Summarized Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrival in Leh

DAY 2: : Explore apricot growing villages. Leh to Dha Hanu (163 kms)

DAY 3: Dha Hanu-Lamayuru-Leh

DAY 4: Leh local sightseeing. Stok palace and Meuseum (14kms) - Leh Palace (2.1 kms) – Shanti Stupa (2.1 kms)

DAY 5: Leh to Pangong Lake (140 kms)

DAY 6: Thiksey monastery (16.5 kms) -Shey Palace (12.5 kms) -Sindhu Ghat (8.6 kms)

DAY7: Departure Leh.

Following your arrival at Leh, transfer to Hotel Lakrook. There will be no activity on the day of arrival as the guests are advised to relax and acclimatize to the high altitude air .

On the second day you will head towards the western part of Ladakh. Apricot farms are found all around Ladakh, but lower areas of Sham valley are particularly abundant in the fruit. You will visit Driving towards the Indus River you will notice the remains of the fort on the hillside, which used to be the royal residences between the 15th and 17th centuries. Basgo monastery includes the statue of the future Buddha which is 75 feet in height. This statue was enlisted as one of the hundred endangered sites of the world 201 by UNESCO. Next stop is the beautiful village Alchi. The village is famous for the existence of one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, mainly known for its magnificent and well-preserved 11th or 12th century wall painting, all in an Indo-Himalayan style. You can enjoy a cup of Tea under the apricot blossoms. Next Dha Hanu renowned as “the Land of Ayrans”, are settlements of Drokpa or Brokpa community in Ladakh. According to popular belief, the Brokpas were part of the army of Alexander the Great and came to the region over two thousand years ago. You will interact with the locals and experience their culture and their tradition.

After the morning breakfast head towards Lamayuru. The village is situated at the distance of 78kms from Dha. Lamayuru is one of the popular destination in Ladakh. Also known as the Moonland of Ladakh, Lamayuru is known for its distinct geographical formation of moon-like landscapes carved into the greater Himalayas. The monastery is one of the oldest in Ladakh dating back to the 10th century. It has many legends associated with it, one of which is that there existed a vast lake in Lamayuru, and the founding Lama, Mahasiddhacharya Naropa, dried the lake up to lay the foundation of the village and the monastery. Drive alongside the Indus River and enjoy the spectacular view of Sangam, confluence of two rivers Zanskar and Indus, this spectacular sight of two diverse rivers meeting is best from an elevated point. Part of the Zansker River tend to freeze during extreme cold conditions. Indus, on the other hand, never does. You will stop at the Magnetic hill where a magnetic force is so strong that it can pull car up hills. A visit to religious site of Sikh, the imprinted stone of Guru Nanak and hall of fame, a museum constructed as well as maintained by the Indian Army in the memory of the soldiers who had lost their lives during the Indo-Pak wars.

DAY 4: STOK PALACE AND MEUSEUM-LEH PALACE-SHANTI STUPAMARKET

The summer home of the royal family of Ladakh, Stok Palace is one of the major attractions in Leh. Built in 1820 by King Tsepal Namgyal, the palace encapsulates and reflects the rich history and lifestyle of the royal family. The architecture of Stok Palace is a fine meld of the traditional and the contemporary architectural styles. Comprising of beautiful gardens as well as a library that houses 108 volumes of the Kangyur (collection of teachings of Lord Buddha), the palace is amongst the must visit places in Ladakh. The museum rooms in the palace also showcase family treasures, including queen’s ancient turquoise-and-gold encrusted crown, which is called Yub-Jhur and a sword that the king’s Oracle managed to bend into a knot known as the Uri Geller–style. Stok palace still remains the summer home for the royal family. Annually a dance-mask festival is celebrated here in which local participate in a large number. The palace has now been turned into a heritage hotel and has six guest rooms and a cafe. Visit Leh Palace, one of the tallest buildings of its time with nine storeys. Modelled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, the palace was completed in the 17 th century by the ruler King Singee Namgyal known as Lion King was once a symbol of Ladakh’s strength throughout the region. Shanti stupa is a white-domes structure located above the Leh town. It was initiated by the Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu and was inaugurated in the year

DAY 5: LEH- PANGONG LAKE

Pangong Lake is situated at an altitude of 4350m/14, 270ft. This beautiful lake is 134 km long and 5 km wide, extending from India to China. Approximately 60% of the length of the lake lies in China. The beauty of the lake lies in rich deep blue colour of its water and has attracted people from all over the country and beyond. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. Enjoy the spectacular view of the lake.

DAY 6: THIKSEY-SHEY-SINDHU GHAT

Visit the largest monastery in central Ladakh. Situated on the banks of the river, with 10 temples and a nunnery within it, this picturesque Thiksey monastery is a twelve storeys building built in the 15th century. Visit Shey palace built in 10th century as the royal residence of the Namgyals who lived here till 1500. The location at the Shey Palace has an excellent view of the 108 stupas below, the holy fish pound, and the vast field of the region. Sindhu Ghat is the banks of the Indus River in Ladakh. It is the place where the annual Sindhu festival is held.