Ladakh, also known as the Land of High Passes, is a high-altitude region located in the northernmost part of the Indian Himalayas. It became the Union Territory of India on 31st October 2019 after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.
At the heart of Ladakh is Leh, which is the capital city and is famous for its deserted landscapes, Buddhist culture, and adventurous tourism. For UK travellers, Leh Ladakh is a phenomenal destination to check out, but it requires some planning. In this blog, we will tell you all about Ladakh, tourist places and how you can plan your trip.
What Makes Ladakh So Special?
Many UK travellers often ask what’s so special about Ladakh that everyone wants to visit it. The simple answer is its natural beauty, rich culture, and thrill. All these features are what make Ladakh special and attract tourists to come visit this remote region. The region consists of a distinct landscape, with dry rocky mountains standing beside the green valleys and clear rivers. It provides you a peaceful experience by exploring its mountain hills, ancient monasteries and local villages and seeing the day-to-day life of the people living there. A visit to this place will make you feel like discovering an otherworld.
Best Tourist Places to Visit in Ladakh
1. Leh Town
Leh is a small, beautiful capital city of Ladakh, located around 3,500 metres above sea level. This town is surrounded by the Karakoram and Zanskar mountain ranges and once served as a trade centre between Central Asia, Tibet, and the Indian plains through the Silk Road. The local bazaars provide a variety of products to shop for, including pashmina shawls, Tibetan jewellery, prayer wheels and apricot jam. Apart from shopping, the town also has lively cafes where you can try momos (dumplings), skyu soup, and thukpa and relax yourself.
2. Hemis Monastery
Hemis Monastery was founded in the 17th century. It is the most valuable and largest monastery in Ladakh because of its royal history and collection of Buddhist art and relics. Inside the monastery you can see golden statues, wall paintings, temples, and courtyards. It is also popular for its annual Hemis festival, honouring the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. In this festival you will watch monks dancing while covering their faces with colourful masks.
3. Thiksey Gompa
Thiksey Gompa is one of the most beautiful Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh. Many locals acknowledge it to be a mini version of the Potala Palace in China. The monastery has twelve floors, including ten temples, assembly halls, monk residencies and ancient scriptures. The main highlight of the monastery is its 49-foot-tall Maitreya Buddha statue. You can see monks chanting and doing their daily rituals and take a view of the Indus Valley from the top.
4. Alchi Monastery
Alchi Monastery is the most holy and popular monastery in Ladakh, home to a group of temples over a thousand years old. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is largely known for its terrific wall paintings, showing a blend of Himichal and Kashmiri art styles and distinct woodwork. Though being so old, the monastery is still well maintained and has turned into a museum complex. Tourists must surely visit this place and offer butter lamps as a sign to spread light and positive spiritual energy.
5. Lamayuru Monastery
Lamayuru Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh. The monastery is believed to have been built between the 10th and 11th centuries and is among the most important sites for Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is located on a uniquely shaped hill and looks like the surface of the moon; thus, the area around the monastery was then referred to as “moonland”. The rocks in that region have shades of pink, purple and orange, which makes it truly a magical spot to visit.
6. Shey Monastery
Before Leh, Shey used to be the capital of Ladakh in the 17th century. The Shey monastery is known for its 12-metre-tall Shakyamuni Buddha statue, made from copper sheets covered with a thin layer of gold. The statue covers three floors of the monastery, where on the first floor you will see the feet, on the second floor the torso and on the third floor the head. This place holds extreme significance for the ruins of the past royal Ladakhi kings.
7. Stok Palace
Stok Palace was built in the 19th century and was a home to the Namgyal dynasty, which was Ladakh’s former ruling family. In 1980, it became a public museum, and in 2008, a small part of the palace was transformed into a heritage hotel. The palace holds an interesting collection of royal jewels, traditional Ladakhi clothes, thangka paintings and religious artefacts. It offers a great tour to the royal history of Ladakh and lets you relive the remote Himalayan kingdom.
8. Likir Monastery
Likir Monastery is over 900 years old and belongs to the Gelugap (schools of Tibetan Buddhism). It features a giant 75-foot golden statue of Maiterya Buddha outside the monastery. You can even see the statue from a far distance across the Indus Valley. The monastery consists of old manuscripts, murals and paintings.
9. Shyam Valley (Likir-Yangthang-Temisgam trek)
The Shyam Valley is a small trek in Ladakh. During the trek you will pass through small water streams, mud and stone homes and farms. It will then lead you to the Yangthang village, which is a quiet village known for traditional Ladakhi homestays. The last stop is the Temisgam village, known for its apricot orchards. This short trek offers a lovely scenery of Ladakhi village life.
