Nubra Valley is about 120 km to the north of Leh, the valley has sand dunes with bactrian camels and along with monasteries and a large Buddha statue with its green oasis villages, which are a major highlight of the tourism circuit of Ladakh. To the north east of this picturesque valley lies the Balti villages of Turtuk. Siachen glacier to the north-western region of this valley is bordered by Sasser and Karakoram passes, the latter formed an integral part of the ancient Silk route between India and China.