text:
La Ceiba

La Ceiba is a city on the north Caribbean coast of Honduras, 202 km from San Pedro Sula.

Understand
It is the fourth largest city in Honduras, home to roughly 250,000 people. The town has good hotels, ATMs and internet cafes. Many people who visit La Ceiba do so to use the city as a base to visit Pico Bonito National Park, the Cuero and Salado Wildlife Refuge or beaches and ethnic Garífuna villages nearby. Or people just stop off for a night on their way to the Bay Islands or the Hog Islands.

By bus
There are buses from San Pedro Sula for L100 (lempiras), the journey takes 3-4 hr.

From Guatemala City take a bus to San Pedro Sula (8-11 hr) or Copán Ruinas and change.

Get around
Getting around La Ceiba is easy and cheap. Within the city and to the airport there are standard taxi rates. Do make sure you know the fare before you get in the cab, particularly if you are leaving downtown for the port or the airport. Prices are generally quoted per passenger except from the airport. Don't be surprised if your driver stops to pick up additional passengers.

Since its a small town, everybody knows where everything is. Know the name of your destination or have it written down (for the more obscure destinations, include the barrio or colonia in which it is located). However, you can also say names of important buildings and the taxi driver will most likely know what you're talking about.

There are plenty of buses in La Ceiba. The cost is usually around L10-15. A bus will continue to pick up people until it is full. If a bus doesn't stop to pick you up it's because it has reached capacity. Just stand at the side of the road and flag one down when you see it coming. The people who ride the buses are locals that want to travel in a more economical manner. Hondurans are generally very friendly, still, it's a good idea to watch your belongings like everywhere else in the world! If you're not showing off your cash and valuables, you should be ok.

See
Excellent options with children are:
 * La Ceiba Pier (Muelle de La Ceiba) nice place for picture-taking or just enjoying the beach.
 * Swinford Park park downtown that displays locomotives and carriage cars from La Ceiba's fruit production/shipping past.
 * Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge. You take an old train through the pineapple fields to a beautiful lagoon.  There is a modern park building with small displays and public restrooms.  You can then take either a motor boat or canoe tour of the lagoon.  Bring suncreen, hats and water bottles. Reservations with Cuero y Salado Foundation at.
 * The Lodge at Pico Bonito. The lodge allows day visitors.  You can use their pool, hike their trails, climb their lookout towers and have lunch at their restaurant.  It's a lovely place to explore and easy with children. Or Pico Bonito National Park in general.
 * El Porvenir. The beach at El Porvenir is lots of fun.  There is a river flowing into the sea and it makes for a freshwater "tubing" area that runs parallel to the sea.  There's also a small restaurant for drinks and chips.

Do
Ask a local about nightly football games at the Municipal Stadium located about 4 blocks east of Parque Central. The east side of the stadium has a much more lively atmosphere than the family outing-like setting of the West side; the tickets are a slightly more expensive but certainly worth it for a more authentic experience.
 * La Ceiba Carnival, the biggest in Central America. It takes place on the third Saturday in May, though there are mini-carnivals in the various barrios in the days leading up to it. This is a unique event that completely packs the town out, and is generally very peaceful and good natured.
 * Villas Pico Bonito (+504 449 0045) Close to the Rio Cangrejal south of town along with waterfalls and cloud forests in the Parque Nacional Pico Bonito, offers great hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting and zip lining. Just a short ride from the Bay Island ferries.
 * Hotel Rio Rafting (+504 9946-7994), pepe@hotelrio.info. Full rafting outfit. There is direct access to the national park by way of a hanging bridge. The land for the visitors center is in front of the hanging bridge, and was donated by the Hotel owners. In addition, trips are available to the 300 acre black pepper and tropical tree farm. The bar and restaurant have views of birds, the waterfall and mountains
 * Another rafting operator is Omega Tours Adventure Company and Eco Jungle Lodge (+504 97456810).

Buy
Sadly, the majority of items you can buy in La Ceiba come from Guatemala. Still, they're cheap and pretty. The souvenir shop with the largest selection in La Ceiba, including a good variety of local art and artisan work, is the Rain Forest just to the northwest of the stadium in Colonia El Naranjal. Local hammocks can be purchased around central park at a reasonable price, but start your negotiations at half the asking price.

Eat
A great place for tourists and ex-pats alike is Bar Expatriados. Any cab driver or local will know its rooftop downtown location (in Barrio El Iman at the end of Calle 12). The former owners, Mark and Maureen have returned to Canada but the new American owners, Joe and his wife Michelle, are helpful and friendly. The menu is typical American/Honduran. Great burgers and imported/domestic beer. The cost for a meal is expensive compared to the non ex-pat places but much cheaper then a fancy restaurant. A night of dinner and drinks for two will run you about US$30.

Ricardos on Avenida 14 de Julio is also delicious and well priced and serves some of the best food in Central America and has the awards to prove it. They are at the top end of the price scale in La Ceiba but still half what you would expect to pay for the same plate above the Rio Grande.

A bit outside of town toward the airport the ex-pat owned and operated Iguana Bar & Restaurant serves local seafood and open grille beef speciality dishes on the beach at more moderate prices.

Sleep
There are good quality hotels in La Ceiba, including the Quinta Real, La Quinta, Hotel Paris, the Aurora and, between the airport and downtown, the Coco Pando. A good mid-range hotel is the Iberia. There are also safe budget hotels in town such as the Catracho and the Lastenia.

A big draw-back for budget travelers is the lack of hostels. There are only a couple & both are surrounded by dark streets after 7PM, offering very little.

Lastenia Hotel is nice and cheap place to stay; they have a really tiny swimming pool upstairs, a cafeteria next door, you can get a room with a/c or fan, depending on your budget. Three people can stay for about US$15 a night. They now provide transportation to the bus station, airport or ferry terminal for about US$3 per room (not per person).

Hotel Gran Ceiba is another seemingly good quality hotel, but security has been an issue.

Connect
For those travellers looking to keep in touch with the world through internet and e mail, there's Digitec Internet on the 2nd floor of the Uniplaza Mall. +504 3355-1271

Stay safe
Those not seeking crack or crack-addicted prostitutes should avoid the beach area to the west of the old pier that juts out to sea from the end of Avenida de la Republica, as it is allegedly the territory of a heavily armed gang. The east side, including Barrio la Isla, is safer, and is also where much of the nightlife is to be found. Walking alone at night in some parts of La Ceiba should be avoided as robberies or sometimes murders may occur, but out of the three major cities La Ceiba is generally safer in terms of crime rates. Taxis are abundant and cheap and the safe way to travel at night no matter what part of La Ceiba you are in.

title: La Ceiba


text:
Lacey

Lacey is a city in the southern Puget Sound region in the state of Washington. It is adjacent to the east of Olympia, Washington state's capital.

By car
Lacey is located approximately 60 miles south of Seattle and 115 miles north of Portland. It is accessible via Interstate 5, exits 107 to 111.

By train

 * Intercity Transit bus route 64 bus travels between the train station and downtown Olympia, which is 7.5mi/12km to the northwest.
 * Routes stopping at Olympia-Lacey Centennial station:
 * Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, and Albany.  There are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene.  No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach.
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. Between Seattle and Eugene, it makes the same stops as the Amtrak Cascades, except it skips Tukwila and Oregon City.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Lacey


text:
La Chaux-de-Fonds

La Chaux-de-Fonds is in Switzerland. The city has an impressive heritage of watch making and has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as "La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning".

By train
The is well connected with several lines in different directions:

 * An hourly RE train from Berne (1h 5min)
 * Two hourly RE trains from Neuchatel (30 min), one of which is the train from Berne
 * Two hourly RE trains from Le Locle (8 min)
 * One RE (40 min) and one R (1h) train from Biel
 * A couple daily French TER trains from Besançon (1h 50min)

In addition there are regional trains from other small towns in the region.

By car
There is three main roads leading to La Chaux-de-Fonds from other Swiss cities: Road 20 from Neuchatel, road 30 from Biel and road 18 from Delemont and Basel. The closest motorway is A5, from which La Chaux-de-Fonds can be accessed either from Neuchatel or Biel. Road 20 then goes on to France in direction of Besançon.

Museums
For the museums located within the parc des musées (the first three on this list), there is a special 3 museums/3 days ticket which allows you to visit all three for the price of one. (Fr. 15/12.50)

Do
Visit the 'La Plage des Six Pompes' festival, a street theater festival which is held every year in the first week of August. You can also volunteer for a week. It would be good to speak reasonably French.

Go next

 * Le Locle, a town also part of UNESCO world heritage for watchmaking city planning, in between of the two, you will find the unique underground mills

title: La Chaux-de-Fonds


text:
Lachen

Lachen is a village in North Sikkim, India.

Understand
The village consists of about 150 houses, which were earlier inhabited only in winters by their owners who spent the summers on the pastures along the Tibet border tending to their herd of yaks. It is situated at an altitude of 8838 ft. Lachen is the base for tours to Gurudongmar lake and Chopta Valley. You will have to stay overnight at Lachen before going to the Gurudongmar Lake day tour. There is a large military base at Lachen.

Get in
Lachen is 121 km from Gangtok through the North Sikkim Highway. The road from Gangtok passes Phodong and Mangan. At Chungthang the road bifurcates, the road on the right leading to Lachung and the one on the left going to Lachen. It is a 6 hrs drive from Gangtok to Lachen.

Get around
Lachen is covered as part of North Sikkim Package tours. This is the transit point for visiting Gurudongmar lake. This lake is the 2nd highest lake in India. Restricted area permit is required to visit this lake.

Package tours to Lachen, Lachung, Thangu as well as Yumthang Valley is conducted by:

This agency takes care of all your requirements like acquiring Restricted area permits as well as transport to Lachen and the entire North Sikkim.
 * India Beacons Sojourn, Mobile : +91 9903295920 Phone : +91 033 26270886.

title: Lachen


text:
Lachung

Lachung is a city in North Sikkim, India.

Understand
Lachung is the most popular tourist destination of North Sikkim and serves as a base for visits of Yumthang, Katao and Yumasamdong areas. Lachung is situated at an altitude of 8610 ft, at 27.54° latitude and 88.64° longitude. It has been described as the "most picturesque village of Sikkim" by Joseph Salton Hooker in his Himalayan Journal (1855). The weather is rather cold with temperatures between 12-20° C in summer and below freezing point in winter.

Get in
Due to Lachung proximity to Nepal and the military presence, entry to North Sikkim is only possible on a guided tour, and a travel permit must be organised in Gangtok 1-2 days prior to travel.

