Ladakh Kashmir Dossier.Pub
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INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir 22 days / 21 nights Dossier validity: 2022 - 2023 Welcome to Incredible Indian Tours’ Top of the World - Ladakh & Kashmir Tour. This is a very exotic adventure throughout the Indian Himalayas. First we journey to Ladakh through Himachal Pradesh, visiting Shimla and Manali before driving the spectacular Manali - Leh road. In and around Leh we explore the Nubra Valley, and also experience the Hemis Festival. Heading west we drive through the upper Himalayas along one of the most stunning drives in the world to Kashmir, and Srinagar, holiday mecca of India. Highlights • the splendour and contrast of the 7 cities of Delhi • the historic toy train ride up the mountain to Shimla • witness the remnants of the British Raj in Shimla • see the mountain views from the beautiful green Beas River valley in Manali • experience the spectacular Manali - Leh Highway • drive the highest motorable pass in the world - the Khardong La - at over 5600m • explore the amazing Nubra Valley in Ladakh • be part of the energetic and colourful Hemis Festival • drive the amazingly scenic Leh - Srinagar Highway • discover the monastery villages of Uleytokpo & Basgo • soak up the relaxing ambience of Dal Lake in Srinagar 2/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Days 1-2 Delhi The tour starts at 6pm. After a short tour briefing, we head out for dinner to get to know each other and discuss the journey ahead. On day 2, we visit New Delhi - specifically Humayans Tomb, Rajpath and the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. India's capital is an exciting, busy and chaotic city. With a past that stretches far back into the mists of time, it is rich with the splendor and vitality of an eternal city. Divided into an ancient and a modern part, 1000 years of history greet the visitor at every step. Monuments, mosques, and forts from many different eras, bazaars, shops and museums lie scattered across its sprawling expanse. There is so much to see in Delhi. If you arrive earlier than day 1, there is an opportunity to make more discoveries - the ruins of Qutb Minar and Purana Qila, Indira Gandhi Museum, Rajghat, Akshardam tempe and the Lotus Temple are all recommended. Hotel: Claridges 3/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Days 3-5 Shimla (2276m - 7467ft) Travel time: 10 hours After a morning express train to Kalka, we board the famous Shimla Toy Train that takes us up the mountain over hundreds of bridges, through many tunnels and switchbacks providing an entertaining trip with the locals. We spend several hours on the train before alighting and travelling the rest of the way to Shimla by road. Once the summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla today is the capital of Himachal Pradesh state. It is a sprawling town set amongst spectacular cool hills with plenty of crumbling decaying colonial charm. Whilst in Shimla, we take a heritage walk to visit the Vice-regal Lodge, now home to the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, the site of the signing of India’s Independence treaty. The walk takes us past the Mall and the Ridge with many colonial buildings that still grace the streets. There are plenty of walks to be done around Shimla, including the hike up to Jakhu Temple (if you’re fit), Prospect Hill and the Glen. We visit Wildflower Hall for morning tea and there is also the opportunity to enjoy the markets or take in a Bollywood Movie at the local Cinema. Hotel: Clarkes 4/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Days 6-7 Manali (2050m - 6726ft) Travel time: 8-9 hours We head deeper into the mountains today to Manali, the jumping off point for Ladakh, the Rohtang Pass, and the Spiti Valley. A centre for trekking, climbing, and other adventure sports, Manali is one of the most popular Indian summer resort towns. After a day’s drive through the mountains, we take a morning walk (3-4 km flat) to a nearby village, untouched by tourists where we can meet the locals and experience traditional life here in the Kullu valley. You also have the opportunity to explore some of the temples around Manali, take a massage or soak in the hot springs in nearby Vashisht. Hotel: Banon Resorts 5/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Days 8 - 9 Manali - Leh Road Travel time: Approx 14-16 hours over 2 days Heading up from Manali, we head through the newly opened Atal Tunnel, built under the Rohtang Pass. At just over 9km, it is the longest