Customised jeep safaris in Ladakh

If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Ladakh, have a week or three to spare and don’t mind paying a bit more to get a lot more, we have the perfect go-to person for you. Vikram Maira is better known as the man behind the lovely Sitla Estate in Kumaon, but every year between July and September, he has been running off to conduct entirely customised jeep safaris in Ladakh. He’s been doing this for nearly ten years now (we can keep some secrets), and that means you’ll be shown a Ladakh that possibly no other organised tour can match. Expect the pace to be super-gentle, super-immersive. If you’re in a rush, Maira could arrange a week-long tour (Leh to Leh), but what you want is to begin with that classic, the Manali-Leh road trip. You’ll need to sign up for at least two weeks to enjoy this. You’ll be taken to Nubra, yes, but to hidden corners where no other tourist dares tread; to Pangong Tso, of course, but where you’ll be treated to a comfy homestay in Tangtse, 45 minutes away. Stuff like that… Indicative prices for a two-week trip: Rs 75,000 per person, all-inclusive, ex-Manali/Leh. Contact 9917506183, maira_40@yahoo.co.uk, hindustantrekkingco.com