Wishesh magazine february 2018 Wishesh magazine february 2018 | Página 134

INDIAN TRAVELOGUE
curios. You can also buy
handcrafted carpets, rugs and
pashmina shawls. Visit the
Ladag Apricot store in Zangsti
for organic food and jams made
with locally sourced apricots.
Voluntourism: If you plan on
staying longer, volunteer with
the 17000 ft Foundation, which
works with schools in villages in
and around Leh and offers 10-,
16- and 30-day programmes
that involve teaching and
infrastructure building, among
other things.
Adventure: Adventure junkies
can time their visit to watch
the Ladakh Marathon. (If you
want to participate, here’s what
134 you need to know.) For treks
and monastery tours, Ladakh
Ecological Footprint is your
best bet. They also offer river
rafting expeditions for beginners
and experienced enthusiasts.
Frozen Himalayasconducts
biking trips to and from Leh
and also snow leopard treks in
winters.
Overnight trips: Taxi it to the
unearthly Nubra Valley and
Pangong and Tso Moriri lakes.
While the journeys can be
made in a day, Kshitij Thube,
who biked from Manali to Leh
last summer, recommends
otherwise. “There are
comfortable camps everywhere
and stunning views—you can
share a camp right on Pangong
Lake. There’s no point visiting if
you can’t watch the sun rise and
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set beyond the lake.”
Accommodation in
Ladakh
Due to the conditions and
nature of Ladakh region,
luxury hotel properties are
mostly not available in the
region. There is one luxury
hotel in Leh town by the
name of Grand Dragon.
You will also find luxury
tents at places like Thiksey,
Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri
and Nubra Valley.
At other places, you’ll find
budget and deluxe or even
luxury tents and camps,
some with basic facilities
and some with running hot
water and attached western
toilets. Homestays are easily
available at most of the
places with basic facilities
and would cost 700-1200
per room for the night.
Luxury camps with attached
toilets and running hot water
will cost you around 3000
to 5000 for two people.
You could also book your
accommodation in advance
through the internet or
calling the hotels and camp
providers. You could also
simply check-in upon arrival
since Ladakh is not one of
the places that has a ”peak
season” when rooms are fully
booked in advance.