Although the distance from Gangtok to Lachung is only 120 km, travel takes 5-6 hours on account of the mountainous terrain. Nevertheless, the journey into the valley is stunning. All travel is by 4-wheel-drive as the roads are subject to frequent landslides.

Get around
You can easily explore the town by foot.

See

 * Lachung Gompa. Sitting atop the hill across the valley from the town, is one of the most picturesque gompas (Buddhist temples) in Sikkim. It is a short 30 minute walk uphill from the town, and the amazing backdrop of snow-capped peaks makes this a worthwhile stroll.

Do

 * excursion to Yumthang Valley (elevation: 12000 ft, 3.564 m. latitude: N 27° 52'. longitude: E 88° 41'). You must stay overnight at Lachung and visit Yumthang valley in the morning. The valley can be visited as part of a package tour only. The best season for visiting the valley is from late February to mid June, when thousands of colourful flowers are in full bloom. September to December is best if you want to enjoy a view of the snow-capped mountains. It is a drive of about 1 hr from Lachung to Yumthang Valley. The road from Lachung and Yumthang is lined with rhododendrons which bloom in April and May and give the valley the name "Valley of Flowers".
 * excursion to Yumesamdong, about 15 km (1 hr drive) from Yumthang at an altitude of 15.300 ft, close to Chinese border.

Eat
Most hotels are vegetarian here but those belonging to the locals of Lachung, giving you a more authentic experience offer non-vegetarian options as well which are usually prepared completely separately keeping religious sentiments in mind. Check out the restaurants at Fortuna for strictly vegetarian and Etho Metho by RIghtClique and Yarlam for a more relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Great food at all these places.

Sleep
While there are many options to stay in Lachung, it would be wise to ensure your hotel has clean, comfortable linen, heater and hygienically prepared food. There are lodges, homestays, homestays that call themselves hotels, travel agent run hotels that are usually forced upon travellers and then you have the better accommodation offering a much better experience than the others such as Yarlam and Etho Metho by RightClique. The previous, set the initial bar of hospitality in 2011 while the second is the new kid on the block.

title: Lachung


text:
La Clusaz

La Clusaz is a town in the French Alps.

Together with the neighboring town of Grand Bornand, La Clusaz forms the center of the Aravis ski area. Different from many French ski resorts, the atmosphere of La Clusaz remains true to the alpine village.

Get in
Drive over the Col des Aravis and drop down into the village (summer only as road closed in winter). In winter access via Annecy, Thones or via M40 motorway exist near Bonneville.

1 hour from Geneva airport. Airport Transfers available from 'Aravis Transfers.'

Do
La Clusaz is mainly a winter sport resort with more than 120 km of ski slopes for downhill skiing. It is highly rated by intermediate skiers with a wide range of excellent blue and red runs, and for advanced skiers there is large amount of accessible off piste on north facing combes.

Two areas are also available for cross country skiing on "Les Confins" and "Plateau de Beauregard"

Eat
Eating here is very typical of French mountain resorts.

La Ferme, on the slope overlooking the village, is a popular guesthouse and restaurant with excellent atmosphere. Great for traditional dishes including fondue.

Excellent pizzas available at Ugo H, halfway up the main street.

Le Foly located 3 km from La Clusaz in the Confins valley is well worth a visit.

Drink
There are many bars and a couple of clubs.

Le Bachal is a popular spot for drink, with good music and cosy booths.

Saltos is a typical Irish Bar. It is just above town centre, can be skied into. Can be lively on the right night.

Caves de Paccaly is a more expensive bar just down from Le Bachal. You get what you pay for of course. The covered outdoor area and live music in winter is worth a visit.

Sleep
Stay on the uphill side of town for best views and hotels.

title: La Clusaz


text:
Colonia Tovar

Colonia Tovar is a small town in Central Venezuela's Aragua state. It is unique for its remarkable German heritage and beautiful mountainside setting.

By bus
A bus from Caracas to El Junquito takes about two hours or more depending on traffic, winding along a congested road that passes through some of Caracas' less pleasant suburbs. On weekends, congestion will be heavy. In El Junquito you will have to change buses to go to Colonia Tovar, which takes about another hour passing through generally remarkable countryside, winding curves, sweeping hillsides and precipices.

By car
You can follow the above route to El Junquito and then on to Colonia; those living in Caracas do so in order to visit the El Junquito town although a much more attractive (albeit less direct) route is to go via the town of La Victoria, which itself is about an hour from Caracas along the main highway. This narrow, windy road up to Colonia passes through majestic hills with picturesque views of Aragua's valleys. It takes over an hour up. Many use this route to return to Caracas.

Get around
Most of Colonia Tovar is reachable on foot. Parking is limited, so it's advisable to park on arrival and then wander the streets freely. Some restaurants and hotels, however, are on the edge of the town and you may prefer to drive to these, especially in the cold of evening.

See
The Museum, the Catholic Church, the Beer Factory (4 hour detour), the rolling hillsides, the cultivations, the arts and craft.

Do
Overnight. Enjoy the restaurants and bars. Meet the folk or do quiet meditation. During the day, study the German architecture; listen to the folklore songs and the history of the village. For the more athletic, you can go walking, trekking or paragliding (the latter is kilometers away).

Buy
Variety of Venezuelan handicraft, pottery, etc. Also German style skirts and shawls, shoes, belts, leather articles. In the food line, there is a variety of natural handmade jellies and jams, sweets, trifles as well as fresh vegetables, fruits, beverages. To add, flowers, religious articles, new age music.

Eat

 * Apple strudel
 * German sausages
 * Fresh strawberries
 * Plenty of other fresh fruit and vegetables
 * Good German salads
 * Chicken and meat dishes of local and international cuisine.
 * You can get vegetarian meals as well.

Drink

 * Locally brewed beer
 * Good brandy, wine and whisky.
 * Hot chocolate.
 * Strawberry and other fruit juices.

Go next
The approach to Colonia Tovar from La Victoria is much more scenic than the road from Caracas and El Junquito. Paragliding is practised on the hills in this area.

title: Colonia Tovar


text:
Laconia

Laconia is a city of 17,000 people (2020) in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. It includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach.

title: Laconia


text:
Laconia (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Laconia:

Greece

 * Laconia (Lacedaemonia) - a prefecture in the Peloponnese

United States of America

 * Laconia - a city in Belknap County, New Hampshire

title: Laconia (disambiguation)


text:
La Conner

La Conner is a small town in Washington.

Get in
La Conner can be accessed from Interstate 5 from the North or South, or by water through the Swinomish Channel to the west. It is located about 10 miles west of the interstate on the channel. The drive through the farmland of the Skagit Valley is especially beautiful.

Get around
La Conner is a great town to walk, with almost all retailers and restaurants and museums located within a 2 block radius of either First Street on the waterfront or Morris Street, which runs the length of town and intersects First. The town is surrounded on 3 sides by water, and the other by lush, flat farmland which makes for easy biking for miles. Otherwise, you'll need a car, or a boat, as towns are pretty far apart and there is little public transportation.

By public transit

 * Bus route 615 travels through La Conner on its way between Mount Vernon Skagit Station and March's Point P&R in Anacortes.
 * Bus route 615 travels through La Conner on its way between Mount Vernon Skagit Station and March's Point P&R in Anacortes.

See
In La Conner you'll find plenty of evidence of the creativity that has flourished there since the 1940s.

Do
Bike, kayak, sail in La Conner.

Buy
There are many gift shops, galleries, clothing stores.

Eat
There are many fine dining establishments in town, primarily located on the waterfront at 1st St or along Morris St

Sleep
The town also boasts plenty of charming small inns and Bed and Breakfasts.

title: La Conner


text:
La Crosse

La Crosse is a city in the Coulee Region of Southwest Wisconsin on the Mississippi River. It is the county seat of La Crosse County. It's nestled between the river and picturesque bluffs that rise behind it. With a city population of around 50,000 and the metropolitan area just under 100,000, La Crosse offers visitors plenty of activities to do and sights to see, without the overwhelming hustle and bustle of bigger cities.

By train

 * Route stopping at La Crosse:
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.

By bus
There are two intercity bus stations in La Crosse. One is at Grand River Station downtown. The other serves the University of La Crosse and is located at the Student Union building. Both are served by Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and Wisconsin Coach Lines.

Get around
Several taxi companies serve the city and metro area. Walking and biking are also great ways to get around. Most of the city is walkable, and bikeable areas include UWL and the Marsh Trails. La Crosse is one of the most disabled-friendly cities in the USA.

See

Do
Local activities include pub crawls downtown, where there's an abundance of bars and nightclubs. Downtown La Crosse is rarely quiet at night, especially on weekends. Alternatively, relax on a riverboat ride. La Crosse has various watercrafts, including two old-fashioned paddle boat, that voyage up and down the Mississippi, and can include dinner, lunch or breakfast. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round of golf at one of the beautiful golf courses throughout the metro. There are also many other ongoing annual events occur downtown such as Riverfest, or Oktoberfest. Many also in surrounding suburbs.

Buy
Many specialty shops, and high-end stores are found throughout Downtown La Crosse. Numerous strip malls are located throughout the city including retail shops, coffee shops, office shops, and specialty shops.

Eat
Hundreds of restaurants are scattered throughout the La Crosse Metro area. You'll find anything within the city and suburbs like fast food such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Checkers, or Burger King for example. Also you can find a higher end setting like the Waterfront, the Freight House or Piggy's, which are all downtown. Gloria Jeans, Starbucks, and Caribou Coffee can also be found in La Crosse.

Drink
Many bars and nightclubs are found throughout Downtown La Crosse, and the city itself. At one time, La Crosse broke a Guinness Book record with the most bars/nightclubs on one street, which was Third Street in downtown.

Stay safe
Downtown La Crosse is relatively safe at night for a college town. The downtown area has several bars which cater to college age customers. As with any area populated by bars, you may encounter intoxicated and/or obnoxious individuals. Generally, you can negotiate this area without any significant problems. If you are looking to avoid the younger crowd, it is recommended that you avoid the downtown area after 10PM.

title: La Crosse


text:
Ladakh

Ladakh is a mountainous region in South Asia. Due to its geographical and cultural similarity with Tibet, Ladakh is sometimes described as "Little Tibet". However, unlike Tibet, only a bit over half of the population are Buddhists, with the rest Muslims. The settled population lives between 2,700 m and 4,500 m, and in nomadic encampments even higher.

