Ladakh Trans Himalayan Tour

Ladakh Trans Himalayan Tour

There's so much to enjoy on this beautiful guided tour of Ladakh. Starting from Delhi, it's a short flight to Leh, the largest city and joint capital of Ladakh, a beautiful region of India in the Western Himalaya. You'll visit ancient monasteries including the famous complexes of Hemis, Thiksey and Alchi. Immerse yourself in the ancient traditions, spirituality and beautiful works of art. You'll travel the Khardung La, a high mountain pass and the highest motorable road in the world. Stop at Magnetic Hill where the laws of gravity and logic are challenged! You'll visit the beautiful Nubra Valley, an important location on the ancient Silk Route trail, where you'll explore the ancient villages and monasteries and have the option to enjoy a traditional camel trek across the desert. In Delhi, there's time to explore the characterful and colourful streets of Old Delhi on a guided walking and cycle rickshaw tour, visiting temples and markets for an introduction to this fascinating city and blend of ancient and modern. This is a wonderful introduction to the beautiful region of Ladadkh and a great option during the summer months.

Itinerary

• Day 1

  Arrive Delhi

  Welcome to India! Today you'll arrive at Delhi, the start point for your tour. On arrival, you'll be met by one of our local representatives who'll accompany you on the transfer drive and help with check in to your hotel. 

  India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines ancient and modern. It's strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose Delhi as their seat of power so it's not surprising that what constitutes Delhi today is a conglomerate of seven cities. The division between New and Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British and the Mughal respectively. 

  The rest of today is free to rest and relax, enjoy your hotel surroundings or perhaps explore the local area. Overnight Delhi.

• Day 2

  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 gateway to Ladakh and the start of your Trans Himalayan cultural tour. 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. 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 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 chillier temperatures before your tour begins tomorrow. This evening enjoy a gentle, optional orientation walk around Leh and visit to the local bazaar.

  
  

  Rest overnight at your hotel.

  Meals included: breakfast.

  
  

  Please note: Ladakh is a high altitude mountainous region, which means it is  is susceptible to weather and road conditions which may affect your itinerary. We choose the best times of year to travel in this region however there is still a chance that road closures due to flash floods and landslides may occur. If this happens, there may be a chance of ‘on the ground changes’ to your itinerary, such as choosing alternative routes, additional drive times, non-utilization of booked accommodation or transportation, alternate/ additional hotel bookings or non-completion of the tour etc. These changes may attract extra expenses, which are not part of the original quote. Any such expenses due to any reason medical/ natural/ political whatsoever will be at additional cost chargeable to you. Furthermore, there will be no refund for any unutilized services due to any of the aforementioned reason or any other reason like bad weather, health, natural calamity road closure etc. For all our trips we recommend you take out appropriate travel insurance at the time of booking, to protect you against additional costs should unexpected events occur before or during your trip.
  

• Day 3

  Indus Valley Monastery tour

  This morning after breakfast it's time to begin your visit to the three ‘must do’ icons of the Indus Valley, the Thiksey, Shey and Hemis monasteries, before returning to Leh in the evening. We begin with a visit to Thiksey village (3600m) and monastery, around 19 kms from Leh. Thiksey is one of the largest and most impressive Gompas (monasteries) of Ladakh. From here you'll also have panoramic view of the green Indus Valley from the monastery's vantage point atop a hill. You'll have time to explore the chambers full of statues, Stupas and colourful thangkas.

  From Thiksey it's a short drive to reach Shey Palace and monastery (3415m).  This was the summer palace and hilltop residence of the erstwhile royal family and the seat of power in pre- Tibetan times. A key attraction of the monastery is a 7.5-meter high, copper statue of a sitting Buddha, wrought in gold which is the largest of its kind in the world. 

  We'll continue on to visit Hemis Monastery (3600m), around 40km from Leh. This is Ladakh's largest and wealthiest monastery, situated just off the Leh to Manali road. It’s popularity stems from the annual festival held here in summer, which coincides with Guru Padma Sambhava’s (Buddha's) birthday. It contains quite a few statues in gold and stupas decorated with precious stones and has a superb collection of thangkas, including one, which is supposed to be the largest in existence, and is exhibited only once every 12 years.

