Soul of Ladakh
A road journey of about 990 km into Zanskar, an isolated valley of remote villages where time seems to stand still. Travel through Lamayuru, the Mulbek rock-carved Buddha and the Suru valley below Nun (7,135m) and Kun (7,087m), cross the Pensi La past the 23 km Drang Drung glacier, and visit the great monasteries of Zanskar: Karsha, Stongde, Sani and the palace at Zangla.
Drive west along the Indus past Lamayuru and over the Fotu La, stopping at the 1,000-year-old Maitreya Buddha carved into the rock at Mulbek and Shargole's cliffside monastery. Overnight in Kargil.
Follow the Suru valley past the Nun and Kun massif and the Parkachik glacier to Rangdum and its monastery on a hillock in the middle of the valley. Overnight at Rangdum.
Cross the Pensi La (4,400m) with views over the Drang Drung glacier and descend into Zanskar. Visit Sani monastery, one of the oldest in the region, before reaching Padum, Zanskar's small capital.
Visit Karsha, the largest monastery in Zanskar, founded in the 11th century, Stongde, set 300m above the valley floor, and Zangla, with a short hike to its old palace and citadel. Overnight in Padum.
Visit Zongkhul, a cave monastery built into a cliff, then drive back over the Pensi La and down the Suru valley to Kargil.
Drive back to Leh along the Srinagar–Leh highway.
More soul of ladakh
EasyAn 8-day journey through the living heart of Ladakhi Buddhism. Visit the great monasteries of the Sham valley (Lamayuru, Alchi and Likir) and the Indus valley (Shey, Thiksey and Hemis), sit with a Ladakhi oracle, then cross the Khardung La to the gompas of Nubra before ending at the high lakes of Pangong and Tso Moriri. The pace is slow, with time to join morning prayers and simply be still.
EasyA gentle walk up the Sang (Shang) valley, a green side valley off the Indus near Hemis. Starting from Martselang, the trail follows the stream through barley fields and poplar groves to the village of Shang, its old gompa perched high above braided irrigation channels, and on to the new Shang monastery and Shang Sumdo. Do it as a day walk, or stay the night with a local family.
EasyA day in Stok, the village of Ladakh's royal family, just 15 km from Leh across the Indus. Explore Stok palace, built in 1820 by King Tsepal Namgyal and still home to the royal family, with a museum of royal costumes, jewellery, coins and thangkas. Visit Stok monastery, then wander through the barley fields and lanes of the village below Stok Kangri.
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