India – Leh – The Himalayan Kingdom

Welcome to Delhi, India!

Arrive at Delhi Airport. Welcome to India!

Upon arrival you are met by our guest ambassador in the arrival area of the airport after you clear all immigration and customs formalities. Depart for your hotel where you will check in for your stay.

Delhi stands as the capital of Modern India. Here you can see the mingling of the Old and New India, the ancient and the modern. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 20th centuries. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors, which has left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can express such a profusion of architectural styles.

Old Delhi

After breakfast, proceed for a guided tour of Old Delhi.

Start with the visit of Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India(Masjid will be closed during praying hours). After this visit, hop on to your rickshaws and enter the colorful, narrow alleys and gullies of Old Delhi. Discover the gems of the main street of Chandni Chowk. Then proceed into busy streets which are forever bustling with the clamor and routine of daily trade, offering a glimpse of life back in the day and age when the city started as a commercial hub. Proceed to Kinari Bazaar or wedding market where one can buy all the paraphernalia required for an Indian wedding. At night, the gold and silver decorated borders, laces and colorful embellishments in this lane twinkle, glitter and shine, casting flirtatious looks upon innocent passers-by.Visit Asia's largest spice market, where spices, which in times gone by were once so valuable that they caused invasions and fierce battles, are still traded! On the way, you have the option of sampling some of Delhi’s delicious street food from Jalebis to samosas!Here you will also drive past Red Fort the most opulent Fort and Palace of the Mughal Empire.

After Old Delhi continue to Lutyens’s New Delhi. New Delhi was designed and built by the British in the 1920's -it's a city of wide boulevards,impressive Government buildings, green parks and gardens. In 1911 King George V announced the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi.

The King's architects, Lutyens and Baker, set in motion the design and construction of Delhi's eight cities -New Delhi. Lutyens designed an "Imperial City" having palatial-sized buildings set amid broad tree-lined avenues punctuated by Mughal style gardens, complete with fountains and shallow pools.

Visit two monuments from Delhi's past -Qutub Minar (Historical construction of a landmark in 1199, Qutub-ud-Din raised the Qutub Minar either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. From a base of 47 feet it tapers to 9 feet at a height of 238 feet) & Humayun's tomb(This tomb, which was built by emperor Humayun's wife, took eight years to complete and is regarded as an example of the early Mughal architecture. The emperor's wife, Begai Begum, was buried in the tomb and the structure is the first of its kind built in the center of a well-planned garden. The combination of white marble and red sandstone was a great influence on later Mughal architecture. It is generally regarded as a prototype of the famed Taj Mahal of Agra).

Your drive also takes you along the ceremonial avenue, Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate(At the center of New Delhi stands the 138 feet high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like Archway in the middle of a crossroad. The foundation stone was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and was designed by Edwin Lutyens), President House(The palatial building built on an area of 330 acres with a private garden designed by the illustrious Lutyens, as the official residence of the Viceroy of India during British reign, is now the official residence of the First Citizen) and the Parliament House(This is symbol of Indian democracy).

Fly to Leh - The Capital Town of The Territory of Ladakh

Check out early morning today and transfer to airport to board flight to Leh.

Upon arrival at Leh Airport meet & greet by our guest ambassador and transfer to Hotel.

We recommend you completely relax for the rest of the day to enable yourselves to acclimatize to the rarefied air at the high altitude.

Leh - Explore The Monasteries of Shey, Thiksey, and Hemis

After breakfast, visit the monasteries of Shey, Thiksey, and Hemis.

Shey – was the ancient capital of Ladakh and even after Singge Namgyal built the more imposing palace at Leh, the kings continued to regard Shey, as their real home. The importance which was attached to Shey ‐the seat of Ladakhʹs heartland ‐is attested by the enormous number of Chorten about the village, particularly around the palace complex and barren plain to the north of the road.

Thiksey – is one of the largest and most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompa containing images, stupas, and exquisite wall paintings. It also houses a two-storied statue of Buddha which has the main prayer hall around its shoulder.

