Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Day 2: Delhi
Morning at leisure. Afternoon tour includes, the Presidential-Palace,
Parliament House, India Gate, Qutab Minar Tower, Jantar Mantar, the
fashionable Connaught Circus. Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Mahalaxmi Temple and
Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi. Evening free.
Day 3: Delhi/Leh
After breakfast flight to Leh. Leh is main centre of Ladakh, Leh is located
in small valley just the north of Indus valley. Today is free for complete
rest for proper acclimatization to the high altitude atmosphere.
Day 4: Leh /Alchi
Leh to Lamayuru, Likir and Alchi and night halt at Alchi. Sightseeing
Lamayuru, After exploring villages around the area, it comes as a surprise
to find that Lamayuru is a cute little hamlet surrounded by rugged Hindukush
peaks. The gompa completely overshadowes the landscape which happens to be
the most famous and spectacular monastery in Ladakh. Alchi and Likir
Monasteries, these two monasteries are located near Saspol on the
Srinagar-Leh road. They house many gigantic clay statue of Buddha in various
forms. The primary attraction of these monasteries is, however, their
1000-year old wall painting, which alone makes the visit a worthwhile
experience.
Day 5: Alchi /Leh
Local sightseeing, Leh to Lamayuru, Likir and Alchi and night halt at
Alchi. Full day sightseeing Lamayuru. After exploring villages around the
area, it comes as a surprise to find that Lamayuru is a scruffy little
place. The gompa completely shadows and is the most famous spectacular
monastery in Ladakh. Alchi and Likir Monasteries, these two monasteries are
located near Saspal on the Srinagar-Leh road. They house many gigantic clay
statue of Buddha in various forms. The primary attraction of these
monasteries is, their 1000-year old wall painting which makes it a very
rewarding experience.
Day 6: Leh
Alchi to Leh, on the way back sightseeing of Rizong and Spituk. Rizong is
about 4 miles along a steep, rocky track from the main road is the start of
the area with the nunnery of Julochen and the gompa of Rizong. The gompa,
belongs to the Gelukpa. Spituk Monastery, just before Leh on the
Srinagar-Leh road on the hilltop overlooking the Indus, the Spituk monastery
boasts not only of some prized tankha, but also a chamber with enormous
statue of Kali, whose faces are unveiled once a year. The chamber contains
an ancient collection of face masks too. It houses of 135 yellow capped
monks.
Day 7: Leh /
Kargil
Drive to Kargil. Sightseeing of Kargil, visit the Tete Sping and other
interest places the Suru Valley which form the main stay of Kargil district.
Lying nestled along the northeastern foothills of the Great Himalayan wall,
it extends from Kargil town, first south ward for a length of about 45 miles
up to the expanse around Panikhar, then eastward for another stretch of
nearly 50 miles up to the foot of the Penzila watershed where the Suru River
rises.
Day 8: Kargil
In Kargil for rest & relaxation
Day 9: Kargil/Srinagar
Drive to Srinagar via Drass, which is noted for its heavy snowfalls and
extreme cold. Drass 10,600 ft. west of Kargil on the road to Srinagar, are a
small township lying in the centre of a valley of the same name. It has
become famous as the second coldest inhabited place in the world by virtue
of the intense cold that descends upon the valley along with repeated
snowfall during winter. Winter temperature is sometimes known to plummet to
below freezing levels. During the spring and summer, however the valley
around the township becomes very picturesque as the gently undulating
hillsides turn into lush green pastures are splashed with a variety of
fragrant wild flowers. Its inhabitants are mainly of Darad stock, an Aryan
race believed to have originally migrated to the high valleys of the western
Himalayas from the Central Asian steppes. They speak Shina which, unlike the
Tibetan-originated Ladakhi dialects spoken elsewhere in Ladakh region,
belong to the Indo-European linguistic family. Their ancestral sport, Horse
Polo, which the Darads play with particular zeal, resembles our modern polo.
After Zoji-la pass we'll drive thru Sonamarg, the gold valley, past winding
roads into Srinagar and our abode of luxury houseboat. .
Day 10: Srinagar
ICruise through Dal and Nagin Lakes float through a network of canals to
the enchanted floating gardens of Nishat and Shalimar; built in the 16th C.
by Moghul emperors. Lunch will be served onboard the Shikara (Gondola). Soak
in the sun and swim or surf in the lake. This evening enjoy a Wazwan feast
(Local multi course meal usually served on weddings or very special
occasions).
Day 11: Srinagar/Delhi
Morning free. Afternoon fly to Delhi, time free for last minute shopping
for gifts and prepare for homeward bound departure.
Day 12: Depart Home