LADAKH 6 DAY CIRCUIT - Hanle, Umling La, Tsomoriri

Day 1: Arrival in Leh & Complete Rest

• Activity: Land at Leh Airport and transfer directly to your hotel.
• Crucial Rule: Spend the entire day resting. Walk slowly, eat light meals, avoid alcohol, and drink 3 to 4 litres of water to adapt to the 3,500-metre elevation. 

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Day 2: Leh Sightseeing & Acclimatisation

A 4-hour morning drive west on NH1, followed by evening city sights. Perfect for gentle acclimatisation.

​[Leh] ➔ [Gurudwara] ➔ [Magnetic Hill] ➔ [Sangam] ➔ [Leh Palace] ➔ [Shanti Stupa] ➔ [Market]

• Gurudwara Pathar Sahib: Visit the army-maintained Sikh shrine; cover your head and enjoy free hot tea/prasad.
•  Magnetic Hill: Park in the yellow box, turn off the engine, and experience the famous "uphill" optical illusion.
• Sangam Confluence: Photograph the dramatic meeting point of the blue Indus and green Zanskar rivers from the cliffside.
• Leh Palace: Explore the 9-storey royal ruins overlooking the old town.
• Shanti Stupa: Catch the sunset over the valley from this iconic white peace pagoda.
•  Leh Main Market: Enjoy a relaxed stroll through the walking street for dinner and souvenir shopping.

Day 3: Leh to Hanle & Evening Visit to Hanle Monastery 

• Distance & Time: ~255 km | 9–10 hours
• Route: Leh ➔ Karu ➔ Upshi ➔ Chumathang ➔ Nyoma ➔ Loma Bridge ➔ Hanle.
• Highlights: Stop at the Chumathang Hot Springs for tea. 
• Monastery Visit: Arrive in Hanle by 4:00 PM and head straight up the winding road to Hanle Monastery. Exploring the ancient main prayer hall. Watch the sunset over the vast plains from the monastery terrace before checking into your local homestay. Enjoy stargazing at night at the Dark Sky Reserve. 

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Day 4: Hanle to Umling La Pass & Back to Hanle

• Distance & Time: ~150 km round-trip | 6 hours
• Route: Start by 5:30 AM from Hanle. Ascend via the smoother Photi La route to reach the summit of Umling La (19,300 ft).
• Crucial Rule: Limit your stay at the summit to 15–20 minutes due to thin air. Return to Hanle for a relaxed afternoon. If you missed the monastery sunset on Day 3 due to road delays, you can climb up to the monastery this evening instead.

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Day 5: Hanle to Tso Moriri via Puga Valley

• Distance & Time: ~160 km | 5–6 hours
• Route: Hanle ➔ Loma ➔ Nyoma ➔ Mahe Bridge ➔ Puga Valley ➔ Tso Moriri (Korzok).
• Highlights: Drive through the geothermal plains of Puga Valley to see bubbling sulphur springs. Pass Kyagar Tso before arriving at the deep blue Tso Moriri Lake. Stay overnight in Korzok village. 

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Day 6: Tso Moriri back to Leh 

• Distance & Time: ~220 km | 7–8 hours
• Route: Tso Moriri ➔ Puga Sumdo ➔ Tsokar Lake ➔ Tanglang La Pass ➔ Upshi ➔ Leh.
• Highlights: Take the scenic detour via Tso Kar Lake to spot wild asses (Kiangs). Join the main Manali-Leh Highway and cross Tanglang La Pass (17,585 ft) before descending back into Leh.
• Overnight : Leh 

​Day 7: Departure

• Airport dropoff.

**Pro-Tips for Visiting Hanle Monastery

• The Climb: The drive or ride up the hill to the monastery is steep but paved. If you choose to walk up the final steps, do it very slowly to avoid sudden breathlessness. 
• Photography: The view from the monastery rooftop looks directly down onto the Indian Astronomical Observatory (the large space telescope building) and the sprawling marshy plains. Late afternoon provides the best lighting for photos. 
• Respect: It is an active monastery with resident monks. Always dress modestly, remove your shoes before entering prayer rooms,maintain silence and walk clockwise around the stupas and prayer wheels.