Hidden Ladakh

Hidden Ladakh Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days/td> Destinations : Delhi – Leh - Tso-Morari via Tso-Kar & Taglang-La – Leh - Delhi

Day 01 : Arrive in Delhi
Arrive Delhi mid night. Met upon arrival and drive to your Hotel. Late morning, after leisurely break fast, proceed for a combined sight seeing of New and Old Delhi. Visit Qutub Minar, the landmark of Delhi, Parliament house, President Palace, India gate and Humayun tomb. Take a ride of cycle rickshaw in the narrow by lanes of old Delhi. Visit one of the largest mosques of Asia. Enjoy your welcome dinner in one of the finest restaurant of Delhi.

Day 02 : Delhi – Leh (by fly)
Get up to take very early flight to Leh. It is indeed one of the most spectacular lights in the Himalaya when you will fly over the 7000 mts mountains, crossing number of mountain ranges. On arrival, move to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax and very important, to acclimatize.

Day 03 : Leh
Today we will take a short drive to Stok village to visit Palace and the Museum. Walk thru the village and the fields of barley without exerting too much. The palace houses a fine private museum, with a superb collection of Thankha paintings, said to be the best in the world. Some of them have been worked in pure gold and paints made of crushed Semi-precious stones. Also of interest are antique robes and royal Jewellery, specially noted for its turquoise and red coral. The collection also includes artillery and animal skins. Stok Gompa is a subsidiary of Spitok and the same lama, Nawang Lotus, founded both during the reign of King Takpa Bumlde. Stok belongs to the yellow-hat sect of Buddhism and currently has about 20 lamas living there. The oldest parts of the gompa are some 550 years old though the Dukhang, main assembly hall is only about 50 years old.
In the afternoon visit Leh, a fascinating labyrinth of winding streets and quaint bazaars. The main street is open and airy, with rows of shops on either side. On either side of the market are seen a long line of Ladakhi women in traditional dress and colorful jewellery of coral and turquoise, seated behind enormous baskets, selling vegetables. The spectacular eight-storey Leh Palace looming above, overlooking the town was built in the 16th century, about the same time as the Potala in Lhasa, which it resembles. The stroll through the town is followed by a visit to Sankar gompa, about 2 km from the market. It has a number of pure gold icons and richly painted walls, depicting different stories, including some from the Panchtantra. On the way back from Stok, visit the Tibetan Refugee camp at Choglamsar, which has become an important centre for the study of Tibetan literature, history and Buddhist philosophy. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight stay. There are many beautiful gompas and villages, which make good day trips from Leh.

Day 04 : Leh
Full day excursion to Alchi, Likir and Lamayuru gompa. Leave Leh after breakfast for Alchi monastery known, as Alchi Choskor is the only monastery in Ladakh built on flat ground. On the way visit Baazgo Castle, which lies, on the right bank of river Indus. Visit Alchi monastery and later explores the natural beauty of the Alchi village. Continue drive to Lamayuru via Khaltsi (passport check). From here another 22 kms drive will take us to Lamayuru, the oldest and spectacularly situated monastery was founded in the 10th century. In the late afternoon drive back to Leh Via Likir gompa.

Day 05 : Leh – Tso-Morari
Today we will undertake journey to the legendry Tso-Morari Lake. On way we will stop to visit Hemis, Shey and Thikse Gompa. We will enjoy our picnic lunch at a scenic place near the Hemis gompa. The road goes past the ancient gompas of Shey and Thiksey, via Karu and Upshi, upstream along the true right bank of the Indus River. The drive to Chumathang is via the villages of Likche, Himya, Gaik, Kiara and Skidmang. Near from Chumathang leads to Mahe Bridge. From here drive along a rough dusty track through remote countryside. There are no villages en route except for an occasional nomad (Changpa) settlement of two or three tents. After about 2 hours reach a small beautiful lake called Thazang. Tso-Morari lays another half hour's drive further ahead. Camp on the banks of this beautiful lake.

Also known as Chang-Chub-Sam-Ling (or the Lone Place of the Compassionate Person), Hemis Gompa, 45km south of Leh, belongs to the Drukpa order and was founded in the early 17th century. Now it is one of the most accessible, famous and, therefore, most visited gompas. The gompa has an excellent library, well preserved frescoes showing some Kashmiri influence, and good Buddha Figures. The largest thangka (Tibetan religious cloth painting) in Ladakh, over 12m long, is at Hemis, but is only exhibited every 12 years. It's next on display in 2004. To commemorate the birth of the renowned Indian’s sage, Padmasambhava, the famous annual Hemis Festival is held on the ninth to eleventh days of the fifth Tibetan month, usually June/July.

Shey, I5km south of Leh was the former summer palace of the kings of Ladakh. The gompa, still partially used, is being restored. There's a small library, a collection ofthangkas, and some stupas and Mani walls (stone walls with sacred inscriptions) nearby. The 12m Sakyamuni Buddha statue, made of copper but gold plated, is the largest in the region, built by King Singge Namgyal's son. More crumbling chortens are scattered around the nearby fields.Shey is easy to reach and can be combined with a visit to Tikse.

About 17km south of Leh, this gompa, part of the Gelukpa order, has an important collection of Tibetan books in its library, some excellent artwork and a new Maitreya Temple. It's a busy place, with almost incessant chanting and music, and there is a good chance to witness a Puja (ritual offerings or prayers). Go to the roof for great views of the valleys and villages. There is even a small (and welcome) cafe and shop.

Day 06 : Tso Morari
Spend the day exploring the area. Tso-Morari or "mountain" lake is situated in the middle of the elevated district of Rupsu. Its name is characteristic of its situation - nestled in the midst of 20,000 foot plus peaks, which completely shut the lake in. Legend has it that a woman riding a yak was carried into the lake. At first the yak swam boldly out and the woman (chomo) was delighted. But after a while the animal grew tired and sank deeper in the water. The chomo became frightened and screamed "Ri Ri, Ri Ri" until the yak sank and she drowned. Since then, the lake has been called Chomo-riri. A kilometer ahead is the picturesque village of Korzok consisting of about a hundred families. Visit the gompa set on top of the village. Belonging to the Gelugpa sect, it is about 360 years old and has 35 resident monks. The exterior has been renovated but the main Dukhang or prayer room is intact. Overnight camping.

Day 07 : Tso-Morari – Leh (via Tso-Kar & Taglang-La)
After early breakfast depart for Leh enrooting salt lake of Tso-Kar and Taglang-La. Overnight in Leh.

Day 08 : Leh – Delhi (Internal flight)
Morning at leisure. Afternoon fly to Delhi. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Introduction to Indian classical dance technique followed by farewell dinner later transfer to the airport for your international flight home.

Places Covered : Excursion - Tso - Morari – Sarchu Sarchu – Jispa – Tandi - Manali – Dharamshala - Amritsar – Delhi

Day 15 : Amritsar – Delhi – London (internal flight)
Evening train to Delhi. Farewell Dinner in the evening and later transfer to the airport to fly home.