The Full Ladakh Circuit with Zanskar
A 15-day private Ladakh and Zanskar tour from Leh, linking Padum and Phuktal with Nubra, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri. Fourteen stay nights; May–October dates subject to permits and road access.
15-day private Ladakh and Zanskar tour from Leh
This route is for guests who want the big Ladakh circuit without padding: Zanskar's western approach, the new canyon road, Nubra and Turtuk, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri, all anchored from Leh. It works best as a private May-to-October journey because road, permit and stay decisions need local judgement.
Guide prices by group size and comfort tier
- Explorer · Solo: USD 2,200. USD guide price per person for solo travel. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Explorer · 2 guests: USD 1,900. USD guide price per person for 2 guests sharing rooms. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Explorer · 3 guests: USD 1,750. USD guide price per person for 3 guests sharing rooms. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Explorer · 4 guests: USD 1,550. USD guide price per person for 4 guests sharing rooms. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Premium · Solo: USD 2,500. USD guide price per person for solo travel. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Premium · 2 guests: USD 2,450. USD guide price per person for 2 guests sharing rooms. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Premium · 3 guests: USD 2,250. USD guide price per person for 3 guests sharing rooms. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Premium · 4 guests: USD 1,950. USD guide price per person for 4 guests sharing rooms. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees extra where applicable. Final quote is locked after dates, hotels, permits and vehicle count are checked.
- Luxury: On request. Luxury quotes use the strongest available Leh, Kargil and Nubra stays, with remote-night tradeoffs explained clearly before confirmation.
Full 15-day itinerary
Day 1 — Arrive in Leh.
Arrive at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, Leh, where your Himalayan Locals team meets you and handles the transfer into town. Leh sits at roughly 3,500 metres, so this first day is deliberately quiet: check in, hydrate, avoid alcohol, keep lunch light and give your body time to adjust before the long circuit begins. If everyone feels comfortable by late afternoon, step out for a gentle orientation walk around Leh Market or drive up to Shanti Stupa for a first view over the Indus Valley, Stok Kangri side and the old town below. Nothing is rushed today because good acclimatisation is what makes the Zanskar and Changthang days smoother later. Places covered: Leh Airport pickup, Leh hotel check-in, optional Leh Market orientation and optional Shanti Stupa sunset, subject to arrival timing and guest health. Route Leh Airport -> Leh hotel. Elevation Leh ~3,524 m. Stay Leh.
Day 2 — Leh acclimatisation and local orientation.
Spend a second night in Leh before entering the higher and more remote sections. The day can be shaped around Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery, Leh Palace, Tsemo Castle, Hall of Fame and the market, depending on how the group is feeling. Shey and Thiksey introduce the older royal and monastic side of the Indus Valley, while Leh Palace and Tsemo help guests understand how the old caravan town was built into the hillside. This is also the practical day: permit checks, oxygen and vehicle briefing, warm-layer shopping if required, and a clear explanation of how the coming Zanskar road, Nubra crossing and Changthang plateau days will work. Places covered: Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery, Leh Palace, Tsemo Castle, Hall of Fame and Leh Market, adjusted for acclimatisation and opening hours. Route Leh local sightseeing. Stay Leh.
Day 3 — Leh to Kargil via Aryan Valley and Lamayuru.
Leave Leh after breakfast and follow the Indus Valley west through Sham Valley. The route can include the Indus-Zanskar confluence at Sangam, Magnetic Hill and the Basgo side before continuing toward the Aryan Valley belt, where the villages, river terraces and cultural landscape feel very different from central Leh. Continue onward toward Lamayuru, where eroded ochre cliffs and moonland formations create one of Ladakh's most distinctive geological sections. Visit Lamayuru Monastery or pause for photographs before driving through Fotu La and the western Ladakh road system to Kargil. This night breaks the journey before the deeper Zanskar approach. Places covered: Sangam / Nimmu side, Aryan Valley side, Lamayuru Monastery, Lamayuru moonland and Kargil, subject to weather, daylight and road conditions. Route Leh -> Aryan Valley side -> Lamayuru -> Kargil. Stay Kargil.
Day 4 — Kargil to Padum via Dzongkhul Gompa.
This is the first big transition into remote Zanskar country. From Kargil, drive toward the Zanskar side through changing mountain terrain, village pockets and wide open valleys. The plan includes Dzongkhul Gompa, a quiet cliffside monastery associated with meditation caves and one of the most atmospheric cultural stops before Padum. The exact pacing depends on road condition, but the day is designed so guests understand the gradual shift from western Ladakh into Zanskar rather than simply arriving at the hotel. Reach Padum by evening, the main settlement of Zanskar and your base for the next exploration days. Places covered: Kargil exit, Zanskar approach road, Dzongkhul Gompa and Padum arrival, subject to weather, daylight and road conditions. Route Kargil -> Dzongkhul Gompa side -> Padum. Stay Padum.
