| DAY 01 ARRIVE DELHI |
Arrive at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport by flight.
Delhi – the capital of India – The city consists of two parts – Old & New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between 17th and 19th century and has many mosques, monuments and forts. New Delhi, the imperial city was created by the British as the capital of India. In 1911, Edwin Lutyens, the most renowned English architect of the day, was chosen to design New Delhi which flaunts a surprising number of impressive monuments related to its conquests by the Mughals, Turks, Persians and ultimately the British.
Meet & Assist: you will be met by our representative representative in the arrival area of the airport after you clear all immigration and customs formalities. You will be transferred to your hotel.
Check-in at your hotel for 2 nights.
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 02 DELHI |
Morning driver along with guide will pick the guests from hotel and proceed for combined sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi.
Old Delhi which was the capital of Muslim India between 17th and 19th century and has many mosques, monuments and forts. Begin your day with an exploration of Old Delhi – visit the Jama Masjid, the royal mosque built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in 1656. It is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world and is constructed in red sandstone and white marble. The main prayer hall has a seating capacity of more than 20,000 worshippers. In the old city of Delhi, walk through the by-lanes of the spice market, the wedding street and the jeweler’s lane to savor the 350 years old culture up-close. There will be great photo opportunities here.
Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, the spine of Old Delhi. Jahanara Begum, the daughter of Shah Jahan designed this commercial place in 1648. Drive past Red fort, built in red sand stone by Shah Jahan in 1648, this magnificent monument is laid out along the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon. Drive through the majestic boulevards of New Delhi designed by the Edwin Lutyens in 1920. Lutyens’ Delhi includes the grand government buildings and parliament house.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) is where the Viceroy once lived and now is the official residence of the President of India. It is an imposing structure with 340 rooms, constructed high up on Raisina Hill. View India Gate, a war memorial arch built in honour of 90,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in World War.
Continue to Humayun’s Tomb, the first great example of Mughal architecture in India, it developed to become the hallmark of the Mughal Dynasty. Culminate your tour at Qutab Minar, a soaring tower of victory, 72.5meter high with five distinct stories. The construction of this minaret commenced in 1193 and
was completed in 1368. Built on the foundation of a Hindu temple, many elements of the construction reflect their Hindu and Jain origins. Within the complex, there are myriad monuments that combine both Islamic calligraphy and Hindu motifs.
Return to hotel after the above visits.
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 03 DELHI – KULLU – MANALI |
Early morning driver will pick the guest from hotel and transfer to Delhi airport to board Air India flight AI 9805, departing Delhi at 0645 hours and arriving Kullu at 0805 hours.
On arrival in Kullu, guests will meet with the driver and drive by road to Manali covering a distance of 40km in 01 hour 30 minutes drive.
On arrival in Manali, check in at hotel for 02 nights.
Manali is a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state. It has a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination. Set on the Beas River, it’s a gateway for skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in Parvati Valley. It’s also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 04 MANALI |
Morning breakfast at hotel
After breakfast driver along with guide will pick the guest from Manali hotel and proceed for local sightseeing like visiting Hadimba Devi Temple, Vashisth Bath, Tibetan Monastery and Roerich art Gallery.
Hidimbi Devi Temple – built in the tranquil and serene woods, also known variously as the Hadimba Temple, is located in Manāli, a hill station in the State of Himāchal Pradesh in north India.
Manali has several colorful Tibetan monasteries that represent rich culture and history of the Tibetan people settled in Kullu & Manali of Himachal Pradesh.
In the afternoon half day tour of Nagger Castle and local Bazaar Ping.
“Located in Naggar Town, amidst breathtaking forested hills, the Naggar Castle is a magnificent historical edifice. Made of stone and wood, this palace served as the residence of Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu. It was built in AD 1460 in an impressive amalgamation of European and Himalayan architecture.
Later sightseeing driver will drop the guest at the hotel
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 05 MANALI – ROHTANG PASS – SERCHU |
Morning breakfast at hotel
Later in time driver will pick the guest from hotel in Manali and leave for Serchu, through Rohtang Pass (13050 ft), Lahaul Valley, Tandi, Keylong, Jispa covering a distance of 230km in 8 hours drive.
