Day 1 – Reach Manali and rest

Reach Manali after an overnight bus journey from Delhi/ Chandigarh. Check into your hotel and rest for the morning. Head out to explore the town around lunch. You can choose to have lunch at one of the many cafes in Old Manali, visit the Manu temple and shop in one of the many boutique stores around. Next you can visit the famous Hidimba temple and take a break in the Van Vihar (forest reserve) behind the temple. The last place if you wish to visit can be Vashisth which is famous for its hot springs.  Lastly, you can come down to Mall Road and stroll down the busiest street in Manali shop for some local souvenirs. The perfect relaxed first day.  Be prepared to leave early tomorrow morning. Your journey into the Himalayas begins tomorrow.

Day 2 – Manali to Jispa via Atal Tunnel

Head out in the morning after breakfast to Jispa. The journey to Jispa has been cut down by a couple of ours thanks to the Atal Tunnel that connects Manali to Lahaul. Jispa on the Leh- Manali highway is a popular spot for camping by travellers. As you cross over from Manali to Lahaul you will see the scenery change from lush green covered in trees to dry and sparsely populated with vegetation.  Stop for lunch at Keylong as Jispa is just 20 kms ahead. Reach Jispa and rest. You are in for a memorable night of camping  under the stars.

Day 3 – Jispa to Leh via Suraj Taal, Baralacha La, Tanglang La

Wake up to giant barren mountains and open blue skies. Get on the road to Leh, as its gonna be a long day of high passes and winding roads with spectacular views. Visit Suraj Taal on your way and stop for pictures against this emerald lake. As your cross Zing Zing bar and Baralacha La you get a chance to admire the vastness and the true beauty of the Himalayas. Next you cross the Gata Loops. These 21 Gata Loops or hairpin bends   are stomach churning and exciting and take you to the Nakila Pass. By now you would have seen various shades of mountains ranging from brown to red to purple.

As you approach the flat, dusty stretches of the Moore plains it gives you a welcome break from the stomach churning roads so far. You see cattle and sheep grazing on the green plains. A nice contrast to the high brown mountains you have been seeing so far. The last pass of the day is Tanglang La. Tanglang La at 5328 mtrs is one of the highest passes in the world. We do not encourage you to spend a lot of time here as AMS is known to kick in.  The descent to Leh begins after Tanglang La. The turquoise Indus river appears in the horizon with Ladakh’s famous picture-postcard views of quaint homes next to small-cultivated farms against barren mountains and clear blue skies.

Once you reach Leh, check into the hotel and get a good night’s rest post dinner. Make sure to not over exert as you need to be well rested to acclimatise well.

Day 4 – Around Leh – Shey and Thiksey Monastery, Rancho School, Shanti Stupa and Leh market 

Begin your with a leisure breakfast before the 15-kilometre drive to Ladakh’s summer capital, Shey. Located on a hillock, Shey Palace and the Shey Monastery, seem unaffected by time since 1655 from afar. Upon closer look, the effects of time are clearly visible with the palace partly in ruins. The monastery however, still maintained with the same vigour as it was before the Dogras invaded in 1842. With the second largest statute of Buddha in the Ladakh region, the monastery’s main attraction is this 12-metre tall statue of Shakyamuni Buddha that occupies three floors.  A mere kilometre northeast is the now-famous Druk White Lotus School also known as the Rancho School. Renowned across India thanks to the Bollywood blockbuster ‘Three Idiots’.

Drive on to Thiksey monastery, about 4 kilometres away. One of Leh’s largest monasteries, there is a separate residential building for nuns as well. With fascinating wall paintings throughout the 12-storey complex, stupas, thangka paintings, statues and numerous artefacts make for a very interesting visit. The scenic last leg of the day takes you through the valley’s rugged terrain of over 25 kms from Thiksey to Hemis.  With stunning views of the mountains beyond with the contrast of green and purple against clear blue skies make for most of the scenery on the drive from Thiksey to Hemis.