Day 5 — Zanskar villages and monasteries.
Keep this as a full Zanskar day rather than another long drive. From Padum, cover the local valley places that give the region its character: Karsha Monastery above the valley, Stongdey with its wide views, Sani with its older sacred history, Padum town, village lanes, field edges and nearby viewpoints. The purpose is not to tick off monuments quickly, but to understand the pace of Zanskar: mud-brick homes, prayer flags, monastery courtyards and the quiet distance between settlements. This is also a useful buffer day in case the previous road crossing was long or weather affected the timing. Places covered: Karsha Monastery, Stongdey Monastery, Sani side, Padum local market / village time and Zanskar valley viewpoints, subject to weather, daylight and local access. Route Padum local exploration. Stay Padum.
Day 6 — Phuktal and Gonbo Rangjon.
Start early for one of the most powerful days in Zanskar. Drive toward the Phuktal access side, then continue on foot from the current road head toward the cliffside monastery built into a natural cave above the Lungnak / Tsarap valley system. The walk length changes with road condition, so the team confirms the exact approach close to travel. Phuktal is less about luxury and more about setting: prayer rooms, cave architecture, river sound and the feeling of a monastery suspended in the mountain wall. The day also covers the Kargyak side and the Gonbo Rangjon landscape, where the sacred rock peak rises from a wide high-altitude plain. Return to Padum by evening after covering the main southern Zanskar highlights. Places covered: Phuktal Gompa, Lungnak / Tsarap valley approach, Kargyak village and Gonbo Rangjon, subject to weather, daylight, road head access and group pace. Route Padum -> Phuktal access -> Kargyak village -> Gonbo Rangjon -> Padum. Stay Padum.
Day 7 — Padum to Leh by the Zanskar canyon road.
Leave Padum and take the new NPD / Zanskar canyon road toward Leh, one of the most dramatic road links in the Indian Himalayas. The drive follows raw river gorges, cut-rock sections, small settlements, cliff faces and changing views of the Zanskar River before reconnecting with the Indus side near Nimmu. In good road conditions, the Padum-to-Leh drive is still planned as a long mountain-road day of roughly 6-8 hours, with photo stops added only where it is safe and sensible. This road completes the Zanskar crossing instead of returning by the same old approach. Places covered: Padum departure, NPD / Zanskar canyon road, Zangla side views where feasible, Zanskar River gorge, Nimmu side and Leh arrival, subject to weather, construction updates and road authority guidance. Route Padum -> NPD / Zanskar canyon road -> Nimmu -> Leh. Stay Leh.
Day 8 — Leh self-exploration day.
After the Zanskar crossing, keep this as a self-exploration day in Leh. This is where the trip stops feeling like a race: laundry, cafe time, short walks, photography backups, permit rechecks and rest before moving toward Nubra, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri. Guests can explore Leh Market, the old town lanes, local cafes, craft stores or Stok Palace side at their own pace, with the Himalayan Locals team available for suggestions and vehicle coordination if pre-planned. The optional Royal Ladakhi Heritage Dining at Stok Palace fits best here if reserved in advance. Places covered: self-guided Leh Market / old town time, optional cafe and craft stops, permit reset and final preparation for the eastern Ladakh section. Route Leh self-exploration. Stay Leh.
Day 9 — Leh to Nubra over Khardung La.
Drive north from Leh and climb toward Khardung La, the high pass that opens the road into Nubra Valley. After the pass, the descent changes the mood completely: barren slopes give way to the Shyok and Nubra river valleys, sand flats, poplar-lined villages and the cold-desert landscape around Diskit and Hunder. Visit Diskit Monastery or the Maitreya Buddha viewpoint if timing allows, then settle into the valley for a slower evening. Nubra is not only a scenic halt; it is the transition from central Ladakh into the old trade-route world that once connected Ladakh with Baltistan and Central Asia. Places covered: Khardung La, North Pullu side, Diskit Monastery / Maitreya viewpoint, Hunder dunes or Sumur side depending on stay location and road timing. Route Leh -> Khardung La -> North Pullu -> Diskit / Hunder / Sumur side -> Nubra. Stay Nubra.
Day 10 — Turtuk and Thang.
