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Best of ladakh
Duration: 10 Nights / 11 Days
Day 01: Arrive at Leh airport by morning flight from
Delhi. This flight is one of the most sensational flights
in the world. On a clear day from one side of the aircraft
can be seen in the distance the peaks of K2, Nanga Parbat,
Gasherbrum and on the other side of the aircraft, so close
that you feel you could reach out and touch it, is the Nun
Kun massif.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. You
would take a little time to settle in and acclimatize since
you have gone from a relatively low elevation in New Delhi
to over 11,000 feet! During the afternoon, you can walk
through the old town, beneath the Leh Palace, to allow you
to get oriented to this fascinating city. Overnight in a
hotel.
You may book your flights at www.indian-airlines.com &
http://www.itn.net/cgi/get?itn/air/jetairwaysusb/index
Day 02: Leh - Witness Hemis Festival
You have a full day to witness the HEMIS FESTIVAL. You drive
upstream along the Indus River on a broad well-mettled road
to HEMIS GOMPA, crossing over the Indus River at the village
of Karu. The most famous of Ladakh's monasteries, Hemis
or Changchub Samstanling (The love palace of the compassionate
person), dates back to the 17th century and was built over
a period of 40 years (1602 - 1642 A.D.). Today Hemis is
well known for its festival or Hemis Tsechu commemorating
the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava. In the year of the Monkey
(every 12 years) a giant thangka depicting Guru Padmasambhava
is unfurled from the terrace draping the five-storey facade.
Delicately wrought in pearls and appliqué, it is
one of the most famous art treasures of Ladakh. The central
courtyard forms the focus for the masked dances held every
year in summer. In the dukhang, remnants of the original
17th century murals can be seen. The gompa boasts of an
excellent library, well preserved frescoes and murals, silver
gilt chortens and a Kashmiri lacquered wood throne.
During the festival, the monastery is ablaze with light,
in the courtyard the blare of long brass trumpets signals
the beginning of the fight between good and evil. Dancing
and prancing, leering and scowling, the demons - monks beneath
grotesque masks - enter the arena. Between them two skeletons
ease the tension with antics. The forces of good, representing
legendry heroes and saints strive to overcome the demons
as stately dance steps and graceful mystic gestures are
pitted against frenzy and madness. Slowly the demons are
driven back - only to surge forward again in swirling dance,
flinging themselves against the Masters of Virtue - but
their violence cannot overcome the superiority of virtue
on wisdom. They are driven from the arena. In the evening
you return to your hotel in Leh for an overnight stay.
Day 03: Leh - Rafting from Phey to Nimoo - Likir
After breakfast drive to the start point for RAFTING down
the Indus River. Your rafting run will start at Phey (14
km from Leh) and culminate at Nimoo, the confluence of Indus
and Zanskar Rivers. The rafting trip would provide a different
perspective in your experience of the natural beauty of
the spectacular landscape with deep gorges, towering snow
capped peaks hilltop monasteries & hillside villages
besides being an adrenalin boost. From Nimoo you drive to
Likir. On arrival check in at your tented accommodation.
Later in the afternoon visit the LIKIR MONASTERY, which
is situated at the head of the village by the same name.
The name Likir derives from the word Lukhgil (coiled snake)
as the site appears to be encircled by two great serpent
spirits - Nanda and Taksako. The gompa is believed to date
back to the 11th century. In the 15th century Lama Lhawag
Lhotos established the Gelug-pa order here. Likir is one
of the most active monasteries in the region. The gompa
has a fine collection of thangkas some of which are now
housed in its museum. As you drive up to the monastery a
recently installed colossal gilded image of the Maitreya
out in the open is one of the most impressive sights in
Ladakh. Overnight in your tented camp.
Day 04: Likir - Approx 1 hr Drive - Hemis Shukpathan
- Approx 2 hrs trek - Ang Tingsmogang Homestay
After breakfast an hour's drive across three passes, ranging
in altitude between 3580 M to 3750 M, will get you to Hemis
Shukpathan. It is a major village, which gets its name from
the cedars, found in the valley, and which also boasts a
beautiful gompa. You commence your trek from here. Crossing
the village, a short uphill climb brings you to an ill-defined
pass. From here there is a steep descent across the mountainside.
