LADAKH - EXPLORE the LAND of ARID MOUNTAINS, MONASTERIES and the ADVENTURE of MOUNTAIN DESERTS

Delhi – Leh – Uleytokpo – Lamayuru – Nubra – Ladakh – Tso Moriri – Karzok – Leh – Delhi (11 nights / 12 days)

Spectacular Gompas, colourful fluttering prayer flags and barren yet beautiful mountains build the characteristics of this buddhist land of Ladakh. The place is not just culturally high but also a favourite haunt of adventure enthusiasts who enjoy trekking, biking, camping, mountaineering and more on its various trails. The monasteries here are world-acclaimed and are definitely some of the best in Buddhist architecture. Along with classic architecture and mountains, the smiles of monks and Buddha followers will leave you hypnotised. The land comes alive during the fairs and festivals as one can see Ladakhi people in their traditional dress. The region was opened to tourists in 1970 and since then, Ladakh’s barren beauty with snow-capped peaks and clean blue sky have attracted intrepid travellers.

Highlights:

Leh and its culture
An excursion to Uleytokpo for its pristine mountains and Gompas
Nubra Valley- a desert and village experience

All touring will be on a private basis with your own driver/ guide. All ranges of accommodation would be available from 3* hotels upwards and to include deluxe 5* hotels and palaces as well as boutique-style / heritage properties. Just indicate your preference and budget and leave the rest to us and our expert ground handlers in India!

DAY 1: ARRIVE DELHI by EARLY-MORNING FLIGHT and FLY ON to LEH

On arriving into Delhi Airport, you get ready to board the next flight to your travel abode of Leh. (No hotel stay has been included in Delhi but this would be available at additional cost). Once you arrive at Leh, you will be met and will be transferred to your comfortable hotel. Our local representative will have co-ordinated you through the airport to your hotel. You have lunch at your Leh hotel.

You spend the rest of the day becoming accustomed to the high altitude climatic conditions and counting the numerous clouds on Leh’s hilltops. Chatting with the hotel staff to collect more information could be your favourite pastime too on this very first day of your travel exploration. You stay overnight at your hotel in Leh.

DAY 2: IN LEH

Leh – The heaven of wooden homes

Famous as an untouched palette of Himalayan beauty and worshipped by hikers all over the world, Leh certainly catches your breath with its natural charm. The mundane streets, snow-kissed mountain peaks and basic village lifestyle all combine together to enchant your heart, mind and soul when you happen to arrive here for a travel experience of a lifetime. One can experience so much at this picturesque and hilly abode as there are a plethora of opportunities for every type of traveller. Populated by the old-style mud brick homes, this place is home to a rocky fort. The inner city is a combination of barely irrigated fields and flat-roofed homes with single windows. Having all the ingredients for a laidback holiday feeling, Leh certainly requires adjustment to its hilly climatic conditions.

Experience

After finishing breakfast at your hotel, you have the experience of the sacred Samker Gompa - the stupa of the Yellow Sect carved in the 18^th Century. It is the seat of the Tson-Kha-Pa, the founder of the Yellow Sect. Showing impressive paintings of the Sakyamuni, Avalokiteshwara, Padmasanbhava and Tsonkhapa, the walls feel very realistic. Built on the inspiration derived from the Patola Palace in Tibet, the Leh Palace was once home to King Singe Namgyal. Now remaining as ruins, this magnificent palace is being revived by the Archaeological Survey of India. After this visit, you are driven back to the main Leh Market and the inspiring City Palace.

After a quick break for lunch, you start the travel trail once again to Stakna. Being the famous monastery of the Drugpa Sect in Leh, this lies about 25 kilometres away from Leh. Resembling a tiger’s nose, this monastery is the home of about 30 monks worshipping Lord Avalokiteshwara. You are returned to your hotel after a brief visit to Shanti Stupa.

DAY 3: LEH – ULEYTOKPO by surface (70 kms. / approx. 4 – 5 hours)

After your early morning breakfast, you get ready for a full-day excursion to Uleytokpo.

Uleytokpo – A place for pristine mountains and Gompas

Clad with mountains and filled with the religious vibes of the flowing mantras, Uleytokpo belongs to the region of Ladakh where prayers do get answered. A little distant lie two famous monasteries namely Likir and Alchi. Famous for religious vibes and exceptional painting work, Likir is also home for young lamas who come to learn the lessons of life in this positive and godly place. The nearby village of Nimo is a perfect stop for the unique photos that you might be waiting to take on your camera. After a brief rest at Uleytokpo Cottage, Alchi Monastery will be your next destination. Having elaborate painting work done once by famous painters from Tibet and Kashmir, the Alchi Monastery is a masterpiece carved in the 11^th Century. Rizong Gompa lies in-between the pristine hilltops amidst the Himalayan valleys and is best known for its lady monks called ‘chomos’.

Experience

Feelings of divine bliss will accompany your soul as your feet wander among the prayer-offering Gompas situated in the lap of Ladakh. Apart from the fantastic paintings, you can witness the exceptional scholar activities done by the young lamas in the Likir Monastery of Leh.

