Ladakh Cultural Tour – 14 days

Early this morning, you will be transferred to the domestic airport in Delhi for your trans-Himalayan flight to Leh. Upon arrival, you will be met by your Guide and transferred to your hotel. We recommend you relax and undergo minimal exertion to enable yourseles acclimatize to rarefied air of this remote region ensconced in the high himalayan plateau. Overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you as you explore the ancient town of Leh on foot. After a couple of hours, return to your hotel for lunch. After lunch you are driven west to visit the Shanti Stupa, inaugurated in 1983 by H.H.Dalai Lama, the peace Pagoda, whose sides are decorated with gilt panels depicting episodes from the life of Buddha, is one of the several monuments errected around India by peace sect of Japanese Buddhists. Following that, you are driven to Sankar Monastery nestled amid the shimmering coppices & terraced fields of Barley. Sankar monestry: The Gompa (Monestry in local language), contains a formidable collection of miniature stattues of pure gold and ancient paintings(called Thangkas) also done with gold. We return to our hotel in the evening.

After breakfast, we visit the Hemis monastry, the biggest and the wealthiest in Ladakh. You walk past the Chortens and the Mani walls to enter the complex through the east gate. From Hemis, you are driven westwards to Thiksey monastry, located on a hilltop with formidable views of the Indus valley. After visiting the interiors of the monestry the tour continues to Shey the former summer palace of the King of Ladakh. Finally we drive back to Leh to our hotel.

After breakfast, we start our drive to Alchi, 70 kms west of Leh, south of the village of Saspol . On arrival at Uletokpo camp, we check-in and followed with lunch. After lunch, we drive back to visit Alchi village & the monestry. Alchi’s large temple complex founded in the 11th century is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centres in Ladakh and a jewel of monastic skill. You will also have an opportunity to witness villagers using primitive methods to grind the wheat along the road side. After our visit to the Alchi monastry, we drive back to our campsite.

After early breakfast, we drive towards west to Lamayuru.We visit the Lamayuru Monestry founded, properly called Yung-drung(Swastika) founded in the 11th centuary perched on a spur high above the valley bottom just off the main road, it is one of the most spectacularly picturesque gompas(Gompa means Monestry in local language) in central ladakh, as it descends from the Fa-tula to KhalatsesetLamayuru, properly called Yung-drung(Swastika) is believed to be the oldest in central Ladakh and to have been the holy place of the Bon-chos the advent of Buddhism. Afternoon picnic lunch at the Lamayuru village. After Lunch, explore Lamayuru village on foot, then we drive back to Uletokpo camp.

After a early tea/coffee, we drive to visit Ridzong Monestry. The track to Ridzong leaves the main road along the Indus at Uletokpo, between Saspol and Nyurla and follow the valley of a tributery stream, we leave the vechile and set on foot a kilometer upthe valley to Ridzong Monestry. Ridzong is is the only Nunnery Monestry in Ladakh. After that we descend, to drive back to our campsite, followed with breakfast. After breakfast we start our drive to Leh, enroute visit the Likir Monestry set up on a hill top of a low hill, it was re-founded in the 15th century by the Gelupa Sect(Yellow Sect). After that we continue our drive on the left bank of the Indus river to Leh. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon/Evening at leisure.

After breakfast, we drive to Saboo village to see the village life of Ladakh. We visit the Local Buddhist house to see the private chapels and also visit the traditional Kitchen and get a demonstration of preparing Gur Gur tea(Local tea mixed with milk, butter & salt). Afternoon picnic lunch at a local house, then continue to drive back to Leh. Evening free to exlore the local market of foot / at leisure.

After breakfast, we drive to visit the Stok palace, the former residence of the Royal family of Ladakh. We visit the museum in which the family’s heirlooms and relics are displayed, a piogant evocation of Ladakh’s vanished past as an independent kingdom. Ladakh well known as SOS Village. We visit the Tibetan Handicraft Centre / Tibetan school. After that we continue our drive to Leh. We then drive to Choglamsar, which is the largest settlement of Tibetan refugee, Village in Afternoon free to explore/at leisure.

After breakfast, being the last day optional visit to the local market .

After early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Leh for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be met by our representative and transferred to a hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure

After breakfast, we set of for a tour of Old & New Delhi. Lunch at the hotel.