Altitude sickness is real. The roads will test you. And the moment you see Pangong Tso for the first time, none of that matters at all. I have done this trip three times — once in a group, once with my partner, once alone. June is my favourite month, and here is why. Why June Works The Manali-Leh highway opens in late May and is fully accessible by early June. Pangong Lake is at its most electric blue. The Nubra Valley is in bloom. Temperatures are comfortable during the day (8-18 degrees C) and cold but manageable at night. The First 48 Hours: Acclimatise or Regret It Fly into Leh and do nothing for the first two days. Walk slowly. Drink six litres of water a day. Avoid alcohol completely. Sleep early. On day two, walk up to Shanti Stupa in the evening. It takes 30 minutes and the view of Leh town against the Karakoram is your first real reward for coming here. Pangong Lake: The Main Event The drive from Leh to Pangong is five hours each way through Chang La at 5,360m. Carry warm layers — it can snow even in June at that altitude. The lake colour changes every hour — teal in morning, cobalt by noon, steel-grey at dusk. We stayed overnight in a tent camp right on the shore. Waking up at 4:30am to watch the sunrise over the lake with nobody else around is one of those memories that stays. Nubra Valley: Dunes and Double-Humped Camels Yes, there are sand dunes in Ladakh. The cold desert of Hunder has a surreal quality — snow peaks behind you, warm sand under your feet, and Bactrian camels that look slightly annoyed at being photographed. Budget for 7 Days: ₹35,000 to ₹45,000 per person including flights from Delhi, accommodation in guesthouses, and all permits.
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