A great introduction to ladakh to the first time travelers- this trip takes you on a roller coaster of a ride through the length and breadth of the region- visiting lesser visited areas, as well as the more popular tourist spots.

What we love:

-Ladakh through a local’s eyes- Visit the lesser visited gems of Ladakh
-Visit some of the most famous monasteries of the region
-Stay with the last of the ‘Aryans’ at the village of Dah and Hanu
-Visit the border village of Turtuk and soak in the Balti culture
-An adventurous road trip through the upper Himalayas

Basic Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Leh. Day at leisure for acclimatization
Day 2-3: Dah-Hanu
Day 4-5: Nubra valley with Turtuk
Day 6: Rest day in Leh
Day 7-8: Pangong Lake
Day 9: Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Fly into Leh via one of the most visually stunning flights in the Himalayas. Check in to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day acclimatizing to the high altitude terrain.

Day 2: Drive westwards to lower Leh, towards the home of the Drokpas – Dah and Hanu villages. Known as the last of the Aryans, the Drokpas are physiologically very different from the mongoloid Ladakhis, with Indo-european features. The Buddhism practiced here is tinged with animistic practices, continuing from ancient times.

Day 3: Return back to Leh, visiting the Alchi and Likir monasteries on the way.

Day 4: Drive towards the Nubra valley, over Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world. Descend the pass to the Nubra valley, and drive on to the village of Turtuk, one of the last villages before we reach the border. Part of Baltistan till the 1971 war, Turtuk is a Balti village, and is culturally, linguistically and historically very different from main Ladakh. Visit the home of the chieftan, who may tell you the history of his people.

Day 5: Return back to Leh via the sand dunes of Hunder, where you can opt for a camel ride on the double humped Bactrian camels, and the monastery at Diskit.

Day 6: Day free to explore the main Leh town, as well as its quaint bylanes, which still sell some interesting artefacts. You can walk up to the old Leh Palace, overlooking the old town, as well as visit the LAMO (Ladakh Arts and Media Organization) building, which is a beautifully renovated traditional house.

Day 7: The last two days are dedicated to visiting the gorgeous high altitude lake of Pangong lake, the scene of many movie shoots. On the way, visit the Thiksey monastery.
Day 8: Wake up to a leisurely breakfast near the lake. Return back to Leh via the Hemis monastery. Evening free for souvenir shopping.

Day 9: Assisted transfer to the airport for departure.

Trip Length – 7 Nights 8 Days

SUMMARY– A unique trip that highlights the three lakes of Ladakh- this one is a photographer’s delight, as well as a chance to meet the nomadic tribes of the Changthang region.

What we love:

-A photographer’s delight- a visit to the three famous high altitude lakes of the region
-Visit some of the most famous monasteries of the region
-Opportunity to spot some rare birds
-An adventurous road trip through the upper Himalayas

Basic Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Leh. Day at leisure for acclimatization
Day 2: Monastery visit in western Ladakh
Day 3-4: Pangong Lake
Day 5: Rest day in Leh
Day 6-7: Tsomoriri-Tsokar visit
Day 8: Departure

Detailed itinerary :

Day 1: Fly into Leh via one of the most visually stunning flights in the Himalayas. Check in to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day acclimatizing to the high altitude terrain.

Day 2: Travel to the Sham valley- stopping at a couple of points for photo ops during the day. The Hall of fame, Magnetic Hill, Gurdwara Pather Sahib, confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers, are interesting stopping points on the way. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the Alchi monastery, a quaint monastic complex dating back to the 10th century AD.

Day 3: Kick off the main leg of the tour, driving to the famous Pangong lake via the Chang La. You may want to stop at the Thiksey monastery on the way. Gorgeous vistas wait for you at the lake itself- and after the sun sets, the night sky is especially clear from this region.

Day 4: Return back to Leh after taking your fill of the lake and its surroundings. Evening at leisure.

Day 5: Spend the day as you like, exploring the old town, with a book at a quaint café in town, or just shopping for souvenirs.

Day 6: We leave Leh again to drive towards the Changthang plateau- over the Taglang La, to visit the Tsokar lake- a salt encrusted lake with some great birding opportunities. In earlier times, the Changpa nomads would collect salt from the lake to trade for other essentials in Leh.

Day 7: We drive further from the Tsokar lake, and reach the Tsomoriri lake, after a drive through the Changthang region of about 4 hours. Walk along the lake, or enjoy meeting the Changthang nomads as they rove across the plains with their livestock.

Day 8: Return back to Leh after a leisurely breakfast.

Day 9: Departure

TRIP SUMMARY– Ladakh is a land culturally very different from the rest of India. Spend a few days engaging in the Ladakhi heritage, visiting ancient monasteries, dining with the locals, all set amongst the best scenic backdrops of Leh and Nubra valley.

What we love:

-An immersion in the culture of Tibetan Ladakh
-Visit some of the most famous monasteries of the region
-An audience with an authentic Oracle
-Traditional meal with a Ladakhi family

Basic Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Leh. Day at leisure for acclimatization
Day 2: Gentle exploration of Leh town
Day 3-5: Leh- Nubra
Day 6-7: Monasteries and more
Day 8: Departure

Detailed itinerary :

Day 1: Fly into Leh via one of the most visually stunning flights in the Himalayas. Check in to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day acclimatizing to the high altitude terrain.

Day 2: We start the tour with an exploration of the main Leh town- chaotic at the beginning, but with a number of hidden treasures. Walk up to the old Leh Palace, overlooking the main city. The old kings of Ladakh used the same architect as that of the Potala, and seems to have ordered the architect’s hands cut off after the costruction, so that a similar building could not be built again. Also visit the LAMO(Ladakh Arts and Media House) house, a beautifully restored old house of the Munshi family. The main market is a noisy muddle, with ladies in traditional clothing sitting on sidewalks, selling organically grown vegetables. End your day with a view of the Leh town from atop the Shanti Stupa.

Day 3: Time to jumpstart the tour with an exciting drive up Khardung La, considered to be the highest motorable road in the world. The drive itself is adventurous, with glorious views of the Leh town left behind, and majestic views of the Nubra and Stok ranges from the top of Khardung La. Descend into Nubra valley, and drive to Diskit village, with the icy blue Shyok river meandering past on your right. Explore the Hunder village, and visit the sand dunes here for a ride on the Bactrian camels, remnant of the ancient trade between Ladakh and Yarkand. In the evening, visit the Diskit monastery, from where you get a bird’s eye view of the Nubra valley.

Day 4: Explore the village of Turtuk, a muslim village a few kms from the Line of Control. You see a completely different side of Ladakh here, for not only is it more heavily wooded than the rest of Ladakh, but the people are culturally very different from other parts of Ladakh. Visit the house of the Balti Chief, who will take you through his family tree and reminisce about the past. Return back to Hunder

Day 5: After a leisurely breakfast, drive back to Leh. Evening at leisure to unwind
Day 6: A day packed with adventure, wake up with the sun to attend the early morning prayer ceremony at Thiksey monastery, one of the two famous monasteries in the Indus valley basin. After a light breakfast at the monastery café, drive to Hemis monastery, the richest in the region. Drive to the Stok village to lunch with a local Ladakhi family in their traditional home, and visit the museum at the Stok palace, the current home of the royal family of Ladakh.

Day 7: A highlight for most, meet with a ‘Lha’ or Oracle. In the Himalayan tradition, these oracles are revered as spiritual healers and are also said to be able to divine the future. Spend the evening exploring the town on your own, and shopping for souvenirs.

Day 8: Assisted transfer to the airport for departure.