Cultural Ladakh

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi

Arrive in Delhi, the capital of India, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure with no guided activities or meals included. Overnight at Hotel Udaman or similar.

Note: If you are arriving early into Delhi we can arrange different excursions. Please contact us for details.

Old Delhi

Old Delhi was the capital of Moghul India between the 12th and the 19th centuries. You will find here many mosques, monuments and forts of the Moghul period of India's history. The medieval atmosphere of the bazaars of Old Delhi contrasts sharply with the open, spacious streets of New Delhi, the imperial city created as the capital of India by the British.

Day 2: Delhi – Leh (Flight time – approx. 1.5hrs)

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Leh in the remote region of Ladakh (15kg checked bag allowance and 7kg hand baggage). On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time there should be some leisure time and we will also take a gentle orientation walk of Leh and its bazaars. Overnight at Mansarovar Hotel or similar (B)

Note: The flight to Leh is often scheduled for early in the morning. Exact flight details will be provided nearer to departure.

Leh

Leh’s strategic importance for trade – on the Indus river valley where the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir meet – mean that it has probably been a significant mercantile base for over 1,500 years. However, it became isolated by the closure of the Chinese border in 1962 and the tensions with Pakistan have also contributed to its strategic demise. In 1974, it opened up to tourists and has now become a key springboard for exploration into the region as well as a growing Kashmiri trade scene. The former capital of India’s Buddhist Ladakh kingdom, Leh seems a world apart from the chaos and sprawl of Indian cities further south, having much more in common with the Tibetan lands to the north.  The authorities, mindful of the burgeoning wealth and development of Lhasa, are very keen to see Leh’s traditional Old Town architecture and Buddhist ways of life preserved. Lhasa is modernising and Leh is arguably a much clearer example of uninterrupted traditional building over many centuries. The town’s main style of Ladakhi building depends upon whitewashed walls and seemingly fragile mud-based brickwork.  With increased levels of rainfall battering the often precariously built dwellings, the precarious nature of Leh is all the more accentuated. All over the Old City, temples, palaces, stupas and fascinating architectural gems abound. This stands at over 3,500 metres, so, upon arrival, you will sense the altitude a little, as well as the gloriously crisp, clear Himalayan air. The climate is generally kind in the summer: highs are usually mid 20⁰s centigrade, falling to around 10⁰ at night, though it can occasionally be cooler. Most of the current 28,000 population live in the New City below and there is a dominant barley farming and livestock culture, all set against the peerless background of the Himalayan peaks.

Day 3: Leh

Today we start our day with a visit to Sankar Gompa, an affiliate of the Spituk Monastery. From Sankar Gompa we drive to a recently built Shanti Stupa. It was constructed by a Japanese Buddhist organization and inaugurated by His Holiness, The Dalai Lama. The magnificent white domed structure, the Shanti Stupa, offers spectacular views over Leh bazaar and Stok Kangri Range. We finish today's excursion with a visit of Leh Palace situated above Leh on the Namgyal Hill. The palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal in 17th century but was later abandoned when Dogra forces took control of Ladakh in the mid-19th century. The majestic palace overlooks the Namgyal Hill. Overnight Mansarovar Hotel or similar (B)

Day 4: Leh – Thiksey – Hemis – Matho – Leh

Today, in the sightseeing tour to three of the major gompas (monasteries) around Leh we first drive to Thiksey monastery that belongs to Gelukpa order (Yellow hat). Perched on top of a hill its red and white buildings can be seen from miles. A recently built temple within this complex contains a magnificent image of the Future Buddha. Next we drive to Hemis Gompa that belongs to Drukpa order (Red hat). It holds the distinction not only of being the biggest and the wealthiest monastery of Ladakh but also of very rich collections of ancient relics and the rare 17th century murals and the painted stone reliefs adorning the courtyard gallery making it a true UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue our excursion and visit Matho monastery situated right across Thiksey on the other side of Indus River. This monastery was founded in 16th century and it's an only monastery that belongs to Sakya order of Tibetan Monastery. Overnight Mansarovar Hotel or similar (B)

