The document provides information about Ladakh, a region in northern India known for its beautiful natural scenery and cultural sites. It describes some of Ladakh's top attractions, including Pangong Tso lake, monasteries, and opportunities for activities like biking and village tours. Practical information is given on travel basics, including when to visit Ladakh to avoid the coldest winter months and monsoon season.

1. A P O C KE T G U I DE
LADAKH
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2. ABOUT
Ladakh, also known as “The Land of High Passes” is a region in India
located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The cold desert of India is
known for its mesmerizing views and a culture which remains a
mystery to many. It can also be said that the region is known to all, but
visited by few. Its snow-capped peaks, the clear blue skies and the
vistas of barren mountains broken only by meandering rivers have
attracted many an intrepid traveller.

3. Pangong Tso Indus-Zanskar Confluence
An endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a
height of about 4,350 m. It is 134 km long and
extends from India to China. During winter, the
lakefreezescompletelydespitehavingsaline
water.
One is a shining blue river. The other is dirty green.
Both of them originate in the high Himalayas. While the
Indus originates in the Changthang Cold Desert, the
Zanskar river originates in the Zanskar ranges. Both
theseHimalayanriversjoinatascenicsettingnearthe
town of Nimmu.
HIGHLIGHTS

4. Nubra valley Monasteries of Ladakh
Nubrabringsyou thebeautifulmonasteryof
Diskit, with the imposing statue of the Buddha
overlooking the valley and the sand dunesof
Hunder. Also get a ride on the Bactrian double
humped camels here.
There are innumerable monasteries in Ladkah, some in
ruins while others still inhabited - running as educational
and religious centers. It is no exaggeration that these
gompas are cultural and architectural delight. and take
you on an experience thorugh the magnificence and
grandeur of this serene and sacred land.
HIGHLIGHTS

5. Ladakhi Culinary Tour Biking in Ladakh
The local customs, traditions and rituals of Leh and
Ladakh are greatly influenced from the Tibetian
culture, making it distinct from the rest of the nation.
AnothermajorentitythatmakesLadakhdifferent
from the rest is the local cuisine. The Ladakhi cuisine
has flavours richer than your taste buds have ever
experienced. So join us on our Ladakhi Culinary tour
to explore the flavours of Ladakh.
Rent a bike and ride down the Sham valley exploring
the magnificent sights of Ladakh. You will bike past the
magnetic hill, the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar,
the majestic monasteries of Alchi, Likir and Lamayuru.
Awaken the adventurous part of you on our biking
trip.
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EXPERIENCES

6. Hemis festival Village life in Ladakh
The2-dayfiestamarksthebirthanniversaryofGuru
Padmasambhava. The Hemis Monastery is adorned
beautifullytohosttheceremonyandthecolourful
festivalshowcasesthebeautifulhandicraftsofthe
area. Natives dress up in lovely traditional attires and
gather in the courtyard of Hemis Monastery. Lamas
dance around the central flagpole to the tunes of
drums, cymbals and long horns.
Experience traditional village life in the Takmachik
village situated in the Sham region of Ladakh. Take part
in organic farming, eat local Ladakhi food, witness a
culturaldanceperformanceandlearnthelocalartsof
shawl weaving in this trip to Ladakh.
Click on the experience title for itinerary or click here for more
EXPERIENCES

7. Turtuk
Ahead of the Nubra valley, this is the last
frontier before Pakistan and is the among
the northernmost villages in India. Opened
to tourists in 2010, the place is a hidden
gem in Ladakh's tourist map.The landscape,
culture, language, clothing, and even the
physical features of people change quite
drastically crossing over into Turtuk, as we
technically enter Baltistan. Lying on the
banks of the Skyok river, Turtuk is the
gateway to the Siachen Glacier, with the
snow-clad peaks of Mt. K2, visible in the
horizon from the top of the village.
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8. Tso Moriri
Surrounded by barren hills and with the
backdrop of beautiful snow-covered mountains,
Lake Moriri is mind-numbingly beautiful & a
calm and sacred lake for Ladakhis. It is slightly
higher than Pangong Tso and the water is far
less brackish supporting more birdlife..
Hanley
The site of the 17th century Hanle Monastery
and home to the Indian Astronomical
Observatory. The location of the village and the
observatory are highly sensitive due to the
close proximity of the Tibetan and Chinese
border.
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9. BASICS
Location:ThegeographicallocationofLadakhrangesfrom9,000ft(2,750m)highatKargilto25,170ft
(7,672m)highatSaserKangri,intheKarakoramRange.Duetoitshighaltitude,Ladakhexperiencesa
verycoldclimate,whereeventhesummertemperaturesrarelyexceed27degreeC.Duetothehigh
altitude, the air is very thin and makes the heat of the sun very severe.
Airport:KushokBakulaRimpocheeAirport(IATA:IXL,ICAO:VILH)isanairportinLeh,Jammuand
Kashmir,India.Itisthe22ndhighestcommercialairportintheworldat3,256m(10,682ft)abovemean
sea level. It operates flights to and from major cities like Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar and Chandigarh, to name
a few. Being a military air terminal, the security is very strict and it would be best to take a printout of
your e-ticket beforeentering.
LanguagesSpoken:Ladakhi,Tibetan,UrduandBaltiaretheofficiallanguagesofLadakh.However,
Tibetan and Ladakhi are most common languages spoken by the locals.

