THE BEST ITINERARY FOR LADAKH AND KASHMIR

Lamayuru one of the famous monasteries in Ladakh

Although it has an amazing landscape and unique culture, North India is one of the less discovered tourist destinations. Once you are there, it is highly recommended to combine your Ladakh trip with Kashmir.

Ladakh is one of the highest inhabited places on earth, encompassed by mountain passes. It is a unique corner of the world that has existed in isolation for centuries until it opened up for tourists in 1974. The population is mainly Buddhist and follows a Tibetan lifestyle. The area surrounded by high mountains has a distinct feature: it is dry as a desert. Ladakh became popular after the mid-1980s when Kashmir was engulfed in security issues, and tourists turned their attention to Ladakh. The authorities facilitated access after the opening of the new route from Himachal Pradesh, the Rohtang Pass.

Kashmir is the complete opposite of Ladakh. Located between the Pir Panjal and Himalaya ranges, the clean and lush green Kashmir valley could be in the Alps with expansive pine forests, crystal-clear waters, and 4000-5000 meter high mountains. Kashmir and Srinagar were always famous for their lakes and gardens. The Mughal Emperors, especially Jahangir, adored Kashmir and considered it as the jewel of his Empire. 

Read more about the best things to do and places to visit in Srinagar

What to visit in Kashmir

Listen the Amateur Traveler’s podcast about Ladakh and Kashmir, where I share useful tips about traveling there!

Are you planning to visit Ladakh and Kashmir? Here you find a two-week itinerary about the best places to visit.

How to go to Ladakh?

Flights: There are direct flights all year long from the major Indian cities Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. To approach Leh with a plane is already a great experience. Jet Airways, Air India, Go India, Spicejet, and Vistara all have early morning flights to Leh. The Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport in Leh is a small military airport amid the towering mountains. Upon arrival, you need to fill in a form. They sell oxygen at the airport, but it will probably not be necessary if you spend the first day with acclimatization. During winter, delays are frequent because of unexpected changes in weather conditions.

Road: From Delhi, you can take the highway through Manali through the Rohtang pass, which is only open from March till October. This route takes 3-4 days to complete. It is popular among young Indians to undertake the journey on a motorbike.

Listen to the podcast where I share tips for traveling to Ladakh and Kashmir

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Are you planning a trip to Ladakh combined with Kashmir? This guide suggests you about the best itinerary fro your visit in Ladakh and Kashmir. Leh, Stok, Shey, Hemis, Thisksey, Nunra valley, Pangong lake, Diskit, Rizong, Alchi, Uley Tokpo, Mulbek, Kargil, Rangdum, Padum, Zangla, Karsha, Zojila pass, Sonmarg, Srinagar. This is the most rewarding two week program for your Ladakh and Kashmir trip. #Leh #Kashmir itinerary # what to visit in Ladakh # cultural program in Ladakh and Kashmir #best places to visit in Ladakh and Kashmir

What you should know before your Ladakh and Kashmir trip

– Spend the first day in Leh with acclimatization. Have rest, drink enough, or take shorter walks and visits as you feel. Headache, vomiting are the main symptoms of high-altitude sickness. Drinking a lot of water helps you adapt to the new conditions. In the beginning, try to move slowly and do not rush.

– Change money in the big cities (Leh, Kargil) and have enough cash with you because there is no ATM or bank in the Zanskar valley or outside the big cities.

– Never take hot water for granted. Many times it is limited to a couple of hours in the morning and evening. In smaller or remote places, they may not have it at all.

– Take packed lunch with you when you travel around in Ladakh, as there is no proper restaurant at every corner if you are farther from Leh.

– Wifi is available in Leh and Kargil. But the well-known Indian Airtel and Aircel internet service is not working in Jammu & Kashmir. The one working, called BSNL, is available in Leh, but you have to go to an office at the bus station accompanied by a local, and show your passport. Due to the limited telecommunication services, you better inform your family and arrange everything ahead, as you probably do not have an internet connection till Kargil.

