Sun, May 14: Uleytokpo, Ladakh, India

Got up early, dropped luggage off at Tara’s mom’s house and went to the airport.  They were strict on the checked luggage weight, but did not check the carry-on weight.  And did not seem to care about number of items carried on, perhaps as long as it was not excessive.  We will see what they do on the return flight. 

The flight takes us over the mountains and we had come very good views...

including a view of what looked to be a monastery far below.

After landing in Leh at 11,500 feet (3,505 meters) we drove to Uleytokpo at 10,000 feet (3048 meters).  Ladakh is similar to Tibet in its dryness and barren landscape, with snow covered mountains.  Like Tibet, we think we will get into the snow as we drive the passes.

We are spending 3 nights there in Uleytokpo to help with the acclimation to the high elevation before returning to Leh and other higher sites.  We are overnighting at elevations of 11,500, 13,900, and 14,836 feet (3505, 4236, and 4522 meters).  And we will be driving over passes of 18,379 feet (5601 meters) and 17,480 feet (5328 meters).  This is similar to what we did in Tibet. 

The drive to Uleytokpo was long and through some very gorgeous (but dry and desolate) valleys.

Our drive is along the Indus River.

There were very interesting buildings on some of the hilltops.  Couldn't always tell if there were small palaces or monasteries or just big houses.

Along the way we passed by Magnetic Hill but didn't stop.  Apparently it has magical properties that pull a car uphill.  Maybe we'll stop and try it out later.

Tara said there is nothing to do at Uleytokpo, but it is located in a very scenic valley.  And besides, the point was to do nothing for the first two days anyway, while acclimating to the elevation.  The hotel was new, but basic.  Electricity only from 7am to 11 pm, and they turn it off during bad weather (maybe because of lightning?).  No heat in the rooms – it was in the low 30’s F at night, 50’s F as a high during the day – but they supplied warm duvets and extra blankets, and hot water bottles to warm the bed before we crawled in. Apparently lots of trekkers use this area as a base. 

This trip is actually a discovery tour for Tara in that she is checking out hotels and sights and itineraries and such so that she can better advise future clients who want to visit Ladakh.  We are along for the ride and as such we get a much discounted trip but have to put up with occasional hiccups that we don’t usual experience with Tara regular itineraries.  We’ll see how it goes.   The normal tourist season is July and August, when temperatures can get into the 80’s F, but biting bugs are out then.  So we are before tourist season, which means very cold weather at the lakes, but no bugs, and some accommodations are closed, limited, or undergoing maintenance.