Leh-Ladakh Monasteries
- Tour Package -
(7 days)

This morning, take the one-and-a-half-hour flight from Delhi to Leh and enjoy the stunning bird’s eye view of Ladakh as you fly over the Himalayan snow-clad peaks. Upon arrival at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport, head to your hotel in Leh for check-in and take some time to rest. The elevation of Leh is 3,500 metres above sea level, therefore you need to take your time and save your energy to allow your body to acclimatize properly to the altitude and the lack of oxygen. There are many restaurants in the Main Bazar and along Changspa Road, you can have lunch where you like.

In the afternoon, visit the Leh palace which was built in the 17th century by the king Sengge Namgyal. The dun-coloured palace overlooks the old town of Leh where you can have a pleasant walk through its narrow alleys. Next, you could climb to the Namgyal Tsemo gompa which is located a hundred metres above the palace at the summit of a rocky peak. The mud-brick monastery surrounded by colourful prayer flags contains an 8-metre-high statue of Maitreya Buddha. In the evening, go to the Shanti Stupa, a large white stupa siting high above the town. The stupa, which symbolises world peace and harmony, was designed and built by Japanese monks. From there, you can enjoy the best possible panorama of Leh and the view is even more amazing at sunset. Finally, take a stroll in the lively Main Bazar where ladies clad in traditional Ladakhi dresses sell locally grown vegetables. In the same area, you can admire the finely decorated Jama Masjid mosque and the Buddhist temple Gompa Soma which has a beautiful prayer hall.

This morning, start the 2-day tour along the west part of the Indus valley which is also called “Sham”. Just 20 km from Leh, you can visit the Phyang monastery which has a community of about 90 monks. A few kilometres further on the Leh-Srinagar road, you reach the mysterious Magnetic Hill where you can see a vehicle with engine turned off and in neutral gear starting moving uphill against gravity… Strong magnetic force from the hill or optical illusion? See it and make your own conclusion! The next stop is one of the most popular photo spots in Ladakh, the spectacular vantage point over Sangam, the confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers. Rising above a picturesque village, the Basgo gompa houses a two-storey statue of the Future Buddha. For lunch, head to the charming village of Alchi on the bank of the Indus river. Several restaurants are located in the vicinity of the gompa. Then, visit the Alchi monastery which was founded in the 11th century. The gompa complex enshrines some of the best-preserved murals and sculptures in Ladakh. From Alchi, stop by Ulley Tokpo on your way west to Lamayuru. Situated 116 km west of Leh along the route to Srinagar, Lamayuru is a postcard-perfect village with its medieval gompa rising above the whitewashed Ladakhi houses. The village is located the bottom of a dried lake and the unique landscape in this area is called “moonland”. In Lamayuru, you could stay in a homestay, a wonderful opportunity to stay with a local family and discover the Ladakhi culture and food. Ask your driver to show you the best homestays.

If you wake up early, you can join the monks in the assembly hall of the monastery for the morning chanting and praying. The Lamayuru monastery (also known as Yungdrung gompa) is famous for its rich collection of thangkas and wall paintings. It is said that the Indian scholar Naropa meditated for several years in the small cave near the Dukhang. From Lamayuru, head back east, stopping at the secluded Rizong monastery where 40 monks of the Gelugpa order reside, following a strict Buddhist discipline. A few kilometres further, on the right bank of the Indus river, the Likir monastery dominates the village surrounded by barley fields. It is famous for its gigantic 22m-tall statue of the Future Buddha located just next to the main building. Then, stop at Gurdwara Pathar Sahib, a small shrine devoted to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. Just before reaching Leh, visit the Spituk monastery which has a temple entirely dedicated to Tara (also known as Dolma in Tibetan Buddhism), the protector of Tibet. You could also ask your driver to stop at the Hall of Fame museum if you wish. The museum is located next to Leh airport and commemorates the Indian Army and its role in Ladakh.

After breakfast, head north on a scenic road trip along the world's highest motorable road over the Khardung La pass (5,602 metres). From the top, there is an amazing view of the K2 mountain range (the Karakoram). The stunning Nubra valley, also called the “valley of flowers”, is situated at 3,100 metres altitude between the Karakoram and the Ladakh mountain ranges. Diskit is the largest hamlet in the Nubra valley. Visit the Diskit monastery perched atop a rocky hillock. The gompa was established by Changzem Tserab Zangpo in the 15th century. At the top of a nearby hill, the colossal Chamba statue that stands at a height of 32 metres was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in July 2010. A 10-minute drive from Diskit brings you to Hunder. You can spend the night in this pleasant village on the bank of the Shayok river.

This morning, explore the Hunder sand dunes and enjoy a camel safari in this extraordinary landscape. The double-humped Bactrian camels living here are a reminder that the Nubra valley lies along the old Silk Road connecting Xinjiang to India. Next, drive to the charming village of Sumur which overlooks the Nubra river. Here, you can visit the Samstanling monastery and the school for novice monks. Then, head back to Leh.

During this day tour, you will visit the monasteries and palaces situated south-east of Leh along the Indus river. After breakfast, head to Stok village and visit Stok palace, the current residence of the Ladakhi royal family. Do not miss the museum and its precious collection of Ladakhi dresses, jewellery and crowns belonging to the kings and queens of Ladakh. From Stok, follow the Indus river for 20 km to Stakna monastery. This small gompa located at the top of a rocky peak was built in the 17th century by the Bhutanese saint Chosje Modzin. From Stakna, head to the largest and richest gompa in Ladakh: Hemis monastery. Founded in the 17th century by the king Sengge Namgyal, it belongs to the Drukpa lineage. One of the temples enshrines an impressive 8m-tall statue of Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The annual monastery festival called “Hemis Tsechu” is one of the major events in Ladakh. After lunch, head to Thiksey monastery whose spectacular architecture reminds of the Potala palace in Tibet. It is the largest Gelugpa monastery with more than 80 monks residing here. One of the main attractions of the monastery is a magnificent statue of Maitreya Buddha that was dedicated by the Dalai Lama in 1980. On the way back to Leh, stop at Shey palace which was built by the king Deldan Namgyal in 1655. The palace complex includes a monastery which houses a 12-metre-high copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha gilded with about 5 kilograms of gold.

This morning, depart to Leh airport with fantastic memories. Board your flight back from Leh to Delhi. This is, without doubt, the most spectacular flight in India.