Duration: 8 Days
Accomodations: Hotel
Best time: June - September
Grade: Easy

INTRODUCTION
This Buddhist land is more culturally akin to Tibet than the lowlands further south. The beautiful multi-colored desert landscapes are arid and dotted with small villages inhabited by rugged looking people of Tibetan heritage. Leh town is a fascinating city surrounded by snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, verdant farmland, sprawling monasteries, ancient palaces and countless discoveries which fascinate visitors worldwide. After strolling through Leh and the Indus valley, on this journey you will make the trip to the Kardungla, at (18830ft/5569m) the world’s highest motorable road that will take you into the beautiful valley of Nubra. A drive through the remote and mysterious landscape of Changthang reveals its pride, the Pangong Tso. This saltwater lake is iridescent blue/green in summer but completely frozen in winter. Later you will drive to Manali. The picturesque road from Leh, Ladakh to Manali is full of surprises and adventure all along the journey. The whole journey is filled with beautiful mountains, snow covered hills and a few of world’s highest motorable passes as well. This trip will provide many wonderful memories & for many, proves to be the journey of a lifetime.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 ARRIVE IN LEH Our representative will assist you at the Airport on arrival. Get aboard the waiting vehicle and transfer to the hotel and check-in. Today, the full day is for rest and leisure to acclimatize to the higher altitude. Overnight at (hotel).

DAY 2: SHEY,THIKSEY AND HEMIS After breakfast. begin the Indus Valley monastery tour. You start with a visit to Shey, the ancient capital of Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge gold-gilded statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning in front of the statue. Then we visit Thiksey Gompa, an impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill above the village. The monastery has a beautiful 12 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future. Drive further to visit the famous Hemis Gompa, founded in the 1630's by Stag-tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of Sengge Namgyal. Hemis is one of the largest and richest gompas of Ladakh. The two-day festival of monastic dance in June-July has raised the reputation of Hemis particularly high. The festival is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as the second Buddha and responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Tibetan world. Overnight at in Leh. (hotel)

DAY 3: DRIVE TO NUBRA VALLEY After checking out of the hotel, you will drive on the highest motorable road in the world over the Kardung La Pass which is over (18,380ft/5569m). The road descends from the pass down a spectacular gorge through the Kardung village and on down to the Nubra Valley floor to the village of Diskit. We then drive up the mountain side to reach the Diskit Monastery. Afterwards, either set up camp or check into a guesthouse in the scenic village of Hunder. If time permits you will visit the riverside sand dunes where the small herd of Bactrian camels reside. Overnight in Nubra.(hotel)

DAY 4: NUBRA VALLEY TO LEH In the morning after breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive back to Leh passing through Khardung La. Stop at the hotel for lunch. For the rest of the day relax and indulge in leisure activities or take a walking tour. Explore Leh market and the cafes on your own. Overnight in Leh. (hotel)

DAY 5: PANGONG TSO LAKE DAY TRIP On this day you will head out for an early drive (normally after breakfast) which is essential to cross over to the Pangong Tso/Lake via the Chang-La (17586ft/5360m). The Pangong Lake, situated at (14,000ft/4,267m) is a long narrow basin of inland drainage. About 1/3 of the Lake falls in India and the remaining part is in Tibet, China. The ever-changing turquoise blue and green colour of this brackish lake can be seen Reflecting the image of the mountains of the Chang Chenmo range to the north. Although being a salt water lake, it freezes completely in winter. The flora, or lack of it is very unique to Pangong Tso. According to credible reports the lake is devoid of both micro-vegetation and aquatic life such as fish and crustaceans. However, the lake is an important breeding ground for migratory birds, including the Bar-headed Geese and Brahmini Ducks. Drive back to Leh.(hotel)

DAY 6: DRIVE TO SARCHU On the morning drive to Sarchu, you ascend onto the highest plateau on earth (4511m) and then travel down the Gata loops; an amazing series of 21 hair-pin bends of the Leh to Manali highway, which is only open for a limited time as weather conditions permit each year. You spend the night at a tented camp erected each summer to cater for travelers. The large pre-erected tents are fully equipped with beds and bedding and have en-suite toilet facilities. Overnight at Sarchu.(hotel)

DAY 7: DRIVE TO JESPA After the breakfast you will drive towards Manali via Jespa by climbing up the Baralacha pass (4891m) were you are once again treated to spellbinding views of the Himalayan Range before threading your way down the mountain side towards your nights stop at Jespa; a small settlement in an area known as Lahaul. The air starts to feel a little thicker as the oxygen content increases, with more vegetation on the mountainsides and small-cultivated areas marking a return to a more hospitable landscape. Overnight at Jespa. (hotel)

DAY 8: DRIVE TO MANALI A full day's drive takes us over the Rohtang Pass (13124ft/3977m) today is the last of the high passes before descending down to the Kulu Valley and the picturesque town of Manali surrounded by forests and mountains. Overnight at Manali. (hotel).

LAND COST: on request

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