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Ladakh Tour and Trekking
Ladakh Highlight Tour
This journey will take us on the
ancient silk road, through the
Ladakh and the Nubra valleys, a
crossroad for commercial
activities between India, Tibet
and Central Asia. In the ancient
kingdom of Sham, we will
discover the main Ladakhi
monasteries and the wonderful
sites surrounding them: Shey,
Thiksey, Hemis, Spitok, Phyang,
Lamayuru and Alchi… The second
valley was an important stage
for caravans following the Silk
Road , which where swapping
their mules for the famous
camels of Bactriane. It is only
since 1995 that the restricted
area of the Nubra opened its
doors to foreigners. Lying
approximately 400m lower than
Leh, Nubra sports a much milder
climate, which enables its
inhabitants to cultivate more
extensively, as compared to
their counterparts in the main
Indus valley. The highlights of
this tour are the crossing of
the Khardong La pass (5400 m),
on the highest motorable roads
in the world and a Bactriane
camel safari. |
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Day 01 |
DELHI
Arrive Delhi. Assistance
on arrival and transfer
to the hotel. Overnight
at the hotel (check in
time is 1200 noon)
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Day 02 |
DELHI / LEH (By
flight)
Early morning transfer
to airport to connect
flight 9W 609 for Leh.
Upon arrival check-in at
hotel. Rest of the day
at leisure to
acclimatize. Overnight
at the hotel. |
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Day 03 |
LEH
Full day visit of :-
Spituk :– Monastery 14
kms from Leh. The Spituk
Monastery has a
collection of 21 gold
staties of Goddess Tara
and a number of scroll
paintings. Also visit
the temple of Kali which
has an interesting
collection of masks.
Sankar:- A relatively
modern monastery. It is
closely associated with
the Spituk monastery and
serves as the residence
of the head priest –
Kushak Bakula. A number
of gold icons are to be
found here. Overnight at
the hotel. |
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Day 04 |
LEH Full day visit of :-
Shey:- Situated on a
hillock 15 km upstream
from Leh. It was once
the residence of the
Royal family. According
to tradition, it was the
seat of power of the
pre-Tibetan kings. A 7.5
metre high copper statue
of Buddha, plated with
gold, and the largest of
its kind, is installed
here.
Thikshey:-19 Kms from
Leh, spectacularly most
impressive gompas. There
are several temples in
the gompa containing
images, stupas and wall
paintings of Buddha
which are exquisite.
Hemis:- 40 kms from Leh.
It is the wealthiest,
best known and biggest
gompa of Ladakh Its
popularity stems from
the major annual
festival held here in
summer. The festival is
also has the largest
thanka in Ladakh which
is unfirled once in 12
years.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 05 |
LEH
Full day visit of :
Alchi:-70 Kms from Leh,
on the banks of the
Indus river, is the
Alchi Gompa dating a
thousand years back. One
of its walls features
thousands of miniature-
sized pictures of the
Buddha. Three large
sized images made of
clay and painted
brightly are its focal
attraction. No longer a
active religions center,
it is looked after by
monks from Likir.
Likir:- Founded in the
11th century AD and
rededicated to a
different monastic order
in the 15th century AD,
its earlier gompa was
destroyed in a fire. The
present Gompa dates back
to the18th century.
Skilled craftsmen
producing excellent
thankas, earthern pots
and carved folding
wooden stools, liver
here in the village.
Majestically situated,
Likir commands a
spectacular view.
Lamayuru
Monastery:-Situated at
the altitude of 3800
meters between Fotu-la
and Khalsi. As per the
legend, in ancient times
a lake covered this
site. One day a Hermit
predicted that there
will be a monastery one
day and he throws the
grainof rice on the
earth which
automatically forms the
shape of Swastika (Yundrung)
from where the name
comes (Yundrung
Tharpaling Gompa),
constructed by Rinchen
Zangpo one of his 108
constructions. Monastery
noted for the sect
drigungpa. In the
gallery see 35 Buddha
painted on the wall.
Chapel of Avlokiteshvara
– the 2 mtrs high image
of him with 11 heads and
1000 heads.
Overnight at the hotel
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Day 06 |
LEH Full day visit of :-
Stock Palace:-The last
king died in 1974 but
his widow continues to
live here, their son
continues the royal line
and ascended the throne
in July 1993. The palace
is a rumbling building
where only a dozen of
the 80 rooms are used.
The small palace museum
is worth visiting. It is
a showpiece for the
royal Thangkas (many 400
years old), the crown,
jewels, dresses, coins,
pearls encrusted with
turcoise and lapis
lazulli as well as
religious objects.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 07 |
LEH / SARCHU (253 Kms. /
8 Hrs.)
Leave by road for Sarchu,
enroute stop for
photography and admire
the natural beauty Upon
arrival check in to the
camp Overnight in Tents.
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Day 08 |
SARCHU / JISPA (125
Kms. / 5 Hrs.)
Overnight hotel.
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Day 09 |
JISPA / MANALI ( 141
Kms. / 6 Hrs.)
Drive to Manali Manali.
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 10 |
MANALI
Full day visit of :-
Manali:- Situated at the
northern end of Kullu
valley, Manali has
spectacular views of
snow capped peaks and
wooded slopes. Manali
offers marvellous walks
through dappled orchards
and fairy tale forests
of Deodar. You will
visit the Hidimbha
Temple, standing tall
among the stately
Deodars. This ancient
temple with its three
level roofs looks like a
pagoda and its lintel
and door frame are of
intricately carved wood.
The market is crowded
with interesting shops
selling Tibetan carpets
and crafts. The village
of Manali is 2 kms away
across scented meadows
and a quaint bridge over
the sparking stream.
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 11 |
MANALI / DHARAMSHALA
( 253 Kms. / 8 Hrs. )
Drive to Dharamshala.
check in to hotel
Overnight at the hotel |
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Day 12 |
DHARAMSHALA /AMRITSAR
(199 Kms. / 6 Hrs.)
AM Visit: Dharamshala:-
The principal township
of Kangra is a
fascinating place. It is
spread over a height
difference of over 450
metres. Here you can see
the Mcleod Ganj and
Forsythe Ganj which
retain the British
flavour so peculiar to
the towns of Himachal
Pradesh. Here is also
the residence of H.H.
THE DALAI LAMA next to
the monastery. The
library at the school of
Tibetan studies is
treasure trove of
manuscripts and texts on
Tibet and its culture.
There are several
picuresque picnic spots
here.
PM: Leave for Amritsar
Upon arrival check in to
hotel and Overnight.
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Day 13 |
AMRITSAR / DELHI (Train)
AM: Visit Amritsar :-
The city was founded by
the fourth Sikh Guru –
Ram Das. While
excavating the holy tank
called the “Pool of
Immortality”. This city
is famous for the GOLDEN
TEMPLE. The most sacred
shrine of the Sikhs.
Guru Arjun Dev built the
temple and RanjitSingh,
the Sikh ruler,
enshrined the shrine and
covered the doms with
copper, overlaid with
gold foil. The exterior
walls are inlaid with
precious stones and
inside contains fine
fillgree and gold inlay
works. Also visit the
Jalianwalan Bagh,
Rambagh Gardens, Khalsa
College, The Durgiana
temple and Kashmir
Emporium. PM: visit
Golden Temple. Later in
the afternoon, transfer
to railway station
Meeting upon arrival and
transfer to hotel
Overnight at the hotel
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Day 14 |
DELHI
Visit Old delhi and New
Delhi. Overnight at the
hotel. |
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Day 15 |
LEAVE DELHI
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