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What This Trip is Like
TRIP DESCRIPTION High, Rigorous Touring Although there is no hiking on this trip, participants must be aware that a most of the trip is spent at high elevations in remote terrain. There might be camping on the drive from Manali to Ladakh. The road trip is rough and entails long drives. Bathroom facilities arc sometimes non-existent and limit your privacy to a nearby tree or rock. Accommodations outside of Delhi arc rustic . Anyone that would be uncomfortable in such a situation should not consider this adventure.
Anyone with a history of medical problems, particularly cardiac or respiratory, should consult a physician before considering this trip. We require a release of liability and medical certificate signed by your physician from all participants.
Pre-Departure Packet
After you sign-up on the trip, a detailed packet of information on health and safety, travel documents, clothing, background information and suggested reading will be sent to you.
Immunizations and Health Matters
No immunizations are required but several are recommended by the Atlanta Center for Disease Control. Participants will be sent a list of the suggested immunizations and a packet of health information in their trip preparation packet.
Refunds for Unused Portions of Trip
Because our rates are based on group participation, no refunds can be made for any accommodations, services, or features not taken. If cancellation occurs while the trip is in progress, there will be no refund for any unused portion.
*** IMPORTANT NOTE*** While we endeavor to make the itinerary as accurate as possible, it should be considered as a approximate schedule of activities rather than a rigid schedule of events. Top itineraries are subject to revision due to weather, government restrictions and other reasons beyond our control. We will make every effort to notify trip participants in advance of any changes, but due to the nature of travel in Asia, this is not always possible.
Itinerary (15 Nights/16 Days)
Often called Little Tibet, Leh/Ladakh is a world cultural treasure, perhaps the most intact enclave of traditional Tibetan culture.
Near Leh, Ladakh's capital, we stay at the serene Ladakh hotel in luxurious rooms.
The most spectacular road journeys in the world. Closed to all traffic except the occasional military convoy until 1989, the highway traverses the dramatic wilderness of Zanskar Range and the mountains of Lahoul and Spiti as it crosses the Himalaya via four major passes: Rohtang (13,047 feet). Baralacha (16,020 feet), Lachulung (16,615), and Tanglang (17,475- feet). During the drive we'll spend three nights in tented camps near the road. Spectacular views and crisp mountain air offer the most exciting aspects of high altitude trekking without its rigors. We end in the beautiful Kulu Valley, a land of rushing streams, fruit orchards, and forested hills.
Days 1
Arrive from your country land in Delhi, late night. A reprentative will be meeting you on arrival and transfer to the hotel in Delhi.
Day 2
Breakfast leisurely. Tour manager meets you for small oreintation/ briefing. Start the tour with local guide of old Delhi. We visit Raj Ghat, a beautifully serene monument was on the bank of the Yamuna River. This is where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Next, we take a short ride by cycle rickshaw through the crowded lanes of the Chandni Chowk bazaar to visit the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.
Lunch in local restaurant and continue our tour of New delhi.
The British laid out the broad, tree-lined avenues and neat street grid of New Delhi (in contrast to the narrow alleyways of the old part of the city). Today the former "Imperial City" continues as the center of government for the world's largest democracy, and we see the buildings of India's Parliament and (from the outside) the residence of India's President, a palatial building called Rashtrapati Bhavan. Nearby we see the India Gate, where a popular park surrounds a memorial to Indian soldiers who served Great Britain in World War I and Britain's 19th ,century war in Afghanistan. We also visit Qutab Minar, a spectacular example of Indo-Islamic architecture topped by a 72.5 Merters high tower . Begun in the 12 th century, this is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and the symbol of New Delhi.
Delhi is famous for handicrafts from all over India , but the most spectacular opportunity amongst them is the handicrafts that comes from the " Valley of Kashmir ". Apart from ornate wooden handicrafts, there are the world famous "Paschmina Shawls", exquisite Kashmir silk carpets with some of the finest weaves and designs of the world, textiles and brass inlays.
We dine in a local restaurant this afternoon and evening.
