Ladakh, also known as Little Tibet, is famous for its wild beauty, majestic nature and original indigenous culture. The 11-day trip was an impressive but also arduous journey in Ladakh, a land in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Experiences in Ladakh
The town of Leh, the capital of Ladakh, was the first place that gave me the experience of thin air and altitude shock. In order for the body to adapt, the group spent 2 days in Leh, visiting Leh market as well as famous Buddhist palaces and monasteries such as Leh Palace, Shey Monastery, Thiksay Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Alchi Monastery,…
Khardung La Pass in Little Tibet
After 2 days exploring Leh, we continued to conquer Khardung La pass (5,602 m high) and Chang La (5,391 m high). These are the two highest highest passes in the world. These mountains covered with snow for thousands of years.
The steps to the pass are not too high, but the harsh weather with cold winds and lack of oxygen are great challenges when travelling in the Little Tibet.
The team continued towards the Nubra valley and the village of Hunder. Located 150 km north of the capital Ladakh, Nubra is the richest valley in the entire Ladakh region with the center of Diskit village.
Nubra
In Nubra there are many campsites for tourists. However, this place has no electricity, no Wi-Fi. In return, you can admire the breathtaking landscapes and experience the feeling of living peacefully amidst the vast nature.
Here, the team experienced camel riding in the Nubra sand valley, passing the white sand dunes to the horizon.
The next day, the group visited the village of Turtuk divided by the Indian-Pakistani border. This is a hidden village with people living separate from the outside world.
The beautiful scenery here is covered by fields of white buckwheat flowers between the surrounding high rocky mountains, creating a romantic and poetic scene.
Our favourite places when travelling in Little Tibet in my discovery journey are Pangong Lake and Moriri Lake. Pangong Lake is like a poem in real life.
Located at an altitude of 4,250 m, Pangong is one of the largest brackish lakes in Asia. The lake stretches for more than 135 km across the border of India and China. To get to Pangong, you can stop at Chanla Pass, the second highest pass in the world (5,300 m).
Lake Tso Moriri in the Changthang region of Ladakh is one of the most beautiful, tranquil and sacred high altitude lakes in India. This is the highest lake in India. Tso Moriri is about 19 km long, part of a wetland reserve in the Ramsar site.
Notes for the trip
Because it is a long trip in a land with geographical location and severe weather, you should pay attention to prepare your luggage for the full trip.
To go to Ladakh, we took a direct flight from Hanoi to New Delhi and then to Leh.
India tourist visa is an online visa, valid for 60 days with 2 entries. Visa application fee is 25 USD.
Visitors should do gentle exercise and take brain tonics to minimize the effects of altitude shock and lack of oxygen, ensuring good health to complete the long schedule.
At night, the weather here is quite cold, especially in the pass and lake areas. You need to prepare thermal clothing, face and body moisturizers to avoid dry skin.
Due to the high mountains, solar heat radiation during the day is quite intense, so sunscreen and clothes, towels, and hats against UV rays are indispensable.
Ladakh cuisine can be difficult to eat since most of the locals are Buddhist or Hindu. Most of the dishes are vegetarian or seasoned which is not suitable for Vietnamese taste. You can stock up on some dry food.
Do not wear short skirts or shorts when visiting Buddhist palaces and monasteries when you go to the Little Tibet.
Hope that our post can help you learn more about the Little Tibet. Good luck with your upcoming trip!
Source: India Someday
