Duration :- 07 Nights / 08 Days
Highlight :-Leh - Monastery Tour - Sindhu Darshan - Pangong Lake - Nubra Via - Khardungla Pass Nubra - Indus Valley - Leh
Losar is the Tibetan word for "New Year". Losar is an important holiday / Festival in Ladakh and other parts as well. Though this is also common in Tibet, Bhutan and in Nepal. The Losar (New Year) celebration is followed by GaldanNamchot, the birth anniversary of Tsogkha pa who introduced Gelukpa School of order. During Namchot people illuminate their houses, monasteries and mountains and make offerings in the houses and monasteries.
In Ladakh Losar festival being celebrated nearly two months before than Tibet Losar Festival. Reason being is that In early 17th century, King Jamyang Namgyal decided to lead an expedition against the Baltistan forces in winter; therefore he decided to celebrate the festival two months before, later it became a tradition.
The festival lasts for around a month, therefore you have entire December to witness in different part of Ladakh. During this period people fed their Gods, deities, ancestors and even the animals. Images of Ibex are made as auspicious symbol, walls of the kitchens are dotted and are believed to bring prosperity in coming year. All family members get together to celebrate if someone missing will have their cups filled with tea by their name.
Day 1 Arrival Leh.
Upon arrival at Leh Airport you will met by Discover Ladakh Adventure representative will greet, assist and transfer you to Hotel in Leh, rest of the day at leisure to acclimatize. to the high altitude of Ladakh. In the evening take a walk to the local bazaar in Leh
SHANTI STUPA: Built in 1991 Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura and part of the Peace Pagoda mission. It is a Buddhist white-domed stupa (chorten) on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh offers an incredible view of Khardungla range in left Tsemo Fort, Leh Palace, Leh market in front and mighty Stok Kangri ranges in soth west.
LEH MARKET: The market is around 2kms in all with many lanes and by-lanes. The main market road is lined with shops on either side, mainly selling Ladakhi & Kashmiri items.. The market road has the Mosque at one end. It also has the main Leh post office
There is a lane that runs parallel to the main market road. There is lots of ATM of different Banks. This lane has a few shops selling old Tibetan items and prayer flags. You will also find many makeshift Tibetan refugee markets set up across the market area of Leh
Day 2 Monastery Tour And Sindhu Darshan (90 Kms Round Trip)
Morning after breakfast, drive to Thiksey village, visit Thiksey monastery and drive to Shey Village to visit Shey Palace and Gompa. Continue drive to Hemis monastery to visit one of the most famous monasteries of Ladakh. Later on the way back to Leh get down at the Sindhu Ghat for Sindhu Darshan and walk along the river. After spending some time at the river come back to Hotel and relax. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Leh.
THIKSEY GOMPA: 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompas, containing images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.
SHEY PALACE AND GOMPA: Situated on a hillock 15 Kms upstream from Leh, it was once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition, it was the seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kinds. A 7.5 mts high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind, is installed here.
HEMIS GOMPA: 40 Kms from Leh, it is the wealthiest, best known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honor of Guru Padma Sambhava’s birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled once in 12 years Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Singge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal Dynasty for the royalty favored the Drugpa sect, which is managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left.
SINDHU GHAT: The Sindhu Ghat at Choglamsar village at the bank of River Indus has been inaugurated on the 1st of June 2001 by Hon’ble Minister for Home Shri L. K. Advani. Every year Sindhu festival is held on this bank of river forges bonds of unity between communities. The festival is an ideal opportunity for travelers from all over the country and the world to visit this wonderful region and to savour its rugged beauty and charm.
Day 3 Excursion To Pangong Lake (280 Kms Round Trip)
Morning after breakfast drive to Pangong Lake on the Indo China border.Evening back to hotel in Leh for dinner and overnight.
