Book on Call: +91 9858011213
Menu Valley Orchid Hotel

Exotic Ladakh

DURATION: 8 Days/7 Nights

Tour Overview

Day 1

Leh

Tour beginning-Reception at Leh Airport and you are on your way to the hotel for an overnight stay. Just relax and enjoy the hospitality of our hotel and get acclimatized to the climate.

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).

Day 2

Leh Excursion

Start your Leh journey by visiting the magnificent Leh palace.

Leh Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the Ladakhi Himalayan town of Leh. Modelled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa,Tibet, the palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century and holds a rich collection of jewellery, ornaments, ceremonial dresses and crowns. tChinese thangka or sooth paintings which are more than 450 years old, with intricate designs, pleasing colours derived from crushed and powdered gems and stones, are worth seing.

Time for some divine experience

Visit Shanti Stupa, a Buddhist white-domed stupa (chorten) on a hilltop in Chanspa, built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura and part of the Peace Pagoda mission. The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama

Next is the Tsemo Gumpa

which was founded in 1430 by King Tashi Namgyal of Ladakh, it has a three-story high gold statue of Maitreya Buddha and ancient manuscripts and frescoes.[1] The Monastery was featured in a television commercial for WorldSoccerShop.com in 2011.

Next is the Sankar Gompa

Get more divine experience by visiting the Sankar Gompa, a Buddhist monastery within an easy half-hour walk from Leh in Ladakh, northern India. It is a daughter-establishment of Spituk Monastery and the residence of the Abbot of Spituk, the Venerable Kushok Bakula, who is the senior incarnate lama of Ladakh due to his ancient lineage and personal authority.

Day 3

Lower Indus Valley sightseeing

Start your day with a patriotic fervor by visiting the Hall of Fame , a museum constructed as well as maintained by the Indian Army in the memory of the soldiers who had lost their lives during the Indo-Pak wars. It is also termed as a memorial for the war heros

Next is the Sputik Monastery

An interesting monastery founded in the 11th century by Od-De and constructed in a series of tiers with courtyards and steps. Higher up in the hill is a chamber which houses the enormous statue of goddess. Its face is covered and uncovered only once in a year during the festival time.

Next is the Gurudwara Panther Sahib

Get ready for another spiritual experience by visiting Gurudwara Panther Sahib , a beautiful Gurudwara Sahib constructed in the memory of Guru Nanak, about 40 kms. away from Leh, on the Leh-Kargil road, 12000 ft above sea level. The Gurdwara was built in 1517 to commemorate the visit to the Ladakh region of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder Guru of theSikh faith.

Next is the Likir Monastery

Founded by Tsongkhapa in 15th century,the original name of Likir monastery is Klu-kkhyil gompa. Besides being the oldest, the monastery is also known for the 75 feet statue of Buddha. About 62 km from Leh, Likir village located in Indus Valley is believed to be among the oldest villages of India.

Likir means the Naga encircled. The monastery got its name as it is believed two serpent spirits-Nanda and Taksako-guard it. About 120 monks reside in the monastery.

Next is the Gurudwara Panther Sahib

Get ready for another spiritual experience by visiting Gurudwara Panther Sahib , a beautiful Gurudwara Sahib constructed in the memory of Guru Nanak, about 40 kms. away from Leh, on the Leh-Kargil road, 12000 ft above sea level. The Gurdwara was built in 1517 to commemorate the visit to the Ladakh region of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder Guru of theSikh faith.

Next is the Likir Monastery

Founded by Tsongkhapa in 15th century,the original name of Likir monastery is Klu-kkhyil gompa. Besides being the oldest, the monastery is also known for the 75 feet statue of Buddha. About 62 km from Leh, Likir village located in Indus Valley is believed to be among the oldest villages of India.

Likir means the Naga encircled. The monastery got its name as it is believed two serpent spirits-Nanda and Taksako-guard it. About 120 monks reside in the monastery.

Next is the Alchi Monastery

Around 67 km from Leh, a small village by the name of Alchi is home to one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh region. he monastery complex houses two main temples – Alchi Du-khang and the Sum-tsek. Apart from these, other smaller structures of the monastery complex include The Temple of Manjushri, Lotsawa Lha-khang, Lha-khang Soma and 3 Ka-ka-ni (entrance) chortens.

Today, the monastery is managed by monks of Likir Monastery. For tourists visiting the monastery complex, it is essential to carry a flashlight since there is no electricty inside.

