We receive you at Leh airport and assist you in check-in at your accommodation. Since Ladakh is a high-altitude region, we recommend that you take it slow. That is why we have kept the first day at leisure in Leh. You can spend time relaxing in your hotel room or go out for short walks in the market as your body gears up for the tour.

You will be right in the main town, so it is a good opportunity to visit the local cafes and shops and explore the area at your own pace.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

We then move out of the main town and drive to the Sham valley. On day two, you will also meet your tour leader, who will be from the Changpa community. We believe no other person can give you a better experience on this tour than a Changpa itself.

Visit the majestic Hemis Monastery, often considered second in grandeur only to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Take your time wandering through this 17th-century monastery of the Drukpa lineage, which holds significant influence in both Ladakh and Bhutan.

Later, visit Thikse Monastery, a striking complex affiliated with the Gelug sect of Buddhism, where monks wear yellow hats. Spend a day learning the process of weaving out of sheep wool. Sheep wool shearing forms an integral part of the Changpa’s livelihood.

In this exciting experience, you get to know the complete process from preparing and winding the yarn to colouring, washing, and weaving. During these days, you can choose to stay either with a local family or in a hotel.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

The great expedition begins. We drive to Changtang, the Changpa heartland, where we spend the next few days with the community. Our activities will flow with the daily lives of the community, as that is the best way to experience this tour. While the Changpa men will be spending most of their day with the cattle, taking them to the grasslands for grazing, the women will be busy with the chores at the settlement, such as knitting, milking, and making butter and tsampa (a Tibetan staple food item made with powdered barley or wheat).

The Changpa people are Buddhist, and you will see elders spending their time with a prayer wheel during the day. The community works hard during the summer months to prepare for the harsh winter season. It is interesting to see the prevalent barter system where the Changpa people often exchange pashmina wool for daily items.

Onward to Hanle for a dark sky experience. Your stay will be close to the Indo-China border, offering you clear skies perfect for stargazing and watching planets in the Milky Way through a telescope. Visit the Hanle monastery, and spend an evening walking in the village.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Medium

We start the return journey to Leh, but will take a pit stop at one of the beautiful villages, where you stay with a charming family and experience the hospitality of a typical Ladakhi home. Visit the Tak Tok monastery in the evening.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

Return to Leh with the rest of the day at leisure. On the last night, we recommend an upscale/luxury hotel to unwind after the Ladakh adventure. You may spend the evening at the hotel or spend time at the local cafes or restaurants.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

We drop you at the Leh airport for onward journey.