Nubra Eco-Lodge
Nubra Valley, Ladakh
Nubra Eco-Lodge sits just on the edge of the picturesque farming village of Sumur, 117 km from Leh, in the eastern part of the Nubra Valley, at the point where the Nubra River meets the Shyok River.
The regional capital of Diskit is visible from the Eco-Lodge, across the two rivers. Aside from Muslim Turtuk in the far west of Nubra, the valley is Buddhist. Sumur is no different, and is home to an active gompa as well as many stupas and mani walls.
How to get there:
By air:
Leh’s airport is the nearest. There are no international flights. Domestic flights come from Delhi (just 1hr 20 mins) or Srinagar (45 mins). Proceed by car. Despite only being 115km away, it’s a 4 to 7 hour journey from Leh, depending on traffic and weather conditions.
By rail:
Not an option.
By road:
There are 3 buses per week between Leh and Nubra, so not a great option, but share taxis are available daily.
By car/motorbike: the road to Nubra Valley, which goes over the 17,500 ft Khardung-la, is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. An often treacherous mountain journey the drive can take between 4 to 7 hours. Once on the Nubra side the snow begins to fade and a vast high-altitude desert valley emerges.
Distances & travel times:
airport: 115km / 4-7 hours
railway station: none
When to go:
April to September. It all depends on the road over Khardung La, and whether or not it’s open. Outside of those months most of Ladakh shuts down for the winter.
Getting around:
You can walk around the village. Otherwise you need a hired or shared taxi, or to bring your own transportation from Leh.
We tried to rent an Enfield in Nubra, but the valley seems to have none available – you have to bring one over from Leh yourself, which involves negotiating Khardung La. Not for the faint hearted or inexperienced, especially around the edges of the season when it snows on the mountain. Shared taxis are a cheap but often uncomfortable option here. Many can be found in Diskit.