Destination: India, Ladakh Cultural Tour
Ladakh Cultural Tour the subcontinent of India in the south of Asia is a fascinating travel destination with impressive and completely contrasting destinations. On various tours through India, visitors get to know fantastic regions.
The south of India fascinates with tropical landscapes, palm-fringed beaches and temple cities worth seeing, while Ladakh Cultural Tour in the north of the country impresses with the mighty mountains of the Himalayas and a multitude of monasteries. The northeast of India is little known. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are only hesitantly opening up to travelers. In the “Wild West” of India, in Gujarat, where Mahatma Gandhi grew up, you can experience the peaceful coexistence of different cultures.
Get an idea of the various tours that are on offer with India tours. Each individual tour will be unforgettable. As an India specialist, we can put together your trip according to your wishes.
Travel to Ladakh and Zanskar
When traveling to Ladakh, just arriving by plane is impressive. Ladakh is the northernmost region of India and offers travelers stunning views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains. We are in the highest populated area of India and many things are culturally memorable of Tibet, which is why many people call it “Little Tibet”. Let yourself be enchanted by the white peaks and deep valleys, the unique monasteries and the charming people who have managed to retain their individuality and originality.
Our Highlights of Ladakh Cultural Tour:
- Experience Ladakh intensely
- Medieval city of Leh
- Thiksey Gompa – a city in a monastery
- Thangkas, stupas and monks
- Enchanting Zanskar Valley and 7000 m glacier
- Cross the magnificent Suru Valley
- Spectacular ride on Sisir La and Sengge La
- The charming Nubra Valley
- Sky blue Pangong Lake
- Delhi, the chaotic capital
Itinerary (brief overview)
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
Day 2: Delhi Sightseeing
Day 3: Flight Delhi – Leh
Day 4: Leh
Day 5: Leh
Day 6: Leh – Tingmosgang
Day 7: Tingmosgang – Kargil
Day 8: Kargil – Randum
Day 9: Rangdum – Padum
Day 10: Dzongkul and Karsha
Day 11: Bardan – Zangla – Stongde
Day 12: Padum – Alchi
Day 13: Alchi – Nubra Valley
Day 14: Nubra Valley
Day 15: Nubra Valley – Pangong Lake
Day 16: Pangong Lake – Tso Moriri
Day 17: Tso Moriri
Day 18: Tso Moriri – Leh
Day 19: Leh
Day 20: Leh – Delhi
Day 21: Departure from Delhi
Day 1: Arrival Delhi
Arrival in New Delhi, India, welcome by our team and transfer to the hotel near the airport. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 2: City tour New Delhi
After breakfast let’s start a city tour with our guide. Vist Old Delhi, Chadini Chowk, Red Fort (Out side), Raj Ghat & Government Buildings. Back to hotel, we go to bed early as our flight to Leh leaves early the next morning.
Day 3: Flight Delhi – Leh
We take the early flight from Delhi over the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to Leh. Relax at 3,500 m above sea level. The day is free. Wander through the small streets of the medieval-looking city. If we are still feeling fit, we will start with the first visits. We immerse ourselves in the mystical culture of Tibetan monks and head to the Sankar Monastery with magnificent murals of Tara in her tantric form, each with 1000 heads, hands and legs. From the Shanti Stupa you have a spectacular view of the Leh and Indus valleys. Our hotel is located in the centre of Leh.
Day 4: Leh Monasteries Sightseeing
We visit the most important monasteries of Ladakh Cultural Tour. Hemis Monastery is the largest and oldest monastery where more than 500 monks still live. The view is spectacular! Thiksey Monastery, with its own monastery town, an important collection of Tibetan scriptures and a 15 m high gold-plated Buddha statue, will impress us. From the roof of the monastery we again enjoy a magnificent view of the Indus valley and the monasteries of Stakna, Matho and Shey.
Day 5: Leh Monasteries Sightseeing
Shey Monastery was the former summer residence of the kings of Ladakh Cultural Tour and is picturesquely situated above a small lake. Matho Monastery is the only monastery in Ladakh representing the Tibetan Saskya order and stands on a rocky outcrop above the valley. Across the Indus is the Stok Palace, once the seat of the ruling family of Ladakh.
Day 6: Leh – Tingmosgang
We leave Leh and drive west to Alchi. On the way we visit the Spituk monastery. The 1000 year old monastery in Alchi is famous for its rich wall paintings and wood carvings. On the way we also stop at the Basgo Palace. The main attraction is the huge, golden Maitreya Buddha. We continue to the Likir monastery. In the afternoon we reach Timosgang. Here are countless apricot, apple and walnut trees, which make Tingmosgang one of the richest places in Ladakh Cultural Tour. Of course we look at the monastery above the town and enjoy a wonderful view. Afterwards we explore a small medieval village nearby before spending the night in a nice homestay.