On reaching the bottom of this valley you will be climbing
a rather steep slope to the summit of the Mebtek-La (3720
M). However, on reaching the top, your efforts are rewarded
with a bird's eye view of the next valley. The trek from
here to the picturesque village of Ang is an easy half-hour
descent. A short walk will bring you to Tingmosgang. This
is considered to be the richest valley in Ladakh with apricots,
apples, nuts and beautiful houses. At Tingmosgang you will
experience warm traditional Ladakhi hospitality during your
HOMESTAY for the night.
Day 05: Tingmosgang
- Lamayuru - Approx 30 km/ Approx 1 hr
Tingmosgang served as one of the capitals of Ladakh in the
15th century. Though most of the castle is in ruins, three
temples remain and continue to be in use. On the day marking
the three important events in the life of Buddha i.e. birth,
enlightenment and parinirvana, people from all over Ladakh
including Zanskar gather here making offerings of butter
for the lamps, incense and flowers. Your drive from Tingmosgang
descends to Nurla from where you turn right for Lamayuru
along the main highway.
After checking in to your accommodation you proceed to visit
the 11th century LAMAYURU MONASTERY, which is spectacularly
located along the valley plain and surrounded by mountains
on all sides. According to legend, the arhat Madhyantika,
a disciple of Buddha offered "torma' (sacred food)
and water to the spirits inhabiting the site to satisfy
them. A handful of rain spilled on the soil which caused
barley plants to sprout in the shape of Yung-drung (swastika),
hence its name Yung-Drung. The great yogi Naropa meditated
in a cave, which today forms part of the monastery. The
monastery has gradually expanded over the years and newer
structures have been built around a large courtyard. The
antiquity of this site is evident from the large number
of chortens, similar to those at Alchi. You spend the night
at Lamayuru.
Day 06: Lamayuru - Leh
- 126 Km / Approx 4 hrs
Finally, you drive back to Leh in time for lunch at the
hotel. The afternoon is free to explore the town on your
own. Leh is very Tibetan: the national dress, 'stove-pipe'
hats and felt boots with turned-up toes are much in evidence.
The 16th century Royal Palace, which dominates the town,
is very reminiscent of the Potala in Lhasa and Tibetan Buddhist
monasteries, large chortens, prayer flags and mud brick
houses with flat roofs have a dramatic effect on the landscape.
Day 07: Leh - over Khardung la (HT 5602 M) - Hunder
(HT 4350 M) (Nubra Valley) - Approx 5 hrs
The road journey from Leh to NUBRA VALLEY passes over KHARDUNG
LA (the highest motorable road in the world) at 5602 M /
18,390 Ft, around 39 km from Leh. From the Pass, one can
see all the way south over the Indus valley to seemingly
endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, and north
to the giants of the Saser massif. Nubra Valley is popularly
known as Ldumra or the valley of flowers. It is situated
in the north of Ladakh between the Karakoram and Ladakh
ranges of the Himalayas. The average altitude of the valley
is 10,000 Ft. above sea level. The Shayok and Saichen Rivers
drain Nubra. The flat part of the river is sandy & occupied
by green farms & myricaria. The villages look pretty
with greenery, willow & poplar trees. Till partition
Nubra Valley was one of the trade centers, the ancient famous
Silk Route passed through this area.
Before proceeding to your camp at Hunder, stop to visit
DISKIT MONASTERY perched on a rock overhanging next to a
stream, which provides the source of energy used by mills
in the area. The monastery is rich, full of thangkas, magnificent
giant statues, effigies of the Buddha and old mural paintings
in which can be noted a multitude of influences. It was
founded by Lama Sherab Zangpo of Stod around 1420 A.D. Diskit
is the main village or headquarters of Nubra Valley, which
has a small market consisting of a row of shops
After your visit to the monastery and shortly after leaving
Diskit you will comes across sand dunes on the right of
the road. Seen in isolation you could well be amongst the
sand dunes of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. It is indeed
a strange sight since immediately on the left of the road
are rocky mountains that characterize the Ladakh landscape
and in the distance can be seen snow-capped mountains. Overnight
in your camp at Hunder.