Politically, Ladakh is part of the Kashmir region disputed between India and Pakistan. Ladakh is claimed by Pakistan but controlled by India as a union territory. The Aksai Chin Plateau is claimed by India as part of Ladakh, but administered by China as part of Xinjiang.

One branch of the ancient Silk Road ran through Ladakh and was a fairly important trade route at one time, for example when Marco Polo crossed it. A pass leads north from Leh to Khotan in what is now Xinjiang. From Leh there are several routes south; the main one involved following the Indus down to Srinagar, and in antiquity to Taxila.

Cities

 * — main capital of Ladakh a medium-sized town, very picturesque, an excellent base for exploring Ladakh, good guest houses and restaurants

 * — a small village with a gompa or Buddhist monastic complex, 4 km off the road between Kargil and Leh

 * — a tourist village with many homestays famous for its nearby hot springs.

 * — the main town in Nubra Valley, famous for its apricot plantations and a 350 year-old monastery.

 * — a small village in the far east of Ladakh, known as the "Dark Sky Reserve" of India and one of the most-visited sites of astronomy. The clear sky and zero light pollution in Hanle provide a crystal-clear view of the universe, thus making it a good destination for astronomy in India.

 * — a tourist village that owes its growth to the nearby sand dunes. The gardens of the village are filled with delicious apricot and apple trees, and lots of green vegetable fields.

 * — secondary capital of Ladakh, key for access to Zanskar area, and a necessary stop on the way from Leh to Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley

 * — the largest village southeast of Ladakh at the banks of Tso Moriri.

 * — a small village with a Buddhist gompa, on the road between Kargil and Leh

Other destinations

 * — If you thought Leh was impressive, head to Nubra Valley, Diskit, Hundar and Turkut, one of the greenest part of the cold desert region of Ladakh, and the only place in India where Bactrian Camels are found. Memories of the old trade routes connecting India with Central Asia.

 * — A very popular 64 km long soda lake of picturesque colours situated between India and China.

 * — An impressive lake region close to the border with China and a convenient side tour from the Leh-Manali Highway.

 * — One of the remotest areas in Ladakh, only accessible through high passes.

History
Ladakh was an independent kingdom for nine centuries, influenced by Tibet and the neighbouring Muslim region. Linguistically, Ladakhi is very closely related to Tibetan. Tibet had long been where Ladakhi Buddhists would go for higher religious education, but since the incorporation of Tibet into China, Ladakhis have made the much shorter trip to the Tibetan monasteries in India. The architecture of Ladakh is almost identical to that of Tibet, both of residential buildings and of the monasteries. The class structure, or more precisely the lack of a sharply defined class structure, is common to Tibet and Ladakh and is in sharp contrast to the rest of India. Related to this is the relatively high status, freedom and outspokenness of Buddhist women in Ladakh and Tibet.

Common to both cultures are a set of cultural practices that keep the population from growing larger than the land can support, and prevent a farm from being divided up and thus being unable to support a family. These are:
 * Monasteries would take large numbers of monks and nuns and thus keep the population at a stable level.
 * Polyandry, a practice in which one woman marries all the brothers of a family to prevent the family's land from being divided, was common in both Ladakh and Tibet until into the 20th century.
 * Primogeniture, a system where the inheritance after a man's death (primarily the land) would pass to his oldest son in order to keep farms large enough to support a family.
 * Khangbu, the little house to which the father and mother would retire once their eldest son married and took over the management of the farm, inheriting the main house along with it.

However, Tibet was far from the only influence on Ladakh. Whereas Tibet was largely closed off to outside influence, Ladakh was a nation where caravan trade played an important role. Traders from the neighbouring Muslim lands, both Kashmir and East Turkestan, which is now the Xinjiang region of China were a common sight in Leh's bazaar until the 20th century. The folk music is based on the styles of the Muslim parts of the Western Himalayas. Polo was imported from these lands and enjoys popularity to this day with Ladakhis, regardless of faith.

Over the decades, the relationship between Buddhists and Muslims in Ladakh has deteriorated. This is possibly due to the complex roles of the communities as minorities relative to each other in the years before Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. At the time, Muslims were a minority in Leh, a majority in J&K, and a minority in India; Buddhists were the majority in Leh, but a minority in J&K to Muslims and in India to Hindus. The importation of identity politics from the rest of India may also have contributed. Whatever the true reason, it has never erupted into the kind of violence seen elsewhere in India at times. It may, however, take the sheen out of a place that seems remarkably idyllic, when a new friend says something that's hard not to hear as racist.

Geography
The Indus valley is the Ladakhi heartland, with the highest population density, and large amounts of agricultural land. Running parallel with it, roughly north-east south-west, are a series of valleys and mountain ranges. North of the Indus valley is the Ladakh range, on the other side of which is the Shyok, and Nubra valleys. South of the Indus is the Stok range, clearly visible from Leh. On the other side is the Markha valley is a popular trekking destination. Farther south-west is a series of minor ranges and uninhabited valleys before we come to Zangskar. The Kargyak and the Stod rivers join at Padum, to form the Zangskar river which bucks the trend and flows north through a narrow gorge to join the Indus. To the south of Zanskar is the Grand Himal range marking the southern limit of Ladakh.

To the east of this series of ranges is the Changtang, a high plateau home to nomads. It is known as Kharnak in the west, Samad Rokchen in the north east and Korzok in the south east. Not a true plateau, it has a chaotic assortment of minor mountains ranges not much higher than the wide valleys between them. With no drainage leading out of this area, there are a number of beautiful salt water lakes that make popular destinations for tourists.

Fauna
The animals of Ladakh have much in common with the animals of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan Plateau.

Birds
An exception to this are the birds, many of which migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend the summer in Ladakh. Birds are the easiest form of wildlife for tourists to see, and the only thing tourists who don't leave the paved roads and villages can be sure to see. For such an arid area, Ladakh district may surprise with the variety of birds, with over 400 species recorded.

Some of the common birds of Ladakh district are Eurasian Magpie, Black Redstart, and Red-billed Chough. Bar-headed goose, Brown-headed gull, Black-necked Crane and Ruddy shelduck are breeding birds of Ladakh. The black necked crane is famous due to its extreme rarity. It is found only in Ladakh and Tibet. Other specifically high altitude birds are the Tibetan snowcock and chukar partridge.

There are two main raptors in Ladakh. The Bearded vulture (lammergeier), a vulture, is relatively common. It's unusual in that its head has feathers, unlike most vultures. The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) is closely related, and outwardly the same, as that found in Europe.

Ungulates
Hunting during colonial rule, and then unofficially by the Indian army, has taken its toll on the wildlife population. The situation has since improved due to greater popular awareness of the value of wildlife, an awareness that has spread as far as reaching some members of the army.

The ibex is found in high craggy terrain, it still numbers several thousand in Ladakh, and trekkers often spot them.

The bharal, or Blue Sheep, is even more common, ranging in the Himalayas from Ladakh east as far as Sikkim. Its unusual in that it is neither a true sheep nor true goat, but has characteristics of both.

The shapo, or urial, is a goat, found at lower elevations, mostly in river valleys, and therefore is often directly in competition with domesticated animals. They are now rare, numbering about one thousand.

The argali or nayan is a relative of the Marco Polo Sheep of the Pamirs. They are impressive animals with huge horizontal curving horns. They are extremely rare in Ladakh, numbering only a couple hundred; however, they do have a wide range throughout mountainous areas of the Chinese Provinces of Xinjiang, Qinghai and Gansu.

The chiru or Tibetan antelope, known in Ladakhi as tsos, is also endangered. It has traditionally been hunted for its wool, which must be pulled out by hand, a process done after the animal is killed. The wool obtained from the chiru is called shahtoosh, and is valued in South Asia for its lightweight and warmth, but more than anything else, as a status symbol. Early in the 20th century the chiru was seen in herds numbering in the thousands, surviving on remarkably sparse vegetation, but sadly, they are very rare now. Owning or trading in Shahtoosh is illegal in most countries, and is listed by CITES.

The kyang, or Tibetan wild ass, is one animal that visitors can expect to see from the comfort of a vehicle, if they take a Jeep tour on the Changthang. They favour the rolling grasslands of this area, and with their natural curiosity makes them fairly easy to spot, despite the relatively low numbers, about 1500 individuals. They often seem to be drawn by their curiosity toward a jeep, or trekkers, only to be overcome with shyness and run away.

Predators
None of the predators of Ladakh are a safety concern to trekkers, it is people who are a danger to these animals.

The snow leopard, is justifiably famous. It once ranged throughout the Himalayas, Tibet, and as far as the Sayan Mountains on the Mongolian-Russian border; and in elevation from 1,800 m to 5,400 m. They are extremely shy, and very hard to spot, and as such not well known, it is believed there are about 200 in Ladakh. While tourists are unlikely to see the cats themselves, during winter sightings of the footprints and other marks are not uncommon. Tourists that want to see Snow Leopards should visit during the winter, as at this time the cats descend to lower altitudes, and are more active as prey is harder to find, befriending one of the biologists who come to Ladakh to study Snow Leopards would also help.

Other cats in Ladakh are even rarer than the snow leopard, if not as impressive, the lynx, numbering only a few individuals, and the Pallas's cat, who looks outwardly like a house cat.

The Tibetan wolf is the greatest threat to the livestock of the Ladakhis and as such is the most persecuted; there are only about 300 wolves left in Ladakh. They look unremarkable, and outwardly the same as wolves seen in Europe and the Americas.

There are also a few brown bears in the Suru valley and the area around Dras. They are not a threat to trekkers; however common sense should be exercised. Do not feed or approach any wild animals.

Small animals
Marmots are common. It is possible to sometimes see them from the road.

There are also plenty of voles, hares, and several types of pika.

Read
Leh's many excellent bookshops offer a wide variety of books on Ladakh, Buddhism and Islamic history; general reading. They are worth visiting, and have many titles not available outside India. Some recommended titles on Ladakh are:

 * Ladakh, Crossroads of High Asia, by Janet Rizvi. An entirely enjoyable, meticulously researched overview of Ladakhi culture, history, economy and geography. Its precision and accuracy do not hinder its approachability and personalness.

 * Ancient Futures, by Helena Norberg-Hodge. A passionate explanation of, and plea for, the preservation of the traditional values of Ladakh. Impressive and influential, despite its occasional lack of balance.

Talk
The main language of Ladakh is Ladakhi, a Tibetan dialect, with written Ladakhi being the same as Tibetan. Tibetans can learn Ladakhi easily but Tibetan is difficult to speak for Ladakhis. Spoken Ladakhi is closer to the Tibetan spoken in Western Tibet. The Ladakhi language is a shared culture platform which brings the Muslims and Buddhists together as one people of the union territory.

