It’s not just a typical tour; it’s a real journey for wandering in the Himalayas and exploring in its true style. Youthful experience for adventure travelers who like to explore the inside of region’s remote and breathtaking high altitude landscapes, Ladakh remains an ideal getaway for them. The forces of nature have conspired to render a magical realist landscape of extremes, desert and blue waters, the burning sun and freezing winds, glaciers and sand dunes across the valley. Tibetan-style traditions and culture remain apparent.
Highlights: Manali, Keylong, Darcha, Baralacha Pass, Sarchu, Leh city, Shey, Thiksey, Hemis, Khardung La, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Alchi Monastery, Sangam, Hall of Fame, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
Destination: Himachal +Ladakh
Type: Culture
Duration: 8 Nights/9 Days
Best Time: June-Sept
Maximum Altitude: 5602 m (18380 ft)
Requisite group size: 04 Pax (min)
Cost: Rs 34,900 per person
Brief Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive at Manali
Day 02: Manali-Rohtang Pass-Koksar-Keylong
Day 03: Keylong- Jispa-Sarchu-Leh
Day 04: Tour of Hemis, Thiksey, Shey Monastery, 3 Idiots School Campus
Day 05: Tour of Khardung La (18832 ft), Nubra Valley, Hundur Sand Dunes
Day 06: Diskit Monastery-Leh
Day 07: Tour of Pangong Lake
Day 08: Pangong Lake-Leh
Day 09: Leh-Delhi
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive at Manali
On arrival day at Manali, you will spend the night at a hotel. Next day, you will have ample time to explore Manali bazaar and go on an evening walk around the local market. And come back for an overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02: Manali-Rohtang Pass-Koksar-Keylong
Next morning, we will depart from Manali early in the morning. Our first halt is at Marhi. Green slopes, beautiful landscape offering extensive views of the valley and snow-capped mountains await us. We proceed to Rohtang Pass, situated at an altitude of 3790 m. Being one of the highest road points and gateway to Lahaul and Spiti Valley, the pass is very popular with visitors. Pass remains closed during winter due to heavy snow from November to May end. Just like Rohtang, visitors can see similar high altitude topography, the forest of Birch, Fir, and Spurce. Once we cross the Rohtang Pass, we drive into the barren Himalayas with the completely different landscape. Khoksar is the first village gateway into Lahaul. We reach Keylong for an overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 03: Keylong- Jispa-Sarchu-Leh
We start early in the morning from Keylong and reach Jispa in half an hour. This beautiful spot is 22 km away from Keylong and 4 km ahead of Ghemur. The village is situated at the junction of two nullahs with the main river Bhaga. Jispa has a colossal dry river-bed, a rarity in Lahaul. Jispa is a new tourism center coming up with the monasteries of Yarji and Photang, where his Holiness the Dalai Lama gave the Kalachakra sermon a few years back to the Buddhists all over the world. The mountaineering Institute of Manali has a sub-centre here for adventure tourism.
Darcha is situated at the junction of Yotche Nullah and the Zangskar chhu which takes off from the Shinkun La. Both the nullahs meet with the main river Bhaga at this place. The valley broadens out from Darcha. The altitude of Darcha is about 3500 m, which makes it an ideal base camp for acclimatization. Darcha is the jumping-off point for treks to Padum over three mountain passes Shinkun La, Baralacha La and Phirtse La, and mountaineering expeditions to Leh and peaks of Chandra Bhaga series. However, no tourist bungalow or rest house facilities are available on either side of the nullahs. A police check post is also there.
Darcha is the last village where one can see sparse growth of trees. You will see not even a single tree on either side of the highway beyond Darcha. Landscapes start looking desolate and absolutely barren.
Sarchu is the last inhabited point in Himachal Pradesh on the Manali-Leh route, which is regarded as one of the highest highways in the world. The journey goes through Nakeela and Lachung La at 16,617 ft and you reach Pang by afternoon. Lunch break at Pang. After crossing More Plains, stretched across 42 km between mountains on both sides, and Tanglang La – the second highest motorable road in the world at the height of 17,585 ft – we reach Upshi. From here, we drive upstream on the Indus River on the road passing through villages with terraced fields and neatly whitewashed houses to reach Leh.Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 04: Tour of Hemis, Thiksey, Shey Monastery, 3 Idiots School Campus
After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to visit Hemis Monastery situated 45 km west of Leh. Hemis is the largest and the wealthiest monastery in Ladakh. From Hemis, we drive back on the same route to visit Thiksey Monastery, located on a hillock with formidable views of the Indus Valley. Thiksey is especially noteworthy for its gigantic seated statue of the Maitreya and its Dukhang assembly hall, which houses hundreds of rectangular prayer books stacked between wooden covers and bound in silk. After that, we continue to drive through series of chortens to visit Shey Palace – the former summer palace of the King of Ladakh, and 3 Idiots school campus. Overnight stay at a hotel in Leh.
Day 05: Tour of Khardung La (18832 ft), Nubra Valley, Hundur Sand Dunes
After Breakfast, we drive for 120 km (4/5 hrs) to reach Nubra Valley via Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world at 18,380 ft. The journey to Khardung La is an amazing experience with amazing views of Stok mountains as we reach great elevation while driving on a gradual gradient. After reaching the top, we sip a cup of hot tea at the army canteen and quickly visit the sovereign shop.
Then the road descends toward Khardung village. We are in Nubra Valley now. Hereon, we drive along the Shyok River to reach Diskit, which is the headquarters of Nubra. We cover another 8 km to reach Hundur famous for sand dunes and rare Bactrian camels. Overnight stay in a guesthouse/hotel.
Day 06: Diskit Monastery-Leh
After breakfast, we visit 515-year-old Diskit Monastery and drive back to Leh on the same route, crossing Khardung La. We reach Leh by evening and spend some time to explore Leh market. Overnight stay at a hotel here.
Day 07: Tour of Pangong Lake (155 km)
After early breakfast, we leave for Pangong Lake (14,500 ft), through Changla Pass 17,350 ft. Pangong Tso is the highest land locked lake and the highest salt water lake in the world, shared by two countries: India and China. We drive through the third highest motorable road in the world to arrive at Pangong Lake to appreciate the changing colors and fascinating high altitude of the lake. Overnight stay at camp.
Day 08: Pangong Lake to Leh
Next morning, we drive back to Leh and spend the evening exploring Leh market. Overnight stay at a hotel in Leh.
Day 09: Depart Leh
On time departure to Delhi from Leh airport.
Inclusions
- Assistance upon arrival and departure
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis as per itinerary listed above or similar
- Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner (only packed lunch will be provided during long day trips)
- Return airport transfer along with all sightseeing in non-AC Innova/Xylo/Scorpio
- Inner line permits to restricted areas
- Environmental fee
- All taxes
Exclusions
- Airfares, items of any personal nature such as drinks, tips/ gratuities, etc.
- Extra hotel nights due to flight cancellations, additional expenses incurred due to mishandled luggage,
- Insurance
- Personal expenses or optional tours/extra meals ordered
- Tips
- Laundry
- Phone calls