Day 1: As we arrive in Leh, we’ll get settled into a cosy guesthouse and indulge in some much-needed rest. This is necessary to acclimatise to the high altitude, but we also want to encourage you to give yourself permission to pause. We will hold space to honour all that you do back home and to reconnect to your authentic self. We’ll spend the first couple of days getting to know ourselves, Ladakh and each other as a group.
Day 2: As an introduction to Leh, we’ll go back in time and explore Leh’s Old Town through the eyes of some of Ladakh’s most promising artists. The ancient alleyways and long-standing homes will invite us to imagine the Leh of the past and ground us in our present.
Day 3: We’ll start the day by visiting one of Ladakh’s foremost designers, Saldon. She’ll meet us inher studio and shop, Saldon 2112, and talk us through her creative process and her slow and sustainable approach to fashion. You ’ll get to shop her newest designs! After lunch, we’ll wander through the main market in Leh, exploring all the fresh produce the Amalays (mothers) are selling, brought straight to us from their gardens! We’ll explore their role in the agricultural ecosystem, buy some of their fresh produce and then cook up a storm!
Day4: Today, we’ll head out of Leh, to Phyang, a village about 25 minutes away. As we take in the breathtaking monastery and beautiful view of the mountains, we’ll be joined by Jigmet Angmo, a local artist. She’ll talk us through her artistic journey and then we’ll find an idyllic spot to sit and paint our very own pieces! For lunch we’ll visit a friend’s guesthouse and enjoy a fantastic meal with a spectacular view of the monastery and cuddles with their sweet dog, Dzawa. We’ll head back to Leh in the early evening for some solo exploration time.
Day 5: Since we’ve already tried our hand at some Ladakhi cooking, we’ll go on a gastronomic experience that dives deep into the history of food in Ladakh and eat a delicious multi-course meal with Kunzes Angmo, curator and owner of Artisanal Alchemy. This meal is massive, so we’ll go on a long morning walk to Shanti Stupa or Tsemo to view Leh from above and get our tummies primed. You’ll have the rest of the evening free to explore Leh independently, but we’ll certainly provide recommendations! Dinner is on your own tonight - if you have space in your tummy for it!
Day 6: On our final day in Leh, we’ll meet Sonam Angmo and Stanzin Minglak, co-founders of LENA, a pashmina label that aims to reframe the term “pashmina”. We’ll learn about weaving in Ladakh and give it a go too! You’ll have time to shop and relax before our last evening together. Lunch is on your own today! We’ll eat dinner together at Bon Appetit, one of the first western restaurants in Leh. The delightful owners, Kunzes Angmo and Stanzin Lamo will regale us with tales of how they broke into, or should we say created, this industry and what has kept them going all these years later.
As our time together comes to a close, we’ll have a special ceremony to mark our time together.
Other themes and itineraries:
If you’re in the mood to get physical, there are treks at varying levels of difficulty that promise the most stunning views. Leh and its surrounding villages has a burgeoning art scene with both traditional and contemporary artists. We ’ll set free our creativity and get our hands dirty with pottery, weaving, sculpture and painting. You’ll get the unique opportunity to visit artists’ studios and learn
about their creative processes. We are also happy to customise and curate your visit to meet your needs.
