Multi activities: trek, rafting and mountain bike in Ladakh
21 days, level: intermediary
Day 1 : Arrival in Delhi
Arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Transfer at the hotel. Leisure day. Night in Delhi. .
Day 2 : Delhi, Leh (3 500 meters high) (domestic flight with Jet Airways, Air India or Go Air at 5:30am - 6:00am )
Flight to Leh, capital of Ladakh. Arrival in Leh and transfer to your hotel. It's time to acclimatize as Leh is at 3500 meter high! Free leisure day, just walking around in the bazaar to feel the city and have a look at the day-to-day life of Ladakhi people. Night in Leh.
Day 3 : Leh, Stok, Thiksey, Shey, Leh (80 km by road)
Let's visit the nicest monasteries close to Leh for our first day of discoveries. First, we will visit the Royal Palace museum in Stok with his superb ''thangkas'' and jewelry collection. We continue up to Thiksey. Visit of the monastery belonging to the order of the Dalai Lama and replicating the Potala Palace in Lhasa. We will also admire the statue of compassion which is 15 meters high and representing the Buddha of the future. On the way back, we visit Shey monastery who got the Old Summer Palace of the Kings of Ladakh. Back to Leh. Night in Leh.
Arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Transfer at the hotel. Leisure day. Night in Delhi. .
Day 2 : Delhi, Leh (3 500 meters high) (domestic flight with Jet Airways, Air India or Go Air at 5:30am - 6:00am )
Flight to Leh, capital of Ladakh. Arrival in Leh and transfer to your hotel. It's time to acclimatize as Leh is at 3500 meter high! Free leisure day, just walking around in the bazaar to feel the city and have a look at the day-to-day life of Ladakhi people. Night in Leh.
Day 3 : Leh, Stok, Thiksey, Shey, Leh (80 km by road)
Let's visit the nicest monasteries close to Leh for our first day of discoveries. First, we will visit the Royal Palace museum in Stok with his superb ''thangkas'' and jewelry collection. We continue up to Thiksey. Visit of the monastery belonging to the order of the Dalai Lama and replicating the Potala Palace in Lhasa. We will also admire the statue of compassion which is 15 meters high and representing the Buddha of the future. On the way back, we visit Shey monastery who got the Old Summer Palace of the Kings of Ladakh. Back to Leh. Night in Leh.
Day 4 : Leh, Likir par la route puis Likir, Yangthang en trek (55 km by road, 3 to 4 h of trek with a pass at 3700 meters) *1rst day of trek*
This morning we are going toward Yangthang through Likir. We visit Likir monastery before starting the trek to send good prayer for the trek. Likir monastery is one of the most important monastery in Ladakh. We start the trek in Yangthang to discover Sham Valley. First day of trekking. Small ascent up to the small village of yangthang. Night in Yangthang. First, we cross Tsarmangchan La pass at 3700 meters high.
Day 5 : Yangthang, Hemis Shukpachan (3600 m. d’alt.) (3 to 4 h of trek with a pass at 3800 meters)
We start the day with an easy trek. Then, we ascent up to Tsarmangchan La pass at 3800 meters. Then, descent to Hemis Shukpachan. We will meet the locals on that evening. Night in Hemis Shukpachan.
Day 6 : Hemis Shukpachan, Tingmosgang (3 350 m. d’alt.) (4 to 5 h of trek with a pass at 3750 meters)
We start the trek with a small ascent up to Mebtak La pass at 3750 meters. We will take a moment to admire the view and then we will go down for doing another small ascent. Slowly we are going down up to Tingmosgang. Visit of the Tingmosgang palace. *Possibility to meet the nuns and having small talk with them. Night in Tingmosgang.
This morning we are going toward Yangthang through Likir. We visit Likir monastery before starting the trek to send good prayer for the trek. Likir monastery is one of the most important monastery in Ladakh. We start the trek in Yangthang to discover Sham Valley. First day of trekking. Small ascent up to the small village of yangthang. Night in Yangthang. First, we cross Tsarmangchan La pass at 3700 meters high.
