"The remote and inhospitable land of Ladakh and Zangskar has always fascinated visitors with its images of a stark and barren landscape juxtaposed alongside lush green fields, monasteries precariously perched on mountain tops, and an intriguing blend of cultures. Leh, the present capital of Ladakh, was once the central meeting-point for trade caravans from Central Asia and the plains of India. Religious ceremonies, monastic festivals, and oracles who have the power to heal as well as divine are regular features of the Ladakhi landscape. Crafts such as metal-work, painting, weaving, and wood-carving are still widely found in the region; archery and polo are the traditional sports. One of the most visible features of Ladakh and Zangskar's rich cultural heritage are surely its ancient Buddhist monasteries, most of them built on sheer cliffs and still actively functioning. This is truly one of the last few places where one can experience Tibetan Buddhism being practiced in its original form....."

Sorry getting carried away, but got the idea about this place?

Mind you, talking about religion, it's not only Buddhism one finds in Ladakh & Zangskar, there is Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism and Christianity too! Instead of going off visiting all the Buddhist gonpas (monasteries), like everybody else, some of the mosques for instance are worthwhile visiting too, although some of them are built in more recent times.

Find below a big list of cultural tours, including specially selected ones, with short descriptions. Popular is touring by jeep, but you could try the cheap local buses too, or hitch-hike along the road (not applicable for all destinations however and usually taking more time).

Permits are required for the cultural tours in Dhahanu, Nubra and Chang Thang.

To view only the special cultural tours, click here: Cultural Tours Specials

For more info and detailed itineraries of any cultural tour please specify your requests at: Contact Us


CULTURAL TOURS IN LADAKH - Zhung
(Zhung is the central part of Ladakh)

Leh and Leh valley

Leh, the capital of Ladakh, has amongst others an old 17th century royal palace, Tsemo and other Buddhist temples, Jama Majid mosque, Sikh and Hindu temples, Moravian Mission Church and polo ground.

The Leh valley is home to Samkar and Gangles monasteries, several small mosques and Shanti Stupa. Chanspa and Samkar village harbour several carved 8th century stones of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Don't miss the ancient Gomang Stupa in Chanspa and Tisuru Stupa in Shasthang!

Different one-day tours in Leh and Leh Valley can be organized.



Other parts of Zhung

Monasteries nearby are to be found in Spituk, Sabu and Stok. Stok has a royal palace as well, with several rooms transformed into a nice museum. Some other interesting monasteries and temples a bit further away are at Shey, Stakmo, Thikse, Matho, Stakna, Hemis, Chemre and Sakti. Shey has a an old royal palace too, when it functioned for a while as a capital of lower Ladakh.

Mosques of historical interest are the Imambara at Chushod, founded by Balti immigrants from Purig and Baltistan in the 17th century and the Shey Majid. The Imambara mosque preserves a staff belonging to the 17th century Buddhist saint Staktsangrepa, offered as a token of friendship and goodwill.

Those who like to see some traditional gold- and silversmiths and their work, go to the villages of Taru, Chiling and Skyu. The people from Chiling are said to descent from Newari craftsman in Nepal, who after having made the giant Buddha statue of Shey palace, were offered a place to stay by the that time ruling king.

Different one - or two-days tours in Zhung can be organized.



Ladakh Festival

Every year the so-called Ladakh festival is organized, featuring traditional dance, song, music, drama, religious masked dance (Chams), arrow shooting, polo and many other cultural activities. Most of the festivities are in villages in central Ladakh (Zhung), with some events being organized in other parts of Ladakh and sometimes Zangskar.

The program takes place every year on the first fifteen days of September.



CULTURAL TOURS IN LADAKH - Sham
(Sham is the lower northwest part of Ladakh down the Indus river)

Sham tour

Sham has a an interesting group of monasteries near and a bit away from the Indus river in Phyang, Basgo, Likir, Ridzong, Alchi, Tingmosgam and Lamayuru. The villages of Basgo and Tingmosgam once served as capitals when Ladakh was temporarily divided into two parts in the 15th century. Famous is the 11th century Alchi Choskhor monastery, with its beautifully preserved Gandhara style murals and statues and Lamayuru is believed to have been the sacred site for the pre-Buddhist religion known as Bon.

Don't miss the interesting meditation caves of Saspol on the way and there are many wonderful petroglyphs (rock carvings) of Ibex, leopards, hunters, stupas and Tibetan inscriptions at Alchi and Khaltse, between one and three thousand years old.

This tour can be done in two or three days, staying overnight at a guesthouse or campsite. The farthest point is Lamayuru (120km from Leh).




Dhahanu

Dhahanu is the name of a low-altitude area along the Indus River about 160km northwest of Leh, home to a unique Aryan-featured people, also called the Dards or Drokpas. Some of the villages in this area are Dha, Hanu and Bema, from which the name of the area is derived. These people, said to originate from Gilgit, have managed to retain their specific culture, religion and language, very distinct from the Tibetan styled Ladakh and Zangskar one. Their religious practices for instance are very similar to the ancient pre-Buddhist animistic religion known as BonChos.

