Ladakh - Little Tibet

Day 1: Delhi

Today is an arrival day and no activities are planned, so you may arrive at any time. If you are arriving early, please check the noticeboard in the foyer of the hotel for suggestions of things to see and do in Delhi. A pre-departure meeting takes place this evening at the hotel. Please also check the noticeboard for details of this meeting and for any other messages from your tour leader. Please also bring your passport and travel insurance documents to the meeting. Afterwards we have the opportunity to go out for an optional group dinner.

Day 2: Leh

We take an early morning flight over the snowy peaks of the Indian Himalaya to Leh, capital of Ladakh, which is situated at 3505 metres above sea level. Upon arrival we transfer to our lodge and take it easy for the rest of the day to aid acclimatisation. Opened to tourists as recently as 1974, Leh is a small town that is easily covered on foot. The skyline is dominated by the deserted Leh Palace, built in the middle of the 16th century by King Singe Namgyal. The palace still belongs to the royal family who now reside in Stok Palace. An excellent evening walk takes us to the Shanti Stupa, which was built in 1985 with Japanese financial assistance. From here there is a beautiful panoramic view of the Stok mountain range to the south.

Day 3-4: Leh

We visit the Buddhist monasteries of Tikse and Shey. The monastery at Tikse is 12 stories high and is one of the most imposing in the Indus Valley. Shey Gompa was previously the summer palace of the Ladakhi kings and has a magnificent 12 metre tall gold-plated copper statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Both monasteries contain many other beautiful statues, tangkhas (religous paintings) and frescoes. The following day is free to wander the streets of Leh, chill out at one of the many street cafés or take an optional visit to Hemis Monastery. Rafting the Indus River is another great option, but this is dependent on water levels. In July, levels are generally too low, but by August, rafting is often a possibility.

Day 5-6: Rumbak

A drive of 1.5 - 2 hours from Leh takes us to the road head. From here we undertake an easy walk of around four hours and arrive in Rumbak around mid-afternoon. Look out for blue sheep (a type of mountain goat) that are often seen in the gorge area during our walk. Our luggage is carried by ponies leaving us free to carry just a daypack. The village of Rumbak is a small oasis located at 3760 metres above sea level, full of lush barley fields. It is also noted as an area where snow leopards are sometimes seen (although unfortunately this is mainly in the winter months!). Here we again stay with local villagers who have recently started operating a homestay program for a limited number of tourists. Our group is again accommodated in various houses throughout the village, but we will all eat together in one of the larger homes. This is a great experience, allowing us to enjoy the local hospitality and learn more of the lifestyle of these hardy mountainfolk. The accommodation level is fairly basic, but clean and comfortable.

Day 7: Jingchan - Leh

In the morning we have further time to explore the village before retracing our steps and trekking back to the village of Jingchan. From here we are transferred back to Leh by jeep. The afternoon is free for further exploration of the town or you may wish to just relax in the beautiful garden of our hotel and enjoy the fine views of the mountains to the south.

Day 8-9: Diskit - Nubra Valley

We board our bus and head for the Nubra Valley. This is no ordinary drive as we cross one of the world's highest motorable passes, the Khardung La (Pass) (5359m). From the top the views are breathtaking as we survey the peaks of Stok Kangri to the south and a myriad of other peaks and glaciers to the north that form the Tibetan and Pakistani border. We descend into Shyok Valley and then bear north-west, crossing a small bridge over the Shyok River to enter the Nubra Valley that leads to Diskit. Disket has a dramatically positioned gompa on the nearby hilltop and is believed to have been founded in the early 15th century. Hunder is a beautiful village, surrounded by trees, and has a beautiful small monastery with interesting frescoes. An optional highlight from Hunder is a camel ride on a two-humped Bactrian camel through the sand dunes, with snow-capped peaks in the background.

Day 10: Leh

We head back down the Nubra Valley and over the Khardung La (Pass), before reaching Leh in the late afternoon. We enjoy a meal at one of Leh's small restaurants and commemorate our final night in this remarkable Himalayan outpost town.

Day 11: Delhi

We rise early and take the truly spectacular flight back over the snow clad peaks to Delhi. On arrival we are transferred to our hotel. In the afternoon our tour leader takes us into the old city's market area known as Chandni Chowk as well as Connaught Place - the commercial heart of New Delhi. The rest of the day is free for relaxing or doing some further sightseeing on our own. Red Fort and the impressive Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) are two of the city's most notable landmarks, whilst Raj Ghat is a monument that marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. In the final evening we have the opportunity to head out for a final group dinner (optional) before saying our goodbyes.

Day 12: Delhi

Our trip ends today around breakfast time. If you wish to stay on in Delhi, please pre-book your post-tour accommodation before you commence your travels. Delhi has many interesting museums and monuments. If you are interested in historical and cultural matters, it is recommended that you to extend your stay and visit some of these places. Humayun's Tomb and Safdarjang's Tomb are other great examples of Mughal architecture and design. Hauz Khas Village is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown - a chic artistic enclave set right next to the remnants of a historical site. You may also wish to consider an optional day trip to the Taj Mahal or link up with our short tour, 'The Golden Triangle'.

Tour Grade: Culture

Whether you’re taking in man’s greatest works at places like Petra or Angkor Wat, experiencing grand set-pieces like the Trans-Mongolian Railway or trying your hand at regional specialities like tango in Buenos Aires, getting to grips with local cultures is what travel’s all about. A few tips from a local guide and a sense of adventure are pretty much all you need. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get the lowdown on high Tibet among Lhasa’s magisterial temples; follow up Delhi’s eye-popping bustle with a fix of its fiery food; and mix manic markets and Incan masterpieces in Peru.