Perched on a hill, nestled between mountains, Hemis is better known as India’s Shangri-La. The Cham mask dance is performed is in June-July for 2 days at this monastery.

After lunch head over to Shanti Stupa. A symbol of peace and harmony, Shanti Stupa’s white dome stands tall at 3,609 metres above sea level. The stupa offers some jaw dropping panoramic views of Leh town. A lovely green in summer,  the leaves of the trees in this trans- Himalayan region turn amber-brown in the autumn and disappear by winter.

Next we head to the 17th century Leh Palace. The Archaeological Survey of India is slowly restoring this 9 Storie palace and it is still a work in progress. Modelled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa Tibet, the Leh Palace offers unobstructed views of the Indus river, the Stok Kangri peak and the mighty Zanskar range beyond it. Stroll through the Leh market area in the evening. You can get everything from Pashmina shawls and winter wear to handcrafted prayer wheels and unique turquoise jewellery. Head back to the hotel to call it an early night.

Day 5 – Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung La

After breakfast we begin the scenic drive to Nubra valley and the sand dunes of Hunger via Khardung La. One of the world’s highest motorable passes, Khardung-La is one of Ladakh’s most popular destinations. A couple of lovely photographs later on K-top, we start our descent to Nubra Valley.

The drive will get relatively more comfortable after North Pullu with better roads as the valley opens up. Make your way towards the spectacular Diskit Monastery while crossing through the quaint Khardung village.

Check-in to your camp in Hundar village and relax for a bit. We will have to make our last visit of the day about 7 kilometres to the sand dunes of Hundar. Get to see and ride the fascinating two-humped Bactrian camels in the sand dunes. The impressive views of the grey dunes, the glacial river and the rugged snow-capped mountain peaks set Hunder in a league of its own here. Hundar, apart from housing the mandatory monastery is a charming little village with several shrines higher up. Spend the night here admiring the starts in a cloudless sky.

Day 6 – Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso via Shyok

After an easy morning, we head to Pangong Tso. You can chose to spend some more time at the sand dunes before getting on the road. The road to Pangong goes along the River Shyok, and connects to the Pangong basin via Shyok village.

A quick stop at Agham village to see the prehistoric petroglyphs.

Pangong Tso is best known for being a part of the last scene Bollywood’s blockbuster “Three Idiots”. This beautiful 604-km² lake is partly in India and partly in China. The lake at 4305 metres above sea level, is a spectacle to witness as the water changes several shades of blue throughout the day. The crystal clear water will have you mesmerised. Head over to Spangmik village as the sun slowly goes down and the chill sets in.  A warm dinner and a cosy bed at your camp awaits you.

Day 7 – Pangong Tso to Leh via Chang La Pass and Hemis monastery

As the sun rises, watch the transparent waters turn blue. A hearty breakfast later, begin the long drive back to Leh.

Stop at Hemis Monastery. Perched on a hill, nestled between mountains, Hemis is better known as India’s Shangri-La. Founded in 1672, Hemis monastery is said to have existed before the 11th century. The Cham mask dance is performed is in June-July for 2 days at this monastery.

We stop for lunch at Karu on our way back to Leh. With stunning views of the mountains beyond with the contrast of green and purple against clear blue skies make for most of the serenery on the drive from Hemis to Leh.

Head back to your hotel or visit the local markets for some souvenir shopping once you’re back in Leh.  A hot dinner awaits you at the hotel.

Day 8 – Rafting on the Zanskar

Essentially cut off from the rest of the world in winter Zanskar is a must-visit if you’re here in the summer. Rafting, anywhere in the world, is an adrenaline-charged activity that nobody can get enough of. Rafting on the mighty Zanskar, takes this to a whole new level. Drive westward from Leh, early in the morning post breakfast. Stop by at Sangam (confluence) where the Zanskar meets the Indus, turning the beautiful turquoise blue Indus into a muddy brown combination of colors. Follow the Zanskar for a good 14 kilometres to the banks where our instructor and your raft await. You will be given a brief introduction to rafting and safety guidelines, with finer details with real time demonstrations on using the oars to move as well as manoeuvre the raft. 

