Journey to Ladakh

Upon arrival at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, you will be assisted with the guided transfer to the hotel. Leh is a high-desert city. The place is tourist-friendly and immensely beautiful. Leh is a dream destination of many and a paradise for adventure enthusiasts.

Rest of the day is for acclimatizing with the weather. Or if you want to, you can enjoy exploring the beautiful destination or partake in some adventure activities.

Enjoy an overnight stay in the hotel.

The day starts with hitting the roads to the Alchi Gompa. Nestled in a quaint village, the 900-year old Buddhist Monastery is known as the Alchi Monastery. The monastery is famed for housing Indo-Tibetan paintings that date back to the 11th-12th century. These paintings showcase excellent use of the golden, bright ochre, green and azure colours. The vihara was built by Guru Rinchen Zangpo and is believed to be the oldest one in the village. A huge statute of Buddha is the centre of attraction.

En route, you will be driving past the Magnetic hill. The place attracts numerous riders who wish to challenge the gravity. Once here, keep your car on neutral gear and wonder at how your car has started to move uphill on its own. Experience it to believe it.

Nimu is another site, you will be passing by. The scenic confluence of the Zanskar and Indus River, it is the starting point of river rafting expedition.

Thereafter, you will be visiting the Hall of Fame Museum. The museum was built to commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed their life fighting for India at the Indo-Pak war. The Indian Army manages the museum which exhibits amenities and seized arms of Pakistani Army. Biographies and pictures of brave soldiers adorn the wall of the museum.

Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Hit the roads to the Nubra Valley early in the morning. The valley is nothing less than a superb craftsmanship of Gods. Nestled on the Silk Route, the valley houses two gems – Nubra and Shyok River which meanders through it. Many vibrant monasteries adorn the already mesmerizing valley. Every single bit of the gorge portrays matchless beauty. A stark tranquillity prevails at majority of the area.

On your way to Nubra, you will be passing by the Khardung La. Riding at Khardung La is a matter of pride for many, as the pass is considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in the world. A gateway to the Nubra and Shyok valleys, it is the strategic pass to the Siachen glacier. The pure air, the awe-inspiring landscape and the feeling of to be at the highest motorable pass, lure many travellers from all around the world.

Later on, you will be visiting the Hundur Monastery. The Buddhist Monastery is also known as the Hundur Gompa.

From here, next stopover is at the Diskit monastery. Also called as the Deskit Gompa, the monastery is the largest and oldest in Nubra Valley. A huge yet enchanting statue of Lord Buddha is the centre of attraction of the vihara. Famous holy priest, Dalai Lama inaugurated the 100-feet statue of the Maitreya Buddha. Splendid views of the valley leave the spectators in a state of awe. Changzem Tserab Zangpo founded the Diskit Gompa and it belongs to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Statue of crowned Buddha (Cho Rinpoche), a huge drum and innumerable images of the fierce guardian deities adorn the prayer hall. Natives throng the monastery in the month of February for attending the Dosmoche Festival.

Move on for a time for some fun as a camel safari awaits for you. Feel the thrill of riding the Bactrian camel (a camel with two hump). Riding a camel may be a common thing, but this will be special as you will be riding on a camel with double hump and that too on a cold desert. Ladakh Camel Safari also provides excellent opportunities to come close to nature. A thing that makes the safari so special is that these camels are found only at the Nubra Valley.

An overnight stay is planned at the Deluxe Camp/Hotel.

Day 4 of the Journey to Ladakh tour starts with visiting the Samstanling Monastery. Located in the Sumlur village, the monastery was founded by Lama Tsultim. Nearly 50 monks dwell at the 140-years old monastery. The beautiful gompa is nestled amidst nature’s bounty. Various hues of Red, Golden, Orcher and white, add a charm to the place. Nature also plays an important role in festooning the area. Marvel at the golden-grey mountains, berry bushes, vibrant flags, and yellow-red trees. The gompa also houses stunning paintings and murals of the Buddha, the four heavenly kings, Dharamachakra, guardians and many other aspects of Buddha. 7 year old incarnation of the Lama Bakula Rinpoche also grabs attention.

Once done with exploring the monastery, you will drive back to Leh via Khardung La.

Enjoy an overnight stay in the hotel.

On day 5, you will be enjoying a full daytrip to the Pangong Tso. Tucked amidst the enthralling landscape is the alluring Pangong Lake. The lake is so beautiful that one can’t resist himself for falling into love with it. The word Pangong Tso translates to the ‘high grassland lake’. An interesting thing that draws people from far and wide is its changing colour. Striking reflection of the mighty mountains in the lake looks absolutely magical. The whole lake freezes in winter. The scene of wide stretch of the blue waters will be etched on your mind forever.

The appealing Pangong Lake has featured into movie like ‘3 idiots’. Props used in the movie are still displayed here. Innumerable photographers and nature lovers visit the place to imbue the grandeur of the lake. Even after spending hours here, you won’t get enough of the sublime beauty of the lake.

En route, you will be crossing the Chang La. Perched at an altitude of 5,360 m, it is a high mountain pass in Ladakh, one of the highest in the world. The climb is very steep and requires skilful driving. Indian Army manages and guards this pass which remains covered with snow throughout the year. The chilly winds can be tough to face but can render any visitor speechless.

You will also be driving through Durbuk and Tangste village. Durbuk is a small hamlet nestled on the way to Pangong Tso. Tangste is also a picturesque town that falls on same route.

You will be reaching at your destination in the afternoon. Soak-in the beauty of the lake and the perfect ambiance. A tour to the local village is planned to help you with cultural insights about Leh.

Spend night by enjoying camping in tents.

Wake up early in the morning to partake in photo-session around Pangong Tso. It seems as if bright sunrays has sprinkled thousands of shining diamonds in the lake. Savour a healthy breakfast. Thereafter, you will be driving back to Leh.

You can also avail the benefits of an optional tour of Hemis Monastery. Belonging to the Red Sect of Buddhism, the monastery is decorated with innumerable paintings or Thangkas. The beautiful monastery houses copper gilded statue of Lord Buddha. There are various stupas as well which are made up of precious stones like silver and gold.

Proceed towards Leh in the noon. Upon reaching, spend some time in shopping. Take a tour to the local markets of Leh and buy souvenirs to make your trip memorable.

Enjoy an overnight stay in the hotel.

The wonderful Journey to Ladakh tour ends on Day 7 with memories to be cherished forever. Bid adieu to Leh in the morning. You will be assisted with guided transfer to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport to catch a flight for onward destination.