WONDERS OF LADAKH

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. Thereafter return to your hotel. Overnight at Leh.

After breakfast proceed on tour of the Sham Valley circuit, driving all the way to Alchi and visit the 11th century   Alchi Choskor   , oldest surviving monastic complex of Ladakh and famous for its ancient wall frescoes and architecture – now a UNESCO listed heritage site. On the way back toward Leh, en-route visit the 14th century   Likir Monastery ,   where you will also be able to admire a newly installed colossal image of the Maitreya Buddha, seated out in the open on a hillock. Thereafter drive on to Leh, en-route visiting   Sangam   (confluence of Indus & Zanskar Rivers),   Magnetic Point ,   Gurudwara Pathar Sahib   and   Hall of Fame   (museum of military heritage). 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 a short camel Safari on the double-humped Bactrian camel found here ( optional - direct payment ). Overnight at Nubra.

After breakfast drive to TURTUK, the beautiful enclave of Balti people at about 80 kms from Hundar. Scenically magnificent the whole way, the grand rock valley briefly narrows near the tiny Changmar village after which the few, green splashes of village change culturally and linguistically from Buddhist-Ladakhi to Muslim-Balti. The upper half of Turtuk has unforgettable views across the barley fields towards the high peaks of Pakistan whose front line is only 7 km away. You may drive on toward the border village of Thang on the Indian side of the LOC, from where you can observe the villages across the border. Turtuk was in Pakistan until the 1971 war when it was captured by India. After exploring the area, drive back along the same route to Hunder. Overnight at Hundar .

After early breakfast, proceed toward Deskit and then dive up the hillside to visit the 15 th century Deskit Monastery dramatically located on a rock promontory overlooking the Nubra valley. Thereafter drive upstream along the 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. Pangong (alt: 14,500 ft.), the largest brackish water lake of Asia, is about 4-5 kms wide and about 135 kms long, of which about two-third portion 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 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.

Early morning transfer to the airport for taking the flight back home.