There can be no better way to get acquainted with Buddhism in India than to visit ‘Little Tibet’ — Ladakh. It has a rich cultural and historical heritage and it reverberates in Buddhist chants, providing a calm respite from the everyday mayhem. With prayer flags fluttering happily in the air, Ladakh is the perfect summer getaway; the winters here are unrealistically harsh. The place has a lot to offer — be it in terms of making us more acquainted with Buddhism or by providing relaxing scenery. It has age old monasteries to bring us closer to divinity and mysticism. The sight of these monasteries is attractive in itself. Perched on hilltops, they give us a panoramic view of the valley and the town below. The snow clad peaks, valleys, high altitude lakes, or just the barren landscape — Ladakh is a soul stirring place that captivates our hearts. If you want to dip into the world of meditation and spirituality, this is the place to be.
From the hustle and bustle of Delhi, the scenic beauty of Leh gives almost an otherworldly feel. From driving through picturesque roads — dotted with streams and meadows — to visiting several gompas (small monasteries), the air of Leh is blanketed with serenity. On this tour, we take you on a spiritual journey through the high altitudes of Ladakh, which is sure to leave you feeling at ease and peace.
LADAKH TOUR
10 Days Ladakh Tour
Best Season: July - Sept
HIGHLIGHTS:
-
Rickshaw ride in the crowded lanes of Chandni Chowk.
-
Visit the largest mosque of India - Jama Masjid
-
Fly through one of the most scenic landscapes.
-
Visit Leh Old Fort and local market for acclimatization.
-
Visit some of the oldest monasteries.
-
Drive through the two highest motorable roads in the world - Khardung La & Chang La.
-
Visit the salt water lake - Pangong Tso.
-
Visit the symbol of love - Taj Mahal
Route Map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Delhi
Arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where our representative will receive you in a traditional Indian way of welcoming guests — with fresh marigold garlands. After breakfast, we spend the day in sightseeing the various facets of Delhi. We take the amusing rickshaw (tricycle) ride in the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, amidst hordes of people shopping around. We also visit the Friday Mosque (Jama Masjid), which gives a calm respite from the mayhem of surrounding medieval-style lanes and shops. We then visit the massive Lal Qila (Red Fort). On our way back, drive by India Gate, Parliament house and President’s estate. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2 - Delhi / Leh
Transfer to the domestic Airport for a flight to the scenic and beautiful valley of Leh. The mountain – framed valley will leave you feeling tranquil and at ease. With a serene and calm atmosphere, the town has a charm that will instantly make you fall in love with it. We have the day free for acclimatization. It is advised to drink at least 3 – 4 litres of water from today for faster acclimatization. In the evening, we take a short and soft acclimatization walk to Leh Old Fort and local market. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3 - Leh
Leh has a lot to offer and has surprises in every corner. We spend the day in sightseeing the pleasant and soothing valley. We first drive to Choglamsar, which was the Dalai Lama’s summer residence during his teachings in 2007. It now houses refugees from Tibet. From Choglamsar, we drive to Shey monastery, which has the tallest copper statue of Buddha in Asia. The monastery was built by the King of Ladakh as his summer retreat. We continue driving onwards to the glorious Thikse monastery, one of Ladakh’s biggest monasteries. Every morning, monks gather around here for morning chants that last for 2 hours. In the afternoon, we visit the Japanese monastery – Shanti Stupa. It was built by Japanese monks to promote world peace. The biggest attraction of Shanti Stupa is the terrific and stunning overview of Leh. Drive back to Leh for an overnight in hotel.
Day 4 - Leh / Nubra Valley
In the morning, we drive 130 km / 6 hours to Nubra. We drive through Khardung La pass, which is 40 km from Leh. At 5604 m, it is the highest motorable road in the world. From the top of Khardung La, we get a spectacular view of the Karakoram Range. Overnight in Guest House.
Day 5 - Nubra Valley
Today, we do sightseeing of Nubra Valley. The valley offers tremendous scenery with green villages surrounded by slopes, boulder fields and arid mountains. The valley has monasteries and a ruined castle. We visit Diskit monastery built in the 17th century in Tibetan style. We go up to the monastery, which is a 2 hours up and down walk. We visit Hunder Village, which is also known as "the desert in the sky". We find the double humped Bactrian camels. We take a joyous camel ride of about 2 hours, which will really bring the child inside us alive. Overnight in Guest House.
Day 6 - Nubra Valley / Pangong Lake
After breakfast, we visit Samsuling monastery, located in Sumoor village. It is a 2 hrs drive. We then bid farewell to Nubra valley slowly as we begin driving 150 km / 6 hrs to Pangong Lake. The road is scenic all along with fascinating barren mountains. While driving, for most of the way, we drive alongside the banks of Shyok River. Overnight in tents / guesthouse.
Day 7 - Pangong Lake / Leh
We drive back to Leh, passing through magnificent and varied scenes. We drive back through the Chang La pass, which is considered to be the second highest motorable road in the world after Khardung La. On our way, we pass by beautiful monasteries and landscapes. En route, we visit Chemrey monastery. It belongs to the Drugpa monastic order, and is notable for a high Padmasambhava statue. We stay for the night in Leh in hotel.
Day 8 - Leh / Delhi / Agra
We fly from Leh to Delhi. Upon arrival, drive to Agra – the city of Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years and 20000 people to complete this marvel. Overnight in hotel.
Day 9 - Agra / Delhi / Departure
Today, we visit the eternal symbol of love – Taj Mahal and the massive red sandstone structure – Agra Fort. After getting immersed in the beauty and history, we drive 220 km / 5 hrs to Delhi. Later in the evening, transfer to International airport for journey back home.
NOTE: The Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays.