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In the land of spectacular Mountains & Blue sky
Surrounded by the world’s mightiest mountain ranges in India’s most northern region Ladakh is one of the highest inhabited areas in the world. The sparsely populated, barren high-altitude desert-valleys are located at an average altitude of 11’500 feet. A unique, highly civilized culture has developed here that is strongly influenced by the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.
The picturesque villages of Ladakh with their traditional flat-roofed, insulated mud-houses are surrounded by a mosaic of trees and pretty green fields of barley and mustard. They are oases in the vast, rugged and spectacular mountain wilderness of the plateau. Where else on earth, besides Ladakh, have people actually added to biodiversity instead of reduced it through their way of life?
Monasteries built like forts are perched on many hilltops of the secluded, moonscape-like scenery of Ladakh and sky-blue lakes contrast with white peaks, vast plains, deep gorges and the world’s highest passes.
Ladakh’s mountain-landscape and culture is probably amongst the most unique on the Indian Subcontinent. The Tibetan cultural heritage and the people’s unique way of life in tune with nature and its cycles has been preserved here till today. In contrast to Tibet monasteries here have been preserved and are fully active. The deep rooting in Buddhism shapes the spirit of the gentle Ladakhis and is expressed in the close relationship between man and nature.
Many colorful festivals with mask dances in the monasteries take place during the autumn and winter months and can be integrated into your cultural travel program. The fascinating mountain scenery, surprisingly abundant bird- and wildlife is best revealed through a trek while your best way to gain insights into the land and its people is by experiencing a stay with a host family in their traditional home. For MTB-enthusiasts Ladakh is a challenging territory with many high-altitude passes of up to 18’300 ft.
Whether you wish to experience Ladakh’s mystic mountains worlds and its people comfortably & slowly, by MTB, trekking or exposed to the elements and weather by climbing a mountain peak – we take your wishes and preferences into consideration to come up with a journey that suits you best.
Best Travel Time for Ladakh
Summer:
The mildest and sunniest months in Ladakh are from June to September. Days are generally sunny and pleasant between + 20 °C to + 30°C. Temperatures cool down in the evening, in the shade and in higher areas. The climate is dry and there is only sporadic rainfall. By the end of September first snowfall can be expected.
Winter:
From late October to late May, it may partly only be possible to reach Ladakh by air due to snow-covered passes. In winter temperatures may - depending on altitude – drop down to minus 35° C. Yet Ladakh’s winter-cold is not felt as that cold due to the lack of moisture in the air. With adequate clothing it does not feel as cold as it may appear to and snow is rare in the valleys. The advantage of a trip to Ladakh in winter is the absence of tourist bustle and also many authentic monastic festivals take place then.
Ladakh Itineraries
- Ladakh Individual Journeys
- Ladakh Group Travels
Ladakh in Infos
Location |
In the northernmost part of India, south of Tibetan Ladakh extends between the Tibetan Himalaya, the Karakorum range and the upper valley of the Indus River. Ladakh shares borders with Tibet in the northeast, with Pakistan in the northwest, with other districts of Kashmir in the west and with the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south. |
Area |
Approx. 60'000 m² |
Population |
Approx. 240'000 – 300’000 |
Capital |
Leh: 11’400 ft with a population of approx. 20'000 |
Districts |
Ladakh is the largest region within the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir and consists of two districts: Leh & Kargil. Zanskar belongs to the district of Kargil. In 1995 the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) was founded as a first step on the path to greater self-determination. |
Topography |
The mountain-ranges that stretch from southeast to northwest rise up from 16’000 to 23’000 ft while the valley’s average altitude is 11’500 ft. Many of the passes are motorable, including Khardong-pass with 18’400 ft. Ladakh’s highest peak is Mt. Kang Yaze, 21’000 ft. River Indus is fed by many streams and rivers joining from side-valleys. Indus is 2000 miles long and originates in Tibet, not far from the holy Mt. Kailash. River Indus drains the entire region and is crossed only by a few bridges. |
Vegetation / Flora |
Ladakh’s flora is not to be underestimated despite the barren and alpine conditions. Particularly along streams and on the plateaus one finds an extraordinary diversity of flowers, including anemones, asters, geraniums, thistles, blue poppy, edelweiss, etc.