Rohtang Pass, is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India
Lunch at Darcha on direct payment
After the Lunch drive to Serchu.
On arrival in Serchu, check in at hotel for an overnight.
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 06 SERCHU – LEH |
Early morning driver will pick the guests from hotel in Serchu and drive to Leh by, through Nakeela and Lachangla Pass 16, 617 ft. covering a distance of 250km in 7 hours drive.
Lunch at Pang on direct payment
After Lunch drive to Leh passing through Skyangchu Thang (Biggest and Highest Plateau on Earth on Stretch of 42 Kms), Tanglang La Pass 17,585ft and Indus Valley.
On arrival in Leh, check in at hotel for 03 nights
Leh, One of the largest and the coldest districts of India, Leh is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The entire Leh region is mountainous having three parallel ranges of the Himalayas, the Ladakh range, the Zanskar range, and the Karakoram Range. Indus, Shayok and Zanskar rivers pass through these ranges, and most of the population lives in valleys of these rivers. It is at a distance of 434 kilometers from the capital of Jammu and Kashmir- Srinagar. With a mean altitude of 3500 kilometers above the mean sea level, the temperature here can fall to as low as -33 degree centigrade. The harsh weather conditions make it second least populous district of Jammu and Kashmir, despite being the second largest district in India. The famous place here is the Leh Palace, which was constructed during the 17th century by King Singe Namgyal. It served as the residence of the Namgyal dynasty until the mid 19th century. Due to its location, the Leh Palace offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks around the palace and surrounding valley. One can easily fall in love with the scenic beauty of Leh
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 07 LEH |
Morning driver along with guide will pick the guest from Leh hotel and proceed for sightseeing of Leh including visit to Hall of Fame, Magnetic Hill, Conflence of the Zanskar & Indus.
HALL OF FAME is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian army in memory of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak wars
MAGNETIC HILL: Defying the Law of gravity. This place is close to the Gurdwara Shri Patthar Sahib. It has been noticed that when a vehicle is parked on neutral gear on this metallic road the vehicle slides up-hill that’s the Believe it or not of Ladakh!
CONFLENCE OF THE ZANSKAR & INDUS: On way to Sham Valley before Nimu village one can have this magnificent view of two rivers in wed-lock! In seasons they have different colors and flow and wildness.
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 08 LEH |
Breakfast at Hotel
Morning driver along with guide will meet the guests at hotel in Leh and proceed for sightseeing tour of Leh including the visit to Shey Palace & Thiksey monastery
Shey – It was the ancient capital of Ladakh and even after Singge Namgyal built the more imposing palace at Leh, the kings continued to regard Shey, as their real home. The importance which was attached to Shey – the seat of Ladakh’s heartland – is attested by the enormous number of Chorten about the village, particularly around the palace complex and barren plain to the north of the road.
Thiksey – Is one of the largest and most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompa containing images, stupas and exquisite wall paintings. It also houses a two – storied statue of Buddha which has the main prayer hall around its shoulder
After above visit return to hotel for lunch
Evening again driver and guide will come to pick the guest to visit Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is situated on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district, Ladakh, in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Shanti Stupa as know Buddhist white-domed stupa. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura .The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its
base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama himself. Shanti stupa has provides beautiful and panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. This has become a primary reason for Shanti Stupa to become a popular tourist attraction, apart from its religious significance.
The Shanti Stupa was built to promote world peace and prosperity and to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. It is considered a symbol of the ties between the people of Japan and Ladakh.
Situated at a height of 4,267 metres (13,999 ft), the stupa is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Leh – the former capital of Ladakh – on a steep hill facing the Leh Palace. The stupa can be reached by a drivable road or on foot using a series of 500 steep steps to the hilltop.
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 09 LEH – NUBBRA VALLEY |
Breakfast at Hotel
After an early breakfast, driver will pick the guests from hotel in Leh and drive to beautiful Nubra Valley via Khardungla (Highest Motorable road in the World, 18,380 ft) with the zig zag trail continues and drive till Hundar village covering a distance of 170km in 6 hours drive
On arrival in Nubra Valley check in Nature’s nest North camp.
