Ladakh women only group tour - Ladakh Festival special

Ladakh – The festival edition

Ladakh

8 Days

Light Walk/Climb (1-3 km/day)

START DATE

20 SEP, Sat

END DATE

27 SEP, Sat

₹53,500*

on double sharing

* 5% GST extra

❮

Ladakh – The festival edition

₹ 53,500 * 5% GST extra

START DATE

20 SEP, Sat

END DATE

27 SEP, Sat

₹ 53,500 * 5% GST extra

There is a famous Ladakhi saying that “the land is so barren and the passes so high that only our fiercest enemies or our best friends would want to visit us." Ladakh is a heart-warming example of how nature allows life amidst the harshest conditions. This September, explore the high Himalayas on an exclusive Leh-Ladakh women only group tour with F5. From the pristine sapphire waters of the Pangong Tso, to the cold deserts of Nubra Valley, and the rugged peaks of Khardung La, experience the valleys, villages, and lakes like never before. Attend the vibrant Ladakh Festival, showcasing its culture, cuisine, and art, and go on an unforgettable adventure.

Highlights

Witness and enjoy the Ladakh Festival

Behold the pristine blues of the Pangong Tso lake

Go for a heritage walk of the old Leh town

Relish a local Baltistani lunch at Turtuk, the last village before the LoC

Important

Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, and part of our Ladakh road trip will be through some of the highest roads in the world. You will need to sign an agreement with F5 that you are undertaking this trip after your doctor’s consultation on travelling to high altitude. You will have to submit the doctor’s clearance as well.

Getting there

Any doubts on arrival and departure guidelines?

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Arrive anytime on 20 SEP

Leh Airport (IXL)

Ladakh

Return anytime on 27 SEP

Leh Airport (IXL)

Ladakh

Itinerary

-3°C to 25°C | Warm days, Cold nights

Chance of rain: Low

Note: This is a prediction. The weather may change

Day 1: Arrive at Leh. Acclimatise.

Arrivals

Accimatise

Arrive at Leh airport and proceed to your hotel. Today will only be to acclimatize your body to the altitude. Enjoy the calm. Sit and drink your tea in the beautiful garden. Overnight at Leh.

We remain cautious about the fitness of our participants for a Ladakh group trip. The trip lead will have all medical necessities, the vehicle will have a portable oxygen cylinder, and in case of emergencies, there are army first aid centres at higher altitudes. We have conducted a number of very successful trips to Ladakh. However, every person has different coping levels to high altitudes, and young age or physical fitness may still not guarantee easy acclimatisation. Please read the travel guidelines and Ladakh group tour itinerary carefully before signing up.

Ladakh is a high-altitude cold desert. So while the temperature may not exceed 25 degrees C, the afternoons can still feel extremely hot due to the sharp sun.

Simple Indian food such as rotis/dal, rice, etc, toast/omelettes will be available. We will be trying local cuisine including a traditional Ladakhi lunch in Stok, and traditional Baltistani cuisine in Turtuk. If you have special dietary requests, please let us know beforehand.

Day 2: Explore Leh town. Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. Stok village.

Local sightseeing

Traditional lunch

Walk: 2-3 hrs

Explore Leh town today. Sit calmly, pray, and be aware of yourselves at the Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. Visit Stok village for a traditional lunch and explore the Stok Palace. Visit the Hall of Fame, a poignant reminder of the bravery, courage, and sacrifices of our armed forces. Overnight at Leh.

A well-rested body copes better with altitude stress. All tourists/visitors arriving in Leh must undergo at least 48 hours of acclimatisation before initiating their journey to high-altitude areas as per the Leh Ladakh GOVT health advisory. Also, ensure you get enough sleep during your stay.

Allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude by spending the first day in Leh without strenuous activities. Slowly increase your physical exertion over the next few days. We have planned our Leh Ladakh trip itinerary in a way that gives us ample time to do that. So, it might look like we are not doing a lot in a day, but that is because we are not travelling to plains.

For acclimatisation, staying hydrated is crucial. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol to minimise the risk of altitude. A minimum of 3 to 4 litres of water per day is advised. Sometimes water doesn’t do as much justice; hence, keep some sachets of ORS like Electral handy and keep taking sips of it.

FUN FACT!

Did you know? The Hemis monastery is often regarded as the wealthiest monastery in Ladakh. Every 12 years, it holds the Hemis Festival, where they unveil one of the world's largest Thangaka (painting or a giant silk embroidery) of Guru Padmasambhava. The Thangaka is so massive that it is said to cover the entire facade of the monastery. The next time the festival is due, is in June/July of 2028.

