a guide

Hi...

How much does one have to pay if you take a guide along with you? We plan to go to Ladakh and might take one from Leh for about 2 weeks..!!!
thanks

A guide costs you roughlybetween 300 to 500 rupees plu his transport and food. But i dont understand why do u need a guide

Unless you are planning to do some serious trekking in Ladakh there is no need to hire a guide.

If you're intending to do some sightseeing while there, you can take local buses or taxis to places of interest. If you're planning to trek there are many local trekking agencies in Leh who can arrange things for you.

I wouldn't say that there is no need of a guide... if you are really interested in the stories behind the places you visit, why not! But then I really suggest you to look for a ladakhi guide. Nowadays many Sherpa and other Nepali Guides are working in Ladakh as guides! But of course they do not have the same insight - i heard about many who tell simply lies, because they are too shy to say that they don't know the answer. Also it is better to got with a ladakhi guide as they speak ladakhi and that might help in many occasions.

Ladakhi guides usually ask for more money - as the standard of living is higher in Ladakh than in Nepal and they have only a short season! But it is definitely worth it!

Nyiltsa,

Can you recommend anyone in particular or any tour or travel agency in particular? My friend and I are going to be in Ladakh from June 10 to June 27. We want to cover a lot, namely, Hemis festival, Lamayuru festival, and in between get as much trekking in as possible in various areas. I have a long list of places and I'm not sure what is possible to cover in the time we have and at what cost. We are foreigners, but indian residents with all the proper permits, so we qualify for indian rates at hotels, airfare, etc. (if it makes any difference in Ladakh, I don't know). Among the places I want to go are the Nubra Valley...Diskit-Hunder (camels in the dunes? Trekking?), Makha Valley trekking, Tso Moriri and Tso Pangong, Rupshu Valley area, and possibly Zanskar area if possible.

Any recommendations?

hello, i really suggest you to contact my husband, tashi, because i am not in ladakh yet but on the 1st of june. i think he himself couldnt be a guide for you, as - if i am right - he has to do the guiding for some british people in that time, but for sure he could arrange you another guide.
you can reach him at the following email-address: tashi@gesar-travel.com or alternatively kangyatse@yahoo.com

Does anyone know whether it is easy or hard, or something in between, to find a ponyman and two ponies in the middle of July in Alchi? And what the prices would be, more or less? I found prices from 2002 on this forum, but I imagine they may have changed. We intend to do a trek from Alchi to Lamayuru in July and would rather not arrange it in advance but on the spot, but on the other hand, it would be a shame if we don't manage and can't do the trek. I'm sure we would enjoy ourselves anyway, but still...
If anyone is planning to do the same trek in the same time, maybe we can arrange something together to make it cheaper. If interested, please let me know.