Ladakh Monastries tour

Arrival in Leh

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Hotel standard Check-in 14:00 pm / Check-out 12:00 pm.

We recommend half a day of relaxation to acclimatise.

Leh Market: – The market is divided into several small paths and streets, with sections dedicated to clothes, artefacts, spices, food, souvenirs, and handicrafts. One of the best things that Leh Main Market is famous for is its woollen garments. Due to the cold climate, the people of Leh have a culture of making hand-woven woollen clothes, which have now become popular local products from Ladakh.

Overnight in Leh.

Leh-Hemis-Thiksey-Shey-Stok-Leh

After breakfast

Visit Hemis: – Among the richest monasteries in India, Hemis Monastery is renowned for its collection of ancient artefacts, including a copper Buddha figure, gold and silver stupas, and more.

Thiksey: – Thiksey Monastery belongs to the Gelug or Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also known for its annual Gustor festival held in the month of October/November, where a fair is organised at the base of the monastery and villagers from all over Ladakh come to barter, exchange items, and socialise.

Shey: – It is home to the second largest Buddha statue in Ladakh. Shey Monastery is located within the Shey Palace complex. The original palace, now in ruins, was built near the village of Shey by Lhachen Palgyigon, king of Ladakh (then called Maryul), in the 10th century.

Stok: – Situated on the banks of the Indus River on the outskirts of the city, the Stok Palace is a magnificent three-storeyed structure.

Arrival in Leh, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight stay in Leh.

Leh-Basgo-Alchi-Likir-Uleytokpo (125 Km, 2 Hours and 45 Minutes)

After breakfast, departure to Uleytokpo.

En route visit Basgo: – Although the monastery was built for the Namgyal rulers in 1680, Basgo itself was incorporated in the early days of Ladakh and is often mentioned in the Chronicles of Ladakh when it was a political and cultural centre.

Gurudwara Patthar Sahib: – Situated on the outskirts of Leh on the Leh-Kargil road, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib was built in memory and honour of Guru Nanak.

Magnetic Hill: – Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill located near Leh in Ladakh, India. The layout of the area and the surrounding slopes create the optical illusion of a hill.

Likir: – Likir Monastery was first built in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 18th century. It currently houses a 25-foot (7.6 m) tall gold-covered Buddha statue

Upon arrival in Uleytokpo, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight stay in Uleytokpo.

Uleytokpo-Kargil (91 Km, 3 Hours and 10 Minutes)

After breakfast.

Uleytokpo: – Uleytokpo is one of the most charming and beautiful villages in Ladakh. It is famously known as a base for trekking and camping in Ladakh.

Rizong: – Known to be a haven for meditation, Rizong Monastery overlooks the Indus Valley. The monastery has special significance for Tibetan Buddhists as Guru Padmasambhava is believed to have meditated in the caves around Rizong.

Lamayuru: – Lamayuru is known for its monastery and its “lunar landscape”, promoted as a “moonland” for tourists. The landscape is certainly stunning with its extraordinarily strange geological formations.

Hunderman Village: – Hunderman is a small village located about 10 km upstream from the town of Kargil. It is said to be the last village in Indian territory situated very close to the Indo-Pak border. Like many border villages, Hunderman found itself in the crossfire during the wars fought between the two nations.

Overnight stay in Kargil.

Kargil-Zanskar (249 Km, 5 Hours and 55 Minutes)

After breakfast, departure for Zanskar.

En route visit Pibiting Monastery: – The monastery is believed to have been built in the 2nd century by Kanishka, a powerful king of the Kushan Empire. It offers panoramic views of natural beauty and is surrounded by a serene and peaceful environment. The surroundings are perfect for hiking and photography. Padum has established itself as an important trekking destination.

Karsha Monastery: – It is the largest monastery in Zanskar, with a community of 120 monks. Karsha sits above the bubbling Stod River in the Padum Valley. In the 11th century, the famous interpreter Phagspa Sherab established part of the Gelugpa order here. The whitewashed quarters rise dramatically above the mountainside village.

