Cool mountain breeze, the air so pure you want to bottle it and views so divine the Pope should bless them. The entire world basks in awe of Ladakh which indeed is a different kind of beautiful. Dipped in shades of brown and grey, the landscape here is stunning and stark, harsh and imposing and under the shade of these magnificent mountains lie the perfect places to take in their majesty, a sprawl of guesthouses and homestays happily beckoning you to enjoy what the world revers. This time, however, we’re eschewing the concrete confines of cement walls in favour of the flimsy canvas. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re telling you to rough it.
The Indus River Camp, a 25-minute drive from Leh is a natural sanctuary situated on the banks of the River Indus. With 8 rustic yet elegant luxury tents and cottages equipped with all mod-cons like double beds, bathrooms, hot water showers, WiFi, a library and games room and, wait for it, a telescope for you to stargaze, the camp is surrounded by stunning landscapes of the Trans Himalayas.
Fall asleep under the stars or go white-water rafting. Drive upstream and make your way down the gushing tides all the way back to the camp where a hot shower, a cuppa hot chai and bonfire await. Go on a cycling tour through the undulating roads and trek the Stok Kangri, one of the most popular peaks in the region or just hike up a hill through the pine trees for the views.
Get a sumptuous lunch at the Indus Valley Kitchen that realises the need for fresh quality food for travellers in a remote region. Sourced from local ingredients and cooked through indigenous methods, they have innovative menus that can be enjoyed under the gazebo, by the fire or at a riverside picnic.
The camp also has tour packages that entail visits to nearby villages and monasteries for cultural immersion. However, if you wish to relax and unwind to the soothing sound of the river, the campsite has a cosy library, yoga sessions and even movie nights. The camp also plans out daily itineraries which include visits to the nearby camel sanctuary, river walks etc.
Owned by the Indus Welfare Society, a local organisation of 250 local Buddhist villagers from the village of Chuchot Yokma, this luxurious ‘glamping’ property situated amidst the rugged terrains claims to be built with minimum disruption to land. They have a strong environmental ethic and encourage responsible tourism by using solar panels to heat water and minimising plastic and rubbish, especially through the use of filtered water. They encourage guests not to consume certain products that bring plastic into the camp.
With a value for the environment, the gorgeous site has immense value for the traveller’s money too. Tariff starts at INR 4,000 only.
For more details, visit their website here.
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