What to Do in Ladakh: 14 Things You Need to Do in 2024

Surrounded by the mighty mountains, Ladakh represents the Tibetan Buddhist culture, and it is the dream destination for most travel enthusiasts. As called by some people, ‘Little Tibet’, Ladakh justifies fully the name. With its serene beauty, beautiful landscapes, down-to-earth natives, and awesome local cuisine, Ladakh is one of the best tourist destinations all across the world. Here, in this post, we will provide a detailed description of the things that you can do if you ever go to Ladakh.

Check out these 14 Top Things to Do in Ladakh this Year:

1. Camping

Opting for camps rather than homestays or lavish hotel rooms is a must if you are keen to have one unforgettable memory in Ladakh. For an awe-inspiring experience, staying the nights under the mysterious sky is something that will make your days remarkable even after the vacation is long over. Pangong Retreat Camp offers the best deal here with a breathtaking view of Pangong Lake.

There are other camps too, for instance, 100 Sky Camp, Nomadic Life Camp, etc. You have to choose a preferred location and book your campsite beforehand. Almost all the camps are affordable with a price range of Rs. 1500 to 3000 and the best time for camping is between May to October.

2. Climbing

You will miss a big time if you do not try climbing peaks in Ladakh. The challenging and adventurous trip becomes more enjoyable with mountain climbing.

One can choose between the three ranges – the Himalayas (Nun Peak at 7135m, Kun peak at 7077m), Zanskar (StokKangri at 6150m, Golap Kangri at 5900m, Matho West at 5950m, and Kantak at 5275m) and the Karakoram (Saser -1 at 7415m, Saser -2 at 7513m and Saser -3 at 7495m) as per their physical abilities and strong will. Undoubtedly, by climbing these mountains, you will get a remarkable experience.

3. Trekking

For filling your ever-thirsty soul up to a great level with the beauty of nature, trekking is the ideal way. Ladakh holds the best trekking destinations, and winter trek is popular. Set out in February for almost ten days, and the frozen Zanskar River will welcome you with its mesmerizing panoramic view.

It is best known as the Chadar trek, and it can be a risky trek with a 62 km long way to go unless you take enough preparation. The pleasant weather can change anytime; hence you are advised to go through the precautions before setting out on your journey.

4. Biking

Bike lovers hail Ladakh as their dream place. Avoiding biking will not be a wise decision if you are in Ladakh. Some so many young lads have a dream to drive on a bike as an adventure. The zigzag roads with a view like that deadly beauty are nothing less than a trip to heaven for mountain bikers.

Some travelers believe that Ladakh can be best explored by going solo and group biking. One can cover all the offbeat places that usually become a miss. Pangong Tso, Skiu to Chilling, Stok, Stakna, Thiksey Monasteries, Khardungla Pass, Spangmik Man, Merak, and Downhill from Changla, etc. These places can be easily covered by mountain biking.

5. Jeep Safari

Ladakh is a perfect place for enjoying the views through jeep safari and also camel safari. The wilderness of the Ladakh region can be encountered comfortably by these safaris. The valleys, dirt trails, holy monasteries, mountain passes, remote villages, etc., all can be explored cozily by a 4×4 jeep.

While the jeep safari brings about a close-to-nature-like experience, the camel safari offers nothing less. The open-air, the lovely double hump animals (known as Bactrian Camels), and the seductress landscapes are enough to make your trip worthwhile.

6. Lakes of Ladakh

Going to the lakes in Ladakh is one of the foremost things to include in your to-do list. Ladakh has got not one but many alluring lakes for which many foreign tourists visit there to have a significant traveling memory of India. The high altitude of the lakes makes them even more attractive for travel lovers.

The Alpine Lakes are the most visited place along with Pangong Lake, which is the trans-border lake between India and China. Yarab Tso, Tsomoriri, and Tso Kar are not explored so often and are still considered offbeat places.

7. Horse Riding and Bird Watching

Among all the fun-filled activities you can go through in Ladakh, riding a horse and watching birds are the most exciting and eye-soothing ones. The charms of Zanskar can be felt by horse riding through the paths of Tangkhul, Gompa, Stongdey, Monastery, and Penzila Pass.

The presence of around 300 species of birds has raised the level of beauty of Lehigh. During their breeding seasons (spring and autumn), bird watching becomes the most tranquilizing thing to do in Ladakh.