Hemis – which is dedicated to Padmasambhava, observe a series of scenes in which the lamas, robed in gowns of rich, brightly-colored brocade and sporting masks sometimes bizarrely hideous, parade in solemn dance and mime around the huge flag pole in the center of the courtyard to the plaintive melody of the Shawn.

Leh - Visit Samker Gompa, Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa

After breakfast, proceed to visit Samker Gompa, Leh Palace, and Shanti Stupa.

Samker Gompa is little up in the valley, 2 miles from Leh Town, which is open to visitors in the morning and evening only. The Gompa belongs to Yellow Sect & was founded in the 18th century. The Gompa is the seat of the Head Lama of Ladakh& the founder of the yellow sect, Tsong-Kha-Pa. The temple walls have recently painted figures including Sakyamuni, Avalokiteshwara, Padmasambhava, Tsongkhapa, and green Tara.

Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district, Ladakh, in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura, and part of the Peace Pagoda mission.

Leh Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the Ladakhi Himalayan town of Leh. Modeled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, the palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century.

Also, visit Leh Temple & Walk back or Drive to Leh Bazaar.

Nubra - Drive for Nubra Valley Passing Through Horzey & Gangles Village

Morning drive for Nubra Valley passing through Horzey & Gangles Village. The road then rises to reach Khardungla (5602 Mts.) the world's highest Motorable road. Enjoy the landscape & the beautiful bird’s eye view of the Leh town.

Another 22 miles drive takes to Khalsar at Shyok Valley, where the scenery is all around. The road after crossing Khalsar Bridge at Shyok River enters the Nubra Valley & then proceeds along with the Nubra River.

Numbra Valley - Visit 265 Years Old Samstanling Monastery In Sumur

After breakfast drive to Sumur to visit 265 years old Samastaling Monastery.

Continue to drive to Hunder to visit Diskit, the headquarter town of Nubra Valley. Driving for 18 miles takes to Khalsar Bridge. Deskit can be approached by driving parallel to Shyok River for 13 miles. From the Historical & Tourist point of view, Deskit is famous for 515 years old Deskit Buddhist Monastery, lying magnificently situated on a hilltop, facing the entire Valley.

Further drive from Deskit to Hunder, another 5 – 6 miles drive. You may see a few Double Humped, Hairy, and Bactrian Camels.

Enjoy an Optional Ride-on Camels around the Sand Dunes of Hunder.

Nubra Valley - Journey to Turtuk, The Last Indian Outpost Before Pakistan, and The Gateway to The Siachen Glacier

Embark on an exhilarating full-day journey to Turtuk, the last Indian outpost before Pakistan, and the gateway to the Siachen Glacier. This is almost as far north in India as it is possible to go!

Technically part of Baltistan, Turtuk village has a Muslim population and is noticeably different culturally, linguistically, and architecturally from the rest of Indian Ladakh. Once on the Silk Route, Turtuk was significant for being no more than five hours away from four crucial hubs. Opened to tourists only a few years ago, this beautiful riverside village remains culturally a part of Baltistan.

Visiting Turtuk is like finding a hidden Shangri-La for there’s an end-of-the-world feel about the landscape as you approach Turtuk. The chortens and prayer flags of Ladakhhave disappeared. The forbidding, jagged peaks of the Karakoram seem to close in from all sides as the valley narrows. High on a crag are the crumbling ruins of an old fort. The placid Shyok has transformed into a roaring, jade-green torrent as it rushes to converge with the mighty Indus in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. There isn’t another car on the road and the Line of Control separating India from Pakistan is just over 8 miles from Turtuk.

Today, almost forgotten, Turtuk is a charming hillside village in two parts: Turtuk-Youl and Turtuk-Pharol, divided by a gurgling glacial stream and a bridge.

Leh - Arrive in Camp

After breakfast drive to Leh and check-in at the camp.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Fly to Delhi

After breakfast check out and transfer to the airport to board a flight for Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Departure Back Home

After breakfast transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.