LADAKH Tourism is one of an economic contributor to the union territory of Ladakh in Northern India. The union territory is part of the broader disputed Kashmir region and is sandwiched between the Karakoram mountain range to the north and the Himalayas to the south and is situated at the height of 11,400 ft. Ladakh is composed of the Leh and Kargil districts. The region contains prominent Buddhist sites and has an ecotourism industry. As of 2020, tourism industry in Ladakh was worth 600 crore (US$84 million). Among the places of tourist interest include Leh, Drass valley, Razi khar (Chiktan Khar), Suru valley, Kargil, Zangskar, Zangla, Rangdum, Padum, Phukthal, Sani Monastery, Stongdey, Shyok Valley, Sankoo, Salt Valley, Markha valley, Ladakh monastery trek, South Zangskar, Trans-Zangskar Expedition, Spiti to Ladakh, Spiti to Pitok to Hemis, Rupshu, the Great Salt lakes, Chadar Ice trek.

Leh: The Leh Palace, which is situated behind the main market has eight stories and is similar to the Potala Palace of Lhasa and still belongs to the royal family of Ladakh. Just ahead of the palace is the Chamba Temple, which is a one roomed shrine that has a large icon of Maitreya, the Buddha to come. Also in the bazaar, at the top of the street, one can see the Jama Masjid. This has been painted in green and white colour. Another place to visit is the Sankar Gompa, which is situated in the city and is one of the oldest structures here. At one time, this monastery only welcomes a maximum of twenty monks.

Day 01: Arrive Leh
Pick up from Leh airport and transfer to Hotel. Full day rest for acclimatization.Overnight stay at Leh.

Day 02: Leh Sightseeing
After breakfast start for local sightseeing (Shey Palace, Thicksey Monastery, Spituk Gumpha, and Sindhu Darshan, Magnetic Hill), back to hotel at lunch. Evening free for walk in leh market. Overnight stay at Leh.

Day 03: Leh-Nubra Valley
After breakfast proceed to Nubra Valley. Today you cross the highest motor able Pass Khardungla. Reach Nubra in the afternoon and check in at hotel. Afternoon visit the famous cold dessert Hundar Valley. Overnight stay at Nubra Valley.

Day 04: Nubra Valley-Pangong Tso
After breakfast drive to Pangong Tso. The famous lake in Indo-China Border. Overnight stay in Pangong Tso.

Day 05: Pangong-Leh
Today we back Leh from Pangong. After breakfast with packed lunch drive to Leh. After lunch visit Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa. Overnight stay at Leh.

Day 06: Leh-Tsomoriri
Today after breakfast we will go to Tsomoriri. Reach Tsomoriri late afternoon and check-in to the deluxe Tent. Overnight stay in Tsomoriri.

Day 07: Tsomoriri-Leh
Today we back Leh from Tsomoriri. After breakfast drive to Leh. Lunch on way. Evening free for walk in leh market. Overnight stay in Leh.

Day 08: Leh-Kargil
After breakfast drive to kargil via lamayuru, Lunch on way. From Leh, following the Indus river to the west, stop at the Sikh place of worship Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and at the mysterious Magnetic Hill where you can witness your car with engine turned off and in neutral gear starting moving uphill against gravity… Strong magnetic force from the hill or optical illusion? A few kilometres further, Sangam (the confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers) is arguably one of the most amazing viewpoints in Ladakh. Visit Basgo monastery and Likir monastery before reaching Alchi village where you can have lunch in one of the garden restaurants. After lunch, visit Alchi monastery which enshrines some of the most outstanding murals in India. Then, head to Lamayuru, a picturesque village dominated by a photogenic monastery. The moon-like landscape around the village is known as “moonland”. After a short visit to the 8-metre-high Chamba statue carved into the rock face at Mulbek, drive to Kargil where you will spend the night. Conveniently situated halfway between Leh and Srinagar, Kargil is the second largest town in Ladakh after Leh, the majority of the 11,000 inhabitants are Muslim.

Day 09: Kargil-Srinagar
This morning head to Zoji La pass. At an altitude of 3,528 metres, this mountain pass connects Ladakh and Kashmir valley. At the end of a long drive via Sonamarg, you reach Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir with 1.2 million inhabitants. In Srinagar, you should not miss the visit of the Mughal gardens and the fabulous Dal Lake where you can hire a “shikara” (colourful wooden boat). Spending the night on the lake on a houseboat is an experience of a lifetime. After arrival check-in to the hotel.

Day 10: Srinagar-Gulmarg-Srinagar
After breakfast, transfer towards Gulmarg, called as “Meadow of Flowers” Gulmarg is 150 Kms from Pahalgam at an altitude of 8700-ft. Gulmarg also referred to as Meadow of Flowers is a famous Ski Resort & the world’s highest 18 hole Golf Course. The place was prominent during the British time. Enjoy the scenic view of Kongdori on a Cable Car Ride – OPTIONAL (Gondola).

Day 11: Srinagar to Jammu Railway station
Early morning with packed breakfast start for jammu railway Station. Train in evening.

Day 12: In Train
Full day and night in train.

