A Trek Through Ladakh's Markha Valley

Trek through the Markha Valley, taking in the jaw-dropping Himalayan landscape, camp in traditional mountain villages, and discover hilltop monasteries. This unique journey combines the culture of the Buddhist faith with the natural beauty of the mountains and the hustle and bustle of Delhi.
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How to reach? 

A mystery land for some and a moonland for some, Ladakh has been always the ultimate destination for all. I am sure most of you might have already ticked that mark on your bucket list. But for the ones who are still searching for some adventure then this is definitely the call for you. Nestled at 3,000 meters above sea level and explicitly located between the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges, Ladakh offers some of the best Ladakh picturesque views which you can explore on our best tour packages of Leh.
The stunning valleys, the magnificent mountains and the breathtaking views of the landscape call every traveler to explore.  Whether you are on a bike trip with your friends or just spending a vacation in the bosom of the mountains, you will come across the singing mountain passes here.
Ladakh is a standout amongst the most picturesque spots to visit in India and positions high, presumably on top, on the rundown of engine bikers the nation over.  The scenic scenes make the drive from Manali or Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh a standout amongst the most significant trips you can ever set out upon.
For the ones who are planning to visit this one of a kind destination, there might be a lot of question in your mind. The beautiful land of Ladakh is not accessible throughout the year.
The highways heading to Leh are open just in the months of May and October and remains snow covered for the rest of the months.  So if you have doubt on how to reach this stunning Moonland then here we give you some of the best options.

1. Traveling by Air

Ladakh Sightseeing Tour with Flights

There are different ways of planning to go Ladakh but one of the best ways to travel to Ladakh is taking a flight. There are different flights flying to Ladakh during the peak season and also during the offseason. But there might be changes in the flights during winter due to the weather conditions.
Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is the main airport of the area. This is the closest airport at Leh, which is all around associated with Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh and a few different urban areas in India.
The Leh Airport is a military air terminal and security checks are somewhat more stringent than common. It would be ideal if you convey a printout of your e-ticket before entering, coming up short which you may be denied section. From the airplane terminal, you can without much of a stretch get taxis that will take you to your lodging/resort.
Indian Airlines www.indian-airlines.nic.in works 3 flight in seven days amongst Leh and Delhi, 2 flights in seven days from Jammu and once in seven days from Srinagar. Fly Airways www.jetairways.com additionally works for six flights in seven days between Leh – Delhi and Go Air www.goair.in works day by day flight Between Leh – Delhi.

Price:The prices of the flights from Delhi approximately starts from Rs 8000 

2. Travelling By Bike

There are a few of you who are waiting for that amazing bike trip to Ladakh. It is said that the beauty of Ladakh can be best enjoyed through bike trip. Riding through the amazing beauty of the region is something which will be cherished by you every day. There are two different routes that lead to Ladakh- one from Srinagar and the other from Manali: Srinagar to Leh and Manali to Leh.

Route 1: Srinagar to Leh

If you are travelling from Srinagar then you will be covering a distance of 434 kms, this trip lets you understand the true majesty of Mother Nature’s creations.
Route: Srinagar – Sonmarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil – Mulbek – Lamayaru – Saspol – Leh

Route 2: Manali to Leh

If you are taking the route of Manali to Leh then you will be covering a distance of 490km, while enjoying the beautiful vistas of the region.

Route: Manali – Rohtang – Gramphu – Kokhsar – Keylong – Jispa – Darcha – Zingzingbar – Baralacha La – Bharatpur – Sarchu – Gata Loops – Nakee La – Lachulung La – Pang – Tanglang La – Gya – Upshi – Karu – Leh

Experiencing the best of your amazing bike trip, check out our ultimate guides that include the best time for Ladakh bike trip and everything you should know about bike rentals in Leh Ladakh.

For your best experience in the mountains, Royal Enfields are the best bike for your daring trip. These bikes are great and easily cruise on highways as well as the rocky terrain of Ladakh.It is advisable for you to choose a bike with higher displacements which will put less weight on the motor and you can cover bigger distances. Select the bike which suits you the best and have one of the best Ladakh road trip of your life.

There are few other bikes you can choose from Bajaj Pulsar, Hero Impulse, KTM Duke, Royal Enfield Himalayan, CBR 250 and Bajaj Avenger.

Price: The approximate price for Bullet 500cc starts from Rs 1700 per day.
Bike Trip Expedition: Manali to Leh Bike Trip from Delhi
Where can I get a bike from: Rent a bike from Manali.