Day 5: Leh- Nubra Valley (Hundar) via Wari La (Approximate Driving time – 5-6hrs)

After early breakfast, we drive to Nubra Valley via Sakti and the spectacular 5,342m Wari La pass, one of the world’s highest drivable mountain passes situated in the northeast of the Ladakh valley. From the pass panoramic views stretch far south over the Indus valley to the seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar mountain range, and north to the giants of the Saser massif, the highest of which, Saser Kangri I, stands at 7,672 metres. Be prepared for a bumpy ride as road conditions near the pass, on both sides, are quite poor. Descending, we pass through the villages of Nubra Valley such as Tangyar and Agyam. Here we encounter double-humped Bactrian camels, once the backbone of transport along the ancient Silk Road. If time allows there may even be a surreal opportunity to ride a camel among the dunes of this enigmatic high-altitude desert. Accommodation this evening is located hotel in Hundar. Overnight Karma Inn or similar (BLD)

Nubra Valley

To the north of Leh lies the region of Nubra – an incomparably tranquil and remote confluence of the twin valleys of Nubra and Shyock, the region now is characterised by its surprising blend of arable fields and montane, arid desert.  The alabaster sands compliment perfectly the rugged chain of snow-clad Karakoram mountains which encircle the broad flood plains.  The valley once hosted a thriving trade between Leh and Yarkand in modern day China: Varanasi brocades, Chinese silks, pearls, spices, Indian tea, pashmina wool, salt, indigo, carpets, and even opiates and gold flooded through the Ladakh ‘land of high passes’, bringing trade, wealth and cultural diversity, all on the backs of the doughty Bactrian camel caravans, pony and yak trains. Estimates suggest that each year over 10,000 pack animals completed the Silk Road here, through the breathless, yet gloriously crisp air. Political unrest – the valley, having hosted skirmishes between Indai and Pakistan in the past, is reputedly the world’s highest battlefield – and the eventual closing of the Chinese border in the 1950s finally signalled the end to this source of income; instead, the villages in the Nubra (‘green’) focused on agriculture, irrigating fertile fields of grain, peas, mustard, and trees such as walnut, apricot, apple and almond. In recent years, a small tourist trade has begun to put Ladakh and the Nubra back onto the international traveller’s map: the stunning scenery, religious sites and opportunities for outdoor activities are starting to be realised here.

Day 6: Hundar:  Excursion to Turtuk (Approximate Driving time – 5-6 hrs)

Today we start early to make a full-day excursion to Turtuk, very close to Pakistan both physically and culturally. This delightful village is wedged into the narrow Shyok River valley at the farthest corner of India, right at the top of the country’s map. Only when the Indo-Pakistan war ended in 1971 was Turtuk and five other Balti villages included within the Indian Line of Control. It remained off-limits until only a couple of years ago, keeping it well off-the-beaten-track. Turtuk is in every sense a pioneering treat, culturally intact and untainted by tourism. The Muslim Balti inhabitants are exceptionally friendly, and the truly dramatic landscape offers excellent photographic opportunities. Overnight Karma Inn or similar (BLD)

Day 7: Hundar- Kyagar (Sumur)- Terith (Approximate driving time – 1.5hrs)

