11-Day Ladakh Treking and Monastery
Tour

DAY 01 : ARRIVE
DELHI
Arrival to Delhi and check in the hotel for overnight
stay in Delhi.
DAY 02 : DELHI
- MANALI
Drive to Manali. Check in the hotel and overnight stay
in Manali.
DAY 03 : MANALI
Sightseeing and overnight stay at the hotel in Manali.
DAY 04 & 05:
MANALI - LEH (Manali to Leh Jeep Safari)
Two days drive from Manali to reach Leh on Day 5. Overnight
stay in the hotel at Leh.
(Considered as one of the highest roads in the world,
Manali-Leh highway is the most popular and spectacular
approach to Ladakh. From the months of end June to October
this highway is open. It’s a very scenic route,
full of adventure and rugged beauty. The road was closed
for the civilian use till 1990, but now the adventure
and nature lovers worship it, for this road gives closest
contact with nature and thrill of being on the top of
the world is enormous.
DAY 06 :
First day we cross Rohtang Pass (3978 m), Keylong (3350
m), Baralacha Pass (4890m) with overnight stopover at
Sarchu (4253 m), border of the states of Himachal Pradesh
(Lahaul) and Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh). In Sarchu,
we stay overnight in tented campsite.
DAY 07 :
On Day 5, the road from Sarchu crosses high mountain
Passes of Namika La and Lachalung La to reach the army
camp in the Pang valley. The dry barren mountains around
Pang are eroded in very spectacular way. They look like
giant fortress like structures with spires, pinnacles
and windows. From Pang, the road climbs up and reaches
a different world altogether. Here is the flat high
desert of More Plains, 50-60 km of road bisecting it.
This is Rupshu, an extension of Changthang plateau of
Tibet. The road then climbs for Tanglang Pass (5415
m), the second highest mountain Pass in Ladakh and then
finally reaches Leh. This 475 km Himalayan journey is
a visual delight with not one moment of boredom en route.
)
DAY 08 : LEH
After breakfast proceed for Indus Valley monastery tour.
We start with a visit to Shey, the ancient capital of
Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge gold-gilded statue
of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning
in front of the statue. Then we visit Thiksey Gompa,
an impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill
above the village. The monastery has a beautiful 30
m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha
of the future. Drive further to visit the famous Hemis
Gompa, founded in 1630's by Stag-tsang-ras-pa under
the royal patronage of Sengge Namgyall. Hemis is one
of the largest and richest gompas of Ladakh. The two-day
festival of monastic dance in June-July has raised the
reputation of Hemis particularly high. The festival
is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known
as second Buddha and responsible for spreading Buddhism
in the Tibetan world. Later we visit the Stok Palace,
the Royal residence of the King of Stok & the Museum
that has a rich collection of Ancient Ladakhi artefacts
including old Thangkas, precious stones, arms and armoury,
the Queen’s necklace and the crown of the King
of Ladakh among others. Overnight stay at the hotel
in Leh.
DAY 09 : LEH -
LIKIR - YANGTHANG (2 hrs drive to Likir / 5 hrs trek)
After breakfast drive from Leh to Likir for 2 hours.
At Likir you will meet all your trekking staff and ponies.
One can visit Likir monastery situated on a hill towards
the village. Start your trek through a barley field
to cross a small stream and then to village Sumdo. Then
gradually trek to village Yangthang to camp overnight.
DAY 10 : YANGTHANG
- HEMIS SHUKPACHAN (5-6 hrs trek)
Trek to Wulle valley and then ascent for one hour to
Shemchan La and then descent towards Hemis Shukpachan,
the highest village in this route. It’s a big
village and is famous for Cedar trees found in plenty
here, hence the name of village. We will visit a family
house and have some butter tea and Ladakhi chang (the
local beer) There is a small but beautiful monastery
just outside the village that we can visit. Camp for
overnight stay.
DAY 11 : HEMIS
SHUKPACHAN - TIMOSGAM - KHASLTSE - LAMAYURU (5-6 hrs
trek & then drive to Lamayuru). Trek through
the Apricot rich village of Ang and reach Timosgam,
the historical village, where one can visit the monastery
and the Palace. This valley has warm weather as compared
to Indus valley and hence conducive to thick vegetation
and hence there are plenty of apricots, apples and nuts
making it one of the richest valleys in Ladakh. Since
people are rich they have beautiful houses with wonderful
interior. From Timosgam we drive to Khasltse and Lamayuru.
Lamayuru monastery was
founded by Rinchen Zangpo in the 10th century. This
gompa is located amidst the massive mountains. The spectacular
setting of this gompa and its renowned collection of
carpets, thangkas and frescoes has been attracting many
people over a long time. It is believed to be the oldest
in central Ladakh. Overnight stay in tented camp in
Lamayuru.
DAY 12 : LAMAYURU
- ALCHI - LEH
In the morning visit the Lamayuru monastery to be part
of the morning religious ceremony. It’s a very
soothing and spiritual experience to be there among
these warm and friendly monks.
Then drive for Alchi and cross the River Indus and reach
Alchi, Ladakh's most loved monastery. Over a century
old, its wall paintings are very similar to those of
the Tabo gompa in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Unlike other
monasteries which are usually on a cliff top or cling
to a mountainside, Alchi is at ground level and is nestled
in the shade of a garden. On the way to Leh visit the
Basgo monastery, famous for its Buddha statue. In Leh
overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 13 : LEH
- DELHI
Intime transfer to the airport to board the flight to
Delhi. On arrival,transfer and check in the hotel in
Delhi.
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