Day 5 : Yangthang, Hemis Shukpachan (3600 m. d’alt.) (3 to 4 h of trek with a pass at 3800 meters)
We start the day with an easy trek. Then, we ascent up to Tsarmangchan La pass at 3800 meters. Then, descent to Hemis Shukpachan. We will meet the locals on that evening. Night in Hemis Shukpachan.
Day 6 : Hemis Shukpachan, Tingmosgang (3 350 m. d’alt.) (4 to 5 h of trek with a pass at 3750 meters)
We start the trek with a small ascent up to Mebtak La pass at 3750 meters. We will take a moment to admire the view and then we will go down for doing another small ascent. Slowly we are going down up to Tingmosgang. Visit of the Tingmosgang palace. *Possibility to meet the nuns and having small talk with them. Night in Tingmosgang.
Day 7 : Tingmosgang, Skindeyang (3 500 meters) (7 à 8 h de trek with a pass at 4550 meters)
We start the trek by crossing few fields up to the foot of the pass at 4550 meters. We will walk in a charming village Tia and we will get the chance to talk with them in their daily life. We will ascent slowly one pass and then arriving in Skindeyang. Ladakhis family will welcome us for dinner and for sleeping in their traditional house. We will learn how to prepare a ladakhi meal, called ''momos'', well known for any ceremony in Ladakh . Night in Skindeyang.
Day 8 : Skindeyang, Lamayuru (3 550 meters, 25 km by road)
We will walk in the village about 2 km to get to the Padmasambhava meditation cave. It is really nice moment to discover this cave. Then, we will drive up to Lamayuru in landscape that look like if we are driving in the moon! This beautiful landscape is called ''Moonland''. We will walk to the monastery surrounded with the peacefulness and quietness of the mountains and we will visit his prayer room. We will be lucky if we got the chance to see view little monk doing their prayer. Night in Lamayuru.
Day 9 : Lamayuru, Prinkiti La, Wanla (4 to 5h of trek with a pass at 3900 meters)
Early morning, we will assist at a prayer ceremony called ''puja'' with Buddhist monks. We will meet them at the end of the ceremony to discover more about the way of life as a Buddhist monk. We start walking up to Wanla village by going up to the Prinkiti pass at 3900 meter high. When we arrive in the charming Wanla village, we will visit his monastery. Night in Wanla.
We start the trek by crossing few fields up to the foot of the pass at 4550 meters. We will walk in a charming village Tia and we will get the chance to talk with them in their daily life. We will ascent slowly one pass and then arriving in Skindeyang. Ladakhis family will welcome us for dinner and for sleeping in their traditional house. We will learn how to prepare a ladakhi meal, called ''momos'', well known for any ceremony in Ladakh . Night in Skindeyang.
Day 8 : Skindeyang, Lamayuru (3 550 meters, 25 km by road)
We will walk in the village about 2 km to get to the Padmasambhava meditation cave. It is really nice moment to discover this cave. Then, we will drive up to Lamayuru in landscape that look like if we are driving in the moon! This beautiful landscape is called ''Moonland''. We will walk to the monastery surrounded with the peacefulness and quietness of the mountains and we will visit his prayer room. We will be lucky if we got the chance to see view little monk doing their prayer. Night in Lamayuru.
Day 9 : Lamayuru, Prinkiti La, Wanla (4 to 5h of trek with a pass at 3900 meters)
Early morning, we will assist at a prayer ceremony called ''puja'' with Buddhist monks. We will meet them at the end of the ceremony to discover more about the way of life as a Buddhist monk. We start walking up to Wanla village by going up to the Prinkiti pass at 3900 meter high. When we arrive in the charming Wanla village, we will visit his monastery. Night in Wanla.
Day 10 : Wanla, col de Phanjila, Hinju (5 to 6 h of trek, 3 875 meters)
We start the day with a easy walk in a flat valley up to Phanjila pass at 3550 meters high. We can have a nice view of the field along the road. Then, we walk up to Hinju. Night in Hinju.
