LADAKH! If you live in India, you probably don’t need an introduction to this beautiful union territory. Before blowing up in Bollywood movies, this entire place was kinda an offbeat travel destination in India.
But with the advent of social media, Ladakh has gained a lot of popularity and due recognition. After years of thinking and planning, I finally got an opportunity to travel to this beautiful place. Though my trip lasted only eight days (which kind of looks like a lot!), I still have so much to see and explore.
But if you are someone like me who works fulltime and can only afford a week long leave, then in this blog I will be sharing all you need to know for your Ladakh trip – how to commute, where to stay, what to pack and some tips & tricks you should always keep in mind! So let’ get started 🙂
Lets start with my itinerary in a nutshell first!
(Don’t forget to save it to your Pinterest board)
Accommodation
I have to be honest with you all, I got all my stays booked through a friend who is a local in Ladakh! This helped me in saving a lot of money as Ladakh isn’t your average budget friendly destination for a solo traveler.
Except for my stays at Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri where I choose to stay in camps, for Nubra and Leh city I chose hotels.
Hotel Marigold, Leh
Located 30 mins from the Leh Airport, this is a humble abode run by my friends family. The hotel is relatively new and gives a home like feeling. Most of the rooms are mountain facing from where you can capture an outstanding sunrise.
Our package included breakfast and dinner. Further, the staff is very nice and cater to your requests. They have solar tanks and panels installed at their roof which ensures continuous hot water except during winter months when it can be an issue.
Cost per night – INR 3500-4000 per room
Duration of stay – 4 nights
Hotel Onpo, Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley offers you both hotels and camps to stay at. For our stay we choose Hotel Onpo. Located near the Hunder Dunes this is a quaint property facing mighty mountains.
Our package here also included both breakfast and dinner. The staff is very courteous. I would 100 percent recommend striking a conversation with the sweet people who run this place. Nubra Valley in general faces a lot of powercuts. Would recommend charging all your devices overnight and wake up before the power runs out to finish all your business.
Cost per night – INR 3500 – 4000 per room
Duration of stay – 2 Nights
Alpenglow Camps, Pangong Lake
Camping at Pangong was a life long dream. And you have no idea how happy I was to fulfill it. If you have to follow one recommendation out of all in this blog, you’ll have to book this camp.
The camps are fairly huge and spacious with all amenities – large bed, blanket, an operational attached washroom and comfy pillows. Our package here also included breakfast and dinner. The camps are well attached to the ground and can be zipped up completely. Further, they are at a walking distance from the lake.
The staff is very polite and cater to your requests. However, I have to tell you that hot water is a very big issue over here. If you are ok not taking a bath then you can easily skip it!
Price per camp – INR 4000 per night
Duration of stay – 1 night
Tso Moriri Camps and Cottages
After Pangong, the next location where we decided to stay in a camp overnight was Tso Moriri. Tso Moriri camps and cottages located at Korzok Village, is camp site located at walking distance from Tso Moriri Lake.
Unlike the camps at Pangong Lake, the camps are a little smaller but are packed with amenities like large bed, a side table, attached washroom, blankets etc. The staff is very nice and courteous, however hot water can be quite an issue here as well. Be mindful they will only provide you with one bucket of hot water for two people (which I know can be an issue for some people).
Price per camp – INR 4500 per night
Duration of stay – 1 night
How to commute within Ladakh?
Commuting within Ladakh can be a costly affair. Ladakh has a taxi union at place so the prices are already predetermined. If you are travelling solo, then be ready to shell out a lot of money.
If you are travelling in a group, then I would recommend hiring an Innova as it is the most comfortable way of getting around. Roads in Ladakh at certain stretches can be a little bumpy. Besides hiring a car, you can also rent a Himalayan bike!
If you are travelling solo, one recommendation would be to look out for these group trips. You can also look out for fliers which are posted outside bike rental spots.
Best time to visit Ladakh
In my opinion. Ladakh is an all year around destination except for the months of December and January when it can get really cold with certain regions being completely cut off.
However, the months of April to August are the best and most touristy months. Temperatures are warm and the cold is bearable.
The months of September to October are also popular among tourists but its also the onset of the winter season. If you are lucky like me you can experience snowfall at higher regions like Khardungla or Tanglang La pass!
Packing list for your Ladakh trip
This packing list is not only applicable for your Ladakh trip but to any other destination in the colder regions. The list is downloadable and I would recommend taking out a print out for reference!
Download your printable PACKING LIST here!!!
Permits required
To enter certain regions in Ladakh you require an inner line permit. Inner Line Permit or Restricted Area Permit/ Protected Area Permit is an official travel document that is issued and stamped by the Indian Authorities to allow the tourists to visit the protected areas of Ladakh. It is mandatory to obtain the permit for domestic as well international tourists visiting the protected areas of Ladakh.
You can apply for the permit by visiting this link – Permits for Ladakh
Other things to keep in mind!
a) If you are flying to Ladakh then don’t forget to acclimatize on the first day. Trust me when I say, acute mountain sickness is very real!
b) While cards are mostly accepted in Leh city, it is advisable to carry lot of cash too. Cab drivers and local shops always take cash! Leh city has some ATM’s but you won’t find a lot at other places
c) Jio network works better than Airtel. If you don’t already know, only postpaid network works at Ladakh. You can also buy a sim at any local shop.
d) There is no network in the regions of Pangong and Tso Moriri. Only BSNL works at these places.
e) Food you find at most hotels and homestays will be very basic. Do not expect very fancy food.
f) To avoid breathing problems, carry camphor with you. It helps in opening your nose and calming the nerves.
g) Do not forget to carry and reapply a sunscreen. The sun hits directly and cause some serious tan.
h) Carry all your basic medications with you. There are pharmacies at Leh City but not sure about other places
i) Don’t forget to carry some snacks like almonds, cashews etc. which can help heat up your body.
I hope you enjoyed this blog. This is your perfect starter guide for your Ladakh trip.
In the next blog I will be sharing the top things to do in Ladakh. If you want to know anything else, drop your questions in the comments section below. Also, Ladakh series is live on my Youtube channel so go check it out!
Love,
Rituparna
Very informative and helpful!
Thank you!
It’s an amazing blog! One of your best work till date. I really love the itinerary and packing attachments that you have added- Super useful!
Hey! Thank you so much 😊
I love it ❣️❣️
Thank you girl 😃