Ladakh is the kind of place we wish had been kept a secret. Dramatic coffee-coloured mountains hem in this tiny outcrop of Tibetan culture, their jagged peaks forming brilliant silhouettes against the dramatic skies. Shining white stupas act as backdrops for colourful prayer flags fluttering in the breeze, while opalesque lakes change hues in the sunlight.

Fly (or, if time is aplenty, drive up the gorgeous mountainous road) into travel-friendly Leh, Ladakh’s largest town. Take in the region’s history at the Leh Palace, and spend the night in an ancestral Ladakhi home, living like a true local.

Use Leh as your starting point to explore the region’s treasures. Stop by at Pangong Tso to admire the lake’s colour-changing techniques and its rich population of birds, before heading on to its lesser-known but equally mesmerising twin Tsomoriri. The bright blue water of the lake is perfectly juxtaposed against the surrounding barren hills, creating more drama than a day-time soap.

Indulge the adventurer in you by rafting down the frothing Zanskar River, where the icy cold rapids will set the adrenaline pumping. For bike enthusiasts, there’s no greater thrill than riding up Ladakh’s mountain roads, the tricky terrain coupled with the staggeringly beautiful vistas promise of the ride of a lifetime!

Stop in at the Norbulingka Institute of Tibetan Culture for some quality souvenirs and gifts, and when your weary legs need a rest, retire to your luxury tent or room for the night, with nothing but those snow capped mountains, apricot trees and the Milky Way for company.