Zanskar valley, one of the more isolated and remote areas of Ladakh that has retained much of the Ladakhi (Zanskari) tradition. We cycled amoungst the giants of the Indian Himalayas – Nun and Kun (over 7000m) and alongside the snouts of giant glaciers. Stunning vibrant crimson and yellow high altitude sedges lined the way, while [...]
The amazing salt water Pang gong Tso (lake) is around 20km long and 4km wide and is shared at by India and Tibet at an icey 4200m. We stayed with Chongchuk and Tsering at their modest little house in the village of Spagmik on the lakes edge. Both are teachers in the village and live [...]
Imposingly the Leh Palace is built on a crag overlooking the town, above it a little gompa (monastry) is perched, almost lonely against the vast blu, cloud-puffed sky. Below the old city, densely built, slowy crumbles and decays. The main bazaar is a bustle of old Ladakhi ladies selling their fabulous apricots and vegetable grown [...]
After an extraordinary 2 weeks that took us out of the incredible Spiti Valley to rejoin the main route to Ladakh, the Manali Leh highway. We have crossed passes over 5300m, slept in roadside dhabbas (truck-stop tents), missed a shower for 8 days, sucked on oxygen thin air, camped alongside shimmering high altitude turquoise lakes, [...]
From Spiti we crossed our first high pass, the Kunzum-la (4600m) and enjoyed the change from high altitude desert to cascading waterfalls, grassy slopes and snow peaks in the distance. The wild Chandra river and precipitous drop-offs kept us on guard all the way to the junction of the Manali-Leh highway. Chandra tal (moon lake) [...]