Day 13: Back
Back home today.
Tour terminate……

COST INCLUDES: 

• Deluxe Accommodation.
• Accommodation on Double / Triple Sharing Basis.
• Meal Plan : MAP (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
• Vehicle – Exclusive Private vehicle
• All permit fees & hotel taxes (as per itinerary).

COST EXCLUDES:

• Air Fare / Train fare.
• Any other meals not mentioned in the inclusions.
• Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity. Mineral /soft / hard drinks, rafting, joy ride, Pony Ride, Cable Car.
• Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
• Room Heater, Local Cab fare, Guide charges & Entrance Fees.
• River cruise, Traditional Dance & Elephant or Jeep Safari.
• Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances, etc. (to be borne by the client, who is directly payable on the spot).
• Any increase in taxes or fuel price, leading to increase in cost on surface transportation & land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to departure.
• Travel Insurances.
• Anything which is not include in the inclusion.

By Air:

The nearest airport to Ladakh is Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh. The cabs are available outside the airport; by which you can get transferred to the heart of Ladakh easily. This is one of the highest commercial airports, that is directly connected to the major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu. The flights operating in this airport are Air India, GoAir and Jet Airways. The International travellers can directly board a flight from the major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi to reach Leh Airport by air and then ultimately to Ladakh, by a cab.

By Train:

Jammu Tawi is the closest railhead, located at a distance of approximately 708 Km from Ladakh. In order to reach Ladakh, you have to hire a taxi or can board a bus from outside the railway station. It will take around 15 hours to reach the heart of the city, Ladakh. This station is directly connected to the railheads of the major cities like Kolkata, Delhi and Chandigarh. Chandigarh and Pathankot are the two other railway stations closest to Leh as well.

By Road:

Ladakh can be reached via road by the two main highways. One is the Manali – Leh Highway, covering 473 kilometres from Manali. The other highway is Srinagar – Leh Highway, covering a distance of 434 kilometres. The highways are mostly open from mid- June to early – October and between July and November, respectively. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism (HRTC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Tourism (SRTC), operate the daily deluxe and ordinary bus services between Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh. The bus journey between Manali – Leh and Srinagar – Leh, takes approximately 19 and 17 hours respectively, with an overnight halt.

Winter in Ladakh (January, February, March)

Visiting Ladakh in winter is not as crazy as it sounds. January is the coldest month with an average temperature in Leh of -3°C during the day and -15°C during the night. Despite the cold temperatures, it is well worth considering a trip to Ladakh in winter to see the mighty Himalayan landscapes covered with snow and experience the thrill of walking on a frozen lake. July-August. The internal roads within Ladakh remain open in winter so it is possible to visit places like Nubra valley, Pangong lake, Tso Moriri lake, Lamayuru, Sham valley and Kargil. It is also important to remember that in case of heavy snowfall the passes such as Chang La and Khardung La can be closed for a day or two so you should always include extra days as contingency in case of bad weather when you plan a trip to Ladakh in winter. Flights can sometimes be delayed due to heavy snow. Accommodations are limited and most of the restaurants are closed in winter, but don’t worry, you will always find a place to stay and eat in every village. If you visit Ladakh in winter, you will have the opportunity to attend one of the major monastery festivals such as Spituk Gustor, Guru Tsechu (in Stok) and Nagrang (in Matho). Winter is also the wedding season in Ladakh as this is the only time when people are not busy in the fields. You will have the chance to try winter sports such as ice skating, ice hockey and ice climbing.

Spring in Ladakh (April, May, June)

Spring is the time when Ladakh’s famous apricot trees burst into bloom and the valleys come alive with beautiful pink flowers. The blooming time is usually from end of March to mid-April but it varies with altitude. The temperatures are pleasant, ranging between 15 and 20°C during the day. Occasional snowfall can still occur in April but only at higher altitude (above 4,000 or 4,500 metres). The high mountain passes of Khardung La and Chang La are still covered with a thick layer of snow and driving through them is an unforgettable experience. The Leh-Srinagar road opens in April while the Leh-Manali road opens in early June. In late April, the frozen Pangong and Tso Moriri lakes start melting and patches of blue-hued water appear with the rising temperatures. This is one of Mother Nature’s best spectacles.

Summer in Ladakh (July, August, September)

The main tourist season in Ladakh is during the summer when the average temperatures are around 25°C during the day and 10°C during the night. The days are blessed with a lot of sunshine so you need to regularly apply sunscreen, wear a hat and proper sunglasses. From the beginning of July to the end of August, it is the peak tourist season and Ladakh is buzzing with travelers visiting the region. During this time, the flights from/to Delhi can become expensive so it is recommended to book well in advance. Another option is to fly from Delhi to Leh and leave Ladakh by road via Manali or Srinagar. Summer is the best time for those who want to do trekking. There are many trekking options in Ladakh to discover remote and isolated valleys. Rafting on the Zanskar and Indus rivers is another popular activity in summer in Ladakh. Many monastery festivals take place in summer. This is the opportunity to watch the colourful mask dances which are performed by monks in the monastery courtyard. Hemis Tsechu is the most famous festival in Ladakh.