High in the Indian Himalaya, the remote former kingdom of Ladakh - the land of high passes - is home to vast mountain landscapes shaped by wind, ice and centuries of spiritual life.
Our connection to Ladakh goes back decades. We began walking the hills of the Indian Himalaya in the late 1970s, starting in Kashmir, and have been returning ever since.
That long history continues to shape how we travel in Ladakh today - from the routes we choose and the time we allow for acclimatisation, to the way cultural encounters are approached with respect and care.
Travelling in Ladakh is about immersion rather than intensity. Time spent in Leh reveals Ladakh’s role as a historic crossroads, while journeys beyond the town lead into a quieter Himalaya of high passes, broad valleys and ancient settlements where monasteries remain central to daily life.
Whether you’re trekking remote trails, cycling high mountain roads or taking on a challenging Himalayan ascent, each journey reflects decades of experience in this part of the world.
Hidden Valleys of Ladakh
Moderate
14 days
Remote Ladakh - Snia Valley and Lasermo La
15 days
Ladakh High Trails
16 days
Twin Peaks of Ladakh
Entry Level Mountaineering or Exploratory Treks
Technical Grading
18 days
Wild Ladakh: Ancient cultures & the elusive snow leopard with Garry Weare
Introductory
While trekking in the Indian Himalaya, you enjoy fully supported wilderness camping in remote mountain settings.
Quality two person tents are erected in carefully chosen scenic locations, with a dedicated dining setup where freshly prepared meals are served each day.
Your crew manages all camp logistics, creating a comfortable and well organised base in these high altitude environments.
Operations are conducted with strong responsible travel practices to minimise environmental impact.
Camping based treks feature in our Classic Adventures range.
Stay in well appointed hotels selected for their comfort, service and convenient location.
Properties are typically situated within easy reach of major landmarks, markets and heritage sites, providing a calm retreat from the energy of the city.
Comfortable rooms, professional service and quality dining facilities ensure a relaxed start or finish to your Indian Himalaya adventure.
In towns across the Indian Himalaya, like Leh, you will stay in good quality properties chosen for their comfort, character and reliability.
Hotels are typically centrally located or well positioned for easy access to key sights and amenities, providing a welcoming and practical base before and after your time in the mountains.
Positive interactions are achieved when the traveller is aware of the cultural sensitivities of the community they are visiting. Our guides are always ready to inform travellers about the correct etiquette, including matters of appropriate clothing and actions when entering a temple.
We ensure that the landowners whose fields we use for camping are paid fairly for the use of their land and we encourage travellers to shop at handicraft shops within the small villages we pass through.
We adhere to our Animal Welfare Code of Conduct in Ladakh. We engage the services of reputable and registered horsemen and yak contractors, insisting that all animals are in good health before carrying loads and that the loads are appropriate for the animal.
Ladakh offers high-altitude desert landscapes, ancient monasteries and some of the world’s highest mountain passes, with the best regions to explore including the Indus Valley, Markha Valley, Nubra Valley, Zanskar and Pangong Lake.
Indus Valley: The Indus Valley combines historic monasteries and dramatic mountain landscapes around Leh.
Markha Valley: The Markha Valley trek crosses remote Himalayan landscapes beneath the peaks of the Ladakh Range.
Nubra Valley: Nubra’s desert landscapes and sand dunes lie between the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges.
Zanskar: Zanskar offers remote trekking through deep gorges and isolated monasteries.
Pangong Lake: Pangong Lake stretches across high-altitude desert landscapes along the India–Tibet frontier.
