Ladakh is one of the few regions of the Himalayas where ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture has been preserved in an almost untouched form. It is home to monasteries dating from the 11th to the 17th centuries, the unique murals of Alchi, the vast monastic complex of Hemis, the legendary Lamayuru Monastery, and dozens of temples, retreat caves, and pilgrimage sites scattered among mountains and high passes at elevations of 3,000–5,000 meters.

People come here not only for the landscapes, but to encounter a living Buddhist tradition in a place where it has continued for nearly a thousand years—in monasteries, ancient temples, and practice sites that are still used by monks and yogis today.