tunnel above 10000ft (3048m) in the world. Heading further north into the Lahaul & Spiti Valleys we have a stunning drive through Keylong town and if we’re lucky, views of the Shigri Glacier. After lunch we drive further up into the high Himalayas to our overnight camp at 4290m (14075ft) at Sarchu. Hotel: Goldrup Camp Day 9 is the most spectacular day of this drive, as we head over two high passes, the Lungalacha La (5059m - 16600ft) and the Taglang La (the second highest motorable road in the world) at 5359m (17582ft) past stunning eroded cliffs and mountains before descending down into Ladakh and the capital Leh at 3500m (11483ft). Hotel: Hotel Ladakh Residency 6/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Day 10 Leh / Hemis Festival (3500m - 11483ft) Today is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip as we head to the nearby Hemis Monastery to witness the spectacular Hemis Festival. Built in the 1600’s, Hemis Monastery is a stunning Tibetan Buddhist Gompa (one of the largest in Ladakh) famous for it’s annual festival with ceremonies including music, ceremonial displays and the mystic masked dances or chhams. Chham dances are considered a form of meditation and an offering to the gods, providing merit to anyone who witnesses them. The Hemis Festival commemorates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava who is revered throughout the Himalayan regions as the second Buddha. Hotel: Hotel Ladakh Residency 9/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Days 11-12 Nubra Valley (3144m - 10315ft) Travel time: 5 hours Travelling over the Khardung La Pass, at 5602m (18380ft), the highest motorable pass in the world, we head into the remote Nubra Valley with green oasis villages surrounded by stark scree slopes, boulder fields, sand dunes and arid mountains. Part of the old Silk Road between India & China, local communities once prospered as caravans of cloth, spices, gold & gemstones traversed this route. Double-humped Bactrian camels were abandoned here by traders and travelers and have thrived. There are now around 200 of these camels and you have the opportunity to take a camel-ride into the Hunder sand dunes. We visit the 14th century Diskit Monastery, with its majestic views, old temples and halls and a 32m high statue of the Maitreya Buddha facing down the Shyok river towards Pakistan. We also take the opportunity to wander through local villages. Hotel: Desert Himalayan Resort 8/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Days 13-14 Leh (3500m - 11483ft) On day 13, we return to Leh the way we came, back over the Khardung La Pass. The afternoon is free to spend the afternoon relaxing, or wandering the market in Leh where you’ll find many Tibetan market stalls and Kashmiri shops selling beautiful handicrafts. On day 14 we have a full day sightseeing in the Leh valley where we will visit the Leh Palace before heading to the nearby villages of Shey and Thiksey, exploring the Shey Palace and Monastery and the Thiksey monastery as well as soaking up the beautiful, stark scenery produced by the river flowing through the valley creating a green belt of willow and poplar trees. We also make an visit to the Shanti Stupa to the north of Leh town, where you’ll experience amazing views of Leh, the valley and the Stok mountain range. Hotel: Hotel Ladakh Residency 7/17 www.incredibleindiatours.com E-mail: [email protected] Ph: +91 95490 02876 INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Ladakh & Kashmir Itinerary Days 15-16 Leh - Kargil Road Travel time: Approx 7 hours Another epic road trip awaits us as we drive west along another scenic Himalayan mountain road. On day 15, we visit the monastery villages of Basgo and Alchi before stopping the first night at Uleytokpo. Basgo was an impregnable monastery/fort that was never conquered. It’s location atop a hill towering over ruins of the ancient town is spectacular. While other monasteries in Ladakh were always built upon a hill, Alchi was hidden in plain sight within the village at ground level, thereby escaping attacks from invaders. Built in the 10th century, the shrines and temples are very different in style from other gompas and the Kashmiri artisans who created wall paintings and sculptures lent their own unique style to the detail in the temples. After a night in charming cottages overlooking the Indus River in Uleytokpo (3040m - 9974ft), on day 16 we head on to Kargil, via our last monastery stop - Lamayuru. One of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, Lamayuru has around 150 permanent resident monks.