India is +5 and a half hours ahead of UTC/GMT
Hindi (41%); Bengali (8.1%); Telugu (7.2%); Marathi (7%); Tamil (5.9%); Urdu (5%); Gujarati (4.5%); Kannada (3.7%); Malayalam (3.2%); Oriya (3.2%); Punjabi (2.8%); Assamese (1.3%); Maithili (1.2%); Other (5.9%), including Kashmiri, Sindhi and Sanskrit
As befitting a nation of such ethnic diversity, India is home to huge linguistic diversity. Most Indians are multilingual and many people speak a great number of different languages
Hindi is India’s most widely spoken and official language, and the primary language of 41% of the population. Along with Hindi are another 22 different official/recognised languages, plus hundreds of other major and minor languages and regional variations/dialects
English is an “associate official language” and India’s most common lingua franca, and is widely spoken in business, law, politics, education and tourism. Hindustani is India’s second most common lingua franca, but is considered technically to be a variation/combination of Hindi/Urdu languages, rather than an official language itself
Indian Rupee
We recommend that you bring US dollars (in cash or travellers cheques) as it is readily accepted over other currencies in India.
Credit cards and ATM are available in most large cities and hotels, however it is not recommended to rely on these solely. Always keep a watch when your card is being processed and please note that you will be surcharged for the use of your card.
Traveller’s cheques may be changed (for a fee) at many hotels. Make sure that you bring some small denominations and keep a separate record of your cheque numbers, to assist with quick replacement should you lose them.
Electricity in India is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).
Visas are required to enter India and visitors from some countries including Australia and New Zealand can obtain an online visa, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to arrival.
For stays of less than 30 days, travellers can apply for an ETA online (US$60) at the official website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html, no less than five days and no more than 30 days before the date of travel.
At present other nationalities including the UK and Canada and those clients regardless of nationality visiting Sikkim and other restricted areas must have an Indian visa stamp in their passport prior to arrival in India.
Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.
Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.
We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.
We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.
Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.
Watch our free webinar with Himalayan Operations Manager Callum Hawkins for everything you need to know before a Himalayan trek - from fitness and ...
Nepal isn’t the only game in town when it comes to truly spectacular treks. There's a handful of great reasons to consider Ladakh as ...
With the summer trekking season in the Indian Himalaya fast approaching, here are 4 very different ways to go trekking in Ladakh! What's your ...
Hydration is critical at altitude, more so than at sea level. Dr Ross Anderson explains the signs of dehydration and the best treatment methods.
Every mountaineer needs to understand how to read mountain weather, taking elements such as wind, precipitation, snow and forecasted temperatures into consideration.
So, is it safe to go to Kashmir? Veteran Himalayan adventurer Garry Weare breaks down the facts and shares why Kashmir is a destination ...
What is it? How does one get it? How can I avoid it? A summary of the three altitude illnesses (AMS, HACE, HAPE) including ...
Heading into the great outdoors for a day or week-long trek? Read these tips to avoid making these common blunders on your trekking holiday
If you are thinking about taking that next step into the world of mountaineering, here are a selection of the best expeditions to consider ...
We should keep this to ourselves, but because these mountain routes are so fantastic, here are 5 Himalaya trekking tours away from the crowds.
Both confronting yet stimulating, whilst peaceful and inspiring, it's the contrasts that make India so special. A melting pot of vibrant cultures ...
Experience some of the most unique experiences Asia has to offer at these lesser travelled festivals.
Markha Valley Trek - and Beyond | Ladakh with World Expeditions
Create your dream adventure: start planning a custom made, private group trip today.
Travel with purpose, placing local communities at the heart of your adventure.
Led by experienced local guides and supported by regional crews and partners, your trip helps sustain livelihoods, build skills and strengthen long term partnerships.
Every adventure is designed to encourage respectful cultural exchange and ensure the benefits of tourism are shared with the communities you visit.
Search Filters
From
Ask a real person
All fields are required except mobile number.
Save or retrieve your favourites
Enter your email to save or retrieve your favourite trips.
Welcome! Please tell us your first name.
Enter verification code
Enter the 6-digit code we sent to .
Your Favourite Trips
Remove All Favourite Trips?
Are you sure you want to remove all your favourite trips?
This action cannot be undone.
The following errors occured