Luxury travel in Ladakh is emerging as one of the most exciting trends that discerning travellers are keen to follow in 2015. But are Ladakh luxury holiday packages everything they promise to be? Is it even possible to experience a truly luxurious stay in a place like Ladakh, whose infrastructure is not fully developed and much of the region sees barely any human habitation?
The answer is a resounding yes. But not quite the way you imagine it.
If you had to measure luxury travel in Ladkah with the usual yardstick of a resort or fully-equipped 5-star hotel with restaurants and pools and spas, then unfortunately, you will be in for quite a disappointment.
Ladakh with its surreal terrain, snow capped peaks, frothing rivers, majestic monasteries and gompas and rolling hills that stretch as far as the eyes can see, is not an ordinary destination and neither can a journey here ever be anything but extraordinary. Travelling in this bleak but beautiful land has always been about adventure and never about material comfort. But these aren't really mutually exclusive. It is possible to enjoy the best of both worlds – the adrenaline rushes of an adventurous experience and pampering your senses with only the best money has to offer through luxury camping tours. While glamping in India (a fun term coined from the words 'camping' and 'glamour') is a relatively new phenomenon, it is one that is taking the travel world by storm.
Imagine waking up to the sun shining through the mountain peaks in your individually designed tent, replete with an en-suite bathroom, plush bed with crisp linen, a private deck and even your own personal butler, ready to be of service at a moment's notice, all in the enchanting locales of Ladakh. Luxury camps offer all this and even more, such as special sightseeing excursions, bird-watching sessions, watching a thrilling polo match and white water rafting all under the purview of expert guides.
Ladakh luxury tours aren't your run-of-the-mill packages, but they are luxurious and wonderfully novel. After all, a place like Ladakh deserves an experience that matches up to it.
Martin Wynn
