Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival Leh. Met at the airport & transfer to your hotel.Day at leisure for acclimatization.Evening explore the bazaars for souvenir shopping.Souvenirs on sale include local household items like the tea and chang vessels, cups, butter churns, knitted carpets with Tibetan design, jewellery, semi-precious stones like turquoise, coral, prayer flags, musical instruments, and dance masks. You can also buy Ladakhi traditional dresses, including the exquisite and expensive pirakh (women's headdress) in addition to Kashmiri shawls.
Overnight Leh.

Day 2

Full day sightseeing of Leh.The village of Spituk lies 10 kms short of Leh and is dominated by the hilltop Spituk Monastery. Rising up in tiers with steep staircases and courtyards, the monastery's's oldest structures date nearly a thousand years back while the major part was built in the 15th century. Of special interest are the ancient sculptures, and mini-chortens decorating the altar. The gompa has a collection of scary Jelbagh masks, coins and arms said to have come from Lhasa's Potala Palace.
The most prominent feature of Leh is the towering Leh Palace, with a commanding view of the town and the landscape around. The nine-storeyed building with typical Tibetan architecture has sloping buttresses and projecting wooden balconies.The Dukhar temple on the fourth floor has the terrifying image of the 1000-armed goddess Tara, a collection of ancient masks, weapons and musical instruments. Go up to the terrace and you will be rewarded with a grand view of the surrounding landscape with houses in the old town, terraced fields and the magnificent snow peaks of the Stok Kangri (6,120 metres).
Going further up from the main palace is an older ruin of a palace and remnants of the Leh Gompa. It has a large statue of the Buddha, painted scrolls and old manuscripts. Behind the Leh Palace is the Namgyal Tsemo Gompa or Red Gompa built in the 15th century by Tashi Namgyal. 3 kms west of the main bazaar and up from Changspa village sits the Shanti Stupa or Peace Pagoda. Perched on a hillock, this milk white stupa was built by the Peace Sect of Japan in the 80s. You can either go up the flight of 500 steps or reach the top by jeep. The sides of the stupa are decorated with panels depicting stories from the life of the Buddha. Strings of prayer flags flutter around the temple, and you get a good panoramic view of Leh while sipping a hot cup in the tearoom on top.The Sankar Gompa of the Gelugpa sect dates to the 17th : 18th centuries. Home to twenty lamas, the monastery is surrounded by a high mud wall and several chortens (memorials). A central courtyard is surrounded by monks' quarters and at the top of the main building is the house of the Kushak. The residence is marked out by a golden spire and the dharma chakra with two deer flanking it. The main prayer hall or Du-khang is reached by a flight of steps. A large 11-headed, 1000-armed statue of Avalokitesvara dominates, while there are more gold statues, wall paintings and sculptures in the hall.
Dinner & overnight at Leh.

Day 3

Full day sightseeing of Leh :Going past the Tibetan Refugee Camp at Choglamsar, 10 kms south of Leh you cross the Indus River to reach the Stok Palace. This four-storied palace built in the 1840s continues to be home to descendants of Ladakh's Namgyal dynasty. The present Queen or Gyalmo lives in the palace in summers. Of the 80 odd rooms in the palace, most lie unused. Part of it has been converted into a Museum. The collection includes royal heirlooms like 16th century thangkas, ceremonial objects, crown jewels, ancient coins, dresses and peraks (women's ceremonial head dress) worn by the queens. Still worn on special occasions, they are encrusted with large turquoise, corals, lapis lazuli and gold inlay.A short distance away is the Stok Gompa, with a collection of striking dance masks and murals. An archery contest is held in July at the Palace, while the Tsechu festival of the Gompa takes place in February. Walking up the valley, you can get a good view of the surrounding mountain peaks, with the imposing Stok-Kangri Peak dominating at 6,121 metres. Visit the Shey monastery.15 kms southeast of Leh is the old capital of Ladakh at Shey. Occupied by the Namgyals till the 16th century, it is now almost totally deserted. Not much except ruins of the palace and gompa remain. The Palace sits on a ridge below the fort. A victory stupa crowned with a gold spire is a significant feature. The gompa houses a 15-metre high blue-haired Buddha. The shrine is maintained and attended by monks from the Hemis Monastery. The copper and brass status is richly decorated with precious stones. Paintings of bodhisattvas and protector deities surround the statue. 19 kms southeast of Leh on the eastern bank of the Indus River lies the Thikse Monastery. One of the most impressive and significant monasteries of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect, its imposing 12-storey structure was built in the 15th century. Rising in layers with tapering walls painted dark red, white and ochre, the monastery consists of ten temples and a nunnery. Inside are several stupas, ancient thangkas, statues and a pillar engraved with the Buddha's teachings. The dark gloomy Du-Khang or prayer hall at the far end of the enclosure has ancient murals with savage deities and old manuscripts stacked in racks on the walls. 45 kms southeast of Leh on a green hillside sits the Hemis Gompa, the largest and richest monastery of Ladakh. Popular for its Hemis Tsechu festival held in mid-July, the monastery comes alive at this time for the two-day celebrations. The 17th century Drukpa monastery of Kagypa (Red Hats) sect is entered through the eastern gate, leading into a large courtyard. Here, during the Tsechu festival monks perform the chaam dance wearing colourful masks. The main theme of the dances is the victory of good over evil and they commemorate the birth of Padmasambhava or Guru Rimpoche.
Dinner & overnight at Leh.

Day 4

Full day excursion to Pangong Tso Lake. An evening night out camping can also be arranged.Spreading over a 130 kms stretch is Pangong Tso, the largest salt-water lake in Asia. Most of the lake lies in Tibet, with only a quarter inside Ladakh. At a height of 4,250 metres, this lake is fringed by the Pangong range to the south and the Changchenmo range to the north. When the blue-green waters are still, these massive mountains are reflected in all their glory in the lake. In the distance you catch a glimpse of Tibet. Many rare birds, including the Himalayan chakor and quail come to nest in the lake.
Dinner & overnight at Leh.

Day 5

Departure post breakfast.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Accommodation in a grade A hotel with all meals & taxes, all excursions as per itinerary by a private vehicle.

Exclusions -

Any other items not listed above