In the 17th century Hundar itself was capital of the erstwhile Nubra kingdom, and this morning we have time to explore the atmospheric ruins of the town’s Chamba Gompa. In nearby Diskit we visit the 14th century gompa. The town’s relatively mild climate earned it the epithet, ‘The Orchard of Ladakh’, and as such it became a prized possession of a succession of Ladakh kings who developed it and poured favour and finance upon it. Diskit Gompa is the most important and oldest monastery in Nubra, its rooms bursting with thangka (Buddhist devotional paintings on cotton or silk), statues and effigies of the Buddha. From Hundar, the route crosses the Shyok River and heads north to Samstanling Gompa, set among the serene green meadows of Sumur village. After lunch we continue to Panamik, once a terminus on the caravan trade route and celebrated for its medicinal hot springs. Our final stop for the day is the village of Terith. As the sun sets, if time allows, we explore a village very few foreign tourists have been privileged to see. Here, the Ladakhi people are always delighted to welcome their infrequent visitors. Overnight Osay Khar or similar (BLD)

Day 8: Kyagar (Terith) – Leh - Alchi (Approximate Driving time – 6.5hrs)

Today we embark on a spectacular drive from Nubra to Leh and on to Alchi. Initially road conditions are good but deteriorate as we scale the spectacular 5,602, Khardong La (5,602m) pass, another of the world highest passes open to motor vehicles. From the col, magnificent views unfold towards the peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, and the 7,000m summits of the Saser massif. Descending, the road conditions are poor, so prepare to be shaken not stirred. Heading into South Pulu, we continue to Alchi, passing through Leh city. Overnight Zimskhang Hotel or similar (BLD)

Alchi

70km from Leh is the renowned 12th Century Alchi Monastery. Alchi is a monastic complex of whitewashed temples, stupas and dwellings which, unusually is situated on the valley floor around a leafy garden, rather than the typical cliff-top monastery setting.  Inside is a breath-taking array of ancient wall paintings and wood sculptures, much of which date back to the origins of the Gompa in the 10th and 11th centuries. The wealth of thousand-year-old artwork is all the more surprising since the majority of religious houses suffered iconoclasm, looting and destruction during the 14th century Muslim incursions. Today, five tiny mud-walled temples house a unique collection: the Dukhang (‘Assembly Hall’), the beating heart of monastic life, contains exquisitely carved doorways and colonnades, leads through a passageway of 1,00 Buddha paintings a room adorned with a myriad of beautiful pictures; in particular, seek out the amazing image of Tara in the Manjushri; around the site are a series of equally delightful chortens. 

Day 9: Alchi- Lamayuru - Themisgam (Approximate Driving time – 2.5hrs)

We travel as far west as Lamayuru, one of the most famous and spectacular gompas in Ladakh, perched on a steep cliff overlooking a strange and alien land formation locally called the ‘moon landscape’. The first Lamayuru monastery was built at the end of the 10th century, in its heyday accommodating 400 monks, but today only 20 to 30 remain. Returning east to Themisgam, the richest valley of Ladakh, we encounter bountiful horticulture including apricots, apples and nuts in abundance. We stay at a hotel run by a Ladakhi family. The hotel sprawls over a vast area of apricot and apple orchards, creating a relaxed and rejuvenating ambience. Overnight Hotel Namra or similar (BLD)

Day 10: Themisgam- Leh (Approximate Driving time – 2.5hrs)

After breakfast explore Themisgaam. Start with a steep climb uphill (most of the way we can drive if the road allows) to a local nunnery overlooking the fertile valley. Continuing uphill you reach the monastery of Themisgaam with its opulent and ornate interiors.  Built in the 15th century, the once thriving foundation is now run by a single monk-on-duty. Each year, the monk is changed, unusually the duties being shared between the yellow cap southern order and the red cap order of Tibetan Buddhism. Alongside stands the impressive Tingmosgang castle, sentinel over the Indus valley and all its trade influences, and palace of the kings of Ladakh before they moved their court to Leh. This afternoon, drive back to Leh. Overnight Mansarovar Hotel or similar (B)

Day 11: Leh- Delhi by Flight (Approximate Journey time – 1.5hrs)

This morning we drive to the airport in time for onward flights to Delhi (15kg checked bag allowance and 7kg hand baggage). Tour ends on arrival into Delhi (B)

Please note: To extend your stay in Delhi or make additional arrangements in a different part of India.