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.
Two slow days in Leh: what to see while you acclimatise
Your rest days in Leh need not be spent in a hotel room. Gentle walks, monasteries and markets that suit the first 48 hours at 3,500 m.
Every trip with us starts with two days in Leh to let the body adjust to the height. Rest matters most, but you do not have to stay indoors. Here is a gentle plan that our trekkers enjoy, without putting strain on the body.
On day one, rest until the afternoon. Then walk slowly down to the Main Bazaar, which is flat, and sit at a café with a cup of butter tea or ginger lemon honey. Look in at the Jama Masjid and the small shops selling pashmina, apricots and Ladakhi silver. Buy anything you forgot for the trek here; there are good kit shops along Changspa Road, where our office is.
On day two, after breakfast, take a taxi to Shey and Thiksey monasteries, about 30 minutes away. Thiksey’s morning prayers start early, and the view over the Indus valley from its roof is one of the best near Leh. Walk around slowly; there are stairs. In the late afternoon, if you feel well, climb the steps to Shanti Stupa for the sunset. It is a short climb, and it is the first gentle test of how your body is coping.
Save Leh Palace, Khardung La and Pangong for after your trek, when you are acclimatised. A drive over a 5,300 m road pass on day two is the most common cause of altitude trouble we see. Drink water through the day, avoid alcohol, and come to our office in the evening for the oxygen and pulse check.
