About Ladakh and Spiti.
Leh
This large, history-drenched town was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Ladakh. It is set at nearly 12,000ft above mean sealevel in the upper Indus Valley and like all of Ladakh, its culture is principally Tibetan Buddhist. There are however also Muslim, Christian and Hindu communities in Leh and throughout Ladakh.
Overlooking the town is the nine-storey long abandoned Leh Palace, but still impressive and worth a visit. There are many more ancient temples and monasteries to visit and the old Leh market is a fascinating experience many mysterious shops selling everything from trinkets to ancient, artistic and expensive trumpets. Modern influences in what is a busy tourist area, including a plethora of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops can also be seen.
Leh receives almost no precipitation (50mm annually, on average). Despite its elevation, summer temperatures can reach 40ºC; in winter the mercury can fall lower than –30ºC.
Khardung La
Khardung La ('la' meaning 'pass' in Tibetan) is reputed to be the world's highest 'motorable' road, its crest said to be at 18,380ft – on maps, in guidebooks etc. However, recent measurements suggest it is more like 17,550ft. This still makes it one of the world's three highest accessible roads – the other two are also included in these tours.
Nubra Valley
A remote and less-visited valley, requiring a special 'inner-line permit' as it runs right up against disputed territories with both China and Pakistan. On the Shimla-Leh trip, we will cross Khardung and follow the Shyok Valley into Nubra. Towering above is Saser Kangri, which at over 25,000ft is one of India's highest mountains. Nubra is also home to several fine monasteries and the endangered Bactrian camel (the shaggy two-humper).
Chang La
Another of the three highest passes (the third being Taglang La, on the main Leh-Manali road), at a similar elevation to Khardung. It is crossed in order to reach Pangong and, with a north-facing summit, there is likely to be roadside snow.
Pangong Lake
More correctly called 'Pangong Tso', 'tso' being Tibetan for 'lake', this is one of the world's highest. The brackish water is at nearly 14,000ft above sea level and is around 83 miles long, three miles wide and stretches away into China. This is an incredible place, with snow-capped beige mountains reflected in the clear, blue water.
TSO MORIRI
A deep blue brackish lake up at 13,780ft, reached via very remote roads.
SPITI
The Spiti Valley is among the most extraordinary places on Earth. Hugging the border with Chinese-controlled Tibet, the valley lies almost entirely above 3000m. Located in the rain shadow of the vast Tibetan Plateau, this region is classified as desert, which means there is less snow than elsewhere in the high Himalayas, so it's possible to hit serious altitudes. Climbing into this area is like visiting another planet – a near-treeless world where fairytale monasteries of great antiquity cling to impossible slopes. One of the first Westerners to clap eyes on Spiti was Rudyard Kipling, who said: 'Surely the gods live here; this is no place for men'. Things may have changed since then, but this is still a place less visited. Sensitive political territory, Spiti lies in a restricted border area requiring an 'inner-line permit', which we obtain on your behalf. Culturally Spiti is more Tibetan Buddhist than Hindu and a world apart from modern India.
ZANSKAR
This exciting tour will take us deep into the Himalayas, into the remote Zanskar Valley that until recently was only accessible on foot.
We’ll follow the Indus downstream toward the west until we reach the confluence of the Zanskar. Crossing the Fotu La pass (4,094 m), we’ll enter another river valley, the Sangeluma Chu. At its end, we’ll head up Namika La pass (3,720 m) and follow a mountain stream, the Wakh, to its confluence into the Suru near Kargil, the gateway to Zanskar Valley.
From Kargil, we'll head south into Baltistan’s Suru Valley. Our route will take us up the wild, rugged valley on a steady climb to Penzi La pass (4,400 m) and into the heart of Zanskar.
We’ll roll downhill past huge glaciers, taking it slowly and carefully on the rough track. Our destination is Padum, the end of the motorable world as we know it... after exploring Zanskar.
