Vietnamese tourists spend 14 days riding motorbikes to explore surreal nature in Ladakh, India
Báo Dân trí•27/08/2024
(Dan Tri) - After 14 days of wandering in Kashmir and Ladakh (India), Tran Minh Phung felt like he was lost on another planet. He slowly admired the majestic nature that was all in his eyes.
"At the end of July, the weather in Ladakh was bitterly cold, but the nature was still as beautiful as a painting. I stood in the middle of the Puga Valley, lost in the surreal scene and wondered when we would be able to fully admire the beauty of this world," Minh Phung said. Le Minh Phung (33 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), a travel blogger (a content creator about travel) spent 2 years preparing for the journey to conquer Ladakh (India) - the place known as "the end of the world". When he first learned about this land through a friend's introduction, Minh Phung was attracted by the surreal beauty of the landscape: straight roads, green grasslands, ancient monasteries standing tall on hilltops...
Minh Phung's journey lasted 14 days, with a group of 10 members, 5 motorbikes traveling from Kashmir to Ladakh, a total distance of more than 2,000km. The male tourist overcame hundreds of hairpin bends, conquered the highest mountain pass in the world in -10 degrees Celsius weather and enjoyed all the Indian food. A region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is famous for its wild beauty, majestic nature, and pristine indigenous culture. Surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas, its culture and history are closely related to Tibet. Historically, the region was inhabited by people of Tibetan origin and has many Buddhist monasteries. Therefore, Ladakh is also known as "little Tibet" in India and a paradise in the Himalayas.
During the first 8 days of exploring Kashmir, Phung had the opportunity to set foot on Tuian Lake, "a masterpiece of nature". About 16km from the center of Pahalgam, to get here, visitors must ride a horse or climb 32km through many steep roads. According to research, no tourist has been able to climb to the lake and return in time in the day. Therefore, he and the whole group chose to ride a horse, this means of transport helps everyone relax and enjoy the scenery along the way. The cost of traveling by horse is about 2,500 INR/person (about 800,000 VND). Tulian Lake is nestled in the Himalayas with its emerald green water, mixed with the white of the majestic snow-capped mountains. "I fell in love with this scene at first sight. This was also a surreal experience that left me feeling lost when I returned to Vietnam," Phung said.
Puga Valley, located in Southeast Ladakh, is the place that inspired Minh Phung to make this trip. Coming here, I felt like I was lost in another planet where strangely shaped mounds of land covered with beautiful green grass looked like a painting among the gray hills. The undulating terrain in Puga Valley helps visitors take unique photos. It is no exaggeration to say that Ladakh is truly a place that holds the wandering, dreamy souls of adventurous travelers. Nature has generously bestowed this place with stunning landscapes and ancient monasteries standing on the top of the hill, where one can look out and take in the endless mountains and sand roads. To admire the "surreal" scenery, visitors must go through many winding and bumpy mountain passes because of the rocks. Especially the experience of high altitude shock when reaching the top of the pass. Khardung La Pass is located at an altitude of over 5,000m above sea level, this is a fierce challenge for tourists riding motorbikes because of the lack of oxygen for both vehicles and people. Overcoming the incessant rains in Leh, Minh Phung was determined to conquer the highest pass in the world. In the cold of minus 5 degrees Celsius, he had to wear 3 layers of thick clothes, protective gear and a raincoat outside. Pangong Lake is like a real-life painting that makes many tourists exclaim "amazed". Located at an altitude of 4,250m, Pangong Tso is one of the largest brackish water lakes in Asia. The lake stretches over 135km across the India-China border. However, visitors will still be overwhelmed and excited by the spectacular natural scenery, immersed in a space that they may have only seen through movies before.
Indian food is notoriously difficult to eat, especially when eaten continuously for many days, but on this trip, Minh Phung "boldly" tried all the local Indian food. The male tourist said that he especially loves lamb.
The total cost of the 14-day trip is 32 million VND. If you want to explore Kashmir, you should choose to travel by car because politics and traffic here are quite complicated. Through Ladakh, you can experience riding a motorbike. If you travel on your own, prepare your passport carefully, or ask your tour guide to do it for you.
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
Comment (0)