Star Maps & Silk Roads – The Ultimate Ladakh Family Trail

Welcome to Ladakh. Take it slow today as you settle into the altitude and the rhythm of the mountains.

In the afternoon, visit SECMOL, the pioneering school founded by Sonam Wangchuk. A student will guide you through the campus, offering a unique glimpse into sustainable living and education rooted in Ladakhi values.

Return to Leh for a relaxed evening soaking in the crisp air and quiet magic of the valley. Overnight in Leh.

Begin your day with an E-Bike ride through Leh, weaving through its vibrant streets and the narrow alleys of Old Leh. Each turn carries echoes of a time gone by. Prefer to walk? Choose a heritage walk instead, and take it all in at your own pace.

Later, drive to Stok, once the summer residence of Ladakhi royalty. Here, step into a 500-year-old homestay for a lovingly cooked traditional meal a true taste of the land and its lineage.

On the return, stop at the Thiksey Monastery, a quiet giant that watches over the valley, before heading up to Namgyal Tsemo. As the sun dips behind the mountains, Leh glows below you timeless and still. Overnight in Leh.

Drive across the world-famous Khardung La Pass (5,359 m) and descend into the surreal landscapes of Nubra Valley.

Feel the rush with an ATV ride across Hunder’s sand dunes, where Bactrian camels roam like echoes from the Silk Route. Visit Diskit Monastery, home to a towering Buddha overlooking the valley. Continue deeper to Turtuk, a remote village where Balti and Ladakhi cultures blend, tucked between the Himalayas and the Karakoram. Overnight in Turtuk.

Spend your morning discovering Turtuk’s unique history centuries-old palaces, natural cold storages, polo grounds, and a tiny 18th-century museum that tells stories of a different world.

Later, trek to a hilltop fort, believed to be over a thousand years old, with views that feel like Ladakh’s own Machu Picchu. Post-lunch, return to Nubra and close the day with a sunset over the dunes of Hunder. Overnight in Hunder/Sumur.

Start your day with a short drive to the Panamic Hot Springs, where warm mineral-rich waters rise from the earth nature’s way of slowing you down.

Later, head to Hunder, where ATV rides and ziplines add a thrill to the desert landscape. Among the shifting dunes, you’ll spot Bactrian camels, their double humps a living echo of the ancient Silk Route.

As the sun softens, spend the evening in the Nubra sand dunes. Ride a camel if you’re up for it, or simply sit still and watch the light change the desert. Overnight in Nubra Valley.

Drive through the stark beauty of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, keeping watch for wild asses and rare birds as you make your way to Pangong Lake. Skip the busy camps and stay in the peaceful villages of Man or Merak, where the lake shifts from sapphire to turquoise with the movement of clouds.

As night falls, gather by a bonfire and watch the stars fall like rain across Ladakh’s clearest skies. Overnight by Pangong Lake.

day, head to Hanle, one of the most remote and magical places in Ladakh. The journey is long but worth every mile.

Home to India’s first Dark Sky Reserve, Hanle is a sanctuary for both stargazers and dreamers. Visit the Hanle Observatory, one of the world’s highest astronomical observatories, for an unparalleled view of the Milky Way. Overnight in Hanle.

Leave the solitude of Hanle behind and drive back to Leh, taking with you the hush of stars and empty roads.

Stop at Stakna Monastery, a quiet hilltop gompa offering spectacular views of the Indus River. By evening, explore Leh’s market lanes, where you’ll find everything from apricot oil to silver jewellery. Overnight in Leh.

Begin your final full day with the stunning Indus-Zanskar confluence, where two rivers meet in striking contrast. For the brave, white-water rafting on the Zanskar offers a final adrenaline rush.

Visit Alchi Monastery, one of Ladakh’s oldest, where Buddhist and Hindu influences blend in ancient murals and architecture. Enjoy a traditional Ladakhi lunch at Alchi Kitchen, a culinary gem in the valley.

Stop at the Saspol Caves, home to ancient murals and rock carvings, and marvel at the quirky Magnetic Hill on your way back. Overnight in Leh.

With memories of starry skies, ancient monasteries, and windswept valleys, transfer to Leh Airport for your flight home.

Trip ends, but Ladakh stays with you in the silence you carry, the stillness you remember, and the stories you’ll tell again and again.