Ladakh Travel Guide

Nowhere else in the world would it be described as bustling, however in this remote wilderness, Leh's enchanting stupas and white-washed houses set amongst narrow streets provide an urban patchwork of humanity amidst an otherwise majestic, natural landscape. The colourful alley ways leading to a vibrant bazaar are the perfect place to start your exploration of Ladakh. Chat with the friendly locals, pickup a few words of the language whilst acclimatising to the altitude, particularly if you have arrived by air. If you up to exploring, venture into the alleyways behind the beautiful Jama Masjid and tunnel your way under a maroon door marked 'Chamba Gonba' before winding up a rocky path to the Old Town Cafe and Leh Palace. Here you will find incredible views over the town and the Indus Valley.

Thiksey is the most visited of the many beautiful monasteries in Ladakh due to its proximity to Leh. It is situated 19 kilometres from the city and at an altitude of 3,600m it overlooks the Indus valley and has beautiful views over the Stok mountain range. A bustling mecca for visitors, it is clear to see why as this incredible monastery is the perfect place to explore and experience some of the local culture. Famous for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the monastery is a twelve-story building stepped into the hillside on which it sits. It holds many pieces of Buddhist art such as thangkas, and stupas; the most famous being a 15 meter tall statue of Maitreya Buddha.

At 6,121m, Stok Kangri towers over the town of Leh. Part of the Stok Range, this beautiful snow capped peak is surrounded by rainbow valleys and steeped in tradition with prayer flags flying from all the local tea houses. Rated as one of the easiest 6000m peaks in the world to climb, the summit was popular with trekkers but is currently closed due to the impacts of tourism on the mountain.

Sitting at an elevation of 5359 metres, the Khardung La is the second highest navigable road in the world and the gateway to the beautiful Nubra Valley below. Once part of the silk route, the pass is steeped in historical culture and each summer many people will drive to the top of the pass with mountain bikes and enjoy the long the descent on two wheels back to Leh. The highest road in the world is also found in Ladakh, the Umling La reaches nearly 5800m.

At the village of Nimmoo, on the Srinagar to Leh highway, the Zanskar river emerges from the mountains and joins the mighty Indus river on its 3180km journey to the Arabian Sea. A truly beautiful sight and well worth a stop if you are passing by.