  On the return journey to Leh we'll stop to visit Stok Palace and Museum. The palace is the 200-year-old home  and official residence of the Namgyal Dynasty and towers over the surrounding high-altitude landscape.  Stok Palace (3497m) represents one of the finest surviving examples of vernacular architecture of the Indian Himalayas. The royal family still lives in one of its wings, but part of the palace has been converted into guest accommodation. There's also an interesting museum which displays fabulous period costumes and jewellery of the royals along with exquisite thangkas.

   After returning to Leh the rest of your evening is at leisure to rest and relax. Overnight Leh.

• Day 4

  Leh to Alchi (3100m)

  This morning we'll drive to Alchi, around 75kms from Leh. En route we'll break the journey at an intriguing place called Magnetic Hill where the normal laws of gravity are defied! When a vehicle is parked in neutral gear on this road, the vehicle slides uphill. This quirky phenomenon is said to be due to a strong magnetic force emanating from the surrounding hills that defies gravity at this particular spot. 

  After a break here we continue on towards Sham Valley.  Just before Nimu village you'll have a wonderful view of the confluence of the two mighty rivers of the Zanskar and the Indus, at the point where they meet. Depending on the season, the colours and flow and wildness of the rivers changes.

  We head next to Basgo Gompa (monastery), around 40km from Leh, set amidst a starkly beautiful landscape. This was the former seat of power of one of the branches of the Namgyal royal family and is now a ruined citadel of temples which still house beautiful artworks, including a massive idol of Maitreya Buddha. It was here in 1680 that invading Mongol and Tibetan armies were held in check over a three year old siege. The beautiful original 16th century murals and other works of art as well as the history, make Basgo well worth a visit. After time to explore Basgo we travel a little further to visit Likir Monastery (3700m).

  Founded in the 11th century and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century, Likir's earlier Gompa (monastery) was destroyed in a fire. The present Gompa dates back to the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent thangkas, earthen pots and carved wooden folding stools, live in the village around the monastery.

  Slightly further on, around 70km from Leh is the thousand year old Alchi Gompa (monastery), on the banks of the Indus River. One of the walls features thousands of miniature sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are the other main focal attractions. Alchi monastery is no longer an active religious center and is looked after by monks from Likir monastery. This is the only monastery amongst 34 monasteries in Ladakh, which is not located on a hilltop.

  The rest of your evening is free to rest and relax and perhaps explore locally. Overnight Alchi.

• Day 5

  Alchi - Lamayuru (3510m) - Leh (3500m)

  We depart early this morning for the drive of around 57km to reach Lamayuru. Lamayuru is famous for its ancient monastery and the surrounding landscape which closely resembles the surface of moon. This is the area from where Ladakh gets its name "The Moonland‟.

  Lamayuru Gompa (monastery) is the oldest holy site in Ladakh. This was a Bon shrine prior to the advent of Buddhism. Also known as Yung Drung, it is sited on a high promontory overlooking the village and valley below. For sheer spectacle value no other Gompa can match Lamayuru.

  Later today we'll visit Ridzong monastery and Chulichan nunnery before the drive back to Leh, around 165km.

  Ridzong is the most isolated monastery of all the monasteries of Ladakh and is known as the paradise for meditation. Guru Padma Sambhava (Lord Buddha) is believed to have meditated here for years. One can still find the small caves where Lamas used to meditate for years on end,  cutting themselves off from the rest of the world except for a one foot square outlet window from where they would accept one time meal of the day.

  Chulichan nunnery is around one and half kms below Ridzong monastery. Around 20 nuns resides here and they provide food and clothes to the monks and perform morning and evening prayers. After time to explore here and perhaps meet some of the nuns, we continue onwards to Leh where your evening is free to rest and relax.

  Overnight Leh.

  
  

• Day 6

  Leh - Khardungla Pass (5602m) - Nubra (3048m)

  We'll get an early start for the drive of around 140km to Nubra Valley, via the world's highest motorable road, the Khardung La or Khardung Pass. The pass is on the Ladakh Range of mountains and connects the Indus and Shyok river valleys as well as forming the gateway to the Nubra Valley.