You can experience the fun and amusement of clicking some of the best shots in the nearby village called Nimo, where nature has showered its blessings with both hands. Lunch and the day’s quiet break will rejuvenate you once again in Uleytokpo as you get ready to travel to the Alchi Monastery. Catching sight of magnificent paintings on the walls, you will feel humble about the religious culture of this Himalayan place. Prepared in the memory of Richen Zongpa, this 11^th Century monastery called Alchi impresses you with its godly feeling. After a further drive of seven kilometres, you will come across the Rizong Gompa, inside which observing women monks doing religious activities is a unique experience in itself.

You stay overnight at your hotel in Uleytokpo.

DAY 4: ULEYTOKPO – LAMAYURU –LEH by surface (55 kms./ approx. 2 – 3 hours)

Lamayuru –The laid-back village

Lying under the lap of the Himalayas and being home to some of the most decorated monasteries in Leh, Lamayuru is the perfect destination for travellers who come to explore Ladakh in its true colours. The freedom of its winds and the carefree vibes of this place will refresh anyone who is tired from the chaos of day to day life. The sight of small hilly homes amidst the greenery captures your spirit like nowhere else. The spiritual bliss experienced at the Yangdrung Gompa is unmatchable. Built on a rock on the Leh - Srinagar highway, this Gompa is believed to have come to the real world through the prayers performed using grains of corn at the riverside by Arahat Nimagung. Yangdrung or Swastika were developed as a symbol of blessings after that by the nag serpent spirits. Visited by the famous Rinchen Zongpa in the 11^th Century, this place holds prominence because of its rich history. Lamayuru is best known as the popular place for religious studies in the Gelukpa or Kadampa School of Buddhist teachings.

The Experience

Leaving behind the comfort of your hotel room, you travel all the way to Lamayuru, situated 55 kilometres from the famous place of Uleytokpo. You will explore the origin of lamaistic learning inside the old monastery that narrates its tale through adorable wall-paintings. The ancient religious folklores related to the Yangdrung Gompa are more than enough to amaze you when you stop by at this ancient monastery to embrace the teachings of Arahat Nimagung and Rinchen Zangpo. Lamayuru spreads the Himalayan charm of snow and cold winds all through its earth and you will see the greener pastures of paddy fields when traveling from Lamayuru to the distant monasteries in Leh. You can enjoy some ideal photo-shoot opportunities, taken for your family and friends, in the snow-kissed hilltops and will take in the abundant richness of Mother Nature. Fulfilled by the peace and wisdom of the Buddhist teachings, you complete one more journey back towards picturesque Leh.

You spend the night at your hotel in Leh, rejoicing at the day’s well-spent moments.

DAY 5: LEH – NUBRA by surface (150 kms. / approx. 5 -6 hours)

NUBRA -The vast desert in Ladakh

Nubra is a spectacular heaven in the form of sloping mountains, vast desert areas, scattered vegetation and old-style monasteries. Based around the valley area created by the Shayok and Nubra rivers, this pristine place is bountiful with nature’s blessings. Coming here is like opening up any hidden treasure, received as a blessing from Mother Earth. When you travel to the upside of this picturesque valley, you will notice green pastures of wheat, barley and mustard. Nubra and its valley area is a true amalgamation of sand-dunes, pristine hilltops and larger-than-view grasslands, that are home to scattered vegetation and amazing-looking hill fauna.

Being a home of the ancient civilization of Balti, a lot more than salty yolk milk tea and chanting hymns in the monasteries await you to be explored. However, being a foreigner means that you will require a special permit to experience this unique place in the lap of the Himalayas.

The Experience

You will start the journey early in the morning to witness the bright sunrays coming through the filtered angles of the great Himalayas. With its scattered greenery and widely-spread sand-dunes and fields, you will explore the unseen treasures of the magnificent valley of Nubra. Once you reach the Khalsar Bridge, you can reward yourself with a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Ldumra Valley. Don’t be surprised if you see a double-humped Bactrian Camel, famous in this region of the mountains. Earning a reputation among adventurous bikers, the Khardungla Pass boasts of having the world’s highest road where vehicles can be taken.

Passing through the villages of Horzey and Gangles, you will embrace the charm and fertility of this magnificent land. Mouth-watering fruits like blood-apples and nutritious nuts grow on this amazing soil to provide strength to its people Leaving behind the hymns and mantras of the monasteries, you will come to the Tso Chun Lake to fill your inner self with calm and peace.

You then enjoy an overnight rest in your hotel room.

DAY 6: IN NUBRA – The Village Experience

Once you have finished breakfast in your comfortable hotel in Nubra, a visit to the town of Diskit is your first activity. Providing the basic necessities through its small and scattered shops, Diskit is popular for its local commercial importance. After seeing the grand image of Lord Buddha in the form of a 32 metre-high idol, you will be impressed by the abandoned wealth of wisdom hidden inside the 1420 AD-built monastery of Diskit. Started by the Lama Sherab Zongpo, this place is habituated by around 100 monks.

Visiting the nearby village of Baigdandu will surprise you because of its blue-eyed locals having Mongoloid facial features.

