Trans Ladakh: Srinagar – Leh – Chandigarh

Passing Sonmarg, today we cross the famed Zojila Pass, the movement on this is restricted by the movement of the military convoys. We climb over Zojila Pass and then pass the Dras War memorial. Kargil is an outpost and apart from the prominence it gained in the recent war there is not much to recommend it. Overnight stay at hotel in Kargil.

After breakfast we depart for Lamayuru. We visit the Lamayuru Monastery, one of the largest and oldest gompa in Ladakh. The monastery is very striking with its position on top of a beautifully eroded crag, complete with rock pinnacles and caves giving it a fairy tale look. We continue our drive to Themisgam which is approx. 1 hr further. On arrival we check in a hotel and rest for the day. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Themisgam/Nurla.

Post breakfast, we drive to visit Alchi Monastery. Standing on the banks of river Indus, the monastery is also known by the name of Alchi Choskhor. The significance of the monastery also lies in the fact that it is the only one that has been built on a flat ground. The monastery complex has three major shrines: The Dukhang (Assembly hall), the Sumtseg and the Temple of Manjushri, all dating from between the early 12^th and early 13^th centuries. The paintings here are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh. We then proceed to see the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers at Nimo. Post lunch, we continue our drive to Leh, enroute seeing the “Magnetic Hill” and “Gurudwara Pathar Sahib”. Overnight stay at hotel in Leh.

This day is for taking in the sights of Leh and to use this as an opportunity to acclimatize further. We visit Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and Stok Palace.

Hemis stands on the western bank of the Indus River. The monastery also boasts of a very rich collection of ancient relics. The Hemis Monastery also serves as the venue of an annual festival, known as the Hemis Festival.

Thiksey houses one of the largest Buddhist statues, the 15-meter-tall Champa, the Buddha of Future and located strategically, today; Thiksey is one of the most frequently visited and most photogenic monasteries in Ladakh. About a hundred monks live here.

The Stok Palace is where the current royal family lives. The museum at the Stok Palace has an intriguing collection of Buddhist art, weapons, jewelry and artifacts, including thangkas painted with colors derived from crushed precious stones. Also on display are the ceremonial head dresses or ’peraks’ of the erstwhile rulers of Ladakh. These headdresses are decorated with turquoise, lapis lazuli and coral and gold, making them an exotic sight.

We then visit Leh Palace, Hall of fame and head to Shanti Stupa which is a Buddhist white domed stupa on a hilltop in Changspa. We enjoy the panoramic view of the city at sunset.

From here we can choose to leave the vehicles and walk down to Leh taking some quite back roads and into the Leh market to wander around at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Leh.

Back on the road this time towards Khardungla pass (5602m/18,380 ft), the world’s highest motor able pass. After a photography session and acclimatization break on the pass we cross it and head towards Nubra Valley. Nubra Valley is sandwiched between the Karakoram Mountains to the north and the Ladakh range to the south lie the Shyok and the Nubra rivers. The villages of Nubra are scattered along these two valley floors. This is a beautiful region that once formed a part of the Silk route into Afghanistan. Because of the lower altitude a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and grains are grown, creating an impression of abundance. Dinner and overnight stay in Deluxe Tented Campsite at Nubra Valley.

Dinner and overnight stay at Deluxe Tented Campsite in Nubra Valley.

We leave early and set off for Pangong. The road offers some unexplored and beautiful landscape. Pangong is the world’s highest brackish water lake. It is 134 km long and 5 km wide spans two countries, India & China (2/3^rd of the lake lies in China). The sun paints its various hues on the canvas of the surrounding mountains as we watch spellbound while walking on the shores of the lake. We are to spend the night in this magical setting and we check into our deluxe tented campsite and spend the evening watching the drama of light over water as the sunsets. Dinner and overnight stay in Deluxe Tented Campsite at Pangong Tso.

We get up early morning, experience the sunrise at Pangong Tso. Post breakfast, drive to Hanley via Nyoma. Dinner and overnight stay at guesthouse in Hanley.

After breakfast we start our drive to Tso Moriri. Tso Moriri is a breeding ground for numerous species of birds. Chief among them is the Bar Headed Geese, found in great numbers, Crested Grebe, the Brahminy Duck (Ruddy Shelduck) and the Brown Headed Gull. The Tso Moriri Lake is 8 km wide and 28 km long. We visit Korzok village with its houses and its gompa appearing like a mirage. Dinner and overnight stay at a guesthouse in Tso Moriri.

After breakfast, we drive to visit Tso Kar. Tso Kar means salty lake in local language and salt was extracted from this lake in earlier times. While passing through this route we come across Changpa Nomadic Tribes, Yaks, Wild Asses, migratory birds. We drive to Sarchu for lunch. After a brief walk to enjoy the spire formations along the Bhaga river we start for Jispa. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Jispa.

After breakfast, we drive towards Solang. The landscape changes dramatically and is replaced by barren hillsides, blue skies and the route is dotted with green fields of barley, peas and potatoes. Then, we exit from Lahaul Valley and we enter into lush green Kullu valley. Overnight stay at hotel in Solang.

Overnight stay at hotel in Solang.

Overnight stay at hotel in Chandigarh.

After breakfast, final departure.

End of arrangements…