Boosting of out of the world picturesque backdrops, amazing landscapes, gorgeous natural settings, and some pretty lakes, Leh-Ladakh is a top hit amongst all other travel destinations across the globe. If you have ever dreamt of gliding down the frozen rivers or soaring down the frozen peaks, Ladakh will bless you with your dream. The high altitude passes of Ladakh features a wide array of adventurous sports to give a great pump to your adrenaline rush. From rock climbing to mountain biking to trekking to camel safari, there is absolutely no dearth of the adventurous activities here. If Ladakh is a priority on your travel bucket list, here is a quick short of what all you can do while spending a weekend in Ladakh.
Ladakh Biking
One of the most remarkable experiences to embrace your Ladakh visit is to ride a bike through the twists and turns of the high altitude passes here. Every year thousands of worldwide bike riders reach here for bike riding across the rugged terrains of Ladakh. After all, beating the high-altitude sickness and other height related issues and riding your bike at the height of 18,000 feet in itself is an award-winning experience. To add more thrill to your bike riding adventure, you can drive your bike through the twists and turns of the Magnetic Hill.
Zanskar River Trekking
Have you ever trekked through the length of a frozen river? If not, Ladakh gives you an exciting opportunity to do so. What adds to the exciting flavor here is the fact that trekking along the entire length of the frozen river surface in itself requires both physical and mental endurance. Besides, the whole Zanskar Valley wraps itself with a snow blanket, which makes your trekking experience a moment for life.
Ladakh Camping
A blissful adventure of camping in the open beneath the open dark blanket of several twinkling stars is something that you cannot merely miss while vacationing in Ladakh. As Ladakh is blessed with a whopping altitude of 11,500 feet high above the sea level, it has emerged as a perfect getaway for those who want to escape the heats of the plain.
Nubra Valley Camel Safari
If Nubra Valley is enlisted in your Ladakh trip, a camel safari is a must adventure to opt-in your bucket list. Riding on the back of a double-humped camel through the striking high-altitude landscapes is a pure delight. A ride on a camel across the Nubra Valley will drive you through all possible nooks and corners of the valley, including the enchanting sand dunes.
Zanskar Rafting
For all those who want to witness their adrenaline pump to the gushing speed of the Zanskar River, rafting is a perfect thing to do. Cutting through the gorges to move ahead through the rugged valley and combating all those big and small obstacles that block your path – all makes Zanskar rafting experience a challenging sport to try. Traversing through the deep canyons nestled amidst the snow-covered mountain ranges sends thrilling vibes and chills down your spine.
Ladakh Marathon
Usual marathons are absolutely okay unless and until they are accomplished over higher altitudes. Along with testing your physical endurance to cover the entire marathon race, Ladakh, the height and its corresponding sickness add a challenging flavor to your adventure. Just one thing to remember is that if you are desirous of participating in the Ladakh marathon, you need to pack your bags and reach Ladakh at least a week before. This is a pre-requisite so that your body acclimatizes to the surrounding low temperatures.
Jeep Safari
Jeep safari is the only adventure here where you do not need to pre-plan or pre-train for anything. A fantastic holidaying destination, Ladakh is full of majestic landscapes, high passes, fairy tale lakes, and adorable monasteries. A jeep safari in Ladakh is a convenient pick if your group is quite large enough to cover all the sightseeing destinations in and around Ladakh.
Rock Climbing
When you search for the adventurous things to do in Ladakh, rock climbing has to always pop up high on the list. The arduous mountain trails across both the Karakoram and the Himalayan ranges are known for their rock climbing sports. Before you start with this sport, make sure that you have all the necessary equipment and gear handy with you. Also, acclimatization is a pre-requisite for this activity too.
Ice Hockey
Did you ever try playing hockey over a frozen sheet of ice? If not, Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink is the next important place to visit under your Ladakh tour package. The cold Leh desert with its height of 3483 meters serves as the highest ice hockey rink across the Indian peninsula. Before you try your first hand at ice hockey, do not forget to cherish the snow-clad mountains that surround the ice rink.
Paragliding
Ladakh’s one of the most enthralling adventures, paragliding, is perhaps the best thing to do on your vacation. This scintillating experience will take you to such a height above the ground level from where you can feast on the bird-s eye view of the snow-capped peaks and mountain ranges.
Suggested Read: Where can you Camp in Ladakh in 2019 – 2020?
Mediate at the Shanti Stupa
Built to promote peace across the world, the Shanti Stupa in Ladakh is a must place to explore on your go. The aura around the stupa is so calm that you can peep deep within you and rejuvenate yourself from inside out.
Shop the Ladakh culture
The local markets of Ladakh are the right shopper’s stop for picking great souvenirs of Ladakh back with you. You can also explore the monasteries to get deeper into the culture of Ladakh. Some of the most notable ones are Likir Monastery, Lamayuru Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Namgyal Monastery, etc.
A simple hangout with the Ladakh monks
If you have a day at leisure on your Ladakh itinerary, rather than staying indoors, step out and peep into the world of Ladakh monks. You can see plenty of them simply roaming around the monasteries in Ladakh. And remind you, the aura they create around them is simply mesmerizing!
Weekend in Ladakh
I hope the information above on spending a weekend in Ladakh was of help. If you have any questions, or need any other details, please feel free to ask in the comments section below, or at our Community Forum, and I will be glad to answer.
