india ladakh tours, himalayan mountain tours ladakh tribal tours, ladakh cultural tours himalayan mountain travel,tours for ladakh, ladakh tribal tours ladakh tours, leh ladakh tours

LADAKH TOUR
Opened to tourists only in 1994, the areas of Tsomoriri, Nubra and Dha Hanu still remain a mystery to the outside world.
After visiting some famous monasteries in Leh, we drive into the NUBRA VALLEY after crossing the Khardung la (18380ft), the highest motorable pass in the world. The Nubra Valley, with an average altitude of 10,000ft has a milder climate than the rest of Ladakh and the Shyok river which feeds this valley has made agriculture possible. It is in this valley that you have the double humped Bactrian camel, which were used in earlier days as means of transport on the Silk Route. The villages that you would be driving along fall on the ancient Silk Trade Route to Central Asia with Panamik being the last halt for the caravaneers before they crossed the high Karakoram passes. Snow capped mountains surround this valley which also boasts of some of the best monasteries in Ladakh. The Nubra Valley has preserved some of the finest Buddhist artifacts and ways of life.
Across the More Plains enroute to Leh from Manali are the remote Rupshu Plains and the 23km long TSOMORIRI LAKE at 15,000ft, surrounded by mountains towering over 20,000ft. The Changpas (nomads) who camp here in their yak skin tents graze their yaks and Pashmina goats (Shatoosh) in the rich pastures adjoining the lake. This area is also home to Blue Sheep and Kiangs (wild asses) and the lake serves as a breeding ground to the Bar-headed Geese, Black-necked crane, Brahminy Ducks and other wild life. In the short summer that the area experiences, these pastures are carpeted with wild flowers.
Finally we visit the DHA HANU region in the lower Indus Valley. The Dards or Drogpas as they are locally known, are the last race of Aryans confined to this region which has considerable ethnographical importance and is an anthropologist's paradise. The Dards have preserved a culture and a way of life that is distinct from those elsewhere in Ladakh as being the only Buddhist Dards in existence. And yet, their Buddhism is very different.
This tour provides a culturally rich experience through an area, which remains a mystery to most of us even today.

Itinerary
Day 01 : Depart home for New Delhi.
Day 02 : Arrival Delhi in the early hours. You will be met by our representative and transferred to hotel Park (30 minutes). Optional sightseeing of Delhi city (half day).
Day 03 :

We are transferred to the domestic airport for an hours flight to Kullu. We arrive at Bhuntar airport where we are met be cars which take us to Manali town, a very scenic drive (01 hr). Check into hotel Silmog Garden. Visit the mall, the markets and the Hadimba temple in the evening. Overnight Manali.

Day 04 : Trip begins. After breakfast, leaving Manali, we drive across the Rohtang pass at 13300ft which offers great views of the Pir Panjal range. We descend into the drier Lahaul valley travelling along the Chandra river past its confluence with the Bhaga river at Tandi. We reach Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul by late afternoon. Overnight in camp or hotel at Keylong.
Day 05 : An early start after breakfast for Sarchu crossing the wind swept Baralacha pass (16,045ft) and going through a completely barren region with some of the most awesome and colourful landscape. Night in camp at Sarchu.
Day 06 : Today, we drive up the Gata loops and reach the More Plains to Tsokar Lake, a picturesque sight with the reflections of the distant mountains. This is a salt lake from where nearly all of Ladakh's salt supply used to come from. Excellent opportunities for sighting the wild ass, the "Kiangs". Camp by the salt lake after visiting Tugche village and monastery on the banks of the lake.
Day 07 : After breakfast, we pack camp and drive past Tsokar lake to the top of Polo Gonka pass and descend to the hot water springs of Puga, where patients are treated by specialist doctors from Leh. Continue driving to Tsomoriri and set Camp near a little gully leading down to the lake.
Day 08 : Free day for birdwatching and visiting Karzok village, which has a small red hat sect monastery. We also take a hike upto the "changpa" settlements on a large pasture where they tend to their herds of yak. Return to Camp by evening.
Day 09 : We leave Tso Moriri after breakfast for a long 8 hr drive to Leh via Mahe where we meet the Indus river continuing down the valley to reach Leh by late afternoon. Check into Hotel Kanglhachhen.
Day 10 : Morning free to explore the town. Afternoon sightseeing of Thiksey and Shey monasteries and Stok Palace Museum.
Day 11 : This morning, we leave Leh after breakfast in jeeps to drive 39km to the top of Khardung Pass, the world's highest motorable pass. Sheltered on the other side is the beautiful and fertile Nubra valley with the Saser range of mountains ahead. You drive through Khardung village and continue on to Kyagar (Teggar) village, one of the largest in the area. We check into Hotel Yarab Tso. Evening free for village visit.
Day 12 : Today, we drive to Panamik hot springs and return to Kyagar. Visit the Zimskhang (royal residence, now in ruins) and the village Manekhang. Back to hotel/camp.
Day 13 : This morning, we hike upto Samstaling Gompa at Kyagar. We continue to Deskit, a quaint village on the banks of the Shyok river and boasts of a 500-year-old monastery perched atop a hillock. Departing from Deskit, we spot the two-humped Bactrian camels on the large sand dunes of the Shyok river. Continue on to Hundar where we visit the Chamba Lakhang, Zimskhang, Lakhang Karpo and Lakhang Marpo. Overnight camp at Hundar.
Day 14: This morning, we have an early start to visit the Khardung gompa at Khardung village and reach Leh by late afternoon. Overnight Leh.
Day 15 : Free day in Leh.
Day 16 : Today, we drive west along the Indus valley to Biama village. Overnight at Camp.
Day 17 : Visit some Dard villages and watch local life at work.
Day 18 : Drive back to Leh. Free afternoon for shopping and dining at one of Leh's many restaurant bars.
Day 19: An early morning transfer to Leh airport for the flight to Delhi. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel Park.
Day 20: Extra day : no scheduled activities . Can be used for sightseeing of Delhi or an excursion to Agra. Late night transfer to the airport for flight back home.
Day 21: Arrive home.

River Rafting India | River Rafting Expeditions | Special Rafting Trips | River Rafting Alaknanda | River Rafting Bhagirathi
River Rafting Kalisarda | River Rafting Brahmputra | Tons River Camp | River Rafting Ganges | Trekking Himalayas
Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas | Safari Tours India | Ladakh Trekking | Spiti to Changthang Trek | Zanskar Trek | Sikkim Trek
Camp Kuflon Basics | The Subansari River Expedition
asdasdas | Guest Speak | The Great Descents | Chosen Outfitter & Endorsements
Web Site Designed and Developed By Icreon Communications