Stunning mountain views with canyons, cliffs, plateaus and jagged peaks dominate the former kingdom of Ladakh at the junction of the old caravan roads between Tibet, Kashmir and Chinese Turkistan. The population of the highland plateau is predominantly Tibetan in culture and religion and the area is therefore also called 'Little Tibet', although it now belongs to India's northernmost state, Jammu and Kashmir. Southwest of Ladakh's high mountains lies the Muslim-dominated Kashmir valley with the capital Srinagar - an oasis of cultivated fields, apricot and apple trees and not least the legendary Dal Lake, known for its many houseboats. Unfortunately, a dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir's affiliation has made the Kashmir Valley a high-tension area with internal conflicts that regularly flare up. But if you are lucky, one can experience an incredible journey over the high mountain passes between Srinagar and Leh as one of the great highlights.