Use the day to travel deeper into the far-western end of Nubra. The road follows the Shyok River toward Turtuk, a Balti village known for stone lanes, apricot trees, older homes, small bridges and a cultural rhythm very different from Leh. Walk through the village slowly with time for local stories, viewpoints and orchard-side pauses. If permits, security guidance and timing allow, continue toward the Thang side, one of the last accessible village areas near the Line of Control. Because this is a sensitive border region, the team manages permissions and local routing carefully and keeps the plan flexible. Places covered: Shyok Valley road, Turtuk village walk, Balti heritage lanes, orchard / viewpoint stops and Thang side if permitted by current security guidance. Route Nubra -> Shyok Valley -> Turtuk -> Thang side if permitted -> Nubra. Stay Nubra.
Day 11 — Nubra to Pangong by Shyok.
Leave Nubra and take the Shyok-side road toward Pangong, a route that avoids returning to Leh and keeps the circuit moving forward. The landscape is spare and cinematic: river crossings, gravel sections, ochre mountains, military road stretches and small settlements around Agham, Shyok, Durbuk and Tangtse. Road condition can change after rain or snowmelt, so the driver and local team choose timing carefully. By afternoon, the terrain opens into the blue sweep of Pangong Lake, where the evening is kept quiet for photographs, wind, light and a slower lake-side pace. Places covered: Agham-Shyok road, Durbuk / Tangtse side, Pangong first viewpoint and lake-side evening, subject to water crossings, road work and weather. Route Nubra -> Agham -> Shyok -> Durbuk -> Tangtse -> Pangong. Stay Pangong.
Day 12 — Pangong to Hanle via Chushul and Rezang La.
Start from Pangong and follow the eastern Ladakh road through the lake-side villages of Man and Merak before entering the Chushul region. This is a permit-led route with wide open land, memorial sites, military-sensitive zones and long empty stretches where local judgement matters more than fixed sightseeing. Stop around Rezang La Memorial if access and timing allow, then continue across the Changthang side toward Hanle. Hanle feels different from the busier parts of Ladakh: wide skies, scattered homes, monastery views and one of the clearest night-sky regions in India. Places covered: Pangong lake-side villages, Man / Merak side, Chushul region, Rezang La Memorial if permitted and Hanle monastery / village arrival, subject to permits and local security guidance. Route Pangong -> Man -> Merak -> Chushul -> Rezang La side -> Hanle. Stay Hanle.
Day 13 — Hanle to Tso Moriri and Korzok.
Leave Hanle after a slow morning and cross the Changthang plateau toward Tso Moriri. This is one of the loneliest and most beautiful sections of the circuit: open grazing country, big skies, nomadic landscapes, high-altitude wetlands and long horizons around the Nyoma and Mahe side. Continue toward Korzok, the village beside Tso Moriri, where the lake sits in a quieter, more remote setting than Pangong. Explorer guests stay in Kailash Homestay or a similar Korzok-side local stay. Premium and Luxury guests use the best available Korzok-side upgrade subject to date availability, with comfort expectations explained before confirmation. Places covered: Hanle morning, Nyoma / Mahe side, Changthang plateau landscapes, Korzok village and Tso Moriri lake, subject to road condition, permits and selected comfort routing. Route Hanle -> Nyoma / Mahe side -> Korzok -> Tso Moriri. Stay Tso Moriri.
Day 14 — Tso Moriri to Leh.
Wake by Tso Moriri and begin the return to Leh through Korzok, Mahe and Chumathang. The route follows hot-spring country, Indus-side road sections and small high-altitude settlements before gradually returning to the relative comfort of Leh. The evening in Leh is intentional: after Zanskar, Nubra, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri, guests should not be forced into a rushed departure morning. Places covered: Tso Moriri morning, Korzok, Mahe, Chumathang hot-spring side and Leh arrival. Route Tso Moriri -> Mahe -> Chumathang -> Leh. Stay Leh.
Day 15 — Fly out from Leh.
Your team coordinates the airport transfer, luggage timing and final departure support from the hotel. Leh airport departures usually require early reporting, multiple security checks and careful hand-baggage planning, so the morning is kept simple. If your flight is later in the day, the hotel checkout and vehicle timing can be adjusted as far as availability allows. This closes the full circuit: western Ladakh, Zanskar, Nubra, Pangong, Hanle, Tso Moriri and back to Leh without repeating the same journey twice. Places covered: hotel checkout, Leh Airport transfer and departure assistance. Route Leh hotel -> Leh Airport. Stay departure.
Inclusions
- 14 nights accommodation across Leh, Kargil, Padum, Nubra, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri as per selected tier.
