Known as "Little Tibet", Ladakh literally means the land of high passes. One of the driest areas in the Himalayas the landscape is totally lunar and is dotted with monasteries and the monks. Ladakh today is one of the most remarkable adventure travel destinations and its can be divided into three main areas for trekking: Zansker, with Padam as its central point; the area around Leh; and the Nubra/Shyok Valleys of the Eastern Karakoram. Most trails that commence from adjoining Himachal Pradesh, especially from Manali, converge by different routes at Padam. Then Leh is approached by different routes form Padam.

The road journeys to Ladakh. Starting at Manali is an unforgetful experience; crossing over a series of high passes, topped by the 5360 m high Tanglang-la - it is an adventure, offering spectacular scenery. Ladakh offers numerous high altitude treks, wild jeep safaris, white water rafting, mountain biking and mountain climbing. Meeting its colorful people, and participating in their festivals are experiences to remember. Visits to monasteries are soul enriching and awe-inspiring.

 

 

DAY 1 Arrive Leh, transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel. Afternoon walking tour of city to get acclimatize. Overnight Hotel.

DAY 2 Fullday sightseeing with guide and pack lunch to HEMIS/ THIKSEY and SHEY monasteries.
SHEY : Situated on a hillock 15 km. upstream from Leh was once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition, it was the seat of power of the pre-Tidetan kings. A 7.5 meter high copper status of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind is installed here.THIKSE : Spectacularly sighted, Thikse is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive gompa. There are several temples in this gompa, containing images stupas and wall painting of Buddhas which are exquisite. HEMIS : It is the wealthiest, best known and biggest gompa in Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honour of Guru Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka, which is unfurled once in 12 years (next in 2004). Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal, an illustrious rulers in Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favoured for Drugkpa Sect, which managed the monastery.It is divided into two, the Assembly Hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall, Dukhang, is also used as a 'Green Room' by the dancer during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes among them the Buddhist Wheel of Life (Kalachakra) and the Lord of the four quarters, besides rows of the prayer wheels.

DAY 3 Drive to Lamayuru monastery, after visiting the monastery drive to Alchi for overnight stay.
LAMAYURU : The oldest holy site in Ladakh, it was a Bon shrine prior to the advent of Buddhism. Also known as Yun Drung (Swastika) it is sighted on a high promontory overlooking the village and valley. For sheer spectacle value no other gompa can match. ALCHI : On the banks of the Indus is the Alchi gompa, dating a thousand years back. One of its walls feature thousands of miniature-sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made on clay and painted brightly are its focal attraction. No longer an active religious center, it is looked after by monks from the Likir monastery.

DAY 4 Visit Alchi monastery and drive back to Leh, enroute visit Likir monastery. Overnight stay in hotel at Leh.
LIKIR : Founded in the 11th century and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century, its earlier gompa was destroyed in a fire. The present gompa dates back to the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent Thankas, earthen pots and carved folding wooden tables. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular view. A magnificent giant juniper tree, one of the few survivors of its species stands in the courtyard.

DAY 5 Afternoon visit LEH PALACE/ ZAMSKAR monastery and SHANTI STUPA. Overnight stay in hotel.
STOK : Visible in the distance, at the top of a huge moraine of pebbles swept down from the mountains, the elegant four - story STOK Palace stands above barley terraces studded with threshing circles and whitewashed farmhouses. Built early in the nineteenth century by the last ruler of the independent Ladakh. LEH PALACE : Looking for all the world like a miniature version of the Potala in Lhasa, Tibet, the palace was built in the 16th century. SANKAR : A relatively modern monastery, it is closely associated with the Spituk monastery and serves as the residence of the head priest - Kushak Bakula. A number of gold icons are to be found here.

DAY 6 Departure transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi/ Jammu/ Chandigarh.

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Leh- Ladakh Tour , Long Duration ( 13days and 12 nights)

 

DAY 01: Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Assistance on arrival, transferred to hotel . Rest of the day is a leisure to recover from the flight.

 

DAY 02: Fly Delhi - Leh
Early this morning, you will be transferred to the domestic airport in Delhi for your trans-Himalayan flight to Leh. Upon arrival, you will be met by your Guide and transferred to your hotel. We recommend you relax and undergo minimal exertion to enable yourseles acclimatize to rarefied air of this remote region ensconced in the high himalayan plateau. Overnight at Hotel.

 

DAY 03: Leh - Half day tour
After breakfast, your guide will accompany you as you explore the ancient town of Leh on foot. After a couple of hours, return to your hotel for lunch. After lunch you are driven west to visit the Shanti Stupa, inaugurated in 1983 by H.H.Dalai Lama, the peace Pagoda, whose sides are decorated with gilt panels depicting episodes from the life of Buddha, is one of the several monuments errected around India by peace sect of Japanese Buddhists. Following that, you are driven to Sankar Monastery nestled amid the shimmering coppices & terraced fields of Barley. Sankar monestry: The Gompa (Monestry in local language), contains a formidable collection of miniature stattues of pure gold and ancient paintings(called Thangkas) also done with gold. We return to our hotel in the evening.

 

DAY 04: Leh -Hemis - Thiksey - Shey
After breakfast, we visit the Hemis monastry, the biggest and the wealthiest in Ladakh. You walk past the Chortens and the Mani walls to enter the complex through the east gate. From Hemis, you are driven westwards to Thiksey monastry, located on a hilltop with formidable views of the Indus valley. After visiting the interiors of the monestry the tour continues to Shey the former summer palace of the King of Ladakh. Finally we drive back to Leh to our hotel.

