EXPLORE LADAKH MONASTERIES

Season: April to October
Duration: 16 nights / 17 days
Places Covered: Leh - Alchi - Lamayuru - Kargil - Rangdum - Padum

Day 01: Delhi
On arrival in Delhi, our representative will meet you at the airport and help you transfer to your hotel, where you can rest and stay overnight.

Day 02: Delhi- Kullu- Manali
Leave for the domestic airport to board the flight to Kullu. Our representative will meet you at Kullu airport and take you to the waiting vehicles for your drive to Manali. Have lunch on the way. Arrive in Manali and check into the hotel where you stay overnight.

Day 03: Manali Local Sight Seeing
Enjoy a relaxed day at Manali or go sightseeing and visit the Doongari Devi temple, Vashisht Bath, and view points in Manali. Stay overnight at your hotel.

Day 04: Manali - Jispa
After breakfast we begin our jeep safari to Jispa (3320 m). On the way we stop at Rohtang Pass (3978 m) on one of the highest motorable roads in the world. We also visit Dashohar Lake and Beas Kund and drive past the green meadow at Keylong (3348 m). Arrive at Jispa and stay overnight in tents.

Day 05: Jispa - Sarchu
After breakfast we leave for Sarchu on the border between Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Here you can see the nomadic Gaddi people and an army outpost. On our way we stop at Barchala Pass (4891 m). At Barchala, which means " a pass with cross roads," the roads from Ladakh, Zanskar, Lahaul and Spiti intersect. Stay overnight at tents in Sarchu.

Day 06: Sarchu - Leh
The road from Sarchu crosses high mountain Passes of Namika La and Lachalung La to reach the army camp in the Pang valley. The dry barren mountains around Pang are eroded in very spectacular way. They look like giant fortress like structures with spires, pinnacles and windows. From Pang, the road climbs up and reaches a different world altogether. Here is the flat high desert of More Plains, 50-60 km of road bisecting it. This is Rupshu, an extension of Changthang plateau of Tibet. The road then climbs for Tanglang Pass (5415 m), the second highest mountain Pass in Ladakh and then finally reaches Leh. This 475 km Himalayan journey is a visual delight with not one moment of boredom en route. Overnight stay in the hotel at Leh.

Day 07: Shey - Thiksey - Hemis
After breakfast proceed for Indus Valley monastery tour. start with a visit to Shey, the ancient capital of Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge gold-gilded statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning in front of the statue. Then we visit Thiksey Gompa, an impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill above the village. The monastery has a beautiful 30 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future. Drive further to visit the famous Hemis Gompa, founded in 1630's by Stag-tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of Sengge Namgyall. Hemis is one of the largest and richest gompas of Ladakh. The two-day festival of monastic dance in June-July has raised the reputation of Hemis particularly high. The festival is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as second Buddha and responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Tibetan world. Overnight stay at the hotel in Leh

Day 08: Leh - Likir - Alchi - Lamayuru
After breakfast drive to Likir and visit Likir gompa situated atop a windy cliff top overlooking the beautiful village of Likir. It was founded in the 12th Century although the present construction dates back to the 18th century as the original one was destroyed by fire. In its courtyard is a yellow-coloured 3 storey high mammoth statue of the Lord Buddha, which was constructed by a resident monk. The top floor has an impressive museum containing old tangkhas and weapons used many centuries back.
Then drive and cross the River Indus and reach Alchi, Ladakh's most loved monastery. Over a century old, its wall paintings are very similar to those of the Tabo gompa in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Unlike other monasteries, which are usually on a cliff top or cling to a mountainside, Alchi is at ground level and is nestled in the shade of a garden.
After Alchi, move to visit the impressive Ridzong Gompa, reached from the road head after a 30-minute uphill walk. It's an impressive monastery well hidden in the lap of the mountains until you're face to face with it. It is situated on the mountainside wedged in between 2 ends of a ridge. It is about 100 years old and the name means 'mountain fort' aptly describing this isolated Gompa. It also has a nunnery of female monks.
Finally reach Lamayuru monastery, founded by Rinchen Zangpo in the 10th century. This Gompa is located amidst the massive mountains. The spectacular setting of this Gompa and its renowned collection of carpets, tangkhas, and frescoes has been attracting many people over a long time. It is believed to be the oldest in central Ladakh. Overnight stay in Lamayuru.