Ladakhis usually know Hindi and often English, but in villages without road access, neither can be expected. A high-quality Ladakhi phrasebook, Getting Started in Ladakhi, by Melong Publications, is available in Leh and well worth getting. Not only will any attempts you make to speak the language be appreciated, they will be useful.

Julley is the most commonly used word for greeting, saying bye and thank you.

Get in
Since most people will head towards Leh, find all the information on how to get in there.

By road
By bus, by taxi, by motorbike, or by hitch-hiking are the options by road.

By plane
Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport has at least 4-6 connections from Delhi into Ladakh daily.

On foot
Hiking in might be possible via Zanskar, and there is the 100-km trail from Kibber (Spiti Valley) to Karzok (at Tso Moriri).

Fees and permits
Non-Ladakhi visitors will need a permit to visit remote areas close to the Chinese or Pakistani border, like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, and Tso Moriri. Indians can apply for these online. For non-Indians these permits are easily issued via any of the many travel agencies in Leh, which might force you to also book a tour with them, or directly via the DC aka Magistrate Office in Leh. You will need your passport and ₹600 (Sept 2023)—passport copies needed in the past were done on the fly by the DC office in 2023. With the DC aka Magistrate Office in Leh, you will have to prepare a written application towards the Magistrate pointing out all intended destinations, but they will hand you other examples to create this application. It is a good idea to put as many destinations as possible onto the application, just in case you decide to stay longer or visit more sites—the permit is valid for 14 days from the intended date of entry into these regions. Before setting off, prepare a few photocopies of the permit, as the checkpoints might ask you to deposit a photocopy with them, especially when applying for several detinations.

As of 2023, the permit was not check or demanded when moving around on local transport like local buses and when hitch-hiking. You might check for the check-posts on various online maps to find out if you even go by them. It is expected that current access limitations are relaxed in the coming years, due to high influx of tourists in the last couple of years and the general opening of the region to the rest of India.

Get around
For activities like hiking and cycling see below. In case you go by (rental) car, also read the advices under.

By bus
Ladakhi buses run from Leh to the surrounding villages. They are often overcrowded and generally disorganised and poorly run. Daily buses or mini buses run to Alchi, Basgo, Dha-Hanu, Likir, Nimmu, and Saspul; twice daily to Chemray, Hemis, Matho, Stok, and Tak Tok; hourly or more often to Choglamsar, Phyang, Shey, Spituk, Stakna, Thiksay.

By thumb
Hitch-hiking in Ladakh is considerably easy, especially where there is a lot of local traffic, i.e. between non-tourist villages. (Forget about hitchhiking between Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake—there run mostly tourist vehicles that "cannot" take you along for the ride, especially if the rest are paying passengers.) Also, Ladakhi people are very friendly and have no issues taking people on a ride, especially since one of the mottos of the Dalai Lama is: You have to start giving first and expect absolutely nothing. You will even encounter Ladakhi women inviting you for a ride—a much different situation to the rest of India.

From Leh it is best to move out of the city a little first by local bus or to walk a little towards one of the main roads leaving the city before trying to catch a ride, since there is a lot of local traffic that remains within Leh.

Also see India for more general information and which vehicles to look out for.

Trucks often stop for hitchhikers and expected a payment of about half the bus fare, bargaining may be necessary. For shorter distances they will also take you for free. They are slower than the buses and sometimes stop for long periods to unload cargo, especially on the Leh-Manali and Leh-Srinagar highways. They are however mostly relevant for getting into or out of Ladakh, not so much for getting around—but a ride is a ride, right?

By taxi
There are loads of taxis that will take you to any of the surrounding sights. While they are much faster and more comfortable than public transport, their rates are fairly steep compared to elsewhere in India.

By motorcycle
Exploring the region by motorbike seems to be the new trend among the emerging Indian middle class. Most will book an organised tour with many bikes going at once, exploring the region's highlights, followed by a technical support car and potentially a bus for family members not riding a bike. However, you can also rent a motorbike and explore the region on your own. In Leh there are a number of shops that will rent motorbikes, mostly the Royal Enfield, still made in India today (350 and 500 cc model). Rentals are fairly cheap, and can be good way to travel around and far cheaper than local taxis. Check your rented bike before you leave so that you don't find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Things to note:
 * Carry enough spares and all the required tools.
 * Try to learn basic vehicle maintenance before you start on the trip.
 * Carry spare fuel. (There is a 380 km stretch on the Leh–Manali highway that has no petrol pumps.)
 * You will need to get permits to visit certain places (for example, Khardung La).
 * In some sections of the journey the roads are in a bad condition and you will have to handle gravel or even severe, but the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has done a good job, with whatever little resources that are available, in making the difficult terrain accessible to vehicular traffic.
 * Though there are many mechanics in Leh who deal with many bikes, the availability of spares is limited. So before leaving be sure to get your bike serviced (get all cables checked/ changed, set chain, get oil topped up, brakes inspected etc.) and also carry all necessary spares (cables, chain link, bulbs etc.)
 * Make sure to carry the originals of all your bike's documents.
 * Especially on early summer, glaciers tend to melt as the day progresses and flow across roads at some places. Be sure to plan to reach and cross these glacier melts, commonly known as Nalas (for example Pagal nala, Khooni nala, Whisky nala, Brandy nala etc.), during the earlier part of the day, when the flow is low and the depth of the water is still easily passable.
 * When you encounter a military convoy, always pull over and let them pass. It might be a good idea to find out from the locals as to when the convoy goes uphill and downhill and try to time your trip accordingly.

See
The main tourist sites relate to Tibetan Buddhism, mainly gompas (Buddhist monasteries), and to the stunning landscape. Ladakh is not only home to some of the most beautiful and serene monasteries you will ever see, but it also a land of rich natural beauty: and it is this natural beauty that is impressive because it is a barren beauty. Many find themselves at loss to understand how something so barren can yet be so beautiful. Be respectful, these are holy places with monks in most of them.

Many of the monasteries in the area can be visited from Leh, including the impressive Thiksey monastery. Also, many of the villages in the area are worth a visit, including some close to Leh and some in Nubra Valley or Zanskar.

Popular landscapes include the Moon-land-view in the area around Lamayuru on the Leh-Kargil highway, and Pangong Lake which is a 64 km long soda lake of an attractive colour.

Do

 * Volunteering – There are numerous NGOs in Ladakh, most notably 17000 ft Foundation which has a very well structured Voluntourism Program where you can read stories and help students of remote schools with learning
 * Meditate – There is a Buddhist meditation centre in Choglamsar (Vipassana), with an office in Leh, that offers meditation courses and retreats for various levels of experience.
 * Festivals – In late June and early July, the whole Ladakh region comes alive with festivals. Some are held at the local cricket and polo club in Leh, while others are held at the monasteries. Reserve a place well in advance as they get very crowded. Some of the festivals are only held every 12 years, (such as one at Hemis) and at that time the monastery will display its greatest treasure, such as a huge thangka (a religious icon painted or embroidered on cloth).
 * Hot springs – There are at least 4 hot spring areas in Ladakh; Panamik (good for bath), Chumathang (good for bath), Puga (good for pictures), and Demchock (right at the Chinese border).

Itinerares
Note that many of the places near the Pakistani and Chinese border require a permit.

 * Leh-K(h)aru-Chang La-Tangtse-Pangong Lake and back – This is a popular trip to Pangong Lake and can be done by taxi or motorbike. Most people do it as a day trip starting early in the morning and come back by the evening. However, there is accommodation near the lake in Lukung & Spangmik to enjoy this place at a slower pace. Camping is also possible.
 * Leh-Khardung La-Nubra Valley – This is another popular trip. Nubra Valley is the second favourite to tourists as a trip from Leh. Some people return directly from Khardung La (5,300 m), which is (falsely) claimed to be the highest motorable pass in the world. It provides excellent views of Ladakh Range as well as Karakoram Range on the other side. Accommodation is available along the way and countless all over Nubra Valley.
 * Leh-Lamayuru-Leh – This is an easier drive along Indus river towards Kargil. One can also see the confluence of Indus and Zanskar on the way. Lamayuru is a beautiful place and is home to the oldest monastery and one of the most important ones in Ladakh. One can stay in the monastery or in the surrounding village.
 * Leh-Upshi-Tso Kar-Tso Moriri – This is another trip, which covers two picturesque lakes Tso Kar and Tso Moriri, besides two smaller ones and two hot springs. There is accommodation available in Korzok (Tso Moriri), Thukje (Tso Kar) and Chumathang. Camping near Tso Moriri is apparently not allowed.
 * Various monasteries around Leh – There are 4 or 5 big monasteries around Leh and can be covered in one day. The most important are Thiksey, Phyang, Spituk, Stok and Shey.

Some tour operators will organise trips that cover all three of the main hotspots in Ladakh, but you can also do them on your own; by bus and thumb, by motorbike or on foot:
 * Leh - Nubra Valley - Pangong Lake - Tso Moriri and Tso Kar – It would take you approximately one week if you have your own transport, and 1½ weeks if hitch-hiking. See the according articles for more information.

Cycling
The scenery is magnificent viewed at the pace of a bicycle, however one would need to be well prepared with full camping equipment if going into more remote places. However, there are many homestays and guesthouses all over Ladakh. It is also important to identify the road conditions, since you don't want to cycle on gravel or worse for long. OsmAnd has the ability to display the surface of the road, which would help you to better plan your trip.

Also, consider that drivers in India are reckless and going along a highly trafficked road can spoil all the fun. However, cycling in a remote place like Pangong Lake or the Changthang Western Lakes can be rewarding.

In addition to the paved roads there are some trekking routes that are possible to ride a lightly loaded, sturdy mountain bike on, perhaps hiring a horse and handler to take your baggage. Padam to Darcha, via Shingo La (pass) would be a good route for this, though you would still need to push your bike over the pass itself. Ask trekkers in Ladakh for more options.

Trekking
Ladakh is an excellent trekking area for experienced trekkers. For the traveler with a number of months, it is possible to trek from one end of Ladakh to the other, or even from places in Himachal Pradesh. The large number of trails and the limited number of roads allows you to string together routes that have road access often enough to restock supplies, but almost entirely avoid walking on motor roads. The infrastructure is nowhere near as developed as in Nepal, necessitating greater preparedness on the part of the trekker.