Day 7: Tingmosgang – Kargil
After breakfast we drive along the Indus river on the road that was only opened to tourists a few years ago towards Kargil. In Hanu Yogma we marvel at the old village, which is now a museum. The Drokpas live here, known for their traditional hair ornaments. In Chiktan we marvel at the mighty ruins of the old fortress as we drive past. Then we reach the Leh – Srinagar highway and next we cross the Namki La at a height of 3,700 m. Shortly afterwards we stop in Mulbeck to look at the 9 meter high rock relief from the 10th century. In the late afternoon we reach Kargil. If there is still time, we can stroll through the market.
Day 8: Kargil – Randum
Our journey takes us through the beautiful Suru Valley to Rangdum. On the way we pass the twin mountains Nun (7,135 m) and Kun (7,077 m), which are still part of the Indian part of the Karakoram. Today we spend the night in a simple tent camp.
Day 9: Rangdum – Padum
The Rangdum monastery is located at an altitude of 3,600 m. It sits picturesquely on a mountain ridge and is now home to around 40 monks. After the visit, the journey continues and the views become more and more breathtaking. We drive up to the Pensi La at 4,401 m. Shortly afterwards we reach the ice masses of the largest glacier in the Indian Himalayas, the Durung Drung. In Ladakh Cultural Tour we drive along the Stod River in long serpentines. Shortly before Padum we visit the famous Sani monastery with the Kanishka Chortens.
Day 10: Dzongkul and Karsha
After breakfast we drive to the Dzongkul cave monastery, which is built into the rocks in a side valley. In the afternoon we visit the Karsha monastery, the largest yellow-cap monastery in Zanskar.
Day 11: Bardan – Zangla – Stongde
The Bardan monastery awaits us just 10 km from Padum. The monastery is imposingly situated on a rocky peak above the Tharap River. We then look at the old fortress above Zangla and enjoy the view over the valley. The Stongde Monastery with its spectacular view is also on our route today.
Day 12: Padum – Alchi
Another breathtaking journey awaits us today on the new track along the Zanskar River. Anyone who has already done the Zanskar Trek will recognize a lot of things here. We continue over the Sengge La at an altitude of around 5,000 m to the Sisir La at an altitude of 4,800 m. The views are spectacular if the weather is good. We reach the Srinagar-Leh Highway through the Hanupatta Gorge and get to Alchi.
Day 13: Alchi – Nubra Valley
After breakfast we marvel at the beautiful Alchi Monastery in Ladakh Cultural Tour. Unfortunately, photography is strictly prohibited here. Then we head to the Nubra Valley, which has only been open to tourism for a few years. We cross the second highest (after Umling-la 5882m) drivable pass in the world, the Khardung La at 5,606 m, and our route is part of the old Silk Road. The original name of the valley means “flower garden” and the lush oases along the Nubra River prove this. Poplars, willows, rose trees and white sandy areas in between. There are also camels here!
Day 14: Nubra Valley
The Diskit monastery clings to a mountain and can be admired from a far. Then we drive along the sand dunes to the Hundar oasis. This place is considered the most beautiful village in the valley with its lush green apple and apricot trees.
Day 15: Nubra Valley – Pangong Lake
From the Nubra Valley we drive along the Shyok River. A long but exciting journey. The crowning glory is the Pangong Lake, which often shimmers in a wonderful turquoise. Here we spend the night in simple huts.
Day 16: Pangong Lake – Tso Moriri
Today we set off on another long but exciting journey towards Tso Moriri. In Ladakh Cultural Tour we will have to stop for photos again and again to capture the magnificent and sometimes bizarre landscape. In the evening we reach Tso Moriri.
Day 17: Tso Moriri
Small glacial streams flow into the lake, but it has no outlet. The lake, which is located at an altitude of 4,595 m, is about 28 km long and 8 km wide. With luck we can observe some rare birds here, such as black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese, black-headed gulls, great crested grebes, but also mammals such as argali wild sheep, Tibetan gazelles and lynx. We spend the day at the lake, go on short hikes and enjoy the harmony of nature.
Day 18: Tso Moriri – Leh
We drive back to Leh, past Tso Kar, where we might see wild donkeys. Another long drive and we don’t reach Leh until the evening.
Day 19: Leh
We’re using today as a buffer day in Leh, maybe we didn’t manage to do everything at the beginning because we had to go to a festival, for example. In any case, there’s still time to get the last souvenirs.
Day 20: Flight Leh – Delhi
In the morning or early afternoon we leave “old Tibet” and fly back to Delhi. The rest of the day is free in Delhi.
Day 21: Departure from Delhi
Today you take your return flight or extend your stay in India after completing Ladakh Cultural Tour.