7 Night 8 Days(S): Leh (2N) Nubra Valley (1N) Leh (1N) Pangong (1N) Leh (2N)
Day wise Itinerary
DAY 1 Delhi to Leh by Flight
Your exciting Ladakh holiday would start with a comfortable morning flight to Leh. Upon your arrival, you would be greeted by a LeisureTravelTrails representative at the airport; he/she would help facilitate a transfer to the hotel in a shared non-air-conditioned car. Upon reaching and completing the check-in formalities, retire to your cosy rooms and spend some time relaxing. Relish on some scrumptious breakfast once you have settled in.
Leh is usually the first name that comes to mind when thinking about soaring mountains and a vacation full of adventure and thrill. This expanding high-desert city in the Himalayan ranges of Ladakh is a perfect holiday spot for the ones who are looking for something more than the ordinary. A combination of the hustle and bustle of the city life and the calmness of the mountain life, it is sure to enchant anyone who has a thing for nature and its many bounties. While there are many eateries, tourist and souvenir shops in the bazaar area, there are also steep rocky ridges, monasteries and stupas to brush your senses with serenity and spirituality.
Your first day here would be at leisure, so that you could acclimatize to such a high altitude region. This relaxation time would be really helpful in lending you enough energy for your days ahead on the vacation. Enjoy a delicious dinner served at the hotel and retreat to your room for a comfortable and cosy good nights’ sleep.
Please Note: If you are planning to take an anti-altitude pill before your travels, such as Diamox, it is strongly recommend to consult an experienced doctor before its consumption.
DAY 2 Leh Monastery Tour
Start your day with a delectable breakfast at the hotel, and be driven to the enthralling Hemis Monastery to kickstart your Leh Monastery Tour. Your pick-up from the hotel would be in a suitable vehicle as per the group size.
Leh is laden with numerous monasteries and stupas, signifying its rich culture and a strong positive influence of Buddhism. Your first stop on this tour, Hemis Monastery is a perfect place to absorb such positive vibes and experience the traditions of this picturesque destination. Here, you would be able to catch a glimpse of a copper-gilt statue of Lord Buddha, a plethora of stupas made of gold & silver and sacred Tibetan thangkas.
Now, head to the Thiksey Monastery to elevate this experience. One of the biggest gompas in Ladakh, it houses an abundance of intrinsic Tibetan architecture. Here, you could enjoy a picturesque view of the green Indus valley expanse. Finally, be driven back to Leh, where you would be dropped at the Leh market/hotel for lunch (on direct payment basis).
Post lunch, you would visit the Shanti Stupa, an architectural symbol that commemorates 2500 years of Buddhism and promotes world peace. Having a gorgeous hilltop location at Changspa, the place is perfect to witness a panoramic view of Leh and the surrounding regions.
After a day full of such amazing cultural extravaganza, head back to the hotel. Relax and enjoy a scrumptious dinner before heading to your room for a comfortable night’s sleep.
DAY 3 Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardungla Pass
Early in the morning, be driven to Nubra Valley via Khardungla pass. Claimed to be the highest motor-able road in the world (5,602 metres), this pass lies on the Caravan route, once a popular silk trading route between India and China. With tough terrains and cold temperatures, only a few dare to tread upon this path that stretches from Leh to Kashgar in Central Asia
Finally, arrive at the Nubra Valley, popularly called the orchard of Ladakh. While you are here, absorb the wondrous beauties of nature in the form of humongous mountains laden with gushing river, irrigated river beds, and monasteries and settlements in the background. The animal native to this region, the Bactrian Camels (Shaggy double hump Camel) are an added delight to witness.
After such a beautiful day out in the valley and its many beauteous landscapes, check-in at a comfortable Swiss camp or hotel. Afterwards proceed for a visit to the White Sand Dunes at Hunder. Located between Hunder and Diskit villages, the place is dotted with a variety of plants and the animals like Bactrian Camels, Yaks and Pashmina Goats. Soaking in such enthralling views around, you could enjoy a camel safari ride here (Camel ride on direct payment basis).
The evening is at leisure for you to spend some time amidst such mesmerizing vistas and make ever-lasting memories. Relish on some delectable dinner before you return to your tent/room at the camp/hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.
Please note: All meals provided during your Nubra stay would be Vegetarian, irrespective of the meal preference provided.
