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5 hours
No Cancellation
10 people
English, Hindi, Ladakhi
In Turtuk, nature is not just scenery—it’s survival, memory, and medicine.
This experience invites you to join a guided walk through the green oases and craggy ridges around Turtuk, led by a community elder or youth trained in traditional foraging. Learn how the Balti people have long relied on wild herbs for healing, rituals, and food. You’ll identify native plants, hear ancestral stories, and connect with the land through all your senses.
It’s a quiet, powerful return to the forgotten art of walking with awareness.
Turtuk, located at an altitude of ~2,850 meters, is one of the most fertile villages in Ladakh. It sits on the banks of the Shyok River and enjoys a unique microclimate, allowing for lush vegetation uncommon in other parts of Ladakh. You’ll walk through apricot and walnut orchards, past barley fields, and along hidden trails that wind into the foothills.
The Balti culture of Turtuk is deeply rooted in nature. Women elders still gather wild giyol (nettles), gokru (puncture vine), yarg (wormwood), and shamdong (high-altitude thyme) for teas and healing pastes. These practices are passed down within families, but few outsiders have witnessed them firsthand—until now.
Did you know? Before modern pharmacies, nearly every home in Turtuk had a shelf of sun-dried herbs, and community health relied on this seasonal foraging.
Light local tea with walnut cookies. Introduction to local flora and traditional plant knowledge.
Trek past glacial streams, walnut groves, and shaded slopes. Forage along the way with respectful gathering methods.
Key finds might include:
Yarg (wild artemisia) – for cleansing smoke and tea
Gokru – used for joint pain and strength
Shamdong – mountain thyme for colds
Giyol – Balti nettle, rich in iron
Tse-tse – wild rose petals for calming
Brew a wild herb tea over a small fire or solar kettle. Hear how women in Turtuk store, dry, and use each herb through the year.
Journaling, sketching, or quiet grounding moment near the riverbank.
Return to the homestay with an option to share your thoughts or enjoy a local Balti lunch.
Member Since 2025
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