Next place in the journey would be the magnificent village of Hunder, inviting you into its old monastery and ruined palace that are ready to tell their tales. While coming back to picturesque Nubra, you will get familiar with the small village of Sumur.

Day 7: Head back to LEH (150 kms / 5 – 6 hours)

Having enjoyed a lavish breakfast, you head back to the land of brown mountains - LEH, via the amazing sights and landscapes including the world’s highest motorable road - Khardungla Pass. Having arrived in the afternoon, you rest and revive yourself for a delightful free evening to explore and shop at the local bazaar or to go on a walking tour of Leh Jokhang or the Leh Mosque. This scenic and fun day ends with a delicious dinner and a comfortable stay at The Zen Resort.

DAY 8: Leh - The Mountain Lake / TSO MORIRI (240 kms. / 8 – 9 hours)

You start this day with an early breakfast as you gear up for an interesting and adventurous day ahead at the ‘Mountain Lake’ – Tso Moriri (4,525 metres). You will drive via the high altitude plains of Upshi and Tanglang La.

Having settled for a picnic lunch at Tso Kar, you then restart your journey to the famous Tso Moriri Lake, which is picturesquely located in the secluded and breathtakingly beautiful Rupshu Valley. This 8 kms. wide and 28 kms. long lake is declared as a wetland reserve and so attracts a range of wildlife, including migratory birds, marmots and, rarely, Tibetan Wolves. The beautiful multi-shades of blue colour offered by this lake, along with a picturesque landscape around, give this place an extremely romantic and breathtaking feel. You camp in the nearby area of Karzok, located on the south-west bank of this lake.

KARZOK

The village that gives you a picture-perfect view of Tso Moriri is an apt example of how civilisation inhabits the High Himalayas. Many of the natives here are the Changpa Nomads who engage in trade and work in caravans in Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti. Karzok is noted as one of India’s highest permanent villages and is home to the 350 year-old Karzok Monastery, in which reside around 33 monks. The region is also rich in flora and fauna and don’t be surprised if you sight the endangered Snow Leopard along with other animals like Kyang (Wild Ass) and Red Fox. The lake area is also a favourite place of Black-necked Cranes and Geese who flock to the lakeside for breeding during the summer.

You rest overnight in Tso Moriri Camp.

DAY 9: TSO MORIRI – LEH by surface (240 kms. / 8 – 9 hours)

Your return journey to Leh from scenic Karzok begins as you pass over the Mahe Bridge. On the way, you enjoy a picnic lunch and arrive at your hotel in Leh for another overnight stay.

DAY 10: Explore LEH

You will refuel yourself with a nourishing breakfast and then gear up for another exciting sightseeing day, which will take you through the popular sites of Leh like Choglamsar Village and then Shey, Thiksey and finally Hemis. You pack your picnic lunch and head off on this fascinating exploration.

Choglamsar Village

This village, sprawling along the Indus River, is a Tibetan refugee settlement and a main centre of Tibetan Buddhism, studies and cultures. It boasts of multiple Gompas but one landmark Gompa is visible from everywhere and affords a view worthy of many interesting photos. Other places of interest are Jivatsal (the Dalai Lama's prayer ground), a handicrafts centre particularly known for its carpet-weaving talent and the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies - the key training place for Buddhist monks.

Shey

The old capital of Ladakh, Shey lies on the route between Leh and Hemis Monastery and is home to the revered Shey Palace and Monastery. Shey Palace was built in 1665 by the King of Ladakh as his summer retreat. Located on a hill, Shey contains a gold-topped victory stupa. The monastery is adorned with beautiful frescos: particularly captivating is the engraving on a rock face beside the main road below the monastery, which depicts five Buddha’s in meditation.

Thiksey Monastery

One of the largest Gompas, Thiksey has earned recognition as one of the most spectacular Buddhist shrines of Ladakh. It has a 12-storied towering structure which consists of stupas, prayer halls, monastic residences and small shrines. The monastery also has a 15-metre seated statue of Buddha and is decorated with colourful thangkas, wall paintings and swords. You will adore the architecture here before you head to another magical destination - Hemis.

Hemis

Tucked on a mountain on the banks of the Indus River, Hemis is one of the most popular monasteries of Ladakh. Built in 1630, the monastery hosts one of the most vibrant and enthralling mountain festivals - The Hemis Festival. This magical festival of masked dances features lamas, robed in gowns of rich brightly- coloured brocade and sporting bizzarre masks. They parade in solemn dance and mime around the huge flag- pole in the centre of the courtyard to the plaintive melody of the Shawn. The monastery is decorated by prayer flags on all four sides and has impressive interiors and frescos.

You have a final overnight stay at your hotel in Leh.

DAY 11: Leave for DELHI by FLIGHT

You gather all your Ladakh memories on the breakfast table before you are driven to the airport for your flight back to Delhi.

You will again be met by one of our local representatives on arrival before you head to your hotel.

You step out in the afternoon for a sight-seeing tour of New Delhi that will cover landmark areas like Qutub Minar and India Gate. You will also be driven past the charismatic Presidential Palace and other key government buildings. An insightful visit to Gurudwara Sikh Temple will also be lined up if time allows.