View of Leh from the Leh palace, a must see during your Ladakh trip
View of Leh from Leh palace

– The villages of Ladakh are located at an altitude of a minimum of 3100 m. Climbing the stairs to the monasteries can take your breath.

– There are long journeys to cover in Ladakh and Kashmir. Do not forget to stop at least every 3-4 hours for a short walk or do some exercises to avoid any health issues.

– As soon as you leave the principal route, the roads get bumpy and very comfortable.

– The Kashmir valley has been a sensitive, disputed territory between India and Pakistan for 70 years. For that, there is an increased military presence everywhere. Security controls are frequent where you have to present your passport and fill in a form.  

Read more about the best things to do and places to visit in Srinagar

In winter, most restaurants and cafés are closed. The ones open also close early at 5.30 pm.

– To cross the Khardung La and travel to Nubra valley, Pangong Lake, Shyok, Tso Moriri, and Hanle areas, you need a permit. You have to organize it through a local travel agent. It costs INR 450 per person and includes the environment fee, the Red Cross fee, and the wildlife fee. 

Listen the Amateur Traveler’s podcast about Ladakh and Kashmir, where I share useful tips about traveling there!

How to get around in Ladakh and Kasmir?

The best and fastest way to complete a Ladakh trip is to hire a private car with a driver. Ladakhi drivers are excellent. They know the routes very well and love speeding up whenever possible. Plus, there are passes and monasteries at high altitudes that you can only reach on non-asphalt serpentines. Driving to Zanskar requires professional driving skills. The roads are bumpy, and the melting snow can cause landslides or block the road. Not to talk about the Zojila pass on the way to Kashmir, where the narrow road passes just next to the ravine, while big trucks and small cars are maneuvering to use every possible space to pass by. There are plenty of hair-raising situations.

ebook understanding India

The municipality fixes taxi and rent-a-car prices. Check the prices and book your taxi here.

The drivers from Leh can take you to Kargil. And there, you must switch to Kargil drivers to continue to Zanskar and Srinagar. It is how they divide the work between each other.

There are local buses from Leh to Stok, Thiksey, Hemis, Likir, Lamayuru, the Nubra Valley. However, they are not very frequent, and usually, you still have to walk afterward, sometimes a couple of kilometers. There is a bus between Leh and Srinagar (425 km) with an overnight in Kargil.

Another possibility is to join a group excursion arranged in Leh. The three days/2 nights Nubra and Pangong lake packages are the most popular (10,000 INR).

In Kashmir, there are regular buses between the bigger cities like Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and Srinagar. Inside Srinagar, autorickshaws and taxis are the most convenient ways to travel.

What is the best time to plan your trip to Ladakh and Kashmir?

Ladakh

The best time to go to Ladakh is between May and October. Flights operate the whole year to Leh, but there are heavy snowfalls in winter, and a temperature of -20 to -30 degrees is not rare either. However, some come in winter to complete the Chadar Trek on the frozen river. The Rohtang Pass is only open from March till October if you arrive from Manali. Even in summer, mornings and evenings are fresh, and even during the day, it can get chilly when the clouds block the sunshine. It is a great time to come to a famous festival. Most people try to attend the Hemis festival (8-9 July in 2022).

Kashmir

Kashmir is an all-year destination. There is no monsoon, but it can be raining anytime. In winter most people go skiing in Sonmarg. The spring and autumn are still cool, while summer is usually not too hot either.

June- September is the best time to cover both Ladakh and Kashmir.

The best two-week itinerary for a Ladakh and Kashmir trip

Day 1: Flight from Delhi to Leh, Ladakh

Spend the first day of your Ladakh trip with acclimatization. Walk around Leh city with several shops, a market, and cafés. 

– Visit the Leh Palace, the former royal palace of the Ladakhi kings. The nine-storey residence was completed under Sengge Namgyal in around 1630. They extensively used local wood and sundried bricks. Until the Dogra invasion in 1834–40, it was the royal residence. Then the royal family escaped to the Stok Palace. It is a massive fortress-like palace with wooden balconies. It is in ruins, but you can still see some of the original paintings and carvings.