Day 11 : Hinju, Kongskil La, Sumda Chenmo (5 to 6 h of trek, 4 350 meters)
We start the day with an ascent up to the peak of Kongskil at 4950 meters. We will have a stunning view of the Karakoram and Stok mountains. On the top, we can find some geraniums and campanula. It's time to go down by crossing few river on the way up to Sumda Chenmo. Night in Sumda Chenmo.
Day 12 : Sumda Chenmo, Lanak La, Lanak Doksa (4 to 5 h of trek, 4 250 meters)
This morning, we will visit the Sumda Gompa and a old Buddha d’un ancien carved into the trunk of a juniper. We start the ascent up to Lanak La where we will have a wonderful view of Kongskil La. We can see few edelweiss and some rare wild plants of Ladakh. Arrived at the base camp of Dungdungchang La called Lanak Doksa. Night in Lanak Doksa.
We start the day with a easy walk in a flat valley up to Phanjila pass at 3550 meters high. We can have a nice view of the field along the road. Then, we walk up to Hinju. Night in Hinju.
Day 11 : Hinju, Kongskil La, Sumda Chenmo (5 to 6 h of trek, 4 350 meters)
We start the day with an ascent up to the peak of Kongskil at 4950 meters. We will have a stunning view of the Karakoram and Stok mountains. On the top, we can find some geraniums and campanula. It's time to go down by crossing few river on the way up to Sumda Chenmo. Night in Sumda Chenmo.
Day 12 : Sumda Chenmo, Lanak La, Lanak Doksa (4 to 5 h of trek, 4 250 meters)
This morning, we will visit the Sumda Gompa and a old Buddha d’un ancien carved into the trunk of a juniper. We start the ascent up to Lanak La where we will have a wonderful view of Kongskil La. We can see few edelweiss and some rare wild plants of Ladakh. Arrived at the base camp of Dungdungchang La called Lanak Doksa. Night in Lanak Doksa.
Day 13 : Lanak Doksa, Dungdungchang La, Chilling (5 to 6h of trek, 3 550 meters) *Last day of trek*
We start the day with an ascent up to the top of Dungdungchang La at 4 900 meters. You will then have a splendid view on the mountains chain of Stok and Zanskar. we will descent into the valley to the village of Chilling. Chilling was formerly the only village in Ladakh to provide metallurgical products in copper, bronze, silver and iron to the market Leh for centuries! Night in Chilling.
Day 14 : Chilling, Nemo en rafting (3 to 4 h by rafting) then going up to Leh by road (35 km)
This morning, we start the day on the river, we start with our paddle in hand! We will experience a few hours of challenging rafting to plunge into the rapids while enjoying the captivating colors of the rocks on either side of the banks. An incredible adventure! Road to Leh via the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus River. Night in Leh.
Day 15 : Leh, Chemrey, Takthok, col de Warila, Hunder (160 km by road, Nubra Valley at 2900 meters)
it is by minivan that we get to the Nubra Valley, a plain north of Ladakh called ''Valley of flower'' leading to astonishing sand dunes! Along the way, we will visit the spectacular monastery Chemrey, modestly perched on a mountainside, and visit the prayer hall containing a beautiful fresco of a thousand Buddhas. Then, we will stop at Takthok where we can visit the meditation cave of Padmasambhawa, founder of ancient Buddhist. Continuing our journey through the Valley of Nubra to Hunder via Warila pass where we can see the K2 part of the Karakoram mountain range. Night in Hunder.
We start the day with an ascent up to the top of Dungdungchang La at 4 900 meters. You will then have a splendid view on the mountains chain of Stok and Zanskar. we will descent into the valley to the village of Chilling. Chilling was formerly the only village in Ladakh to provide metallurgical products in copper, bronze, silver and iron to the market Leh for centuries! Night in Chilling.
Day 14 : Chilling, Nemo en rafting (3 to 4 h by rafting) then going up to Leh by road (35 km)
This morning, we start the day on the river, we start with our paddle in hand! We will experience a few hours of challenging rafting to plunge into the rapids while enjoying the captivating colors of the rocks on either side of the banks. An incredible adventure! Road to Leh via the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus River. Night in Leh.
