Explore Ladakh’s lesser-known trekking circuits—where canyons hold fossils, monks reside in caves, and women’s collectives welcome you into heritage homes.
Ladakh is more than just snow-capped peaks and monastery selfies—it’s a living landscape. In these offbeat treks and immersive village walks, you’ll witness a different Ladakh—where every step connects you to local communities, SHGs, and sacred geography.
This blog introduces seven unique trails that blend nature, heritage, and social tourism, curated for travelers who seek depth, connection, and ecological awareness.
Route: Chilling → Skiu → Markha → Hankar → Nimaling → Kongmaru La → Shang
Duration: 5–8 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Season: June–September
Highlights: River crossings, homestays, wildlife (blue sheep, marmots), Kang Yatse views
Community Insight:
Homestays in Skiu, Markha, and Hankar are now SHG-supported, offering clean rooms, local food (skyu, khambir, barley soup), and optional storytelling evenings. Women-led groups also offer felting and embroidery demonstrations for those staying an extra day.
Route: Likir → Yangthang → Hemis Shukpachan → Temisgam
Duration: 3–4 days
Difficulty: Easy
Best Season: April–October
Highlights: Apricot orchards, barley terraces, ancient gompas
Cultural Touchpoints:
Stay in Heritage Homestays managed by women’s SHGs, take part in tea blending
workshops in Hemis Shukpachan, and taste traditional dishes like paba and tangtur. Great for intergenerational travel and short immersive escapes.
Route: Padum → Zangla → Lingshed → Photoksar → Wanla
Duration: 7–10 days
Difficulty: Hard
Best Season: July–September
Highlights: Mountain passes, cliffside monasteries, monk interactions
Spiritual Stay:
Lingshed Monastery offers basic guest rooms run by monastic SHGs. Stay includes morning prayers, butter tea, and silent walks. Engage with local SHG youth storytellers working to preserve ancient texts and oral histories.
Route: Sumda Chenmo → Sumda Chun → Chilling (via pass or river walk)
Duration: 2–3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Season: June–October
Highlights: 11th-century copper Maitreya statue, metal artisans, river crossings
Living Crafts:
Chilling is home to Ladakh’s last metal artisans. Local SHGs offer hammering demos, prayer bell casting, and engraving workshops. Combine this trail with an overnight at Sumda Chun Heritage Homestay, part of a temple preservation initiative.
Location: Near Khaltse, lower Ladakh
Duration: 1–2 days (with guide)
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Best Season: May–October
Highlights: Fossil beds, river erosion studies, natural rock formations
Geo-Ecotourism by SHGs:
Rock Lore SHG, trained by geologists, leads interpretive walks explaining fossil types, erosion cycles, and Ladakh’s prehistoric underwater past. Great for student groups, photographers, and naturalists.
Route: Korzok → Kobet Phu → High pasture camps
Duration: 3–4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Season: July–September
Highlights: Yak herding, pashmina combing, Changpa camp life
Nomadic Immersion:
Stay in Changpa SHG-supported black tents, learn how women card and spin yak wool, and milk yaks at dawn. One of Ladakh’s most authentic agro-pastoral experiences.
Note: Leave no trace. Campsites are sensitive and shared with livestock.
Route: Sumoor → Ensa Monastery (foot trail)
Duration: 1 day (can extend with Nubra stay)
Difficulty: Easy
Best Season: May–October
Highlights: Remote monastery, murals, views of Nubra valley
Spiritual Trek for All:
This trail is promoted by Nubra SHGs to encourage non-motorized tourism. Learn about Sowa-Rigpa use at Ensa, picnic with SHG meals, and return via Panamik hot springs. Combine with seabuckthorn foraging workshops nearby.
We offer:
Get in touch to plan an immersive, responsible journey into Ladakh’s lesser-known treasures.
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.
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.
