Hidden Treasures of Ladakh

Hidden Treasures of Ladakh

This is a wonderful introduction to the timeless land of Ladakh, often known as Little Tibet, a beautiful high and remote region in the borderlands of the Western Himalaya. You'll visit ancient monasteries and key cultural sites as well as some lesser visited hidden treasures of the region. Join a morning prayer session with the monks at Thiksey Monastery. Enjoy traditional Ladakhi cuisine and hospitality when you have lunch with a local family. Meet a Tibetan Amchi and learn about traditonal medicine practice. Visit beautiful Nubra Valley and enjoy an easy village walk. Visit the largest petroglyphs site. Take time to explore Charasa ruins and take the short trek to a hidden holy lake. There's the opportunity to take a dip in the hot spring at Panamik in Nubra Valley and to ride the rare Bactrian (double humped) camels. This is a great introduction not just to the key sites and local culture of Ladakh but to some more unusual and off the beaten track highlights of the region.

Itinerary

• Day 01

  Arrive Delhi.

  Welcome to India! You'll be met on arrival to Delhi by one of our local representatives who will provide assistance at the airport and accompany you on the transfer and check in to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure to rest and relax, enjoy the hotel facilities and perhaps explore the local surrounds. It's best to get an early night ready for the flight to Leh tomorrow. Overnight Delhi at the luxury Taj Vivanta hotel. 

• Day 02

  Fly Delhi to Leh (3500m).

  This morning, you'll be picked up for the transfer to the airport for the short flight (1 hr 20 minutes) to Leh, the capital and gateway to Ladakh. Depending on flight times for your dates of travel, it may mean an early start but it's worth it for the spectacular flight over the snow capped peaks on the Himalayas to reach Leh. Ladakh is the highest plateau in India and the name means land of high passes. Historically, Leh was the capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh and an important stopover on trade routes between Tibet, Kashmir, India, and China. This is a beautiful, high and remote borderland area of the Western Himalaya with unmistakable Buddhist influence. Located in the north eastern corner of India and nestled between the world's two highest mountain ranges of the Himalaya and the Karakorum, this is a wonderfully remote wilderness region where you'll find soaring mountain peaks, high Himalayan passes, stark arid plains, verdant valleys and ancient monasteries and settlements.

  You'll be met on arrival for the transfer drive to Leh (3500m). The rest of today is to rest and relax and start to acclimatise to the higher altitudes and cooler temperatures. To acclimatize to the high altitude, visitors are advised to rest and take things very easy for the first 24 hours. This evening, depending on how you feel, you may take a gentle walk through Leh town to explore the local area. Enjoy dinner and your overnight stay in Leh. Relax overnight at your hotel, Paradise Ladakh, Hotel Spic n Span, Apple Tree or similar. 

  
  

  Please note all hotels are subject to availability at the time of confirmation and your named hotel will be confirmed at the time of booking.

• Day 03

  Leh to Indus Valley monastery tour.

  Start your day early with a visit to Thiksey Monastery, a 12-story complex with stunning views of the Indus Valley, for the morning prayer session of the resident monks. We depart from the hotel by 6AM with a packed breakfast to reach Thiksey (17 kms/approximately 20 minutes drive) on time. Enjoy your breakfast with hot tea or coffee at the monastery café. After time to explore and breakfast, we continue on to drive to Hemis Monastery, the wealthiest and largest monastery in Ladakh, known for its annual Hemis Festival. Later, we'll visit Stok Village to see Stok Palace and Museum, and enjoy lunch with a local family, savouring traditional cuisine of the region. Visit a traditional family owned 300-year-old house, now a private museum, to learn more about traditional lifestyles here. On the way back to Leh we'll visit Shey Palace, once the summer capital of Ladakh, and its small gompa (monastery). Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Leh.

• Day 04

  Leh to Uletokpo (3048m)

  After breakfast this morning it's around a 3 hour drive to Uletokpo (85 kms). Uleytokpo is one of the most beautiful places in Ladakh and known as the start point and base for trekking and camping in the region. En route we'll visit to Spituk Monastery, known for its impressive collection of Buddhist artifacts and Magnetic Hill, a natural phenomenon where vehicles appear to move uphill against gravity. We also visit Likir Monastery today, which houses one of the largest open-air statues of Maitreya Buddha. We continue the drive with a stop en route at the 1,000-year-old Alchi Temple Complex, famous for its ancient and well-preserved murals. Arrive in Uletokpo around lunchtime, we'll have lunch and explore locally. In the afternoon, it's a short easy hike to Mangyu Village (around 2 hours one way). Spend the evening with a local family, enjoying tea and snacks while learning about their way of life. Dinner and overnight stay in Uletokpo. Overnight at Ule Ethnic Resort or Ule Eco Resort (standard room).

• Day 05

  Uletokpo – Lamayuru (3510m) – Leh.

  After breakfast, we begin the short drive to Lamayuru Monastery (40 kms / 01 hour), one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, known for its dramatic location on a hilltop. After visiting the monastery, we drive to Leh (120 kms / approximately 3 hours) with a visit to a local Amchi, a practitioner of traditional medicine in Ladakh. The Amchi is respected as someone with deep knowledge of local Himalayan herbs and who provides free medical treatment in remote areas. Return to Leh in the evening and rest and relax at your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Leh.

• Day 06

  Leh to Nubra – crossing the Silk Route.

  After an early breakfast we embark on the 120-km journey to beautiful Nubra Valley, along the ancient Silk Route. We pass through the Khardung La, one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world, at an elevation of 5,359 meters, offering breathtaking views from the top. Arrive at your resort in Nubra Valley for a farm-to-table lunch prepared by the chefs. In the afternoon, we visit the Hunder Sand Dunes, a place famous for the silver white sands and double-humped Bactrian camels. Return to the resort for dinner under a star-studded sky. Relax overnight at Ossay Khar Resort or the Grand Nubra Hotel.

• Day 07

  Nubra – Explore the hidden gems of Nubra Valley .

  After breakfast, we drive to Sumur village for the short hike to Yarab Tso Lake, known as "the hidden lake," offering clear waters and a peaceful location. We continue on with a visit to the largest petroglyph site in Ladakh, featuring ancient rock engravings of ibex, wild animals, hunters, and religious symbols. Enjoy a picnic lunch near the dunes and explore the rarely visited Charasa village, once the winter palace of the King of Ladakh, with its ancient fort and ruins. Return to your resort for dinner and a bonfire under the stars.  Relax overnight at Ossay Khar Resort or the Grand Nubra Hotel.

• Day 08

  Nubra - Leh (3500m)

  Today we drive back to Leh, crossing the high and spectacular Khardungla Pass again. Upon arrival, relax at the hotel. This evening, we'll visit Shanti Stupa, a Japanese Peace Pagoda, and Leh Palace, the former residence of the King of Ladakh. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.  Relax overnight at your hotel, Paradise Ladakh, Hotel Spic n Span, Apple Tree or similar, with named hotel confirmed at the time of booking.

• Day 09

  Fly Leh to Delhi.

  This morning after breakfast it's time to head to the airport for your flight back to Delhi. You'll be met at the airport for your transfer drive to your hotel. This afternoon enjoy a half day guided city tour of Old and New Delhi with the rest of your day and evening to rest and relax. Overnight Delhi at the Taj Vivanta hotel.

• Day 10

  Depart Delhi.

  This morning you'll be picked up for the short transfer drive to the International Airport for your flight home/onwards or to begin any additional extension trips you may have requested (available on request).