Changthang Nomadic Circuit: Living with the Changpa in Ladakh’s Rugged Highlands

Where the winds whisper through yak tents and every thread of pashmina carries a story of endurance, tradition, and dignity.

The Changthang Plateau is one of the least explored, most soul-stirring parts of Ladakh. Stretching across Korzok, Hanle, and the emerging micro-enterprise village of Nyoma, this circuit is home to the Changpa nomads, custodians of Ladakh’s purest pashmina wool, yak dairy culture, and landscape-adaptive living.

If you want to step into a world shaped by winds, wool, and women’s wisdom, this is it.

Route Overview

Leh → Upshi → Chumathang → Nyoma → Korzok (Tso Moriri) → Hanle (optional) → Leh

Ideal Duration: 4–5 days
Best Time to Visit: May to October (peak for pashmina collection and grazing)
Perfect For: Culture seekers, wildlife watchers, slow travelers, eco-entrepreneurs

Permits Required: Yes – especially for Hanle and Nyoma (obtain in Leh)

Korzok – Pashmina, Lake Legends & Nomadic Encounters

Located on the banks of Tso Moriri Lake, Korzok is a rare village where you can engage directly with nomadic producers of Ladakh’s famed pashmina wool.

What to Explore:
- Visit Changpa grazing grounds, interact with families living in yak-hair tents (rebos)
- Attend a wool carding and hand-spinning session by Changthang Weavers SHG
- Participate in yak milking and butter-churning activities (early mornings)
SHG-Led Experiences:
- Craft workshops on pashmina yarn dyeing, weaving motifs, and embroidery
- Highland food tastings: try yak chhurpi curry, salt tea, and roasted barley cakes
- Shop for locally spun pashmina scarves, yak wool rugs, and nomadic felt items
Stay Tip: SHG-affiliated homestays or eco-lodges support local livelihoods directly.

Hanle – Astronomy Meets Ancestry in India’s Highest Village

Known globally for the Hanle Observatory, this quiet settlement is also a hidden hub of pastoralism, spirituality, and Sowa-Rigpa wellness.

Why Visit Hanle:
- Visit the Indian Astronomical Observatory and experience crystal-clear night skies
- Engage with Changpa women groups who work on yak wool felting, butter candle making, and natural insulation crafts
- Explore Hanle Monastery, perched high above the valley and central to the community’s spiritual rhythm
SHG Highlights:
- Yak wool felting demo: learn how rebo tents are built and maintained
- Traditional food sessions: chhang (barley brew), tangtur, and dried meat stocks
- Buy artisan-made chhurpi strings, salt lamps, and seasonal dried herbs
Nature Add-On: Spot kiangs (wild asses), migratory birds, and rare Himalayan marmots

Nyoma – Micro-Enterprise in the Making

Once a border checkpoint, Nyoma is now becoming a focal point for salt harvesting and mineral-based micro-enterprises by nomadic women collectives.

Emerging SHG Activities:
- Salt crystal collection and traditional drying methods
- Production of natural scrubs, bath salts, and seasonal herb sachets
- Wild rhubarb and seabuckthorn collection for jams and herbal oils
Community Insights:
- SHGs are supported by NGOs and LAHDC under rural enterprise pilots
- Workshops on solar-powered preservation units and mobile cheese-making kits are being introduced here

Why It Matters: Visiting now supports the growth of a fragile, women-led economy in one of the world’s most extreme habitations

Korzok village

Hanley / Anlay village

Nyoma village

2 Homestays

Suggested 4-Day Changthang Itinerary

Day 1:
Leh → Chumathang (hot springs stop) → Nyoma

SHG visit: salt harvesting, wild herb demo

Day 2:
Nyoma → Korzok

Lake walk, SHG-led pashmina & dairy activities, homestay night

Day 3:
Korzok → Hanle

Visit observatory, wool felting demo, stargazing

Day 4:
Return to Leh via Nyoma or Chumathang (herbal bath session if time permits)

Responsible Travel Tips in Changthang

Respect the nomadic rhythm—move gently, don’t overwhelm with cameras
Use local guides or SHG coordinators for introductions
Avoid plastic; take your waste back to Leh
Buy from recognized SHGs and artisan families—don’t haggle
Dress appropriately—even in summer, high-altitude nights are cold

What to Buy in the Changthang Circuit

Pure pashmina scarves (Korzok)
Yak wool rugs, socks, and felt items (Hanle, Korzok)
Himalayan salt products, scrubs, bath mixes (Nyoma)
Herbal balms, rhubarb oils, dried cheese (chhurpi)
Handspun yarn & weaving kits for craft lovers

Why Choose the Changthang Nomadic Circuit?

Get a firsthand understanding of the pashmina value chain
Experience wellness, astronomy, and agro-ecology in extreme altitudes
Support women-run pastoral SHGs preserving endangered livelihoods
Learn about nomadic education, water scarcity, and sustainable mobility
See the real Ladakh beyond tourist checklists

Plan Your High-Altitude Nomadic Journey

We help with:

SHG homestay bookings and wool workshops
Pashmina trail mapping and storytelling sessions
Herbal wellness and Sowa-Rigpa consultations
Permit guidance and community guide hiring

Come to Changthang not to “see,” but to stay, learn, and support.
This is Ladakh in its rawest, truest, most enduring form.

Discover Homestays

Experience the heart of Leh by staying with local families.
Immerse yourself in Ladakhi culture, traditions, and warm hospitality.
Book your homestay and explore the region like never before.

Book Your Homestays

Discover Local Experiences

From pottery workshops to Ladakhi cooking sessions, uncover the authentic experiences that Leh offers. Dive into the local culture with hands-on activities that will leave lasting memories.

Discover Local Experiences

Discover Monasteries

Leh is home to some of the most stunning and serene monasteries in the world. Visit these sacred sites, learn about their rich history, and experience the spiritual calm of Ladakh.

Discover Monasteries