Ladakh, renowned as the
“Land of High Passes”, is situated over 10,000 ft above sea level, in the
northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. This heavenly land of mesmerizing beauty
and majestic mountains is one of the most visited destinations of adventure
enthusiasts from all over the world. Other than adventure, Ladakh is famous for
spirituality, with a large number of Buddhist Monasteries spread across the
region, which have become the essential part of the cultural heritage of the
people. Ladakh beckons you with myriads of activities, including camping in
tents under the stars, trekking, Jeep safari through snow-capped mountain
peaks, bike ride to the highest motorable passes, river rafting in Indus and
Zanskar, safari on two-humped Bactrian camels; and many more. Every backpacker
who loves adventure and admires beauty must visit Ladakh at least once in life
time.
How to Reach Ladakh
The fastest way to approach
Ladakh is by flight from Delhi to Leh. However, if you are an adventure
fanatic, you can follow one of the two overland routes. The first route, which
is more adventurous, starts from Manali
in Himachal Pradesh, which will take you through a number of high passes like
Taklang La Pass, Lachung La Pass, etc. The other route begins from Srinagar
(Jammu Kashmir) via Kargil, which also has some high passes like Fotu La Pass
and Zoji La Pass. Both these routes are open for tourists only during a few
months in a year, from May to October. By travelling few days through high
altitude roads of snow-capped mountains, your body will become gradually
acclimatized to the altitude change, thus making the remaining part of your
trip more enjoyable.
Here is a well-planned
travel itinerary that begins from Manali, covering all major destinations of
Ladakh. The adventures are endless and the thrill is limitless!
Day 1: Arrival at Manali
The trip begins at Manali,
the popular hill station of Himachal Pradesh. Manali is located at 560 km from
Delhi and can be reached by an overnight journey in a Volvo bus from Delhi. On
arrival at Manali in the morning, check in at the hotel. You can spend the day
visiting some popular destinations, including Solang Valley, Hadimba temple,
Vashisht hot springs, and the markets of Manali. If you are interested, you can
make these visits on rented bikes. Have a good sleep in the night.
Day 2: Manali to Jispa Jeep Safari
Early in the morning check
out the hotel and take the Manali-Leh road for a jeep safari towards Jispa. En
route, spend some time at the famous Rohtang Pass (13050 ft). Proceed further
through mountain slopes having comfortably narrow climbs and spectacular
sceneries to reach Keylong and have lunch there. By evening you will reach
Jispa, an ideal camping retreat located at 140 km from Manali. Spend a
wonderful overnight stay in the tented camps of Jispa, with bonfire and
enjoyments, a memorable camping experience you will never forget in your life.
Day 3: Jispa to Leh Jeep Safari
After an amazing camp
experience at Jispa, you can continue the jeep safari towards Leh in the early
morning so that you can reach there by evening. It is a 10 hour high altitude
journey through a number of Gata Loops (hairpin bends) and the highest
motorable passes like Barlacha La (16040 ft), Nakee La (15547 ft), Lachung La
(16616 ft) and Taglang La (17500 ft), which will give you some thrilling
experience you have never encountered before. On arrival at Leh, check in at
the hotel. You will be completely exhausted after the exciting journey through
the colossal mountains, and need sufficient rest.
Day 4: Bike Trip to Monasteries
Leh and Kargil are the two
districts of Ladakh. However, Leh, synonymous to Ladakh, is the most popular
destination among them. You can begin your day in Ladakh by visiting several
famous places in and around Leh on rented bikes. Visit Shey Palace and Shey
Monastery situated 15 km away on a hillock.
A 12 m tall huge statue of Buddha is the main attraction of Shey
Monastery. Visit the nearby Thiksey Monastery famous for amazing wall paintings,
and the Hemis Monastery edged between sky-high mountains, 25 km away from
Thiksey. Return to Leh and visit Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace. Stay overnight in
the hotel.
Day 5: Bike Trip to Khardung La Pass and Nubra Valley
After an early breakfast you
can start an adventurous bike trip to Khardung La Pass (17582 ft). Khardung La
Pass, located at 39 km from Leh city, is one of the highest motorable passes in
the world. The first half of the route has paved roads and later it appears in
poor condition. At the dizzying heights filled with cold and crisp air you can
spend less than half an hour watching the mesmerizing views around Ladakh.
