Kashmir to Ladakh: Houseboats & Himalayan Roads

This eight-day escorted tour by G Adventures threads through Kashmir and Ladakh, regions best known for their mix of soaring mountain passes and quiet traditions. Your start point is Srinagar, where a night on a traditional houseboat and a shikara ride on Dal Lake set a different tone from the usual hotel stay. The gardens planted by Mughal emperors offer a slice of calm reclaimed from the city’s busy rhythms.

From there, the route climbs through lush valleys near Pahalgam and Sonmarg, with short hikes to take in the landscape — including views to meet grinding glaciers. The journey then shifts to Ladakh’s high passes, stopping at the Drass War Memorial and ancient monasteries like Mulbekh and Kargil Gompa. You’ll spend a night at the Lamayuru Monastery, where the rocky ‘Moonland’ landscape is a reminder that this is not the Himalaya you imagined.

Travel is by a mix of vehicle, jeep and foot, combined with local guides and a Chief Experience Officer to keep things moving smoothly. The itinerary blends cultural stops, mountain roads and remote villages, and carries the occasional surprise that travel at altitude always brings. It finishes with an orientation tour of Leh town, a gateway to further high-altitude wanderings.

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These are the places the trip visits, in order. G Adventures publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.