Day 3: Leh Heritage walk. Ladakh Festival. Indus-Zanskar confluence.

Heritage walk

Festival celebrations

Local sightseeing

After breakfast, go for a heritage walk of the old Leh town. Starting at the Leh Palace, the walk will take you through winding labyrinth-like narrow pathways and past artisanal workshops, wood-fired bakeries, and historical buildings. You will also witness and take part in the various events of the ongoing Ladakh Festival. After lunch, enjoy more of the festivities. Visit the confluence of Indus and Zanskar. Spend the evening at the Shanti Stupa.

The Ladakh festival attracts a lot of tourists and crowds. Please cooperate with your tour lead to ensure that you can enjoy the festival to its fullest.

In terms of meals, have a light meal on the first day of arrival to avoid indigestion. Indigestion is another reason why people feel nausea when they reach high-altitude regions like Leh; hence, it is advisable to keep in hand digestive/antacids of your choice or ask the host for natural local home remedies.

Consume a diet rich in carbohydrates and low in fats. This helps in acclimatisation and provides energy for your body to cope with the altitude.

Consult a doctor for altitude sickness medication, like Diamox, before your trip. This can help prevent and alleviate symptoms. If you are already consuming any blood thinner medicine in your regular chart, then mention that to the doctor specifically.

FUN FACT!

The Ladakh Festival in September is more of a cultural carnival (than a religious festival) organised by the tourism department to showcase the best of Ladakhi life. Some of the common activities include the grand procession/parade through Leh’s streets, masked 'Cham' dances, and traditional Ladakhi cuisine.

Day 4: Drive to Khardung La, Nubra Valley. Cultural programme.

Drive: 5-7 hrs

Road trip

Cultural Programme

At 18000 feet, Khardung-La is one of the most adventurous roads to cross where the snow line is the closest to you. We cross the mighty pass today and enter Nubra, literally, the valley of flowers. The journey is long and winding today, so relax for the rest of the day in the beautiful village surrounded by lush green fields and barren, mighty Himalayas. You will be staying on the banks of the Nubra River. Freshen up and visit the nearby centre to witness a cultural programme. Overnight at Sumuru village.

Expect traffic jams! (especially en route Khardungla and Changla)

Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, and part of our journey will be through some of the highest roads in the world—~4000 m above MSL. Please consult your physician before booking the trip. Please note that during the Ladakh tour we will be staying in certain places where no specialised medical help is available.

Minakshi Sharma

F5 Escapes is almost like a family to me since I went on my first trip to Ladakh couple of years back. If you are a women looking for experiencing culture, food, people and fun then this is right place for you!

Day 5: Explore Turtuk. Baltistani lunch.

Drive: 3-5 hrs

Walk: 2-3 hrs

Local sightseeing

Visit Turtuk, which is the last village before the LoC. Geographically, Turtuk lies in the Baltistan Region and is one among four such villages in India. Explore the village. Have a local Baltistani lunch and return to Sumuru. Overnight at Sumuru.

On most days, your day will start early. This is necessary to avoid peak noon heat and to wrap up before sunset.

Day 6: Pangong Tso via Shyok route.

Drive: 3-5 hrs

Cottages/Tents

For those who love mountains, Pangong Tso has been the lake of pristine solitude. Proceed via the Shyok route and reach Pangong Lake. Settle into your cottages with a clear view of the lake. Let the tranquility wash over you. Overnight near Pangong Tso.

Mornings and evenings will be cold, especially near Pangong Tso with temperatures as low as -3 degrees C at night. In other words, typical cold desert autumn weather – pleasant but extremely sunny days and cold nights in Leh/Nubra (~3000 m) and very cold nights at Pangong (~4500 m).

Hot water will be provided in buckets at Pangong Tso.

FUN FACT!

Pangong Tso has been a favourite spot for Bollywood movies, the most popular movies being 3 Idiots and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. But did you know, it was Lakshya (2004) that started the trend? What other movies can you think of before that?

Day 7: Return to Leh. Market and Shopping time.

Drive: 5-7 hrs

Walk: 1-2 hrs

Shopping

Return to Leh. The evening will be at leisure to unwind from the long road journey of the past 3 days. In the evening, stroll in the Leh Market and indulge in shopping. Overnight at Leh.

Day 8: Fly out. Trip ends.

Return flights

Catch the return flight after breakfast. Our Leh Ladakh tour ends.

