Some of the most incredible lakes and valleys in the country are located in Ladakh – a vast desert plateau. This tour will take you to four of the most famous such landforms and numerous Buddhist monasteries or gompas. Also, get an unmissable chance to drive through three of the highest motorable roads on earth – Chang La, Tanglang La and Khardung La. Start your memorable excursion from the Leh city by visiting Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace, and by shopping for peculiar handicrafts. The ensuing morning, head to the Sham region and stop at Likir gompa, Magnetic Hill and Gurdwara Pathar Sahib on the way. Also, journey through a region, which may give you an insight on how the moon looks like.

Later, explore Lamayuru Monastery, and following an overnight stay in the Sham region, travel to Leh, visiting the Hall of Fame museum and Alchi gompa en route. Enjoy a marvellous camping experience at Pangong Tso, and see Shey Palace and Thiksey gompa on the way back to Leh. The next morning, leave for the Nubra Valley and on reaching here; ride on the backs of twin-humped camels. While on your way back to the city, explore Diskit gompa. After an overnight stay in Leh, drive to Tso Moriri, and thereafter journey past Puga geothermal field and Tso Kar. Put an end to this excursion by catching your onwards flight from the city airport.

Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Leh | Local Sightseeing
On landing at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, meet our tour representative and travel to the hotel. Post check-in, relax for some time and acclimatise to the altitude-influenced weather of the region. In the evening, tour the city to explore Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa.

Built primarily under King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century, Leh Palace is one of the most significant landmarks of the city. Some wall paintings are visible here, and the on-site museum has crowns, printed scrolls or thangkas and jewellery on display.

Shanti Stupa was built between 1985 and 1991 atop a hill a little outside the main city. It features numerous paintings and statues of Lord Buddha and numerous Buddhist religious symbols. Thereafter, take a stroll in the local markets to buy some interesting souvenirs. Later, return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 02: Leh – Lamayuru – Sham Region
Relish breakfast at the hotel, and then journey to the Sham region. En route, pay visits to Likir Monastery, Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and Magnetic Hill. Likir gompa was built in the 15th century, and it is administered by the Gelug school of Himalayan or Tibetan Buddhism. Apart from a behemoth gilded statue of Maitreya that shows him as seated and blessing devotees, the gompa also houses paintings of other deities.

Gurdwara Pathar Sahib is dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev, whose visit to the region it commemorates. It is believed to house a boulder, thrown at the Sikh religious leader by a demon. Magnetic Hill is a popular tourist attraction as it is said to pull metallic items towards it. After lunch, drive through a region, called Moonland or Moon Landscape as it supposedly resembles the surface of the moon. Later, pay a visit to Lamayuru Monastery, which is associated with Kagyu – one of the red hat sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The gompa houses images of Avalokitesvara – the 11-headed and 1000-armed deity, Padmasambhava, and three small stupas. Later, reach the Sham Valley for an overnight stay.

Day 03: Sham Region to Leh
Post breakfast, travel to the city of Leh by road and on the way, and explore Alchi Gompa and the Hall of Fame museum. Alchi Monastery has a temple, called Sumtseg that features intricate carvings of designs and deities on its wooden exterior. The main assembly hall here features images of Bhavacakra, mandalas and Vairochana, whereas the shrine of Manjusri has those of Amitabha and Akshobhaya.

The Hall of Fame museum pays homage to the various efforts of the Indian soldiers in the region, battle and rescue. It also displays the weapons that were recovered from intruders during the Kargil War of 1999. On arrival in Leh in the afternoon, transfer to your lodging and rest.

Day 04: Leh to Pangong Tso
Relish breakfast at your lodging, and then set out on a scenic road trip to Pangong Tso. It is an approximately 134-km long brackish water lake, stretching from India into the Tibetan Plateau. The surrounding area supports numerous species of birds, such as those of ducks and geese.

On the way to the lake, you will cross Chang La – one of the highest drivable roads in the world. Upon arrival at the site, transfer to your camp and spend the day at leisure. Later, enjoy an overnight stay in tents.

Day 05: Pangong Tso to Leh | En route sightseeing
Enjoy a spellbinding sunrise over the lake, and later relish breakfast. Thereafter, start the road journey back to Leh and en route, visit Shey Palace and Thiksey Monastery.
A behemoth idol of Lord Buddha is displayed in Shey Palace, along with smaller ones of two of his primary disciples. The complex also features amazing wall paintings, religious manuscripts and numerous images of the deity.

Thiksey gompa has an idol of Maitreya Buddha, about 50 feet in height that is the main object of interest here. The smaller statues and paintings, displayed here, are of deities like Manjusri, Padmasambhava, Avalokitesvara and Mahakala. On arrival in Leh, travel to your lodging for a peaceful overnight stay.

Day 06: Leh to Nubra Valley
Following breakfast, leave the city for the valley of the Nubra River, and drive over Khardung La. From the pass, often described as the highest motorable road in the world, enchanting views of snow-bound peaks are seen. On reaching the Nubra Valley, ride on the backs of Bactrian camels between the Diskit town and the Hunder village. Later, enjoy an overnight stay in the valley itself.

Day 07: Nubra Valley to Leh | Visit to Diskit Monastery
Post breakfast, leave the valley and drive towards the Leh city. On the way, explore Diskit gompa, which has a giant sculpture of Maitreya Buddha. The monastery also has large ritualistic drums and images of several wrathful guardian deities. Later, resume the drive over Khardung La to reach Leh for an overnight stay.

Day 08: Leh to Tso Moriri | Tso Moriri to Korzok
Relish breakfast at your lodging, and then journey to the high-altitude lake of Tso Moriri. On the way, drive past Chumathang – a town famous for its therapeutic natural hot springs. Tso Moriri is one of the largest high-elevation freshwater lakes in the country. Numerous animals including Tibetan wolves, snow leopards, Tibetan sheep, black-necked grebes, bar-headed geese and brown-headed gulls are found in the lake or in its vicinity. On reaching here, stroll, take pictures and appreciate Mother Nature. Thereafter, travel to the village of Korzok, which is near the water body, for an overnight stay.

Day 09: Tso Moriri to Leh via Tso Kar and Puga
Post breakfast; begin the road journey towards Leh and cross Tanglang La – a high mountain pass – on the way. Also en route the city, drive past Tso Kar, another bewitching lake, and the geothermal field of Puga that has sulphur mines. On reaching Leh, transfer to your lodging for an overnight stay.

Day 10: Departure from Leh
After checking-out from the hotel, travel to the airport to board your onward flight.