Tara Mountain Sarai, the first of its kind in luxury boutique accommodation in the Zanskar Valley, builds on the meaning of the word sarai, a place where one can rest for recreational purposes. This is a glamping experience that offers all the comforts of a contemporary hotel. Traditional architecture, the use of local materials such as stone, wood, and mud, showcasing cuisine, and essentially the space to be connected with nature. The five luxury tents are set amidst Syah (wild rose) shrubs, barley and pea farms, and little streams.

There are five luxury tents set at a distance from each other that make up the accommodation here, each offering views of the landscape around them. Each tent has comfortable beds that keep one warm even in low temperatures, a sit-out, handwoven carpets, wall hangings, a bathroom with running cold and hot water, and an oxygen cylinder for altitude sickness.

Dining

The cuisine at Tara Mountain Sarai uses fresh native ingredients that are grown in-house and sourced locally. While the emphasis is on Ladakhi cuisine, Indian, Continental, and Indian Chinese are also served. Expect a variety that includes roast chicken, stir-fried noodles, momos, thupka, chutagi, parathas, and kababs.

Tara Mountain Sarai is the perfect base to explore the many ancient monasteries that dot the Zanskar region. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails one can take through rugged terrain that offer astounding views. Birders can look out for redstarts, wagtails, rose finches, yellow-billed choughs, and Himalayan partridges. Regular visitors to the hotel include blue sheep (bharal) and Himalayan red foxes. A short walk takes one to a ridge field that overlooks the Tsarap river.

Alternatively, opt to stay in and take the in-house cooking classes or learn how to make chhnag (barley beer), read a book or nap in the hammock among the willow trees, help the family on the farm, go foraging, or take a picnic to one of the spots on a hike. Evening hi-tea and sundowners are possible by the Tsarap river, and the nights are perfect for stargazing and night photography.

Being in a remote destination, the onus is on Tara Mountain Sarai to be extremely mindful of their impact on their surroundings.

No Single-Use Plastic: There is minimal use of single-use plastic. Filtered water is provided in glass bottles.

Water Conservation: There is mindful consumption of this scarce resource.

Energy Efficiency: The camp is completely dependent on solar energy.

Sensitive Destination Discovery: Rigzin’s aim is to showcase Ladakh responsibly and mindfully. The emphasis on slow travel and showcasing Ladakhi culture is evident in the experiences offered.

Human Touch: They are working in a remote area in a village where only one family lives and who the land belongs to and this not only provides an additional income, they also are a part of the operations.

The RARE Sustainability Quotient is a self-audit tool that is used by our hotel partners to measure, document, and assess their planet and people friendly practises and is based on the RARE Touchstones.