Nubra Valley: A Camping Hotspot for Adventure Seekers

Known for its breathtaking landscapes, lovely walking trails, and the Shyok River, Nubra Valley is no less than paradise on Earth. Living in remoteness for most of the year, the valley comes to life during the summers. The grandiose Y-shaped Nubra Valley is, in fact, among the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh. Surrounded by rocky boulders and snow-clad mountains, the valley is a hotspot for trekkers and adventure travellers.

Take a trip to one of the most isolated valleys of North Ladakh to imbibe the beauty and serenity of this heavenly place in its purest form. Nubra Valley lies at a height of about 10,000 ft above sea level and is located at a distance of 150 km from Leh. The journey to the valley is an experience in itself as it allows you to experience the best of both nature and the simplistic lifestyles of the people residing in this beautiful place.

Entry into the valley is suitably dramatic via the Silk Road across the Ladakh range. As for adventure, there is a lot to look forward to when it comes to Nubra Valley camping. The valley is home to some of the best camps in the region. Among which the more popular ones are the Nubra Organic Retreat Camp, which is built on the theme of organic farming to reflect the true spirit of Ladakh, and the other being the Desert Himalayan Resort which boasts of their luxury tents in Nubra Valley. Camping here is an experience that you simply should not miss out on.

Be it the icy cold winds or the challenging terrains of the Himalayas, camping in Nubra Valley offers numerous thrilling options to quench your thirst for that adrenaline rush. Let us take a dive into the adventure activities that you can indulge in to get the best out of your thrilling experience in the valley.

1. Zanskar River Rafting

Rafting gives you an adrenaline rush that is unparalleled! That is what makes it popular among adventure enthusiasts. The best part is that you do not have to be an expert in swimming in order to enjoy this activity. Floating down the valley, cutting through gorges and combating the tides make rafting one of the most popular adventure activities of the Nubra Valley camping experience.

The Nubra River gorge is one of the most scenic in the world and offers adventure junkies a multi-day rafting experience. The river is surrounded by huge mountains standing at a height of a few thousand ft. If possible, you should plan a minimum of 11 nights to be able to properly journey through this otherwise hidden gorge full of exciting curves and steep mountains. There are several packages available for shorter rafting tours as well, and you should choose one according to your itinerary.

One of the tours that you can choose starts from Hamiling and continues till Zamgok, Padum. Here, you can also hike in the Karsha Gompa and then resume your rafting journey. The next part of the tour will be from Nyarek to Lamayuru. The entire journey is enriched with stops at some great places to visit in Nubra Valley, including various monasteries in the region, a waterfall, and some interesting rock formations. The journey will end after rafting for another 40km till you reach Nimu at the Indus River.

April to November is the best time to enjoy river rafting. Hence, if this is the type of vacation you are looking at, opt for one of the Nubra Valley tour packages during these months.

2. Cycling in Nubra Valley

The entire Leh Ladakh region is undoubtedly a paradise for cyclists. The journey is full of quiet roads, friendly locals, and serene landscapes, making for a visually stimulating experience.

When you are looking for the best camp in Nubra Valley for your trip, make sure you also check whether they offer cycling tours that allow you to experience an exhilarating cycling trip through the high-altitude mountain desert of Ladakh, Nubra Valley. You can cycle through remote valleys and alongside glacier-fed rivers. You can also go ahead to discover the new road over the Warila Pass and can cycle through the beautiful Sakti Valley.

You will, of course, need to acclimatize yourself to the thinner air at this high altitude. Then, you will be able to cycle to some of the best places to see in Nubra Valley, like monasteries dramatically parched on cliffs and villages with rich Tibetan culture and you can pass through areas that are famous for winter snow leopard sightings. Colourful granite cliff rises, archways and spires framed in the brilliant blue sky will continue to follow you throughout your cycling experience.

After rafting, cycling through the valley is the most popular activity to quench your thirst for adventure when you camp in Nubra.

Cycling routes: Khardung - Diksit, Diksit - Hunder, Khar - Turkut

3. Camel Safari at Hunder Sand Dunes

Camels are not only confined to the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. They are also one of the major modes of transportation in the cold deserts of Leh Ladakh.

One of the best activities to partake in when camping in Nubra Valley is riding the Bactrian Double Humped Camel through the white sand dunes of Hunder Village in Nubra Valley. At a height of about 12,000 feet above sea level, the valley is one of the highest white deserts in the world where you can experience an exhilarating camel safari.

Hunder Village perfectly represents the majestic hues of Nubra Valley’s topography and is among the best places to see in Nubra Valley. Take this 2-hour ride and travel over the Ladakhi sand dunes and sync with the spectacular natural beauty of the valley. You’ll have to get used to the rolling and wobbly movements of the camel as you explore the fertile and lush apricot orchards, rugged mountain terrains, frozen desserts, and remote villages of Nubra.

While enjoying a camel safari in Nubra Valley, one can take time to comprehend what makes the rugged mountainous landscapes so breath-taking. Additionally, you can also take a halt at the colourful Buddhist Monasteries and take a dip in the famous hot springs that are said to possess therapeutic qualities. The best time to enjoy the safari is from July to September.

• Route: Hunder to Diskit
• Timings: 9 to 12 in the morning & 3 to 6 in the evening

4. Trekking in Nubra Valley

One of the most well-known trekking expeditions in Ladakh, the Nubra Valley Trek is surely a once in a lifetime experience for adventure travellers. The Nubra Valley Trek passes through Khardungla Pass. After trekking through the pass, you will see Khardung Village, Khalser, and Diskit. From here, a 2-hour camel ride can be taken to Hunder village.

Khardungla Pass is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra Valley. At a height of 18,380 feet above sea level, it is said to be the highest motorable road in the world. Hunder Village is famous for a small monastery that is located on the ancient Silk Route. You can also explore the pretty villages in the valley like Tirit, Lukun, and Sumur. Next on the route is the Diskit Monastery, also known as the Diskit Gompa. It is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the valley and is believed to have been built in the 14th century. These are also among the best places to visit in Nubra Valley.

Best time: May to October

Popular trekking routes:

• Route 1: Leh - Phyanf - Lasirmo Lsa - Hunder - Khalser - Digger La - Saboo
• Route 2: Leh - Saboo - Digger La - Agyam Village - Khalser - Diskit

So, why wait? Kick off the journey that takes you to a destination where nature showcases a different hue. With Nubra Valley camping, you can experience the valley’s surreal beauty that will let you relax and rejuvenate. The valley is not just a series of paintings to be hung on the walls. The place has to be felt and experienced beyond sightseeing and luxury hotel stays.

Book a Nubra Valley mountain camp, get drenched in the waters as you go rafting, cycle through the scenic roads, hike up to the highest point, witness the spirituality of the morning prayers at the numerous monasteries, and sleep in comfortable tents at Nubra Valley, this is a trip that is sure to leave you with some amazing memories.