An adventure tourist cannot miss to visit this paradise on earth, which is the highest plateau of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. One cannot stop staring with amazement, at the beauty of the snow capped Himalayas dotted with green pine trees, in the misty chilly weather.

Located at a height of 3,500 m above sea level, cupped in the lap of Himalayas, Leh and Ladakh are certainly a must visit tourist spot. The snowy peaks, the green valleys, the high peaked mountain cliffs, the lakes and glaciers all add tremendous beauty to the hill station and make it a favorite destination among leisure travelers, honeymooners and adventure tourists.

My travel experience was certainly a superb one, and i count it as my best travel experience so far. I would like to share my fun and excitement wrapped journey with you so that it can make your Ladakh trip planning a bit easier.

On day 1, we arrived at the Leh Airport and checked in a nearby hotel. After some rest and food, we explored the famous Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and the Leh Palace. Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is known as the centre of Buddhist culture, and its main attractions include the colorful hemispherical Gompas that beautify this Himalayan district in the purest of form. After the long day of sightseeing we returned to our hotel for lunch and had a leisurely stroll in the Leh Bazaar in the evening.

On the second day of our trip, we headed towards the Chumathang stop, which is known for its hot springs owning medicinal properties. Then we embark the local transport to reach Maha Bridge, on the way seeing Sumdah village, where we had a great chance to explore the local lifestyles of people. The main inhabitants of the place are Buddhists and Muslims.

The natives of Ladakh are mostly followers of Buddhism and are akin to hard labor and use of muscle strength. They are a very good hosts and are ready to help you anytime. The females of the region not only work in farms for a living but also do business, as do men, and help run the family.

From here, we move to Tsomoriri for a camping experience. Here, we were lucky to find several species of avi-fauna near the Tsomoriri lake.

On day 3 of our trip, we drove down the Indus river, across Khaltse and Shyok, and camped in the Drokpa tribe villages of Beema and Dah, to observe how the tribal community lived, dressed, how they communicated and what they ate. After lunch, we strapped our head gears and life jackets to get ready for river rafting between Spituk and Saspol. You can also try out trekking and mountaineering in the Ladakh range and the Nubra Valley.

After dusk, we visited the amazing nature’s wonder, the magnetic hill, which simply leaves people astonished when they drive up the hill at 20 kmph, with their engines off. We were told that these magnetic properties of the hill make it unique, and is witnessed even by airlines passing by the hill.

After overnight camping in the village of Beema, on day 4, we embarked towards the Pangong Lake at a height of 14000 ft, crossing the Changla Pass and the scenic beauty covering it from all angles. Then we travel to see Sheh Palace, which is a reservoir of the royal past that stayed in this palace for years. After lunch, we left for Uletokpo camp in Alchi, to tour around the Buddhist site visiting the Alchhi monastery and appreciating the colorful murals and and the absolute tranquility.

On day 5, we toured around the village of Saboo to experience the vibrant culture on the hills and to savor the local delicacies. The mouth watering dish momos, that finds its origin in Tibet, can be savored here, with hot steaming soup and spicy condiments. In the frosty weather, you will consider yourself lucky to get hold of just out-of -the-stove food that tickles your taste buds. Other local dishes include Chang, a beverage made of barley and tagi shomos, a kind of bread consumed with honey or butter.

After lunch in the village, we move to the Stok palace, to study the royal artifacts preserved in the palace museum. After sunset, we decided to go for some shopping and picked up some rare handicraft products from the Ladakh Handicraft Centre, at very affordable rates.