Ladakh-Trekking&Sightseeing Adventure in India

The below is literally, a once in a life time experience! If you'd like to see a part of the world which has been described as "breath taking", hike through some of the most picturesque mountains in the world, visit ancient monasteries, stay in a Ladakh house, ride camels and experience a unique part of India, then join us August 2019 !

Pictures from previous trip: https://www.meetup.com/SURREY-HIKERS/photos/27260423/

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION WITH PICTURES OF THE TRIP CLICK HERE

Amazing Ladakh Experience:

• Trekking

• Sightseeing

• Camel Riding

Duration: 11 Nights 12 days

PRICE: £1295 (For payment before February 28th 2019)

PRICE: £1495 (For payment after March 28th 2019 and before April 28th 2019)

PRICE: £1695 (For payment after April 28th 2019)

Brief on the Hiking part

The valley of Sham in the lower part of Ladakh, is celebrated for its beauty and richness during the harvesting season. This trek offers not only views of the many natural beauties of Ladakh, but also some of its most famous monasteries and the traditional lifestyle of the natives .

For a video tour of Ladakh please go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK-MUzWdpjU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLjbG6rqnq4

DETAILED ITINERARY:

LEAVE LONDON AUGUST 8th or 9th

YOU SHOULD PLAN TO ARRIVE IN NEW DELHI ON AUGUST 9th or 10th.

LEAVE NEW DELHI EARLY MORNING OF AUGUST 11th AND ARRIVE IN LEH MORNING OF AUGUST 12TH

Day 1 : Arrival in Leh AUGUST 12th

Today check out from the hotel in Delhi and go to the airport to fly to Leh. Upon arrival at Leh Airport you will be met by our representative and welcomed in traditional Ladakhi style and transferred to our pre-arranged hotel, rest of the day at leisure to acclimatize. Overnight stay at hotel

Leh City: The capital of Ladakh, at one time was a major stop on the Asian “Silk Route”. A stroll along the main Bazar, observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops, is an entrancing experience. Chang Gali, behind the main bazar is less bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc.

Evening we visit Shanti Stupa A magnificent white-domed structure, The Japanese for World Peace built the Shanti Stupa, at Changspa, on the hilltop, and was inaugurated by Dalai Lama in 1985. Its state of the art work attracts a lot of tourists to Ladakh and is spectacular to watch. From there one can see a spectacular view of Leh town. The stupa looks best at night, when it is beautifully illuminated with glittering lights. A large number of tourists come to Ladakh every year to visit this amazing stupa.

Day 02: Rest day acclimatization & CITY visit AUGUST 13th

Spend the day getting acclimatized to the high altitude. You may take a walk around the Leh market and explore the town on your own. Ensure you drink lots of water and stay hydrated enough as it is the key ingredient to staying fit and getting used to the altitude

Day 03: Drive to Likir 58km visit Monastery and trek to Yangthang (4-5hrs) AUGUST 14th

Morning after breakfast you will be driven by taxi to Likir which is just 58 kms away. Likir Village (3650 mts.) is the starting point of our trek. Although the distance is short, the route is warm, without any shade or water and we need to traverse two passes. From Likir the route heads west up to Phobe La (3580m) and beyond this lies Sumdo village. The trail goes steadily upwards till you get to Chagatse La (3630m). The Ridzong Monastery lies about an hour south of Yangthang. O/N Stay at Homestay (Breakfast / Packed Lunch / Dinner)

Day 04: Yangthang to Hemis Shukpachen across Tsermang-chen La (8 km, Trek 3 hours) AUGUST 15th

The approach and the descent are of gentle gradients. The trail heads north, descending for a bit, crossing a stream before climbing up west again to Tsermangchen La (3750m). After a short rest at the pass we head down to Hemis Shukpachen. The village, named after the grove of cedars, is one of Ladakh’s prettiest. There are several sparkling streams surrounded by shady willows and large barley fields that provide a touch of green to the otherwise desolate, Rocky Mountains.. O/N in Homestay O/N Stay at Homestay (Breakfast / Packed Lunch / Dinner)

Day 05: Hemis Shukpachen to Temisgam across Mebtak La (10 km Trek 3-4 hrs) & HOME STAY AUGUST 16th

The trail goes upward between two hillocks west of the village upwards until it veers south and climbs steeply up to the Mebtak La (3750m) marked by prayer flags. From the pass we head down the gorge to Ang village, and pass through a charming village with apricot orchards ahead to Temisgam village. O/N stay in Homestay O/N Stay at Homsetay (Breakfast / Packed Lunch / Dinner)

