Forbidden Ladakh Tour

Detail Itinerary

Day 1 : Fly from Kathmandu to Delhi – 1h30.
Fly from Delhi to Manali-Kullu Airport – 80 minutes. Drive from Manali-Kullu Airport to Manali (1950m) – 45 kms.
Night in Manali.
Day 2 : This morning you are taken to Hadimba Temple,
an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hadimba Devi, a character in the Indian epic Mahabharata, a famous book in the Hinduist religion. Later, you discover Manu Temple which is said to have given its name to Manali.
After lunch, your leave for Vashist where take place the Vashist Hot Water Springs. Travelers from all over the world come here for medicinal benefit.
Night in Manali.
Day 3 : Today, you drive
all day to reach Keylong (3340m) – 115 kms. During the journey you will stop at Rothang-la Pass (3980m) from where one can see great greenery and snow capped mountains.
Night in Keylong.

Day 4 : After breakfast you drive to Sarchu (4290m)
110 kms. This day is going to be a wonderful Himalayan safari with stunning views on the way as you cross the 8 kms long Baralacha-la Pass (4900m) which literally the pass “where many roads meet”. Here, routes from Zanskar, Ladakh and Lahaul meet which have for centuries been used by ancient travelers and crossed in all directions.
Night camp in Sarchu.
Day 5 : Today is your last driving step to Leh (3500m)
that you will reach tonight – 257 kms. You cross the flat high desert of More Plains and the Tanglang-la Pass (5325m) which is the second highest motorable pass in India.
Night in Leh.

Day 6 : After breakfast you drive
to Likir and visit the Likir Gompa situated a the top of a windy cliff overlooking the village – 62 kms. It was founded in the 12th Century although the present construction dates back to the 18th Century as the original one was destroyed by fire.
Then you cross the Indus River and reach Alchi, Ladakhs most loved monastery. Unlike other monasteries which are usually on a cliff top or cling to a mountainside, Alchi is at ground level.
Finally you reach Lamayuru.
Night in Lamayuru.

Day 7 : This morning, you visit Lamayuru Monastery
which belongs to the Red-Hat sect of Buddhism and houses approximately 150 Buddhist monks. The gompa is made up of a number of shrines and also has a very rich collection of thankas and magnificent wall paintings.
On the way back to Leh, you stop at Basgo. It is known for its castle ruin dating drom the 15th Century. and the adjoining royal temples spectacularly located on the rocks.
Night in Leh.

Day 8 : After breakfast you proceed to Shey,
the ancient capital of Ladakh – 15 kms. The monastery here has a huge image of the seated Buddha and is considered to be the biggest metal statue in Ladakh region. Copper sheets, gilded with gold make up this amazing statue.
Then you visit Thiksey Gompa, one of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh, it belongs to the Gelukpa Order of Buddhism. It serves as the residence of approximately eighty monks.
Later, you drive further to visit the famous Hemis Gompa. The two-day festival of monastic dance in June-July has raised the reputation of Hemis very high. This event is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as second Buddha and responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Tibetan world.
Finally, we visit the Stok Palace, the Royal residence of the King of Stok, and the museum that has a rich collection of ancient Ladakhi artefacts such as Thangkas, precious stones, arms and armoury among others.
Night in Leh.
Day 9 : Today you enter and discover the Nubra Valley (3500m)
140 kms. This large valley separates Ladakh and the Karakoram Ranges.
The road journey to Nubra Valley leads through Khardung-la Pass which is the highest motorable road in the world (5600m), around 39 kms away from Leh.
Later, you visit Diskit Gompa. A legend is attached to this monastery: it goes that a Mongol demon, enemy of Buddhism, was annihilated near the monastery. However, his lifeless body kept coming back there again and again.
Then you proceed to the White Sand Dunes where you can enjoy a camel safari ride, if you wish so.
Night camp in Nubra.

Day 10 : Today, you head back to Leh.
On the way, you stop at Samstangling Gompa in Sumur, a rather large and well-maintained monastery with great wall paintings.
During your afternoon, you will be taken to Phyang Monastery – 40 kms. In 1515, a monastic community was introduced there and with this started the first establishment of the Digung teachings in Ladakh. You are then transferred to Spitok Gompa. The name “Spituk”, meaning exemplary, has been derived from a statement of a translator, Rinchen Zangpo, about the monastery: he said that an exemplary religious community would develop there.
Night in Leh.
Day 11 : Early morning you proceed for a full day excursion to Pangong Lake.
At 4250 meters high, the Great Blue Lake is famous for colourful stones and wild flowers. Pangong Lake is 134 kms long and the two thirds of the lake lies in China.
Night in Leh.

Day 12 : This morning, you discover Leh Palace,
a nine storeys high building which houses the Royal family from 17th to mid-19th Century and the Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, a monastery that stands behind the Palace. Later, you discover the Shanti Stupa, also called Japanese Peace Pagoda, which is one of the finest monuments in Leh. Finally, you reach Sankar Gompa where there is a grand image of Avalokiteshvara (the Buddhist deity of compassion) who is depicted with 1000 heads and 1000 arms.
During afternoon, you can walk around and visit the markets where you can buy Ladakhi craft items from the friendly local people.
Night in Leh.

Day 13 : Fly from Leh to Delhi – 80 minutes. Night in Delhi.
Day 14 : Fly from Delhi to Kathmandu – 1h30.