Overnight stay in Zanskar.

Zanskar

After breakfast

Visit Zanskar Valley: – Located in Kargil district, east of Ladakh (about 105 km), lies the enchanting Zanskar Valley. Pronounced locally as Zahar or Zangskar, it is separated from Ladakh by the Zanskar mountain range, which is part of the Tethys Himalayas.

Zangla Fort or Palace: – Zangla is one of the most unique places to visit in Zanskar and is worth stopping at during your Padum and Karsha tour. The main feature of the village is the Zangla Palace, located on top of a hill

Stongdey Monastery: – The Tshogs-Khang is one of the seven temples and is adorned with magnificent portraits of deities. The temple art is set against a black background with gold borders.

Sani Monastery and Lake: – Sani Monastery is believed to be one of the oldest gompas in the Ladakh region. Sani is also a place of interest for historians and archaeologists because of the ancient Kanika Stupa located inside the monastery

Bardan Monastery: – The Bardan Monastery of Lungnak Valley, 12 kilometres from Padum, is perched on a steep cliff. It is one of the most important monasteries of the Drogpa order in Zanskar. It was founded in the early 17th century by Deba Gyatso. A large Dukhang meeting hall is located inside Bardan Gompa.

Overnight stay in Zanskar.

Zanskar-Kargil (249 Km, 5 Hours and 55 Minutes)

After breakfast, departure for Kargil.

En route visit Zongkhul Monastery: – Zongkhul Monastery is built on a rock wall with two caves in the Stod Valley, and from a distance it looks like a swallow’s nest on the rock face of Ating Valley.

Parkachik Glacier: – Huge sheets of ice occasionally break off from the 90-metre-high front face of Nun Kun and fall into the Suru River, offering a spectacular view of the massive icefall. After crossing the suspension bridge over the river and following the well-trodden path, it is possible to climb up to the glacier.

Upon arrival in Kargil, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight stay in Kargil.

Kargil

After breakfast, Depart for Dras.

Dras: – Dras was formerly known as Hem-Bas. From 1846 to 1947, Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state in India, where Dras was part of the Kargil Tehsil of the Ladakh Wazarat. Later, the region witnessed the British era

Tiger Hill View Point: – Tiger Hill rose to fame during the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. It is a mountain in the Drass-Kargil area of Ladakh, India.

The Kargil/Drass War Memorial: – The Kargil War Memorial, also known as the Dras War Memorial, is a war memorial built by the Indian Army in Dras town near Kargil town in the Kargil district of Ladakh, India, to commemorate the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan.

Overnight stay in Kargil.

Kargil – Leh (140 Km, 4 Hours and 50 Minutes)

After breakfast, depart for Leh.

En route visit Shargole Cave Monastery: – Shargole Cave Monastery is located about 31 km from Kargil and is an architectural marvel. As we approached the village, we could see from afar a white structure attached to a yellowish-brown hill.

Mulbekh Monastery: – There are many things about Mulbekh Monastery that make it a popular tourist attraction in Kargil, one of which is its location. Another attraction is the 30-foot statue of Maitreya Buddha carved into a huge stone slab.

Alchi Monastery: – The history of Alchi Monastery states that it was created by the famous scholar-translator Rinchen Zangpo in the 10th century. However, inscriptions preserved in the monuments attribute its creation to a Tibetan nobleman, Kal-dan Shes-rab, later in the 11th century.

Overnight stay in Kargil.

Leh

After breakfast

Visit Shanti Stupa: – Shanti Stupa is also known as Vishwa Shanti Stupa. It is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists. The impressive stupa is made of marble and features beautifully intricate statues of Lord Buddha.

Leh Palace: – The roof of Leh Palace offers beautiful views of the Ladakh region and Stok Kangri. With huge wooden walls and balconies, it is a fine example of medieval Tibetan architecture and boasts nine floors.

Free time to explore the city on your own.

Overnight in Leh.