LEH-LADAKH
EXCLUSIVE LEH-LADAKH HIMALAYA
The Land of High Passes, Ladakh, the newly created Union Territory in India (previously a part of Jammu & Kashmir), boasts a landscape that can leave you with your jaws dropped. It is a place where the landscape changes dramatically; it is truly astonishing to see the mountains, snow, cold desert, alpine meadows and lakes at a short distance from each other. Tourism in Ladakh is an absolute delight for nature lovers as well as adventurers.
Adorned with the lofty barren mountains, Ladakh is home to some of the highest motorable passes like Khardung La (5359 m), Marsimik La (5582 m), and Chang La (5360 m), and alpine lakes like Pangong Tso (4350 m) and Tso Moriri (4522 m). Ladakh is further divided into three regions - Leh, Nubra, and Zanskar, and each region has several places to see.
Ladakh is majorly popular amongst the adventurers who feel welcomed by the number of adrenaline rushing activities offered here. The union territory is amongst the top trekking destinations in India with amazing and unmatched treks like the popular Frozen River Trek/Chadar Trek. Ladakh also has opportunities for mountaineering, motor biking, mountain biking, white water rafting and more.
Adding to its exceptional beauty are the ancient Buddhist monasteries that are mostly nestled in the mountains and are thousands of years old. These monasteries make for the Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in Ladakh and also act as important cultural centres where major religious festivals take place.
In our Ladakh Travel Guide, we add all the information you need to know before planning a trip. Our authentic Ladakh travel guide includes information on the top places to visit, must visit tourist attractions, best things to do and top places to stay in Ladakh.
Himachal Tour and Travel offers the best Leh Ladakh tour packages ensuring an amazing holiday experience at this top Himalayan destination in India.
Best Places to Visit in Ladakh
1. Leh
Leh is where your adventure in Ladakh begins! The capital city of the recently formed union territory is the right reflection of what this venturesome North Indian destination is all about. At first, you might find Leh to be a quiet destination, but with further exploration you’ll find, Leh to be quite an exciting place to be for everyone. Be it a nature lover, a cultural aficionado, a history lover, an adventure enthusiast or even honeymooners, there’s certainly something special for all in Leh tourism.
Inside Leh City, for history & culture lovers are some must-see places like Leh Palace, seated atop a mountain; Shanti Stupa, perched on a mountain and is widely acclaimed; Leh Market, an ideal place for shopping in Ladakh; and the War Museum that gives you a detailed insight into the wars in India and the role of Indian Army. Around Leh also sit some of the most amazing places for sightseeing in Ladakh. The confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers in Nimmu; the sacred Sikh gurudwara, Patthar Sahib; Magnetic Hill, known for its optical illusion; are some of the major places to visit for tourists.
For a spiritual tour amidst the beautiful settings sit imposing Buddhist monasteries like Ladakh’s richest monastery, Hemis Gompa; the oldest monastery, Alchi Gompa; Thiksey Monastery; Matho Monastery, Spituk Gompa and more. These monasteries are ideal for history lovers as well as culture enthusiasts who can enjoy annual festivals here and large collections of books, artifacts and more.
2. Nubra Valley
A tri-armed valley that is separated by Nubra (Siachan) River and Shyok River, Nubra Valley in Ladakh is popular for its cold desert and picturesque landscape. The valley is connected to Leh with Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. Nubra valley is amongst the top tourist attractions in Ladakh and its Diskit Monastery and Hunder Village are a must-visit.
Nubra Valley’s Hunder Village is known for its cold desert and the opportunity of camping and riding on Bactrian Camel (double-humped camel). The Diskit Monastery in the largest town of Nubra Valley is the oldest and largest one in the region and is also a must-see. However, the main attraction here is the 32-meter statue of Maitreya Buddha which is hard to miss out due to its size.
Turtuk, an offbeat village has been made accessible for the tourists since 2010. Here, tourists have the chance to enjoy tribal tourism; interact with the locals and learn and understand about their culture and lifestyle. There’s also the opportunity for enjoy eco-friendly camping at Turtuk.
3. Zanskar
Popular primarily for its adventurous Frozen River/Chadar Trek in winter season and adrenaline rushing white water rafting experience in summer, Zanskar in Ladakh is a paradise for adventure and nature lovers. An offbeat destination, Zanskar is the part of Kargil District in Ladakh and boasts some of the most spectacular views in the union territory. It covers an area of more than 5000 sq km, and has a mountain range (Zanskar Range) of its own that is different from the Himalayas. For adventure lovers, Zanskar is a trekking hotspot. Apart from the Chadar Trek, it has several exciting treks like Lamayuru to Darcha and Lamayuru-Padum trek that take you through remote villages and offers jaw-dropping vistas. And if that’s not enough, the Zanskar River offers an amazing white-water rafting experience with up to Grade IV rapids. Nature lovers can take delight in Zanskar’s untouched natural beauty. There are alpine lakes that are so scenic that you don’t feel like taking off your eyes of them. There are mountains and streams running parallel, and there are small agricultural patches near the remote villages that add the green to the brown and yellow landscape. The sacred monasteries like Sani, Stongdey, Karsha, and Phugtal monasteries only add to its natural charm. For culture lovers, apart from the monastery, Zanskar is home to one of the last surviving cultural settlers of Tibet. One can still see the practice of polyandry in some of the villages in Zanskar. The simple food and usage locally available resources makes trying the food here a must. With our authentic Zanskar travel guide, find all the information on planning your Zanskar trip. Get insights into the best places to visit and activities, top accommodation options, season to visit along with an ideal way to reach along with best Zanskar tour packages.