A journey through Changthang Region!
A journey through Changthang Region!
Meet the Changpas and spend a day with them in the highland pastures of Changthang Region!
Why this experience is unique?
Spend a day in Chushul, the last border village of Ladakh—just an hour’s drive from Maan village near Pangong. Enjoy in the remote Changthang region with the Changpas, Ladakh’s nomadic herders known for raising the world-famous Pashmina goats. Visit their camps in the high pastures, learn about traditional goat herding and the delicate dehairing process and step inside their yak-wool tents to experience their way of life.
Enjoy an organic, home-cooked lunch with your host family and continue your journey Visit the Rezang La War Memorial to honor the bravery of Indian soldiers and if you’re lucky, spot the rare Black-necked Cranes by the beautiful Mipam Tso lake while coming back.
This experience offers a deep and personal glimpse into the culture, resilience and landscapes of Ladakh’s farthest frontiers.
Your day begins with an early departure from your base (such as Pangong or Leh) for a scenic drive through the vast open landscapes of the Changthang Plateau. The journey offers sweeping views of high-altitude plains, grazing herds and distant peaks, gradually leading you to Chushul, one of Ladakh’s last villages before the Indo-China border.
Upon reaching Chushul, your first stop is the Rezang La War Memorial, a powerful site commemorating the 1962 Indo-China battle where 114 Indian soldiers of the 13 Kumaon Regiment made the ultimate sacrifice. Walk through the site, learn about the battle’s history and feel the quiet pride that surrounds this heroic landmark.
Next, head to the nearby pasturelands where the Changpa nomads live and herd their Pashmina goats. These semi-nomadic families move with the seasons, living in yak-wool tents and tending to herds that produce the world-renowned fine Pashmina wool. Spend time walking alongside the herders, learning about their daily routines, migration cycles and the deep bond they share with their animals and land.
At one of the Changpa camps, observe the dehairing process—a careful and time-consuming technique where raw Pashmina wool is separated by hand to extract the fine fibers. You’ll get a close-up view of this delicate craft, essential to the creation of luxury wool products and understand the labor behind each thread. No animal is harmed during this process.
Step inside a traditional Rebo (yak-wool tent), where you’ll be hosted by a Changpa family. Enjoy a freshly prepared organic Ladakhi lunch, featuring local grains, seasonal vegetables and warm tea either in the tent or host’s house in Chushul. The meal is simple yet nourishing and served with the warmth and hospitality typical of Ladakhi culture. Take this time to ask questions, listen to stories and experience the slow rhythm of nomadic life.
On your way back, make a brief stop at Mipam Tso, a tranquil high-altitude lake surrounded by wetlands. If you’re lucky, you might spot the graceful and rare Black-necked Cranes, which are sacred in Ladakhi Buddhism and breed in this region during the summer months. It’s a peaceful way to end the day, surrounded by the natural beauty of Changthang. Drive back to your destination (
Guests like to eat our Ladakhi food. They say it is delicious, even when it is prepared by an elderly ama (mother) like me. I always make sure I serve them the cleanest and healthiest food. My husband is a copper artist. When guests leave us, they say ‘Julley’, and hug us. It makes us feel happy.
I became a Mountain Homestay Host in 2018, and I have hosted many travellers since then. Running a homestay has helped me and my family a lot. Not only is the solar set up in our house useful for us, but even travellers prefer to stay in our homestay because of it.
The training we got in astronomy turned out to be a life-changing experience for our village. I felt happy and proud while mapping the position of the planets and sharing the secrets of the universe with the tourists. Tourists told me that even they didn’t know so much about the dark skies!