Day 09: Lamayuru - Leh (124 km)
In the morning we visit the Lamayuru monastery to be part of the morning religious ceremony. It's a very soothing and spiritual experience to be there among these warm and friendly monks. On our way back to leh we can visit Basgo monastery famous for its statue of Buddha. Overnight stay at the hotel in Leh.

Day 10: Visit Shanti Stupa, Sankar Gompa, Leh Palace:
After breakfast, set off on a half-day sightseeing trip to the 200 years old Shankar monastery, which contains a plethora of impressive images, wall paintings and a huge statue of Aloketesvara - with 1000 arm & heads. Next stop is the Japanese built peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa); crowned with a massive dome, this stupa is a reminiscent of Nalanda and Rajgir stupas. Our last stop is the ruined Leh Palace, a replica of the Patola Palace of Lhasa. The palace was strategically built on the hilltop in the 18th century and offers fabulous views of the Indus valley below. Afternoon, visit a Ladakhi Buddhist family and share a cup of butter tea, tsampa (roasted barley) and tschang (fermented barley beer), and see their way of living. Evening free. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 11: Leh - Upshi - Tso Moriri (Karzok Gompa) 7-8 hrs
After early breakfast, we drive to Karzok (4,572 m) the only village near Tso Moriri Lake. From Leh we reach Upshi on Leh-Manali road and then we turn to another valley and drive along the Indus River. It is one of the most interesting areas and goes through narrow valleys, sandy deserts, rocky paths, and our vehicle crosses number of mountain streams. Little before Tso-Moriri Lake we drive past a small green valley of wild Marmots locally known as Phya. Arrive at Korzok village and check in at the camps. Situated at 15,000 ft (4,572 m), it is the only permanent settlement in Rupshu region with an approximate population of 500 people. The few barley fields at Karzok must be among the highest cultivation in the world. In the evening we visit Karzok monastery. Overnight stay in the tented camp.

Day 12: At Tsomori-ri Lake (Karzok gompa)
Day free to explore the Lake area and the village. The clear blue Tso Moriri lake is one of the most breathtaking lakes in Ladakh. This brackish water lake is considered sacred by the locals. The Lake is surrounded by beautiful. The Lake is a breeding ground for numerous species of birds like Great Crested Grebe, the Brahmini duck, Bar Headed Geese, etc. This region also has large number of Kiangs, Tibetan wild ass and it's not difficult to spot them. Overnight stay in the tented camp.

Day 13: Tsomori-ri Lake - Tsokar Lake - Tanglang-La - Leh
In the morning, we drive to reach Tsokar via Puga by covering 75 km in 3-4 hours. Tso Khar Lake (4485 m) is also called White Lake because of salt deposits around it. It is approx 45 km northwest of the Tso Moriri Lake. Tso Khar is so salty that salt extracted from its margins are still sold all over Ladakh. We continue to drive and reach Manali-Leh highway and drive down towards Leh via Tanglang-la (5415 m) the 2nd highest motorable road in Ladakh. En route, drive pass beautiful villages of Rumtse, Gya, Miru and Lato. Arrive Leh and check into hotel for overnight stay.

Day 14: Leh - Hunder
Drive from Leh to the Nubra Valley over the Khardung La pass (5606 Mts.), the highest road in the world. Part of the drive is over a glacier. There are great views of the Karakoram Mountains from the top. Upon arrival check in at Deluxe Camp. Later visit sand doon and enjoy two hump camel ridding. Overnight in Deluxe Camp at Hunder.

Day 15: Hunder - Diskit - Panamik - Summur
Visit Hunder and Diskit Gompas and then drive to Panamik, crossing the River Shyok and then driving along the River Nubra to Panamik. Panamik is the last village on the old Silk Route and was favored for its hot water springs. Overnight in Deluxe Camp at Summur.

Day 16: Summur - Leh
Leave after breakfast and drive back to Leh over the Khardung La Pass. Enroute visit Taeger and Samsthaling Gompas. Overnight in hotel in Leh.

Day 17: Leh - Delhi:
Fly In the morning transfer to the airport to board the flight to Delhi. Transfer and check in the hotel in Delhi.