Am I too old or unfit for a Himalayan trek?
The question we hear most from first-time trekkers in their forties, fifties and sixties, and an honest answer about who does well up high.
Hemis, Losar and the festival calendar of Ladakh
Monastery festivals with masked dances, the Ladakhi new year in winter and village harvests. How to plan a trek around them.
Ladakh’s monasteries hold festivals through the year, and seeing one can be the most memorable part of a trip. Dates follow the Tibetan lunar calendar, so they move each year. Here is a guide to the main ones and how to fit them around a trek.
The Hemis festival, in June or early July, is the largest. Over two days the monks of Hemis monastery perform cham, masked dances to the sound of long horns and drums, in the courtyard. Every few years a giant thangka is unrolled. Hemis is about 45 km from Leh, so it fits well into an acclimatisation day before the Markha trek, which ends near Hemis. Arrive early to find a place to sit, and dress modestly.
In winter, Losar, the Ladakhi new year, falls in December or January and is celebrated with lamps, visits to family and special foods. Spituk’s Gustor festival takes place in January, and Likir and Thiksey hold theirs in the cold months too. These suit Chadar trekkers and snow leopard visitors, who are in Leh at the right time.
The Ladakh festival in late September brings cultural shows to Leh, and after the harvest the villages hold smaller celebrations. If you want to see a festival, tell us when you book. We can add a day to your itinerary for ₹4,000 a person, including transport and a guide who explains what is happening. Please ask before photographing monks, and never stand in front of the dancers.