DAY 4 Nubra Valley to Leh via Khardungla Pass|
Wake up to a fresh morning amidst the stunning surroundings of Ladakh. After a scrumptious breakfast, be driven to Diskit Monastery, located within the valley itself. One of the oldest temples of this area (dating back to the 14th century), it has a huge idol of a Tibetan Buddhism teacher Tsong-kha-pa, which is crowned with a Gelugpa yellow hat. Every year during February, the monastery plays host to a popular Buddhist festival called the Dosmoche festival, one of the main highlights here. History buffs and curious minds would love this place, for it offers an in-depth knowledge about Buddhism and its traditions.
Having absorbed the spirituality and calmness of the monastery, proceed back towards Leh. On this journey, once again you would be driven via the Khardungla Pass, claimed to be the highest motor-able road in the world.
The remaining day is at leisure, so you could either relax at the hotel, or proceed for some sightseeing on your own. You could head to the Leh Bazaar, a bustling local market in the Leh region. You could shop for some souvenirs here and indulge in more shopping on your own.
Return to the hotel for a delectable dinner and a cosy night’s sleep.
DAY 5 Leh to Pangong Lake (140kms one-way)
Continuing this relaxed yet adventurous Ladakh holiday, start another day with a delectable breakfast at the hotel. Post breakfast, get ready to depart for Pangong, for which you would be picked up in a suitable vehicle as per the group size.
Be driven to the mesmerizing Pangong Lake on the Indo-China Border, which is a sight that no one should miss when travelling to Ladakh. En route, you would be crossing the Changla Pass, the third highest motor-able road in the world. The whole journey is laden with amazing sceneries of never ending Himalayan mountain ranges. Passing such gorgeous bounties of nature, reach Pangong Lake, one of the largest brackish lakes in Asia, situated at a height of 4,250 metres. A simple vegetarian lunch shall be provided enroute at a home stay.
Imagine a clear blue lake with a throng of mountains in the background, sand and small pebbles everywhere and a long road penetrating this gorgeous scenery leading its way to the ever-expanding enthralling vistas – this is something you would experience on this trip. Spend plenty of time here relaxing, clicking pictures and making many ever-lasting memories.
Afterwards, check-in at the camps in Pangong. After such a fun and exciting day, enjoy some delicious dinner and retreat to your tents for a comfortable night’s stay.
Please note: All meals provided during your Pangong visit would be vegetarian, irrespective of the meal preference provided.
DAY 6 Pangong Lake to Leh (140kms one-way)
In the morning, relish a hearty breakfast at the camps you are staying at in Pangong. Post breakfast, be driven back to Leh in a suitable vehicle as per the group size.
Upon your arrival in Leh, you may enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure. Return to the hotel for a delectable dinner, and a cosy good nights’ sleep.
DAY 7 Sham Valley Tour
Greet another Leh morning with a bright smile and enjoy a scrumptious meal at the hotel. Post breakfast, get picked-up to be driven to Sangam in a suitable vehicle as per the group size. This picturesque spot in the Nimmu valley marks the confluence of the Indus River and its tributary Zanskar. The otherwise dry terrain of Ladakh is supported by these waterbodies, gaining character and vivacity. The point of confluence of these rivers passes through the breath-taking Zanskar Gorge, a dream for professional and amateur trekkers.
En route to Sangam, you would be visiting the Magnetic Hill, a short stretch of road that is said to have magnetic properties, defying all the rules of gravity. If the vehicle’s engine is turned off while driving through this stretch, it would still keep moving and would go uphill. While some say that it is an optical illusion, others are just mesmerized by it considering it to be really magical. You would also take a halt at Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, a Sikh shrine of worship located at an altitude of 12,000 feet. This holy place of Sikhism is said to have been constructed in 1517 to commemorate the visit of Guru Nanak Dev (Founder of Sikhism) to the Ladakh region.
After such a fun day of sightseeing, get started to return to the hotel in Leh, visiting the Ladakh Hall of Fame on your way back. This well-maintained museum was constructed in the memory of the Indian soldiers who had lost their lives during the Indo-Pak wars. This two-storeyed museum has lots of information about these brave martyrs on display, a souvenir shop, and artefacts from the Indo-Pak wars (mainly Kargil), weapons and a plethora of important documents of national importance. Finally, return to your hotel after such an eventful day. Enjoy a scrumptious dinner and retire for the night.
DAY 8 Departure to Delhi
On the last day of your Ladakh holiday, get up early morning and be transferred to the airport in a shared non-air-conditioned car for a flight back home.
Hope you have an amazing holiday experience and create some beautiful memories to cherish forever.
