LADAKH CULTURAL TOUR

On arrival at the Kushok Bakula airport in Leh (situated at a height of 3,500 m), you will be transferred to your hotel (2-3 km from airport). During the day, take rest to acclimatize yourself with the weather and high pressure in Ladakh. Stay overnight at a hotel.

In the morning, drive towards the west of Leh and explore the miniature paintings of the Alchi Monastery. The foundation stone of Alchi Monastery was laid sometime back in 990 A.D. Enroute, drive past Magnetic Hall, Military Hall of Fame and the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers at Nimoo. Stay overnight at a hotel in Alchi.

After breakfast, travel onwards to Dahanu Village, known as Land of Ancient Aryans. On arrival, check in at guest house. Later visit Dahanu and Beeama villages. Overnight stay at a guest house.

After breakfast drive from Dahanu to Kargil via Batalik (one of the most famous wars fought by the Indian soldiers in 1999 with Pakistan at this place), enroute view Apati rock statue and stop to take photos of the Buddha statue. In the afternoon, visit old Kargil. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kargil.

In the morning, after breakfast, around 8 am, drive towards Leh (3500 m/230 km/7-8 hrs). Enroute after 40-45 km, we stop at Mulbekh to visit the giant rock-cut statue of Maitreya Buddha. Later on, we cross the Fotula pass and stop at the lunar-like landscapes near Lamayuru village. Later, on the way to Leh, we stop to see the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers. Reach Leh by evening and stay at the hotel overnight.

Start the day getting ready to travel to the Nubra Valley. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ladakh. The unique landscape has given it the name of ?desert in the sky?. On arrival, check-in at a guest house/hotel. Later, leave for sightseeing. The main attraction of Nubra Valley is a camel safari on the Hundar sand dunes. The double-humped camels take you to explore the surrounding scenery. Next, visit the Panamik village. There are many hot water sulphur springs. Pay a visit to the Diskit Monastery, the oldest and the largest monastery of Nubra. Overnight stay in Nubra Valley.

After breakfast, visit Diskit Monastery (Big Buddha), where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Nubra Valley and then drive to the Pangong Tso Lake (altitude: 14,500 ft), through Shayok river. Arrive at the camp. Later, you will have free time to relax and enjoy the colour changing lake and the sunset on the banks of the lake. O/N stay at Pangong Tso Lake.

Start your day early when the surroundings of the lake look even more beautiful. If you want, you can click some photographs here. Later on, start driving towards the Tso Moriri Lake. The largest lake in Ladakh, it lies at an altitude of 15,075 ft. You drive up to Kharu and then right to the Moriri Lake. Enroute halt at the Chumathang Hot springs. Drive past Mahe Bridge and then drive towards the beautiful Tso Moriri Lake. Spot Himalayan marmots. In the evening, you will arrive at the Lake. Check-in at the camp near the lake. Near the lake, you can spot as many as 34 avifauna species. The lake has been declared a wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention in 2003. Stay overnight at the camp.

Early morning, hit the road to go to Tsokar Lake. Enroute, visit the Geothermal hot springs near Puga, Thukje village, see nomads along the Polokongka pass and the salt water Tsokar Lake. One of the famous protected wetlands of Ladakh, Tsokar Lake is home to various migratory birds from Central Asia. Stay overnight at the camp.

After an early breakfast on day 7, start driving to Leh via Tso Kar Lake. On the way, visit Puga Geothermal Gas springs, the Nomadic Rebo tents at Polo-Kongka pass, and beyond the pass, stop by Tsokar Lake - a wetland area. Stop here for photographs. If you are interested, you can also visit the monastery of the tiny Thukje village. Overnight stay at a hotel in Leh.

Early morning transfer to KBR airport to board your flight back home.