Hotel Omasila in Ladakh (July) and Ladakh leisurely

missalg

Hotel Omasila looks very appealing to me from what I have read, but I am not getting a sense of where it is in relation to getting around in Leh (for restaurants and such.) Do you have any opinions on the hotel or other suggestions (about 1500R a night is about my budget, or more if necessary) for a place where it's nice to kick back and relax a bit?

I am just beginning to plan; I should have five or six days in Ladakh, and I know that at least the first day should be just rest! (I was okay in Cusco, but did get the altitude headache in Lhasa.) I'm very keen on walking and nature, but definitely not a hardcore trekker. I know I'll want to visit the monasteries around, and maybe on one of the later days an ascent/trip out. (I am still awaiting my guidebook, which is stuck in the mail somewhere between here and Jersey City. ) I'd love to hear any suggestions for the best use of the short time I will have.

(My students voted for Ladakh as my final stop and can't wait already to see pictures!)

missalg

I've been emailing Hotel Omasila with the email addy from their website and the emails are first "delayed", then returned as not going through at all. Is this likely to be a seasonal thing, or do I need to start looking around a bit more?

I was mostly interested in getting an idea of the costs of their tours, as the room tariffs are published and look decent. (Sigh. Right now July seems very far away, but the planning part is fun.)

navinkurian2002

You can get help for your trek from thinlas chorol who is a local trekking expert and take group to real rustic villages where the out trekking outfits in the leh market do not go.1500 is a bit too costly for leh .Where you can get real good places for 500. The best way is to just go there and get a place or call them up (internet and email do not work well in leh at times).I had a nice double bedroom with attached bathroom for 300 Rupees at the dolma guest house on fort road.

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missalg

Thank you! I appreciate the link to Thinlas Chorol; the village-to-village trek looks very interesting.

Even in June or July I will be easily able to get a decent room just by showing up? I understand it may be more crowded then...

peuks

I recommend to book a room before you arrive, because it makes it more pleasent to fall into a booked bed - no stress looking for one - at least i was most happy to have that at the first day, because i was deadly tired.
check this one: dorje-guesthouse (-->google for pictures+address).its close to the market, the stupa and the gompa...and still in a quiet side-road. very friendly people, good prices ( we paid 500 or 600 rs, as i remember)
we did day-trip to alchi ( do not miss, its beautiful!!), rizong (inpressingly silent) and Likir in 1 day ( gompas trip) and another day thikse, stok and shey. also nice+ close to Leh). in leh make you way up to the gompa, its an great view over the city...

davyd

it's difficult to relax in Omasila.
I visited this hotel in Nov 2006 and could not find better facilities than in many guesthouses (and it's showing its age), the best are located along Fort Rd, the newer guesthouse the better. I stayed in Padma Hotel but I heard they hiked they price tag upto 2000 Rs per night, but there are many cheaper.

beklemmung

Omasila isn't in the most central part of Leh, but unless you're going from Changspa to the bus station, distances around town aren't that great. There will be a ton of restaurants within a seven or eight minute walk.

I don't know what level of accommodation you're really after - if spare but clean and friendly (with very good food) is enough for you, try Oriental in Changspa. Probably should book ahead for July, if possible (I didn't, but I was there earlier in the season). Rates will be around 200-600 a night. They just completed a new building that's a bit nicer and more expensive. I stayed in the old/main building, and had a big corner room with lots of windows for 190 per night.

missalg

Thanks to all! I usually do prefer to book in advance, just to know, and I'm happy with clean/basic/own bathroom type accommodation. My main concern, I think, would be a place that would be comfortable to lounge around in for a couple of days; Tibet was enough of a reminder of altitude sickness that I don't want to overdo on the first couple of days.

Just as a comparison, one of my favorite spots ever is Sims Cozy Guesthouse in Chengdu, China, where the rooms are very simple but there is a charming garden area. It was clean, private bathroom, lovely people...and US $12.50 a night. Anything similar to that I'd be happy with!

rajiveanand

Thanx to evrybody for good advice- I'm planning a trip to Leh and Mustang for this summer. What's the cheapest hotel in Leh with the best view? I'm an artist and I need to take good photos!

R.

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gypsyqueen

We visited Leh in September, 2007, off season. We spend a week at the Yak Tail Hotel, the oldest hotel in Leh. The breakfasts were great, served in a beautiful courtyard. We paid 800 Rs a night, but it's a bit more expensive during the season. Read about Leh at http://www.indiatravelliveshop.com/lehladakh.html.

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