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Sightseeing Tours

Whether you're interested in visiting monasteries(gompas) or want to see Ladakh's spectacular mountains and lakes, or both, we can organise your sightseeing tours. One-day or multi-day trips can be arranged and knowledgeable guides provided. Mountains, lakes and monasteries can be combined in the same trip. We recommend accommodation in homestays for multi-day trips, or guesthouses can be arranged if that is your preference.

Here are some examples of possible trips, but remember that we can customise your tour to suit your requirements:

Monastery trips

Alchi and Likir, 1 day.

Alchi is one of the most important gompas in Ladakh. Built in the 11th century it contains wonderful examples of early Buddhist art in the Kashmiri tradition, very different to the Tibetan art found in other Ladakhi gompas. Impressive Likir gompa dates back to the 12th century, but was destroyed in a fire and the current buildings are 200 years old. Admire the new 23m high Buddha statue towering above its surroundings.

Shey, Tikse and Hemis, 1 day.

The semi-derelict palace of Shey was abandoned midway through the 19th century. Its pride and joy is the massive 12m high metal Shakyamuni Buddha housed in a ruined temple. Tikse is Ladakh's most impressive gompa, an imposing temple complex providing panoramic views of the Indus valley from its hilltop position. Hemis is the biggest gompa in Ladakh, famous because of its festival held in the summer. This rambling and atmospheric gompa is the headquarters of the Red Hat Drukpa order and is responsible for the administration of all gompas in Ladakh.

Spituk and Phyang, 1 day.

Spituk gompa sits on a hilltop close to Leh, overlooking the Indus. View some prize thangkhas and visit the chamber containing enormous, veiled statues of Kali whose ferocious faces are only revealed once a year. See the 600 year old paintings on the back wall of the chamber, behind the chaam masks used during the winter festival. Phyang gompa sits at the head of a side valley off the Srinagar highway. It houses a small collection of 14th century Kashmiri bronzes and three silver chortens, one of which is decorated with a seven-eyed dzi stone, considered highly auspicious and brought from Tibet by the former head lama.

Scenic trips

Nubra Valley, 2 days or longer (min. 3 days recommended).

Visit the stunningly beautiful Nubra Valley, reached via Khardung La (5602m) - the highest motorable pass in the Himalayas. Go for a ride on double-humped Bactrian camels. Visit gompas and hot springs. Enjoy fantastic views of the Karakoram and Ladakh mountain ranges. Homestays recommended. Guesthouses also available.

Pangong Tso (4267m), 1 day or longer.

Around 134km long and up to 8km wide, Pangong Tso is the biggest lake in the Himalaya and one of the largest saltwater lakes in Asia. Stay a night and see the spectacular sunset and sunrise and witness the beautiful changing colours of the lake. Enjoy bird watching by the lake shore. If more than one day, visit an eco-friendly school in Tharuk and maybe stop at Chemrey gompa on the way back. Overnight homestay recommended (camping in permanent tents also possible).

Tso Moriri (4595m), 2 days or longer.

Famous for the herds of wild ass (kiang) which graze on its shores, Tso Moriri lies in a wide valley surrounded by some of Ladakh's highest peaks. Enjoy beautiful mountain views of Lungser Kangri(6666m) and Chansmer Kangri(6622m), and maybe see some rare species of birds as you walk by the lake. Visit Korzok Nunnery on the south-west bank. Camping in permanent tents.