Trip length- 6N/7D
TRIP SUMMARY- Ladakh is a land culturally very different from the rest of India. Spend a few days engaging in the Ladakhi heritage, visiting ancient monasteries, all set amongst the best scenic backdrops of Leh and Nubra valley.
Highlights:
-An immersion in the culture of Tibetan Ladakh
-Visit some of the most famous monasteries of the region
-Sand dunes of Nubra valley , as well as visit to Turtuk
-Driving over the Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world.
Detailed itinerary :
Day 1: Fly into Leh via one of the most visually stunning flights in the Himalayas. Check in to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day acclimatizing to the high altitude terrain.
Day 2: We start the tour with an exploration of the main Leh town- chaotic at the beginning, but with a number of hidden treasures. Walk up to the old Leh Palace, overlooking the main city. The old kings of Ladakh used the same architect as that of the Potala, and seems to have ordered the architect’s hands cut off after the costruction, so that a similar building could not be built again. Also visit the LAMO(Ladakh Arts and Media House) house, a beautifully restored old house of the Munshi family. The main market is a noisy muddle, with ladies in traditional clothing sitting on sidewalks, selling organically grown vegetables. End your day with a view of the Leh town from atop the Shanti Stupa.
Day 3: Time to jumpstart the tour with an exciting drive up Khardung La, considered to be the highest motorable road in the world. The drive itself is adventurous, with glorious views of the Leh town left behind, and majestic views of the Nubra and Stok ranges from the top of Khardung La. Descend into Nubra valley, and drive to Diskit village, with the icy blue Shyok river meandering past on your right. Explore the Hunder village, and visit the sand dunes here for a ride on the Bactrian camels, remnant of the ancient trade between Ladakh and Yarkand. In the evening, visit the Diskit monastery, from where you get a bird’s eye view of the Nubra valley.
Day 4: Explore the village of Turtuk, a muslim village a few kms from the Line of Control. You see a completely different side of Ladakh here, for not only is it more heavily wooded than the rest of Ladakh, but the people are culturally very different from other parts of Ladakh. Visit the house of the Balti Chief, who will take you through his family tree and reminisce about the past. Return back to Hunder
Day 5: After a leisurely breakfast, drive back to Leh. Evening at leisure to unwind
Day 6: A day packed with adventure, wake up with the sun to attend the early morning prayer ceremony at Thiksey monastery, one of the two famous monasteries in the Indus valley basin. After a light breakfast at the monastery café, drive to Hemis monastery, the richest in the region. Drive to the Stok village, and visit the museum at the Stok palace, the current home of the royal family of Ladakh. Evening free to visit the market and shop for souvenirs.
Day 7: Assisted transfer to the airport for departure.