Ladakh
Best time: May to September
Altitude: 3,500 m (Leh) to 5,300 m (high passes)
Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, visually unlike anywhere else we arrange trips to — bare mountains in shades of brown and ochre, Buddhist monasteries built into cliffsides, and lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri that sit a deep, almost unreal blue against the barren landscape.
Leh, the main town, is the base for most itineraries, with day trips to Nubra Valley (over Khardung La), Pangong Lake, and monasteries at Thiksey, Hemis and Shey. Because of the altitude, pacing matters more here than anywhere else on this list.
Travel tips
- Altitude sickness is a real risk — Leh sits at about 3,500m. Plan at least one full rest day on arrival before any sightseeing or onward travel to higher passes.
- Drink more water than feels necessary, avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours, and know the early symptoms of acute mountain sickness (headache, nausea, breathlessness).
- Protected Area Permits are required for Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and some other routes — we handle this as part of your booking, but it does need your passport/ID details in advance.
- Flying into Leh is far more common than the road route from Srinagar, which can take two full days.
