DAY
01 : DELHI – SHIMLA
Breakfast in hotel.
Departure from Delhi by surface to Shimla,2030m (380
kms/10-11 hrs). Check into hotel Oberoi Clarkes, Shimla
upon arrival. Lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight in
hotel.
DAY 02 : SHIMLA-RAMPUR-SARAHAN
Breakfast in hotel.
Depart by surface to Sarahan,(2300 m) 185 kms from Shimla
(8/9 Hrs drive) via Rampur, old capital of Rampur-Busher
state having palace and temples. Visit Bhumkali temple
(a rare combination of Buddhist and Hindu architecture,
the main idol is about 200 years old.) and old palace
enroute to Sarahan. Sarahan is a beautifully located
township amid mountains with Shrikhand Mahadev peak
(5155m) looming as a backdrop. Packed lunch enroute
and Dinner and overnight in tents.
DAY 03 : SARAHAN-REKONG
PEO-KALPA
After breakfast drive
to Kalpa (3000 m) 150 kms (6/7 Hrs drive) via Rekong
peo. Kalpa, the old headquarter of Kinnaur district
and one-time favourite haunt of Lord Dalhousie. Packed
lunch enroute.Dinner and overnight in tents.
DAY 04: KALPA-RIBBA-MORON-TILA-TABO
After breakfast drive
to Tabo(3200 m) approx. 175 kms (6/7 hrs drive) via
Ribba, Moron and Tila monastries. Tabo monastery is
an ordinary mud structure but inside it has frescoes
which earned Tabo the epithet of “Ajanta of Himalayas”.
Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents
at Tabo.
DAY 05: PIN-KUNGRI-DANKAR-KAZA
After breakfast drive
to Kaza (3450 m) approx.38 kms via Pin, Kungri and Dankar
monastries.Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight
in tents.
DAY 07: KAZA-KI-KIBBER-KAZA
After breakfast drive
to Ki monastery (4116 m/11 kms). The monastery with
rare paintings and scriptures is the oldest and biggest
in Spiti. Go further to Kibber(4140m) one of the highest
villages in the world. Packed lunch enroute. Return
to Kaza for dinner and overnight.
DAY 08 : KAZA-KUNZUM-CHANDARTAL
After breakfast drive
to Kunzum pass (4551 m) and then trek to Chandratal.(4270
m). This blue water lake is situated about nine kms
from Kunzum pass. The lake is placed between a low ridge
and the main Kunzum range with an outlet into the Chandra
river. The lake lies in a broad grassy plain, cranes
and ducks abound in the lake. Packed lunch enroute.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
DAY 09 : CHANDRATAL-BATAL-KEYLONG
After breakfast trek
to Batal (3960 m).On reaching Batal drive to Keylong(3350
m) approx. 95 kms. Keylong is the district headquarters
of Lahaul and Spiti. Keylong is an “oasis of greenfields”against
a backdrop of brown hills and snowclad peaks. Packed
lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 10: KEYLONG-Sarchu
Drive over the Baralaccha
Pass to cross from Himachal into Ladakh. Dinner and
overnight at a camp.
Day 11: SARCHU - LEH
After breakfast drive
to Leh (300kms/08-09hrs). Packed lunch en-route. Check
into hotel Caravan Centre upon arrival. Dinner and overnight
in hotel.
Day 12: LEH - PHYANG –
LEH
After breakfast drive
to Phyang and spend the day at the festival which carries
on till five in the evening. Lunch at Phyang. Return
to Leh for dinner and overnight at Caravan Centre.
Day 13: LEH – THIKSEY
– SHEY – HEMIS - LEH
Breakfast in hotel.
Full day visit to the famous Thiksey, Shey and Hemis
monasteries. Packed lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight
in hotel.
Thiksey: 19 Kms from
Leh, Thiksey is one of the largest and most impressive
Gompas of Ladakh. The Thiksey monastery provides a panoramic
view of the green Indus Valley from its vantagepoint
atop a hill. It has chambers full of statues, Stupas
and colorful Tankhas.
Shey: This summer
palace of the erstwhile King of Leh set upon a hill.
The monastery itself has a 7.5 meter high, copper statue
of a sitting Buddha, wrought in gold. This is the largest
of its kind in the world.
Hemis: Situated just
off the Manali-Leh Highway, Ladakh’s biggest and
wealthiest monastery is situated on the Leh - Manali
road. It’s popularity stems from the annual festival
held here in summer. The festival coincides with Guru
Padma Sambhava’s (Buddha) birthday. It contains
quite a few statues in gold and Stupas decorated with
precious stones. It has a superb collection of Tankhas,
including one which is supposed to be the largest in
existence and is exhibited only once every 12 years.
Day 14: LEH – SHANKAR
– SHANTI – STOK – LEH
Breakfast in hotel.
Full day visit to Shankar, Shanti and Stok. Packed lunch
en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Sankar: The small
monastery at Sankar (3 kms from Leh), harbours accomplished
modern tantric murals and a thousand-headed Avalokitesvara
deity. It has innumerable collections of small statues
of pure gold and a number of interesting paintings.
A relatively modern monastery, it is closely associated
with the Spituk monastery and serves as the residence
of the head priest. It is well lit and can be visited
in the evening as well.
