Lifetime adventure to Ladakh

SUMMARY

Dates: Sunday July 14th to Monday July 29th

Guide: Lead English-speaking woman Guide from our partner Rainbow Journeys. You will have a women Ladakhi  guide on this tour to facilitate the communication and open the doors to the hearts of Ladakhi women.

Walking Grade: 2 Goats as this is a cultural, walking and festival tour with 8 days of hiking through the Ladakhi villages and enjoying the Ladakhs breath taking scenery. You do need to be fit and prepared for hiking at an altitude of 3500m. Flexibility and a spirit of adventure is advised. When you arrive we will spend time resting and acclimatising as this will be a high altitude for many people.

Base: Accommodation is varied to give you the experience of local life – Hotels,Lodges, Homestays and Luxury Camping

We start in Delhi in The Claridges for 2 nights – 5 star central Delhi hotel to give time to acclimatise. We then stay in Leh , Nimmu, Uleytokpo, Timisgam,Nubra Valley, Hunder and Stok

Price: £4412 solo occupancy or £3515 sharing to include :

• Lead Mountain Qualified english speaking guide
• Specialists local english speaking guides
• 15 nights accommodation with all breakfasts
• 9 lunches ( 4 packed lunches )
• 14 Evening Meals with 1 free evening
• Bottled water on drives and filtered drinking water during hikes and in hotels
• Airport Transfers from Delhi Airport to the hotel return
• Delhi Sightseeing in a mini bus
• Return flight to Ladakh – Delhi/Leh/Delhi
• All local transport required in Ladakh
• Monument and entry fees as itinerary
• Activities – Bicycling at Timisgam and the various visits in Delhi

Price does not include:

• Any additional expenses caused by disturbances to the programme
• Tips to trekking staff, hotels etc
• Insurance – this is a mandatory for all guests to have
• Any camera fees
• Anything not included above

DETAILS

Ladakh is located in the far north of India, bordering Pakistan and China. Politically it is a Union Territory of India, geographically the continuation of the Tibetan Plateau. Two of the mightiest mountain ranges meet at altitudes between 5,000 and over 7,000 meters: the Himalayas and the Karakorum.

Ladakh is where the Tibetan Buddhism lives – a true alternative to oppressed Tibet, because here the people are free in their actions and thoughts. In the Buddhist monasteries, religion is not displayed, but lived.

This tour has a mix of cultural experiences & day hikes through the fertile, isolated villages that dot the glorious Sham Valley, the lower part of Ladakh. We gain an insight into the everyday life of  Ladakhi villages, cook with peasant women, hike through remote villages, visit nunneries and eat with the nuns. We also visit a women Tibetan Medical practitioner in a village and meet other interesting women during the tour. Enjoy Ladakh’s breath-taking landscape, high altitude desert and oasis-like green valleys. Visit the main monasteries and learn about Tibetan Buddhism.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike through fertile, isolated villages of Indus Valley – Traditional & mystical hermitages.
• Interact with Women Alliance of Ladakh, which works for upliftment of women.
• Lunch in a village with a local family.
• Cooking with local country women at Temisgam.
• Bicycle through the Tia village, visit the Nunnery & monastery.
• Cultural evening with Kyagar village women.
• Visit a women Amchi- Tibetan Medical practitioner in a village.
• Important Tibetan Monasteries – Thiksey & Alchi.
• Camel ride on Double humped camels at the High altitude desert (optional).
• Women & Craft.
• Nubra: The north of Ladakh with picturesque oasis villages & sand dunes
• Accommodation is a mix of traditional Ladaki lodges, village homestays & Luxury campsite with en suite bathrooms.

ITINERARY

Itinerary may change due to weather conditions and is always at the discretion of our local guide 

Your route

DAY 01:                        ARRIVE DELHI

Group will be met at the international airport and transfer to the Hotel.

Later in the afternoon, local sightseeing of New Delhi.

Meals: No meals but we expect a Welcome Meal together depending on arrival times

DAY 02:                        DELHI / LEH                     (Flight / Heritage walk)

Morning transfer to domestic terminal for your short scenic flight to Leh, capital of Ladakh. The flight over the Himalayas and the landing in Leh is an adventure in itself. .

A day to relax and acclimatize. On the first day you can relax and ONLY relax to better acclimatize to the high altitude. (It is a conscious decision not having planned any activities on the first day, it is crucial for your adaptation to the high altitude!)

In the evening we will take an easy Heritage Walk towards Leh Palace.