Day 3 (DELHI TO LEH)
Early morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Leh on Indian Airlines/Jet airways. The flight up the Indus Valley provides spectacular views of the Zanskar Range to the West, including the twin peaks of Nun and Kun, while to the North is K2, the second highest peak on earth. Upon arrival we will be met by representative and transferred to the hotel ( No physical activity to be done for 24 hours to accumlate to the altitude as Leh is 10400 Feet above the sea level). Lunch and dinner in the hotel.
Leh Valley, 10,400 feet in altitude, has been the capital city of Ladakh since ancient times and a transit point for caravans of the bygone silk route, still feels and looks like a trading post of those times. After breakfast an orientation tour to familiarize you with the Sarai. Balance of the day is free to rest, acclimate to the high altitude and leisurely explore the village of Stok if you so desire. Minimum amount of physical activity is advised.
Ladakh (B,L,D)
Days 4
After breakfast a short walk to the local market at slow pace. Return back to the hotel and have lunch. Afternoon drive to Thikse Monastery (Thikse Gompa, dramatically situated on the slopes of a hill, built in imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, commands a formidable view of the Indus Valley. In the new building is a three story statue of the Maitreya Buddha —one the most beautiful pieces of religious art in Ladakh). We retrun back to the hotel and have dinner .
We'll be getting a feel for what Andrew Harvey called "the peaceful life" of Ladakh. "In the still air the squeak of a prayer wheel is answered by a single resounding stroke of a gong, which issues, pregnant with meaning, from an unseen monastery in the rockface. A charming world."
Day 5
We will visit the Gclupa order (same as the Dalai Lama) monastery located at the head of the village. The Stok Gompa is run by a incarnate Lama and is supported by the Royal Family of Ladakh. Also visit the Stok Palace Museum, the present home of the Ladakhi Royal Family. The museum displays a fine collection of thangkas. These 82 thangkas, only recently discovered, are over 300 years old and in mint condition.
During these two days we will also visit most of the famous monasteries in the Leh Valley including:
Shey used to be the old palace of the King of Ladakh. The fort and palace are in ruins but the monastery is still active. In it is a giant (39 foot) statue made of gilded copper of the Sakyamuni Buddha.
There will also be time in the town of Leh to browse in its maze of narrow streets, seeking out silver, coral,
turquoise, and hand-made items from the local merchants.
Days 6 & 7 LIKIR, ALCHI AND LAMAYURU
Buddhism is an integral part of life in Ladakh, with the countryside punctuated by monasteries - both ancient and newly constructed. Unlike Tibet, these have not been decimated by Chinese occupation. During these days wc delve deeper in to the Ladakhi way of life, we will visit most of the famous monasteries beyond the Indus Valley , the "mural wonderland" of Alch and the dramatic Lamayuru.
Starting off with a half day raft trip down the Indus River to Suspol a point just past the confluence of Zangskar and Indus Rivers (Optional, on your choice). This is primarily a float trip with a few class 3 and 4 rapids. You have the option of driving if you so prefer. At Suspok we will exchange our rafts for vehicles and continue our journey by road ( Qurl to Basgo, the site of another ancient monastery. The impressive citadel built on top of the hill was the Capital of Ladakh, several timesTdunng the 15th amPl 7th centuries.
It was here that Ladakh had held out against the Tibetan and Mongol armies that the 5th Dalai Lama had sent to Ladakh. To break the three year siege the ICing of Ladakh sent emissaries to Emperor Aurangzeb in Srinager asking for his assistance and inviting his army into Ladakh.
Alchi, dated to the 10th century, an inactive gompa today, is one of the most intriguing gompas of Ladakh. Why this monastery died remains a mystery, especially since it has the most prolific art forms: wall painting, painted chorten, statues, giving an impression of having once been rich and powerful.
Lamayuru, the 10th/l 1th century monastery, is our furthest point East. Lamayuru Monastery belonging to the certain order has always been very active and powerful. In the 13th century it was the main contender against the Sa-skya Monastery for acknowledged supremacy throughout Tibet. The focal point of this monastery is a cave where the great Indian Saint Marpa is said to have meditated.