Most trekkers go with a guide and some pack horses, which is easy to organise and, if arranged in Leh, quite affordable. You can also trek independently, but this should not be undertaken lightly and without much consultation with locals, especially when on your own. People do go missing and die on these trails.

Trails

Maps
The best quality trekking maps are nowhere near the quality of maps covering trekking areas of Europe or North America. Note that high-quality maps of the border regions of India/Pakistan/China are illegal in India for security reasons, and your map may be confiscated if you allow security personnel to see it (despite very high quality maps of Indian J&K and the LoC being available from the Survey of Pakistan in Islamabad).

For reliable maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, also used by this travel guide and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. These apps support many special features like hillshades, elevation lines, satellite pictures, route estimation, and so on; all necessary when trekking in remote areas—read more here.

To identify and (GPS) export official hiking trails within Ladakh, head over to Waymarked Trails. These are the same (OpenStreetMap) trails that you will be able to identify with the help of OsmAnd and Mapy.cz. However, they come with no information on trail status and frequency of use whatsoever. Hence, you might be better off using a commercial service like Wikiloc to identify adequate and manageable trails with rating and status information—after registering for free, you should be able to (GPS) export your chosen trails for free and import them into OsmAnd, Mapy.cz, or any other map and navigation app.

In the past this travel guide recommended the following maps for trekking, but they might not be of any better use than the latter app approach:
 * Survey of India – They produce a very out of date (early 1980s) trekking map of J&K; it's cheap, and could be useful for planning a route with an experienced guide.
 * US Army Map Service (1:250,000) – Produces out-of-date (1950s and 60s) topographic maps of the whole of India, easily available on the Internet.
 * Soviet Military Topographic Maps (1:200,000 & 1:100,000) – Maps produced in the 1970s and 1980s which are now easily available on the internet but are expensive. They provide good information but all the labels are in Cyrillic script.
 * Artou (1:300,000) – Based on satellite imagery. In the early 2000s the best available, it is satisfactory for pre-trek route planning, but not good for navigation. A pirated print version has been available in Leh.
 * Trekking Map of Ladakh (1:600,000) – By Sonam Tsetan, it is very accurate for what it shows: the trails, village names, and water courses. It lacks topography but has the most accurate place names of all the maps, making it a very useful planning tool. It's available in Leh for about ₹200.
 * Leomann (1:200,000) – It may have better scale than the Artou, but it contains less information and is less accurate; however, the series does cover a lot more of Ladakh and elsewhere in the Himalayas.
 * Ladakh Zanskar Trekking Map Series (1:150,000) – By Editions Olizane, it is an excellent topographic map, with lots of detail.

Money
Contrary to the rest of India, in Ladakh restaurants and shops generally seem to have change for larger notes—may it be due to the higher security of this area or the mentality of Ladakhi people.

Eat
Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being:
 * Momos – Another favorite of the Ladakhis. While here, make sure to relish a steamy plate of momos with spicy chutney.

 * Thukpa – Ladakh's staple food and can be availed very easily. It is a noodle soup dish served with pieces of mutton and boiled vegetables. Furthermore, it is served with a flavored chutney.

 * Chowmein – Due to the closeness to China, this pasta dish can be found everywhere; veg, egg or mutton.

 * Tsampa (Ladakhi: ngamphe) – Roasted barley flour, which is edible without cooking and therefore it makes useful, if dull, trekking food. Sometimes prepared with hot salt tea and hard cheese added.

 * Skyu – A heavy pasta dish with root vegetables.

 * Ladakhi Pulao – Raw rice is cooked with mutton stock and seasonings. Further, it is layered with caramelized onions, carrots, and nuts. You might not get it on the streets but you can head to one of the restaurants for trying it.

 * Tigmo – This is a vegetarian dish that one might consume as a meal or even a snack at any time of the day. It is a flavored stew with vegetables served with bread. However, even though it is a vegetarian dish, there is also a non-vegetarian version available.

As Ladakh moves toward a less sustainable, cash-based economy, imported Indian foods are becoming more important. You are likely to be served rice and dal (lentils) with veggies even in villages without road access, and it's standard in Leh.

In Leh you can taste a wide range of cuisines, which include north Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Italian and even Korean. Bakeries immitating Western bakeries are plentiful in Leh. As in other heavily touristed areas of the Himalaya, they often claim to be German bakeries, but their freshness is doubtable—just review the assortment from one to the other day and you will see that they barely sell anything.

Drink

 * Tea – traditionally made with strong black tea, butter and salt, and sometimes milk. It is mixed in a large churn and known as gurgur cha, due to the sound of mixing it. Similar to tea traditionally drunk elsewhere in Central Asia, it's more like soup than tea elsewhere; it can be refreshing and invigorating if you can get used to it.
 * There is often also just a plain black tea with salt version.

 * Chai – Sweet tea (cha ngarmo) is common now, made Indian style with lots of milk and sugar.
 * Beer (chang) – Traditionally made from barley; it has a lighter flavour than a Western-type, bottled beer.

Stay safe
Ladakh is one of the safest parts of India, and the most basic precautions against petty theft are enough to keep you and your possessions safe. Most of the union territory is dotted with military cantonments every 50-80 km, but mainly because of its strategic position on international border between India and China. The army plays a major part in rescue and aid efforts, and that is why you will be required to produce identification documents or written permission from local authorities before entering some remote places.

Perhaps the biggest danger travellers face is altitude sickness; give your body enough time to acclimatise before going higher. Leh is above 3,500 m (over 11,000 feet) and other parts of Ladakh are higher yet. Wear protective clothing, UV-protective sunglasses, and sunscreen, especially if it gets very hot.

Be cautious if you are driving on your own. Though roads are fine, the constant melting of snow tends to damage the road conditions. There are always a chances of landslides, so don’t venture at the edge of the road.

Acclimatisation
Those arriving by air are strongly advised to rest for at least a few days and nights in order to adjust to the high altitude over 3,000 m before venturing to higher altitudes. See article on altitude sickness.

If you feel breathlessness after some exercise, scared of height or any heart problem then avoid visiting Leh. But if you are still desperate to be in Leh then drink lots of water or eat in frequent times while in this beautiful place. Be extra careful while visiting Leh in winter. It is stunningly beautiful but extreme cold weather means a little discomfort for visitors.

This also means not heading directly for the tent camps at Sarchu (4,300 m) or Pang (4,500 m) from Manali, i.e. no longer than Darcha the first night. Consider visiting Alchi first since it is lower than Leh.

All overnight stays cannot be planned—in September 2008 the Air Force had to evacuate those with altitude sickness from Sarchu in after massive snowfall, and landslides are not uncommon. Not allowing your body to acclimatise can result in altitude sickness, which has only one cure: turning back. Stay a minimum of two nights after flying in before going higher, so as both to give your body time to acclimatise and to explore the city.

If you are travelling from Delhi to Leh by road, the route which enables better acclimatisation is via Shimla, and then towards Kinnaur and Spiti, which gives several acclimatisation nights between 2,000 to 3,000 m: Sarahan (2,134 m), Kalpa (2,800 m), Tabo (3,265 m). After Kaza (3,600 m) and the Kunzum La (4,550 m) the road connects with the Manali-Leh highway just north of the Rothang pass.

Diamox is available over the counter in India which can help, with varying success, to speed up acclimatisation. Those that are allergic to sulfa medication can not use Diamox, and it can have side effects: this needs to be discussed with a doctor beforehand.

Respect
Travellers to Ladakh usually find Ladakhis to be friendly and humble, especially in the Buddhist-majority areas. Equality between sexes doesn't seem to be an issue, and you will often see Ladakhi women on their own, in shops or restaurants—contrary to the rest of India.

The Ladakhis are not Kashmiris; they are their own ethnic group. Referring to them as "Kashmiris" may irritate them, especially now that Ladakh is not part of Jammu and Kashmir anymore.

Many Ladakhis express feelings of antipathy towards Kashmiris and Pakistanis and are generally supportive of their inclusion in India. They feel they were unjustly treated and discriminated against when Ladakh was a part of Jammu and Kashmir.

Do not take photographs of the military installations in Ladakh or you will be in serious trouble.

Go next
Many people will head to either of the two, depending on where they came from in the first place:
 * Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar as the capital
 * Himachal Pradesh with Manali as its first major stop

title: Ladakh


text:
Ladakhi phrasebook

Ladakhi Bhoti(ལ་དྭགས་སྐད་ or La-dwags skat) is the main language of Ladakh, India. It is also very similar to Balti, another language spoken in Kargil and Gilgit Baltistan. The two languages are mutually intelligible.

Pronunciation guide
Ladakhi is Romanized in a similar way to Hindi. The most important thing to remember being that the "Th" represents a "T" sound with a bit more air. This corresponds to a large part to the pronunciation of Latin, German, Finnish, and many other European languages. What is written as -le is pronounced as in English "length", or French "lé".

Basics

 * Hello. : . Jule
 * Hello. (informal) : . Jule
 * How are you? : (Nyerang = You) Khamzang ina-le?
 * Fine, thank you. : Khamzang in le! O'-Jule!
 * What is your name? : Nyerangi mingla chi in?
 * My name is ______ . :  ______ . (  _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : . ( )
 * Please. : . Jule
 * Thank you. : Tok zhe-che.
 * You're welcome. : O'-Jule!
 * Yes. : Dik (ok) / Ha-le? (when responding to someone calling you)
 * No. : Man-le.
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : . ( )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . ( )
 * I'm sorry. : . (nga gonspa sal)
 * Goodbye : . ( juu hey)
 * Goodbye (informal) : . ( )
 * I can't speak Ladakhi [well]. : [nga ladaksi spera yongamet ]. ( [gyala ])
 * Do you speak English? : nyeranga engling shesada ? ( ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? ( ?)
 * Help! : roks ! (yato !)
 * Look out! : ! ( !)
 * Good morning. : . ( )
 * Good evening. : . ( )
 * Good night. : Chi tro daylaik. ( )
 * Good night (to sleep) : . ( )
 * I don't understand. : . ( )
 * Where is the toilet? : ? ( ?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : . ( .)
 * Don't touch me! : ! (Nya Lakpa ma-tse !)
 * I'll call the police. : . ('nya police la bo-daad' .)
 * Police! : ! ( !)
 * Stop! Thief! : ! ! ('sring' skun-ma! !)
 * I need your help. : . (Nya nyeri yato goshes rag .)
 * It's an emergency. : . ( .)
 * I'm lost. : . ( .)
 * I lost my bag. : . ( .)
 * I lost my wallet. : . ( .)
 * I'm sick. : . ( Nya zumu rag.)
 * I've been injured. : . ( .)
 * I need a doctor. : . ( .)
 * Can I use your phone? : ? ('nye ri phone bo kolna diga lay' ?)