The main street in Leh, the most charming city during your Ladakh trip
The main street in Leh, Ladakh with the Leh palace

– The white-domed Buddhist Shanti Stupa at an altitude of 3.600 meters is stunning at sunrise and sunset. You can reach it on foot by climbing 566 steps, which can be very demanding on the first day when you are not adequately acclimatized yet. Instead, you can easily reach the stupa with a vehicle. Designed by Japanese Buddhist architect Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura, it is one of several Peace Pagodas to keep the 2500-year-old Buddhist culture alive. It was inaugurated in August 1991 by the current 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The view to the valley from the stupa is extraordinary.

Recommended tours in Leh

You can book a walking tour in Leh to get to know some of the hidden gems as well.

A food tour is the best way to taste the local delicacies and know more about the ladakhi kitchen.

Recommended hotels in Leh

The Grand Dragon Ladakh – 5 star (10-minutes walk from Leh palace and Leh market)

TIH the Zen hotel – 5 star (500 meters from the Leh market)

TIH Himalayan Residency Ladakh – 3 star (3.2 km from Leh palace)

Hotel Trikaya Ladakh – 3 star (1.1 km from the city center)

Zostel Leh (0.6 km from the center) – cozy guesthouse with dormitory and private rooms

Hotel Omasila: the oldest hotel in Leh, Shanti Stupa and Sankar Gompa are located nearby.

Day 2: Shey, Thiksey, Hemis, Chemrey

Discover some of the most beautiful monasteries and palaces in the Upper-Indus valley during your Ladakh trip: Stok Palace, Hemis, Thiksey, Chemrey, and Shey

Stok Palace

The Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh, who conquered Ladakh in 1834, dethroned the last Namgyal king and forced him into exile in the Stok Palace. The descendants still live there, but 5 out of the total 80 rooms are open for visitors. The family occupies the upper floor, while they converted the lower warehouses into a museum. Thangkas (Tibetan Buddhist scroll paintings), old weapons, royal combat wear, queen ornaments and Perak (Ladakhi turquoise inlaid headdress), traditional attire, silver jewelry, and royal photographs are on display. The library with 108 volumes contains the Kanjur (Teachings of the Buddha) and the Tibetan Holy Scriptures.

Stok palace
Stok palace

Shey

Shey was once the capital of Ladakh, but the old fortress is in ruins now and no longer in use. The main chapel houses a giant Sakyamuni Buddha, and the two-storey structure around it is the funeral memorial of Sengge Namgyal. There are plenty of white chortens on the way up to Shey that was used several times for Hollywood and Bollywood film sets. Shey has two yearly festivals: the “Shey Doo Lhoo” when the cultivation starts and “Shey Rupla,” which marks the beginning of the harvest season.

Shey palace
Shey palace

Hemis monastery 

Hemis has been the center of the Kagyu line of Buddhism. It was reestablished in the 17th century and became the most famous and largest monastery in Ladakh. It is well-known for its rich collection with the statue of copper Buddha and stupas made of gold and silver. The giant statue of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) is another highlight. The famous Hemis festival honors Padmasambhava in early June each year, where the monks perform the typical Ladakhi “Cham” mask dances that are part of the tantric tradition.

Chemrey monastery

47 km southeast of Leh, Chemrey is one of the most attractive monasteries, located on top of an impressive hill on the way to Traktor. It is the principal branch of the Hemis monastery devoted to the Kagyupa sect. The main festival usually falls in November with spectacular Cham dances.

Listen the Amateur Traveler’s podcast about Ladakh and Kashmir, where I share useful tips about traveling there!

Thiksey monastery 

This is one of the most photographed monasteries in Ladakh that resembles the Potala Palace in Tibet. The prayer halls are on the top of the hill, while the white houses cling against the steep-sided hill on 12 levels where the approximately 100 monks live. The 500-year-old gompa belongs to the Gelug sect. The 12 meter-high golden statue of Maitreya is the most impressive part of the complex that the Dalai Lama consecrated in 1980. Ten churches, monastic residences, assembly halls, chortens, and a rich collection of Buddhist art treasures, like thangkas and mural paintings. From Thiksey, you can see Stok, Shey, and Matho monasteries as well. 