8. River Rafting

If you love the uncertainty of life and enjoy it with every obstacle, then river rafting is an integral part of exploring Ladakh. It is not a thing for weak hearts as river rafting can be dangerous sometimes. So, you have to be an active person to attempt rafting.

June and August is the perfect time for rafting, mainly because at that time the weather becomes more enjoyable. The significant rafting stretch includes Phey to Nimo, Upshi to Kharu, Upshi to Nimo, Phey to Saspol, and many more. Through rafting, one can have a view of the coastal areas’ villages.

9. Visit the Sacred Shanti Stupa

This pure white stupa tells the story of the past. It was built by both the Japanese Buddhist Gyomyo Nakamura and Ladakh Buddhist Kushok Bakula. This dome-shaped white Shanti stupa symbolizes peace and represents the Tibetan cultural heritage with its unprecedented architectural creation.

It is a wonderful place that can give your soul a positive vibe, and the appealing beauty of the mountains, snow-covered roads, pleasant weather, and charming topography will make your trip worth it. This Stupa is among the popular tourist spots of Leh, and one can stop by this place any time throughout the entire year.

10. Photography

Photography has become the trend now. A professional photographer and an ordinary person are now enthusiastic about capturing photos. And selfie becomes a daily activity for the younger. Nature has blessed Ladakh abundantly with its beauty, and for this reason, Ladakh has become the dream destination for any photographer. Even if you are not a professional, still never miss a chance to seize the astonishing beauty of Ladakh.

There are monasteries for capturing cultures and heritage, and the Alpine lakes are there for nature lovers. Also, the meadows of Changthang plateau, the rivers, and the paddy fields of the small villages, are perfect for capturing wildlife. One can have the rare sight of a red fox, double hump camels, black-necked cranes, etc.

11. Explore Local Cuisine and Culture

Ladakh is a popular tourist spot among tourists for its multi-cuisine dishes. Hence tasting foods, is unquestionably a must. Every region represents its culture by preparing and presenting food to its guests. And in Ladakh, one can have foods of many variants.

For instance, there are Korean, Tibetan, Indian, and Chinese. Popular dishes include Thukpa, Tsampa, Momo, Sky, Gitmo, and Thenthuk– all of these fall under Tibetan cuisine. Ladakh’s very own drink, Chang, is a must-try. With an average cost of Rs. 800, you can have a blast of experiencing local cuisine.

12. Festivals

Have a peek into the Tibetan rituals and festivals while you are in Ladakh for great cultural knowledge. When the lamas perform the dancing drama wearing colorful decorated dresses at Hemis Monastery, it becomes an incredible moment. It occurs from the 11th of July to the 12th of the same month.

Reflecting their tradition and heritage, the native people of Ladakh peacefully celebrate their fairs and festivals. The harmonious amalgamation of the cultural diversity of Ladakh can be observed through (masked dance, Buddhist rituals, Hemis festival, etc.) festivals.

13. Monasteries

Peace can be found in the Monasteries of Ladakh with beautiful landscapes behind them. The monasteries are almost 400 years old, and these make the tourists curious about their incredible architectural designs, the legends behind making them, and the awesome locations.

Away from Leh by approximately 40 km, there is Chemrey monastery which is famous for its giant Padmasambhava statue and the texts of gold and silver. Other famous monasteries are the Alchi Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Karsha Monastery, and Thiksey Monastery. Read more: Famous Monasteries Leh Ladakh.

14. Know the Life Story of the Natives

Homestay falls under the best feelings to have in Ladakh. Even grand hotel rooms sometimes cannot provide you with the homestay owners’ sweet moments. With this, one can have the opportunities to get to know their lifestyle, their life story, how they became an integral part of Ladakh tourism, their culture, home-like food away from home, etc.

Everything will lead to a dreamlike experience. Apart from that, all these become a great help in forming your own life goals. Also, it lets you set the rules for enjoying your life. As it is said, every good person leaves an invisible trace in our lives, and we learn the basic meaning of life through them.

Conclusion

Although it is not always an easy and trouble-free journey to Ladakh, the alluring beauty and the warm welcome of the natives made Ladakh an all-time attractive place for tourism. One can do various activities right from trekking and rafting to enjoying the tranquility of nature, riding bikes or camels, and relishing the delicious cuisine or the wildness. Altogether Ladakh is a must-go destination for travel lovers.