Group Dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: B/fast + Evening Meal

Flight Duration:  1 hr                                        Altitude:   3500m

DAY 03:                        LEH          (easy walk to Samkhar monastery)

You will visit the central city monastery – the Gonpa Soma -, the bazaar of Leh with its market women selling fresh vegetables from their gardens and the polo field, where polo was played long before the British.

After lunch at the hotel, there is some time to relax. Later drive up to Tsemo Monastery, walk past green fields, beautiful Ladakh houses & laughing children, to the hidden Samkhar Monastery. The end of the day is the Shanti Stupa built in the 80s, from where you can see the whole of Leh and the Indus Valley.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch + Dinner

Hike Duration:  7-8 km/ 2-3 hr                                       Altitude:   3500m

DAY 04:                        LEH / TAKTHOK FESTIVAL / NIMMU

Morning after breakfast head towards Takthok to attend the Festival at the Monastery. Later, post lunch, drive towards Nimmu Village for your stay in a traditional house.

In the evening we will walk and explore the Nimmu village.

Meal Plan: B/fast +Dinner                    Altitude:   3150m

Hike duration: 4 km                              Travel Duration:  Drive: 37 km

DAY 05:                        NIMMU                       ( Hike to Umla village)

A short drive through the barren Ladakhi plateau will bring you to Taru village, from where you will set off on foot to explore the traditional village of  Umla. Then, proceed to the Phyang village for a picnic lunch in the shadows of Phyang monastery. In the afternoon, explore the surrounding countryside on foot. As you walk along the narrow glacial Phyang Nullah (stream), drink in the glorious views of the terraced fields of barley, corn, rapeseed flowers, wheat and local vegetables. Observe villagers tilling their farmlands using traditional methods, before returning to Nimmu village in the evening.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch (packed) + Dinner                 Altitude:   3150m

Hike duration: 8-9 km                                      Travel Duration:  Drive: 19 + 21 km

DAY 06:                        NIMMU / YANGTHANG / ULEY TOKPO

Drive to Likir and visit the sacred Likir Monastery, which is renowned for its striking wall paintings and the spectacular 25 foot statue of the Buddha.

Then, begin your trek to Yangthang village. An early ascent will bring you to the top of the ‘Chagatse La’ (3,630m) pass. Then, cross a small mountain stream and enjoy a picnic lunch at Sumdo (Saspotse village). Continue your trek through the beautiful Saspotse Gorge to ‘Phobe La’ pass (3,580m). Enjoy glorious views of the Zanskar range, before arriving at the 19th century Rizdong monastery. Visit the monastery kitchen for a cup of butter tea and then walk through apricot and apple orchards to Yangthang village. Late this afternoon reach Ulley.

Overnight at Uletokpo, next to river Indus.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch (packed) + Dinner                 Altitude:   3000m

Hike duration: 10 km                                         Travel Duration:  Drive: 22 km

DAY 07:                        ULEY TOKPO / TEMISGAM

A short drive this morning will bring you to Hemis Shukpachan (3,645m), one of Ladakh’s prettiest villages, which is surrounded by sparkling streams and willow trees. From here, begin your trek to Timisgam village. This easy going trail has been carved out from the ochre rocks. On leaving Hemis Shukpachan behind cross a flat terrain dotted with small chortens (stupas), before a steep climb brings you to Mebtak La pass (3,720m), where you will hoist a prayer flag. Then, descend down to the charming village of Ang and enjoy a picnic lunch amongst apricot orchards, before continuing your downhill walk to Temisgam village (3,220m). Overnight at Temisgam.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch (packed) + Dinner                 Altitude:   3270m

Hike duration: 11 km                                             Travel Duration:  Drive: 40 km

 DAY 08:                        TEMISGAM                              (Bicycle to Tar village)

The whole day is dedicated to the women of Temisgam. We visit local country women, cook with them, work with them on their fields and spend time together and maybe some dancing and song.

Later in the afternoon, get onto your mountain bikes to explore the neighbouring village of Tia and the ruins of the old fort. Visit the Nunnery there, before returning to Timisgam.

Overnight stay at Temisgam.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch + Dinner                               Altitude:   3270m

Bicycle duration:  4 + 4 km

DAY 09:            TIMISGAM / TAR VILLAGE / ALCHI / LEH        ( Hike to Tar village / Alchi monastery)

After a leisurely breakfast we drive for 10 minutes to the bridge over the Indus between Farkethang and Nurla, starting point of our hike to the secluded village of Tar.

