Glamping? If you haven’t done it with The Ultimate Travelling Camp in Ladakh, then you haven’t really done it at all. The only luxury property group from India has redefined luxury camping and made it to the winners list of the most incredible hotel collections at the annual Smith Awards, hosted by luxury travel specialist Mr and Mrs Smith. TUTC Chamba Camp Thiksey competed with the world’s best stays and emerged victorious, for its unparalleled amenities and personalised experiences offered to the guests.
The property was voted the best in the ‘Above and Beyond’ category, selected by a panel of travel-savvy judges, including designer Jenny Packham, and travel writers Johannes Pong and Lucy Williams. The winner of this award is usually chosen for, well, going above and beyond expectations (a drink on the house, the best table for your birthday, a snack for the journey home), and the one who knows exactly how to provide the feel-good factor.
In putting in his vote for Chamba Camp Thiksey, Johannes Pong explained that it is because it offers “absolutely magical eco-friendly glamping in palatial tents with panoramic vistas of mountain-top monasteries by the foothills of the Himalayas in Ladakh”.
The panellists heaped praise on TUTC by stating, “The miracles performed by staff at this Himalayan high-enderare all the more impressive considering your surroundings: 3,500 metres up in the Ladakh Valley. From the personalised butler assigned to each ultra-luxe canvas tent to the friendliness of the local dancers who accompany dinner: everything, it seems, has already been thought of. Feeling peckish in the night? Just delve into your well-stocked snack drawer. Edmund Hillary eat your heart out!”
Commenting on this achievement, TUTC’s co-founder Dhun Cordo said, “We are extremely elated and honoured to have made it to the best of the best in a very exclusive category. It affirms our commitment in offering outstanding experiences and personalised luxury to our guests who want to explore challenging landscapes of India.”
At 3,500 metres above sea level, TUTC’s exceptional services cater to all the whims and fancies of its guests. Luxury is exemplified by the beautifully appointed tents, furnished with wooden chandeliers, four-poster beds, exquisite linen to wooden period furniture. Each tent offers private decks for enjoying sundowners with panoramic views, as well as en-suite bathrooms with hot showers and in-house signature wash amenities. Guests enjoy prompt laundry services, unlimited Wi-Fi at the reception tent, 24/7 security and uninterrupted electricity supply. They are attended to by a personal butler throughout their stay, while a paramedic on site ensures there is quick response should there be any medical emergency. There is even a library of well chosen books and a boutique from which to buy beautiful souvenirs.
Guests have a choice of itineraries depending on the types of activities they enjoy, which can range from river rafting, archery, horse polo as well as cultural and monastery tours. So are you ready for an adventure in the great outdoors of Ladakh? The next glamping season at TUTC’s Chamba Camp Thiksey is 15 May to 10 October 2018. Start planning now.