Next is the Sangam Point-Indus and Zanskar

Time for some getting a glimpmse of the breathtaking sight which no tourist should miss, the confluence of two rivers, also called Sangam Point-Indus and Zanskar. About 48 kms. from Leh, Just the view of Sangam Valley from the road above it can make you swoon in ecstasy.

Day 4

Leh to Nubra Valley for an overnight stay

Nubra valleys

The doorway to Shyok and Nubra valleys and the world’s topmost motorable pass according to BRO (Border Road Organization),’Khardung La’ is located on the Ladakh range which is 40 km from Leh. It is positioned at an altitude of 18,379 ft. and is also known as the ‘Pass of Lower Castle’. The place offers amazing picturesque and attractive views of valleys. Bikers from all over the world visit this mountain pass on their motorcycles and do mountain biking which is a refreshing and remarkable experience for lifetime.

Next is the Samstem Ling Gompa

Samstem Ling Gompa is the most important monastery of Nubra Valley and one needs to hike for around 45 minutes to reach the monastery. Samstem Ling Gompa belongs to the Gelun-pa sect and about 100 monks live there. A huge image of Shakyamuni dominates the main hall along with the statue of Maitreya and Mahakala that flank the image. The puja ceremony in the Gompa takes place both in the morning and evening.

Day 5

More exploration of Nubra Valley

Diskit Monastery

Pay your reverence at the Diskit Monastery, a 14th century monastery, which is believed to be the largest and oldest monastery in Nubra valley. The monastery can be reached from the Diskit village through a rugged and dusty road that crosses a stream in the middle of the village.

The monastery belongs to Gelugpa order or the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhsim. It was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, the disciple of Tsong Khapa, in 14th century.

Next is the Hunder Sand Dunes

Get refreshed by a refreshing experience of Hunder Sand Dunes. A completely contrasting feature of white sands in the midst of snowcapped mountain ranges, the Hunder Sand Dunes is a unique bed of nature that is located between Hunder and Diskit villages in the Nubra Valley. It is one of the high altitude deserts in the world that covers a wide area and is cut across by a gentle stream. The cold desert is also dotted with many species of plants and animals like Bactrian Camels, Yaks and Pashmina Goats.

One can even enjoy a Bactrian Camel safari through the Hunder Sand Dunes and acquaint with the intangible nature.

Back to Leh for an overnight stay.
Day 6

Leh to Pangong Lake for an overnight stay

Shey Place

On the way to Pangong Lake, visit the magnificent Shey Place. Standing at an altitude of 11,204 feetBuilt more than 555 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the king of Ladakh,the palace has the largest golden Buddha statue in Ladakh.

 

Next is the Thiksey Monastery

Yet another destination on your way to the Pangong Lake, is the famous Thiksey Monastery. Noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet ,it is the largest gompa in central Ladakh.

The monastery is located at an altitude of (11,800 ft in the Indus valley. It is a 12-storey complex and houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords. One of the main points of interest is the Maitreya (future Buddha) Temple which is installed to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to this monastery in 1970.

Next is the Aamir Khan’s 3 idiots movie school

Visit the school of Aamir Khan’s 3 idiots movie. It is known locally as the Druk Padma Karpo School. Karpo means White and Padma means Lotus in the local language Bodhi.The school was damaged in August 2010 when cloudbursts caused flash floods that washed mud and boulders into many school uildings. The Bollywood star Aamir Khan made a special effort to lend a helping hand.

Next is the Pangong Lake

Visit the beautiful Pangong Lake , the highest salt water lake in the world. Situated at a height of 4,250 meters, far away in barren land in Ladakh, Pangong Tso is one of the largest brackish lakes in Asia. Around 160 kms. from Leh ,the crystal clear blue lake sprawls over an area of 100 kilometers across the borders of two countries in India and China. It is one of the charismatic lakes situated on the Changtang plateau in eastern Ladakh region.

This is where Kareena Kapoor meets Aamir Khan at the end of the movie 3 idiots

Overnight stay at Pangong Lake
Day 7

Pangong Lake to Leh and a visit to Hemis Monastery on the way

Hemis monastery, 47 Km from Leh on the west bank of the Indus, the monastery belongs to Dugpa Kargyutpa order, built on a green hillside surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, is hidden in a gorge. It is the biggest and richest monastery in Ladakh and is must see for visitors.

Day 8

Drop at the airport and time to say good byes and carry beautiful memories with you with a promise of remembering our hospitality and of having created a place in your hearts.