Day 01:  Arrival Leh (Flight: TBA)             

Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Leh. Arrive at Leh’s Kushok Bakula Rinpochi Airport. Take the first whiff of this spectacular mountain city as you step out into 10,000 feet plus terrain. Leh is a land of beautiful landscapes that are never ending and gorgeous vistas. Often described as moonscape, this desolate high altitude desert is a kingdom of mysticism and mystery. As you clear the immigration and baggage, you will be met by India Tailor Made Tour executive, who will assist you and accompany you to the hotel in Leh. Rest of the day will be spent acclimatizing to the high altitude wondering often how the locals survive in harsher climate without the comfort of Luxury enjoyed in the hotels. Stay overnight at the hotel. (No Meals)

 

Day 02: Leh

Explore the rich cultural heritage of region of Ladakh and explore its royal past. Start your day with the visit to Shey, the former capital of Ladakh region and erstwhile home to the Ladakhi royalty. The main attraction at Shey is Shey Palace, erstwhile royal residence of the Laddakh monarchs, built by Ladakh king Deldan Namgyal in 1655 AD. Currently serving as a centre of Buddhism, it houses Shey Monastery, which had the largest golden Buddha statue towering 39 feet.  From here move on and discover the largest Gompa of central Ladakh at Thiksey Monastery. The 12 story complex of the monastery belonging to Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism, strikingly resemble the Potala Palace of Tibet. Apart from housing many important items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords, the Thiksey monastery, it also houses the largest statue of Maitreya Buddha in Ladakh standing 49ft tall. Later visit the Hemis monastery, more famous for the annual Hemis festival held here, the monastery was established in 1672. Return in the evening to the hotel in Leh. Stay overnight at the hotel.  (B)

 

Day 03: Leh – Khardungla – Nubra (By Surface: Approx. 05 hrs. drive)

Enjoy buffet breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you will check out hotel and travel to explore one of the cold desert of the world, home to double humped bacterian camel – Nubra valley. The valley is formed by the Shyok River meeting with Nubra or Siachan River and it separates Ladakh from Karakoram ranges. The valley, located on an average height of more than 10000 feet, offers you an insight into the ways of life of the local people, battling harshest climatic conditions possible. The drive to Nubra is in itself interesting, with you passing through the highest motorable road of the world, Khardungla pass. As you descend through the pass, you will get to see the picturesque Sunoor area and Samstanling Gompa, which offers you scenic view of the Dikshit valley. Stay overnight at one of the fixed camps at Dikshit/ Hunder. Stay overnight at Nubra. (B)

 

Day 04: Nubra – Leh (By Surface: Approx. 05 hrs. drive)

Enjoy your breakfast at the camp. Later in the morning explore Deskit & Hundar, the two most important villages of Nubra Valley. Visit the Diskit monastery (gompa), belonging to Gelugpa sect, it is the oldest monastery of Nubra valley. The monastery has a statue of Maitreya Buddha in the prayer hall, a huge drum and several images of fierce guardian deities. An elevated cupola of the monastery depicts a fresco of the Tashihunpo monastery of Tibet. The Monastery administration runs a school, with support from a Non-Government Organization (NGO) known as the "Tibet Support Group", which has computer facilities and teaches science subjects, in English, to Tibetan children of the region. Also, enjoy the visit to the Sand Dunes where you can enjoy a short camel safari using the double-humped Bactrian camel found here. Afternoon you will drive back to Leh to arrive and check in at the hotel. Stay overnight at the hotel. (B)

 

Day 05: Leh – Pangong (By Surface: Approx. 06 hrs. drive)

