Journey Quests Jispa Padum Zanskar Trek 21 Nights / 22 Days Delhi ‐ Manali ‐ Keylong ‐ Jispa ‐ Palamo ‐ Zanskar Sumdo ‐ Chhumiknakpo ‐ Lakong ‐ Kargyak ‐ Purne ‐ Mune ‐ Padum – Rangdum ‐ Suru Valley ‐Kargil – Mulbekh‐ Leh ‐ Delhi. Day 1 : Delhi ‐ Arrival ‐ On arrival at the Delhi airport, meet our representative who’ll escort you to one of our enlisted hotels in the city. Check‐in at the hotel. Spend rest of the day while relaxing in your room. Overnight stay in the hotel. Day 2 : Delhi‐ After breakfast, embark on the sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi covering major hotspots like Red Fort, India Gate, Jama Masjid, Rajghat, Parliament House and Indian President’s House. Post lunch, explore historical monuments like the Humayun‘s Tomb and Qutub Minar for their impressive architecture. In the evening explore the local markets of Delhi and drive back to the hotel to enjoy a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel. Day 03 : Delhi ‐ Kalka ‐ Manali‐ Early morning, transfer to the Delhi railway station to board the train to Kalka. Upon reaching Kalka, settle down in the car that awaits you outside the station and commence your drive to Manali. On arrival at Manali, check‐in at your hotel. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 4 : Manali‐ Early in the morning after breakfast, set out on a sightseeing tour to Manali. Being situated on the west bank of the Beas River, this place offers its visitors blissful and mesmerizing vistas. After exploring the beautiful flora and fauna of Manali, head straight to Rohtang pass and drive through majestic, barren mountain landscapes. On the way stop briefly at Naggar, the former capital of the king of Kullu. While in Naggar visit the 400‐year‐old castle built of weathered wood & stone that has now been converted into a tourist hotel for its exemplary architecture and intricate design. Later in the day take a leisurely walk to the Rhoerich art Gallery to feast your eyes with beautiful paintings. Drive down to Manali after visiting Naggar. Stop mid way to visit the village of Jagatsukh. The latter Journey Quests part of the day is spent in exploring the peaceful surrounding of the attractive villages of old Manali. Also visit the 600 year old Hadimba Devi temple ‐ a somber, wooden shrine set in a cedar grove with a four‐tier pagoda shaped roof. Relish dinner and retire to your rooms for the night. Day 5 : Manali ‐ Keylong ‐ Jispa‐ Post breakfast, drive straight to Keylong the capital village of this valley. On reaching Keylong take a stroll in its interesting market. Walk around Keylong to visit the most celebrated monastery of Lahaul called Khardung. Late afternoon drive to Jispa for overnight camp. Day 6 : Jispa ‐ Palamo ‐ Wake up early in the morning, to enjoy the trek that starts from the Himachal region and ends in the Ladakh region. During the 3 hour trek to Palermo, cross through the two villages of Chikka and Rareek. Reach Palamo passing by a spectacular gorge. Having checked in, enjoy lip smacking dinner and spend the night in the camp. Day 7 : Palamo ‐ Zanskar Sumdo‐ After trekking for 5 to 6 hours, reach the beautiful Zanskar Sumdo, the place that marks the meeting point of two rivers. Earlier it was very difficult to cross Zanskar river, but the construction of the modern suspension bridge has made it convenient to cross the river. This bridge is the gateway to enter the Zanskar valley. From here ascend a little further to reach Zanskar Sumdo where you retire to your camps for overnight stay. Day 8 : Zanskar Sumdo To Chhumiknakpo‐ Next morning trek along the stream flowing from the Shingo La Pass. Streams in Himalayas should be crossed very carefully even if they look small, as the trail here is steep and at high altitudes. While trekking to the Chhumiknakpo, a large number of streams have to be crossed. These streams should be crossed slowly and cautiously since they are extremely cold. Overnight to be spent at a camp at Chhumiknakpo. Day 9 : Chhumiknakpo ‐ Lakong ‐ In the morning start to ascend along the stream and, later, across the snow‐filled path that leads to the Shingo La Pass. Enjoy alluring views of Ladakh peaks while standing at the Shingo La Pass. Upon Journey Quests enjoy the magnificent view standing at the top of Shingo La Pass descent down to the meadows of Lakong. Dinner and overnight stay at a camp in Lakong valley. Day 10 : Lakong ‐ Kargyak ‐ On the 10th day of the tour trail down along the wide Kargyak River, which seems difficult to cross when the snow melts during the day, increasing the depth of the water. After crossing the river, trek down the valley along the side, capturing the sight of beautiful sheer‐sided mountain