Soon the roads to heaven on earth, named Leh – Ladakh will open its door and lots n lots of travel, adventure freaks hit the highways from various parts of India to live their moments of the year and ride/drive this adventure filled journey to Leh – Ladakh. The biggest question I keep getting is, "While doing the complete circuit of Delhi – Srinagar – Leh – Manali – Delhi, which direction is best to start the journey?". Most of the time I reply, go via Srinagar – Leh Highway and come back via Manali – Leh Highway. I will try to enlist 5 reasons below why I suggest Srinagar – Leh direction while going to Leh – Ladakh over Manali – Leh direction.

When you travel to Ladakh via Srinagar – Leh Highway, you ascent in altitude in a gradual manner This means body gets more time to get acclimatized for the high altitude of Leh and you feel much better plus relaxed. The more acclimatized your body is, the less health (acute mountain sickness) issues you will face while you travel to Ladakh from Srinagar – Leh Highway. All this tweaking means, you will have less time of second day to thoroughly enjoy the views. Now, if you are traveling via Srinagar – Leh Highway and coming back via Manali – Leh Highway, you are acclimatized in much better way to sleep at high altitude Sarchu where you find good accommodation.

11 nights / 12 days (FIDO – fly in, drive out) - SRINAGAR (01 night) - KARGIL (01 night) - LEH (07 nights) - MANALI (01 night) - VOLVO (01 night)

Day 1 .............
Starting Delhi Airport
Early morning fly Delhi – Srinagar
arrival pick up at Srinagar
Full day Srinagar and nearby sightseeing
Lunch enroute
Dinner at hotel / restaurant
Overnight at Hotel Comrade Inn

Day 2 .............
Breakfast at hotel
Drive on towards Leh via Sonamarg and Zojila Pass.
Lunch enroute
Drass and Kargil Sightseeing enroute
Dinner at hotel / restaurant
Overnight at Hotel Zojila, Kargil

Day 3 .............
Breakfast at hotel
Drive on to Alchi
Lunch enroute
Enroute visit Lamayuru monastery, Alchi Village, Alchi Monastery
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at Zimskhang

Day 4 .............
Breakfast at hotel
Visit the confluence of Zanskar – Indus River, Magnetic hill, Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Hall of fame, Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace.
Lunch enroute
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at Hotel Chospa, Leh

At Nimo Zanskar River joins Indus river which ultimately called Indus. In this picture the river coming from the left is Indus, which is very clear, and forms the fertile Indus valley (Leh, Saspol, Basgo, Alchi etc) and the one on the right is the muddy Zanskar, which water is not very much useful for the cultivation purpose. Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill located near Leh in Ladakh, India. The hill is alleged to have magnetic properties strong enough to pull cars uphill and force passing aircraft to increase their altitude in order to escape magnetic interference.

Shanti Stupa was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura . The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama himself. The stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Day 5 .............
Breakfast at hotel
Drive about 40 Kms (3 to 4 hours) en route visit Sindhu Ghat, Shey, Thiksey and Stok Palace Museum drive via beautiful landscaped villages and natural surroundings.
Lunch enroute
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at Hotel Chospa, Leh

Sindhu Ghat is situated at 10 km upstream the Indus River from Leh near the Shey , it is a peaceful river bank The Sindhu river originates near Mansarover lake and Mt. Kailash in Tibet enters in to India and flows through the Leh and surrounding valley. +Shey is a town in Ladakh that has the old summer Palace of the kings of Ladakh. It is + located 15 km. from Leh towards Hemis. The palace was built more than 555 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the king of Ladakh. The palace has the largest golden Buddha statue in Ladakh.

Thiksey Monastery (also transliterated from Ladakhi as Tikse, Tiksey or Thiksey) (thiksok Nambar tak pe ling) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) sect, located on top of a hill, approximately 19 kilometres east of Leh in Ladakh, India. It is noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet and is the largest gompa in central Ladakh.

Stok Monastery or Stok Gompa or Palace is a Buddhist monastery in Leh district, Ladakh, northern India, 15 kilometres south of Leh. It was founded by Lama Lhawang Lotus in the 14th Century and has a notable library including all 108 volumes of the Kangjur. A ritual dance-mask festival is held annually. It was used for some time as a residence by the Ladakhi royalty.

Evening at leisure, visit the German Bakery, local handicraft shops and the local monastery in the Main market.

Day 6 .............
Breakfast at hotel
Full day Trip to Nubra Valley 125kms (5 to 6 hrs drive). Cross the world highest motorable road Khardongla Pass at (18,380.feet) Enter the beautiful valley famously known for the ancient Caravan route to Central Asia and to places like Kashgar and Yarkand, the road was also known as the treaty road. Nubra literally means the valley of flowers. The double humps Bacterium Camel ride in the sand dune.

Dinner at hotel
Overnight at Tirit Camp/Hotel.

Day 7 .............
Breakfast at camp
Full day trip to Pangong Lake drive 154 Kms (7 to 8 hours) through Changla Pass (5300 Meter, 17,350.feet) second highest motorable road in the world. Visit the beautiful Pangong Lake forms a part of the border area between India and China. This Large scenic Lake at an altitude of 13,930 feet above the sea level has a brilliant color variation including deep blue, turquoise etc.

Lunch enroute
Dinner at hotel
Over night in Camp Redstart.

Day 8 .............
Breakfast at camp
Drive to Lake Tsomoriri ( Korzok village ), we could have never imagined that something like this can exist and that we can be there. This route is 240 kms (one way) has the best roads in this region.
Lunch enroute
Dinner at camp
Night at Tsomoriri Camp by COL.

Day 9 .............
Breakfast at camp
Drive on to Tsokar and Sarchu enroute Manali
Lunch enroute
Dinner at camp
Overnight at Adventure Camp Sarchu

Day 10 .............
Breakfast at Camp
Transfer to Manali
Lunch enroute
Rest at Manali
Dinner at hotel / restaurant
Overnight at Hotel Silmog Garden

Day 11 .............
Breakfast at hotel
Half day sightseeing
Lunch at local restaurant
Night Volvo Coach to Delhi

Day 12 .............
All expenses on our own till we arrive at Delhi where we move on with our individual plans. Trip ends with a plan for the next trip.

LAND PACKAGE COST – (min 06 persons in Mahindra Scorpio / similar)
Rs.57,500/- PER PERSON for 11 nights / 12 days
(Airfare + 11 Nights' accommodation including Volvo + all 32 meals as per itinerary + all sightseeing + all transfers + all taxes and permits) + Service Tax 3.09% on total billing.

Note:
Visit to Khardongla Pass is subject to weather condition. Inner Line permit is mandatory for Foreigner as well as Indian. Please carry your valid ID proofs for permit. PAN Cards are not acceptable.

Cancellation Policy:
• Before 01 Month of arrival dates – 01 full day charges.
• Before 15 days of the arrival dates – 50% of the total billing.
• Before 7 days of the arrival dates – 100% of the total cost
• Any amendments or cancellation should be informed in advance.

Coming Soon!