Our spacious canvas and bamboo yurts with a diameter of 15 feet have been specially fabricated by hand and retain the essential characteristics of the original Central Asian and Mongolian akois, on which they are modeled. Furnished in soft pastels, each yurt has comfortable twin beds and a cozy sitting area.

A circular opening in the centre of the canvas roof lets in natural light and the warmth of the sun during the day, while in the evening illumination is provided by subtle electric lights, supplemented by kerosene lamps.

Individual bathrooms where hot water is provided in buckets , are adjoining to each yurt.

The rendezvous for meals and gatherings is an attractive hexagonal building, designed after a traditional Ladakhi house, complete with a Buddhist chapel.

Hammocks and lounge chairs are always available on the lawns and the patio adjoining the dining hall for you to relax in the sun and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and tranquil surroundings.

Linen is laundered daily. There are facilities for personal laundry but as the process is time consuming, we suggest you bring sufficient clothes to last a few days.

MONEY : We do not accept foreign exchange. Please ensure you carry enough Rupees with a valid Encashment Certificate, to cover personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, tips, etc. Foreign exchange facilities are available at the State Bank of India branch in Leh, but the process can take up to half a day, including travel time.

TIPPING: Should you wish to leave a tip, please place it in the box provided. It will be distributed among all the junior staff, so that those behind the scene are also appreciated. Please do not tip the staff individually.

SECURITY: The staff at the Ladakh Sarai will do everything to ensure that your stay with us is pleasant, enjoyable and safe. We cannot, however, be held responsible for personal injuries or any kind of damage to personal effects.

USEFUL TIPS: In order to make your visit to Ladakh more pleasant, both for yourself and for the people who live here and whose guest you are, there are some general guidelines that may be helpful.

DO dress modestly both in town and at gompas, as Ladakhis are very modest in appearance, take their religious beliefs seriously and can be offended by skimpy Western dress.

DO take off your shoes when entering any room in a gompa. It is not necessary to remove shoes in the open sections of a gompa, such as courtyards.

DO pass chortens and prayer flag poles on the left, in a clockwise direction, always keeping your right side to the chorten or prayer flag pole.

DO take a flashlight to the gompas. This is helpful in seeing murals and statues in dimly lit gompa rooms.

DON'T give money, sweets or other gifts to children. Begging by children and child lamas in the gompas has only begun since tourism arrived in Ladakh and is unacceptable behaviour that should not be encouraged. If you really want to give something, donate pencils, pens, paper or note books to a village or gompa school. There is a school in every village which would be grateful to receive these donations. If a gompa has a school, it will also gratefully receive donations of school supplies.

DON'T take pictures in gompa rooms where photography is prohibited, either by posted signs or a lama telling you.

DON'T point at statues of the Buddha as it is considered highly disrespectful.

DON'T stand on the base of chortens or on mani walls. These are sacred objects and to do so is desecration that is offensive to Ladakhis.