Cultural Ladakh Tour (11 nights/ 12 days) Travel Package India

Arrive at the New Delhi International Airport. Our representative will be waiting outside the customs enclosure to assist you to the hotel where you will stay overnight.

Be ready in the morning to be transported to the airport to catch a flight to Leh. Upon reaching you will be received by our local representative and escorted to the hotel. You can relax for the rest of the morning and get acclimatized. Leh is the capital of Ladakh. The Old Town contains number of stupas, a massive fort and a Tibetan style palace. Going into the interiors you will find green barley fields irrigated by streams and traditional Ladakhi buildings. 

In the evening visit Shanti Stupa and Sankar.

Sankar Monastery and village: Sankar Gompa is a Buddhist monastery. It has the central image of Tsang-Kha-Pa the founder of Gelukpa. It also has a case full of Tibetan bronzes.

Shanti Stupa (Japanese peace pagoda): It is situated on a hilltop in Chanspa in the Leh district. It is a Buddhist structure constructed in 1991 by a Japanese Buddhist monk Nakamura to promote world peace and prosperity. The beauty of this structure is unparallel with a white dome at the top silhouetted against the blue sky. It gives a panoramic view of Leh.

Come back to the hotel for the overnight stay.

After breakfast start with the visit to Shey palace and Stok palace museum. After a nice hot lunch visit the Leh Palace.

Shey Palace and Gompa: Shey palace and monastery is located 15Km from Leh on Leh-Manali road. It was built in 16^th century a.d. It houses the statue of Shankyamuni Buddha which is almost 39 feet high. It is a copper statue covered with gold plating.

Stok Palace and museum: This four storied palace was the official residence of the erstwhile royal family, constructed in 1815 by Ladakh’s last ruler.

Leh Palace: It was built in 17^th century by King Sengge Namgyal. This is a nine storied building bearing medieval Tibetan architecture. The palace museum holds royal jewelleries, costumes, head gears and Chinese Thangkas. Return back to the hotel for the night. 

Start early in the morning to visit Thiksey Gompa to attend the morning prayer by 6 AM. Then carry on visiting the Hemis Gompa. Drive back to the hotel in Leh after the visit. Post lunch, you will visit the village of Sabu to witness the Oracle of Sabu, who heals the people ‘shaman’ way.

Thiksey Gompa: Situated at 3600m above the sea level, it is 20 Km from Leh. This is the most visited and photogenic monasteries in Leh. It houses the Buddhist statue which is 15m tall, Champa, the Buddha of future.

Hemis Gompa: It is one of the biggest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh. It it situated 40Km away from Ladakh. It is run by Drukpa sect of Buddhism and was founded in 1630 by Sengge Namgyal. Lord Buddha’s statue,Thangkas and stupas are kept in the Gompa.

Oracle of Sabu: It is one of the most well known healing rituals in this part of the world. The oracle of Lha-mo is performed by a female. During the process the healer goes into a trance with a spirit possessing the body. The oracles are said to suck out disease from the body.  Come back to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast drive down to Alchi. On the way you may visit Spituk, Phyang, Basgo and Likir monasteries. Have a late lunch at Alchi. In the evening you will visit Alchi monastery.

Spituk Gompa: It is situated 8Km away from Leh. It is set on a hill top giving the visitors a panoramic view of the valley. It was built in 11^th century. It houses a giant statue of goddess Kali.

Phyang Gompa: This monastery is situated 40Km away from Leh. It sits on a hilltop overlooking the surrounding village. It was built in 1515 by Chosje Damma Kunga. The main attraction here is the 900 years old museum exhibiting Thangkas, various idols, Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese firearms

Basgo Gompa:  This Gompa is situated 40Kms from Leh on Leh-Kargil- Srinagar highway. It was built in 1680 for the Namgyal rulers. It now contains a statue of the future Buddha which is 75feet in height.

Likir Gompa: It is situated 52Km west of Leh. It was established in 1065 for King Lhachen Gyalpo. They contain statues of Maitreya Buddha, Amitabha, three large statues of Sakyamuni and Bodhisattva.

