Discover Ladakh
08 Days / 07 Nights

Day 01 Itinerary
ARRIVE DELHI Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 02 IN DELHI
Morning arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon combined guided tour of Old and New Delhi includes Jammia Masjid Mosque, Cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni chowk, Red Fort, drive through India Gate and Parliament house, Qutab Minar and Humayuns Tomb.

Day 03 DELHI – LEH
Fly Arrive Leh, transfer to hotel. Afternoon walking tour of city to get acclimatize. Overnight Hotel.

Day 04 IN LEH
Full day sightseeing with guide and pack lunch to HEMIS/ THIKSEY and SHEY monasteries.
SHEY : Situated on a hillock 15 km. upstream from Leh was once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition, it was the seat of power of the pre-Tidetan kings. A 7.5 meter high copper status of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind is installed here.
THIKSE : Spectacularly sighted, Thikse is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive gompa. There are several temples in this gompa, containing images stupas and wall painting of Buddhas which are exquisite.
HEMIS : It is the wealthiest, best known and biggest gompa in Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honour of Guru Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka, which is unfurled once in 12 years (next in 2004). Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal, an illustrious rulers in Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favoured for Drugkpa Sect, which managed the monastery.

Day 05 LEH- ALCHI
Drive to Lamayuru monastery, after visiting the monastery drive to Alchi for overnight stay.
LAMAYURU : The oldest holy site in Ladakh, it was a Bon shrine prior to the advent of Buddhism. Also known as Yun Drung (Swastika) it is sighted on a high promontory overlooking the village and valley. For sheer spectacle value no other gompa can match.
ALCHI : On the banks of the Indus is the Alchi gompa, dating a thousand years back. One of its walls feature thousands of miniature-sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made on clay and painted brightly are its focal attraction No longer an active religious center, it is looked after by monks from the Likir monastery.

Day 06 ALCHI- LEH
Visit Alchi monastery and drive back to Leh, enroute visit Likir monastery. Overnight stay in hotel at Leh.
LIKIR : Founded in the 11th century and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century, its earlier gompa was destroyed in a fire.The present gompa dates back to the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent Thankas, earthen pots and carved folding wooden tables. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular view. A magnificent giant juniper tree, one of the few survivors of its species stands in the courtyard.

Day 07 IN LEH
Afternoon visit LEH PALACE/ ZAMSKAR monastery and SHANTI STUPA. Overnight stay in hotel.
STOK : Visible in the distance, at the top of a huge moraine of pebbles swept down from the mountains, the elegant four - story STOK Palace stands above barley terraces studded with threshing circles and whitewashed farmhouses. Built early in the nineteenth century by the last ruler of the independent Ladakh.
LEH PALACE : Looking for all the world like a miniature version of the Potala in Lhasa, Tibet, the palace was built in the 16th century.
SANKAR : A relatively modern monastery, it is closely associated with the Spituk monastery and serves as the residence of the head priest - Kushak Bakula. A number of gold icons are to be found here.

Day 08 LEH - DELHI Fly
Transfer of airport to catch Delhi bound flight, arrive and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Ladakh With Taj
11 Days/ 10 Nights

Day 01ITINARARY
ARRIVE DELHI
Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 02 IN DELHI
Morning arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon combined guided tour of Old and New Delhi includes Jammia Masjid Mosque, Cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni chowk, Red Fort, drive through India Gate and Parliament house, Qutab Minar and Humayuns Tomb.

Day 03 DELHI – LEH Fly
Morning transfer to airport and fly to Leh, arrive and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for acclimatization. Leh is a small picturesque town of about 10,000 people. Situated at 3505 Mt. (11500 ft), the summer days are dry and sunny but nights can be cold. A double lines of "Manies", stone shelters for departed spirits, protects the towns approaches. During these three days we will explore some of the interesting monasteries of the area.

