|
Duration : 16 Days.
Highlights : People, Himalayan landscapes, lakes, valleys,
green orchards and monasteries.
Focus : Tsomoriri Lake, Nubra Valley, Khardungla Pass, Hemis
Monastery and Dal Lake.
Highest Passes : Khardung-la (5606m), Tanglang-la (5360m) and
Lachlung-la (5019m).
Red Tape : Need inner line permit for Tsomoriri and Nubra.
Grade of Tour : A long overland tour but very moderate and easy
to travel.
Best Time : June to September.
Tour details:
Day 1: Arrive Delhi:
Upon your arrival in Delhi, from your home country, you
are met at the airport by our representative who then assists
and escorts you to your pre booked hotel situated in the city.
Day 2: Delhi to Chandigarh and drive to Manali
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will leave in the morning and drive to the railway
station to board our train to Chandigarh. Upon arrival at the
station, we will transfer and begin our jeep safari in the
lowly Himalayan foothills, climbing at a steady pace and
driving past, villages, rice and wheat fields and forested
valleys. We will arrive in Manali in the late evening and
transfer to the hotel.
Day 3; In Manali
Breakfast at the hotel.
Our sightseeing in Manali includes a visit to the
historical and archaelogic temple of Hadimba. Built in a wooded
forest, the temple is famed for its four tiered Pagoda shaped
roof with a doorway carved with figures and symbols. Built in
1533 A.D. the temple is famous for its local festivals held
here. After the temple we will visit the Himalayan
mountaineering institute located on the banks of the River Beas.
Later we will drive back to the hotel. Rest of the day at
leisure.
Day 4: Manali to Sarchu: (259 km / full day):
Breakfast at the hotel.
Early in the morning we will start on our journey across the
stark trans-himalayan region. Our first leg of today will be to
drive across the Rohtang pass at an elevation of 13’060 ft.
after enjoying a panoramic view of the snow peaks and glaciers,
we will drive into the Keylong valley and continue our drive to
Sarchu Upon arriving in Sarchu we will transfer to our camp.
Day 5: Sarchu to Korzok: (118 km / 7/8
hrs)
Breakfast at the camp.
After breakfast drive to Pang. En-route we will drive
across the Morey plains for around 60 km till the base of
Tanglanla (5400m). At the base we will take aright turn to
Karzok village. We will arrive at the village and transfer to
our camp. The day will be at leisure and explorations to the
gompa that is quite unique owing to its resident women nuns.
The women and nuns here often spend their day making beautiful
garments for themselves. The gompa was built in about 1850
replacing an old one that was destroyed during the Dogra
invasion. Overnight at camp.
Day 06 Korzok to Tsomoriri to Tsokar:
Breakfast at the camp.
We will take a day excursion to visit the Tsomoriri
lake. The lake is situated at an altitude of 4573m and is
shaped as a pearl and contains large mineral deposits. The
circumference of the lake is around 36 km. After exploring the
Tsomoriri lake we will drive to Tsokar that is about 07 km from
here. There is a small gompa at the Tsokar lake. This brackish
water lake has large swampy areas and is known for its salted
minerals. Late evening return to the camp for overnight.
Day 7: Korzok to Leh: (220 km / 6/7 hrs)
Breakfast at the camp.
Today we will continue our drive and after we cross the
second highest motorable pass in the world we will arrive in
the Ladakh capital region. The Tanglangla pass at (5306 m) is
known for its continuous snow storms and rains, yet offers an
amazing view of the Zanskar range. We will arrive at the Upshi
checkpoint and then drive for a further two hours to arrive at
Leh. Upon arrival we will transfer to our comfortable hotel in
the heart of the city.
Day 8 In Leh:
Breakfast at the hotel.
We visit the ancient monasteries of Shey, with its
enormous statue of the Buddha and Thikse Monastery, known as
one of the most important Gompas known in Central Ladakh. The
monastery has some beautiful paintings and gilded statues of
the Buddha. In the afternoon we drive down to the most wealth
and famous monastery known locally as Hemis. Built in the 17th
century, the monastery is tucked away in a secluded grove of
poplars and is known for its interesting architecture and wall
studded murals. We return back to the hotel in the evening.
Day 9: In Leh:
Breakfast at the hotel.
We begin the day with a small tour to the Tibetan
village located on our way to the Stok Trekking point. Settled
in the early 1970’s in a small village, the Tibetan settlement
for children is now a large base for the many orphans who have
fled from Tibet and are now living under the protection of the
Dalai Lama and the Indian Government. With a big school, prayer
hall, community kitchen and large homes that can accommodate
around 10 to 20 people headed by a matron (lady), the village
acts independently like all TCV villages in the country. From
here we will drive to visit a small yet a beautiful monastery
located in Samkar on the outskirts of the city. After attending
the religious ceremonies we will walk up to a beautiful Pagoda
known famously as Shanti Stupa. Here we will have some
beautiful views of the Indus valley and the Stok Kangri range.
