Corinthian Travel has launched the UK’s most comprehensive and luxurious programme to Ladakh which, until now, has largely been the preserve of budget group tours and trekking holidays.
Ladakh is a sparsely populated region located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, that currently extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south, and inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent.
Comments Hugh Fraser, Director of Corinthian Travel: “A bridge between the earth and the sky, Ladakh is located high up in the Himalaya and is a starkly beautiful place with windswept, arid and snow-dusted mountains, raging rivers, orchards of apricot trees, ribbons of emerald-coloured cultivation, azure blue lakes, medieval monasteries and a deeply ingrained Tibetan-Buddhist culture.
“We believe that is the next ‘new’ destination in India, and our choice of seven, recommended, tailor-made, chauffeur-driven, itineraries (more than is offered by any other operator), are designed to provide unforgettable private experiences across this ‘Roof of the World’.”
Ladakh – which was for centuries part of the ancient Silk Road – is the perfect destination for the summer months (making it ideal for teachers and families), and the tours have been designed to maximise time spent in this virtually pristine corner of the Himalaya that is both a unique cultural treasure and high-altitude adventure playground.
Ladakh: Roof of the World (10 days from £1595 per person)
Highlights of this unforgettable experience will include attending early morning prayers at Thiksey monastery, hoisting prayer flags at Khardung La pass, riding Bactrian camels across the ‘Desert in the Sky’, and hiking along the banks of the rushing Shyok River. There will also be the opportunity to visit bustling Leh Bazaar, stay in a converted traditional Ladakhi house, see the 10th-century murals at Alchi, visit Hemis monastery and explore Stok Palace Museum.
Ladakh Family Holiday with Teenagers (12 days from £1745 per person)
Designed with active teenagers in mind, highlights of this this high-altitude adventure which takes place in two distinct areas of Ladakh, include a hike along the old Silk Road, rafting down the mighty Indus River, a yak ride across the famed Wari-La Pass, cycling through the serene Nubra Valley, and attend early-morning prayers in a medieval monastery. There will also be archery contests, a journey across the dunes of Hunder on a camel, and the chance to learn about the Spirit World from the most famous Oracle in Leh.
Luxury Ladakh (10 days from £3945)
Discover Ladakh in style staying at two luxuriously appointed tented camps, whilst exploring the region’s stunning scenery and Buddhist culture. Both camps – at Thiksey near Leh and at Diskit – are designed to capture the essence of high living for those looking for adventure without compromising on comfort. Each tent is complete with four-poster beds, period furniture, wooden floors and en-suite bathrooms. Activities include joining monks for morning prayer at a monastery, rafting down the Indus, bicycling through rural villages, picnicking along the Nubra River, a visit to the Balti village of Turtuk, and a camel ride through the Hunder sand dunes.
All tours include private, chauffeur-driven transport throughout, meals as per itineraries, entrance fees and full-time guides. Flights extra (bookable through Corinthian Travel).
Call Corinthian Travel on 020 3583 6089 (www.corinthiantravel.co.uk).
