Day 01 Arrive Delhi
You will be met by our representative at the visitors lounge and escorted till your check in at hotel
Delhi, the Empress of Indian cities has a fascinating history and a stimulating present. She has often been sacked and left naked and desolate. But she could not be despoiled of the incomparable situation that marks her for the metropolis of a Great Empire. The capital of India, Delhi has been the seat of power of a number of dynasties – the Rajputs, the Afghans, the Turks and the Mughals who continued their imperial line until the British. Scattered over are surviving ruins, remnants of mighty edifices, tombs of warriors and saints, which in an impressive sense of magnificence are memorials not of a single city but of supplanted nations.
Balance day at Leisure.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 02 Delhi – Leh.
Morning transfer to airport to connect flight for Leh.
You will be met by our representative at the airport & transfer you to Hotel in Leh.
Rest of the day free to acclimatize to the high altitude of Ladakh.
Overnight at Hotel in Leh.
Day 03 Leh Sightseeing and Rafting on Indus river.
Early morning after breakfast drive to Thiksey monastery to witness morning Prayers at the monastery. Proceed to Hemis Monastery, visit the monastery. Have packed Lunch there. Later we will drive to Phey our rafting Put In point. Start rafting from Phey till Nimo. Our vehicles will pick you up and drive to Stok Monastery. After visiting Stok Monastery drive back to Leh.
THIKSEY GOMPA: 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompas, containing images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.
HEMIS GOMPA: 40 Kms from Leh, it is the wealthiest, best known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honor of Guru Padma Sambhava’s birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled once in 12 years (nest in 2004) Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Singge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal Dynasty for the royalty favored the Drugpa sect, which is 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 “green room” by the dancers 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 lords of the four quarters, besides the prayer wheel.
STOK PALACE & MUSEUM: The palace of the banished royal family, Stok has a museum which displays fabulous period costumes and jewelry of the royalty along with exquisite Thankas representing the life style of Shakya Muni. Interesting historical objects like coins, armor, weapons, precious jades and porcelain too can be seen here.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04 Leh – Nubra Via Khardungla Pass.
Early morning proceed to Nubra Valley via the World Highest Motorable road (5602 Mts) Khardungla pass. Arrive Nubra by noon and check in at The Silk Route Cottages.
Khardungla pass: The road journey to Nubra valley leads through Khardung La pass (The highest Motorable road in the world) 18,390 ft. around 39 Kms. Away from Leh. There are two checkpoints on the both sides of the pass. Khardong is the first village of Nubra valley at higher altitude than Deskit and other villages.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight at The Silk Route Cottage.
Day 05 Nubra Sight seeing.
Morning after breakfast proceed for a visit to the White Sand Dunes at Hunder. You can enjoy the camel ride (On Own). Visit Hunder and Diskit monasteries. Evening trek to Samstaling Monestry.
DESKIT village: Deskit is the main village of headquarter of Nubra valley, which has a small market consisting of a row of shops and about 500 years old Gompa on the hilltop. Spectacular view of the valley can be seen form the monastery.
DESKIT GOMPA: Deskit Gompa was founded by Lama Sherab Zangpo of Stod in about 1420 AD during the reign of King Dragspa. About 100 monks are residing in the Gompa, which is a branch of Thikse Monastery. The monastic festival called Gustor takes place on 20th and 21st days of the 12th month of Tibetan calendar.
hundar village: Hundar is a beautiful village to stay with lot of trees and you will really enjoy your stay at Hundar. It has a small monastery and ruined fort above the village. The walk or Camel Safari (Double Hump bacterian camels) from Hundar to Deskit, through sand dunes for two hours is wonderful.
Samstanling gompa: Samstanling Monastery was founded by Lama Tsultrim Nima and Monastic community was introduced as Rezong Gompa. About 50-60 monks are residing at this 132 years old monastery. The Gompa has some strict rules and regulations.
-Women are not allowed in the monastery after sunset and before sunrise.
-No smoking is allowed (not even bringing cigarettes packets) in the monastery.
-Alcohol and non-veg. Food are strictly prohibited.
-Do not enter in sleeveless shirts and Pants.
Overnight at The Silk Route Cottage.
