13 Must-Try Local Food in Leh Ladakh + How to Plan the Perfect Camel Safari in 2025

🥘 Start Your Trip to Ladakh with Flavors You’ll Never Forget

Ladakh isn’t just about high-altitude passes and moonlike landscapes—it’s a flavor-rich journey waiting to be savored. If you’re someone who believes that the best way to understand a culture is through its food, then buckle up—because this trip to Ladakh is going to be a mouthwatering one.

Just four lines into your adventure, and you’ll find yourself sipping butter tea while gazing at prayer flags fluttering against snow-capped mountains. And that’s just the beginning.

Let’s dive into the world of Local Food in Leh Ladakh, where every bite tells a story—of survival, simplicity, and soulful tradition.

🍲 13 Local Food in Leh Ladakh You Simply Can’t Miss

1. Thukpa

A comforting noodle soup loaded with veggies or meat. Best enjoyed hot after a long chilly ride.

Where to Try: The Tibetan Kitchen, Leh Market

2. Momos (Steamed Dumplings)

Served with spicy chutney, these little flavor bombs come in veggie, chicken, and mutton varieties.

Must-try twist: Cheese & spinach momos in cafes around Changspa

3. Skyu

A traditional pasta stew with hand-rolled dough, veggies, and sometimes meat—slow-cooked Ladakhi comfort food.

Best Enjoyed In: Homestays in Nubra Valley

4. Chhutagi

Another pasta-based dish with bow-tie shaped dough in a rich vegetable gravy—super hearty!

Cultural Insight: Often served during Ladakhi family gatherings

5. Butter Tea (Gur Gur Chai)

An acquired taste—but once you get it, it’s addictive! Made with tea leaves, yak butter, and salt.

Why locals love it: Helps fight cold and altitude sickness

6. Chang (Barley Beer)

A mild local beer made from fermented barley—often offered during festivals and celebrations.

Try it at: Homestays in Sham Valley

7. Apricot Jam & Juice

Dah and Hanu villages are apricot havens. The jam is fresh, tangy, and sold all over Leh.

Tip: Buy a jar or two as souvenirs!

8. Khambir

A thick, crusty local bread, often served with butter tea or jam. Slightly sour, but satisfying.

Great for breakfast before a ride or trek.

9. Mokthuk

A beautiful hybrid of momos + thukpa. Dumplings in broth—basically the best of both worlds.

Perfect for: Cold evenings in Leh

10. Tingmo

Soft, fluffy steamed buns usually served with spicy curry or lentils. Spongy and slightly sweet.

Don’t miss: Tingmo with spicy mutton curry

11. Ladakhi Pulao

Made with local rice, veggies, raisins, and nuts. Mild yet flavorful, often served during celebrations.

12. Paba with Tangtur

Paba is a roasted barley cake, and Tangtur is a buttermilk-based gravy with wild greens—super nutritious and filling.

Experience it in: Remote Ladakhi villages or homestays

13. Yarkhandi Pulao

A Mughal-influenced dish from Central Asia, this meaty rice dish reflects Leh’s Silk Route legacy.

Where to find: Rare but possible in old Tibetan restaurants

📍 Best Places to Eat in Leh Ladakh

• Gesmo Restaurant – Famous for momos, thukpa, and apple pies

• Lamayuru Restaurant – Great local meals with scenic views

• Bon Appetit Café – Offers Ladakhi and continental fusion

• Local Homestays – For authentic, home-cooked Ladakhi meals

🐪 Camel Safari in Ladakh: Bactrian Beauty in the Cold Desert

Now that your appetite is satisfied, it’s time to switch from food trails to desert trails—specifically, a thrilling camel safari in Ladakh. Yes, we’re talking about double-humped Bactrian camels, found in very few places on Earth.

🐫 What’s Special About a Camel Safari in Ladakh?

• These camels are remnants of the Silk Route era, once used for trade across Central Asia.

• Unlike single-humped desert camels, Bactrians are fluffier, sturdier, and better suited for cold desert terrain.

• The safari takes place in the stunning Nubra Valley, especially around Hunder Sand Dunes—a surreal place where snow peaks meet sand dunes.

🗺️ Where Does the Camel Safari Happen?

• Location: Hunder village, Nubra Valley

• Distance from Leh: Approx. 120 km via Khardung La Pass

• Time Required: 4–6 hours to reach; safaris are short (15 min to 1 hour)

📅 Best Time for Camel Safari in Ladakh

• May to September: Pleasant weather, clear views, camels in full coat

• Avoid winters: Roads to Nubra closed, camels kept indoors

💰 Safari Costs (2025 Updated)

Prices may vary slightly depending on group size and time of year.

📸 What to Expect

• Gently rocking ride over sand dunes

• Breathtaking views of snow-covered Karakoram mountains

• Sunset safaris are especially beautiful

• Chance to dress in Ladakhi traditional wear for photos

🏕️ Where to Stay in Nubra for Safari Access

• Stone Hedge, Hunder – Eco-luxury stay with camel view

• Organic Boutique Camp – Comfortable tents close to the dunes

• Your Homestay Nubra – Budget-friendly with local food

• Nubra Ethnic Camp – Group stays, great service, ideal for bikers too

🧠 Travel Tips

• Dress in layers—even in summer, it gets chilly in the dunes

• Hold on tight during the ride—the camel rise and sit can feel dramatic!

• Don’t overbargain—these safaris support local families

• Go early morning or late afternoon for best light and fewer crowds

• Combine it with ATV rides or a visit to Diskit Monastery

🧳 Sample Day Plan: Camel Safari + Food Crawl

Morning

• Ride from Leh to Nubra via Khardung La

• Quick stops for photos and tea en route

Noon

• Lunch at a local homestay or café

• Try Tingmo with mutton curry

Afternoon

• Camel Safari in Hunder

• Dress in traditional attire for photos

• Explore nearby Diskit Monastery

Evening

• Dinner under the stars

• Taste local beer (Chang) and warm Khambir

❤️ Final Thoughts: Where Culture Meets Camels

From spicy thukpa in a Leh café to watching the sunset on a camel in the Nubra dunes—Ladakh is a feast for all your senses. If you’re planning a trip to Ladakh in 2025, make sure to savor every bite and every ride.

Whether it’s the warmth of a bowl of local food in Leh Ladakh or the excitement of a camel safari in Ladakh, every experience adds another story to your journey.