Day 06: Temisgam to Leh AUGUST 17th

After breakfast we will drive towards Leh en-route we will stop at Sangam for photo session. later drive back to Leh. O/N Stay at Hotel in Leh (Breakfast / Packed Lunch / Dinner)

Day 07: Tour & Hike of Pangong Lake AUGUST 18th

It is the highest land locked lake (155 Kms One way from Leh 05 Hrs driver each way. After an early breakfast we leave for Pangong Lake through Changla pass 5486 Mtrs. Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 m). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometer at its widest point and over 130km long, it is bisected by the international border between India and China. A few years back the government decided to open it to tourists though the lake and its surrounding is under army surveillance. Enjoy the landscape in the back drop of the Lake. One rarely feels so close to nature and environment and the scenery is unforgettable. Drive back to Leh, Via same route. Overnight at Hotel in Leh (Breakfast / Packed Lunch / Dinner)

Day 08 : Leh - Nubra Valley via Khardhungla Pass (18390 ft 120 kms 3-4 hours ) AUGUST 19th (We will be driving along the road and not walking along it)

Post breakfast we drive to Nubra Valley. The road journey from Leh to Nubra Valley passes over Khardung La (The 2nd highest Motorable Road In The World) at 5,602 Mtrs / 18,390 Ft, around 39 km from Leh. From the pass, one can see all the way south over the Indus valley to seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, and north to the giants of the Saser massif. Nubra Valley is popularly known as Ldumra or the valley of flowers. It is situated in the north of Ladakh between the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges of the Himalayas. The average altitude of the valley is 10,000 Ft. above sea level. Upon arrival in Nubra we check in at our Camp / Hotel in Hunder for Overnight stay. In the evening you can walk around the tiny villages to see how the locals live in this part of the world. Overnight Stay at the Camp or Hotel. (Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 09 : Nubra valley to leh ( 120 kms, 3- 4 hours ) AUGUST 20th

After an early breakfast we check out from the Camp and drive to Hunder where you have opportunity to ride on a bacterian camel (double humped) amidst the sand dunes of this high altitude desert with snow capped mountains on the horizon. Between Hunder and Diskit you come across sand dunes besides the road. Seen in isolation you could well be amongst the sand dunes of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. It is indeed a strange sight since immediately on the left of the road are rocky mountains that characterize the Ladakhi landscape and in the distance can be seen snow-capped mountains. On the return stop at Diskit which is the headquarter town of Nubra Valley. Stroll around the bazaar observing the shops and local people going about their daily chores. Diskit is famous for 515 years old Buddhist Monastery, lying magnificently situated on a hilltop, facing the entire Valley.

Later we drive back to Leh in the late afternoon via Khardungla Top. On arrival at Leh you will check in to your Hotel. In the afternoon you can rest and relax. In the evening you can stroll around the market place for some last minute souvenir shopping. (Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 10 : (Day excursion to Hemis, Shey and Thiksey) AUGUST 21st

We start with a visit to Shey the ancient capital of Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge gold-gilded statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning in front of the statue, built in the memory of King Singee Namgyal by his son lDeldan Namgyal in 1633 A.D. It is the only kind of statue made of Gold, Gilt and copper in entire Ladakh.Then we visit Thiksey Gompaan impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill above the village. The monastery has a beautiful 30 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future is one of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh,.

Drive further to visit the famous Hemis Gompa, This is the largest monastic foundation of Drukpa Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Most of the other Drukpa monasteries are the branch monasteries of Hemis. It was built during early 17th century with the blessing of Lama Stagtsang Raspa (Shambunatha), by famous Namgyal dynasty king Singee Namgyal. The two-day festival of monastic dance in June-July has raised the reputation of Hemis particularly high. The festival is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as second Buddha and responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Tibetan world. (Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 11 : At leisure AUGUST 22nd

Spend the day free for individual activities or optional 3 hour hike around the capital Leh (Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 12: Departure AUGUST 23rd

Morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight back Home.

EXTRA:

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO STAY ON IN INDIA / DELHI. BOOK YOUR RETURN FLIGHT TO LONDON FOR EVENING OF AUGUST 23rd or MORNING OF AUGUST 24th

IF YOU WISH TO SPEND AN EXTRA DAY IN DELHI FOR SIGHTSEEING AND 1 DAY IN AGRA TO VISIT THE TAJ MAHAL, THEN PLAN TO LEAVE LATER. THE AGRA TRIP CAN BE ARRANGED CLOSER TO THE TIME

Cancellations:

Please note that unless the trip is cancelled the payments are non-refundable as the costs need to be paid in advance. However, you may be able to sell your place to your friends or other group members.