Adventure Of A Lifetime- Vrushali’s Honeymoon Trip To Ladakh with Thrillophilia
They say that journeys are not always about the destinations; it is about the experiences you have on the journey itself.
So, breaking away from the normal notions of honeymoon trips, Vrushali and her partner opted for a group trip to Ladakh with Thrillophilia.
Both were extroverted people who loved to make new friends and try new experiences. Even on this trip, they met many people who bonded well with each other.
This whole batch of travellers were first-time visitors to Ladakh, so they wished to see all the amazing places and monasteries that they heard so much about. They were not much interested in relaxing and spending some time in solace, they wanted to have a thrilling adventure here. Most of them were especially keen to explore the shooting areas of the famous Bollywood movies “3 Idiots” and “Jab Tak Hai Jaan”.
So, their itinerary was planned in a way that included relentless adventures, off-roading, various activities in the tourist places and some beautiful stays for a perfect kind of relaxation. Ladakh, having challenging terrain and weather, does not allow for much exhaustion. There are chances of falling ill due to altitude sickness, or due to lack of acclimatisation. And as we all know, no one wants that.
Therefore, to ensure a healthy itinerary, proper rest days and leisure activities were also added to the itinerary.
Curious about what those things were? For that, we need to get back to the honeymoon story…
To begin with the best
Vrushali and her partner knew that they had chosen a wonderful destination for their honeymoon trip. Having heard praises about Thrillophilia’s Ladakh trip, they were confident about the itinerary and the arrangements too!
What they did not expect was: their expectations to be surpassed.
When they arrived in Leh on Day 1, they were almost well-accustomed with the team, the on-ground representatives, and the tour leaders. They seemed to be quite warm and welcoming. It was easy to make friends in a place where people were willing to get to know each other. In such a situation, Vrushali and her partner both found a group of people with whom their vibration matched!
It was the best kind of start to a much-awaited trip!
The days followed and they started their exploration of the region, visiting viewpoints like the Zanskar-Indus Confluence, the mesmerising Sham Valley and its monasteries like Likir and Alchi. They even visited the Spituk Monastery, Shanti Stupa, Royal Leh palace and the Lamayuru Monastery.
But the Magnetic Hill experience interested them deeply. They knew what was to be expected from this spot, but they never imagined how it would actually feel while experiencing a natural optical illusion. The surrounding areas and the slope of the road gave the impression of the cars going uphill against the laws of gravity, while in reality, they were going downhill! At first, it confused them…and to an extent, intrigued. Then the tour leader explained the entire phenomenon to the group, after which their questions were answered. But it did not erase the gleam in their eyes, they had seen a natural magic it seemed.
It was just the start..and they were already loving the experience. They were getting to know about the culture and the lifestyle of the local people, the history of the religion, and also the marvellous architecture of the monasteries.
Seeing sky-high statues of Buddha to the extraordinary works of Thangkas, they were awe-struck. What made them all the more amazed was the landscapes of Ladakh. The Moor plains, the Lamayuru Moonlands, and the Cold Deserts of Nubra and Pangong, all seemed surreal to them.
Moving forward
They encountered more things that made them eager to know more about the place. They went to the SECMOL school, the Thiksey Monastery (the largest one in Central Ladakh), and the Hemis Monastery as well. They also toured the Rancho School and posed in front of the shooting areas of ‘3 Idiots”.
The day the group reached Nubra, they already had Bactrian camels lined up for a cold desert safari! Their stay in Hunder was also top-class. With all basic facilities and even hot water at the break of dawn, Vrushali and her partner spent a memorable night in the camps, waking up to stunning views of the mountains and the vast valleys.
Pangong was fun! They took the famous Yellow Scooter Ride and even posed with it to capture some light-hearted moments! They also went to the popular Tso Moriri Lake and tried their hand at fishing there!
Crossing the Khardung La Pass and Chang La Pass made them thrilled to the core!
No wonder Ladakh is called “the land of high passes”!
A picture worth 1000 words
Interestingly, more than a honeymoon, it turned into a group trip. They tried Ladakh cuisine together and even went to local markets and bars to get a taste of the local life. One of the group members was a photographer who was making a series on ‘People of Ladakh’, the group of 6 people helped him complete this series as well!
They had grown really close to each other, and Ladakh had grown very close to their hearts.
They had clicked one group picture in Pangong Lake which was supposed to be with each of them. It was a gift from Vrushali. And at the back of each photograph, she wrote-
"YOU NEVER REALLY TRAVEL ALONE. THE WORLD IS FULL OF FRIENDS WAITING TO GET TO KNOW YOU."
It was a blessing for Thrillophilia that they could offer an adventure of a lifetime to not just the couple, but the entire group as a whole. It came as a surprise on the trip, but it lasted longer than that. It was a motivation to keep doing better!
Read More: Thrillophilia Ladakh Trip Reviews