Day 1: ARRIVAL IN LEH

Upon arrival at Leh Airport you will met by 'Landscape Explorer' representative and Welcome in traditional Ladakhi style and transfer to our pre-arranged hotel, rest of the Day at leisure to acclimatize. Overnight stay at hotel.

Leh City: The capital of Ladakh, at one time was a major stop on the Asian "Silk Route". A stroll along the main bazar, observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops, is an entrancing experience. Chang Gali, behind the main bazar is less bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc.

Day 2: LEH

Post breakfast we depart for Sightseeing tour to Spituk. Spituk monastery was built in 15th century during the reign of Grags ‘bum-lde, these new Gelug-pa monastery was built like fortress on the summit of crags. Spituk lies some 5 kms south of Leh. Nesting at the foot of the crags are the flat-topped houses which go to form the village of Spituk.

Spituk or Dpe-Thub mean ‘effective as an Example’ and this is thus a suitable name for the first Gelug-pa monastery in Ladakh. Inside the monastery, which includes several courtyards and temples of various sizes, has been built at different levels, following the shape of the rock.

Later we drive back to hotel on time for lunch.

Later in the afternoon, guided sightseeing tour visiting Sankar Gompa, located at a distance of approximately 3 km from the town of Leh. A subsidiary of the Spituk Gompa, it belongs to the Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat Sect. The monastery also serves as the official residence of the Ladakh's head of Gelukpa Sect, known as The Kushok Bakul. There are time restrictions for visiting the Sankar Monastery of Leh Ladakh. You can also go either between 7:00 am and 10:00 am, or between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. These restrictions have been placed because a few of the monks, of the yellow-hat sect, attached to the monastery reside here permanently.

In the evening we will visit Shanti Stupa A magnificent white-domed structure, The Japanese for World Peace built the Shanti Stupa, at Changspa, on the hilltop, and was inaugurated by Dalai Lama in 1985. Its state of the art work attracts a lot of tourists to Ladakh and is spectacular to watch. From there one can see the nice spectacular view of Leh town. The stupa looks best at night, when it is beautifully illuminated with glittering lights. A large number of tourists come to Ladakh every year to visit this amazing stupa.

Day 3: LEH - LIKIR - YANGTHANG (4-5HRS)

We start the Day early in the morning from the Leh. It is 2 hours drive from Leh to Likir following the Indus River. Likir gompa situated atop a windy cliff top overlooking the beautiful village of Likir, This Monastery is headed by the younger brother of Dalai Lama. According to tradition the foundation of Likir monastery goes back 11th century when it was a Bon center. But the real foundation seem to be not earlier than 15th century. On the top on roof they have newly setup a museum which contains some very old thankas brought from Tibet and the armory, coins, seals etc.

After visiting the famous Likir monastery we begin our trek below a mountain nearby the monastery.

Day 4: YANGTHANG - HEMIS SHUKPACHAN VIA RIZONG (6-7 HRS)

ToDay our trek is pretty long. We walk alongside the river and trees amidst the gorge to the Rizong monastery. It is worth visiting Rizong Monastery, which is an isolated at the back of a natural amphitheatre and has three main rooms to visit, two with large Buddhas and third with a large stupa.

After visiting the gompa, we ascend gradually to the Shushut pass 4000 m. From the pass we have a view of Hemis Shukpachan as well as surrounding peaks. An easy descent towards our camp at Hemis Shukpachan takes a couple of hours. It is one of the major villages of Sham, and the name of the village is derived from the conifers (shukpa cedar or juniper).

Day 5: HEMIS SHUKPACHAN - TINGMOSGAM (4 HRS)

From Hemis Shukpachan we go onto a flat ground as far as ill-defined pass alongside the Chortens (stupas). A steep descent will lead us to the right side of the mountains and climb steadily on the slope towards the Mebtak La 3720 m.

After taking short rest and enjoying the view from the pass, we head down to the village of Ang. From Ang, we head towards the south on the dusty jeep road to the village of Tingmosgam. Tingmosgam is well famed for its monastery, and is perhaps the most affluent village in the sham valley for its apricots, apples, nuts and beautiful houses.

Day 6: TINGMOSGAM - LEH (3 HRS)

After a night at Temisgam, we drive back to Leh en route visiting Alchi monastery, the only monastery in Ladakh built on flat ground, well known for its peerless wall paintings.

Day 7: LEH

Complete Day at leisure to explore the beautiful Leh city on your own and time free for last Day shopping.

Or

One can take an optional excursion to KHARDUNG-LA-PASS (the highest motorable road in the world) at 18,390 ft, around 39kms from Leh.

Or

PANGONG LAKE, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 m). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometer at its widest point and over 130km long, it is bisected by the international border between India and China.

Day 8: LEH

Tour concludes. Landscape Explorer thank you for your patronage and ensure a punctual transfer to Domestic Airport to catch the flight for your onward Destination.

TOUR ENDS