10. BASICS
Currency: The only currency accepted in Ladakh is Indian Rupee. American Express and Visa are the most
acceptedtraveler’scheque.TheStateBankofIndiaandtheJ&KBankhavebranches atvariousplacesin
Ladakh,withmainbranchesinLehandKargil,whereforeignexchangefacilitiesarealsoavailable.
Electricityports:ThepowersocketsareoftypeC,DandM.Thestandardvoltageis230Vandthe
standard frequency is 50 Hz. Aplugadapterandavoltage converterarenecessaryforUSandCanadian
appliances.
Visas: All the foreign nationals, except citizens of neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan, are required to
possessavalidinternationaltraveldocumentintheformofanationalpassportwithavalidvisa.Along
withit,touristswillalsoneedanInnerLinePermitfromtheDeputyCommissioner’sOfficeatLeh.

11. BASICS
Dresscode:Ladakhexperiencesconsiderablefluctuationsinthedayandnighttemperaturesevenduring
thesummer.Itisadvisabletokeepapulloverorananorakorjackethandy.Sturdywalkingshoeswith
strongsolesforgripandcotton socksarealsosuggested. Pleaseavoidwearingshortsandsleeveless
shirts, blouses, tops, undershirts etc. in monasteries, mosques, temples, gurudwaras, and churches.
Healthandwellness:Carryallessentialmedicines,includingthoseprescribedbyapersonalphysician.
Wesuggestthatyoucarrysunscreens,lip-salve,moisturizers,antisepticcreams,etc.Also,have
medicines for Acute Mountain Sickness if you think you might need them.
Acclimatization:IfyouaretravellingtoLadakhbyair,takecompleterestforadayforadjustmenttothe
high altitude and low oxygen levels. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a risky condition faced by tourists
who do not allow sufficient time for acclimatization upon reaching the place.

12. Faqs
Do you tip in Ladakh?
InLadakh,tippingisprettymuchexpectedbutatdifferentlevels.Generally,youadda10%gratuityto
your restaurant bill and leave your hotel housekeepers Rs. 100 a day.
What is the internet access like?
Wi-Fi connection is available in some hotels and cafes. But the connections are slow and are of very poor
quality. You may use Wi-Fi if you really need to at these hotels.
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Tap water is NOT safe to drink. Maintain hydration, but only with bottled mineral water.

13. Faqs
Can I use my credit cards?
CardsarenotaccepetedinmostplacesexceptformajorestablishmentswhichacceptVisaand
MasterCard, withsome even accepting American Express.Do makesureyou’renotbeingcharged a
surcharge or in a foreign currency as these are illegal.
IsLadakh safe for solo travellers?
Aswithmanydestinations,visitorsmustalwaysusecommonsenseandpracticeduecautionand
vigilancewhentravelling.However,itisgenerallyadvisedfortravellerstotravelingroupsandnotalone
because of the harsh weather conditions and geographical challenges that might turn up.
Is Ladakh safe for families?
Ladakh is safe and child-friendly place with locals across our trips making a special effort. However, we
advise you not to travel with small children because of the high altitude air and weather.

14. PEAK SEASON
April to June: April to June is one of the best times ofthe
year to visit. The sun shines bright and keeps the day
temperatures warm.
September to October: Starting September a kind ofchill
sets in Ladakh but the sun keeps shining. This is also a
great time to go trekking.
July to August: The monsoons are in full swingand rivers,
puddle and water crossings are full withflow. These
monsoon months sometimes experience landslidesand
cloud bursts.
November to March: This is the coldest seasons ofall in
Ladakh when the region is completely cut-off fromrest of
the India by roads except a few passes.The Chadartrek is
best conducted between January andmid-March.
OFFSEASON

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