The hike through a beautiful gorge, also considered sacred by the locals, up to the hidden village of Tar is a beautiful one. The village is a contrast from other villages, with no road connectivity and electricity, it has minimised the influence of modernity and still maintains its culture and traditions.

Enjoy the hospitality of a local family and have lunch with them. Take in the solitude of this beautiful village before returning to the bridge where our vehicles will be waiting for us to take us back to Leh.

Enroute visit the 11th century temples of Alchi, before arriving at Leh.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch with local family + Dinner      Altitude:   3500m

Hike duration: 6 km                                               Travel Duration:  Drive: 90 km

DAY 10:                        LEH / KHARDONG VILLAGE ( hike) / KYAGAR

After breakfast, drive to North Pullu, via Khardung La pass (5380m). From North Pullu there are several ways to hike down the valley and our guide will choose a suitable route depending on the acclimatization of the group, enthusiasm and the weather of the day. We will descend to Khardong Village. Board the awaiting vehicles and continuing driving down the valley to Kyagar Village. Overnight at Kyagar.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch + Dinner                   Altitude:   3150m

Hike duration: 6-7 km                                       Travel Duration:  Drive: 115 km

DAY 11:                    KYAGAR         (Hike to Sumur village /Cultural )

Morning after breakfast you will have a hike to Sumoor Village. Spend rest of the day exploring the surroundings of the village and interacting with the women.

Later we will have a bonfire evening and enjoy a cultural programme organised  by the village women of Kyagar.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch (packed) + Dinner                 Altitude:   3150m

Hike duration: 4-5 km

 DAY 12:                    KYAGAR / DESKIT / HUNDER          (Medicine woman)

We drive to Deskit Village and visit the local (female) amchi (Amchi = Tibetan Medical practicioner) and find out more about her profession. If wanted, you can receive a personal consultation and ask her your questions.

After this we hike to Hunder and will stay there for the night. The main attraction of Hunder village is the double-humped Bactrian camels that were brought in Nubra Valley during the golden silk route era.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Dinner only                        Altitude:   3100m

Hike duration: 4-5 km                                       Travel Duration:  Drive: 45 km

DAY 13:                        HUNDER / STOK          (Stok Palace / Dinner at 200 years old village home)

After breakfast drive back towards Leh, to a nearby village of Stok.

In the afternoon explore Stok Palace, which is still home to descendants of the Ladakh royal family and see the Stok Palace museum, which showcases the priceless private collection of the royal family. We will also walk to the Stok Village.

Dinner at Gyabthago Heritage Home.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Dinner                    Altitude:   3500m

Travel Duration:  Drive: 152

DAY 14:                        STOK                (Hike to Nunnery / Thiksey Monastery)

We drive to Thikse, where we will see one of the most impressive monasteries of Ladakh – this magnificent monastery is in direct opposition to the simple nunnery of Nyerma. We will reach Nyerma after a small hike from Thiksey. Interact and have lunch with the nuns and learn more about the life of Ladakh’s nuns.

Later we visit the Women alliance of Ladakh and have an interactive session with them along with tea.

Meal Plan: B/fast + Lunch at Nyerma + Dinner     Altitude:   3500m

Hike duration: 3 km                                          Travel Duration:  Drive: 25 km

 DAY 15:                        STOK / LEH / DELHI      (Old Delhi rickshaw ride / Haveli visit)

After an early breakfast drive to Leh to take a flight back to Delhi. You will be met on arrival at the airport, drive to a hotel in central Delhi.

Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jama Masjid (anrchitectural extravaganza of Shah Jahan). It’s one of the largest mosques, used as house of worship for Muslims. You will walk in the narrow lanes of Old Delhi to experience the hustle and bustle of an ancient Mughal city.

After your visit to the mosque, you will take a bicycle rickshaw through narrow lanes to a tucked-away Haveli of Lala Chunnamal (1848), in the heart of Chandni Chowk. This haveli is three stories high, with 128 rooms, and spread over an acre of land. A must-visit historic building.

The present generation of the family that owns it still lives here! We will have tea/coffee with the family and savor the Indian snacks that are prepared locally, while listening to their stories of the by-gone era.

Farewell Evening dinner

Meal Plan: B/fast + Gala Dinner                      Flight Duration: 1 hr

DAY 16: DEPART DELHI

You will be given a departure transfer to International airport to board your flight back home.

Meal Plan : B/fast only