HIMALAYAN CARAVANS

Arrive Leh and transfer to the hotel. After welcome drinks / breakfast, take complete rest for acclimatization to the high altitude. In the late afternoon, visit the city centre and take leisurely walk through the main market for general orientation. Overnight at Leh.

After breakfast, proceed to explore the Indus Valley cultural & historical attractions, starting from the dramatically located   Thiksey   M onastery,   a major Gelukpa foundation dating from the 16th century.. On the way back from Thiksey, you may walk up the hill at Shey to visit the   Shey Palace, oldest royal residence of Ladakh's ruling dynasty ,  where the main attractions are the two gigantic copper - gilt Buddha statues installed during the mid - 17th century. Thereafter, drive to visit the   Druk Padma Karpo School at Shey, which became famous as the Rancho School in the popular Hindi film ‘ Three Idiots' .

In the afternoon, drive to visit the Shanti Stupa , a prominent landmark located on a great vantage point overlooking Leh town & the valley beyond. Thereafter, proceed to explore the 9-storied Leh Palace, dating from the 1600 AD, a historic landmark of the region, which renders a unique heritage character to Leh town. Wind up the day's trip with a walking tour of the city centre and exploring its main markets. Overnight at Leh.

After early breakfast leave for Nubra Valley , driving across Khardong-la , highest motorable pass in the world. Nubra Valley lies between the Ladakh & Karakoram Ranges at an average altitude of 10,000 ft. Till closure of the trans-Karakoram trade route by the Chinese in 1949, Nubra Valley was a busy trade corridor on the Central Asian trade route network.

Reach Deskit ( headquarters of Nubra valley) in the afternoon and visit the gigantic image of Maitreya Buddha (32 mtrs ) seated out on a hillock which was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 2010, Thereafter drive on to Hunder & check-in at your accommodation. Later, proceed to explore the white Sand Dunes where you can also take short camel Safari on the double-humped Bactrian camel found here ( optional - direct payment ).
Overnight at Nubra.

After early breakfast, proceed toward Deskit and drive up the hillside to visit the 15 th century Deskit Monastery located dramatically on a rock promontory overlooking the Nubra valley. Thereafter drive upstream along Shyok valley & follow the Shyok – Durbuk Road amidst spectacular mountain sceneries to approach Pangong Lake. The road passes through the pretty villages of Aghyam, Shyok & Durbuk en-route to Pangong (alt: 14,500 ft.), the largest brackish water lake of Asia, which is about 4-5 kms wide and about 135 kms long, of which about two-third lies on the other side of the Indo-China border . Overnight at Pangong.

After breakfast, leave Pangong Lake and follow the road to Leh via Chang-la pass ( alt: 17, 370 ft.), 3 rd highest motorable pass in the world. Upon reaching Karu, take a short trip across the Indus to visit the 17 th century Hemis Monastery , biggest monastery and principal centre of the Drukpa-Kargyut monastic order in the Ladakh region. A museum set up recently in the complex displays some of the rare art treasure collected through the centuries and is well worth exploring. Later drive on to Leh, reaching in the evening. Overnight at Leh.

After breakfast proceed towards Kargil en-route visiting   Hall of Fame   (museum of military heritage),   GurudwaraPathar Sahib   and   Magnetic Point,   and then drive on to visit the 11 th century   Alchi Choskor   ,   oldest surviving monastic heritage complex of Ladakh, famous for its wall frescoes and architecture - a UNESCO listed heritage site. Thereafter proceed towards Kargil, en-route stopping to view the dramatically located   Lamayuru monastery , and the adjoining   Moonland Hills . Driving further on, crossing the   Fotula & Namika La   passes en-route, reach Mulbek where you may stop briefly to view the 9-Mtrs. tall rock sculpture of   Maitreya   Buddha (7th - 8th century AD). Kargil is at an hour's drive from here. Overnight at Kargil.

Early departure for Srinagar via   Drass   ,   Zojila   pass &   Sonamarg   .   Drass   is famous as the second coldest inhabited place in the world. Here you may visit the Kargil War Memorial; before proceeding ahaead.   Zoji-la   Pass (11,500-ft. /3,505 m) is the watershed between the rugged landscape of Ladakh and the lushness of Kashmir. After crossing the pass, the road descends to Sonamarg   from where it's just over a couple of hours' drive to Srinagar through the beautiful Kashmir countryside.