For those of you who are looking to
see the best of Ladakh this is just the perfect trip that offers a wide
variety of destinations and a lot of avenues in terms of the landscape, from
barren desert like conditions to the amazing lakes apart from the religious
and cultural aspects.
The highlights:
Shey is about 15 kms from Leh. It used to be the summer palace of
the kings of Ladakh. There are lots of Stupas and Gompas built around the
palace. Thiksey Gompa, close to Shey is about 17 kms from Leh. The monastery
is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Ladakh and belongs to the
Gelukspa order.
Hemis, about 45 kms south of Leh it is one of the most famous and
largest monastery in Ladakh. It belongs to the Drukpa order and was founded
in the early 17’th century.
Tso Moriri, located in the Rupsu valley at an altitude of 4000 m, is
popularly known as ‘mountain lake’. Striking feature of the lake
is the reflection of the surrounding peaks on its waters and also the
changing hue of the lake. The lake is about 28 kms long and about 8 kms at
its widest.
Tso Kar, is a brackish lake about 3 hrs drive from Tso Moriri. It is
also called ‘white lake’. There is a small gompa at the nearby
village of Thukse.
Nubra is an incredible valley which till recently was completely cut
off for travellers. It is a Buddhist region north of Leh across the 18,380
ft. (5600m) Khardung La Pass, the second highest motorable road in the
world. Nubra valley consists of two long valleys between the rivers Nubra
and Shyok, lying beneath the towering eastern Karakoram Range. At the head
of the Nubra Valley is the 45 mile (70km) long Siachen Glacier, the longest
glacier in the Karakoram. Nubra in contrast to other areas of Ladakh has
fertile land and good climate because of which fruits and grains are
plentiful.
Pangong means ‘hollow’. This lake is about 150 kms long
and about 4 kms wide at certain stretches. 75% of the lake comes in China
with only 25% lying in India. Pangong Tso at 4300 m is the highest lake in
Ladakh. Towering mountains, most of which are snow capped, flank the lake.
The changing shade of the blue lake waters with a barren backdrop is
something one can travel any distance to see.
Itinerary
Day 1:
Take the morning flight from Delhi to Leh taking off at 0645 hrs. Arrival
at Leh by 0800hrs. Transfer to Hotel. Day to be spend at the hotel for
acclimatisation. Evening take a stroll in the local market. Night stay at
the hotel.
Day 2:
After breakfast drive to Shey, Thiksey and Hemis. In the evening one can
visit the Leh Palace, take a stroll to the Sankar Gompa and check out
various handicraft shops in the local market. Night stay at the hotel.
Day 3:
Early morning Drive to Sumur via Khardong La, Kardung village and Khalsar
(130 kms, 6 hrs). Overnight in a luxury Camp in Sumur.
Day 4:
Full day sightseeing of Diskit and Hunder. Over night in a luxury Camp in
Sumur.
Day 5:
After an early breakfast drive to Panamik. From Panamik drive back to Leh.
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 6:
Early morning drive from Leh to Tsomoriri (7 hrs). Overnight in tents.
Day 7:
Drive from Tso Moriri to Tso Kar (3 hrs). Overnight in tents.
Day 8:
After an early breakfast drive back to Leh via Taglang La (5328 m).
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 9:
At leisure for sightseeing/shopping in Leh OR can be utilised as the last
day for one of the extension plans to Pangong tso lake or Alchi or Rafting
on the Indus. Night stay at the hotel in Leh.
Day 10:
Finish the trip with a flight - right over the top of the greater
Himalayas, offering views only conjured in dreams.
