Ladakh: An Otherworldly Realm of Monasteries, Passes, and Stars
Perched above the clouds where the Himalayas surrender to the Karakoram, Ladakh is a high-altitude wonderland of stark, hypnotic beauty. Here, fluttering prayer flags whisper mantras across glacial valleys that glow under cobalt skies.
Your journey begins in Leh, taking essential rest to acclimatize while enjoying rooftop Tibetan butter teas. Visit Thiksey Monastery, dramatically stacked upon a rocky hill like the Potala Palace of Lhasa.
Cross the legendary Khardung La pass at nearly 18,000 feet into Nubra Valley, where sand dunes ripple beside babbling glacial streams. In Hunder, ride double-humped camels before settling into luxury eco-retreats surrounded by apricot orchards.
Finally, cross over to Pangong Tso, a 134-km-long saltwater lake whose colors shift through seven shades of blue between morning sun and twilight. At night, marvel at the galactic band of the Milky Way arching across the sky.
"In Ladakh, you don't just look at the landscape; the sheer vastness looks into you, stripping away everything superfluous."
— Traveler Journal, Royal Geographic Society