Numbers

 * 1 : (chik )
 * 2 : (nyis )
 * 3 : (sum )
 * 4 : (jzhe )
 * 5 : (nghra )
 * 6 : (tuk )
 * 7 : (dun )
 * 8 : (gyat )
 * 9 : (gyu )
 * 10 : (chu )
 * 11 : (chug-tzik )
 * 12 : (chug-nis )
 * 13 : (chug-sum )
 * 14 : (chug-jzhe )
 * 15 : (chug-nghra )
 * 16 : (chu-ruk )
 * 17 : (chub-dun )
 * 18 : (chob-gyat )
 * 19 : (chur-gu )
 * 20 : (nyi-shu )
 * 21 : (nyishu-ser-chik )
 * 22 : (nyishu-ser nyis )
 * 23 : (nyishu-sar gu )
 * 30 : ( )
 * 40 : ( )
 * 50 : ( )
 * 60 : ( )
 * 70 : ( )
 * 80 : ( )
 * 90 : ( )
 * 100 : ( )
 * 200 : ( )
 * 300 : ( )
 * 1,000 : ( )
 * 2,000 : ( )
 * 1,000,000 : ( )
 * 1,000,000,000 : ( )
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : ( )
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : ( )
 * half : ( )
 * less : ( )
 * more : ( )

Time

 * now : (Dak-sa)
 * later : (Sting-na )
 * before : ( Syon-la)
 * morning : ( Nra-mo)
 * afternoon : ( Nying-gung)
 * evening : ( Phi-tok)
 * night : ( Tsaan)

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : ( )
 * two o'clock AM : ( )
 * noon : ( )
 * one o'clock PM : ( )
 * two o'clock PM : ( )
 * midnight : ( )

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : ( )
 * _____ hour(s) : ( )
 * _____ day(s) : ( )
 * _____ week(s) : ( )
 * _____ month(s) : ( )
 * _____ year(s) : ( )

Days

 * today : ( Di-ring)
 * yesterday : ( Da-ang)
 * tomorrow : ( Thorey)
 * this week : ( )
 * last week : ( )
 * next week : ( )

 * Sunday : ( )
 * Monday : ( )
 * Tuesday : ( )
 * Wednesday : ( )
 * Thursday : ( )
 * Friday : ( )
 * Saturday : ( )

Months

 * January : ( )
 * February : ( )
 * March : ( )
 * April : ( )
 * May : ( )
 * June : ( )
 * July : ( )
 * August : ( )
 * September : ( )
 * October : ( )
 * November : ( )
 * December : ( )

Colors

 * black : ( )
 * white : ( )
 * gray : ( )
 * red : ( )
 * blue : ( )
 * yellow : ( )
 * green : ( )
 * orange : ( )
 * purple : ( )
 * brown : ( )

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : ( )
 * One ticket to _____, please. : ( )
 * Where does this train/bus go? : ( )
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : ( )
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : ( )
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : ( )
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : ( )

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : ( )
 * ...the train station? : ( )
 * ...the bus station? : ( )
 * ...the airport? : ( )
 * ...downtown? : ( )
 * ...the youth hostel? : ( )
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ( )
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ( )
 * Where are there a lot of... : ( )
 * ...hotels? : ( )
 * ...restaurants? : ( )
 * ...bars? : ( )
 * ...sites to see? : ( )
 * Can you show me on the map? : ( )
 * street : ( )
 * Turn left. : ( )
 * Turn right. : ( )
 * left : ( )
 * right : ( )
 * straight ahead : ( )
 * towards the _____ : ( )
 * past the _____ : ( )
 * before the _____ : ( )
 * Watch for the _____. : ( )
 * intersection : ( )
 * north : ( )
 * south : ( )
 * east : ( )
 * west : ( )
 * uphill : ( )
 * downhill : ( )

Taxi

 * Taxi! : ( )
 * Take me to _____, please. : ( )
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : ( )
 * Take me there, please. : ( )

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : ( )
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : ( )
 * Does the room come with... : ( )
 * ...bedsheets? : ( )
 * ...a bathroom? : ( )
 * ...a telephone? : ( )
 * ...a TV? : ( )
 * May I see the room first? : ( )
 * Do you have anything quieter? : ( )
 * ...bigger? : ( )
 * ...cleaner? : ( )
 * ...cheaper? : ( )
 * OK, I'll take it. : ( )
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : ( )
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : ( )
 * Do you have a safe? : ( )
 * ...lockers? : ( )
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : ( )
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : ( )
 * Please clean my room. : ( )
 * Can you wake me at _____? : ( )
 * I want to check out. : ( )

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : ( )
 * Do you accept British pounds? : ( )
 * Do you accept euros? : ( )
 * Do you accept credit cards? : ( )
 * Can you change money for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get money changed? : ( )
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : ( )
 * What is the exchange rate? : ( )
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ( )

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : ( )
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : ( )
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : ( )
 * Is there a house specialty? : ( )
 * Is there a local specialty? : ( )
 * I'm a vegetarian. : ( )
 * I don't eat pork. : ( )
 * I don't eat beef. : ( )
 * I only eat kosher food. : ( )
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : ( )
 * fixed-price meal : ( )
 * a la carte : ( )
 * breakfast : ( )
 * lunch : ( )
 * tea (meal) : ( )
 * supper : ( )
 * I want _____. : ( )
 * I want a dish containing _____. : ( )
 * chicken : ( )
 * beef : ( )
 * fish : ( )
 * ham : ( )
 * sausage : ( )
 * cheese : ( )
 * eggs : ( )
 * salad : ( )
 * (fresh) vegetables :  ( )
 * (fresh) fruit : ( )
 * bread : ( )
 * toast : ( )
 * noodles : ( )
 * rice : ( )
 * beans : ( )
 * May I have a glass of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a cup of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : ( )
 * coffee : ( )
 * tea (drink) : ( )
 * juice : ( )
 * (bubbly) water : ( )
 * (still) water : ( )
 * beer : ( )
 * red/white wine : ( )
 * May I have some _____? : ( )
 * salt : ( )
 * black pepper : ( )
 * butter : ( )
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
 * I'm finished. : ( )
 * It was delicious. : ( )
 * Please clear the plates. : ( )
 * The check, please. : ( )

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : ( )
 * Is there table service? : ( )
 * A beer/two beers, please. : ( )
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : ( )
 * A pint, please. : ( )
 * A bottle, please. : ( )
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : ( )
 * whiskey : ( )
 * vodka : ( )
 * rum : ( )
 * water : ( )
 * club soda : ( )
 * tonic water : ( )
 * orange juice : ( )
 * Coke (soda) : ( )
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : ( )
 * One more, please. : ( )
 * Another round, please. : ( )
 * When is closing time? : ( )
 * Cheers! : ( )

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : ( )
 * How much is this? : ( )
 * That's too expensive. : ( )
 * Would you take _____? : ( )
 * expensive : ( )
 * cheap : ( )
 * I can't afford it. : ( )
 * I don't want it. : ( )
 * You're cheating me. : ( )
 * I'm not interested. : (..)
 * OK, I'll take it. : ( )
 * Can I have a bag? : ( )
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : ( )
 * I need... : ( )
 * ...toothpaste. : ( )
 * ...a toothbrush. : ( )
 * ...tampons. : . ( )
 * ...soap. : ( )
 * ...shampoo. : ( )
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ( )
 * ...cold medicine. : ( )
 * ...stomach medicine. : ... ( )
 * ...a razor. : ( )
 * ...an umbrella. : ( )
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ( )
 * ...a postcard. : ( )
 * ...postage stamps. : ( )
 * ...batteries. : ( )
 * ...writing paper. : ( )
 * ...a pen. : ( )
 * ...English-language books. : ( )
 * ...English-language magazines. : ( )
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ( )
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ( )

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : ( )
 * Can I get insurance? : ( )
 * stop (on a street sign) : ( )
 * one way : ( )
 * yield : ( )
 * no parking : ( )
 * speed limit : ( )
 * gas (petrol) station : ( )
 * petrol : ( )
 * diesel : ( )

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : ( )
 * It was a misunderstanding. : ( )
 * Where are you taking me? : ( )
 * Am I under arrest? : ( )
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ( )
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : ( )
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : ( )
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : ( )

title: Ladakhi phrasebook


text:
La Digue

La Digue is one of the smaller islands of the Seychelles. It is reasonably accessible, well served with accommodation and some tourist facilities, but is much quieter, picturesque and exclusive than Mahe or Praslin. The key reason for visiting is to experience L'Anse Source D'Argent, one of the world's top beaches, largely on account of the exotic weathering of the large pink granite rocks studding the coastline, coupled with sandy beaches and palms.

There are several small islands just off the coast of La Digue:
 * Félécite Island
 * Frigate Island
 * Marie Anne Island
 * Recif Island
 * The Sisters

By helicopter
There is a helipad. Flying from Mahe to La Digue will take you about 20 minutes. Private helipad transfer would cost about €900. This is the most expensive way of travelling.

By boat
Probably the easiest way to travel between Mahe to La Digue and Praslin to La Digue.

It is possible to book with Cat Cocos and Inter Island Ferry on Seychellesbookings.com.

There are also several locals of Praslin that offer boats for hire, however this option is very expensive. Expect to pay approximately 600 euro and upwards. If you go this route you will have the chance to stop at some of the other less accessible islands in the area as well.

Get around
Due to its small size, La Digue has little need for the transportation infrastructure seen in Mahe or even Praslin. There are only a handful of taxis for hire on the island, and no car rental agencies. As a result of the low supply, prices for taxi are high - approximately €90 for a half day or €30 for a trip to the beach. If you are staying at one of the resorts on the island, your hotel will likely arrange for ferry pick up, but check beforehand to ensure you are not stranded. For those arriving by ferry for a day trip, you will see many companies offering bikes for rent. This is really the only way to travel around the island, and quite affordable at about €8 for a whole day, just make sure you test your bike before you take it. If you aren't going very far, there are also ox carts (a buggy pulled by an ox) that you can catch a ride on.

Do

 * Excursions can be made round the island on bicycles, to the reserve of the rare Paradise Flycatchers, to Ile de Cocos for snorkeling, or over to Praslin to see the Coco de Mer (suggestively shaped type of coconut).

Buy
There are several gift shops on the island, most of them right by the port. They offer the usual gifts of Seychelles. One notable purchase is fresh vanilla beans grown on the island. 9 beans cost around 5 euro, a fantastic price, and cheaper then the beans on Praslin. Also if you visit the visitors center, they have free full color posters (1 per person) available.