Day 3: Travel to Nubra valley via Khardung La

Going to the Nubra Valley is a lifetime experience, an off-the-beaten-track destination of the already isolated Ladakh. Located close to the Pakistani border, it is a sensitive area, and touristic visits are strictly regulated. Ladakh has been open for tourists only since 1974, but the Nubra Valley remained closed till 1994. Tourists were permitted to visit Turtuk only as of 2010. The predominantly Muslim Baltistan province was part of the Nubra Valley before being merged with Pakistan. However, India reclaimed a portion of it during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war.

The Nubra Valley is 150 km to the north of Leh in the northernmost part of Ladakh, located at 3000 meters between the Ladakh mountain range and the Karakoram. To get to the Nubra Valley, you need to cross the Khardung La Pass (5359 m). In summer, expect to get stuck in a traffic jam on the pass.

Nubra valley, one of the highlights of a trip to Ladakh
Nubra valley

Visit the Diskit monastery: A series of chortens, stupas, and mani walls belong to the gompa, where 70 monks of the Gelugpa sect live and study. The Dalai Lama is a frequent visitor in the more than 500-year-old monastery. A school with children aged 7-16 years also belongs to the complex. 

Hunder is about 8 km from Diskit, where the two-humped camels wander in the white sands. The camels have stuck here since the Chinese closed the Karakoram pass between Leh and Yarkand after Mao’s Cultural Revolution.

Stay in Hunder for the night.

Day 4: From Nubra to the Pangong Lake Via Shyok Village

Discover the area around the Sumur village. The Samstenling monastery, built-in 1840, is probably the largest in the Nubra and Shyok valleys.

On the way, you will drive along green valleys with marmots, yaks, cattle, and sheep munching on the fresh grass. You will see that military troops occupy the area between Durbuk and Tangtse. Please do not take photos around here, and note that they shoot intruders!

The main attraction in Tangtse, the dramatically located monastery. The Tangtse monastery belongs to the Drigung-Kagyupa sect.

You can find accommodation at Pangong Lake or in Tangtse.

Day 5: Pangong lake–Chang La Pass-Leh

At a dizzying altitude of 4270 m lies the long, narrow (130 km long and 5-6 km wide) and strikingly colored Pangong Lake between India and China. Most of it lies in Tibet (China), so it is impossible to do a circuit. Unfortunately, the Tibetan border is not open here.

Pangong lake
Pangong lake

Spangmik is the main settlement, with a good choice of accommodation, including a couple of permanent hotels like Hotel Ser Bhum Tso Resort. 

It costs 3500 INR with half board for an excellent room and food. They offer tents for around 2200 INR and more for over 2000 guests. It is worth climbing up to the viewpoint above the village.

You drive back to Leh through the Chang La pass (5360 m), the second-highest motorable pass in the world.

Tip: If you have 5-6 days, then include the drive along the Shyok valley west to Turtuk and more of the actual Nubra valley north of Sumur, including the therapeutic hot springs at Panamik and the exquisite artwork at Ensa Monastery. From Pangong Lake, you can also continue to the far-east part of Ladakh, close to the Tibetan border. Tso Moriri lake is a breathtaking journey on “No Man’s Land.” 

How to get to the Nubra valley?

Price of Nubra Valley tour: a taxi will typically charge 20.000 rupees for a two-day round trip to the Nubra Valley from Leh.

There is a bus from Leh to Diskit, usually three times a week (500 INR round trip). Taking a shared jeep from Leh to Diskit, Hunder or Sumur is another budget option, for 400-500 INR per person one way. Besides, a bus runs directly from Leh to Turtuk and from Leh to Panamik once a week. The bus schedule to Nubra valley changes every year. You have to get up-to-date information on the spot.

Spending some days in the Nubra valley will be one of the highlights of your Ladakh trip.

Recommended package tours to Nubra valley

6- day trip including Alchi and Thiksey monastery, and 3 days in the Nubra valley and the Pangong lake. Check the tour here.

Day 6: Alchi, Rizong

You leave Leh and continue on the highway to the north along with the Ladakh mountain range.

