Turtuk

Turtuk Village in Shyok Valley is one of the most offbeat places near Leh. At some 160 km from Leh, this village was recently thrown open to tourists. While most of its surrounding region is arid, Turtuk is a green patch, lined with hundreds of apricot trees and meadows. Four varieties of apricots are grown in the village and tourists are often given a tour of the farms by the villagers.

Interestingly, Turtuk once served as the headquarters of the King of Western Turkistan and if you want to delve deeper into history, you can also meet his descendants that stay in the village. Another highlight of the village are the spectacular views it offers from various vantage points. You could, for example, get uninterrupted views of Mount K2, the second highest peak in the world. You can reach Turtuk via bus or your own vehicle. The journey from Leh to Turtuk takes around eight hours, taking you across Khardung La.