Evening and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Leh to Nubra: (230 km / 6/7 hrs):
Breakfast at the camp.
We will drive to Nubra valley in the morning, driving
over the highest motored pass in the world. The exciting
journey through serpentine roads leads us to the Khardungla
Pass at an awesome height of 5550 meters. We stop at the pass
to admire and click some photographs of the fantastic view,
before driving down into the Nubra valley. The valley is
situated on an old caravan route at the confluence of the Shyok
and the Nubra rivers. We drive to our fixed camp resort we will
stay for a few nights and explore the gentle and green valley.
We will go on a short visit to the Santaling monastery that
belongs to the Yellow Hat sect.
Day 11: In Nubra:
Breakfast at the camp.
We will begin a long and full day of explorations into
this charming valley, by driving to Deskit – the tiny capital
of Nubra. The capital is marked by a single file of shops that
are put up on the main road. We will visit the Deskit Gompa,
perched on a rocky spur above the village, with a commanding
view of the entire valley. From Deskit we will drive to Hunder
past an area of sand dunes and get aquinted with the famous
Bactrian camels. This small population of shaggy double-humped
animals, which in the old days, were used as pack animals on
the Central Asian trade routes are now used as riding animals
in the high deserts. In the late afternoon we will drive back
to our camp.
Day 12: Nubra to Leh and drive to Alchi:
(325 km / 8/9 hrs):
Breakfast at the camp.
We will drive back to Leh, driving on the same route
and crossing the Khardungla pass yet again. We arrive at Leh
and continue our drive to the village of Alchi. Situated on the
Indus river the lovely Alchi oasis is laden with fruit orchards
and sprawling trees. The day will be spent in exploring the
11th century monastery and the surrounding village. We will
stay at a small but comfortable holiday resort.
Day 13: Alchi to Srinagar: (349 km / full
day)
Breakfast at the resort.
Our last leg of the journey will take us across the
famous Lamayuru valley, where we will explore the monastery.
Afterwards we will drive across the Fotula Pass rising at an
elevation of 4094m above sea level. Driving on this amazing
desert plateau the tall mountains are your only company along
with some other motorists. Our jeep will take us to yet another
pass known as Namikala (3719m). After we cross and descend from
the pass, the last village of prominent Buddhist religion will
come into the sight. At Kargil we will stop for some
refreshments before driving once again to drive across the last
pass in the Ladakh region. The Zojila Pass although at a height
of just 3510m, is nonetheless the most treachearous pass with
no regular road due to its vulnerable landslides and loose
mountain base. Yet again the fear will be overcome by the
beauty of the valley before you. We will arrive in Srinagar in
the late evening and transfer to the houseboats moored on the
famous Dal Lake.
Day 14: In Srinagar:
Breakfast at the boat.
The morning will be at leisure. In the afternoon you
will drive to the famous Mughal gardens of Kashmir. The day
sightseeing includes a visit to the Nishat Garden, known for
its well laid flower gardens, fountains, water channels and
huge Chinar trees. Built in the 16th century, the garden
overlooks the Dal Lake and has a dramatic backdrop of the
mountain ranges behind it. We later drive to visit yet another
garden known as Shalimar. The garden is smaller then Nishat,
but nonetheless is very beautiful with huge stone pavilions set
amidst water pools and lush green trees swaying to and fro in
the light breeze. After spending the afternoon here, we drive
back to our houseboats. Later in the evening we will take a
short boating ride in the backwaters of the lake, visiting some
boat communities and steeping on the little floating gardens.
Late evening and overnight stay at the boat.
Day 15: In Srinagar
Breakfast at the boat.
We will drive around the city in the morning driving
past colorful bazaars, by lanes and eminent Muslim shrines, to
visit the largest mosque in Kashmir. Built in the early 14th
century, the mosque is designed in a rectangular style with
high spires and small domes. Built almost of wood and sun dried
bricks, the mosque is a classical example of ancient Kashmiri
architecture. After a few explorations of the mosque, we will
drive back to our houseboat, to relax and enjoy in the evening
sun.
Day 16: Srinagar to Delhi:
Breakfast at the houseboat.
You will be transferred in time to the airport for your
flight to Delhi. Upon your arrival, at the domestic airport you
will be transferred to a hotel, located near the International
airport. The evening will be spent relaxing at the hotel. Later
in the night after dinner, drive to the international airport
for your flight home.
For details on what is included and excluded please see our
frequently answered Questions (FAQ’S) or contact us directly.
|
