India's Ladakh region has no high-rises in sight. Ofter known as "Little Tibet", it has been protected form its neighbour's fate largely beacause of where it lies on the border. Here the starkly beautiful lankscape of the high-altutude desert is punctuated by snowcapped mountains, Buddhist monasteries and unspoilde villages. This month the Shati Group (www.shaktihimalaya.com) launches new retreats in the area (it already runs expeditions in Sikkim and kumaon) that focus on trails away from the backpacker route, sleeping in beautiful traditional houses that have been restored along the way (from abkut £198 per person per night). Another way to experience the landscape is with Shakti's raft trip along one of the old Silk Roads into the Nubra valley stopping at river campsites. Nearby in the Himalayas, Cazenove + Loyd (www.cazloyd.com) has just launched a private yoga retreat for a maximum of eight people at 360˚ Leti, luxury cottage with four-poster beds and private terraces. Reflexology, shiatsu and long walks as well as yoga are among the de-stress tools on the menu, but the remote locale is the main ingredient for relaxation. The trip costs about £2,800 per person for four nights including all meals and excursions.