Nubra is a tri-armed valley located to the north east of Ladakh valley. Diskit the capital of Nubra is about 150 km north from Leh town, the capital of Ladakh district, India. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra.
Afternoon enjoy the beauty of sand dune and double hump camel.
Overnight: Camp
| DAY 10 NUBBRA VALLEY – DISKIT – SUMOOR – LEH |
Today, get up early morning and visit to Diskit monastery and have wonderful view of Nubra valley.
Diskit Monastery, Within the Nubra region of Ladakh, Diskit is situated at an altitude of 3142 meters above sea level, and lies 15 km north-west off the Khalsar-Panamik route, at the edge of the desert in Shyok valley. Among the larger villages, Diskit is the administrative centre of Nubra valley.
Diskit is famous for its 14th century monastery, which is believed to be the largest and oldest monastery in Nubra valley. The monastery can be reached from the Diskit village through a rugged and dusty road that crosses a stream in the middle of the village.
The monastery belongs to Gelugpa order or the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhsim. It was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, the disciple of Tsong Khapa, in 14th century.
Diskit monastery was given to Rimpoche of Thiksey monastery during 18th century. It is still under the management of Thiksey monastery and hence, considered a sub-gompa of Thiksey. The monastery is of Tibetan style construction and boasts of murals and frescos.
The gompa roof of Diskit offers panoramic views of Nubra Valley. Diskit monastery stands on a hill above the flood plains of Shyok River.
Diskit has a mild climate as it is at a lower elevation and thus has lush vegetation, which has earned it the title of “Orchard of Ladakh”. Diskit is precisely famous for it’s apricot plantations.
Located closeby, is the gompa of Hundar village. This is a small gompa belonging to the Gelug-pa sect, set amidst innumerable chortens and has a huge impressive statue of Chamba in the main prayer hall. The gompa was built at the time King Jamgyal Namgyal came here with his wife Gyal Khatun. Explore the village which has some beautiful old houses.
Later drive to Sumoor village and back to Leh via same trail of khardong village and khardongla covering a distance of 170km in 6 hours drive
On arrival in Leh, check in at hotel for an overnight
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 11 LEH – PANGONG LAKE |
Morning driver will pick the guests from Leh Hotel and leave for Pangong Lake covering a distance of 150km in 4 hours drive
This route takes the visitor past the picturesque villages of Shey and Thikse, and turns off the Indus valley by the side valley of Chemrey and Sakti. The Ladakh rang is crossed by the Chang-la (18,000 feet / 5,475 M) which despite its great elevation is one of the easier passes, remaining open for much of the year even in winter, apart from periods of actual snowfall. Tangse, just beyond the foot of the pass, has an ancient temple. But the main attraction of this circuit is the Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 M). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometers at its widest point to which foreigners are permitted, is only some seven km along the southern shore from the head of the lake, but it affords spectacular views of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north, their reflection shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lakes brackish water. Above Spangmikare the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Pangong range.
On arrival at Pangong Lake, check in at Camp
Overnight: Camp
| DAY 12 PANGONG – HEMIS – LEH |
Morning after breakfast driver will pick the guest from Pangong camp and drive back to Leh en-route visiting Hemis covering a distance of 150km in 4 hours drive
Hemis – Which is dedicated to Padmasambhava, what a visitor can observes a series of scenes in which the lamas, robed in gowns of rich, brightly colored brocade and sporting masks sometimes bizarrely hideous, parade in solemn dance and mime around the huge flag pole in the center of the courtyard to the plaintive melody of the Shawn.
On arrival in Leh, check in at your hotel for an overnight.
Evening at leisure to visit local market in Leh
Overnight: Hotel
| DAY 13 LEH – DELHI – DEPART |
Morning in time driver will pick the guest from hotel in Leh and transfer to Leh airport to board flight for Delhi
On arrival in Delhi further connect international flight for onward destination.
TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR LEH
Situated at the height of about 3,505 meters above sea level, Leh is the most beautiful and easily accessible place in Ladakh. The town is the most common entry point to Ladakh region. Leh serves as the ideal base to tourists traveling Ladakh, India. Leh has a number of beautiful monasteries and historical monuments that are the biggest draw to Leh. The rugged terrain with snow covered mountains in the backdrop under the clean blue-sky form a stunning picture perfect postcard. Leh is an ideal place for trekking and mountaineering. Its beautiful trekking trails and majestic mountains invite an intrepid traveler to explore the barren beauty that lay scattered in and around Leh.