called Gumburanjon. Finally reach Kargyak ‐ the highest village of this valley. Enjoy night stay in camp. Day 11 : Kargyak ‐ Kuru ‐ Testa ‐ Purne ‐ Today you will follow a descending trek that runs along the little hamlets which are simple in build, in comparison to an elaborate architecture found in other parts of the Zanskar valley. The houses in this portion of the valley are built below the ground level that helps to keep them insulated during the cold winter months. While trekking down also pass by Teta and Kuru villages and then follow the Kargyak River down the valley till you reach the Purne village. Enjoy an overnight stay in the camps. Day 12 : Purne ‐ Phuktal Gompa ‐ Purne ‐ After enjoying the delicious breakfast, head towards an excursion to the most famous and vivid monastery of Phuktal. This monastery is visited by a large number of visitors for its impressive Gompas. Also visit the vivacious Gelukpa monastery which is situated around a sacred spring that has its origin from a deep cave. Later in the day trek back to Purne after visiting the monastery to camp for lunch. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay in the camp. Day 13 : Purne ‐ Reru ‐ Mune ‐ On the 13th day of the tour descend down this Buddhist region, en‐route visiting the beautiful Chortens on the way. While visiting Chortens always go from the left side which are stone walls and have religious inscriptions on them. Upon driving to Reru village we will cross through the motorable road leading to Reru village. While driving along the river we will reach the village and monastery of Mune. The friendly monks will help you explore the monastery to the fullest. Overnight stay at camp. Journey Quests Day 14 : Mune ‐ Padum‐ On the 14th day of the tour embark for an excursion to Bardan Gompa‐ the oldest Gompa of the region. Trek along the riverside to reach the Bardan Gompa. While exploring the monastery, take a note of the ancient festival masks and the old handmade copper prayer wheel that is over three meters high. Later in the day trek down to Padum for overnight stay at the camp. Day 15 : Padum‐ Next day rise early in the morning for the full day guided tour to Zangla and Karsha Gompa. After the visit to these Gompa walk down leisurely to explore the local villages around Padum. Rejoice comfortable stay in camp for the night. Day 16 : Padum ‐ Rangdum :‐ Post breakfast drive to Rangdum by road. Situated midway between Padum and Kargil, the place is surrounded by colorful hills on one side and glacier encrusted rocky mountains on the other. Upon reaching Rangdum visit the beautiful Rangdum monastery. Rangdum offers itself as a perfect stoppage to break their grueling long journey for an overnight stay. Day 17 : Rangdum ‐ Suru Valley ‐ Kargil ‐ In the morning after breakfast, leave for Kargil by surface. Stop midway to visit the Shepherd houses and Nomadic camps. Moving forward enter the Suru Valley‐the most beautiful region of Ladakh. The valley presents itself as a spectacle of breathtaking features like the majestic mountain ramparts crowned by snow capped peaks, undulating alpine slopes draining into wild mountain streams of foaming cascades of pristine water. The beauty of this region is further enhanced by the sheer contrast provided by the towering peaks of Kun and Nun which loom over the skyline in their crystalline majesty. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the camp. Day 18 : Kargil ‐ Leh ‐ Post breakfast, head straight to Leh by surface. On the way stop to visit the historical site of Mulbekh. Visit the Mulbekh Monastery which houses a 9 m long statue of the Maitreya Buddha, also known as the Laughing Buddha or the ‘Buddha of the future’. Later in the day visit Lamayuru monastery. After the visit resume your drive towards Leh. Upon on reaching Leh check‐in at one of the listed hotels for overnight stay. Journey Quests Day 19 : Leh ‐ In the morning after breakfast, start for a sightseeing tour of Leh covering famous hot spots like Phyang & Spituk, Shanker Monasteries. In the evening pay a visit to the Shanti Stupa and take a leisurely walk in the market for shopping. Overnight to be spent in your hotel in Leh. Day 20 : Leh :‐ On the 20th day after breakfast head for a full day excursion to the important monasteries of the Indus valley. Pay a visit to Hemis ‐ the largest monastery in the Ladakh region. Stop midway to explore Shey and Thiksey monasteries. Thiksey monastery is situated on the top of a craggy hill while the rest of the complex sprawls down beneath it. In the afternoon return to Leh and have lunch at the hotel. In the evening proceed for shopping in the local market of Leh city. Overnight stay at the hotel.