Ladakh Sojourn

Arrival Leh, Wisdom representative will meet, greet, assist and transfer you to Hotel in Leh. Rest of the day free to acclimatize to the high altitude of Ladakh. In the evening take a walk to the local bazaar in Leh. Overnight at Hotel in Leh.

Morning after breakfast, drive to Thiksey village, visit Thiksey monastery and drive to Shey Village to visit Shey Palace and Gompa. Continue drive to Hemis monastery to visit one of the most famous monasteries of Ladakh. Later on the way back to Leh get down at the Sindhu Ghat for Sindhu Darshan and walk along the river. After spending some time at the river return to Hotel and relax. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Leh.

THIKSEY GOMPA: 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompas, containing images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.

SHEY PALACE AND GOMPA: Situated on a hillock 15 Kms upstream from Leh, it was once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition, it was the seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kinds. A 7.5 mts high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind, is installed here.

HEMIS GOMPA: 40 Kms from Leh, it is the wealthiest, best known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honor of Guru Padma Sambhava’s birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled once in 12 years Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Singge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh.

It flourished under the Namgyal Dynasty for the royalty favored the Drugpa sect, which is managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall (Dukhang) is also used as “green room” by the dancers during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes, among them the Buddhist “Wheel Of Life” (Kalachakra) and the lords of the four quarters, besides the prayer wheel.

SINDHU GHAT: The Sindhu Ghat at Choglamsar village at the bank of River Indus has been inaugurated on the 1^st of June 2001 by Hon’ble Minister for Home Shri L. K. Advani. Every year Sindhu festival is held on this bank of river, forges bonds of unity between communities. The festival is an ideal opportunity for travelers from all over the country and the world to visit this wonderful region and to savour its rugged beauty and charm.

After breakfast at the hotel drive to Kargil on Leh Srinagar highway which is our National Highway number 01. After short drive make a stopover at Ladakh Hall of Fame which is a glorious museum constructed by the Indian Army. You can see the memorabilia, eminent defense personalities with biographies, images and weapons used during the Kargil and other key strategic battles fought in Ladakh. Drive to about 20 kms and reach Gurdwara Patthar sahib, built in the everlasting memory of Shri Guru Nanak Deve Ji the great prophet who sanctified the place by his sacred visit during the year 1517 while on his second missionary tour (2nd Udassi 1515-1518). Just a little ahead make another stop at Magnetic Hill. It has been noticed that when a vehicle is parked on neutral gear on this metallic road the vehicle slides up-hill, defying the law of gravity. That’s the Believe it or not of Ladakh. On the way just before Nimu village one can have this magnificent view of two rivers in wed-lock! The meeting point or Sangam of Indus and Zandkar Rivers. In different seasons they have different colours and flow and wildness. Continue drive to Reach Kargil in the evening. Visit Kargil War Memorial, another Army museum dedicated to Kargil war. Check into hotel in Kargil for dinner and overnight stay.

Morning after Breakfast drive back to Leh, en route visit Mulbek a giant Buddha Sculpture on Rock Mountain, Lamayuru, the oldest Monastery of Ladakh and watch the  spectacular Moon like landscape unfold around you as you reach the Lamayuru monastery. Lunch at Nurla / Saspol Village (on own), and continue drive to Leh, en route visit Alchi Choskor which is known for its 1100 years old Buddha statues painted with precious stone colours. Few kilimeters ahead make a detour to Likir village to make a stopover at Likir monastery to see the 75 Ft Tall Maitriya Buddha Statue. Continue drive to Leh. Reach Leh in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Early morning proceed to Nubra Valley via the World Highest Motorable road (5602 Mts) Khardungla pass. Arrive Khalsar Sand Dunes and enjoy various Adventure Activities like ATV ride, World’s highest and longest Zipline ride among other activities (Activities on direct payment). You can enjoy delicious lunch there as well (on own). Later visit Hunder Sand Dunes and Diskit monastery and check in at your camp / resort. Overnight at the camp.

KHARDUNGLA PASS: The road journey to Nubra valley leads through Khardung La pass (The highest Motorable road in the world) 18,390 ft. around 39 Kms. Away from Leh. There are two checkpoints on the both sides of the pass. Khardong is the first village of Nubra valley at higher altitude than Deskit and other villages.

DESERT HIMALAYA ADVENTURE PARK : The Adventure Park is famous for the ATV rides over the White Sand Dunes. This is also the place where some scenes of the super hit movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag were shot. The Adventure park has the World’s longest zipline at highest altitude. The adventure seekers can go ahead and enjoy 02 Kms ZIPLINE ride, Bungee free fall, Cycle Zipline among other activities there. The multi-cuisine restaurant serves buffet lunch at very nominal charges.

DESKIT GOMPA: Deskit Gompa was founded by Lama Sherab Zangpo of Stod in about 1420 AD during the reign of King Dragspa. About 100 monks are residing in the Gompa, which is a branch of Thikse Monastery. The monastic festival called Gustor takes place on 20^th and 21^st days of the 12^th month of Tibetan calendar.

Morning after and early breakfast proceed Pangong Lake, driving through the beautiful Shayok River Valley. Arrive Pangong and visit the lake. And check into your camp / resort. Evening free to explore the lake area. Overnight at the hotel.

THE PANGONG LAKE : This route takes the visitor past the picturesque villages of Shey and Thiksey, and turns off the Indus valley by the side valley of Chemrey and Sakti. The Ladakh range is crossed by the Chang-la (18,000 feet / 5,475 M) which despite its great elevation is one of the easier passes, remaining open for much of the year even in winter, apart from periods of actual snowfall. Tangse, just beyond the foot of the pass, has an ancient temple.

But the main attraction of this circuit is the Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 M). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometers at its widest point to which foreigners are permitted, is only some seven km along the southern shore from the head of the lake, but it affords spectacular views of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north, their reflection shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lakes brackish water. Above Spangmik are the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Pangong range.

Morning after breakfast drive Evening back to hotel in Leh for dinner and overnight.ck to Leh. this time cross second highest motorable pass – Changla. On the way back if time permits, visit Shey Palace and Thiksey monastery Arrive Leh in the evening and relax. Overnight stay at the hotel in Leh.

THIKSEY GOMPA: 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompas, containing images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.

SHEY PALACE AND GOMPA: Situated on a hillock 15 Kms upstream from Leh, it was once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition, it was the seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kinds. A 7.5 mts high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind, is installed here.

Leave on time for Leh airport to board your flight to Delhi.