Location
Leh is the headquarters of Ladakh district and is located on the east of Srinagar. Surrounded by the majestic Himalayan peaks, Leh is rinsed by the Zanskar River, which meets the Indus below. The temperature during the winter dips below zero.
History
Leh’s claim to fame dates back to the 17th century, when King Sengge Namgyal shifted his court to Leh from Shey. Soon after, Leh became an important trade center on the famed Silk Route. Tourism sets its foot in Leh in 1970s, to be precise in 1974, when Leh was opened for tourists.
Sites to Visit
Shanti Stupa, the result of joint efforts by the Buddhists from Japan and Ladakh is one of the finest monuments built in the recent times. A steep walk takes one to the beautiful structure that has relics of the Buddha enshrined by the Dalai Lama himself. Shanti Stupa is one of the few places in Leh from where you can have an excellent view of the Leh valley. So don’t forget to take your cameras to capture some stunning sights of the barren but beautiful hills and the valley below.
Leh Palace, a distant cousin of the Potala in Lhasa Tibet is another attraction in Leh. The palace, which was built in the 17th century is in a dilapidated condition today. Once home to royal family of Leh, the palace today is under Archaeological Survey of India. Just above the palace on the Namgyal hill is the Victory Tower that was built in memory of Ladakh’s victory over the Balti Kashmir armies in the 16th century. Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is another beautiful monastery that houses a three-story high Buddha image and ancient manuscripts. The Gompa was built in 1430. Sankar Gompa is another magnificent gompa that is located about a few kilometers from Leh town. The gompa belongs to the Gelukpa order.
Trekking in Leh
If you are the one interested in adventure sports, Leh is an ideal place to tour. Leh is one among the few trekking places in north India that offers wonderful trekking trails. You can hit the route to Markha Valley from Spituk or take the Lamayuru gompa to Chilling trek along the Zanskar river. The another popular trek that can be taken is from Likir to Temisgam. June to October is considered to be the ideal time for trekking in Leh Ladakh. But it is essential to acclimatize before you take out your trekking gear.
Other Sports
During summer, Polo is another popular sport in Leh. Tuesdays and Saturdays are marked as Polo playing days. But if you are in Leh during the Festivals, you can enjoy other sports as well. Archery competitions are held during the festival and it is exciting to watch archers from Ladakh and other parts to participate in the event. River rafting is another exciting sport that one can enjoy. From July to September one can raft down the Zanskar River.
Shopping in Leh
Shopping is an exciting experience in Leh. You can shop for turquoise and silver jewellery that come from Tibet and Burma. Main Market in Leh is a wonderful place to shop. Two of the places that are worth checking are Ladakh Art Palace and Lhasa Embroidery. Tibetan Refugee Market on Old Leh Road is another ideal place for shopping in Leh. For Tibetan-Ladakhi items of art one can head to Government Emporium. Popular souvenirs picked up by tourists include, Thangka paintings, small prayer wheels, music bowls, Ladakhi carpets, rugs, shawls and stoles.
How to Reach
Leh is connected by air from Delhi and it takes about 65 minutes to reach Leh from Delhi. By rail, either you can travel to Jammu and take the Srinagar route to Leh or get down at Kalka and head to Shimla and take the Manali route.
From Jammu you can head to Srinagar by road and then to Leh, which is over 430 kilometers away. It is about a two-day journey from Srinagar with a night halt at Kargil. On the road from Srinagar to Leh you will cross the high Zoji La Pass, and travel past Mulbek where there is a giant image of the Maitreya Buddha. The Namika La and Fotu La Passes and the Spituk Gompa are scenic attractions on the road from Srinagar to Leh.
You can also approach Leh Ladakh from Manali. On the road from Manali you will cross the Rohtang Pass and the Baralacha La Pass. Stop overnight at Sarchu Serai and on the next day travel through Tanglang La and Lungalacha La passes to Upshi and onward to Leh. Along the way you will see many ancient monasteries and Buddhist structures.
