The Ladakh Packing List & Permit Guide: Leh to Pangong Done Right

Ladakh rewards preparation more than any destination we run. The big open skies, the impossible blue lakes and the passes higher than most flights are all there for anyone — but the travellers who love it most are the ones who arrived rested, packed right and let the permits get sorted for them. Here is the guide we give every group.

The first 48 hours in Leh

Leh sits at 3,500 metres, and your body needs time to catch up with the flight. Our first two days are deliberately gentle: short strolls through the old town, the palace and Shanti Stupa at easy pace, plenty of rest and no ambition. Travelers who sprint up to Khardung La on day one spend day three in bed. Hydrate constantly, eat light, and let the acclimatisation do its work.

Permits, sorted

Inner-line permits are required for Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley, Tso Moriri and several other stretches — each with its own paperwork and checkpoints. On our departures we arrange every permit before the convoy rolls, so the only thing you hand over at a checkpoint is a smile. Independent travellers should apply in Leh with valid ID and copies; allow a full day for the process.

The lakes worth the drive

• Pangong Tso: stay the night at Spangmik instead of day-tripping — the lake at sunrise, before the convoys arrive, is a different animal.
• Nubra Valley: the dunes of Hunder and the double-humped camels, via the roar of Khardung La.
• Tso Moriri: the quiet one — fewer visitors, more birds, and a blue that makes Pangong jealous.

The packing list

• Layers: Ladakh runs all four seasons in one day. Thermal base, fleece, windproof shell, and a warm jacket for lake nights.
• Sun kit: SPF 50, lip balm, and category-3 sunglasses — UV at this altitude is no joke.
• Health: basic medicines, ORS sachets, and a doctor’s word on Diamox if you choose to use it.
• Also: power bank, cash for remote stretches, reusable bottle and a good camera — phone cameras do fine here.

Monasteries you should not skip

Thiksey at dawn for the prayer ceremony, Hemis for the scale, and Diskit in Nubra for the giant Buddha looking out over the dunes. Each is working monastery, not museum — dress modestly, ask before photographing monks, and let the butter-lamp smell stay in your jacket for the rest of the trip.

Our Ladakh caravans cap group sizes, carry oxygen support and build rest days into every route — browse upcoming departures for the season’s dates.