Discover Ladakh

You will be received by our representative at Leh’s airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure to allow you to acclimatise to the high altitude.

 

 

Continue to relax at the hotel to acclimatise to the high altitude. If feeling up to it, a short walk in the evening may be taken.

A nice walk around the town of Leh allows you to take in the striking Leh Palace, the former residence of the royal family of Ladakh built along the lines of the Potala Palace in Tibet.

After a relaxed lunch, you’ll go for an optional short drive along the river Indus to the confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers, stopping enroute at viewpoints. The river’s aquamarines contrast brilliantly with the camel-coloured landscape, offering perfect photo opportunities.

If you are feeling up to it, the Shanti Stupa is well worth a visit at sunset, for its excellent views over Leh city.

Evening to be spent at leisure in the hotel.

Today, you’ll go on a tour of the nearby Shey and Thiskey monasteries and the Stok Palace.

Situated on a hill, Shey Monastery is an erstwhile royal palace where many of the Kings of Leh were born. The impressive 24m high seated Buddha is covered with gold leaf.
Proceed to the grand 17th century Stok Palace still in use by Ladakh’s royal family. Climb up to the Palace to enjoy superb views and a hearty lunch at its restaurant, and visit the excellent museum showcasing royal costumes, crowns and 400 year old Thangkas (paintings). Visit Thiksey Monastery, filled with colourful murals and statues, affords picturesque views of the green Indus valley.

All along route southeast of Leh, the scenery is spectacular.

Prepare yourself for great Ladakhi vistas as you explore the historic monasteries of Stakna, Matho and Hemis, where the remote, rugged beauty of Ladakh is all around you.

Travel over the fabled Khardung La, or the Khardung Pass, which connects the Indus and Shyok river valleys and is the gateway to the Nubra valley, beyond which lies the Siachen Glacier.

One of the highest motorable roads worldwide, it was only opened to the public vehicles in 1988. It was previously used solely to supply Indian military bases in the Siachen Glacier. The pass is of immense strategic value to India.

You’ll make number of stops on the long drive to obtain protected area permits and to show passports, which allows you to stretch your legs and take in the picturesque locations.

On arrival settle into your comfortable hotel to relax.

After breakfast, leave for an excursion to Turtuk Village (02 hours)

Turtuk was under Pakistan’s control until 1971 but then it came under the control of India. The region has a very interesting history and people travel all the way to Turtuk to enjoy these stories from the locals. This is military-dominated and a super-sensitive area as it is located just ahead of the line of control between India and Pakistan. One can also get glimpses of the bunkers of Pakistan’s army and line of control of India and Pakistan from Turtuk as it is the last major village where the tourists are allowed. The ethereal beauty of this place cannot be put into words and the views of the Line of Control from here are memorable.

Return to your resort and enjoy the campfire at evening

Nubra Valley means ‘Valley of Flowers’, a point where the Shyok and Siachen rivers meet.

Refreshed from your relaxation the day before, you’ll have a choice of starting early this morning if you wish to catch the monks doing the morning prayers at Diskit Monastery.

If you wish to lie in, you can leave for Diskit after breakfast.

After the monastery visit, you’ll take an easy walk from Diskit village market to Hunder.  On the approach to Hunder, an oasis in the cold desert of the Nubra valley, you will encounter a rolling expanse of sand dunes. You may also be lucky enough to see Bactrian Camels, descendants of those once used to trade between Ladakh and Tibet.

Return by car to your hotel for lunch and then proceed to visit the picturesque lake of Yarab Tso.

If time permits, visit Samstanling Monastery, 130 years old and home to around 50 monks before returning to your hotel to unwind.

After breakfast, return to Leh through the Khardung La again. There are fewer stops this time, but will still take about 5 hours, so there is a second chance to admire the spectacular landscape.

After checking in to your hotel, the rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure.

After breakfast, you’ll have a whole day to explore the Leh and its stunning surrounds.

You’ll take a 7km walk (approx 3hrs) to the nearby village of Saboo. This popular trail is rated as easy/moderate. Starting from Leh’s polo ground, it has a short ascent of about 300m, then follows a dry valley to the picturesque village of Saboo. A picnic lunch will be served. Dont miss the checking out the nearby gompa before returning to Leh later in the afternoon by vehicle.

The rest of the evening is at leisure, to browse the markets for souvenirs, or meet some more locals as your time in Ladakh draws to a close.

This morning, you take the first of your two flights on the journey back home. First, you fly from Leh to Delhi, from where you’ll be transferred from the domestic to the international terminal and catch your international flight back home.