There are not many corners left in the world that have not yet been discovered by tourism. Ladakh, India’s most remote and distinctive region in the Himalayas bordering Tibet, is one such place.
It could be because the journey to Ladakh is an epic one. By road it’s a three- to four-day trek across some of the world’s highest motorable passes. By air – barely 90 minutes from Delhi – you cross virtually the entire breadth of the Himalayas, a jaw-dropping flight that leaves you in Leh, the Ladakhi capital, which is hemmed in by bare mountains and snowy peaks, at 11,500ft.
Until now, basic, budget accommodation has been the only option in Ladakh. But with the recent opening of new venture Shakti Himalaya, tourists will inevitably begin to start trickling through this stunning land.
Eco tourism
Shakti’s Ladakh project is unique. Three private village houses spread around the Indus Valley near Leh have been adapted and refurbished to accommodate up to six guests in stylish comfort. Visitors enjoy an experience of rural life without sacrificing hot showers, wood-burning stoves and fine meals. Local families’ involvement provides immediate benefits, yet small numbers mean visitors’ impact is low-key.
Stok village is usually the first halt. From its lodge’s roof, you survey a landscape of yellowing poplar and willow trees, dry-stone walls, squat farmhouses and jagged mountains. Nearby stands Stok Palace, home to the Ladakhi royal family since their forced exile from Leh in the 1840s and its museum holds a fine collection of heirlooms.
Spiritual journey
Down in the Indus Valley, the rambling Thikse Monastery is one of Ladakh’s most impressive, with monks’ houses and prayer halls piled like a pyramid on a rugged hillside. With an early start, you could make the monks’ hypnotic early-morning prayers before exploring this imposing complex with its huge Buddha statue and intricate murals.
West of Leh, Nimoo has the largest Shakti lodge with a slate-floor terrace overlooking the entire valley. By Nimoo, the Indus River is joined by the tributary Zanskar River, a slender ribbon of turquoise that cuts deep into the Zanskar range. You can drive up the spectacular Zanskar valley, with its cathedral-like cliffs and vast scree slopes, to Chiling Village, whose metalworkers make everything from spoons to traditional decorative stoves. And like much of Ladakh, their methods recall another time and age.
From £420 per person per night on an all-inclusive basis. Flights not included. Visit shaktihimalaya.com for more information.
Cox and Kings (+44 (0)20 7873 5000, coxandkings.co.uk) offers a nine-night package, from £3,595 per person, including British Airways flights.
British Airways flies to Delhi from London Heathrow. Book a flight on ba.com now.
Make tracks to India on a romantic journey back in time.
