclaimer about Ladakh trip:

The journeys are long and tiresome towards the second half of the trip.
Not everyone can feel comfortable with this journey. But since we are covering all best places of Ladakh within a week (Leh, Nubra, Turtuk, Pangong, Tsomoriri, Puga, Hanle), we don’t have another choice.
Because of the unpredictable nature of rough Himalayan terrain, one should expect road closures or diversions in Ladakh which may alter the order and/or places in the itinerary. The Operations Manager & Driver will take a call on the changes in itinerary when such situations occur. No special requests will be entertained.
The homestays at Tsomoriri, Hanle are very basic.
There could be small changes in the itinerary as per different local factors.
Hot water for shower at Pangong, Hanle & Tsomoriri stays depends on Solar water heaters only. On a cloudy day, it would be difficult to get hot water.
If climate gets colder & you need heaters at stays, you can avail at extra cost directly at the stays. Some stays may have bed heaters, some may have room heaters.
Please book this trip only if you are fine with all the above points.
If you want a simpler trip, you may book Leh Ladakh 6 Days trip.

Seasonal Variations:

Ladakh has only 2 seasons literally – Summer & Winter.
Oct to April (Winter): As one can expect, most of the time it’s Winter in Ladakh because of the high altitude and geographic location at the top of Himalayas. One can experience freezing temperatures this time, as the land receives good amount of snowfall. Almost every corner of Ladakh gets covered with thick snow layers.
May to October (Summer): As the snow starts melting, Ladakh gets prepared for the onset of summer, and along with it the tourists.
Even though it’s the monsoon season in rest of India from June to October, Ladakh receives very less rainfall. That’s why it is called ‘Rain Shadow’ region.

FAQ

Things to carry

Basic Essentials

Tooth brush, paste, other toiletries
Small Bag (20-30 liter)
Backpack (50-60 liter)
1 water bottle (it’s important to drink plenty water and keep ourselves hydrated)
Personal medical kit
Original ID Card (Aadhar, DL)

Clothing Essentials

Thermal Wear
Jacket (Water proof)
Warm Inner-wears
2-Gloves (1 Woolen, 1 Waterproof)
Track Pants, Full sleeve T shirts
Sweater for nights
Socks (Cotton or Woolen)
Rain Coat / Poncho (Just in case)
Handkerchief/towels

Misc:

Cap/Hat
UV sunglass
Sunscreen SPF 50+
Lip Balm
Quick Dry Towels
Body Lotion
Sanitizer, Handwash for hygiene
Camera/Go pro (optional)

Medicines

Consult your doctor and carry medications necessary for fever, acidity, allergy, loose motions, travel sickness, vomiting and other common sicknesses that may occur while traveling to Himalayas and high altitude places.
Note: To avoid basic ailments, it is advisable to drink plenty water to keep yourself hydrated, avoid alcohol, and get as much rest as possible during the nights of your Ladakh trip.

What's next after booking your trip?

Organizers will get in touch with you, or vice versa.
Once minimum number of people book this trip (at least 4 members), Organizing team will give a green signal to book your flights.
A Whatsapp group will be created for all the registered folks 5 days before the event.

Terms & Conditions

The itinerary is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained. Travellers are not allowed to advice/instruct the Organizers (Driver or Trip Leader or Operations Manager) to change the itinerary.
Cooperate with the Organizers in following the schedule set for the day (especially getting up and getting ready in the morning). This will ensure travellers won’t miss out on the real fun part that is traveling and visiting all places in itinerary.
Every traveler is responsible for his/her for your own safety. Do not indulge in any illegal or silly activity that causes harm to self or fellow travelers.
Do not wander into the forest away from the designated trail for treks. There may be snakes, scorpions, and dangerous animals.
Unexpected situations: In rare scenarios, we might not be able to cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary because of unpredictable reasons like bad weather, landslides, wild animal presence, abrupt blocking of sites by the police/forest/local authorities, delay in travel because of an issue with our group itself, traffic conditions, etc. In most cases, if the time permits, the Organizers will take travelers to an alternative place. But in some cases, we may have to skip places altogether.
No alcohol & smoking during travel, treks, and other outdoor activities. There would be a separate window and space (usually at night) to have these at the stays for interested people.
Travelers are expected to respect each other and help one another. Avoid discussing sensitive matters like sex, politics, and religion/caste/race.
Using foul or abusive language, eve-teasing, arguing with fellow travelers/Organizers, and/or involving in the physical assault will not be accepted and will stand a chance of being deserted by the group then and there.
Every traveler is expected to digitally fill & submit a liability/waiver form given by the Organizers before the trip. This liability form will discharge Muddie Trails of any unexpected incident like injury/death/theft etc.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation by Traveler

80% refund if a cancellation request is sent 30 days before the trip start date.
50% refund if a cancellation request is sent between 30 to 15 days before the trip start date.
An email has to be sent to muddietrails@gmail.com to raise a cancellation request.
No refund within 15 days of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, COVID, Accident, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
No refund during/after the event.
No refund on the partial payment (advance) done to block your seat for the trip.

Cancellation by Muddie Trails

Muddie Trails may decide to cancel the event if there are less than 3 travelers signed up for the trip/trek.

What if we don’t get the minimum number of people for the trip?
We have 2 options in this case:
Option 1: Complete refund.
Option 2: Switch to any other long trip of the same dates or future dates. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.

Note: We do not recommend to book flight tickets until the trip is confirmed with atleast 3 travelers signed up.

Cancellation due to external factors

Muddie Trails may have to cancel the event in case of external factors that are beyond our control like Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions, Red Alerts, Political Disturbances, Bandh/Curfews, Local Issues, Road Blocks, Train cancellations, Covid-19 or any other disease outbreaks etc.

In these scenarios:

No Refund is allowed.
100% trip amount can be used for any other new trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.
Once you confirm your participation on the new trip, all the above Cancellation policies will apply for the same.