3,500 m
Yarab Tso
A small, sacred, mirror-still lake hidden above Sumur village, reached by a short uphill walk.
Nubra Valley
Turtuk, Ladakh
A Balti village of stone lanes, apricot orchards and glacial streams, among the last villages before the Line of Control.
- Altitude
- 2,900 m
- From Leh
- ~205 km, 6–7 hours
- Best time
- May to October (apricot season: July–August)
- Permit
- Protected-area permit required
Turtuk was part of Baltistan until 1971 and opened to tourists only in 2010. Its culture, language, food and architecture are distinct from the rest of Ladakh. Walk the village lanes, visit the old royal house and the small museum, and taste fresh apricots and buckwheat bread.
At a lower altitude than Leh, Turtuk is green and comfortable, a welcome contrast after high passes.
More hidden gems
4,300 m
Hanle
India’s first Dark Sky Reserve: a 17th-century monastery, an observatory, and a sky crowded with stars.
2,900 m
Aryan Valley (Dha-Hanu)
Home of the Brokpa people, known for flower-crowned headdresses, vineyards and a distinct culture.
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