Leh

Ladakh is high, dry and enormous, a land of barren mountains, white-washed monasteries and lakes so blue they barely look real. Leh, the capital, sits at about 3,500 metres, and almost everything here begins with that altitude. Flying in from Hyderabad via Delhi, you go from sea level to thin mountain air in a few hours, which is why every good Ladakh trip starts by doing very little at all.

Our seven-day Ladakh itinerary gives your body two easy days in Leh before going higher. You will rest, then explore gently: Shanti Stupa at sunset, Leh Palace, the market, and the monasteries of Thiksey and Hemis, along with the Hall of Fame war museum and the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar at Nimmu. Then you cross Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world, into the Nubra Valley for the sand dunes of Hunder, double-humped Bactrian camels and the giant Maitreya Buddha at Diskit Monastery. From Nubra you follow the Shyok river to Pangong Tso, the lake that shifts from turquoise to deep blue through the day, before returning to Leh over Chang La.

Ladakh suits adventurous families, couples, photographers and bikers, as long as everyone is in reasonable health. Inner Line Permits for Nubra and Pangong, oxygen in the vehicle and experienced local drivers are part of our plan. The season runs from May to September, when the passes are open and days are warm, though nights at Pangong stay cold even in August. Pack for sun, wind and chill all at once, and you will come home with memories unlike any other trip in India.