Ladakh Travel Articles, Photos and Panoramas

Ladakh Trekking: A Beginner’s Guide

Last updated on June 15th, 2017 by Audrey Scott 148 Comments

Every year we try to go on a big trek, one that takes us far far away and high into the mountains. For us, it's not only a way to exercise our bodies, but to clear and challenge our minds. It’s a way to disconnect from all that is part of our daily life — technology, social media, blogging — and reconnect with nature and ourselves.Last year’s trek of the Markha … [Read more...]

Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh: Hiking Through Canyons [360-Degree Panorama]

Last updated on April 14th, 2016 by Audrey Scott 4 Comments

First day of our Markha Valley trek. We weren't quite certain what to expect for the remaining six days of trekking through the Himalayas, but we were sure the following day would be steep and uphill, to 4,950 meters/16,200 feet. So on our first day on the trail we were relieved to find relative flatness, to lose ourselves in the red rocks of the canyon around us and … [Read more...]

Ladakh: 9 Memories of Deep Himalayan India

Last updated on August 22nd, 2016 by Audrey Scott 27 Comments

Ladakh: a place we had dreamed about for well over a decade, a visit packed with expectations. What made this place remarkable wasn’t quite what we expected.Imagining Ladakh for all of those years, we focused on the landscape. Sure, Ladakh as a setting for just about anything did not disappoint. The physical beauty was more stunning – and more consistently so -- … [Read more...]

Buddhist Temple at Likir Monastery, Ladakh [360-Degree Panorama]

Last updated on April 14th, 2016 by Audrey Scott 14 Comments

While traveling, we often find ourselves focused on the present. This is a good thing. Then, something helps us appreciate the history, the roots of where we happen to be. This too, is useful because it provides perspective.Likir Buddhist Monastery in Ladakh, at almost 1,000 years old, is one of those places.For much of our visit to Likir Monastery we were … [Read more...]

Crossing Gongmaru La Pass, Ladakh [360-Degree Panorama]

Last updated on April 14th, 2016 by Daniel Noll 11 Comments

Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags greet us as we reach Ladakh's Gongmaru La pass. All the residual fatigue from climbing up to 16,800 feet/5,130 meters seems to evaporate once we've reached this place, our goal. It's been six days in the Markha Valley and we've been up and down -- and up again.We have to remind ourselves not to move around too quickly up here, not to … [Read more...]

Finding the Good Way: How to Meditate While Trekking at 15,000 Feet

Last updated on August 22nd, 2016 by Audrey Scott 26 Comments

This is a story of our re-discovery of a few of life’s truths amidst a seven-day trek in the Himalayas."One foot in-front-of-the oth-er." … [Read more...]

Trekking Ladakh: On Top of the World in the Himalayas [360-Degree Panorama]

Last updated on August 27th, 2016 by Audrey Scott 10 Comments

Five days into our Markha Valley Trek in Ladakh, India. We were on our way to Nimiling, a summer hangout for local shepherds (with their flocks of sheep, goats and cattle/yak hybrids called zos) and the overnight base camp for our final ascent to Gongmaru La Pass (5,130 meters/16,800 feet). That morning we endured and enjoyed our share of steep climbs, losing … [Read more...]

Ladakh: Dumb Luck, Dreams and Visa Kung Fu

Last updated on August 27th, 2016 by Daniel Noll 32 Comments

This is a story about the mystery of mountains, a San Francisco swami, a stroke of good luck, a dabbawalla and the fine art of resourcefulness.Long, long ago in the late 1990s, I lived in San Francisco. And next door to me lived a man who would one day become a swami. And he told me of a land called Ladakh.But before I get to that, a photo. … [Read more...]