Book your return flights anytime today. Hotel check-out is at 10 AM.

FUN FACT!

If you want to capture the best views of the mountains on your return flight, try to book a morning flight and a right side window seat (Seat F). Avoid seats over the wing and yes, you can thank us later.

Important

Add ons

Single Occupancy Supplement: INR 19,000 + 5% GST

Inclusions & exclusions

Inclusions

We want to enable you to travel wallet free. That’s why, when you travel with us, we take care of most of your travelling expenses. Our Ladakh tour package includes:

Accommodation on a double-sharing basis for 7 nights

Road transportation in a Tempo Traveller as per the itinerary

All meals starting from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8

Monastery and Monuments entrance fees

Entrance to Ladakh Festival

Inner Line Permits for restricted areas

Guide for exploring Turtuk

Guided heritage walk of Old Leh town

Cultural program at Nubra

Guidance of an F5 Tour Lead

Exclusions

Some expenses are excluded (especially those of personal preferences) and will have to be taken care of by the individual. Exclusions include:

Flights to Leh from your city of residence and back

Tips, shopping, and other expenses of a personal nature.

Evening snacks and meals other than those mentioned in inclusions

Alcoholic beverages

Anything not specifically mentioned in inclusions.

Bottled/Packaged Water

Camera charges

GST at 5%

Cost arising due to natural occurrences, road closures, and flight delays. We will help you navigate them and make alternate arrangements, but the cost will be borne by you.

Policy

Terms & Conditions

REFUNDS/CANCELLATION:

15% of the trip cost if cancelled 90 days or more in advance.

25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.

50% of the trip cost if it is cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.

Last 15 days/no show – the entire amount will be forfeited.

If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges will apply.

DISCLAIMER

All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveller in getting medical attention.

F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents, or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.

F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions. In such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.

FAQs

What type of accommodation will be provided?

We select accommodation based on their uniqueness/character, location, cleanliness and comfort, hospitality, food quality, and more. Hence, we work with a variety of stays - boutique hotels, heritage properties, well appointed standard hotels, premium homestays etc. You can download the pdf itinerary for more details on the stays being used in the Leh Ladakh trip.

What type of food will be available during the Ladakh women group trip?

Simple India food like dal, roti/rice, subzi, toasts, omlettes will be available. Since there will be days with long road journeys, it’s recommended to carry some snacks/light munchies for the road, or meal packs if you have special food requirements. Some days we will be having local traditional meals. If you have special dietary requests, please let us know beforehand.

What is the consent form for the F5 Escapes Ladakh group tour?

Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, and part of our journey will be through some of the highest roads in the world—~4000 m above MSL. It's necessary therefore to consult your physician before booking the trip. Please note that we will be staying in certain places where no specialised medical help is available. As such, you will need to sign an agreement with F5 that you are undertaking this trip after your doctor’s consultation on travelling to high altitude. You will have to submit the doctor’s clearance as well.

What places are covered in the Ladakh group trip package?

Please have a look at our day-wise itinerary for details on the Ladakh tour package. Some of the places we are covering include Leh, Pangong Tso, Khardung La, Nubra Valley (parts), and Turkuk.

As a solo-female traveller, can I join the Ladakh group tour?

Absolutely! We understand the challenges of solo travel for women and try to keep our group tours convenient, fun, and safe for women travellers. You travel with a group of like-minded women, make new friends, and share experiences for a lifetime. Join ourLeh-Ladakh women trip to experience the joy of travelling.

What are the company policies on smoking/drinking?

Note on Smoking and Alcohol policy: Alcohol at higher altitudes can make you extremely dehydrated. And even smaller quantities can cause altitude-related issues. If you have to taste a local alcohol, try it towards the tail end of the trip. Avoid smoking at higher altitudes as the oxygen is already rare.

How does F5 Escapes promote responsible and sustainable tourism?

When we travel, we visit somebody’s home, be it a city, village or a place of stay. We treat them with utmost respect. We encourage all our guests to leave no trace, only footprints. We recommend carrying one's own steel water bottles. Most places of stay we partner with provide clean drinking water and water is available for refill. Small shift, big impact. We are mindful about our group not littering the destination. We try choosing vendors who make a conscious effort to employ locals, thereby enabling us to give back to the local economy. We encourage local handicrafts and on several trips we visit local artisans. We try to reduce overcrowding by travelling in small groups of maximum 12 people. We support women-led enterprises and seek them out on our travels. We work with local organisations across India involved in conservation, culture preservation and employment generation.

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