– Take a photo at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers that look stunning from the main road.

The Indus Zanskar confluence in Ladakh
The Indus Zanskar confluence

– Visit Alchi Gompa, one of the oldest monasteries from the 11th century. Unlike other monasteries, it was built on a flat area as it preceded the invasions of the 15th century. The assembly and praying halls of Alchi showcase distinct Kashmiri-style paintings.

– Rizong is the most isolated monastery in Ladakh. A path leads steeply up into a maze of buildings, through to the upper chapels and courtyards. There is no village around, which means that there is no accommodation at all. There is a nunnery 2 km from there, which belongs to the monastery. They cultivate the fields, milk the cows, and prepare food for the monks. Alchi belongs to the Gelug order, the yellow hats. The monastery is famous for its particularly rigid rules. Among others, the monks are not allowed to leave the monastery unless they get ill.

Recommended place to sleep: Uley Tokpo ecoresort 

It is an absolute favorite in the region. The resort has an incredible location above the Indus river, with some houses built on the top of rocks. Uley Tokpo is a little green oasis with apricot trees, typical for Ladakh. There are different categories of rooms in tents and houses. The staff is accommodating, and the choice of the buffet is also abundant. 

Uley Tokpo resort along the Indus river in Ladakh
Uley Tokpo resort along the Indus river in Ladakh

Day 7: Lamayuru, Zangla

– Continue to the north towards the oldest monastery of Ladakh, Lamayuru.

More than 1000 years ago, before Buddhism spread in Ladakh, it was the center of the “bon” pre-Buddhist religion. The spectacular landscape around Lamayuru looks like the moon landscape. Today, Lamayuru is one of two major Drigung Kagyupa gompas in Ladakh, where 200 monks live. Large stupas and chortens are clustered near the main structure. The oldest part of the monastery dates back to the 11th century.

It is the border of the Muslim and Buddhist region in Ladakh. In early times more than 500 monks lived here. They studied, observed, and practiced the teachings of the Buddha. In 1834, the Dogra Hindu troops occupied Ladakh and slaughtered most monks, while the rest fled to the mountains. The monastery lay in ruins, and the main sanctuary became a horse stable. The invaders used the doors and windows as firewood and put the priceless scripts on fire—those who could, escaped to the mountains. The gompa was in ruins, but thanks to donations, they rebuilt it within two years.

After visiting Lamayuru, one of the most famous monasteries of Ladakh, we cross two passes, the Singe La (16590 ft~5056 meters) and Sirsir La (15761 ft~4804 meters), and arrive by evening in Zangla, which is part of the Zanskar region. Zanskar is one of the most unknown and isolated areas in the country, and it feels like being in the middle of nowhere, alone, among the majestic mountains. You will notice that much fewer tourists come to this part of Ladakh.

Zangla palace
Zangla palace

Overnight in Zangla

Day 8: Zangla to Padum

The highlight of Zangla is the former royal palace, where Alexander Csoma de Körös spent two years in a tiny room under harsh conditions like a hermit to compile the first Tibetan-English dictionary. Zangla is the starting point for many treks, including the famous Chaddar trek in wintertime on the frozen Zanskar river. The ruins of Zangla castle sit on a hill overlooking the town, and an old nunnery still functions nearby. A Hungarian program has done some restoration work here.

Visit the Karsha gompa, the largest and most important monastery in Zanskar. Today, about 150 monks live within its walls. The upper floor of the gompa offers stunning views of the Stod River and the plains around Padum. Its history dates back to the 11th century and looks impressive with the whitewashed clay bricks and countless and priceless thangkas hanging on the ancient walls. The monastery is under the supervision of the Dalai Lama’s younger brother. Children play around and have their dinner together in the evening—they study from an early age to become monks.  

Karsha gompa in Zanskar
Karsha gompa (monastery)

Stongdey is the second largest monastery in Zanskar, housing around sixty monks. It is a tough climb to get here, but worth the effort.

