Ladakh, India - A Summer Destination
Thinking about some exotic place to go this summer? Somewhere reasonable (if not downright cheap)? How about Ladakh. It is a land of monasteries or "gompas" (as they are called there)...surreal landscape...situated in Northern India. Ladakh is surrounded by the Zanskar range in the South, Ladakh range in the North and great Karakoram range in the Northwest
The Indus Valley civilization is one of the oldest in the world and dates back around 5,000 years. Centuries ago, it was a place where merchants from Tibet, Kashmir and China passed through, exchanging ideas and goods. Now, we tourists pass through, exchanging ideas and taking a little of Ladkh back with us.
I had always thought of Ladakh as a barren, lunar place to go but glaciers feed the many streams and irrigate the fields. This creates brilliant patches of green valleys against the lunar background.
Our tour was arranged with Footloose Travel, who has an vast amount of group trekking, individual, jeep and cultural tours in Ladakh. Their treks range from easy to extremely difficult...name your own poison. Footloose was highly recommended by a fellow traveler in Nepal and lived up to my expectations.
Months of e-mailing back and forth produced a 20-day trip which included: Leh, (the present capital of Ladakh) with enough days to acclimatize to the high altitude (11,975 ft. - a "killer" - literally); a 4-day easy trek (considered "easy" for that altitude); and cultural jeeping to Dha Hanu and the Nubra Valley.
A view of Leh
Jet Airlines is one the newer, and safer, airlines that flies the Delhi-Leh route.
Footloose recommended we stay at at the Deskit Villa, a charming guesthouse (not in the center of town because it is too noisy)...about a 30 minute walk from the center. Great suggestion...we met people who ended up moving from town because of the noise!
Let the trip begin...