Day 08: In
Nubra Valley - Bacterian Camel Safari at Hunder - Panamik
- Approx 1 ½ hrs - Samstanling Gompa in Sumoor -
Approx ½ hr - Hunder - Approx 1 hrs
After breakfast you will get the unique opportunity to ride
on a bacterian camel (double humped) amidst the sand dunes
of this high altitude desert with snow capped mountains
on the horizon. Thereafter, crossing over the Shayok River
you will be driving upstream long the Saichen River to Panamik.
The place has a number of hot springs on the right of the
road just before entering the village. Panamik is literally
the end of the road for this trip, as one has to return
from this spot. On the return journey you stop by to visit
SAMSTANLING GOMPA founded by Lama Tsultims Nima. The Gompa
has some strict rules and regulations like not allowing
women in the monastery after sunset and before sunrise,
no smoking etc. From here you will drive back to Hunder
for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day
09: Hunder - Leh - Approx 3 hrs
After breakfast drive to Leh over Khardung La. Afternoon
rest and relax or take a walk to the local market. Overnight
at your hotel.
Day 10: Leh - Across
Changa La (5320 M / 17,800 Ft) - Pangong Tso - Leh - 160
km one way/ 9 hrs return trip
An all encompassing trip on the BEST OF LADAKH will not
be considered complete without experiencing the majestic
as well as serene ambience of at least one of its three
high altitude lakes. Today's drive takes you to Pangong
Tso.
You start early heading out on the Leh - Upshi road driving
upstream along the Indus River. From Karu you turn left
to ascend through the Sakti valley. As you drive up the
amazing sight of CHEMREY GOMPA rising majestically on a
hill to the left with the residences of the lamas spilling
along its contours greets you. As you negotiate a number
of hairpin bends climbing higher towards the pass, green
cultivated fields dotted with village houses in typical
Ladakhi architecture continue along the base of the valley.
Finally you cross over Chang La (5320 M / 17,800 Ft), a
signboard proclaims it to be the third highest motorable
pass in the world.
On reaching Pangong Tso, the largest brackish water lake
in Asia, an absolutely amazing and captivating sight is
laid out in front of you. One third of the lake is in India
while the rest two thirds of the lake is in Tibet. Most
of the streams feeding the lake are on the Tibetan side.
It seems never ending. The crystal clear water of the lake,
the desert sand mountains in the background, some herons
swimming around, and above all, its' absolute virginity
not being disturbed by any human settlements gives it an
ambience of total serenity. The turquoise blue to dark blue
colour of the water depending on the sky conditions, the
hazy reflection of the mountains, and the glittering of
sunlight in the water of the lake is a picture of a lifetime.
One can drive up to some 300 meters from the beginning of
the lake. After that, there is no proper road. One of the
few types of the birds that may be seen here is the Black
Necked Heron, a rare species. They are usually to be seen
at around the beginning of the lake.
After having thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the lake,
you drive back to Leh for an overnight stay.
Day 11: Leh-Delhi
Transfer to the airport to fly to Delhi. Tour Ends.
Please let us know the number of people travelling
on this tour and we will send you the total cost. We also
specialize in customizing the tour. Should you need any
changes we would be happy to modify the itinerary.
The tour may include arrangements such as accommodation,
travel, meals, permit, guides, activities etc. or services
as required by the client.
How
to book
The booking
of this itinerary is with Asian Adventures, F-313,
Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030. Phone: (+91 11) 44128785
. Email: wildindiatours@vsnl.com
To confirm your booking
please send a 25% deposit by wire transfer to Standard Chartered
Bank, Account No 52805001839 which is in the name of "Asian
Adventures", using Swift Code "SCBLINBBDEL".
Branch address: M-1 NDSE Part I, New Delhi-110049. India.
Or you can send a cheque payable to Asian Adventures at
F-313, Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030. India
Cancellation charges are 30
days before arrival date 25%, 21 days before arrival date
50%, 15 days before arrival date 90%, 7 days before arrival
date 100% of the total itinerary cost.
Remaining
balance to reach Asian Adventures at least 30 days before
tour commencement by wire transfer (to bank account
stated above) or by sending a cheque made payable to Asian
Adventures to the above address. Alternatively you can pay
the balance in cash upon arrival.
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