The 18,640 feet high Khardung La pass forms the divide between the Nubra Valley and Leh . After crossing the Khardung La, one descends to a place called "Khalsar", situated on the left bank of the Shyok River.

One route bifurcates towards the Bubra Valley right across whereas the other route follows the Shyok River towards Dikshit and further towards Turtuk in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. After crossing the bridge over the Shyok River at Koyak, the wide and beautiful Nurba Valley starts. Numerous villages are scattered in the Nubra Valley. In the olden times Nubra was part of the famous old Central Asian trade route known as the "Silk Road" along which the trade from Yarkand in Central Asia and Mongolia was carried out.

Over the Karakoram Pass and via the Bubra Valley came big caravans of traders from Yarkand to Leh and other parts of India, trading in their famous Yarkandi carpets, wool, silk and even marijuana.