Eat
There are several Creole take-away restaurants available in town offering curry, fish, pork, and rice dishes. For the more picky eaters there is a very overpriced resort style restaurant offering more western familiar foods, as well as seafood. There is also a small gelato shop (ice cream) just south of town on the main road. You can also go to a restaurant in advance and ask the chef to prepare a special meal for you. There are many grocery shops around where you can buy ready to eat food.

Drink
Beer is readily available in La Digue and can be bought in various shops. Mineral water, cold drinks, etc., are also available.

Sleep
Being that the island is very small, very few people stay over night. However if you choose to, or if you miss the last ferry at 5:00pm, there are just a few very expensive hotels in town. It's a much better option to just plan on a day trip to the island, which is plenty of time to see all of the sites.

title: La Digue


text:
Ladino phrasebook

Ladino (גֿודֿיאו-איספאנייול / judeo-español / Ђудео-Еспањол in the Hebrew, Latin and Cyrillic scripts) is a Romance language spoken by the Sephardic Jews.

It is also spoken by minor Jewish communities in Turkey, Israel, the Netherlands, Greece, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For most of its speakers, today, Ladino is the second language.

A Western Romance language, Ladino is closely related to and mutually intelligible with Spanish. However, there are many loan words from Hebrew, Portuguese, Arabic, and Turkish.

Pronunciation guide
Ladino spelling, like Spanish, has the pleasant characteristic of being very phonetic, with only a few clearly-defined exceptions. This means that if you know how to pronounce the letters of a word, it's relatively easy to sound out the word itself.

Vowels

 * a : like 'a' in "father".
 * e : like 'e' in "met", although often taught as 'a' in "spain".
 * i : like 'ee' in "see".
 * o : like 'o' in "score", especially when stressed.
 * u : like 'oo' in "hoop".
 * y : like 'ee' in "see". Very rarely used at the middle or ending of words.

Consonants

 * b : like 'b' in "bed"
 * c : 'c' is solely used in combination as 'ch'.
 * ch : like 'ch' in "touch": muncho
 * d : like 'd' in "dog"
 * dj: like 'j' in John. Djudezmo
 * f : like 'f' in "fine": faro
 * g : like 'g' in "good": ganyar
 * h : like 'h' in "hit": haham
 * j : like 's' in the "pleasure":judyo
 * k : like 'k' in "kid": kilo
 * l : like 'l' in "love": malo
 * m : like 'm' in "mother": mano
 * n : like 'n' in "nice": noche, ancla
 * p : like 'p' in "pig": Pesah
 * r : is pronounced as 'r' in Spanish: persona
 * s : like 'ss' in "hiss": sopa
 * sh: like 'sh' in "shining": yanashear
 * t : like 't' in "top": Tora
 * v : like 'v' in "valid": bever
 * y : like 'y' in "yes": yuvyar.
 * z : like 'z' in "zoo"

Basics

 * Hello/Hi : Shalom (Shah-lom)
 * How are you? (informal): Ke haber? (KEH HA-bear)
 * How are you? (formal): Komo estash? (KOH-mo ehs-TASH?)
 * Very well, thank you: Muy byen, grasyas. (MOOEY BYEHN, GRAH-syahs)
 * What is your name? (informal): Komo te yamas? (KOH-moh TEH YAH-mahs?)
 * What is your name? (formal): Komo vos yamash? (KOH-moh VOS YAH-mash)
 * Who are you? (informal): Ken [eres/sos]? (KEN EH-rehs?)
 * My name is ______: Me yamo ______ (MEH YAH-moh _____ )
 * I am ______: Yo so ______ (YO SO ______)
 * Nice to meet you: Enkantado/a (ehn-kahn-TAH-doh/ehn-kahn-TAH-dah)
 * It's a pleasure to meet you: Muncho plazer. (MOON-choh plah-zehr)
 * Please: Por favor (POHR fah-vOHR)
 * Thank you: Grasyas (GRAH-syahs)
 * You're welcome: De nada (DEH NAH-dhah)
 * Yes: Si (SEE)
 * No: No (NOH)
 * Excuse me! (begging pardon): [Pardon/Perdon]! (pahr-DOHN/per-DOHN)
 * I'm sorry: Lo syento (LOH SYEHN-toh)
 * Goodbye: Adyo (ah-DYOH)
 * I can't speak Ladino (well): No (f)avlo (byen) ladino. (NOH (F)AV-loh (BYEHN) la-dee-noh)
 * Do you speak English? (informal): (F)Avlas inglez? ((F)AH-vlahs een-GLEHZ?)
 * Do you speak English? (formal): (F)Avlates inglez? ((F)AH-blah-tes oos-TEHD een-GLEHZ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Ay alguno ke (f)avla inglez? (I AHL-goo-noh KEH (F)AH-Vlah een-GLEHZ?)
 * Help!: Ayuda! (ah-YOO-dah!)
 * Good morning: Buenos diyas (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs)
 * Good afternoon / Good evening: Buenas tardes (BWEH-nahs TAR-dehs)
 * Good evening / Good night: Buenas noches (BWEH-nahss NOH-chehss)
 * I don't understand: No entyendo (NOH ehn-TYEHN-doh)
 * Where is the toilet?: Ande esta el banyo? (AHN-deh ehss-TAH EHL BAH-nyoh?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : Deshame en paz. (DEH-shah-meh ehn PAHS)
 * Don't touch me! : No me tokes! (noh meh TOH-kehs!)
 * Police! : Polis! (poh-lees!)

Numbers
½ - medio

0 - zero

1 - uno

2 - dos

3 - trez

4 - kuatro

5 - sinko

6 - sesh

7 - syete

8 - ocho

9 - mueve

10 - dyez

title: Ladino phrasebook


text:
Ladrilleros

Ladrilleros and Juanchaco are two fishermen settlements located at the mouth of the bay of Malaga, some 40 km north of Buenaventura in the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia.

Get in
Fast boats depart from the Muelle Turistico in Buenaventura (1 hr). Return fare is COP$90,000 and the return is valid for 15 days. A reliable company is Transporte Asturias.

Get around

 * Moto taxis take you from Juanchaco to Ladrilleros for COP$5,000.

Do

 * Whale watching : From mid July to September, whales travel from the cold waters of Patagonia to Ladrilleros in order to raise their baby whale. Tours do not last more than 30 min in order not to disturb the whales. Boats leave frequently from the Muelle Turistico in Juanchaco (COP$25,000).
 * Cascada La Sierpe : Two waterfalls inside the Malaga Bay. Accessible only by boat with a guide (COP$25,000).
 * Mangrove Tour
 * Piscinas de agua naturale
 * Beach
 * Surfing and body board
 * Diving and snorkeling

Drink
Coco loco: local spirit called viche and served in a coco nut.

Stay safe
The town is safe. There s an airforce landing strip right between Juanchaco and Ladrilleros as well as a navy base in the bay of Malaga.

Go next
In the event of bad weather, the boats will not run and you'll be stuck in town for an extra day. Be careful if you have to catch a plane or are low on cash.

title: Ladrilleros


text:
Ladybrand

Ladybrand is surrounded by the beautiful hills of the eastern Free State at the foot of the majestic Maluti Mountains in Lesotho. It is a cosmopolitan town serving as a trade and business centre on the border of Lesotho, and is the administrative centre of Mantsopa District Municipality, which includes the towns of Tweespruit, Excelsior, Thaba Phatswa, and Hobhouse.

Understand
The town was founded in 1867 and named after Lady Catharina Brand, the mother of President Brand, then president of the Orange Free State Colony. Ladybrand, a frontier post, was established specifically to defend the conquered territory from the “marauding” Basotho.

Many of the inhabitants commute daily to work in Maseru, which is 18 km away.

The area is traversed by the Maluti Route on the R26 from KwaZulu Natal via the Eastern Free State, up to the Eastern Cape highlands and the Lesotho Kingdom.

Ladybrand especially is an economically bustling town with high property prices and sometimes being popularly referred to as the ‘capital’ of Lesotho.

Get in
Ladybrand is a 15-minute drive from Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. It's about 4 hours from Johannesburg, and 1½ hours from Bloemfontein. The Bloemfontein - Durban Intercape bus stops here. One of the well-known writers in the town, George Rampai, has dubbed it "the Vibrant Ladybrand" due to its bustling life, though it is relatively small.

Get around
A pair of shoes is all you need.

See
The sandstone church in the centre of town is the main landmark. There is an old airstrip runway that makes for a nice perspective photo. As with many eastern Free State towns there are some pleasing old sandstone houses dotted around.

Do
There are some nice walks around the edge of town – head west towards the hills behind Ladybrand. You can also play a round of golf at the club, horse ride, paintball, and other things, ask in the tourist information office. The Oldenburg Lodge 10 km up the road offers horse riding, games drives, rock climbing, swimming and other activities.

Buy
In general the prices of goods are the same or cheaper in Ladybrand, especially for white goods and furniture, however delivery charges may well exceed the savings compared to purchasing things in Maseru.

Eat
Ladybrand is a culinary oasis in this part of the Free State - driven mainly by the exacting standards of the many foreigners living in Ladybrand and Maseru. Prices are very reasonable also.

 * Spizzy Pizza (near the church) used to be a fantastic cozy little Italian place serving great pizzas. The pizzas are still good but the curiously stark grey interior is a little off-putting.
 * Spizzy Pizza (near the church) used to be a fantastic cozy little Italian place serving great pizzas. The pizzas are still good but the curiously stark grey interior is a little off-putting.

Drink
Cheaters (opposite Spar) offers the best place for a drink.  Spizzy Pizza In summer makes a good place to sip a beer under the veranda, watching the sun set behind the church. Ciao Ciao Cocktail Lounge enjoy the chilled atmosphere.

Sleep
Ladybrand offers considerably better accommodation than Maseru. You will you pay on average twice as much for a room in Maseru.

Go next
Explore Lesotho via Maseru. Head north to Clarens. Head west to Bloemfontein.

title: Ladybrand


text:
Lady Elliot Island

Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost inhabited island in the Great Barrier Reef. The island offers a range of fun activities under and above water, and it is also a fantastic destination for seeing and photographing corals, fish and birds typical of the Barrier Reef.

History
The island was named after the ship, the Lady Elliot, that was once stranded on its reef.

