Main Image: Indus River and Stakna Monastery, Leh - Image © Jeremy Woodhouse

Ladakh & Zanskar Valley, 19 - 31 Aug, 2021

A Scouting Trip with Jeremy Woodhouse & Abhishek Hajela

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Ladakh
Spectacularly jagged, arid mountains enfold this magical Buddhist ex-kingdom. Picture-perfect gompas (Tibetan Buddhist monasteries) dramatically crown rocky outcrops next to fluttering prayer flags and whitewashed stupas, while prayer wheels spun clockwise release merit-making mantras. Gompa interiors are a riot of golden Buddhas and intricately colourful murals and home to red-robed monks. It's a little corner of Tibet marooned in the furthest reaches of India.
Though threatened by a rapidly increasing number of visitors, Ladakh has much to teach the West regarding ecological sustainability. Most Ladakhis are cash poor yet their traditional mud-brick homesteads are large and virtually self-sufficient in fuel and dairy products, and barley used to make tsampa (roast barley flour) and chhang (barley beer).
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The walls of dramatic mountains that hem in Ladakh make for an unforgettable landscape, but be aware that road access requires crossing tortuous high passes, which close from around October to May.

Zanskar Valley
Majestically rugged, the greatest attraction of this mountain-hemmed Ladakhi Buddhist valley is simply getting there. As in Ladakh, the main sights are timeless monasteries, notably at Karsha, Stongdey & Sani. The area's tiny capital, Padum, is not much more than a village with a few shops. It is not a major attraction in itself but is a key transit point if you want to drive in or out on what remains, for now, the only reliable access route (via Kargil). While days can be scorching hot, come prepared for cold nights, even in summer.

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Ladakhi Women - Image ©Jeremy Woodhouse

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Daily Itinerary

02 Aug: Arrive Leh full day's rest for altitude acclimatization 
03 Aug: Leh local sightseeing monastic tour Nyamgal Tsemo monastery at dusk from Shanti Stupa
04 Aug: Leh visit Hemis/Thiksey & Stakna Monasteries
05 Aug: Leh to Kargil
06 Aug: Kargil to Rangdum ( Zanskar )
07 Aug: Rangdum to Padum ( Zanskar )
08 Aug: Local visit in Zanskar
09 Aug: Local visit in Zanskar
10 Aug: Padum to Kargil
11 Aug: Kargil to Uleytokpo
12 Aug: Uleytokpo to Leh
13 Aug: Departure from Leh to Delhi for flight home (hotel not included–available for $95/night)

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Kargil Village - Image ©Jeremy Woodhouse

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PLEASE REGISTER MY TOUR

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Arrival, Departure & Visa

​Arrival & Meeting Place 
​2 Aug: Arrive Leh (flight TBA)— Full day's rest for altitude acclimatization

​Departure 
13 Aug: Early morning departure from Leh to Delhi (flight TBA)

Visa
All the foreign nationals, except citizens of neighboring Nepal and Bhutan, are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport with a valid visa that they can get from Indian consulates all around the world.

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Buddhist Prayer Flags

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Weather 
July and August are monsoon months in India, but Ladakh remains completely dry opening up its doors for visitors. Weather in August is little hot in Ladakh as the sun scorches pretty well. Ladakh temperature during the day might rise up to 25°C in the daytime. At night too, it remains in the range of 10-12°C.

Language
The Ladakhi language, also called Bhoti or Bodhi, is a Tibetan language spoken in the Ladakh region of India.

​Currency
The only currency accepted in Ladakh is Indian Rupee. US Dollars and Pound Sterling are the easiest currencies to exchange.

Tour Registration
Before you pay your deposit, please register for this tour

Tour Registration Form

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Tour Details
Tour dates: Aug 19 - 31, 2020
Cost: Approx: $5,300 (min 4 people)
Small Group Supp (4 or fewer): $500
Deposit: $500
Single Supplement: $550
Flight from DEL/IXL (Leh): $TBA
Max Group Size: 6
4 SPOTS OPEN
Photographer: Jeremy Woodhouse

click here to pay your deposit

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Flight Information
Once you have made your flight arrangements, please fill in the form at the link below

Flight information Form

Tour Fee Includes

• Assistance on arrival at Leh airport
• Traditional welcome in the hotel followed by Drink (Hot Tea/Coffee/Kahwa) on arrival
• Accommodation on twin/ double sharing bases in the above mentioned hotel or of similar category
• Wildlife and environmental fees
• Accompanying English speaking local guide throughout the tour
• Entrance/monastery fees
• Mineral water and other amenities (juice/coke/dry fruits etc)
• Meal plan MAPAI ( breakfast and dinner ) in Leh and APAI( breakfast lunch and dinner) at Kargil/Rangdum Padum/Uleytokpo
• All airport transfers & sightseeing tours using Non a/c Toyota Innova   

Tour Fee Does not Include

•  Airfare to and from Leh or any other destination
• Any kind of personal expenses, extra meals, starters & Drinks (Alcoholic, & Aerated etc)
• Any kind of optional tours
• Tips, Insurance, Laundry, Phone Calls, Guide Fee & Camera Fee
• Services of vehicle on leisure days and after finishing the sightseeing tour
• Adventure activity costs (Pony Ride, Camel Safari, Rafting, paragliding etc)
• Medical & Travel insurance
• Additional Costs due to Flight Cancellations, Road blocks, naturalInternational flights, visa upon arrival.
• Emergency evacuation
• Banking fees incurred.

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Paying by check
If you would like to pay your deposit  and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to:

Nicole Woodhouse
Pixelchrome, Inc, 
605 Rouen Drive, 
McKinney TX 75070

Paying by Wire Transfer
Please contact Nicole directly for bank information at (214) 906-2314

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Virtual Private Network
If you want to access an uncensored internet while on the road, you may want to consider getting a Virtual Private Network (VPN). I use Express VPN. If you decide to use this option,
​please use the referral link below.

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Equipment Checklist

• Bring you own laptop computer and storage media
• Camera body(s)
• Lenses, 16-35mm, 24-70mm zoom and 70-200mm zoom or similar lenses are very good
• Light bag for easy hiking with camera bodies and accessories
• Cleaning kit for cameras and lenses
• Rain/dust covers for cameras and lenses
• Charger for batteries
• Spare batteries
• Spare Memory cards
• Memory card reader
• USB key to exchange images

Also good to have

• Tripod
• Lens extenders
• Graduated filter set
• Filter holder
• Good quality polarizing filter