Best Time :Mid
June to September.
Red Tape :Need innerline permission
(please contact us for details).
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.
.
India
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