Early morning after breakfast, we will go to explore one of the most beautiful lakes in the Himalayas – Pangong Tso,Tibetan  for "long, narrow, enchanted lake", also referred to as Pangong Lake. The lake spread over 604 sq kms of area between India and Tibet (China) is about 5 kms wide at the broadest point. With no interference with the living world, the lake offers spectacular views of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north, their reflections shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lake's brackish waters. You are close to the Mother Nature in the midst of the scenic beauty of Himalaya, with you and the peace in between. The water is saline, despite that the lake freezes in winter. The drive to the Lake in itself is an amazing experience, with the route passing through the villages of Shey and Gya and traverses the Changla pass. Road down from Changla Pass leads through Tangste and other smaller villages, crossing river called Pagal Naala also known as “The Crazy Stream. You will live in one of the most pristine environments, as you spent your nights at the tented complex near Pangong Lake. Overnight stay at Pangong.  (B)

 

**Kindly note that the Tents on Pangong Lake are basic with attached toilets and are eco-friendly in nature.

Day 06: Pangong – Leh (By Surface: Approx. 06 hrs. drive)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel amidst the naturally calm environments, you would have rarely experienced such quiet mornings in your life, where even the birds do not chirp, the only sound you get to hear is the sound of the winds flowing. After a relaxed breakfast, prepare your cameras to zoom on and click the rare sights of black-necked Siberian crane around the Mahe marshes which are the only breeding ground for these migratory birds. Later check out and drive back to Leh, enroute visit Darbuk Village near Tangtse Valley, where stands a chain of war memorials with regimental insignias in commemoration of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo-China war of 1962. Villagers can be seen here along with their large herds of Pashmina sheep and long-tailed yaks. Arrive back at Leh to check in and stay overnight at the hotel. (B)

 

Day 07: Leh – Likir – Alchi - Leh (70 kms one way)

Today we discover the rich Buddhist heritage of Ladakh, by travelling to one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh at Alchi. Alchi monastery, a national heritage, was established in 10th century. It is more famous for well-preserved 11th & 12th century wall paintings, all in an Indo Himalayan style. The artistic and spiritual details of both Buddhism and the Hindu kings of that time in Kashmir are reflected in the wall paintings in the monastery. These are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh. The complex also has huge statues of the Buddha and elaborate wood carvings and art-work comparable to the baroque style Enroute you will also visit Likir monastery which was established in 1065 AD, on top of a hill alongside the valley of river Indus. The monastery has two assembly halls with the statues of Bodhisattva, Amitabha, three large statues of Sakyamuni. Maitreya and Tsong Khapa founder of the yellow-hat sect. he verandah has thangka paintings of the Guardians of the Four Directions and wheel of life mandala held by Yamna and the courtyard has a large Jupiter tree, a rare species. The monastery is also a repository of old manuscripts, has a notable thangka collection and old costumes and earthen pots. A 75 ft high gilded gold statue of Maitreya (the future) Buddha on the roof gives it a distinct recognition. Return to the hotel to stay overnight at the hotel. (B)

 

Day 08: Leh - Onwards

Leave the world of mesmerizing sights, morning transfer to the airport for flight to onwards destination. (B)

 

                                                                                      ***Tour Ends***

 

Cost Proposal in INR

Validity: April – September 2019.

 

No. of Pax	3* Comfort Hotels
02 Paying Pax on Double / Twin Sharing	INR 32,850/- Per Person
04 Paying Pax on Double / Twin Sharing	INR 24,050/- Per Person
06 Paying Pax on Double / Twin Sharing	INR 21,100/- Per Person
08 Paying Pax on Double / Twin Sharing	INR 21,150/- Per Person
Single supplement cost	INR 21,850/- Per Person
Accompanying THO Tour Manager	INR 25,500 Nett

 

Hotel to be used as mentioned below: -

 

City	3* Comfort Hotels / Room Category	Nights
Leh	Hill Town (Deluxe Room)	02
Nubra	Shambala Camp (Deluxe Room)	01
Leh	Hill Town (Deluxe Room)	01
Pangong	Hotel Stendel (Deluxe Room)	01
Leh	Hill Town (Deluxe Room)	02