- Daily breakfast and dinner on mountain days, adjusted by stay category and route feasibility.
- Private SUV with experienced Ladakhi driver throughout the Leh-to-Leh circuit.
- Airport pickup and drop in Leh.
- Inner Line Permits, route permissions and local coordination.
- Oxygen cylinder, basic first-aid support and high-altitude route planning.
- Himalayan Locals trip support before and during the journey.
Exclusions
- Flights to and from Leh.
- Lunches, beverages, cafe bills, snacks and personal meals not listed in the final confirmation.
- Monument entry tickets, camera fees and optional cultural experiences unless confirmed.
- Personal shopping, laundry, tips, porterage and room-service extras.
- Costs arising from flight changes, road closures, weather delays, illness, evacuation or force majeure.
- 5% GST, bank charges or international payment gateway charges, if applicable at the time of booking.
Private circuit planning questions
How much does the 15-day Ladakh and Zanskar tour cost?
Explorer guide prices start at USD 1,550 per person for four guests sharing rooms. Explorer is USD 1,900 per person for two guests, USD 1,750 for three and USD 2,200 for solo travel. Premium starts at USD 1,950 per person for four guests; Luxury is quoted on request. 5% GST, bank charges and payment gateway fees are extra where applicable. The team confirms dates, rooms, vehicle count and permits before locking the quote.
Which places does the full Ladakh circuit cover?
The 15-day Leh-to-Leh route connects Kargil and Lamayuru with Padum, Phuktal and Gonbo Rangjon in Zanskar, then continues to Nubra, Turtuk, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri before returning to Leh. Thang, Chushul and Rezang La routing depends on permits and current security guidance. Individual stops remain subject to road access, daylight and weather.
When is the best time for this Ladakh and Zanskar circuit?
This trip offers private dates from May to October, subject to high-pass access, road work, permits and remote-stay availability. Tell the team your preferred dates so it can check whether the full Zanskar and eastern Ladakh route is practical. A date inside the season does not guarantee every road section is open.
Is this a private tour or a fixed group departure?
This is a private SUV journey for one to four guests, with flexible dates on request. You travel with your own party and an experienced Ladakhi driver. Explorer, Premium and Luxury options change the accommodation and services confirmed in your quote; they do not make remote stays equivalent to city luxury hotels.
Are Leh airport transfers, flights and meals included?
Leh airport pickup and drop, a private SUV and 14 accommodation nights are included as per the selected tier. Breakfast and dinner on mountain days follow the confirmed itinerary and stay arrangements. Flights to and from Leh, lunches, personal expenses and unconfirmed extras are excluded; read the full inclusions and exclusions before confirming.
Do international visitors need route permissions for Hanle and border areas?
The trip includes permit coordination, but the permitted route depends on nationality, current permissions and local security guidance. Tell the team your nationality before booking so it can confirm the exact Hanle, Chushul, Rezang La and Thang access applicable to your journey. A published itinerary is not permission to enter every border sector.
Does the itinerary allow time to acclimatise in Leh?
The journey starts with two nights in Leh before the longer Zanskar drives. Day 1 stays quiet and Day 2 local sightseeing follows how you are feeling. There is also a Leh rest and self-exploration day after the Zanskar section, before Nubra and the eastern lakes. This remains a high-altitude journey; raise any health or mobility concerns with the team before confirming.
Is this a new trip or the same as Ladakh Beyond the Map?
This is a separate Leh-to-Leh private circuit for guests flying directly into Leh. Ladakh Beyond the Map remains the Delhi and Manali-start international guest route with more arrival handling before Ladakh.
How is this different from the Compact Zanskar, Nubra & Pangong Circuit?
The compact circuit is an 11-day Leh-to-Leh route focused on Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra and Pangong. This full circuit is longer and adds Hanle, Tso Moriri and a deeper eastern Ladakh finish.
Who is this route best for?
It suits international guests, couples, families and small private groups who want one complete Ladakh circuit without adding Delhi and Manali days.
Can the route be made more comfortable?
Yes. Premium upgrades are possible in Leh, Kargil and Nubra. Remote places such as Padum, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri depend on the best available local inventory.
What should luxury guests expect in remote sections?
Leh, Kargil and Nubra can be upgraded more strongly. Padum, Pangong, Hanle and Tso Moriri remain remote, so the quote uses the best suitable inventory available for the dates and explains comfort tradeoffs clearly before confirmation.
Are prices final?
Displayed USD rates are per person based on group size and sharing rooms. The final quote depends on dates, exact hotels, vehicle count, rooming and permit conditions.