Ladakh
There are few destinations on earth as beautiful or as remote as Ladakh, and even fewer places where you feel like you’re on another planet the minute you arrive. Apart from its amazing landscape the main attraction to Ladakh is a Tibetan culture that has remained intact for centuries, thankfully avoiding the genocide of neighbouring Chinese controlled Tibet to the north east.
Here’s just one of many trips we run in this region. Please contact us to discuss further the options.
Day 1: Arrive Delhi >> At the Airport you’ll be met by your World Horizons guide and taken to the Ashoka Country Resort for the night.
Day 2: Flight Delhi/Leh >> The flight to Leh is one of the most amazing mountain flights in the world as you traverse the Himalayan and Zanskar Mountain Ranges. On arrival you’ll be greeted by your World Horizons guides and transferred to your hotel. At an altitude of 3500 metres Leh is one of the highest cities in the world – so you will need a little time to adjust to the altitude. For this reason we’ve put the entire day aside for you to rest and recuperate from your long journey. Your hotel is very close to the heart of town, with plenty of great shopping, restaurants, e-mail cafes and the sights and sounds of a truly Himalayan world.
Day 3: In Leh >> Today you are free to walk the streets of this beautiful town. Relax in a cafe and observe life as it passes by. Barter for a Pashmina shawl or turquoise necklace, buy some fresh apricots from a local trader, or walk up to the old Palace that overlooks Leh. Your World Horizons guides are also available to help you with anything you might need.
Day 4: Hemis and Thiksey Monasteries >> After a big breakfast we’ll spend the day exploring two of the most famous monasteries of the Ladakhi valley. We’ll be traveling by jeep, four people per vehicle. This is a great way to get around and a lot of fun. Hemis Monastery sits in a small isolated valley southeast of Leh, and is the spiritual nerve centre of the Drukpa (Old Buddhist) order, that administers monasteries throughout Ladakh. After lunch, in the shaded gardens of the monastery, it’s back towards Leh and the spectacular Thiksey Monastery; one of the most impressive sites in the valley. The library at Thiksey is supposedly one of the finest in Ladakh, while the recently constructed Gompa affirms the continuing vitality of Tibetan Buddhism in this part of the world. Back in Leh we take a short stroll to watch the sunset over the fields of wheat and maize that surround our hotel.
Day 5: Rafting the Indus then drive to Likir >> From Leh we head onto the northern road for half an hour, then board our rafts and follow the Indus River till Nimoo at the confluence with the Zanskar River. It’s not a high grade river, around 2/3, however this three hour journey cuts through some extraordinary landscape. Arriving in Nimoo we drive to Likir for our first overnight camp. In Likir we stay at a great little camp ground run by a wonderful Ladakhi family. We will have our meals in the dinning hall attached to the main house. During the trek all your meals will be prepared by our cook team, who have a reputation for making the best camp cakes ever created!
Day 6: Likir to Yangthang >> From Likir we trek into an amazingly arid world toward the Pobe La at an altitude of 3750 meters (in Ladakhi and Tibetan ‘La’ means a mountain pass). On reaching the pass we descend to the village of Sumdo, cross the river and then on towards the Charatse La. From this wonderful vantage point we are one hours trek away from Yangthang and our camp for the night. Along the trail today you’ll see Ladakhi farmers working in the fields of barley and wheat – beautiful patchworks of greens and browns set against the wild and rugged Zanskar mountain range to the west. In Yangthang we’ll also visit the local school to donate books and stationery, and spend a little time with the children and teacher of this small delightful village. We reach camp for lunch and afterwards, explore this delightful village. It is an amazing experience to be able to see how these villagers eke out an existence from the harsh environment around them.
Day 7: Yangthang to Hemis Shukpachan >> The walk to Hemis Shukpachan will take about 3 hours, and on reaching the Sermanchan La, at 3950 metres, we have a wonderful view down upon this relatively large village. In Ladakhi Shukpa means cedar, and these hardy trees are scattered around the village. We arrive for lunch and have plenty of time to observe the daily life of the villagers as they prepare for the cold winter ahead.
Day 8: Hemis Shukpachan to Themisgam >> Today’s walk reveals the astonishing aridity and surreal beauty that is Ladakh, as we walk through a mountainous valley of ever changing colours on our steady climb of the Meptek La at 4070 meters. After four hours we reach a welcoming stream near the delightful village of Ang. Here we take lunch near the crystal clear waters, before moving down to our camp at Themisgam. This picturesque village is directly downstream from our lunch spot, so you can take a swim before dinner and wash away the dust from your hard days walk.
Day 9: Themisgam to Lamayuru by jeep then onto Uley Tokpo Resort >> This is an incredible day, with a jeep ride along one of the most spectacular roads in the Himalaya to the legendary monastery of Lamayuru. This famous monastery is perched on cliffs overlooking the Indus River. The complex is thought to be the oldest in the region and was founded in the 11th century by part of what’s known as the Kagyupa sect. Before driving to Lamayuru we’ll visit the ancient village of Tea just outside of Themisgam. This is an amazing medieval cluster of houses that engulf a hill and overlook one of the most fertile valleys in Ladakh. From Lamayuru we drive to the quite resort camping ground of Uley Tokpo. Here we relax with hot showers, cold drinks and some fantastic Ladakhi food within the beautiful gardens and grounds of the resort.
Day 10: Drive Uley Tokpo to Leh >> From Uley Tokpo it is a 3 hour drive back to Leh. We arrive for Lunch and then you are free to do a little e-mailing, shopping or sightseeing. Leh is always a great place to come back to with plenty of interesting characters to catch up with from your previous stay.
Day 11: In Leh >> This morning we visit the Leh Hostel Project set up by the local Lions Club, and learn a little of the problems that people can face living in a place like Ladakh. In operation since 1985, the Hostel cares for 60 children from a number of underprivileged areas of Ladakh and Zanskar. The Lions Club also focus on health issues such as diabetic detection and treatment in out lying villages, as well as giving free surgery at regular eye camps. You’ll also have the opportunity to talk with the children during our visit, and find out about the remote places they come from. They are all great kids, speak a little English, and look forward to the opportunity of meeting people from other countries. From the Hostel we make our way back to the hotel for lunch, and then you’re free for the rest of the afternoon..
Day 12: Leh to Delhi, then onto Agra >> This morning we catch the early morning flight to Delhi. From Delhi Airport we bus to Agra, city to the world famous Taj Mahal. To people the world over the Taj Mahal, mausoleum of the Mughal Empress Mumtaz Mahal, is synonymous with India. Its curving white dome, and the square base upon which its rests so lightly, is a familiar image from hundreds of brochures and travel books. Renowned for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, it is without doubt one of the greatest structures on earth. On arrival we will settle into our rooms, and then in the cool of the evening venture toward this iconic site only a short bus ride from our Hotel. This is without doubt one of the highlights of the trip.
Day 13: Drive Agra/Delhi >> After breakfast there is any optional visit to Agra Fort. Built principally as a military strong hold by Akbar in 1565, this massive red sandstone structure is 2.5 kms long and is considered as the predecessor of the famous Delhi Red Fort. The Fort gives an impression of a city within the city, with its marble pearl mosque one of the most stunningly beautiful examples in all India. For those not so keen on seeing the Fort, you may simply lay around the pool or indulge in a little souvenir shopping close by the hotel. After lunch we bus to Delhi and the Ashoka Country Resort. Here we’ve reserved a few rooms so you can relax, shower and have a meal before we go to the airport and your flight home.