Day 15 : Leh, Chemrey, Takthok, col de Warila, Hunder (160 km by road, Nubra Valley at 2900 meters)
it is by minivan that we get to the Nubra Valley, a plain north of Ladakh called ''Valley of flower'' leading to astonishing sand dunes! Along the way, we will visit the spectacular monastery Chemrey, modestly perched on a mountainside, and visit the prayer hall containing a beautiful fresco of a thousand Buddhas. Then, we will stop at Takthok where we can visit the meditation cave of Padmasambhawa, founder of ancient Buddhist. Continuing our journey through the Valley of Nubra to Hunder via Warila pass where we can see the K2 part of the Karakoram mountain range. Night in Hunder.
Day 16 : Hunder, Turtuk, Hunder (80 km by road)
Short distance by car to get to Turtuk. It is a very welcoming Muslim enclave since it is newly opened to tourists. It is the last village on the road before the Pakistan border. Back to Hunder. We will experiment a ride of Bactrian camel, also known as the "Royal Camel''. Night in Hunder.
Day 17 : Hunder, visits of small village in Nubra Valley, Sumur (45 km by road)
Discovery of the Nubra Valley with the visit of two monasteries in the region: Deskit and Samstanling. Night in Sumur.
Day 18 : Sumur, Khardung La to Leh by mountain bike (descent of the world's highest motorable road at 5550 meters high - 45 km)
We are driving back to Leh. We stop at the top of Khardung La pass, the world's highest motorable road to doing the rest of the road in mountain bike! The view of the Himalayan mountain ranges is breathtaking and the descent through a series of zigzag will be the ultimate challenge of the trip! Night in Leh.
Day 19 : Leh OR mountain bike to get to Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (20 km by VTT)
Leisure day in Leh OR we can pursuit the discovery of Leh city by doing mountain bike in the streets of Old Leh up to Mahabodhi International Meditation Center, a community that promotes sustainable and ecological development in order to help people in remote land of Ladakh. Back to Leh. In the evening, we assist at a Ladakhi traditional dance show. Night in Leh.
Day 20 : Leh, Delhi (domestic flight with Jet Airways, Air India or Go Air at 8:30am)
Transferat the Leh airport. Flight to Delhi. Arrival and tranfer to the hotel. Night in Delhi.
Day 21 : Delhi, flight back home
Transfer at the Delhi international airport. Flight back home.
Short distance by car to get to Turtuk. It is a very welcoming Muslim enclave since it is newly opened to tourists. It is the last village on the road before the Pakistan border. Back to Hunder. We will experiment a ride of Bactrian camel, also known as the "Royal Camel''. Night in Hunder.
Day 17 : Hunder, visits of small village in Nubra Valley, Sumur (45 km by road)
Discovery of the Nubra Valley with the visit of two monasteries in the region: Deskit and Samstanling. Night in Sumur.
Day 18 : Sumur, Khardung La to Leh by mountain bike (descent of the world's highest motorable road at 5550 meters high - 45 km)
We are driving back to Leh. We stop at the top of Khardung La pass, the world's highest motorable road to doing the rest of the road in mountain bike! The view of the Himalayan mountain ranges is breathtaking and the descent through a series of zigzag will be the ultimate challenge of the trip! Night in Leh.
Day 19 : Leh OR mountain bike to get to Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (20 km by VTT)
Leisure day in Leh OR we can pursuit the discovery of Leh city by doing mountain bike in the streets of Old Leh up to Mahabodhi International Meditation Center, a community that promotes sustainable and ecological development in order to help people in remote land of Ladakh. Back to Leh. In the evening, we assist at a Ladakhi traditional dance show. Night in Leh.
Day 20 : Leh, Delhi (domestic flight with Jet Airways, Air India or Go Air at 8:30am)
Transferat the Leh airport. Flight to Delhi. Arrival and tranfer to the hotel. Night in Delhi.
Day 21 : Delhi, flight back home
Transfer at the Delhi international airport. Flight back home.
