About Ladakh

"Land of Passes" it really is, the area in the far north-west of India is cut off on all sides by high passes that are covered by snow half of the time.

It is a stunning high-altitude mountainous desert, featuring narrow canyons in its center and wide plateaus on the east. Villages seem like oases, monasteries on commanding positions overlook the fertile fields. Despite the harshness of nature, the area features a rich cultural heritage, and more importantly, stunning people which make it an even bigger pleasure to travel there.

 

Nubra Valley is another large valley system and on the way to the Line of Control. Nevertheless, it is open for tourism now and shows yet another aspect of the landscape. High dunes and wide river valleys form the scenery, and the history as a trading hub is hidden but existant. follows soon   Likir to Temisgon are two villages west of the Leh capital that are connected by an easy trail. It is an ideal place to experience the wide variety of Ladakhi scenery, and an excellent choice if you are looking for a short trek that can be done  independently.   Ladakh to Zanskar is a formidable traverse from the fertile valleys near Lamayuru through the arid valleys and over windy passes to Zanskar. It combines a wide range of scenery, and great villages both along and off the trodden tracks.   Leh in Indus Valley lies in the wide fertile riverbed which is followed on both sides by stretches of desert that end in the steep flanks of the mountains. Buddhist monasteries rise situated on ridges, their whitewashed walls stand out against rocks. Tso Moriri is a remote lake in nomand country. From Leh we climb half a dozen passes over 5'000m to reach the blue lake.   Zanskar, a former independent kingdom, is culturally part of Ladakh and surrounded on all sides by steep mountains and high passes.