THE PANGONG LAKE: Main attraction of this circuit is the Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 mtrs). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometers at its widest point to which foreigners are permitted, is only some seven km along the southern shore from the head of the lake, but it affords spectacular views of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north, their reflection shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lakes brackish water. Above Spangmik are the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Pangong range.
Day 4 Leh - Nubra Via Khardungla Pass (140 Kms / 5 – 6 Hrs.)
Early morning proceed to Nubra Valley via the World Highest Motorable road (5602 Mts) Khardungla pass. Arrive Nubra and proceed for a visit to the White Sand Dunes at Hunder. You can enjoy the camel ride (On Own). Later if time permits visit Hunder and Diskit monasteries and check in at Deluxe Camp. Evening at leisure.Overnight at the hotel.
KHARDUNGLA PASS: The road journey to Nubra valley leads through Khardung La pass (The highest Motorable road in the world) 18,390 ft. around 39 Kms. Away from Leh. There are two checkpoints on the both sides of the pass. Khardong is the first village of Nubra valley at higher altitude than Deskit and other villages.
DESKIT VILLAGE: Deskit is the main village of headquarter of Nubra valley, which has a small market consisting of a row of shops and about 500 years old Gompa on the hilltop. Spectacular view of the valley can be seen form the monastery.
DESKIT GOMPA: Deskit Gompa was founded by Lama Sherab Zangpo of Stod in about 1420 AD during the reign of King Dragspa. About 100 monks are residing in the Gompa, which is a branch of Thiksey Monastery. The monastic festival called Gustor takes place on 20th and 21st days of the 12th month of Tibetan calendar.
HUNDAR VILLAGE: Hundar is a beautiful village to stay with lot of trees and you will really enjoy your stay at Hundar. It has a small monastery and ruined fort above the village. The walk or Camel Safari (Double Hump bacterian camels) from Hundar to Deskit, through sand dunes for two hours is wonderful (on own).
Day 5 Nubra - Leh
Morning after Breakfast proceed for Leh, once again driving via Khardungla pass the World Highest Motorable road. Evening explore Leh bazaar for souvenir, visit Leh Jokhang or Leh Mosque by foot. Overnight at the hotel.
JOKHANG: the Ladakh Buddhist Association in 1957 built the small Gompa opposite to SBI and known as Jokhang in the main bazaar, which is open throughout the day for visitors. The Gompa contains statue of Joyo Rinpoche (crowned Buddha).
Day 6 Drive to Indus Valley ( Phyang - Likir - Yangthang – Hemis Sukpachen)
After breakfast follow in the west of Leh city to reach at Phyang monastery, The monastery was built by King Lkra-Shis-Namgyal, founder of the Namgyal dynasty, in 1500 AD after defeating the last of the Lha-Chen kings. He ruled from 1500 to 1532 AD and during his reign, filled the monastery with beautiful statues, thankhas and copies of the Kandshur (the translated word of the Buddha) and the Tandshur (the 225-volume commentary on the Kandshur, compiled by the religious teacher Bu-Ston, 1290 to 1364 AD). These extremely valuable texts are still at Phyang.
Further drive to reach at Likir monastery Likir was established around the 15th century and early in its history, became responsible for the oversight of Alchi Gompa, to which it has posted lamas up to the present day. Likir belongs to the yellow-hat sect and currently houses about 120 lamas. Further drive will take you to Yangthang village. Check in at the home stay and witness the daily routine life of local people. Overnight home stay.
Day 7 Drive to Indus Valley (Yangthang – Hemis Sukpachen - Leh)
After breakfast drive further to explore another village called Hemis Sukpachen. go over the Hemis La (3,650 m). Hemis Shukpachan is a beautiful village famous for its juniper trees. On the far east one can see the unclimbed Hemis peak, some 60 km as the crow flies. Two small passes - Aang La (3,650 m) and Meptak La (3,700 m) are also crossed.
Witness the life winter and drive back to Leh for another overnight stay.
Day 8 Departure Leh
After breakfast you will get transferred to the airport in time to board flight for Delhi.