Day 06 Nubra – Leh
Morning after Breakfast proceed for Leh, once again driving via Khardungla pass the World Highest Motorable road. Evening explore Leh bazaar for souvenir, visit Leh Jokhang or Leh Mosque by foot.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 07 Leh – Alchi
Drive from Leh to Alchi, enroute visit Liker monastery. On arrival check in hotel Visit the Alchi monastery. Buffet lunch at the hotel. Post lunch visit Rizong monastery and Chulichan nunnery.
ALCHI GOMPA: 70 Kms from Leh, on the banks of the Indus, is the Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years back. One of its walls features thousands of miniature sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attractions. No longer an active religious center, it is looked after by monks from the Liker monastery. This is the only monastery amongst 34 monasteries, which is not located on a hilltop.
LIKIR GOMPA: 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 dated back to the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent Thankas, earthen pots and carved wooden folding stools, live here in the village. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular view. A magnificent giant Jupiter tree, one of the few survivors of its species, stands in the courtyard.
RIDZONG GOMPA: Rizong is the most isolated monastery of all the monastery of Ladakh. There is no entry fee in this monastery, you can offer whatever you can. Rizong Gompa is known as the paradise for Meditation. Guru Padma Sambhava is believed to meditated here for years. One can still find the small caves where Lamas used to meditate for years cutting themselves from the rest of the world except for an one feet square outlet window from where they accept the one time meal of the day.
CHULICHAN: Chulichan, the nunnery is around one and half Kms. Below the Rizong monastery; around 20 Nuns resides at Chulichan. They provide food and cloths to the monks and perform morning and evening prayers
Overnight Hotel at Alchi.
Day 08 Alchi – Kargil
Early morning after breakfast drive to Kargil with packed Lunch. This drive normally takes about 5 – 6 hrs non stop, but we will be stopping at Lamayuru monastery for sight seeing and to have our packed lunch there. Later continue our drive to Kargil.
Overnight at Hotel in Kargil.
Day 09 Kargil – Srinagar
Morning drive to Srinagar, enroute stops include Sonamarg and Baltal hamlets, famous for rugged snow peaked meadows. Past Baltal cross over Zoji-La Pass (11,500 ft). We are in Drass valley with strikingly different landscape dotted with remote mud huts giving an impression that you really have traveled back in time. Lunch will be at midway (on own). After a passport check we continue on to Srinagar.
Overnight at Hotel in Srinagar.
Day 10 In Srinagar
Morning city tour of Srinagar visiting Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Garden & Shakracharya.
MUGHAL GARDENS : NISHAT BAGH: “Garden of pleasure” designed in 1633 A.D by Noor Jehan’s brother Asif Khan on the slopes of Zabarwan mountain as its backdrop. This “Garden of Bliss” with ten terraces has many carefully laid out flower beds and magnificent lawns which commands a magnificent view of the lake and snow capped Pir Panjal Mountain range which stands far away to the west of the valley. The trees here and all around Srinagar are the Celebrated Chinar, originally imported from Persia. In late summer and fall these mighty Chinar trees turn a gorgeous reddish-golden color.
SHALIMAR BAGH: “Garden of love” built in 1616 A.D for Queen Noor Jehan “Light of the World” by Emperor Jehangir and was extended in 1727 A.D by Shah Jehan. It later became the inspiration for the famous song (“Pale hands I Loved..”) During the Mughal period the top most of the four terraces was reserved for the emperor and the court maidens. A canal, lined with polished stones and supplied with water from Harwan runs through the middle of the garden resplendent with fountains and falls. At night the romantic days when little lights glimmered in the garden and languid ladies lounged by the pools are recalled in a Son-et-Lumiere performance, also tracing the history of the Mughals. The garden in 539×182 Mts. Lunch at houseboats. Afternoon Shikara trip to lakes visiting the interior of the Dal Lake . To see the life of people in the lake and floating gardens. Evening return back to the houseboats. Dinner and Overnight stay in houseboats
Afternoon Shikara ride.
Overnight at Srinagar.
Day 11 Srinagar – Delhi
Morning transfer to airport to connect flight to Delhi
You will be met by our representative at the airport & transfer to hotel.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 12 Leave Delhi
In time transfer to International airport to connect flight to onward destination.
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