Day 04 IN LEH
Morning sightseeing of Phyang – founded in 16th century by King Tashi Nangyal. Spituk - The monastery first belonged to the Kadampa order but in the 15th century it was restored and Tsong Kapa sent two Lamas to transfer it to Gelupa order. Stok Palace – The palace has a small museum which houses the queen’s head gear (peyrak) and a remarkable collection of Thankas. Tibetan children’s village. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 05 IN LEH
Morning depart for full day sightseeing of Shey Palace – Shey was once the capital of Ladakh in the pre – Tibetan era until the 15th century. Thiksey – Tsong Khapa had prophesied that a monastery would be built here and Thiksey was founded by one of his disciple Hemis - largest monastery founded in 1602 by Tagtsangrepa and Tatok – this monastery of the Nyimapa order has about 50 monks and these not far from Chimiri, Padmasambhava, the founder of the order is said to have meditated here.

Day 06 INLEH
Full day at leisure for personal activities. Optional full day excursion to Alchi. After an early breakfast we drive for about two hours to the road head for Rizong Monastery, from here a short walk upstream to visit Chimoling (nunnery). Nuns spend their time spinning wool, crushing the apricot seed to extract oil for the monastery lamps. Further about an hours up hill walk takes us to Rizong monastery perched in a fantastic spot, high up in a side valley. After exploring Rizong, we return to Saspol and cross over to left bank of River Indus and visit Alchi, 7 km south of Saspol. Alchi is one of the few monasteries of the 11th and 12th centuries to have survive.

Day 07 LEH - DELHI Fly
Transfer of airport to catch Delhi bound flight, arrive and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 08 Departure Optional
DELHI – AGRA Drive 202 Km 4 Hrs.
Morning depart and drive to Agra, en-route visit Mathura the birth place of Lord Krishna and the tomb of Emperor Akbar at Sikandra. Evening visit Taj Mahal.

Day 09 AGRA - JAIPUR Drive 231 5 ½ Hrs.
Morning depart and drive to Jaipur, en -route visit deserted city of Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri and Keoladeo Ghana sanctuary at Bharatpur with largest concentration and variety of bird life in Asia. Arrive and check in hotel.

Day 10 JAIPUR - DELHI Drive 258 Km 5 ½ Hrs.
Morning drive to Delhi, en-route brief halt at midway for refreshments. Arrive Delhi by lunchtime. Arrive and Check-in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for last minute shopping and personal activities.

Day 11 DEPARTURE
Morning transfer to international airport for onward flight.

Himalaya


Day 01Itinerary 09 Days /08 Nights
ARRIVE DELHI
Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 02 IN DELHI
Morning arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon combined guided tour of Old and New Delhi includes Jammia Masjid Mosque, Cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni chowk, Red Fort, drive through India Gate and Parliament house, Qutab Minar and Humayuns Tomb.

Day 03 DELHI - CHANDIGARH - MANALI
In the morning board Shatabdi Express (departture:0740 hours) from New Delhi Railway station to Chandigarh. Met on arrival (1100 hours) at Chandigarh railway station and drive (310 km) to Manali (1920 mt) via Kullu. On arrival, check-in at hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04 IN MANALI
Morning at leisure for independent activities. In the afternoon proceed for sightseeing tour of Manali. Visit Hadimba Devi Temple and Bashist Hot water spring. Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 05 MANALI-ROHTANG-KEYLONG
Drive to Keylong (3140 M) (140 kms/6 - 7 hrs approx) via Rohtang pass (3980 M). On arrival check-into hotel. Visit Sahsur gompa in the afternoon. Overnight stay in tents.

Day 06 KEYLONG - JISPA - SARCHU
Morning after b/fast visit Sarshul Gompa. After early lunch drive to reach Sarchu by covering appox 92 kms in approx 4 hr. Sarchu is the border of Himachal and Jammu - Kashmir States. Enroute stop at Baralacha Pass (4891 M). Baralacha means "a pass with cross roads", here the roads from Zanskar, Ladakh, Spiti and Lahaul meet. Arrive Sarchu (4253 M). Arrive Sarchu and check-in at Tented Camp for overnight stay.

Day 07 SARCHU – LEH
Drive to Pang 250 km crossing Lachuang-La (5079 M). Pass (5500 M), second highest pass with motarable road. Arrive Leh by evening and overnight stay in hotel.

