Adventure in Ladakh

Trekking in Ladakh is the best way to explore Ladakh’s cold desert. You can choose between one-day treks from Leh or trans-mountain treks that take a fortnight. Most of the beaten tracks cross over the Zanskar range which separates the Zanskar and the Indus valley. While June to mid October is broadly the best time to take up trekking, some of the trek routes have even more restricted seasons. A few valleys are out-of bounds even in summer as the melting snow floods the plains. However, an ice trek combined with a night camp in the caves is a unique way to discover and feel Ladakh.

Of the several trek routes in Ladakh, the 10 day Marka Valley trek from Spitok to Hemis, the 3 day Spitok to Stok, the Suru Valley Trek and the Lamayuru to Alchi treks are the most preferred. Popular itineraries beyond Leh also include the drive towards the Nubra Valley through the 18,200 ft Khardang La Pass, a trip through the Chang La pass to the Changthang Plateau in the east to see the Pangong Lake and a deviation to the Tso Morari Lake and the Indus valley covering most of the well-known monasteries.

Some of the peaks of the Greater Himalayas are open for mountain climbing, such as the Stok-Khangri massif south of Leh which has a number of scalable peaks. The peaks of the Karakoram, north of Leh such as the Saser, can be accessed from the Nubra Valley. Sheltered from the monsoons by the Himalayas, Ladakh is safe for mountaineering between June and September.

Rafting on the surging waters of the Indus can be an out-of-this-world experience. Popular sections lie between Karu, Spituk and Saspol where amateurs can take up the sport. The Zanskar gorge poses a challenge though, even for experienced rafters.

You can take a pilgrimage trail and visit the ancient monasteries in Zanskar, Padum, Stongdey and Zangla. Zanskar is an enclosed valley inaccessible to the rest of the world for almost eight months, but home to a 10,000 strong Buddhist population. Padum, the administrative headquarters has the Starrimo monastery and some ancient rock carvings. 18 km ahead, along the road to Kargil is the Stongdey monastery. Zangla with a ruined castle and a chapel, and some good fresco paintings at Tsa-Zar lies further up the route.

The Ladakh festival is a much looked forward to event with dances, competitions and sports like archery and polo being an integral part of the event. Held from the 1st to the 15th of September, it brings forth the rich culture of Ladakh that has been encased within the region for centuries.