Nubra Valley

Routes, drives & experiences here

• Restricted

  Khardung La crossing (Leh → Nubra)

  Scenic drive

  high-altitude paved pass

  The main approach climbs from Leh over Khardung La (5,359 m), open year-round though it can close to snow. Acclimatise in Leh first — Acute Mountain Sickness is a real risk above 5,000 m. Falls inside the permit zone. Practical driving season is late spring to early autumn.

  Source: compiled from public information
• Restricted

  Diskit, Hunder dunes & the Shyok villages drive

  Scenic drive

  valley road + sand

  From the 'T-mord' fork, one arm runs to Diskit (about 120 km from Leh), the Hunder white sand dunes with their Bactrian camels, and on through the Shyok villages toward Turtuk near the Line of Control. Inside the permit zone; access below Hunder into the Balti area is limited to the opened villages only.

  Source: compiled from public information
• Restricted

  Sumur, Panamik & the north (Nubra) arm drive

  Scenic drive

  valley road

  The other arm runs to Sumur (Samstanling monastery, quieter dunes) and Panamik, known for its sulphur hot springs. Panamik is the furthest point tourists may travel up this arm before the Siachen approach closes to civilians. Permit zone.

  Source: compiled from public information
• Restricted

  Turtuk & the Shyok Balti villages drive

  Scenic drive

  valley road along the Shyok

  The furthest tourists may drive down the Shyok arm — Turtuk, a Balti village opened to visitors only in 2010, is among the last inhabited settlements before the Line of Control, with apricot orchards, buckwheat terraces and a distinct Balti culture. It sits inside the Inner Line / Protected Area Permit zone, so carry your permit and copies for the check-posts; the road runs close to a sensitive border, so heed all military signage and do not photograph installations. Beyond the opened villages the area is closed to tourists — reconfirm which villages are currently open before travelling.

  Source: compiled from public information

• RestrictedNubra Valley (Inner Line / Protected Area Permit zone)— Nubra is a sensitive military border zone. A permit is required to enter: foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit and, since 1 April 2017, Indian citizens also need an Inner Line Permit. Obtain permits through the official Ladakh (Leh) administration channel before travelling up from Leh, and carry multiple photocopies for the frequent checkposts. Confirm the current channel and rules each season.
• RestrictedSumur Lungpa high-lakes hike— A marked on-foot trail climbing from Sumur to two mountain lakes at around 5,200 m — the valley's standout day hike, for the well-acclimatised only. No drive; still inside the permit zone, so carry your permit.
• RestrictedPermits — apply online before Leh— Indian citizens no longer need an Inner Line Permit (abolished 2021) — pay the online Ladakh Environment & Development Fee (EDF) before arriving; foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for the whole Nubra circuit (Khardung La, Diskit, Hunder, Sumur, Panamik, Turtuk). The permit is applied for online and issued through the Ladakh (Leh) administration channel before you drive up from Leh; carry several photocopies for the frequent check-posts. Fees and the exact channel are set by the authorities and change each season — confirm the live requirement on the official Ladakh administration portal before travel.

Not every access detail here is officially confirmed — some are compiled from public information. Always verify current permits and closures with the Forest Department / governing authority before you go.