Ladakh

“Julley!”

Ladakh is a cold desert! Not a desert that has vast stretches of sand and nothing else in sight, but, a desert of beautiful landscapes, snow–clad mountains, vast beautiful lakes, Buddhist monasteries, warm people, and vibrant festivals. It is a Union territory that forms the northern boundary of India sharing its borders with China. The Ladakh range, the Zanskar range, the Himalayan range and the  Karakoram range merge and crisscross to give the different valleys their unique look and feel.

Introduction

It is a journey of a lifetime. Without visiting Ladakh your trip to India is incomplete. Made popular in the most recent of times specially by the biking enthusiasts, the entire Ladakh is one stunning journey. Most of Ladakh is mountainous, rocky, and remote. Its remoteness has preserved its true essence. Its special terrain makes it a struggle to survive here. The everyday life of the local population is difficult which they spend with a smile on their face.

As beautiful as it is, it is not easy to scale the heights of above 3000m that makes up this entire region. It needs careful planning and preparation. The climatic conditions of such heights is not everyone’s cup of tea. That is what makes it even more adventurous! Having said that, Ladakh is not scary. Everyone must visit here at least once in their lifetime. We cannot pinpoint if it was the culture, the difficult life or the Buddhist vibes of this place but it shifted our perspective towards life.

There are many areas to explore in Ladakh – Sham Valley, Nubra Valley, Shyok Valley, Panamik, Pangong, Hanle, Tso Moriri, Manali Highway. Each very different from the other. You will blink in disbelief at the beauty this place has to offer. It becomes a difficult task to select what you would like to visit and what to skip in a single trip. That is why you will keep coming over and over! You can spend months living here. Working on weekdays and travelling on weekends.

Confused? Do not worry. We got your back! To make things easier for you, we have a detailed description of our trip to Ladakh. Lie back and come explore Ladakh with us.

Weather

The weather of Ladakh is unlike other parts of India. It has a very cold and arid climate. Ladakh has very low temperatures throughout the year. It is difficult and needs careful planning. Since it is known for its cold it is very common for people to visit in summers. But, we have a better suggestion for you. Click here to read more about the weather

Acclimatization

Acclimatization is a frequently mentioned term associated with high mountainous regions. This simply means to come to terms with the climate conditions of the place. Since, Ladakh is situated at a very high level, the temperatures are very low and there is a lack of oxygen. This can cause our body to respond differently than normal. Click here to learn more about this very important condition

How to reach

It is always a dream of a traveller to visit Ladakh. Depending on your style of travel, there are several options. All the ways are as interesting as the place itself. There are three ways in how to reach Leh. All three are exciting and suited to the different sections of travel enthusiasts. Check out different ways to reach here

Accommodations

Ladakh is not cheap by any means. Accommodation is fairly costly. Most houses and hotels depend on solar energy, specially, in remote areas. You will need to make advance bookings if you want comfortable and affordable options. We have covered details of how to book accommodations in this post

Transportation

There is only one way of transportation in Ladakh (given that, you do not ride a bike yourself) – Taxis. This place has almost one vehicle per house. Moreover, the terrain makes it very difficult for infrastructure development at rapid pace. So, you are left with the option of taxi to explore every part. Click here to know all about booking a taxi

Places of interest

Previously part of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh is now a Union Territory. It has a large area divided into two districts: Leh and Kargil. It has China to its east and north-east and Pakistan to its north west. Nevertheless, it is a beauty. There are many unique and stunning places of interest. Click here to explore what to see

Food

Adhering to the tough conditions of the place, the food in Ladakh is simple. They do not use many spices but their food can be hot. Check out several popular items to try here.

Itinerary & Budget

You need minimum 3 days itinerary and suitable budget to as many days as you want in Ladakh. You would want to keep coming back. Your itinerary and budget will depend upon what you would like to cover in the days you have for your trip. Here is a sample 10 day itinerary with budget for your reference.

Suggestions

Our trip to Ladakh was full of unique experiences. There were so many things we did not beforehand. It is very important to be aware of so many things while planning your trip. This prompted us to share all the important suggestions for going there based on our experiences. Check them out here.