This tour can be done in two days, staying overnight at a campsite.



CULTURAL TOURS IN LADAKH - Tsomoriri and Tsokar Lake

This trip focuses on the Chang Thang plateau in east Ladakh, the western fringe of the Tibetan high-altitude plateau, on the border with Tibet. In this area a lot of wandering nomads with their herds of yaks, goats and sheep can be found. Highlighting the tour are the two turquoise-coloured lakes of Tsomoriri and Tsokar, both at an altitude of around 4500m. Tsomoriri Lake is about 220km to the south of Leh in the nomad area called Korzok, with a small monastery in Korzok village. Tsokar (150km south from Leh) is a brackish lake in the nomad area called Samad Rokchen and harbours a big variety of birds, amongst which the rare Brahmin Ducks and occasional pairs of Black-Necked Cranes. The village of Thukje at Tsokar has a nice monastery.

A tour that can be done in three or four days. Overnights are at campsites.



CULTURAL TOURS IN LADAKH - Pangong Lake

Pangong is a huge, deep blue coloured lake situated at 4080m around 145km to the east of Leh, on the border with Tibet. Only 25% of the lake's total surface is in India, the other 75% in Tibet. The approach to Pangong is via the 5320m high Chang La, from the Sakti Valley, with the two beautiful monasteries of Chemde and Thakthok.

A two days tour with an overnight stay at a campsite.



CULTURAL TOURS IN LADAKH - Nubra Valley
(Nubra is the valley bordering on the Karakoram Range about 50km to the north of the Indus Valley)

Comprising the riverbeds of the Shayok and Nubra Rivers, the Nubra Valley derives its name from the Ladakhi word Ldumra, meaning "valley of flowers". The around 3000m low-altitude valley lies about 50km to the north of the Indus Valley and is bordering on the Karakoram Range. It is reached via the 5602m high Khardong La pass, supposedly the highest motorable road in the world. A beautiful sight in the valley are the Bactrian Camels, who were previously used on the many caravans passing from the Silk Route to the Indus Valley. One visits the interesting monasteries of Sumur, Diskit and Hundar and is in the opportunity to enjoy a medicinal bath at one of the hot springs in Panamik, a previous major stopover for the caravans.

A three days tour with one night in a guesthouse, one at a campsite.



CULTURAL TOURS IN ZANGSKAR - Suru and Zangskar Valley

A spectacular tour to the valleys of Suru and Zangskar. Starting from Leh one first travels downstream the Indus, visiting Alchi and Lamayuru monasteries on the way and reaching Kargil. From there southwards into the Suru Valley, with its distinct Muslim culture and excellent views of the Nun-Kun massif.

In Suru Valley we visit a 7m high stone carved 8th century Maitreya Buddha, said to be the last one in the valley and a beautiful mosque in Sanku. We then leave the Suru Valley and cross the Pensi La pass into the Zangskar Valley, visiting Rangdum monastery and enjoying the panorama of the huge Drang Drung glacier on the way.

In Central Zangskar we visit the monasteries of Dzongkhul, Sani, Stakrimo and Karsha (including the nunnery), the temple of Pibiting and rock-carved Buddhas and Bodhisattvas besides Padum, the capital of Zangskar. In Padum there is a newly built mosque too. In Lower Zangskar we visit the old king's palace and nunnery at Zangla and the monastery of Stongde and in the Lungnak Valley Bardan and Mune monasteries. Heading back to Leh, we visit the monasteries of Shergol and Mulbekh (and nunnery), before entering the Indus Valley again.
A tour of 9 days, staying overnight in guesthouses and camping out.



CULTURAL TOURS IN THE WINTER

If you happen to come around in the winter, witnessing Ladakhi & Zangskari Losar (New Year) and several masked dance festivals (Chams) in some monasteries is definitely worth it. The dates of these celebrations go according to the moon calendar, so aren't fixed, but Losar is usually somewhere in December and the festivals in February and March.

Losar New year Tour

This beautiful tour leads to Sham (lower Ladakh), where Ladakhi Losar (New Year) is for several days most heavily celebrated in very authentic ways. A four days program visits the villages of Tingmosgam and Hemis Shukpachen and Basgo, where amongst others many traditional songs and dances connected to Losar can be seen.

A tour of four days by jeep, three nights camping out.



Chams Tour

A unique cultural winter program focusing primarily on the two important masked dance festivals in the monasteries of Stok and Matho. Besides of alternating groups of mask-wearing dancing monks, the special feature of these festivals is a pair of sword-wielding oracles, who in trance are able to predict the future and giving profound blessings. A sight-seeing to the monasteries of the Indus Valley and other places of cultural interest is included in this tour.

A 7 days program with transportation by jeep, accommodation in a guesthouse.