Ladahk & Sringar

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Ladahk & Sringar, 14 days

Suggested Itinerary
Private Tour: Select Your Own Dates

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Delhi
transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel Radisson.

Day 2: Delhi Ð Leh (3506 Mt) An early breakfast transfer to airport connect flight to Leh. Flying over snow-clad ranges of pristine Himalayan peaks, this is a never-to-be-forgotten travel experience as you arrive in the striking land of Ladakh in the upper Indus Valley. On arrival transfer to hotel. This afternoon visit the town of Leh, a fascinating labyrinth of winding streets and quaint bazaars. The spectacular eight-story Leh Palace, looming above and overlooking the town, was built in the 16th century, about the same time as the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Overnight at Hotel Lahrimo.

Day 3: Leh - Spitok ÐLeh (36 km) After breakfast visit Spitok Gompa, built about 550 years ago. The head lama of Spitok is the head lama for Ladakh. Spitok Gompa contains both old temples and those built in the 1970s. Ancient thankas are preserved here, some having been taken from the Potala Palace and Lhasa after the Chinese invaded. In the afternoon visit Stok for a tour of the palace and museum. Stok Palace is the only inhabited palace in Ladakh. This palace houses a fine private museum, open to the public when the royal family is in residence. There is a superb collection of thankas, said to be the best in the world. Some of them have been created out of pure gold and paints made of crushed semi-precious stones. Also of interest are antique robes and royal jewelry specially noted for the turquoise and red coral. The collection also includes artillery and animal skins. Overnight at Hotel Lahrimo.

Day 4: Leh Ð Shey Ð Thikse Ð Hemis Ð Leh (115 K) Proceed to Shey Palace and Thikse Gompa. Shey, built in 1645 as a summer residence for the kings of Ladakh, is the oldest palace in Ladakh. The adjacent gompa houses a gilded copper two-story image of the seated Buddha. Thikse's twelve levels rise impressively on a rocky hillside. This gompa outdid Shey by constructing a fifteen-meter-high clay statue of the Buddha to commemorate the 1970 visit of the Dalai Lama. Also visit Hemis Gompa, the largest and one of the most famous in Ladakh, containing golden statues, stupas decorated with precious stones and many beautiful thankas. Overnight at Hotel Larimo.

Day 5: Leh Ð Lamayuru (125 km) Drive to Lamayuru. Visit their monastery, the oldest in Ladakh. It is believed to have been a sacred site for the pre-Buddhist religion called Bon. This fascinating 10th century monastery is located in a spectacular setting overlooking verdant farming terraces and is home to some of the finest frescos, carpets and tangkhas we will see. The complex includes one of the oldest libraries in the region, containing extensive books and other literature on the Tibetan Kagyupa Sect. On our drive back to Uleytokpo, we will stop to visit both Resong Monastery and Chulichen Nunnery. Overnight at Camp.

Day 6: Lamayuru Ð Alchi (36 km) Drive to Alchi, one of the earliest monasteries built in Ladakh, dating back to the 11th century. In the afternoon enjoy a float trip on the Indus River. Irrigated fields of brilliant green enliven the rich earth tones of the surrounding Ladakh and Zanskar Ranges, rising dramatically above the valley. Overnight at Alchi Resort.

Day 7: Alchi Rest day. In evening enjoy a local dance performance. Overnight at Alchi Resort.

Day 8: Alchi Ð Leh (76 km) Drive to Leh enroute visit Likir Gompa which 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 of Buddhism and is set on an isolated ridge not far from the village of Saspol. Overnight at Hotel Lahrimo.

Day 9: Leh Ð Srinagar On arrival at Srinagar airport transfer to Houseboat. Afternoon Shikara ride on Dal lake visiting interesting places around the Lake. Overnight at Houseboat.

Day 10: Srinagar Morning half day tour of world famous Mughal gardens visiting Nishat (The Garden of Pleasure) built by Asaf Jah in 1636 AD and Shamilar Bagh (Abode of Love) built by Jehangir for his beloved Nur Jahan in 1619 AD. Afternoon visit Srinagar Old city Jamia Masjid, Shah Hamdan mosque, Srinagar Museum and enjoy the walking through the narrow bazar of the city. Overnight at Houseboat.

Day 11: Srinagar Ð Sonmarg Ð Srinagar (100 Km) Morning proceed for a full day excursion to Sonmarg. Also called the Medow of Gold, and Gateway to Ladakh, it is perched at an altitude of 2690m. You have the option (on extra charges) of taking a pony ride to Thajiwas Glacier. Return to Srinagar for overnight in Housebaot.

Day 12: Srinagar - Gulmarg - Srinagar.(112km) Day excursion to Gulmarg, which means the ÒMeadow of Flowers,Ó was discovered as a tourist destination by the British in the 19th century. Prior to that, Moghul emperors vacationed in the Gulmarg area. Gulmarg is exquisitely situated in a pine surrounded basin of the Pir Panjal range. It sports a Golf course, a nearby tourist office, and a Ski hill with several Ski lifts and a rope tow. Afternoon return to Srinagar. Overnight at Houeboat.

Day 13: Srinagar Ð Pahalgam - Srinagar (2130 Mts / 98 Km) Morning after breakfast proceed for a full day excursion to Pahalgam (98 kilometres) from Srinagar En Ðroute visit the impressive ruin of stone temple Martund built between AD 855 and 933. Drive along the river Liddar to Pahalgam-famous for its scenic beauty. Evening return to Srinagar. Overnight at the houseboat.

Day 14: Srinagar - Delhi. Morning free. Transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi. On arrival at Delhi transfer to hotel for wash and change. Late night transfer to the International Airport.

Price: $1695 per person based on 2 people; Single Supplement:$300
Plus Air Fare: DELHI-LEH: $180, LEH ÐSRINAGAR: $65, SRINAGAR Ð DELHI:$125

Includes: Accommodation, dbl occ, breakfast in Delhi, breakfast + lunch + dinner in Leh, Alchi Lamayuru, Srinagar; arrival/departure transfers, land transport by private car-Toyota Qualis, professional guide during sightseeings in Leh and Srinagar, room for wash and change in Delhi on last day .

All Prices Subject to Change

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