I had a wonderful experience planning my Ladakh trip with Lazy Yatra between August 15-20, based on a recommendation from a friend who also had a positive experience. The Lazy Yatra team was highly supportive throughout the process, from planning itineraries to booking accommodations, cabs, and flig
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hts. They ensured a comfortable trip, with a well-planned itinerary that covered all the key tourist spots.
Key Highlights:
1. Itinerary Planning: I was guided by Rinki and later Shipra from the Lazy Yatra team. Shipra consistently kept us updated and regularly checked in on any issues. The creation of a WhatsApp group with our tour managers, local associate made coordination seamless.
2. Flight Assistance: When our Delhi-Leh flight was canceled, Dinesh from Lazy Yatra promptly informed us and quickly booked alternative flights, making the process smooth and hassle-free.
3. Travel Guidelines: Lazy Yatra’s travel guidelines were extremely helpful, preparing us for challenges like potential health issues (shortness of breath), pass-tolls and re-routing fees. I highly recommend reading these guidelines thoroughly.
4. Hotels:
In Leh - "Hotel Ladakh Inn": This was my favorite stay. The rooms were clean, the staff, especially the Manager, Rishi, was extremely polite and responsive. Their support when I was unwell was exceptional—Rishi immediately arranged for medication late at night. The hotel offers 24x7 warm water, great hygiene, and tasty food. Highly recommend!
In Nubra - "Organic Boutique Inn": While beautifully located, the hygiene and food quality here were disappointing. The rooms were old and dirty. However, new cottages are being built, which may address the hygiene issue. The food lacked variety and taste.
In Pangong - "Mentsel Cottage": Expect basic amenities at Pangong, and for an overnight stay, it was fine. The food was excellent, but be aware that there’s no warm water, no heaters, and no power after 10:30 pm in Pinging. Ensure you charge your devices beforehand.
5. Driver/Local Assistant: Nawang ji, our driver and local assistant, was the highlight of the trip. He was extremely helpful, jolly, and supportive, making our journey more enjoyable. He told us about local food, shops, informed us about the highest ATV place and go-karting place (which are on the way to Nubra valley; excluded from the itinerary though - you can do it if you want at extra cost from your end).
Areas for Improvement:
1. Oxygen Cylinder Communication: When I experienced shortness of breath and informed Lazy Yatra, the team did not communicate that an oxygen cylinder was available in the cab. My husband only discovered it later (we had not shared breath-shortness problem with driver), and this lack of communication from Lazy yatra team could have been avoided.
2. Re-routing Updates: On our way to Pangong, the police suggested re-routing due to rising water levels in Shayok Valley. While our driver made the right decision, Lazy Yatra did not inform us in advance about the need to re-route. Only after I called to confirm did they provide this update.
3. Flight Refund Delays: Our flight from Leh to Delhi was canceled, and we were told the refund would be processed within a week. I understand the refund had to come to them from Airline, the only pain point for me is that while refund took 18 days, we had to follow up multiple times with Lazy Yatra for updates. We were expecting transparency and updates coming from their end, instead of us chasing them. However, team was still supportive - I would not put much emphasis on this issue. Additionally, we requested Lazy Yatra to adjust the pending 10k of the tour against the airline refund of 11.3k, but the Accounts team didn’t accommodate this request. Maybe Lazy yatra's account team needs to change their processes, if possible and right.
Final Thoughts:
Lazy yatra is an amazing travel-partner! I must recommend it if you are planning your trip! The team is super amazing! Loved knowing them! While there were a few hiccups, the overall experience with Lazy Yatra was great, and I would still recommend them for their excellent support, well-planned itinerary, and reliable team. Many thanks, Lazy yatra team, for your support throughout! You guys are awesome!