Days 8 TO HEMIS
After a leisurely morning spent further exploring and photographing Lamayuru we drive back along the Indus River to Hemis Gompa. At Hcmis we will stay in a private deluxe camp just outside the monastery. Our walk-in tents arc furnished with cots and attached washrooms, and we'll have our own private chefs, dinning tent, and outhouses.
Days 9 &10 AT THE HEMIS TSHECHU
We have two days to leisurely partake in Hemis' grand festival, or tshechu. In the monastery's inner courtyard, monks representing various deities in the Vajrayana, or Tibetan Buddhist pantheon, perform ritual dances, dressed in robes of richly colored silks and brocade, wearing incredible masks. These are story-telling dances, recounting the coming of Buddhism to Hemis and Ladakh, the life and times of important monks, and of good triumphing over evil. One of the most important dances is the Black Hat Dance, which tells how Padmasambhava (lovingly remembered as the Guru Rimpoche, or Precious Teacher) relieved Buddhism from royal persecution in the 8th century.
Booths and stalls - a rollicking, Chaucerian temporary bazaar - are set up set up outside the courtyard, selling food, religious and secular items, and offering games of chance. Hundreds of Ladakhis, dressed in their finest, happily throng this celebration of living culture; nostalgia for the old days is the last thing from their mind during tshechu.
Day 11 HEMIS TO TSOMORIRI ON THE LEH - MANALI HIGHWAY
We drive along the Indus River to the village Tupshi, then ascend a narrow valley past small, oasis-like villages, climbing to 17,475 foot Tanglang La, the highest point on the journey. At the top of the pass is a tiny temple, prayer flags rustling in the breeze. We continue past Debring, a large Indian Army post, to our camp. From the camp a short walk to the top of a nearby ridge reveals a large lake, the Tsar Tso, and endless mountain ranges stretching across the horizon. The drive is approximately 185 km and will take about 8 hours.
Day 12
After breakfast we drive to PANG-SARCHU(15,400')-JISPA ( 13,200 Feet). We cross the 16.020 foot Baralacha La on today's drive. The pass is a level stretch of eight kilometers, with a small lake at the top, the source of the Bhaga and the Chandra rivers. From here the snow-covered peaks of the Barashigri, Chandrabhaga, and Mulkila ranges, towering well over 6000 meters, are visible. A gradual descent takes us across large meadows such as Zingzingbar before we drop steeply and steadily to the Braga River and on to the check post at Darcha. .
Our ascent to the next pass takes us across the Kyangshu Plains, a level
stretch of over 40 km. It is named after the kyang, a wild ass that roams these plains and is often sighted in
herds of more than 50 animals. From here we climb across the Zanskar Range and up to the Lachulung La (16,615 feet).
After reaching Jispa we check in a hotel. Dinner in the hotel
Day 13
JIPSA TO MANALI (7000 feet)
Leaving the high mountain wilderness, we begin passing through small villages and towns. Soon we reach the bustling town of Kelong, capital of the Lahul District. From here we climb again to Rohthang La (12,960 feet), the last pass on our journey. We descend into the Kulu-Manali Valley and drive along the watershed of the Beas River to reach Manali soon after lunch.
Manali is circled by beautiful glades of deodars and flowering horse chestnuts, tiny levelled fields and fruit
orchards, with the Beas River meandering through the town. In the late afternoon we'll visit the 14th century
wooden Dhoongri Temple, also known as Hadimba Devi Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess
Hadimba, wife of Bhima, the Pandava of Mahabharata fame. Set in tranquil surroundings, the temple is four
tiered, with a pagoda-shaped roof and a symbolic, carved entrance way. Local folklore claims that the builder
of the temple, Raja Bahadur Singh, ordered the architect's hand cut off to prevent him from duplicating the
design elsewhere.
Day 14 MANALI
After breakfast visit Solang Valley and return back for lunch. After lunch we drive to Vashisht Village, where we have hot sulphur springs. We will be roaming its small but interesting local Mall road.
Day 15 MANALI TO DELHI
After an early breakfast we transfer to the airport at Kullu (about two hours drive from Manali) for the flight to Delhi on flight F5, departing Kulu at 7:45 AM and reaching Delhi at 9:00 AM . We checkin the hotel. Late night transfer to International Airport as per your schedule to fly back to yoru country.
