PHYANG FESTIVAL TOUR PACKAGE

Season: July Month
Duration: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Places Covered: Leh - Nubra - Shey - Thiksey - Hemis - Aclhi - Likir - Lamayuru - Phyang Festival

Phyang festival like other monastic festivals has sacred dance-dramas or 'Chhams' that form the core of this festival. But the main attraction for the devotees is the pilgrimages to the huge Thangka of Skyabje Jigten Gombo, founder of the Dringungpa monastic order, which is kept on exhibition during the two-day festival.

Day 01: Arrival Leh
Upon arrival at Leh you will be assisted to your hotel by our representative. Full day to rest and acclimatize. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 02: Leh - Half day tour
After breakfast, your guide will accompany you as you explore the ancient town of Leh on foot. After a couple of hours, return to your hotel for lunch. After lunch you are driven west to visit the Shanti Stupa, inaugurated in 1983 by H.H.Dalai Lama, the peace Pagoda, whose sides are decorated with gilt panels depicting episodes from the life of Buddha, is one of the several monuments errected around India by peace sect of Japanese Buddhists. Following that, you are driven to Sankar Monastery nestled amid the shimmering coppices & terraced fields of Barley. Sankar monestry: The Gompa (Monestry in local language), contains a formidable collection of miniature stattues of pure gold and ancient paintings (called Thangkas) also done with gold. We return to our hotel in the evening. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 03: Leh -Hemis - Thiksey - Shey
After breakfast, we visit the Hemis monastry, the biggest and the wealthiest in Ladakh. You walk past the Chortens and the Mani walls to enter the complex through the east gate. From Hemis, you are driven westwards to Thiksey monastry, located on a hilltop with formidable views of the Indus valley. After visiting the interiors of the monestry the tour continues to Shey the former summer palace of the King of Ladakh. Finally we drive back to Leh to our hotel.

Day 04: Drive Leh to Nubra Valley (Diskit 145 Kms, 5 hrs)
After breakfast depart for Nubra valley that goes through the highest motorable pass in the world at Khardung-la ( 5602 Mts.). enroute visit Diskit Gompa and late in the evening enjoy the camel riding at Hunder by Bacterian Camels across the sand dunes. Visit village Hunder and Gompa among lots of trees and mingling streams. Overnight stay in Camps or Guest House.

Day 05: Drive back o Leh from Nubra via Penamik and Samstangling ( 197 Kms, 7 hours)
After early breakfast drive back to Leh via Penamik and Samstangling Monastery. In penamik you can witness the hot spring. This medicinal hot water is very good for joint pains and skin dessies. On the way also visit Samtangling gompa. It is branch of the Rizong gomp and newly built and on of the beautiful monastery around Leh. Meals and overnight stay in Hotel at Leh.

Day 06: Full Day at Phyang Festival
Drive to Phyang Monastery after taking breakfast and witness the famous Phyang Festival (One of the major festivals of Buddhists, Phyang festival is celebrated every year in the month of July with much fanfare). Overnight stay at the hotel.

Phyang Monastery: Phyang Monastery, 20km. west of Leh is remarkably built on the hilltop, similar to the Likir monastery. This monastery belongs to the Degungpa Order. It was the first monastery, which introduced the Degungpa teaching of 'Skyob Jigsten Gonbo' in Ladakh that was founded by Chosje Danma Kunga, during the reign of King Jamyang Namgyal in the 16th Century A.D. It has about 50 monks in residence. Phyang also has a festival called 'Phyang Tseruk' on the 2nd & 3rd of the 6th month of Tibetan Calendar. Phyang Tsedup takes place in July / August. Like other monasteries, monks wearing colorful brocade robes and Mask in the form of different god and goddesses perform mask dances. The huge Thanka of Skyoba Giksten Gonbo is hung in the courtyard during the festival

Day 07: Leh - Alchi
After breakfast, we start our drive to Alchi, 70 kms west of Leh, south of the village of Saspol . Alchi is large temple complex founded in the 11th century is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centers in Ladakh and a jewel of monastic skill. You will also have an opportunity to witness villagers using primitive methods to grind the wheat along the road side. After our visit to the Alchi monastry we walk back to our hotel/ campsite.

DAY 08: Alchi - Lamayuru - Alchi
After early breakfast, we drive towards west to Lamayuru.We visit the Lamayuru Monestry founded, properly called Yung-drung(Swastika) founded in the 11th centuary perched on a spur high above the valley bottom just off the main road, it is one of the most spectacularly picturesque gompas(Gompa means Monestry in local language) in central ladakh, as it descends from the Fa-tula to KhalatsesetLamayuru, properly called Yung-drung(Swastika) is believed to be the oldest in central Ladakh and to have been the holy place of the Bon-chos the advent of Buddhism. Afternoon, after Lunch, explore Lamayuru village on foot, then we drive back to Alchi. Overnight in hotel/ camp

DAY 09: Alchi - Likir - Leh
After a early tea/coffee, we drive to visit Ridzong Monestry. The track to Ridzong leaves the main road along the Indus at Uletokpo, between Saspol and Nyurla and follow the valley of a tributary stream, we leave the vehicle and set on foot a kilometer up the valley to Ridzong Monestry. Ridzong is is the only Nunnery Monestry in Ladakh. After that we descend, to drive back to our campsite, followed with breakfast. After breakfast we start our drive to Leh, enroute visit the Likir Monestry set up on a hill top of a low hill, it was re-founded in the 15th century by the Gelupa Sect(Yellow Sect). After that we continue our drive on the left bank of the Indus river to Leh. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon/Evening at leisure.

DAY 10: At Leisure in Leh
After breakfast, being the last day optional visit to the local market .

DAY 11: Fly, Leh - Delhi
After early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Leh for your flight to Delhi

DAY 12: Departure Home