If you want to visit other monasteries from Padum, about one hour’s walk above the town, on a relatively easy path, is the small monastery of Stagrimo with 30 monks. On the other side of the valley, an interesting-looking monastery clings to a hilltop; Pibiting, built in the shape of a stupa.

Padum is the main settlement of the Zanskar valley, the only city with almost 2500 inhabitants. The old town consists of adobe houses and chortens. Some new buildings and a market stand along the road. Since Padum is the main trekking base, there are quite a few guesthouses, hotels, restaurants, and cafés, although none are of a high standard.  

Recommended hotels in Padum

Hotel Omasila (3-star)

Hotel Gaky

Hotel IBEX

Hotel Potala

Hotel Royal

Hotel TRC Zanskar – the biggest hotel in Zanskar that is Government property, 1km from Padum

Day 9: Day trip to Phuktal

Early in the morning, drive to Purne and walk to Phuktal, which takes 3 hours to get there. It is not so difficult, but it takes time. Hiking is the best way to experience the beauty of this region and get deeper into nature, farther from the settlements.  

Overnight in Padum

Day 10: From Padum to Rangdum

-After departing from Padum visit the Sani Gompa of the Drugpa Kagyü lineThe landscape keeps on surprising you with its incredible scenery. You spot the yaks grazing and marmots running around, and you may see the life of nomad people. 

-Cross the Pensi-La Pass (4400 m) and take a photo of the Drang Drung Glacier and the surrounding 6000-meter-high mountains. 

Drang-drung glacier
Drang-drung glacier

Rangdum is a lovely 200-year-old monastery halfway to Kargil. It stands at around 3600 m on an outcrop surrounded by stony river plains. Approximately 40 monks follow the Gelug lineage of Buddhism in Rangdum. It is already part of the Suru Valley, but culturally, it is still closer to Zanskar. 

Road conditions are bad around Rangdum, and there is no electricity, telephone, or internet, which makes it a perfect place to enjoy being far from civilization. On the way there, we will stop for short walks for refreshments and a lunch break in nature.

Rangdum monastery with a monk
Rangdum monastery

 Accomodation in Rangdum

The Rangdum monastery provides accommodation in tents at 4000 meters. There is a tiny kitchen with a modest but delicious choice of food. The tents have beds and blankets, but the guest must share the bathroom.

Listen to the podcast where I share tips for traveling to Ladakh and Kashmir

Day 11: From Rangdum to Kargil 

There is a long journey ahead of you, so leave for Kargil early morning. On the way, visit Karsekar village to see the giant rock-carved Buddha (960 AD). You will also get close to the Himalayas with two iconic peaks, the Nun (7135 m) and Kun (7077 m), which are covered by massive glaciers, and you pass by secluded Muslim villages. 

Kargil is not an especially attractive city, as there is not much to see. The population consists almost entirely of Shia Muslims. It became known through the India-Pakistan military conflict in 1999. However, it is a perfect stop halfway between Leh and Srinagar or before heading to the Zanskar valley. About 234 km from Leh and 204 km from Srinagar. The Munshi Aziz Bhat museum about the trade of Central Asia is the biggest attraction. The Jameh Shia mosque is open for visitors, but do not expect anything splendid like in Iran. Kargil is a good base for hiking and rafting. It is famous for its apricot fields all India and looks fantastic when the whole valley turns orange in summer.

Road near Kargil that is a must stop during your Ladakh trip on the way to the Zanskar valley
Road near Kargil

 Recommended hotels in Kargil

Zojila Residency (3-star)

Capital O 44536 PC Palace (3-star)

Hotel Siachen (4-star)

The Highland Mountain Resort & Spa (2.5 km from Kargil)

Hotel The Kargil – modern hotel in Kargil center

Hotel Chhutuk Heights – above Kargil amid forest with a stunning view

Day 12: Kargil – Zoji La Pass – Srinagar

On this day, you cross the Zoji La Pass that divides Ladakh and Kashmir. 