Before you suffer from acute mountain sickness and breathing issues, set off
towards Nubra valley. En route, visit the 32 m tall massive statue of Maitreya
Buddha near Diskit Monastery. Visit the
famous sand dunes of Hunder in Nubra valley and enjoy a short camel ride on
two-humped Bactrian camels. Stay overnight in a guest house in Hunder.
Day 6: Bike Trip to Panamic Hot Springs and Samur
In the morning, ride towards
Panamic hot springs, near the Siachin glacier. Take a refreshing bath in the
hot water, which is supposed to have healing powers. After spending few minutes
there, ride towards Samur and visit the famous Samstaling Monastery. Start the
return journey to Leh via Khardung La Pass. After arrival at Leh city, return
the rented bikes. In the evening, have a leisure hangout in the Leh markets.
Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 7: Jeep Safari to Pangong Tso Lake
In the morning, travel
towards the enchanting Pangong Lake by jeep safari. It will take about 6 hours
to reach the Lake. This beautiful lake situated at a height of 14200 ft above
sea level. Two-third of this 134 km long lake is in Tibet under the control of
China and only one-third portion lies in our country. The specialty of this
lake is that it keeps changing colours adopting different magical shades of
blue. It has saline water, which freezes during winter season. Do not expect
any boating activities here, but you can enjoy its breathtaking beauty that you
cannot find anywhere else. You can watch several rare species of birds
including Quail, Himalayan Chakor, etc. The picturesque beauty of this lake has
been captured in several movies, including “Three Idiots”. After spending few
hours in the serene atmosphere, return to Leh and stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 8: River Rafting
River rafting is an
excellent adrenaline-charged adventurous activity. If you are not a
weak-hearted person, you can reserve today for rafting on Indus River and Zanskar
River. Your tour operator will make necessary arrangements for the rafting
expedition. In the morning, you can reach the spot where the rafting begins,
which can be few kilometers away from the Sangam (the confluence of Indus and
Zanskar). Following the guidelines and instructions of the rafting instructor,
and fully equipped with life jackets, waterproof bags, etc., you can handle the
oars and enjoy some thrilling hours that you can never forget in entire life
time. After the amazing adventure, reach the Sangam and have a good lunch.
Relax for a while and return to Leh. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 9: Explore the West of Leh
Today, being the concluding
day of the trip, explore some popular destinations towards the west of Leh in
the Leh-Kargil route. In the morning,
visit Spituk Monastery and Mahakali Temple. Visit the Hall of Fame, an
inspirational museum constructed in memory of the martyrs of Indian army. Magnetic
Hill is a famous spot that defy the law of gravitation. At the confluence where
the River Indus meets Zanskar, the turquoise blue water of Indus merges with
the muddy water of Zanskar. Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Lamayuru Monastery, and
Alchi Cholskar, the famous 11th century monastic complex are the
other popular places you must visit. Return to Leh and stay overnight in the
hotel.
Day 10: Wind up the Trip
From the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, board the morning flight to
Delhi for your onward journey.
Best Season to Visit
June to August is the peak
season as well as the best season to explore the beauty of Ladakh, filled with
adventure. Though the overland routes
are open to tourists from May to October, it is advised to avoid the winter
months September and October due to extreme cold and snowfall.
Important Travel Tips
- · It is advised to organize the trip through an approved and experienced tour operator who can arrange everything including accommodation, transportation, food, etc., so that you can enjoy the entire trip without any tension.
- · In case you are not comfortable with bike riding, you can use jeep or other vehicles.
- · Before beginning the journey, visit your doctor and make sure that you are physically and mentally fit to undertake the journey.
- · Carry First Aid box and personal medical kit.
- · Carry sufficient number of warm clothes, rain coats, sleeping bags, shoes, etc.
- · Carry dry fruits, biscuits, chocolates, tinned foods and water.
- · Carry small portable oxygen cylinders, which are essential at extreme heights.
- · Travel in groups to ensure safety.
- · Respect and follow the custom and etiquette of Monasteries and temples while visiting there.
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