With your essentials, mobiles and cameras tucked into waterproof bags, lifejackets strapped on, you’re ready to roll. The deep gorges of the Zanskar will remind you of boat rides through Middle Earth with tall walls of water-cut mountains standing strong on either side. The Grade 3 rapids will leave you with more than a simple sense of adventure. Hilltop monasteries, snow covered peaks, quaint villages and their stepped farm lands make for spectacular views as you hold on to the raft to keep from falling off. 

Reach Sangam a good hour and a half later, probably drenched, but glad for the bright sun and hot lunch that is waiting for you. Walk through Leh’s markets one last time or just relax in a cafe taking in the scenery.

Day 9 – Leh to Kargil via Shaam Valley, Lamayuru and Mulbekh

Head to the Hall of Fame just outside Leh. Constructed in memory of martyred Indian soldiers of the India-Pakistan wars. The memorial contains information on the wars, the soldiers and their sacrifices, and houses a display of some artillery used in the Kargil war.

Just before the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers is the infamous magnetic hill. Try not to take your eyes off the road as your car surges ahead without any mechanical thrust, just with the force of the magnetic field and gravity.

A few of kilometres ahead, and you will be greeted by gently fluttering prayer flags and smiling children, at the entrance to Lamayuru. Formations that resemble the moon surface start appearing as soon as you get close to Lamayuru village with its 11th century monastery. A short hike to the ‘meditation hill’ for some outstanding views of the surroundings and its rock formations.

Made world famous mainly because of the India-Pakistan war in the 1990’s, Kargil’s inhabitants have a lot of stories to share about how much the war has change things for Kargil.  Ladakh’s second largest town, does not disappoint as far as the beautiful scenery and warm and friendly locals are concerned, but you will still find an overall sense of awareness with the country’s border being just around the corner.

Check in at your hotel after a visit to the famous sandstone wall with names of all Indian army personnel who died in the Kargil war.

Day 10 – Kargil to Srinagar via Zojila pass

After an early breakfast, we leave for Srinagar via the Zoji La pass. Just before reaching Drass, you encounter the Dras War Memorial that commemorates the martyrs of the Kargil War. The sandstone wall has all the names of the martyrs inscribed on it. Stop by  the souvenir shop to pick up some memorabilia. Dras is a small village and is known as the ‘Gateway to Ladakh’. But it is more famous as the second coldest inhabited place in the world and the coldest inhabited place in India. The average winter temperature is around -22Cº. Further along the road is the Zoji La.

The Zoji La sits mighty 3,528 metres above sea level. When captured by Pakistan in 1947, the Indian Army had deployed massive tanks to win it back. It was the first time that tanks were deployed at high mountain passes. Reach Srinagar in the evening and be welcomed by the shimmering Dal Lake. The lights from the houseboats on the water surface make for a pretty picture. Head to your hotel for a nice dinner and a comfortable bed after a long day .

Day 11 – Airport drop. Fly out of Srinagar

Get ready to leave with a heavy heart as you board your flight back to the plains. Picturesque views and memories of your journey will keep fresh in your memory for the next few weeks

Inclusions

• All Transport in one vehicle (Toyota Innova or Mahindra Xylo – 4-5 people in each)

• Accommodation for all the 10 nights on twin/double sharing basis

• 2 meals on each day (breakfast and dinner) at the hotel

• Activity – Rafting on the Zanskar

• Inner line permits fee (different for foreigners)

• Ladakh Environment fee

Exclusions

* GST

* Snacks and beverages (except the ones with meals)

* Any kind of insurance/ emergency/ evacuation cost

* Any monument entry/ camera fees

* Any personal expenses

* Flight/train/bus tickets to or back from Leh