– Stop in the Drass village, strangely the second coldest inhabited place where the temperature dropped to -45° once. Drass is also called “The Gateway to Ladakh.” The main attraction of Drass is the military museum with an eternal flame and memorial stones that honors all the Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the Kargil war in 1999. The Pakistani troops captured Drass, but the Indian Army managed to reoccupy. The eternal flame commemorates all those soldiers who lost their lives in the war. It is worth visiting to get an understanding of the Kashmir conflict from the Indian perspective. Soldiers are ready to explain it in detail. “When you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today.” – says the inscription at the end of the visit.

Drass river near Zojila
Drass river valley near Zojila

– You arrive in Kashmir by crossing the 3,800 meter-high Zoji La Pass. There is no asphalt, the roads are narrow, and the serpentines are very sharp. Huge trucks and cars try to navigate between the ravine and the cliffs with outcrops on the other side. There are hair-raising moments, and it is a kind of relief when you are through. Locals drivers navigate exceptionally well in the mountains. This road is not for beginners.

– Visit the famous mountain resort, Sonmarg, which means “Golden Field” that feels like being in Switzerland. Some Victorian buildings are reminders of the British past.

Recommended houseboats in Srinagar

Mascot Houseboats – 5* – Nagin Lake

Welcome Heritage Gurkha – 4* Nagin Lake

Sukoon Houseboats – 4* Dal Lake

Kolu Houseboats – 3* Dal Lake

Mughal Sheraton Houseboats – 3* Dal lake

Meena Houseboats – 3* Dal Lake 

Recommended hotels in Srinagar

Lalit The Grand Palace – 5*

Vivanta By Taj – 5*

Radisson – 5*

Four Points by Sheraton – 4*

The Orchid Resort & Spa – 4*

Royal Batoo – 3*

Clarks Inn – 3*

Welcome residency – 3*

Hotel Shah Abbas – 3*

Day 13: Srinagar

– Climb up to the Shankaracharya Hindu temple located and enjoy the excellent view. 

– Stroll around in some of the stunning Mughal gardens: the Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh Garden along the Dal lake. 

Read more about the best things to do and places to visit in Srinagar

– Visit the oldest quarter of Srinagar with wooden houses along the Jhelum river.

– The Hazratbal, the Shah Hamadan, and the Friday Mosques are all worth a visit.

Have an evening boat ride on Dal Lake. The Kashmiri boat, called shikhara, is equipped with parasols and comfortable cushions. Part of Srinagar’s life concentrates on the Dal Lake. Locals cultivate flowers and vegetables in floating and lotus gardens, and handicraft shops stand on poles as well.  

Shikara on Dal lake
Shikaras on the Dal lake

Day 14: Take a flight back home or continue to visit the Golden Triangle

I hope you found the above information useful for the ideal itinerary in Ladakh and Kashmir. Depending on your time, you can always shorten or extend it. Ladakh is one of the unique places on earth that you will never forget.

Useful resources for your travel to India

Insurance: Safetywing insurance that covers COVID-related issues as well.

Train, bus and flight ticket: Book your train ticket at Indian Railways website, or 12Go which gives you the best option (train, bus, and flight) based on the city of departure or arrival. 

For your flight ticket use Google Flights.

Accommodation: Booking.com and Hostelworld.com offer a wide choice of low and higher-budget hotels.

Local tours and tour packages: Viator and GetYourGuide offer transfers and several one or multi-day tours.  

by Agnes Simigh

I’m a passionate tour guide and travel writer, who is curious to discover places that seldom catch the attention of the media or that are misrepresented. My goal is to inspire you to choose off-the-beaten-track destinations by sharing objective and detailed information. I believe that it is mainly the lack of “intel” that keeps us away from incredible places. And that just shouldn’t be the case.

4 thoughts on “THE BEST ITINERARY FOR LADAKH AND KASHMIR”

  1. Asish Kumar Das

    Very elaborate and vauable guidance specially regarding
    Leh Ladakh.
    I must appreciate the details of places of staying and transport.

  2. Lovely article , Agnes. Thank you for sharing. Do you have any other details to share for Gulmarg and any other areas around Srinagar? Would appreciate the advice!

    1. Hi! Sorry for the late reply! Unfortunately I don’t have more information about that part. I spent more time in Ladakh.

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