Leh
High above the clouds, Leh unfolds like a dream of bare mountains, cobalt skies, and monasteries clinging to cliffs. A luxury trip here begins on the winding road to Thiksey Monastery, where sunrise pours golden light over whitewashed stupas and crimson‑robed monks chant inside frescoed halls. Afterwards, retreat to a boutique hotel overlooking the Indus Valley, with heated rooms, Ladakhi woodwork, and slow breakfasts of gur‑gur chai and fresh apricots.
Spend a day exploring Leh Palace and the old bazaar, browsing pashmina shawls, silver amulets, and hand‑woven carpets. Stop at Jama Masjid and Shanti Stupa for sweeping sunset views, then dine on curated tasting menus that reinterpret Himalayan recipes with organic, high‑altitude produce.
For indulgent adventure, drive across Khardung La to Nubra Valley, checking into a luxury camp near Hunder’s sand dunes, complete with king‑size beds, firelit lounges, and spa tents scented with juniper. Ride Bactrian camels at dusk, then stargaze beneath a sky dense with constellations.
End in Pangong Tso, where upscale lakeside villas frame dawn as the water shifts from steel grey to sapphire. Between private yoga sessions, craft‑coffee pauses, and chauffeured excursions to Diskit Monastery, every moment in Leh blends raw Himalayan grandeur with refined comfort.