The land of daunting passes, the world’s coldest desert, snow covered peaks, and colorful festivals, Ladakh is a picturesque destination that never fails to cast a spell on travelers. From solo travelers to couples and nature lovers to adventure seekers, Ladakh treats backpackers with a variety of travel interests. Moreover, it is also one of the most favored destinations among photography enthusiasts who wish to capture the ancient mountain culture through their lens. So, what else are you waiting for? It’s time to get going for a larger than life travel experience.
Top attractions to discover during your Leh-Ladakh Tour
Zanskar Valley
With a plethora of reasons to enchant travelers including the high passes, rugged terrains, valleys, and mountain ranges, Zanskar has all the fair reasons that entice backpackers to the Lost Valley. The land of moonscapes and the mother of daunting trails that suffice your thirst for adventure, Zanskar charms the best of wanderers with its enthralling sights and the lovely backdrop of the Zanskar Range. The average height of the Range is around 6,000 m and even the highest of the peaks of Himachal Pradesh are found in it. The villages of the valley are dominated with much of the vegetation and the upper slopes are dotted with alpine and tundra species. The hay-fields covered with edelweiss is the most impressive sight at Zanskar. The wildlife here includes marmot, wolf, bear, bharal, snow leopard, wild sheep, alpine ibex, goats, and lammergeier. Also, animals like yak, dzo, sheep, horse, and dog are reared by the locals. With a human history dating back to the Bronze Age, Zanskar Valley is also an intriguing destination among archaeologists. Moreover, the Zanskar River (a tributary of the Indus) also forms gorge at certain heights in the valley, making way for extreme adventure.
Pangong Tso
With a mind boggling altitude of 14,270 feet above sea level, Pangong Tso is one of the most visited attractions in Leh Ladakh. The 12 km long lake extends from India to Tibet, with two-thirds of it lying in the latter. The reflection of the clear blue sky and the nearby barren mountains on the tranquil lake is a sight that remains etched in the mind for eternity, making it a hot-spot among photographers from across the length and breadth of the world.
Kargil
Perched on the banks of the Indus River, Kargil is the second largest town in Ladakh with a lot of appeal. It also acts as a transit hub with well built roads leading to Padum, Leh and Srinagar. Moreover, those in search for some adventure can also go for trekking and mountaineering during their sightseeing tour in Leh Ladakh.
Khardungla Pass
At a staggering height of 18,380 feet, the Khardungla Pass is the world’s highest motorable road and a must visit. The pass connects Leh with the Nubra Valley and also acts as the gateway to the illustrious Siachen Glacier. Not a typical tourist attraction, Khardungla Pass is one of the most difficult yet thrilling passes to ride on.
Nubra Valley
Blessed with a great scenery on a grand scale, green oasis villages encircled by spine-tinglingly stark scree slopes and harsh arid mountains, Nubra Valley is a tri-armed valley located towards the northeast of Ladakh. The valley lies on the once trading route that connected Turkistan with Tibet via the Karakoram Pass. A visit to this part of the region introduces you to sand dunes, monasteries, the Zimskhang Palace Ruins, 250 years old Ensa Gompa, and the famous two humped camels. Moreover, a whole different culture awaits at Turtuk and Bogdang.
Here are Top 7 Adventure Activities in Ladakh for the adventurer in you
A Shangri-la for adventure enthusiasts, Leh Ladakh stands tall as one of the ideal destination with a spectrum of adrenaline pumping action. Every year adventure sport lovers from every nook and corner of the world travel to Ladakh for its rugged landscapes, scenic trails, high passes and deep valleys. Some of the topmost adventure activities you can enjoy on a tour to Ladakh are:
Motor Biking
The rugged terrain of Leh Ladakh lures motor biking lovers to experience a ride on some of the highest roads in the world. A true motor biker’s muse, Ladakh draws in riders from all over the world, especially in between the months of June to October when the roads open up making way for a great road trip.
Best routes for motor biking:
Leh – Nubra Valley – Leh – Pangong Lake – Hemis
Leh – Pangong Lake – Leh – Khardung La
Leh – Pangong Lake – Hemis – Shey – Nubra Valley – Alchi / Ule – Kargil – Sonmarg – Srinagar
Manali – Jispa – Pang – Leh – Pangong Lake – Nubra Valley – Leh
White Water Rafting
The gushing Zanskar and Indus Rivers provide an exhilarating rafting experience in Ladakh. With rapids ranging from Grade 1 to Grade 4, Ladakh draws in newbies as well as pros for a thrilling white river rafting ride, especially during summers.
Best routes for white river rafting:
Hemis – Choglamsar
Phey – Nimmo route
Phey – Saspol
Upshi – Kharu route
Kharu – Spituk
Archery
One of the traditional sports of Leh and Ladakh, you can find a lot of archery contests that are held in the villages of Leh and Ladakh every now and then. As a travel enthusiast, you can try your hands at the sport as well as enjoy singing and dancing with the Ladakhis, getting a glimpse of the cultural regime of the “Roof of the World”.
Best time to visit Leh Ladakh
The best time to plan your trip to Leh and Ladakh is in between the months of April to October. The temperature during this season basically ranges between between 150 Celsius to 300 Celsius. It is the time when the passes are open, the sky is clear and you can easily go for trekking, ride a bike or wander through the remote villages.
So if you are in for some thrill, wish to hop on a great escape to an offbeat destination and wants to treat the wanderer in you to a heavenly experience, then a trip to Leh Ladakh is all that you need.
Recommended Tour Packages
12 Nights/13 Days Golden Triangle with Adventurous Ladakh
07 Nights/08 Days Ladakh: The Land of High Passes and Moonscapes