  
  

  The road journey to Nubra Valley leads through the Khardung La, around 39 kms from Leh. There are two checkpoints on both sides of this high mountain pass. Khardong is the first village of Nubra valley at a higher altitude than Deskit and other villages in the area. Deskit is the main village of Nubra valley and has a small market consisting of a row of shops and the local Gompa, around 500 years old, on the hilltop above. From the monastery you'll have a spectacular view of the valley. Deskit Gompa was founded by Lama Sherab Zangpo of Stod in around 1420 AD during the reign of King Dragspa. Around 100 monks reside in the Gompa, which is a branch of Thiksey Monastery. 

  
  

  From here we'll visit Hundar, a beautiful village where we'll stay tonight. Hundar has a small monastery and ruined fort above the village. A prominent location on the ancient Silk Route, the Nubra Valley is  home to two-humped Bactrian camels, who were brought to the region from Central Asia. Today, these camels are the remnants of ancient trading past and offer enjoyable rides around the sand dunes of Hunder and a few other locations.  A camel ride is one of the best and most  thrilling ways to explore this high altitude cold desert, where you'll experience the landscape change from lush greenery to sandy desert. Perched at an elevation of around 3048m, Hundar is bordered by snow-clad mountains that present a picturesque backdrop to this beautiful arid and mesmerising landscape.

  
  

  You'll have the option of enjoying a 2 hour camel ride from Hundar to Deskit, through the sand dunes. The rest of your evening is at leisure. Overnight stay at Nubra.

• Day 7

  Nubra to Leh (3500m)

  This morning after breakfast we head back to Leh, again driving via the Khardung La. 

  
  

  The drive is around 140km. Reaching Leh, this evening we'll explore Leh Bazaar if you want to browse or buy any locally made souvenirs. We'll also visit Leh Jokhang or Leh Mosque by foot.  Ladakh Buddhist Association in 1957 built the small Gompa known as Jokhang in the main bazaar, which is open throughout the day for visitors. The Gompa contains the statue of Joyo Rinpoche (the crowned Buddha). Leh Mosque, the Jama Masjid of Leh was built in 1666-67 AD under an agreement between Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and Ladakhi ruler Deldan Namgyal. Initially, the architecture of the mosque bore Tibetan, Central Asian and Ladakhi style. In recent years it has been reconstructed and given a new look with minarets and domes. 

  
  

   Overnight stay at Leh.

• Day 8

  Leh to Delhi

  This morning after breakfast it's time to head to the airport for your late morning (1150am) flight back to Delhi, arriving 1400. You'll be met at the airport for your transfer drive to your hotel with the rest of your day at leisure to rest and relax.

  
  

  Overnight Delhi.

• Day 9

  Full day Delhi - guided tour

  After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be met by your local guide for a sightseeing tour and introduction to both Old and New Delhi, beginning with a drive past and photo stop at Red Fort, a huge building that contains within it some beautiful palaces and public buildings. Your tour really begins with a guided walk through the alleys of Old Delhi including a visit to the wedding market, a Jain temple to learn about the rituals of Jainism and a visit to the alley famous for the typical Delhi delicacy called parathas, a type of flatbread that's well worth trying. 

  
  

  From here, enjoy a ride through on a cycle rickshaw to visit the biggest market for spices and nuts in Asia (Please note this is not open to visit on Sundays). After time exploring the market we'll continue on your tour with a visit to the Sikh Temple Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. The temple offers free food to about 10,000 people daily. The food is cooked and served entirely by volunteers and you'll be able to see the process and huge organisation of it for yourself. 

  
  

  This afternoon we'll visit New Delhi with a drive past the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers who were martyred during the Afghan War. Directly opposite is Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India. To one side is Parliament House, a circular building that is a symbol of Indian democracy. We'll also visit Qutub Minar today, the 11th century victory tower that rises to a height of 73 m. 

  
  

  Returning to your hotel, your evening is at leisure to rest and relax. Overnight Delhi.

• 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).