Leh Ladakh Tour India - 9 Days

Upon arrival at the airport in Delhi, you will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan trekkers and will be transferred to the designated hotel. Once you take a rest and freshen up at the hotel, we will have a short discussion session regarding the trip. 

Then, in the evening, we will explore the markets and streets of the busy bustling Delhi. You can try some street foods from the famous vendors. You can also make your visit to the markets with authentic things to buy. After getting a glimpse of the capital lifestyle, we will return to the hotel. 

Today, we visit the famous and historical places in Delhi such as the magnificent Royal Red Fort also called Lal Killa. It is an attractive Fort made of magnificent marvels with red stone. 

After that, we head towards Jama Masjid, which is approximately 500 meters from the Red Fort. IT is one of the biggest mosques in India which was built by the famous king who made the Taj Mahal: Shah Jahan. Built of white marble and sandstone, this monument has a captivating architecture that appeals to all visitors, regardless of their religious beliefs. 

Furthermore, we explore the 43-meter-long Tower, Qutub Minar in the South Delhi District. The 5 story tower features 379 spiral-shaped steps that are beautifully built. The architectural changes can be seen because the building took place over a period of years and under the reign of different monarchs.

Lotus Temple is also one of the most visited buildings in the world. It is a Baháʼí Faith place of worship. The faith advocates the importance of all religions and emphasizes their integration. As a result, the temple is open to all members of society and does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, caste, creed, sex, or educational background. The distinctive structure of the Lotus Flower is captivating. 

After visiting some of the popular monuments of Old Delhi we explore the presidential Palace which is also called Rashtrapati Bhawan. The building took 17 years of construction to be completed.  

While in Delhi, visiting India Gate is a must. The gate towering in the heart of Delhi is an unforgettable tribute constructed in the admiration and respect of the Indian warriors. Over 13000 warriors' names are carved on the pillar. By the evening, you will be driven back to your hotel for another comfortable night in Delhi.

We transfer you to the Delhi Airport early in the morning for our early morning flight to Leh. Upon arrival, your Leh Ladakh guide will receive you and escort you to the designated hotel. Arriving in the early morning or by the afternoon, we will have more than half a day to kill. However, it is a day to relax. Remember that you've just arrived at a high altitude destination from sea level, which means your body will need time to adjust to the abrupt difference.

This is a day with little physical exercise, so relax and take in the views from your hotel while filling up on native Ladakhi cuisine. We will also have a briefing about the trip. 

Your second day in Ladakh will be spent in Leh, where you will continue your acclimatization. On this day, though, you'll be enjoying a tour of the lovely city and its environs.

The place of confluence of the huge Indus and Zanskar Rivers, some 35 kilometers from Leh town, is our first destination for the day. The varied shades of green in the water of the two rivers can be seen with the naked eye, making it a worthwhile stop. 

Then, we will drive to another major attraction here called Magnetic Hill which is situated on the Leh-Kargil Highway. Due to a so-called magnetic pull from the surrounding mountains, it is well-known as a place where gravity forces can be defied. The surrounding mountains and hills give the impression that the road is going uphill, while in actuality it is sloping downhill, causing automobiles to roll down even in neutral gear. 

Our next exploration site will be the Leh Palace which was built in the 17th century. Leh Palace was the royal family's residence which is now converted into a museum where you may get insight into the Ladakhi Royal History. The palace sits atop a hill providing a spectacular bird's eye view of the town. We will wander around the palace, catching glimpses of old architecture and snapping photos of it.

We will make our visit to Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda). It is one of the major attractions in Leh which is built to encourage world peace and prosperity as well as commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. This holy site, perched on a mountain, provides a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings, making it a must-see.

In the evening, we will take a stroll around the Leh Market. The busy bazaar can be seen selling anything from fresh vegetables to souvenirs and handicrafts. You can try some local dry fruits or street foods, and buy some handicrafts such as Tibetan Prayer Flags and Wheels. We will end the day with a delicious dinner. 

Now, it's time to get out of the city and get into the mountains. Today’s destination will be the gorgeous Nubra Valley which is about a 5-6 hours drive from Leh. The highlight of today’s road trip is the Khardung La Pass. It is located at an elevation of 17,582 feet (5359m) and is one of the world's highest motorable passes. We will spend 15-20 minutes admiring the Pass surroundings and further continue the journey. 

The terrain changes considerably once we cross Khardung La. Our road journey along the Shyok River takes us into the gorgeous green valley of Nubra most likely by late afternoon. 

After completing our hotel check-in procedures, we head to the famed Hundar dunes to catch the sunset, accompanied by herds of Bactrian Camels. This region's native Bactrian Camels are recognized for their ability to survive high heights and extreme cold. The terrain here is equally amazing, with undulating sand dunes as far as the eye can reach, surrounded on all sides by towering Rocky Mountains. We return to our hotel and spend the night. 

After breakfast, we will proceed toward Diskit Monastery before commencing our journey to Pangong Lake. Diskit Monastery is a popular tourist destination in Nubra Valley perched on a hill on the edge of a road that connects Partharpur and Those. This is the oldest and one of the largest monasteries in the valley and is famous in the world for the 106-foot/32 meters Maitreya Buddha statue that stands right beside it. 

We then continue to Pangong Lake. The journey takes about 6 hours and takes us over beautiful mountain roads. Once we reach there, we will check in and head to admire the beautiful Pangong Tso surrounded by mountains. It is one of Ladakh's most popular tourist destinations, known for its gorgeous turquoise blue water. We will spend the night on the bank of the Pangong Tso. 

We will relish the rays of sun peeking through the distant mountains and piercing all over the lake for a few seconds. Starting the day with enthralling sunrise, it is the time to get back to Leh today. 

After our warm and delicious breakfast at the heritage camp, we bid farewell to the lake and its surroundings and catch the route back to Leh. Our drive passes across Chang La Pass at 5360 meters and halts here for a short break to make a visit to the Changla Baba Temple and Chana La Café at the top of the pass. Then we make our second stop at the famed Hemis Monastery. 

Built-in 1630, the Hemis Monastery is Ladakh's largest and most well-endowed monastery representing the Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism. A museum in the gompa (monastery) exhibits Tibetan manuscripts, Thangkas, gold statues and Stupas inlaid with precious stones, weapons, carriers, and even a stuffed vulture pup.
Once in Leh, check-in and rest. The remainder of the day on your own. 

We will spend our last day in Ladakh exploring more of Leh and wrapping up our trip. Our today’s sightseeing covers Thikshey Monastery and Shey Gompa. We will also visit Shanti Stupa if it was not visited on the second day in Leh.

We will probably visit the Thikshey Monastery in the early morning to hear the Morning Prayer chanting session. The experience will be truly fantastic. After the Morning Prayer session, we will walk around the site and explore its arts, architecture, and history. The views are surely breathtaking and the architecture is astounding but it is also a great site to learn about Buddhism and the culture.

After spending an ample amount of time at the beautiful Thikshey monastery, we head back, pass by Druk Padma Karpo School and Rancho School and halt at the Shey Gompa. Shey Monastery is famous for its massive copper and gilded gold statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is claimed to be Ladakh's second-largest statue and a must-see. The Gompa is situated on top of a hillside and provides breathtaking panoramic views.

In addition to visiting the above attractions, today would be an excellent day to return to the local market to pick up some mementos to take home.

The trip to this magical wonderland comes to an end. After breakfast, complete the check-out procedures at the hotel and you will then be transported to the airport for your flight to Delhi or onward destination.