Buddhist monasteries & other cultural or heritage sites are the principal tourist attractions of central Ladakh & Zanskar.The monasteries constitute the fountainhead of Ladakh's Buddhist religion & culture. These sites are mostly near to Leh . Most villages and monasteries are reachable by regular bus services from Leh. Taxis are expensive, with fixed tariff for almost every monastery or group of monasteries, but offer good value in terms of comfort & convenience.

Most of the region's principal Gompas are open throughout the day and a caretaker lama is available to show visitors around. Some of the less visited establishments have special opening hours, as in the case of Namgyal Tsemo, Shey Palace & the Stok Palace Museum. Check the timings in the Tourist Office before proceeding to these places. Most of the monasteries charge a small entrance fee.

Adventure
Ladakh offers great scope for undertaking adventure activities amidst landscapes of breathtaking, rigged beauty. The most popular among these are trekking, mountaineering & river rafting.

• Trekking :
  Trekking possibilities include short, day-ling walks up & down the mountain slopes to visit isolated villages or monastic settlements, or across a ridge to enjoy the sheer beauty of a moon-like landscape. Or long, trans-mountain treks involving weeks of walking & camping in the wilderness. For example, the trek from Lamayuru in the Indus Valley to Darcha in Lahoul across Zanskar takes nearly three weeks. The 10 day Markha valley trek, the 11 day Lamayuru-Padum trek & the Stok-Khangri round trek are the most popular ones among the numerous options available in the convoluted mountain mass. The traditional trekking season extends from early June to mid-October. However, some routes are suitable for trekking only during late autumn, as in the case of the 13 day Hemis-Markha-Padum trek.

  The easiest way to go on a trek is through a travel agency, which will take care of all the arrangements. Making your own arrangements is not recommended. For trekking in Ladakh, it is not enough to be physically fit, intending trekkers must also be prepared to face the rigours of back country travel. There is considerable fluctuation in the day & night temperatures even during the heights of summer. While the days are pretty warm, even hot due to the desert effect of the barren landscape, evenings can become chilly. It is advisable to keep a pullover handy. A sturdy pair of shoes with strong rubber or synthetic soles, thick cotton socks & a good sleeping bag together with an insulated ground pad are essential gear for going on a trek. A water-proof tentalongwith all provisions & cooking gear, all backpacked in a rucksack are must for longer treks. Additional requirements are a balacava, wollen undergarments, wind parkas, toiletries & first-aid including lip-salve, moisturisers & suncream, water-purufying tablets, medicines for high-altitude sickness, etc. A ggod quality canteen to carry drinking water is most essential in the arid conditions. Do not forget to carry a flashlight with sufficient batteries, a sun-hat & a pair of sunglasses with uv-filter.

• River Rafting :
  A wide range of rafting options is available on the river Indus & its major tributaries. The best stretch for professionally guided runs in white water is on the Indus between Spituk & Sasplo. Upward of Spituk, the Indus has the easiest stretch up to Karu, ideal for basic training & for day-return "scenic floating" for amateurs. Several agencies in Leh offer attractive rafting packages. Ask for details at the Tourist Office at Leh. They will also be able to provide some rafts on hire. The most difficult but exciting option for river-running is on the Zanskar along its spectacular course through the gorge in the Zanskar mountains, between Padum & Nimo. This is suitable only for well-organized white water expeditions, prepared for several days of river running and camping in absolute wilderness. Participants are requested to be trained rafters themselves while the arrangements should be assigned to dependable professional agency.

• By Air :
  Indian Airlines operate regular scheduled flights to Leh from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu & Srinagar.

• By Road :
  The main approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir valley via Srinagar-Leh road (434 km.) which remains open for traffic from early June to November.
  The J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) operates regular Deluxe & ordinary bus services between Srinagar & Leh on this route with an overnight halt at Kargil.
  Taxis, (cars & jeeps), are also available at Srinagar for the journey.
  Groups can charter Deluxe & A-class buses for Leh, Kargil or Padum (Zanskar) from the J&K SRTC at Srinagar.

  Since 1989, Manali-Leh road (473 km.) has been serving as the second land approach to Ladakh. Open for traffic from around mid-June to early October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateau of Rupshu whose altitude ranges from 3660 m to 4570 m. A number of high passes fall en route, among which the highest one, known as Taglang-La, is the world's second-highest motorable pass at an altitude of 17,469 feet (5325 m.)
  The State Road Transports of Himachal Pradesh & J&K operate bus services between Manali & Leh.
  The bus journey between Manali & Leh takes about 19 hours or two days with an overnight halt in camps at Serchu or Pang. Taxis are also available at Manali & Leh.

• Internal Transport :
  The cheapest way to travel within the Ladakh region is by public buses which ply on fixed routes according to fixed time schedules. The most comfortable & convenient, though expensive mode of travel is by taxis, which are available for hire on fixed point-to-point tariff. For visits to the newly-opened areas of Nubra, Changthang & Dah-Hunu, it is mandatory to engage the services of a recognized/ registered travel agency for making all the requisite arrangements. Detailed info about bus schedules, travel agencies,etc. can be obtained from the tourist office.

• Hotels :
  Hotels are classified into A, B, C, & Economy categories while Guest Houses fall under Upper, Medium & Economy classes. Tariff quoted in the A & B Category hotels include all meals, a system followed by most establishments. Tariff in the top of the line hotels ranges between Rs. 1700 (US$ 38 approx.) to Rs. 2070 (US$ 46 approx.) per double room.

• Guest Houses :
  The Guest House is a less formal facility offering rooms in a part of a residential house or its annexe, where the guests can share the family kitchen for meals. Apart from the low tariff offered for accommodation ranging from merely basic to very good, the Guest House system also provides an opportunity for the tourists to see & experience Ladakhi life from the inside.

• Tourist complexes & hiker's huts :
  In the newly opened areas of the region- Nubra, Changthang & Dah-Hanu- the tourist infrastructure is not yet adequately developed. However, some facilities developed by the Tourism Department are operational, like Tourist complexes & hiker's huts at Tangse & Spangmik on the Pongong Lake circuit; Korzok on the Tso-moriri lake, Deskit & Panamik in the Nubra valley, and at Biama in the Drokpa area.

• Paying Guests :
  Tourists can also seek accommodation as paying guests in a few selected homes in Pongong Lake circuit, Korzok on the Tso-moriri lake, Deskit & Panamik in the Nubra valley, and at Biama in the Drokpa area.

  Tourist are advised to travel fully equipped with personal sleeping bags and some tinned provisions to be on the safe side.

  During the peak tourist season, i.e., early June to mid-September, it is advisable to book hotel rooms in advance.
  By late September, as the tourist rush starts to decline, advance booking is not necessary. However, tourists planning winter trips may have to book accommodation in advance so as to ensure provision of heating arrangements.