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

This morning, take the scenic flight to Ladakh, the “roof of the world”. It takes approximately 90 minutes to fly from Delhi to Leh. Upon arrival at Leh airport, take a car to the city centre and check into your hotel. Leh, the main city of the region, is located at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level. Today, you need to acclimatize to the altitude and you should avoid any strenuous activity. Go out to a restaurant for lunch and try local specialities to get a taste of Ladakh.

After lunch, take a stroll through the narrow winding lanes of Leh’s old town until you reach the imposing Leh Palace that was built by the king Sengge Namgyal during the first half of the 17th century. Walk through the maze of dark mud-brick corridors and stairways to the palace’s roof to enjoy a fine panorama of the old town. From the palace, there is a steep path to the Buddhist monastery of Namgyal Tsemo. The gompa was built during the 15th century at the summit of the Namgyal peak. It is surrounded by thousands of multi-colour prayer flags flapping in the wind dominates the whole valley and it is a famous landmark in Leh. The monastery enshrines an 8-metre-high statue of the Future Buddha. In the evening, head to the Shanti Stupa and contemplate the breathtaking bird eye view of the Leh as the sun sets behind the mountains. The stupa was built 30 years ago by Japanese monks as a symbol of purity and peace. Its two-level structure is decorated with colourful paintings and carvings depicting scenes from the Buddha's life. After sunset, walk back to the Main Bazar where you could sip a cup of Ladakhi tea (salted tea with yak butter). The lively market where woman in traditional outfit sell vegetables is great place for people watching. Just opposite of the State Bank of India building, the Gompa Soma is small Buddhist temple hidden in a quiet courtyard. Nearby, the Jama Masjid dating from the 17th century is the largest mosque in Ladakh.

This day tour takes you to the west part of the Indus valley which is also called “Sham”. This area of Ladakh is at the same elevation as Leh so it is good to go there at the beginning of the trip for acclimatation. After 30 minutes drive from Leh along the iconic Leh-Srinagar road, you arrive at the Magnetic Hill. Here, you can witness a bewildering phenomenon when you see your car with engine turned off and in neutral gear starting moving uphill. Strange magnetic force or optical illusion? See it and make your own conclusion! Next, contemplate the natural wonder known as Sangam (“confluence” in Sanskrit) where the Zanskar river flows into the Indus river. On the way to Alchi, visit the Basgo gompa and the ruined mud-brick fortress which was the residence for the king of lower Ladakh until 1470. In Alchi village, you can have lunch in one of the garden restaurants. The Alchi monastery is one of the top attractions in Ladakh. The gompa dates back to the 11th century and it houses the most exquisite murals. Tucked into a side valley, the Likir monastery rises above the village and the barley fields. This is one of the most important Gelugpa gompas and it is easily recognizable by its 22m-high statue of the Future Buddha adjacent to the whitewashed buildings. While driving back to Leh, make a stop at the Sikh place of worship Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and Spituk monastery.

Over the next 4 days, you will embark on the most adventurous jeep safari tour in Ladakh. After breakfast, head north towards the Khardung La pass, the world’s highest drivable pass (5,602 metres above sea level) that connects Leh to the Nubra valley. There is a great view of the mighty Karakoram mountain range from the pass. Drive down to the Nubra Valley (which means “the valley of flowers” in Ladakhi language) located at an average altitude of 3,100 metres and crisscrossed by the Nubra and Shayok rivers. Clinging to the side of a rocky hill, the 15th-century Diskit monastery is the largest gompa in the Nubra valley. Nearby, the 32-metre-high statue of Maitreya Buddha was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 2010. Next, drive 10 minutes to the small Hunder village that has little bit more than 1,000 inhabitants. Here, you can find hotels, guesthouses and homestays for the night.

Start the day with a camel ride across the spectacular Hunder Sand dunes. The double-humped Bactrian camels living here are a reminder that the Nubra valley lies along the old Silk Road connecting Central Asia to India. Next, visit the Samstanling monastery in the charming village of Sumur. From here, follow the small road along the Shayok river leading to Pangong. Located at an elevation of 4,250m, the stunning Pangong lake is a 140-km-long brackish lake spanning over the Sino-Indian border. Its pristine waters are surrounded by contrasting brown arid mountains. Pangong lake became famous in 2009 when it featured in the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots” starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor.

Today is a long drive to go from Pangong lake to Tso Moriri lake. After passing through Chushul village, follow the rough road to Tsaga La pass that is located just 4 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Keep driving south along the India-China border and enjoy the stunning landscapes that can be seen in this remote part of Changthang. Tso Moriri lake is one of Ladakh’s most impressive natural site. The 26-km-long lake brackish lake is flanked by several peaks over 6,000m. It is the largest high altitude lake that lies entirely within the boundaries of India. Korzok, the only village on the bank of Tso Moriri lake, is located at an altitude of 4,350m and it is one of the highest villages in Ladakh. Here, you can meet the Changpa nomads who rear pashmina goats, sheep and yaks. Korzok village has various accommodation options, including homestays.

This morning, discover Puga hot springs and drive to Tso Kar lake which is located 80 km from Tso Moriri. “Tso Kar” means “white lake” in Ladakhi. The white colour comes from the thick crust of salt surrounding the lake. The lake is a breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. You might have the chance to spot the iconic black-necked crane. Then, head towards Leh via Taglang La, the highest mountain pass on the Leh-Manali highway, at an altitude of 5,328m. After crossing the pass, when reaching the Indus valley, drive to the village of Hemis. Here, visit the Hemis monastery, the spiritual centre of the Drukpa order. The gompa is known as Ladakh’s largest and richest monastery. It has many temples and one of them houses an imposing 8-meter-high statue of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. Next, stop at Thiksey monastery. Due to its architectural style, the gompa is often compared with the Potala Palace in Tibet. The monastery houses 10 temples. The main attraction is the 14-meter-high statue of Maitreya Buddha built to commemorate a visit of the 14th Dalai Lama. Follow the Indus river to the east for 20 km and you will reach the city of Leh.

All good things come to an end… It is time to bid farewell to Ladakh and fly over the majestic Himalayas from Leh to Delhi. This is, for sure, the most impressive flight in India.