3. Travelling by Jeep

Heading to Leh is unquestionably an adventure. In the event that you are arranging for a Jeep ride then you will be stunned by the streets to Ladakh. Ladakh is 434 km from Srinagar and 494 km from Manali.
You can set out on a jeep ride to Leh from Srinagar, Manali or Chandigarh relying on the time you have. The highways are closed because of substantial snowfalls amid the winter months. Along these lines, you can just go to Ladakh by street between May to September.
The most sensational piece of this road trip is while crossing 11,500 feet 3,505 m high Zoji-La, the pass in the Great Himalayan Wall that serves as the door to Ladakh if you are travelling to Ladakh through Kargil from Kashmir Valley. Manali-Leh roads have been filling in as the other way to reach Ladakh.
Various Leh high passes fall en route among which the most elevated one known as Tanglang-La is world’s second most astounding motorable go at a height of 17,469 feet/5,235m.

Price:The approximate price for Malai to Leh Jeep Safari will be around Rs 32,000
Jeep Safari Adventure: Manali To Leh Jeep Safari Package

4. Travelling by  Bus

In case you are planning to visit Leh in a bus then prepare for a bumpy ride. Ladakh is connected with Jammu by roads. Two routes are there through which you can reach Ladakh. One is the route of Srinagar to Ladakh by Zoji La Pass and the other route is Manali to Ladakh by Rohtang Pass.
Zoji La Pass opens amongst June and October. Rohtang Pass opens amongst June and September. JKSRTC and HRTC give transport services. It will take around 4 days if you are travelling by bus from New Delhi. You can follow our guide of Manali to Leh by bus for every detail you will need.
Price:The approximate cost for a bus ride from Manali to Leh is Rs 2400.

 Travelling by Train

If you are planning to travel by train the closest railroad station is Jammu Tawi (700 km from Ladakh) which is all around associated with Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. You can enlist a taxi or board a JKSRTC transport to achieve Ladakh from that point.
Pathankot and Chandigarh are the nearest railroad stations to Leh, still a three-day transport ride away. This is one course that most voyagers to Leh stay away from. Taxi costs Rs 9,000 – 10,000 from Jammu Tawi to Ladakh, and takes about 2 days travel.

Price: Please check IRCTC website for fares.

India Travel Facts

 

• Spoken language: India has 22 official languages, but the most widely spoken is Hindi
• Official unit of currency: Indian rupee
• Population in India: 1.3 billion
• The capital city is Delhi
• Tourist numbers to India: 10 million in 2017; 8.89 million in 2016, a growth of 15.6%
• India is a federal parliamentary democratic republic in which the President of India is the head of state and the Prime Minister of India is the head of government.
• India is the seventh largest country in the world, covering more than three million square kilometres
• India has 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Agra Fort, Jaipur City and the Western Ghats
• 23 official languages are spoken, along with more than a thousand minor languages and dialects. Hindi is the language of more than 40% of the population; English is also widely spoken.
• Indian Railways is India’s largest employer, with around 1.4 million workers
• Producing 1,900 movies each year and turning over US$4 billion, India’s film industry is the largest in the world.

Where to go in India

India has 29 states, with major Mughal Empire landmarks and mountain ranges in the north, and palm lined beaches and jungles in the south. 

 

It’s unlikely that you will travel to India and cover the whole country in your first visit. It’s better to focus on a couple of regions and do them justice, in order to make the most of your time. You can decide what sort of pace you want and go to particular areas accordingly.

Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Chennai are undoubtedly adrenaline-fuelled, upbeat places. But it is possible to travel around India for a long time without setting foot in one, instead meandering through the more relaxing, rural areas.

The Golden Triangle is the most travelled circuit in the country, taking you from impressive monuments to serene landscapes. Here you’ll cover Delhi, the Pink City of Jaipur and Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.

The state of Rajasthan is often the most popular with travellers, thanks to its mix of mesmerising desert landscape and unique cities, but there are plenty of other areas of India to discover for the second- or third-timer or travellers with more time on their hands.

On the other side of the country, the palm-fringed coast lines of Goa draw crowds of international and domestic tourists to their lively beach resorts. Just down the coast, the quieter Kerala offers some of India’s best tropical beaches, tea and spice plantations and national parks housing elephants, tigers and monkeys. 

Best time to travel to India

Deciding when to travel to India can be complicated, due to its extremely varied weather. India’s seasons are split into the wet, humid monsoon season, and the dry, cool season.

The monsoon season takes place from May until September. It has a huge influence over travelling in India as it works its way northeast through the country, from the Keralan coast. During this time the south still has a couple of months of cloud, rain and humidity.

