Ladakh Travel Guide

Ladakh is a region of the north Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite being politically part of India, Ladakh could not be any more different from the rest of the country. Geographically, it sits in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, closer to the dramatic Tibetan plateau than it is to the plains of India, at a mighty 3000m above sea level.

Ladakh is a high altitude desert, a barren and windswept land dotted with traditional villages and dramatic monasteries that separates the Great Himalayan range from the mighty Karakoram range to the North. The largest town of Leh, sits at an altitude of 3500m overlooking the Indus River and is surrounded by peaks well over 6000m high. The region is known for it's breath taking landscapes, high mountain passes and infinite dark skies. It sees significantly less tourism than the rest of India, partly because it is not well known as a destination but also because its remote and high reputation makes it feel too inaccessible for many people. It is a well kept secret amongst those seeking remote adventure.

The staggering beauty of the region along with the friendly and welcoming nature of the local people, makes Ladakh one of the most incredible destinations you will ever visit and one of the few places where you can still see and learn about authentic Tibetan culture, language and religion. Culturally, this region is know as "Little Tibet"; its people are Buddhists of Tibetan origin and the Ladakhi Language is a dialect of Tibetan. Just to the North of Leh, sits the Nubra valley, warmer and with more flora than the otherwise barren Ladakh landscapes, this valley was traditionally part of the 'Silk Road' allowing trading links with the Xinjiang Province of China. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949, many Tibetans relocated to Ladakh to escape repression and have built their homes in the villages set amongst this magnificent landscape.