Ladakh Festival India Itinerary

Namaste and welcome to India!

Arrive Delhi, and after immigration, baggage, and customs, exit the arrival halls. A Geringer Global Travel representative will greet you with a placard bearing your name. Transfer to the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Old and New Delhi. While Old Delhi speaks volumes about India’s history, culture, and traditions, New Delhi exhibits the picture of modern India.

Visit Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. It was built in red sandstone and marble by more than 5000 artisans. Next visit Chandni Chowk, Asia’s largest wholesale market, a massive area packed with shops, bazaars, and people. Drive past the Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, in the 17th century. Also visit the Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Lunch is at Olive Bar and Kitchen Restaurant.

After lunch, visit two of the important UNESCO World Heritage Sites of New Delhi. The first stop is Qutub Minar, the second tallest minaret in India. It is made of red stone and marble and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur’an. The second stop is the 16th century Humayun’s Tomb, the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent, an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian style and a precursor of the Taj Mahal.

Drive past India Gate, the War Memorial Arch, the Parliament House, the Secretariat Buildings, and the Vice Regal Palace, now the official residence of the President of India.

Dinner is at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Leh. Nestled among isolated mountain peaks, the bustling town of Leh has long been an important stopover for trade between Kashmir, Tibet, India, and China.

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Check into the hotel and enjoy lunch.

After lunch, relax at the hotel to acclimatize.

In the evening, take a walk through the old town of Leh.

Dinner is at the hotel.

Drive to Thiksey Monastery for a morning prayer session with the monks. Packed breakfast from the hotel will be served with hot tea/coffee at the monastery restaurant.

After breakfast, enjoy a nature walk to Shey Village alongside the Indus River. Visit the palace and the small gompa in the village. Drive to Stok Village and visit Stok Palace and Museum.

Enjoy lunch with a local family and visit their 300-year-old house which is now converted into a private museum.

Return to Leh for dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Hemis Monastery (approximately 1 hour) for one of the region’s most famous monastic festivals. The 10th day (Tse-Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The Hemis Monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2-day festival. Its resident Lamas perform sacred masked dances leading to the destruction of the sacrificial offerings. The dances depict the magical feats of Padmasambhava in his eight manifestations to defeat the enemies of Buddhism.

A packed lunch from the hotel will be served at the monastery.

Return to Leh for dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Hemis Monastery to witness the festivities.

A packed lunch from the hotel will be served at the monastery.

Return to Leh for dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Phey (approximately 2 hours) for rafting on the Indus River. Phey to Nimmo is a popular rafting trip on the Indus River, owing to a mix of low and high-grade rapids. The rafting is moderately challenging and ends at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus Rivers in Nimmo.

Lunch is outside at a local restaurant.

Return to Leh for dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Uleytokpo (approximately 3 hours). En route, visit Spituk Monastery, Magnetic Hill, and Likir Monastery.

Drive to Uleytokpo, with a stop at the 1000-year-old Alchi Monastery, which is one of the oldest Buddhist learning centers in northern India.

Arrive Uleytokpo around lunchtime.

After lunch, hike to Mangyu Village (approximately 2 hours). In Mangyu Village, visit a local household for late afternoon tea and snacks. Spend the afternoon interacting with the family to learn about their way of life.

Dinner is at the resort.

After breakfast, drive to Lamayuru Monastery (approximately 1 hour). The ancient monastery dates back to the 11th century and has roots in Tibetan Buddhism. Explore marvelous statues of Buddha, wall paintings, and attractive wood carvings.

After visiting the monastery, drive back to Leh.

En route, visit a local Amchi (Himalayan Herbal Medicine Practitioner) to see the ancient way of practicing medicine.

Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Dinner is at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Nubra Valley (approximately 6 hours). The route crosses over Khardung La Pass, the world’s highest motorable road at 18,300 feet.
Reach Nubra in the afternoon and check into the resort.

The Nubra Valley is a tri-armed valley located to the northeast of Ladakh Valley and is known for its dramatic scenery and unique cultural heritage. Nubra is a high-altitude cold desert with rare precipitation and scant vegetation except along riverbeds.

Lunch is at the resort.

After lunch, explore Diskit Monastery and hike to Hunder Sand Dunes which takes about 2 hours.

Dinner is at the resort.

After breakfast, drive to Sumur Village (approximately 2 hours) to visit a local school, meeting the students, teachers, and principal. You may bring supplies which can be distributed to the students at this school.

Drive to the base of Ensa Monastery for a hike up to the monastery which will take 1-hour each way.

After visiting the monastery, trek to the small hidden Yarab Tso Lake. It will take 1-hour each way. Packed lunch will be provided from the hotel.

Visit the Panamik Hot Springs and take a dip in the spring water.

Return to the resort for dinner.

After breakfast, check out of the resort and drive back to Leh. Packed lunch from the resort will be provided for the journey.

After arrival in Leh, visit H.E. Palga Rinpoche (8th re-incarnation) for a wonderful spiritual experience.

Return to the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to Leh airport to board the flight to Delhi.

Upon arrival at Delhi airport, transfer to Andaz Hotel, where a day use room is booked.

After dinner at the hotel, transfer to the International airport to board the flight back home.