Camping in Ladakh: Sleep under the stars at the roof of the world

Some places don’t just take your breath away. They change the way you see the world. For me, Ladakh is one of those places. While most people explore it from the comfort of a car or a cosy homestay, there’s one experience I’ll never stop recommending — camping.

It’s not about chasing thrills or proving anything. It’s about stripping things down to what really matters. When you camp in Ladakh, you’re not just a visitor. You become part of the landscape, even if just for a night.

Picture this. You pitch your tent beside a still, silver lake. The wind is quiet, the air feels lighter, and as the sun sets behind the Himalayas, the sky turns shades of orange, rose, and deep purple. At Pangong Tso, the lake reflects every bit of it. It’s so beautiful it almost doesn’t feel real. Then there’s Tso Moriri, where mornings begin in gold as the sun spills over snow-covered peaks and wakes up the high-altitude plains.

But camping in Ladakh is more than just pretty views. It’s a way to live simply. You cook your meals, maybe a quick tea on a little stove, or fresh vegetables over a campfire. If you’re near a village, someone might invite you to try thukpa or skyu — comforting, home-cooked food passed down through generations. One evening, I found myself peeling potatoes under the stars while my friend boiled barley tea. There was something grounding about it. We weren’t rushing anywhere. Just being.

The wildlife here is just as magical. I’ve spotted kiangs running freely, marmots popping out of burrows, and once, I even caught a glimpse of a Himalayan fox darting between rocks. Birdwatching is a quiet joy too. Tso Kar and the Changthang region are full of life — black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese, and Brahminy ducks, all going about their day while you sit and take it in.

And then comes nightfall.

There are few places in the world where you can look up and feel like the entire galaxy is within reach. Hanle, with its clear skies and barely any light pollution, gave me one of the best nights of my life. I lay on a mat, layered in wool, and just stared. The Milky Way wasn’t a vague strip in the sky. It was a glowing band stretching across everything. I didn’t need an app or a telescope. Just my eyes and a little bit of wonder.

An amateur picture clicked from my phone. Imagine how many stars there were that I could'nt capture.

Of course, camping here isn’t five-star travel. You’ll sleep at 14,000 feet or higher. The nights are cold. The toilets are… creative. But what you get in return is something few places offer. Clean air. Peace. Silence. Meals that taste better because you made them. And the realisation that the basics are more than enough.

Camping in Ladakh is both adventure and reflection. It challenges you but also calms you. You feel small but not insignificant. You notice the stars, the shadows, the rhythm of the wind. And slowly, you stop needing noise, screens, or schedules.

Whether you’re a photographer chasing light, a nature lover seeking stillness, or just someone tired of the noise, Ladakh offers a different kind of escape. A real one.

Well this is one way to shower on the camping trip.

So roll up your sleeping bag. Bring a flask of butter tea. Download an offline map. And go.

Go sleep beneath a thousand stars. Cook under the sky. Wake up with the cold biting your nose and a view that feels like a dream.

Because camping in Ladakh isn’t just travel. It’s a memory written in the earth, the sky, and something deep within you.