There are four standard attractions in the Nubra Valley for tourists: double-hump Bactrian camels; Diskit Buddhist Monastery; Panamik Hot Springs and Yarabtso Holy Lake. Driving out of Sumur in the Nubra Valley and on our way to Panamik Hot Springs, I saw locals crossing the road carrying books on their backs. These were not just [...]
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What to See in The Isolated Nubra Valley of Ladakh?
May 21st, 2013 
Sheila Simkin 
Posted in Featured, Ladakh 
Tags: accommodation, adventure, culture, destination, event, hotels, india, Ladakh, log, nature, Nubra Valley, Panamik Hot Springs, sightseeing, Sumur, travel, Yarabtso Holy Lake 
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Review of Namgyal Guesthouse in Sumur, Ladakh
May 20th, 2013 Sheila Simkin Even though we explored the Nubra Valley on our first trip to Ladakh in 2005, there’s always something new to see and do. The Nubra Valley is lower and warmer then Leh with an average altitude of 3,048 meters/10,000 feet (Sumur altitude, 3,160 meters/10,368 feet). Although Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, a lower altitude coupled with [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, culture, destination, event, hotels, india, Ladakh, log, Namgyal Guesthouse, nature, Nubra, Nubra Valley, sightseeing, Sumur, travel No Comments »
Over The Always Terrifying Khardongla Pass Into the Nubra Valley, Ladakh
May 19th, 2013 Sheila Simkin Guide Nubu, driver Pujara and cook Dendi returned to Tsermang Eco-Camp after breakfast. The four of them would accompany us for the next 10 days into the Nubra Valley. There is only one way into the Nubra Valley; the “road” up and over the terrifying Khardongla Pass. Khardongla/Khardong la Pass is just one of Ladakh’s many [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, culture, destination, event, hotels, india, Khardongla Pass, Ladakh, log, nature, Nubra Valley, sightseeing, travel No Comments »
Review of Luxurious Tsermang Eco-Camp, Ladakh
May 18th, 2013 Sheila Simkin Tsermang Eco Camp is located 10 minutes, 7 kilometers/4.2 miles from Leh city and 4 kilometers/2+ miles from the airport. Our driver pulled up to Palam Bridge which was almost completed covered in prayer flags, hoisted the duffel and began walking. Bewildered, we followed across, and down a shady path which led to the entrance of [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, culture, destination, eco-friendly, event, hotels, india, Ladakh, Leh, log, nature, sightseeing, travel, Tsermang, Tsermang Eco-Camp No Comments »
Information about the Challenging Stok Kangri Trek in Ladakh
May 17th, 2013 Sheila Simkin With the Hunder Trek eliminated as being too difficult for us, Lobsang changed the itinerary for the next 10 days to include: going over mountain pass to Pangong Lake, visiting remote areas along the Shyok River and continue into the Nubra Valley, all permit-only areas. Since whatever Lobsang arranges is fine with us, we once [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: adventure, culture, destination, event, india, Ladakh, log, nature, sightseeing, Stok Kangri, Stok Kangri Trek, travel, trekking, treks No Comments »
Day Five Chilling Trek: From Rumbak to Leh, Ladakh
May 16th, 2013 Sheila Simkin The authentic Chilling Trek can begin in either direction: Chilling to Spitok or Spitok to Chilling. Jingchan/Zinchen was the last village in the direction Steve and I were heading, and according to guide Riga, guesthouses there are filled with bed bugs! It was bad enough that Steve got bitten by bed bugs in Yurutse and [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, Chilling Trek, culture, destination, event, guesthouses, home stays, india, Jingchan, Ladakh, log, nature, sightseeing, transportation, travel, trekking, treks, villages, yurutse, Zingchen No Comments »
Day Four Chilling Trek: From Yurutse to Rumbak in Ladakh
May 15th, 2013 Sheila Simkin Omelets on Tibetan bread for breakfast along with the Aussies, and Danes who would tackle the pass today while we headed in the opposite direction towards Rumbak. Scientists from the National Geographic Society and other researchers once wore a path to Rumbak (part of Hemis National Park) each winter, tracking the elusive Snow Leopards. At [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, Chilling Trek, chutaki, culture, destination, event, food, guesthouses, homestays, india, Ladakh, log, nature, Rumbak, sightseeing, snow leopards, travel, trekking, treks, villages, yurutse No Comments »
Day Three Continued: Yurutse Home Stay had Bedbugs
May 14th, 2013 Sheila Simkin It isn’t as if there’s a choice of accommodation in Yurutse since only one family lives there with three rooms available; each room holds four people and we chose a room on the second floor because that’s where a two-slit toilet was located. To repeat, home stay guests must share rooms when it is crowded! Luckily, there was [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, Chilling Trek, culture, destination, event, guesthouses, home stays, india, Ladakh, log, nature, sightseeing, transportation, travel, trekking, treks, villages, yurutse No Comments »
Day Three Chilling Trek: Up and Over the Ganda la/Kanda la Pass in Ladakh
May 13th, 2013 Sheila Simkin Today would be, without question, the hardest day of the trek; up and over the Gandala/Kandala Pass. Plodding feet would need to ascend from 4,100 meters/13,451 feet to 4,900 meters/16,096 feet! An 800 meter/2,645 foot altitude gain may not seem like much to you (and it isn’t at lower altitudes) but give it a try [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, Chilling Trek, culture, destination, event, india, Kaya, Ladakh, Leh, log, Markha trek, nature, Shingo, sightseeing, transportation, travel, trekking, treks No Comments »
Day Two Chilling Trek: From Kaya to Shingo Village in Ladakh
May 12th, 2013 Sheila Simkin I really enjoy hiking and trekking but hate dealing with home stay toilet situations; literally the “pits.” Camping is the lesser of two evils in my opinion. Unzip tent, slide on flip-flops and find someplace in the wide-open air to do your business. Home stays? Find the way down a level of steep stairs, outside [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: accommodation, adventure, Chilling Trek, culture, destination, event, india, Kaya, Ladakh, Leh, log, Markha trek, nature, Shingo, sightseeing, transportation, travel, trekking, treks No Comments »