Common shrubs include sea buckthorn, juniper and wild rose. Many grasses, flowers and plants including Tibetan medicinal plants grow at altitudes up to 16’000 ft. There are few trees in Ladakh and they were introduced by the people: poplar, willow, birch and apricot trees grace the villages and in the lower valleys apple, mulberry and walnut also grows. |
Fauna |
Despite the extreme climatic conditions Ladakh offers habitat to a large number of mammals, including the wild yak, ibex, wild goats, marmots andblue sheep (Pseudois nayaur). From the largest wild sheep species, the argali (Ovis ammon) to the smallest, the Urial (Ovis orientalis vignei) Ladakh provides habitat to them as also to the Tibetan Antilope (Pantholops hodgsonii) the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) in the Hemis National Park and around Changthang to packs of Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang). Very rare are predators like the black and brown bear (Urus arctos) and the endangered snow leopard whereas wolves and foxes are common.
Prominent members amongst Ladakh’s avian population is the Tibetan snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus), the Himalayan snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis) as well as many types of partridges, the rare black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), jackdaws, griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), ravens and the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) with his spectacular wingspan of 10 ft! |
Climate |
Ladakh is located in the rain shadow of the monsoon. The marginal mountains keep the rain-forming winds out and create a very dry, desert-like climate with extreme temperature differences and at times strong winds. There are short, warm summers followed by long and cold winters with little snowfall and temperatures below minus 30° C. |
Snowline |
Approx. 5800 m |
Treeline |
Approx. 3500 m (of trees that have been introduced to the people of Ladakh) |
Temperature |
Temperature differences vary greatly between the seasons and also day and night. In summer day-temperatures in areas of settlement may raise up to + 35° C while they may drop down to minus 35° C in winters. However, the cold in winter does not feel as such due to the lack of moisture in the air.
Leh, 3500 m: June – September: min. + 5º C, max. + 30º C.
Leh: Average daily temperature from June to September: + 23 ºC |
Rainfall |
In Leh approx. 15 cm per year. |
Languages |
Ladakhi, Zanskari and various Tibetan dialects. Also widespread are Hindi and English. |
People |
The Ladakhis are a mixture of the Indo-Aryan Darden from Gilgit (now Pakistan) and the Tibetans. In addition to the sedentary and agrarian lifestyle of most Ladakhis there are also Ladakhi and Tibetan nomads. |
Literacy (Leh) |
Men: 72%; Women: 50% |
Religions |
The vast majority in the district of Leh and the Kargil district in Zangskar are Buddhists while a minority belongs to the Shia Islam (Westladakh). There is also a minority of Hindus and Christians. Christianity was introduced by missionaries from Saxony in the 19th century in Leh while Islam has a longer tradition in Ladakh. Amongst Ladakh’s Buddhists, the majority follow Mahayana Buddhism although there are also followers of Hinayana-Buddhism. All schools of Tibetan Buddhism are also represented in Ladakh and contain elements of the ancient Bön religion.
Leh: Approx. 80 % Buddhists, approx. 15 % Muslims and approx. 3 % Hindus.
Zangskar: Approx. 95 % Buddhists, approx. 5 % Muslims. |
Economy |
The population continues to live mostly on subsistence farming (legumes, mustard, barley, dairy products, vegetables such as radish and cabbage). Tourism (domestic and international) is a significant revenue source, besides trade. The military and government are significant employers. Agriculture and livestock still play a decisive role in securing people’s livelihood. Terraced fields with sophisticated irrigation systems allow the cultivation of cereals and vegetables at heights of 15’000 ft. In lower and more protected areas apricots and walnuts are harvested during the brief summer. |
How to reach |
By Air: Daily flights from Delhi to Leh
By Land (during summer months only): On adventurous mountain roads from Delhi via Himachal Pradesh or Jammu & Kashmir across many high passes to Leh or vice versa. |
Visa / Permits |
A tourist-visa is required to enter India. We organize special permits for you where needed. |
Vaccination |
Strongly recommended are vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Polio (Poliomyelitis), Tetanus combined with Diphtheria if the last vaccination is more than 10 years ago. |
Souvenirs |
Pashmina scarves, Pattu (the traditional, rough, warm fabric of wool); baskets, Thangka (sacred images of Tibetan Buddhist tradition), traditional products made of wool, shoes with leather soles, prayer wheels, apricot jam, dried apricots, apricot kernel oil, etc. |
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Himalayan Homestay
