The Sand Dunes of Hunder are cold desert dunes at about 4,000 metres in the Nubra valley, ten kilometres from Diskit village. Sand at four thousand metres, with snow peaks behind it, is the contradiction everyone comes to see. The double-humped Bactrian camels that graze here are the descendants of Silk Road caravan stock.
Duke Kashmir Travels, a Srinagar agency registered as JKTA00003978 since 2011, runs Nubra stays with the permits handled in advance. Ladakh packages start near ₹6,350 per person, twin sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- About 4,000 metres above sea level, in the Nubra valley.
- Ten kilometres from Diskit village.
- Home to Bactrian double-humped camels, unusual in India.
- An oasis of sea buckthorn and poplar sits within the dune field.
- Camel rides are the standard activity; rates are agreed locally.
- Late afternoon light is the best for photographs.
Why are there camels here?
Bactrian camels, the double-humped kind, were caravan animals on the Central Asian trade routes through Nubra, and the local herds descend from them.
Rides are run by local operators along the dune edge, priced per person and paid on the spot, outside package rates. The animals work short shifts and rest through the middle of the day.
What is the landscape like?
Wind-shaped sand at 4,000 metres, hemmed in by the Shyok river on one side and bare mountain on the other, with an oasis of sea buckthorn in the middle.
It is genuinely a cold desert: hot at midday in summer, cold at night, and under snow in winter. The best light comes in the last hour before sunset.
How do you visit?
From Leh over the Khardung La, then down the valley past Diskit — an overnight trip, with Inner Line permits arranged in advance.
Most guests stay at Hunder or Diskit for a night or two, adding Panamik and Yarab Tso to the itinerary.
Booking this with us
Duke Kashmir Travels has held Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978 since March 2011 and has been an IATO allied member since 2016. The full list of registrations sits on our About Us page.
Send your dates and traveller count and we will build the itinerary around it. Call +91 9018 44 0000, email info@dukekashmirtravels.com or use the contact page.
About the founder
Rayies Ahmad Zargar founded Duke Kashmir Travels in Srinagar in 2011 and still runs it. He co-founded the JK Tourism Council and reviews the guides published here, including this one. Profile on LinkedIn.