 

Day 05: Leh - Alchi
After breakfast, we start our drive to Alchi, 70 kms west of Leh, south of the village of Saspol . On arrival at Uletokpo camp, we check-in and followed with lunch. After lunch, we drive back to visit Alchi village & the monestry. Alchi's large temple complex founded in the 11th century is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centres in Ladakh and a jewel of monastic skill. You will also have an opportunity to witness villagers using primitive methods to grind the wheat along the road side. After our visit to the Alchi monastry, we drive back to our campsite.

 

DAY 06: Alchi - Lamayuru - Alchi
After early breakfast, we drive towards west to Lamayuru.We visit the Lamayuru Monestry founded, properly called Yung-drung(Swastika) founded in the 11th centuary perched on a spur high above the valley bottom just off the main road, it is one of the most spectacularly picturesque gompas(Gompa means Monestry in local language) in central ladakh, as it descends from the Fa-tula to KhalatsesetLamayuru, properly called Yung-drung(Swastika) is believed to be the oldest in central Ladakh and to have been the holy place of the Bon-chos the advent of Buddhism. Afternoon picnic lunch at the Lamayuru village. After Lunch, explore Lamayuru village on foot, then we drive back to Uletokpo camp.

 

DAY 07: Uletokpo Camp - Leh enroute Likir Monestry
After a early tea/coffee, we drive to visit Ridzong Monestry. The track to Ridzong leaves the main road along the Indus at Uletokpo, between Saspol and Nyurla and follow the valley of a tributery stream, we leave the vechile and set on foot a kilometer upthe valley to Ridzong Monestry. Ridzong is is the only Nunnery Monestry in Ladakh. After that we descend, to drive back to our campsite, followed with breakfast. After breakfast we start our drive to Leh, enroute visit the Likir Monestry set up on a hill top of a low hill, it was re-founded in the 15th century by the Gelupa Sect(Yellow Sect). After that we continue our drive on the left bank of the Indus river to Leh. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon/Evening at leisure.

 

DAY 08: Leh - Saboo - Leh
After breakfast, we drive to Saboo village to see the village life of Ladakh. We visit the Local Buddhist house to see the private chapels and also visit the traditional Kitchen and get a demonstration of preparing Gur Gur tea(Local tea mixed with milk, butter & salt). Afternoon picnic lunch at a local house, then continue to drive back to Leh. Evening free to exlore the local market of foot / at leisure.

 

DAY 09 : Leh - Stok - Tibetan Handicraft
After breakfast, we drive to visit the Stok palace, the former residence of the Royal family of Ladakh. We visit the museum in which the family's heirlooms and relics are displayed, a piogant evocation of Ladakh's vanished past as an independent kingdom. Ladakh well known as SOS Village. We visit the Tibetan Handicraft Centre / Tibetan school. After that we continue our drive to Leh. We then drive to Choglamsar, which is the largest settlement of Tibetan refugee, Village in Afternoon free to explore/at leisure.

DAY 10: Leh
After breakfast, being the last day optional visit to the local market .

 

DAY 11: Fly, Leh - Delhi
After early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Leh for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be met by our representative and transferred to a hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure

 

DAY 12: Delhi
After breakfast, we set of for a tour of Old & New Delhi, visiting shopping locations across the city.

 

DAY 13 Depart

 

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Winter Adventure trip: Chaddar frozen river trek (Jan-February 2009) 15days and 14 nights

 

Zanskar is situated south west of Leh, the only motor able road is from Kargil , in the harsh Ladakh winter, the high passes out of the Zanskar valley become blocked by heavy snowfall and the only access to the outside world for the hardy Zanskaris lies along the frozen waters of the Zanskar river. We join them in the stark beauty of these icy landscapes on our adventurous trek along the “Chadar”  means frozen blanket.
 
To Lingshed, the shorter option is Leh Chilling – Lingshed - Chilling and back to Leh for 13 to 14days.

 

Day 1: Early morning flight Delhi to Leh, transfer to hotel and rest.
Day 2: Morning sightseeing - Shanti Stupa, and Sangkar Gompa; lunch at hotel, afternoon rest.
Day 3: Sightseeing around Sham, the lower part of Ladakh, visiting Likir and Alchi monasteries.
Day 4: Leh to Chiling (by private bus or jeeps) along with our porters from Pishu village of Zanskar, 5 hours; visit coppersmithing workshops.

CHADDAR TREK STARTS
 Day 5: Walk on ice of the frozen Zanskar river, Chadar, commences from Chiling, stage one to Zaribago, 5 hours.
Day 6: Zaribago to Deepyokma 4 hours.
Day 7: Deepyokma to Nyrakpulu 4 to 5 hours; camp below Nyarak village, ten minutes up along a small stream.
Day 8: Nyarakpulu to Lingshed, one hour walk on Chadar, then 5 hours steeply up to Lingshed village; stay in private house, relax in a heated room.
Day 9: Full day rest in Lingshed, one of the most remote villages in Ladakh, visit monastery, school for monks, roam around the village.
Day 10: Ligshed to Nyarakpulu, 5 hours.
Day 11: Nyarakpulu to Tsomopaldar, 4 hours.
Day 12: Tsomopaldar to Tilatdo, 5 hours.
Day 13: Tilatdo to Chiling, and return by jeep to Leh, 5 hours.
Day 14: Full day of rest in Leh.
Day 15: Return flight to Delhi; depart from India.

 

End of itinerary