It was once mined for guano (the result of bird droppings reacting with limestone, used as a base material for fertilizer and explosives in bygone days), and was almost completely cleared of vegetation. It has been revegetated and has become a natural sanctuary since the 1960s. Today some of the island is managed as an eco-tourism resort.

Landscape
The island is a coral cay, with the highest point only a few metres above the high tide. It is largely sandy, with grasses and substantial trees across the island, including a few beachside palms. No hills to climb, only two real walking tracks across the island. It is possible to walk around the island on the beach, even at high tide.

Flora and fauna
The island is home to a great diversity of marine life. Many varieties of tropical fish, the ever present Sergeant Major, Parrot and Butterfly fishes along with Moon Wrasse are probably the most common. Trigger fish, flute fish and anemone fish are fairly easily seen. Reef Sharks, Manta Rays, Sting Rays are also around if you look. Mantas can even be spotted from the air when landing on the island, so keep an eye out. The corals are all hard corals, there is some colour in some of the coral, especially in deeper water, but most of the coral and anemones are not brightly coloured.

Turtles breed and hatch their young on the island beaches, and can be viewed in the summer months. Green turtles and Hawksbill turtles are common in the water at all times of year. They are curious creatures, and will often cruise around with you, rather than avoiding you. They are easily seen from boats or while snorkelling. Loggerhead turtles are rarer but do inhabit the area.

All flora and fauna is protected on the island and the bay. No fishing is allowed. Nothing can be removed from the island, including shells and washed-up coral.

Climate
Tropical, with more rain and warmth in the summer. Daytime temperatures average in the high 20s (°C) during summer, and low 20s during winter. It can remain warm and comfortable for swimming well into April.

By plane
Lady Elliot Island (LYT) has a grass airstrip running the length of the island, immediately adjacent to the resort. According to the home page of the resort, these flights are the only form of transport to and from the island.

Direct flights are available from Town of 1770, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Lady Elliot operates a small fleet of 10-seater Britten Norman Islander aircraft, and has regular services to the mainland for day-trippers and for longer stays. The first and last flights in and out are reserved for people daytripping or staying for a single night.

The flights have a scenic aspect to them. The flights from Bundaberg go pretty much directly over the water to the island, but the flights from Hervey Bay give you a view over K'gari, and the flights from the Gold Coast, have a scenic trip up the coast. The planes maintain an altitude of around 500-900 m or so for the trip. From 1770, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, the distance is less than 100 km and the flight takes about 30 minutes.

Return flights to the island from Town of 1770, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg are $365, $679 from the Gold Coast and $799 from Brisbane. One-way flights are unavailable. It is also not allowed to fly your own plane to the island.

By boat
There are no commercial ferries to the island, and there is no wharf. There are some dive operators which work just off the island, and also some moorings off the island for private craft. Private craft must pay the appropriate fees (see the section below) with accompanying bureaucracy, and cannot use the resort facilities.

Fees and permits
There is an Environmental Management Charge of $6.50/person/day, usually included in the airfare and accommodation price, sometimes added on top of it. Either way, if you go with the resort or a tour operator, you'll just need to pay them and they'll handle the paperwork.

If you travel independently (by your own vessel) you need to deal with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in person. This entails registering with them, and filling in a digital logbook of your trips around the Great Barrier Reef. If you don't plan to visit several places around the reef, it's probably less hassle just going with a tour company.

Get around
Everywhere on the island is accessible by foot. You can walk the length of the island in 15 minutes, and walk around it in around 30 minutes.

The walking tracks are sand formed, and not paved, and may present some difficulty to people with wheelchairs or a disability. There are buggies available to staff, but are not hired. It is occasionally possible to hitch a ride with a staff member going your direction.

Do

Buy
There is a small shop on the island, open until 4PM daily. It sells gifts, souvenirs, ice-creams, drinks, etc.

Eat
There is a choice of buffet lunch ($20 pp) or sandwiches, burgers, fish and chips ($12). Dinner and breakfast are included in room tariffs.

Don't expect a large buffet spread for dinner, it is all fairly basic, steak, fish, chicken, vegetables and salad, with a vegetarian hot dish as well.

Drink
There is a bar on the island, but the nightlife is quiet, and the bar closes early. There is a free pool table and ping-pong table. They mix cocktails, including the a creamy chocolate special celebrating Susannah McKee, the wife of the lighthouse keeper, who supposedly committed suicide on the island, unable to handle the isolation.

Sleep
There is accommodation on the island, all administered by the resort under a lease. Permanent tents ("Eco-huts" in marketing speak) are erected, which have solid doors, solid floors, and canvas around the sides. Other basic cabins and rooms with bathrooms sleeping up to six are available.

Room rates start from $132 pp for a 6-share bed in the cabins (that were left behind by the previous activities on the island), rising to around $300 pp for a twin share room. Eco-huts (permanent tents, with floors) cost around $149 quad-share. Rates include buffet dinner and breakfast.

Connect
An Internet terminal is in the reception building, a small fee applies to use it. A satellite phone is available in the departure lounge, operated by Telstra. It requires a Telstra Phonecard for operation, and these are on sale at the shop. There is no mobile (cell) phone reception on the island.

Stay safe
Stonefish have venomous spines and settle on the reef, and rely on being still and camouflaged. Always wear reef shoes or fins when entering the water to avoid danger. Cone shells can cause death. Don't pick anything up that looks like a cone. Seek urgent medical advice if stung.

Fire coral can cause irritation on the hands if you touch it. Sea cucumbers fire sticky threads if you pick them up - and you will need to remove them and wash your hands if you do.

Bull Rays are timid, and generally lie on the bottom of the reef. They have a barb in their tail they can use if threatened.

Reef sharks are timid and harmless. Manta Rays have no barb.

There are four red lights at either end of the runway, and at the crossing point by reception. Don't cross, and leave the runway area if the lights are flashing.

Go next
Back to the mainland, if you've arrived by plane. If you've arrived in your own boat it's up to yourself.

title: Lady Elliot Island


text:
Ladysmith

Ladysmith is a city in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa at the foot of the Drakensberg mountains.

History
The Anglo Boer War dominates recorded history in this area. On 30 October 1899 (Mournful Monday), Boer forces started a siege on the town after British troops retreated there following their defeat at the Battle of Modderstroom. The siege lasted 118 days before British reinforcements arrived and were able to put an end to it.

Sir Winston Churchill gives a good account of the siege (and of the Anglo Boer War in general) in his book London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.

By car
Follow the N11 from the N3 for about 20km.

By train
Passenger trains between Johannesburg and Durban calls in Ladysmith.

The Battlefields

Go next

 * The Royal Natal National Park is an hour's drive away.
 * Spioenkop Nature Reserve and dam
 * Cathedral Peak and Champagne Castle in the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park

title: Ladysmith


text:
Ladysmith (British Columbia)

Ladysmith is a tourist town of about 8,500 people (2016) on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. A heritage town, it boasts restored buildings and beautiful Transfer Beach. It is known for its annual Festival of Lights during the third week in November. It was voted one of the top ten towns in Canada by Harrowsmith Magazine.

Understand
The local economy is based on forestry, tourism, and agriculture. A hillside location adjacent to a sheltered harbour forms the natural characteristics of the community.

In 2017 Ladysmith's historic First Avenue was named the best street in Canada by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

History
James Dunsmuir founded Ladysmith about 1898, a year after he built shipping wharves for loading coal at Oyster Harbour (now Ladysmith Harbour) from the mine at Extension, nearer Nanaimo. Dunsmuir, owner of coal mines in the Nanaimo area, needed a location to house the families of his miners. He chose to build the community at what was then known as Oyster Harbour, some 32 km south of his Extension mines. Many buildings were moved from Extension and Wellington by rail and by oxen.

In 1900, Dunsmuir renamed the town in honour of the British lifting the siege of Ladysmith in South Africa (28 February 1900) during the Second Boer War. (The original town of Ladysmith in turn took its name from Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith, known as Lady Smith, the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, the British Governor of the Cape Colony and high commissioner in South Africa from 1847 to 1852.)

Dunsmuir also chose to name the streets of the community after generals who fought victoriously in the Boer War. Included in this honour are Generals Buller, Kitchener, Baden-Powell, Methuen and Symonds. In addition, the town has left intact much of its original architecture, from the time of its founding. Surrounding features also bear the names of this era, such as Majuba Mountain.

Ladysmith has been notable in the history of the labour movement with significant unrest and violence during the major strikes of the 1913–1914 era. During this time militia were dispatched to put down unrest and protect property.

By car
A common way to get here is to drive from nearby Nanaimo. Ladysmith is 26 km (16 miles) south of Nanaimo and 85 km (53 miles) north of Victoria on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway).

By plane
Salt Spring Air flies to nearby Maple Bay from Vancouver harbour, from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, or from any of the Gulf Islands.

See Nanaimo for Nanaimo Airport, which is north of Ladysmith.

By public transit

 * Routes serving Ladysmith include:
 * Route 31 operates within Ladysmith.
 * Route 34 operates between Ladysmith and Chemainus (21-24 min). Operates multiple times per day from Monday to Saturday.
 * Route 36 between Duncan and Ladysmith (40 min). Operates multiple times per day from Monday to Saturday.
 * Route 70 operates between downtown Nanaimo and Duncan with stops in Ladysmith and at Nanaimo Airport. Operates multiples times per day from Monday to Saturday. Travel time from Ladysmith is 36 minutes to Duncan and 34 minutes to downtown Nanaimo. $7.50 per trip.

Do

 * Pleasure cruising and kayaking are year-round options in Ladysmith's sheltered region of southeastern Vancouver Island. A good place to set off from is.
 * Hiking: The Holland Creek Trail offers beginner-intermediate hiking trails that run from the water's edge at the southeast end of Ladysmith to viewpoints high above town. Hikers can also venture beyond the trail for more advanced treks.
 * Birdwatching and wildlife viewing are excellent in the area.
 * Hiking: The Holland Creek Trail offers beginner-intermediate hiking trails that run from the water's edge at the southeast end of Ladysmith to viewpoints high above town. Hikers can also venture beyond the trail for more advanced treks.
 * Birdwatching and wildlife viewing are excellent in the area.
 * Birdwatching and wildlife viewing are excellent in the area.

Hospital

 * The nearest hospital is in Duncan.

title: Ladysmith (British Columbia)


text:
Ladysmith (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Ladysmith:

Canada

 * Ladysmith (British Columbia) - A quaint tourist town in British Columbia.

South Africa

 * Ladysmith - A town in KwaZulu-Natal.

United States of America

 * Ladysmith - A town in Wisconsin.

title: Ladysmith (disambiguation)