Itinerary

Day 1, Assistance on arrival at Delhi airport and transfer to the pre-booked hotel. Morning free. Afternoon, sightseeing to Old Delhi - visiting the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, built in the 17th century by the Great Mughals. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 2,  Delhi-Leh: Early morning transfer to domestic airport for flight to Leh. The spectacular, one-hour, mountain flight over the mighty Himalayas brings you to Leh, the capital of the ancient  Buddhist kingdom of Ladakh. Transfer to Ladakhi style hotel. A day of complete rest to acclimatize to the arid high altitude of Leh (3100 mts). Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 3,  Leh:  After breakfast, set off on a half-day sightseeing trip to the 200 years old Shankar monastery, which contains a plethora of impressive images, wall paintings and a huge statue of Aloketesvara - with 1000 arm & heads. Next stop is the Japanese built peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa); 

crowned with a massive dome, this stupa is a reminiscent of Nalanda and Rajgir stupas. Our last stop is the ruined Leh Palace, a replica of the Patola Palace of Lhasa. The palace was strategically built on the hilltop in the 18th century and offers fabulous views of the Indus valley below.  Afternoon, visit a Ladakhi Buddhist family and share a cup of butter tea, tsampa (roasted  barley) and tschang (fermented barley beer), and see their way of living. Evening free. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 4, Leh-Hemis (45 kms.): Full day of sightseeing, visiting the three most important monasteries of Ladakh - Hemis Gompa, Thiksey Gompa and Shey Palace. Hemis is one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh and houses about 150 monks; it also stages the annual Hemis festival. The Gompa, nestled in a gorge and surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, was built in the 18th century and houses a wide range of beautiful frescoes, thankas, Buddha statues and an excellent library. On the way back to Leh, we visit the superbly situated, 16th century, Thiksey Gompa, which is perched on a hill top. The Gompa houses an important collection of Tibetan-style books, a huge Buddha statue and some excellent works of art. Last stop is the ruined Shey Palace, once the summer palace of the pre-Tibetan kings. The palace monastery houses a large, bronze, blue haired Buddha statue. Back to Leh hotel for dinner and overnight.
 
Day  5,  Leh  -  Nubra (6 hrs. drive): After  breakfast,  drive  to  the mystical Nubra Valley  over  the  exhilarating Khardungla Pass (5600m.), the highest  point  of  our  journey.  The views from the top  are spectacular; extending, to the south, across the  Indus  Valley  to  the  seemingly  endless  peaks  and  ridges  of  the  Zanskar range. To the north, the views of the mighty peaks of the Saser  Massif are amazing.  We continue driving over the fairly rough road to Tirith, where we will spend the next three nights in comfortable camp.  Evening free.

 
Day  6,   Tirith-Diskit-Hunder:  After breakfast  drive  to  Diskit, the starting point of our  5 hour  camel  trek  to  Hunder.  Diskit is home to a small population of Bactrain camels; these shaggy, double humped animals, were once used as pack animals on the central Asian trade routes. On camel back, we pass through this dramatic high altitude desert, with its rolling sand dune and barren landscape, dotted with lush, green, river valleys. From Hunder, we drive back to our camp at  Tirith.

Day 7,  Tirith - Samur - Samstaling – Panamik:  After  breakfast, we set off on a full  day of sightseeing  to  Samstaling  monastery  and the  village  of  Samur.  This is part of the old silk route  and was used by  trade caravans on their way  to  Panamik,  the  last  village  on  this  circuit.  Panamik, now a sleepy village, was once a major trade centre for merchants.  Here we will visit hot springs and the tiny Ensa Gompa before driving back to our camp at Tirith.

Day  8,  Nubra - Leh (6 hrs. drive):  Drive back  to  Leh,  over  the Khardungla Pass.  Overnight in hotel.  Evening free.

Day  9,  Leh. A free day. Rest, visit a Ladakhi family, explore the colourful bazaar, or wander around the dusty back streets of Leh.  Overnight  in  hotel.

Day 10, Leh - Delhi – Agra: Say farewell to this magical land. Transfer to Leh airport for another breathtaking mountain flight back to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi and drive to Agra (5hrs), to visit the  magnificent  Taj Mahal, set  within  the  ‘paradise  gardens’, and the Red Fort.  Overnight  in  hotel.

 Day  11, Agra - Delhi.  Morning  free.  Afternoon  drive  back  to  Delhi.  Enroute visit to Mathura, 
birth place of the famous Hindu god, Lord Krishna.  Arrive in Delhi and check in to the hotel.

 Day 12,  Early morning transfer to airport for return flight.

MANALI & DHARAMSALA EXTENSION.

Day 10, From Leh, a long, but spectacular 8 hour drive (250kms), over Tanglangla (5360mts), the second highest motorable pass in the world. Overnight in camp at Sarchu.

Day 11, Drive to Keylong (75kms/4hrs), over Baralach La (4892mts). Afternoon, explore the monasteries. Overnight in a simple guesthouse in Keylong..

Day 13, Keylong – Manali. A beautiful, 6 hour drive (147 kms), descending into the stunning, lush green Kullu Valley for a two night stay in a hotel in Manali.

Day 14, A day to explore Manali and unwind. Overnight in hotel.

Day 15, Manali – Dharamsala. A long drive to the home of the Dalai Lama in exile. Stay overnight night in a peaceful hotel.

Day 16, Explore Dharamsala, its monasteries, colourful bazaar and mingle with the friendly Tibetan people. Evening, board overnight train to Delhi from Chakki Bank.

Day 17, Morning arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel. A day at leisure for relaxing and last minute shopping. After dinner, transfer to the airport.

Day 18, Early morning fly back to your home country or to next destination.

For cost and other information, please contact us. We will response you as soon as possible.