Shanti Stupa: The
modern Ladakh Shanti Stupa, acccessible by a winding
road, is a stunning monument.
JULY 12 : DARCHA - SARCHU
After breakfast drive
over the scenic Baralacha Pass (4880 Mts.) to Sarchu
(87kms/04hrs). Plenty of stops to capture the scenic
grandeur of this majestic landscape dotted with snow
capped peaks and high altitude lakes. After crossing
the pass drop down to the vast Sarchu plains at an altitude
of 4200 Mts. Packed lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight
in tents.
JULY 13 : SARCHU - LEH
After breakfast drive
to Leh (300kms/08-09hrs). Packed lunch en-route. Check
into hotel Caravan Centre upon arrival. Dinner and overnight
in hotel.
JULY 14 : LEH - PHAYANG
– LEH
After breakfast drive
to Phayang and spend the day at the festival which carries
on till five in the evening. Lunch at Phayang. Return
to Leh for dinner and overnight at Caravan Centre.
JULY 15 : LEH – THIKSEY
– SHEY – HEMIS - LEH
Breakfast in hotel.
Full day visit to the famous Thiksey, Shey and Hemis
monasteries. Packed lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight
in hotel.
Thiksey:
19 Kms from Leh, Thiksey is one of the largest and most
impressive Gompas of Ladakh. The Thiksey monastery provides
a panoramic view of the green Indus Valley from its
vantage point atop a hill. It has chambers full of statues,
Stupas and colorful Tankhas.
Shey:
This summer palace of the erstwhile King of Leh set
upon a hill. The monastery itself has a 7.5 meter high,
copper statue of a sitting Buddha, wrought in gold.
This is the largest of it’s kind in the world.
Hemis:
Situated just off the Manali-Leh Highway, Ladakh’s
biggest and wealthiest monastery is situated on the
Leh - Manali road. It’s popularity stems from
the annual festival held here in summer. The festival
coincides with Guru Padma Sambhava’s (Buddha)
birthday. It contains quite a few statues in gold and
Stupas decorated with precious stones. It has a superb
collection of Tankhas, including one which is supposed
to be the largest in existence and is exhibited only
once every 12 years.
JULY 16 : LEH – SHANKAR – SHANTI –
STOK – LEH
Breakfast in hotel.
Full day visit to Shankar, Shanti and Stok. Packed lunch
en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Sankar:
The small monastery at Sankar (3 kms from Leh),
harbours accomplished modern tantric murals and a thousand-headed
Avalokitesvara deity. It has innumerable collections
of small statues of pure gold and a number of interesting
paintings. A relatively modern monastery, it is closely
associated with the Spituk monastery and serves as the
residence of the head priest. It is well lit and can
be visited in the evening as well.
Shanti
Stupa: The modern Ladakh Shanti Stupa, acccessible
by a winding road, is a stunning monument of Japanese
commitment to Buddhism.
Stok
Palace Museum: 17 Km, 1 Hour drive from Leh.
Just across the river from Leh, is the village which
the deposed Royal Family was compensated for the loss
of its throne. Its palace houses a museum of artefacts
associated with the dynasty, and there is also a small
Gompa. The museum in the Stok Palace is a showcase of
the Royal Thankas, while the collection of Turquoise
head dresses worn for the Royal wedding is the most
impressive in Ladakh.
JULY 17 : LEH – DAKTHOK
– DISKIT – LEH
After breakfast drive
to Dakthok and Diskit. Lunch en-route. Return to hotel
for dinner and overnight.
Dakthok
: At the foot of the Chang-La, Dakthok incorporates
one of the many caves in the Himalayas where the Indian
Buddhist apostle Padmasambhava is said to have rested
and meditated on his journey to Tibet.
JULY 18 : LEH
Day at leisure in
your hotel. Optional visit to the bazaar for shopping.
Evening attend local Ladakhi cultural show. Overnight
in hotel.
JULY 19 : LEH - DELHI
Transfer to airport
for a breathtaking flight over the mighty Himalayas
to Delhi.of Japanese commitment to Buddhism.
Stok Palace Museum:
17 Km, 1 Hour drive from Leh. Just across the river
from Leh, is the village which the deposed Royal Family
was compensated for the loss of its throne. Its palace
houses a museum of artifacts associated with the dynasty,
and there is also a small Gompa. The museum in the Stok
Palace is a showcase of the Royal Thankas, while the
collection of Turquoise head-dresses worn for the Royal
wedding is the most impressive in Ladakh.
Day 15: LEH – DAKTHOK
– DISKIT – LEH
After breakfast drive
to Dakthok and Diskit. Lunch en-route. Return to hotel
for dinner and overnight.
Dakthok: At the foot
of the Chang-La, Dakthok incorporates one of the many
caves in the Himalayas where the Indian Buddhist apostle
Padmasambhava is said to have rested and meditated on
his journey to Tibet.
Day 16: LEH
Day at leisure in
your hotel. Optional visit to the bazaar for shopping.
Evening attend local Ladakhi cultural show. Overnight
in hotel.
Day 17: LEH - DELHI
Transfer to airport
for a breathtaking flight over the mighty Himalayas
to Delhi. |