Alchi Gompa: This Gompa is located in Alchi village 70Km from Leh on the banks of Indus River. It was built between 958 and 1055 a.d. by Guru Rinchen Zangpo. There is a huge Buddha statue in the complex. Stay in the hotel for the night.

You will visit Lamayuru and Rizong Gompas and Chulichan nunnery.

Lamayuru Gompa: It is situated between Bodhkhabru and Kha-La-Che at an altitude of 3.510m. It is one of the oldest Gompas founded by Mahasiddhacharya Naropa in 11^th century. It has rich collection of wall paintings and Thangkas. It has a spectacular view.

Rizong Gompa: It is situated on a hilltop of a rocky valley north of river Indus. It is 73Kms from Leh. It was established in 1831 by Lama Tsultim Nima under Gelukpa order.

Chulichan Nunnery: This is a Buddhist nunnery, located en-route to Rizong monastery. It is fully managed by women. 

2 hours walk to Mangyu Village in the morning.

Village of Mangyu: This village is accessible by road and is 70Km from Leh. It has a spectacular side view of the Indus valley. Drive back to Leh and stay overnight at the hotel.

Take a drive to Nubra valley over the Khardungla Pass, the highest motorable pass in the world. Stay overnight at Silk Route cottages in Sumur.

Khardungla Pass: It lies at the elevation of 5,359m. This pass has a major strategic value for India as it is used to carry supplies to Siachen glacier for Indian army. It is very famous for mountain biking and also people come in motorcycles as a part of the tour activity. This, highest motorable pass, is a gateway to Nubra and Shyok valley which are also popular tourist destinations. The view from this pass is stunning.

You will be transported to the cottage for the night.

You can witness the prayer ceremony early morning at Samstanling monastery. Take a walk in the village. Come back to the cottage for lunch. After lunch visit Hunder and Diskit monasteries.

Samstanling Gompa: This is a relatively new monastery built only in the 19^th century by Lama Tsultrim Nima. The monastery is built in attractive colour combination of gold, white, red and ochre. The monks here follow some strict rules.

• Women are not allowed after sunset and before sunrise
• Smoking is not allowed inside the monastery. You cannot even carry a cigarette packet.
• Non vegetarian food and alcoholic drinks are not allowed
• Sleeveless shirts and pants are not allowed

Diskit Village: This village is located on the periphery of the cold desert in Shyok valley This village is situated at the height of 10,310 feet. It gives you a spectacular view of the valleys and surrounding mountains.

Diskit Gompa: This was founded by Lama Sherab Zangpo in about 1420 a.d. It houses a statue of Maitreya Buddha, drums, paintings and Tibetan coloured silk.

Hunder Village: This village is located on ancient Silk route and is a labyrinth of lanes among mustard fields and gurgling streams. The main attraction is the shaggy double humped camels called Bactrian camels. Around sand dunes you can have a wonderful camel safari from Hundar to Diskit for two hours.

Come back to the hotel for the overnight stay.

You will drive back to Leh from Sumur. After reaching Leh check into the hotel. You can spend rest of the day relaxing. You will stay overnight in the hotel.

You will catch the connecting flight to Delhi the capital city of India. Upon reaching Delhi you will be received and escorted to the hotel by our representative. Rest of the day will be spent seeing sights of Old and New Delhi. Drive past the Red Fort built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1638. Next admire the great domes of Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India and Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial. Later take a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, the oldest market in Delhi and enjoy the Delhi street food. In the afternoon explore New Delhi, starting with Humayun’s tomb, the mausoleum of Emperor Humayun. Another place of interest is the Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world built in 1206 by Qutab-Ud- Din-Aibak. Later drive past the secretarial offices, the Parliament house and India Gate- the war memorial. Next visit the Connaught Place in central Delhi, a sprawling market place remarkable for its architecture and historical significance. Enjoy the overnight stay at the hotel.

You will get transferred to the International airport to catch the flight for the homeward journey.