Just returned from an amazing 9-day Ladakh trip with my family (2 adults + 3 kids, all 10+ years old). We planned everything ourselves instead of using a package tour, so I thought I'd share our itinerary and some observations that may help other families/travellers.

Date	Tour	Visits/Sightseeing	Overnight	Place of stay
6-Jun	Leh sightseeing/acclimatization	Rest, short stroll around	Leh	Air BnB
7-Jun	Leh sightseeing/acclimatization	Hall of Fame (army museum, worth it) Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Sangam (Indus + Zanskar rivers), Diskit Monastery (giant Buddha statue)	Leh	Air BnB
8-Jun	Leh→Nubra Valley	Khardung La pass, ATV rides, zip line, Camel ride	Nubra	Misty hills cabin, Hunder
9-Jun	Nubra	Visit Turtuk, Turtuk palace	Nubra	Misty hills cabin, Hunder
10-Jun	Nubra→Pangong Lake	Pangong lake, Shyok river, 3 idiots shooting point	Pangong	Namseylin
11-Jun	Pangong→Hanle	Rezang La Memorial, Stargazing, Observatory	Hanle	Aurora Cabins
12-Jun	Hanle→Tiri Do	Visit the Tso moriri lake, Kyagar Tso, Chumathang hot springs	Tiri Do	Cho homestay
13-Jun	Tiri Do→Leh	Thiksey Monastery, The 3 idiots school	Leh	Shel heritage homestay
14-Jun	Leh→Delhi→Hyd	Fly back

What worked well

• Spending the first 2 nights in Leh helped everyone acclimatize properly.
• 2 nights in Nubra after that. So, no exertion or running from one point to another.
• Kids particularly enjoyed:
  • Hall of Fame
  • Watching army bunkers and POK from Turtuk
  • Camel rides in Hunder
  • ATV rides
  • Pangong Lake
  • Stopping at random non-touristy spots that were quiet and scenic

Family/Altitude Notes

• We were traveling with 3 kids (all above 10 years old).
• We avoided overexertion during the first couple of days.
• Stayed hydrated throughout the trip. Adults took 1 Diamox on Day 1.
• All of us had mild headache and tiredness except one of our kids' who had severe stomach ache and vomiting and had to be taken to the hospital in Leh on Day 1. 2 injections later, she was fine for the rest of the trip. Our driver was very helpful with the hospital visit.
• On day 1, we ensured our meals were light. Day 2, we felt better and ate a little more.
• Do not stop for more than 15 minutes at Khardung La. It really does have side effects.
• Please carry oxygen cylinders when traveling from to higher altitudes. Rental oxygen cylinders are available. We took them and used it on 2 of our kids after Khardung La since they ended up with severe headache.

Accommodation Feedback

• Airbnb in Leh was deceiving. Not good. Pls book hotels. There are plenty at reasonable prices.
• Misty Hills Cabins (Hunder) was amazing, squeaky clean, great views, amazing food, warm staff and had a nice location and worked well as a base for Turtuk.
• Our Pangong stay in Merak had amazing views. They are domes that were clean and was a different experience. Food was meh, but the owner(who is in the Indian women's Ice hockey team, btw) said she was understaffed due to sickness.
• Hanle accommodation was basic but in a remote place like Hanle, I would not expect more. It was clean.
• Homestay experience in Tiri Do and Shey was one of the more authentic parts of the trip. Cho homestay especially was an amazing experience. The owners are very warm and the lady of the house cooks very good food with lot of love. The variety may be limited, but the taste, freshness and love - paramount. It was by the Indus river with beautiful mountain views.

A few takeaways

• Don't rush acclimatization.
• Hanle views are totally climate dependent. The day we went, it was cloudy and rained. So, no star gazing. Was perfect 1 day earlier and a day later. Our driver mentioned that the milky way was visible and beautiful from Pangong where we stayed a day earlier.
• Turtuk is worth the long drive.
• For families, self-planning is very doable with some preparation. Inner line permit is required to go around Ladakh. I obtained them in advance online at https://www.lahdclehpermit.in/.
• Booking hotels/stays in advance was totally worth it. Hanle especially MUST be booked in advance especially closer to the new moon.
• Ladakh roads are mostly great. Pangong to Hanle has a short tough terrain, otherwise perfect.
• NO PHOTOS, NO VIDEOS CAN DO JUSTICE TO WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE IN LADAKH. THE HIMALAYAS, ITS RIVERS, THE LANDSCAPE AND THE PEOPLE ARE MIND BLOWING AND REALLY NEED YOUR EYES AND BRAIN TO FEEL IT.

Special mention to our driver Tenzin. The next time we go to Ladakh, we would not choose another driver. Tenzin is very professional with a clean car, knows the Ladakh roads to perfection, kind, patient, helpful, very well mannered and an amazing friend to young kids. Great guy. Our kids were in tears when they had to leave their "Tenzin bhaiyya" :) You may reach him at six zero zero six zero four two seven two one.

Happy to answer any questions about permits, budgeting, accommodations, or traveling in Ladakh with kids.

Hi! I'm on reddit since 2 months. I just finished a wonderful family trip to Ladakh and have been wanting help others by answering questions on places to stay, driver recommendations, things to carry etc. on the r/ladakh page. Every response gets deleted! Why? What am I missing here?