Therefore, the best time to visit India is November to March, when the majority of the country is at a comfortable temperature with good weather. Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan and Varanasi are perfect for a visit to India in this period, while Goa and the centre of the country is a little cooler but still comfortable.

The south can get very hot and while it’s always intense, the months of May and June are unbearable, so it’s best to avoid them during this time of year - Kerala or Tamil Nadu are the best places to be January to March.

If you’re looking to experience the Himalayas, the best time to go is from March onwards, with peak hiking season in August and September - the rest of the country at this time is very wet. Find more detailed information on when to go to India.

How to get to India

Most travellers visiting India fly into the country and it’s not difficult to find good flights: there are multiple direct services from the UK, a few from the US and Canada, and two from Australia. There are many airlines that fly to India, and these flights usually arrive into Delhi or Mumbai. From the UK you can also reach Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru without any stops.

As with any destination, fares vary with the seasons. For travel in India fares are highest from November to March, typically when it’s the best time to visit most of the country.

The shoulder seasons of April to May and August to early October are cheaper, and you’ll get the best flight deals during the low season of June and July. Bear in mind that air fares are higher during India’s main festivals and events, such as Diwali in October/November time. For more detail, visit our page on getting to India.

How to travel around India

Once in India, getting around is another thing to wrap your head around and requires some forward planning. Intercity transport in India isn’t considered the most comfortable, quick or efficient, but it is affordable. Wherever you need to go, there’s most likely a route there. The main options are train or bus, but also occasionally plane or boat, and within cities, there are also rickshaws and metro systems.

For longer distances, make use of the cheap long-distance trains, on which journeys are an experience in themselves. If you’re willing to pay a little more for the higher classes of carriage, you can expect to have a reasonably hassle-free and comfortable journey.

Cheap short-haul flights are another good option for India travellers. For more information about travelling in India, visit our getting around page.

Top 10 best places to visit in India

1. Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is the quintessential desert town, located in the western Rajasthan. Amid the Thar desert, the golden sandstone architecture towers over the landscape, explaining the nickname of the “Golden City”. While commercialism has increased in recent years, it remains one of India’s most popular and worthwhile destinations to visit, with its bazaar still lively and engaging and unique location.

1. Gokarna

North of Mangaluru, Gokarna is a town between beautiful beaches and the foothills of the Western Ghats. It’s always been a pilgrimage destination for Hindus, with sacred sites like Mahabaleshwar Temple, but since the 1990s has attracted visitors for its charm and beaches and as an alternative to nearby Goa.

1. Taj Mahal

The site recognised world-over, the Taj Mahal is one of the world’s greatest buildings and the ultimate symbol of love. Emperor Shah Jahan was the mind behind the grand design in order to enshrine his favourite wife, Arjumand Bann Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahul, “Chosen One of the Palace”. The best time to see the Taj Mahal is in the early morning with relatively few crowds while the palace is drenched in a soft red glow.

1. Varanasi

Varanasi is known as the City of Light and is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Its history is steeped in Hinduism and it remains a place of holy significance - in its location alongside the Ganges river, thousands of pilgrims and residents come for their daily ablutions to the large stone ghats.

1. Amritsar

The Sikh holy city, Amritsar contains the Golden Temple, a spectacle to behold and the biggest attraction. It’s the largest city in Punjab, so can get noisy and congested, but the old town is lively and a must-see.

1. Hampi/Vijayanagar

Once the capital of the Hindu empire, Vijayanagar was devastated in the 16th century and now all that remains is the ruined “City of Victory”, a surreal landscape of golden boulders, ancient sculptures and banana fields. It’s now better known as Hampi, the name of the main local village.

1. Palolem

The best place to visit if you’re looking for some sun and relaxation, Palolem is the closest thing to paradise in peninsular India. South of Margao, the crecsent-shaped bay is lined with palms and famous for its dolphins and local alcoholic spirit, feni.

1. Manali-Leh Highway

This route to Ladakh is also one of the most spectacular drives. Taking you through the Himalayas, the Manali-Leh Highway crosses some of the highest mountain passes in the world.

1. Dharamsala

Dharamsala is famous for being the home of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile. It’s also a great jumping off point for exhilarating hikes around the Himalayas. Actually two separate towns, Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj, the latter has had an influx of Tibetan refugees, resulting in many temples, monasteries, meditation centres and more.

1. Boating the backwaters of Kerala

Kerala is divided between the mountains of the Western Ghats and lush plains of rice paddies, rivers, canals and lagoons. It’s these backwaters that make Kerala such a beautiful place to travel in India, on tranquil boat rides through the tropical surroundings.