Nubra's unique desert safari, where double-hump camels steal the show

In the far-flung corners of Ladakh lies Nubra Valley, where the desert meets the Himalayas—except, it’s not your typical desert. You won’t find scorching heat and endless stretches of sand here. Instead, you’ll encounter the surprising sight of snow-capped peaks overlooking golden dunes, where the temperature can drop lower than your expectations for a desert. And here, camels don’t just have one hump; they’ve got two. Because why settle for one when you can double the fun?

Welcome to the world of the Bactrian camel, a creature that’s just as quirky as its environment. These double-humped beasts are the ultimate desert survivors, thriving in the freezing, wind-swept terrain of Nubra, where they’ve been adapted to withstand the cold like furry professionals. Instead of the typical desert heat, they’ve mastered the art of chilling in style—both literally and figuratively.

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The desert safari in Nubra is anything but ordinary. Forget the smooth, graceful rides you might expect in the Sahara. In Nubra, the ride is more of a bouncy, humpy adventure. As you hop onto your Bactrian camel, get ready for a swaying motion that feels like you’re on a roller coaster ride—which is slow, steady, and awkwardly delightful.


As your camel plods along the sand dunes, you’re treated to a view that feels like nature’s photobook: snow-capped peaks juxtaposed against the arid, golden dunes. Meanwhile, you must be thinking that the mountains are saying, “Yeah, we’ll just stand here and look majestic while you struggle to get that perfect selfie with your camel.” And as you are struggling with that selfie, the camels seem completely unfazed by the entire spectacle.

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The camel’s occasional grumble or snort adds a vibe to the experience, and that they are the real stars here. Their two distinctive humps (which are actually fat storage units for survival) are the equivalent of a fashion statement—nothing says “I’m a survivor” like a camel with two perfectly placed bumps.

The ride is relatively short but long enough for those with a fear of heights—or rather, fear of camel-induced dizziness. The camels, for their part, do their job with a dignified grumble, occasionally raising an eyebrow (metaphorically speaking) at the antics of the tourists. At one point, one camel even let out a sneeze so dramatic, it could’ve been its defining performance.

When the safari ends, you’ll likely feel a strange mix of relief and a sudden urge to never stop swaying. The Bactrian camels are the highlight of Nubra’s quirky charm: resilient, somewhat aloof, and strangely majestic. And as you climb off your camel with grace, one thing’s for sure—you’ll never look at deserts, or camels, the same way again.