10. Wanla Village
Wanla is a quiet traditional village in Ladakh along the Yapola riverbanks. This is an underrated spot that many tourists don’t know about. An amazing site to visit in the village is the Wanla monastery, inside which is the three-storey Avalokitesvara temple. Each floor consists of statues, murals and manuscripts of the early 14th century. Tourists coming here can feel the calm atmosphere of this place and experience the everyday life of the villagers.
How to Plan Your Trip to Ladakh from the UK?
If you are a first-time visitor from the UK planning your trip to Ladakh, we have a 9-day itinerary that you can consider to explore Ladakh.
Firstly, you will land in Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, India. You can find direct international flights from primary UK airports: London Heathrow Airport, Birmingham Airport, and Manchester Airport. In Delhi you can explore the bustling bazzars and streets.
In the morning, take a short flight to Leh, Ladakh. There you can book a hotel and relax. In the afternoon, start to explore the town and the local bazzars. On the next day, visit nearby sites in Leh like Stok Palace, Shey Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and Hemis Monastery.
After exploring these sites, take a drive from Leh to Likir for the Shyam Valley trek (usually takes 2 days to complete the trek). The finishing point of the trek is the Temisgam Village; from there, head to Lamayuru Monastery and spend your day in the village.
The next day, trek to Walna Village, where you enjoy the beautiful landscape. After Walna, take a drive to Alchi in the afternoon (roughly 1-1.5 hours), check into the hotel and rest. Then visit the Alchi Monastery, the most renowned monastery in Ladakh.
In the morning, drive back to Leh. Enjoy your rest of the day here, talk to locals, shop for yourself and admire this beautiful place one last time. On the last day, take a flight from Leh to Delhi and catch your flight back to the UK from Delhi.
Here’s how your route will look.
UK → Delhi → Leh → Stok Palace → Shey Monastery → Thiksey Monastery → Hemis Monastery → Likir → Yangthang → Temisgam → Walna Village → Leh → Delhi → UK
What Is the Best Time to Visit Ladakh?
The appropriate time to visit Ladakh is between June and September, i.e., in summer and autumn. This provides suitable weather conditions with temperatures ranging between 15°C and 25°C during the daytime and 5°C and 10°C at night.
Discover the Hills of Leh Ladakh with India Tours & Travels
Planning your Ladakh trip by yourself can be challenging, even if you are travelling as a group or with your family. You have to think about hotel stays and transfers between places and may face language barriers during your trip. All these things can cause stress and make things worse.
At India Tours & Travels, we have curated a well-planned 9-day private trip to Ladakh – Cultural Peaks of Ladakh – it covers all necessary things that a perfect Ladakh trip must include. You get to see all the popular places in Ladakh with hotel accommodation, meals, vehicle transfers and a local guide. You can check our Cultural Peaks of Ladakh package for complete details of the Leh Ladakh trip.
Get in touch with our team today at +91 8130680917. Additionally, you can fill out this enquiry form for your Leh Ladakh trip – Send enquiry.
Travel Tips for UK Travellers to Ladakh
- Keep some Indian cash with you, as smaller shops, local markets, and homestays in Ladakh may not accept cards.
- Arrange a local SIM or eSIM before or after arrival so you can stay connected during your journey.
- Carry a universal travel adapter because Indian sockets can use Type C, D, or M plugs.
- Pack clothes in layers. The weather can be pleasant during the day but become very cold after sunset, even in summer.
- Consult your doctor before the trip and carry prescribed medicines given by the doctor in case of altitude or motion sickness.
- Drink water regularly and take short intervals for rest, as adjusting in Ladakh takes time due to high altitude.
- Wear respectful clothing when entering monasteries. It is best to keep your shoulders and knees covered.
FAQs
1. Do I need a visa to visit Ladakh from the UK?
Yes, it is very important for UK travellers to have an Indian visa to visit Ladakh.
2. Is altitude sickness something to worry about in Ladakh?
Yes, altitude sickness can affect some travellers because Leh, Ladakh, is a high-altitude region (around 3,500 metres). To avoid this, carry altitude sickness medicines and make sure to take rest and drink plenty of water.
3. How do UK travellers get to Leh?
To get to Leh from the UK, take a direct international flight from the UK to Delhi. After reaching Delhi take a domestic flight to Leh, Ladakh.
