Spectacular Ladakh - Explore the Beauty of Ladakh

On arrival at New Delhi International Airport, meet and greet with our representative. Please look for him in the arrivals hall. (This is AFTER you’ve passed through immigration, collected your luggage, passed through customs) In the arrivals hall, he will be holding a placard with Holxo Holidays logo and your name on it. He will escort you to your vehicle with the driver and accompany you to your hotel for immediate check-in.

Welcome to New Delhi, the capital of India, a fascinating city with complexities and contradictions, beauty and dynamism, where the past co-exists with the present. Delhi is not only the present metropolis of India but also a Necropolis, where many cities have risen and fallen over the last five millennia. Many dynasties ruled from here. Both Old and New Delhi are rich in architecture while New Delhi is a stark contrast compared to the alleyways of Old Delhi.

After breakfast, the thrill of discovery awaits as you explore New Delhi with the guide: see the war memorial, India Gate, the impressive palatial sized buildings of Rajpath and President’s House, designed and built by the British in the 1920s. Watch or participate in Kar Sewa at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the most prominent Sikh house of worship, in Delhi built in 1783. Kar sewa, a form of selfless service, is considered a privilege and high honour for every Sikh. The Langar (think soup kitchen) prepared by gursikhs who work there and by hundreds of volunteers, is offered to everyone, regardless of race or religion. Humayun’s Tomb, a magnificent structure in red sandstone and white marble is one of the finest examples of a garden tomb and is a precursor to the Taj Mahal. Don’t miss Isa Khan’s garden tomb nearby, within an enclosed octagonal garden, considered the earliest example of a sunken garden in India – a concept later developed at Akbar’s Tomb and at the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort, (only from the outside) is a beautiful red sandstone monument built in 1648. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Take a rickshaw ride through the narrow alleys of Chandni Chowk, a colourful and bustling market of Old Delhi. A Jain Temple, a Hindu Temple, a Church, and a Sikh Gurudwara Sis Ganj are all within a short walk from each other. Climb to the rooftop of one of the ancient buildings in the heart of the spice markets. From here you get an amazing view of Old Delhi and a peek into the architecture and lifestyle of locals, many of whom have lived here for generations.

After early breakfast, transfer to the airport in order to connect flight to Leh. The land of Monks and Monasteries, Leh the erstwhile capital of the kingdom of Ladakh is now a dream destination of many and the Mecca of adventure enthusiasts! Leh, one of the coldest deserts in the world is located at a distance of 434 Kms from Srinagar and 474 Kms from Manali (Himachal Pradesh). At the time of reorganization of districts in 1979, Ladakh was divided into Leh and Kargil and now Leh district is synonymous with Ladakh and vice-versa! Built by the kings of Ladakh in 1553, the Leh Palace was once the world's highest building.

On arrival at Leh airport, meet and greet with our representative. Please look for him in the arrivals hall, he will be holding a placard with Holxo Holidays logo and your name on it. He will escort you to your vehicle with the driver, transfer to your hotel for immediate check-in.

Full day of rest for acclimatization to the high altitude of Leh (11,500Ft / 3,500M). Overnight at the hotel.

After a leisurely breakfast, visit Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery and Stok Palace Museum. Post lunch, drive to visit Hall of Fame, Kali Mata (Temple of Guardians in Spituk monastery), Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Point and Sangam (confluence of Indus & Zanskar rivers). Arrive at a hotel in Leh for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, leave for Nubra Valley, driving across Khardong-la (Alt 18,380Ft). After descending from the pass, drive on for sightseeing of Sumoor area and Samstaling Gompa. Later, check into a fixed camp in the same area or drive across to Deskit / Hundar for dinner and overnight in a fixed camp or hotel.

In the morning, visit and explore Deskit, Hundar and the Sand Dunes where you can enjoy a short camel safari using the double-humped Bactrian camel found here (optional on direct payment). Later, drive to Pangong Lake via Shyok Village crossing Durbuk and Tangste finally reaching the beautiful Pangong lake. After a full day of sightseeing around the Lake, check-in at a fixed tented camp near the lake at Spangmik or drive back for 30 Kms to Tangtse and check into a hotel / guest house for dinner and overnight stay.

Drive to Tsomoriri Lake. It is a breathtaking journey on a trail that is literally a ‘no mans’ land. Vast lonely stretches on the Chanthang plateau make this drive one of the best isolated drives of this tour. Enroute, visit the faraway settlement of Chusul. Tsomoriri is situated at an altitude of 4511M above sea level; with an area of about 140 Sq. Kms. Spend your evening watching shadows of the surrounding mountain and the varying depths of Tsomoriri Lake. Stay in tented cottages at Tso Moriri.

After breakfast, retrace the route down to Puga Sumdo and then follow the road across the Polokongka Pass (4920M) to visit Tsokar Lake, a salt-lake system in the Rupsho plateau, which is the home of the Changa nomads and supports many rare wildlife species. After sightseeing of the area, take the Manali-Leh road to return to Leh, crossing Taglang-la (Alt 17,585Ft) enroute. Arrive at a hotel in Leh for dinner and overnight stay.