Dy 08 IN LEH
Morning proceed for sightseeing tour of Phiyang, Spituk and Stok Palace. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 09 IN LEH
Morning proceed for Indus Valley monastery tour. Visit SHEY PALACE - The monastery has a huge copper gilt image of Sakyamuni and the large silver lamp burning in front of the statue, THIKSAY GOMPA which is actually a complex of buildings on a crag rising in tire upon tier above the village. The temple was dedicated by His Holiness Dalai Lama in 1980 and houses an immense image of Maitreya Buddha in an unusual manifestation known as Chon-kor, most famous HEMIS GOMPA - Founded in 1630's by Stag-tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of Sengge Namgayl. Hemis is the is one of the largest and richest gompa of Ladakh and STOK PALACE AND MUSEUM - The Royal residence of the King of Stok. In the evening return back to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 10 LEH - DELHI Fly
Transfer of airport to catch Delhi bound flight, arrive and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

09 Days /08 Nights

Day 01 Itinerary
ARRIVE DELHI
Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 02 IN DELHI
Morning arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon combined guided tour of Old and New Delhi includes Jammia Masjid Mosque, Cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni chowk, Red Fort, drive through India Gate and Parliament house, Qutab Minar and Humayuns Tomb.

Day 03 DELHI – LEH Fly
Morning transfer to airport and fly to Leh, arrive and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for acclimatization. Leh is a small picturesque town of about 10,000 people. Situated at 3505 Mt. (11500 ft), the summer days are dry and sunny but nights can be cold. A double lines of "Manies", stone shelters for departed spirits, protects the towns approaches. During these three days we will explore some of the interesting monasteries of the area.

Day 04 IN LEH Sight Seeing
Morning visit Shankar monastery, Japanese stupa, Ruined royal Palace on a hill gompa, walk down to Leh Market and visit Leh Gompa. Lunch in a restaurant, and afternoon stroll though market for shopping and photography.

Day 05 IN LEH Sight Seeing
After an early breakfast visit Spituk monastery, then transfer to nearby rafting point on the Indus river and settle down in a raft to drift down for about 3 hours down to Nemo, lunch will be served on the way. At Nemo join the vehicle and continue to Saspol village and from there on to Alchi monastery. On the way back visit Likir monastery, arrive back to Leh hotel.

Day 06 LEH – PANAMIKDrive 150 Km 6 Hrs.
After an early breakfast leave for Nubra valley. From Leh the road gradually climbs Khardung la Pass (5602 M.), believed to be second highest motorable pass in the World, commands fantastic view of Stok Kangri and surrounding peaks. From the pass descend down to Khardang and khalsar villages, continue the journey along the left bank of the river Shayok until Koyak bridge, here cross the river Shayok, drive a short distance along the right bank of the river which is joined by river Nubra. From here continue along the left bank of river Nubra through picturesque villages including Trith and Lagjung. En-route to Panamik halt at Sumer to visit Samthaling monastery. We may stay around Panamik or drive another 4 Km. to Hargam. If time allows and the local police permits a trek of about 8 Km. from Panamik may be under taken to Ensa monastery (250 years old) as optional side trip.

Day 07 PANAMIK – DISKETDrive 62 Km 2 Hrs.
After breakfast trace back the way to Koyak bridge and continue the journey along the left bank of river Shayok until Disket and camp / guest house here for one night. Disket is the sub divisional head quarter of Nubra valley, is situated on the left bank of river Shayok at the altitude of 2990 Mts., surrounded by light forest and fruit orchards. Afternoon explore Disket monastery and surroundings.

Day 08 DISKET – LEHDrive 115 Km 5 Hrs.
Morning drive to Hunder and visit the small monastery there, on the way back to Disket stop around sand dunes to see the Bactrian double hump camel (if available) and optional joy ride may be taken at own cost of the desiring member. Arrive back to Disket , have cup of tea and drive back to Leh via Khardungla pass, arrive Leh and check in at Hotel.

Day 09 LEH - DELHI Fly
Transfer of airport to catch Delhi bound flight, arrive and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.