Nubra Valley, better known as 'Ldumra' which means “Valley of Flowers”, is specifically located in the northern part of Leh. The average height of Nubra Valley is around 10,000 ft. above sea level. Nubra Valley is in the northernmost part of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located at around 150 km to the north of Leh, where the Shyok River and the Siachan River meet to form a huge valley. Nubra Valley is well known as the 'Orchard of the Ladakh' as it is surrounded by the snow-capped Himalayan ranges. Nubra valley lies right between Kashmir and Tibet. The view of the gorge is both charming and magnificent. At the time of winter, the whole valley looks like a panorama of the moon and in the summer, it blushes with greenery.

The Major attractions of the area are the sloppy double hump Camels seen around sand dunes, The Samstanling monasteries and Diskit. The trip would be perfect for a three day two night stay. Nubra Valley is well-known for its sky-scraping elevation, vast desert area and the home of camels. Non-locals or tourists require an "Inner Line" permit which can be simply obtained in the Leh town while entering Nubra.

Tourism in Nubra Valley

It is not just the picturesque natural exquisiteness of Nubra that mainly attracts tourists. The primary religion followed by the inhabitants of the valley is Buddhism and it houses several centers of Buddhist erudition. Elsa, Diskit Samstemling and Hunder are some of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in this region.

The main tourist attractions of Nubra Valley are The Panamik, Diskit, Samstanling monasteries and the Khardung la Pass. Those on their way to Nubra Valley are advised to carry an adequate amount of eatables as well as drinking Water and other essentials as the people in the valley do not have much to offer from their winter stocks. On the other hand, most of the vehicles to see around are the Indian Army trucks. Tourists flock the freezing desert to watch the delicate dunes and also for joyrides on the Bactrian camels. Indigenous to the steppes of central Asia, the Bactrian camels are a significant symbol of the region since ancient times. Being a significant stop on the well known Silk Route, Nubra is still famous for being a main trade centre for horticultural crops and for woolen fabric made of Pashmina wools. In addition to the above, some of the Locals also produce fruits such as apples, walnuts, apricots, almonds and staple crops like wheat, barley and several others. Panamik is the last village in the northern side of Nubra Valley, that's still open to tourists.

How to Reach

To arrive at Nubra valley, one will have to go through the Khardung La, one of the highest motor-able passes in the world. On crossing the pass one would see the wide, flat Nubra Valley, lying between the intertwined Shyok and Nubra rivers. Due to subfreezing temperatures, the valley always seems parched and arid. Nevertheless, the valley typically has vast areas of farmland. That is why, it isn't surprising to see that the basin is as the sobriquet Orchard of the Ladakh.

Nubra Valley is around 150 Kms away from Leh town, after crossing the Khardung La pass. An Inner Line permit is necessary to visit Nubra valley. This can be procured from Leh itself.

Bus

The Jammu and  Kashmir SRTC, along with numerous other travel companies, runs ordinary bus services from Leh to Diskit and other parts of Nubra Valley. While this may be just one way of reaching, the locals suggest buses and others are offered as part of Tour packages.

Taxis

Taxis are the desired mode of travel for locals and tourists. This due to the fact that it is efficient and more relaxed in comparison to a bus. Nubra is about 160 kms away and cars / private taxis take about 5-6 hours to arrive. On the way, one will pass through the snow laden Khardung La pass - the world's highest motor able road placed at around 18350 ft. above sea level. Do carry warm clothing if you wish to stop at Khardung La where one will also find the only restaurant that serves Momos and Maggies with tea.

Best Time to Visit Nubra Valley

The best time to make a visit to Nubra Valley is during the autumn season. It lasts from July to September and the weather is pleasant and beautiful.

Summers last from March to May in Nubra valley and are pleasantly warm and bright.

Winters last from December to February. This results in temperature drops as low as -4°C.

This region experiences extremely cold climate all along irrespective of the time of the year, thus driving visitors to choose from comparatively less colder months. No matter which month one decides to pay Nubra valley a visit, it must be kept in mind that the temperature always falls during the night making it the coldest time of the day.