Temperature:
One of the most visited destinations in India, located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is globally renowned as a ‘Cold Desert’ and known for its Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The region shares its international boundary with Tibet and has a huge influence of Tibetan culture on its lifestyle. It is generally a barren land and has a low atmospheric pressure. Owing to its rigid climatic conditions and other features, tourists are required to certain necessary precautions during their Leh Ladakh tour. Read the tips and suggestions mentioned below. When it comes to temperature and climatic conditions of Ladakh, the summers have a pleasant temperature. In winters, the temperature touches the extreme level. In winters, the temperature can go as low as -30 degrees in Leh & Ladakh and -60 degrees in Drass. Almost all the feasible water resources get frozen. During July and August, the maximum temperature can rise up from 20 to 35 degree Celsius.
Permit & Passport:
For traveling in Leh, tourists do not require permits. On the other hand, all foreign travelers are required to get themselves registered at Drass, Sarchu and Rumste if they are traveling through the land. For some restricted areas such as Tsokar & Pangong Lakes and Tsomoriri, Nubra Valley and Dhahanu, tourists require permits. It can be obtained from the District Magistrate of Leh through travel agents.
Altitude Sickness:
Anybody can fall prey to acute mountain sickness at an altitude of 10,000 ft. above sea level. Therefore, it is necessary to take full rest on the day of arrival and get yourself acclimatized. People with high blood pressure and heart ailments should refrain themselves from planning a trip to Ladakh.
Clothing:
The peak summer months from mid-June to September have a pleasant temperature and therefore single T-shirts or shirts can do. In winters (from November to February), one needs heavy woolen clothes and warm jackets. However, in most parts of the Leh- Ladakh region, there is a drastic fluctuation in the daily temperature. Therefore, tourists should carry woolen clothes and sweaters while packing their bags for the trip.
Accommodation:
Before embarking on Ladakh tour, you need to plan your accommodation first. There are several options for staying in resorts, hotels, home stays etc. Ladakh hotels are segregated into different categories. You can easily avail modern comforts with a touch of traditional Ladakhi hospitality.
Money and Currency:
There are a very few hotels and tour operators which accept credit card (aka plastic money) but charge 2% service tax. In the main Leh city, various private banks such as State Bank of India, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Punjab National Bank and Axis Bank have placed their ATM machine.
Intra-City Transport:
For Intra City Transportation in Ladakh there are options of buses and private vehicles. There are buses leaving from Leh City to the major places of Ladakh. These buses are not regular owing to the unpredictable weather conditions. Leh offers a fleet of tourist transport facilities with more than 2000 vehicles. Taxis, Innova, Mahindra Scorpio, Xylo, Toyota, Tata Grande, etc.
Communications:
Since most of the markets and STD booths in Leh Tourism board has its own wireless radiophone network that connects its offices h Ladakh region gets closed before 10 PM, it is better to get in touch with your near and dear ones before evening time. The General Post Office and Telegraph Office available in the Leh town also helps in communication. The state tat Leh, Kargil and Padum with those in Jammu, Srinagar and Delhi.
Languages Spoken:
The main language spoken in Ladakh region is Boti. Other languages spoken in this region include Brokshat, Changshat, Balti and Shina. Use of English and Hindi languages can be seen in schools, offices and restaurants.
Bike and Car Rental:
Bike and Car rentals is also available in Leh City. However it is recommended that unless you are a seasoned Biker, do not venture out of the city of Leh with these rented bikes as a breakdown outside the city will mean a lot of time before help can reach you.
Popular Attractions:
Leh city, Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri Lake, Zanskar Valley, Khardung La Pass, Nubra Valley, Hemis National Park, Pathar Sahib, Nubra Valley, Tso Moriri Lake, Hemis Monastery and Village, Shanti Stupa, etc.
Popular Activities:
Ladakh is an ideal destination for adventure enthusiasts. You can go for trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting etc. You will also try traditional sports such as polo and archery, and camel safaris across the countryside.
Best Time to Visit
July to September is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh, India. Summers are the perfect season to travel to Ladakh. The summer season starts from May and continues till September. However, most of tourist plan their trips in winters because most of Ladakhi festivals take place at this time.
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