Village to Village in Ladakh

It’s no wonder Ladakh is known as Little Tibet: there’s no mistaking the infinite landscape of the Tibetan Plateau or the colorful festival masks of the predominantly Tibetan Buddhist culture. The “roof of the world” holds an immense and rich treasure trove: colorful gompas in the rocky slopes, villages surrounded by snowcapped peaks and lush orchards, and bazaars whose mosaic of languages and cultures take on a melody all their own. On this unusual journey, you ramble and raft through rural villages, getting well acquainted with this rugged region’s striking scenery and its people’s everyday life.

You begin in Delhi, a metropolis resonant with the legacies of sovereign powers that have risen and fallen throughout the ages. After enjoying some of its magnificent monuments, fly to Leh, an important pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists all over the world. Next, journey across the Indus Valley, staying in comfortable village homes that have been tastefully and luxuriously appointed. Revealed to you is India less visited, and more importantly, Indian life at its most fascinating and affecting.

Have a couple more days? The Shayok River & Nubra Valley trip extension explores a verdant Karakoram-flanked vale with sweeping white sand dunes and Bactrian camels.