DESTINATIONS:

Delhi – Shimla – Rampur – Sarahan – Rekong Peo – Kalpa – Ribba – Moron – Tila – Tabo - Kaza - Chandartal - Batal – Keylong – Sarchu – Leh – Phyang – Theksey – Sheyu – Hemis – Stok – Spituk

HIGHLIGHTS OF TOUR

This safari takes you to Shimla, which was the winter capital of the British Empire during the British Rule. From Shimla the safari follows the beautiful mountain road to Kinnaur.

From Kinnaur you enter the very remote, dry and mostly barren valley of Spiti which has the Tabo, Ki and Dankar monasteries. You cross the Kunzum La (15,155 feet) into Lahaul and then take the Manali - Leh road that passes over Baralacha La (16,260 feet) and Tanglang La (17,850 feet) - the third highest pass in the world - into Leh, where you visit Shey, Thiksey and Hemis Gompas and the Tibetan bazaar.

PERMITS:

Will be arranged by us. A minimum of four tourists has to travel together for a permit to pass through Spiti.  

DAY 01: DELHI – SHIMLA

Breakfast in hotel. Departure from Delhi by surface to Shimla, 2030m (380 kms/10-11 hrs). Check into hotel, Shimla upon arrival. Lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel. 

DAY 02: SHIMLA-RAMPUR-SARAHAN

Breakfast in hotel. Depart by surface to Sarahan, (2300 m) 185 kms from Shimla (8/9 Hrs drive) via Rampur, old capital of Rampur-Busher state having palace and temples. Visit Bhumkali temple (a rare combination of Buddhist and Hindu architecture, the main idol is about 200 years old.)

and old palace enroute to Sarahan. Sarahan is a beautifully located township amid mountains with Shrikhand Mahadev peak (5155m) looming as a backdrop. Packed lunch enroute and Dinner and overnight in tents. 

DAY 03: SARAHAN-REKONG PEO-KALPA

After breakfast drive to Kalpa (3000 m) 150 kms (6/7 Hrs drive) via Rekong Peo. Kalpa, the old headquarter of Kinnaur district and one-time favorite haunt of Lord Dalhousie. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

DAY 04:  KALPA-RIBBA-MORON-TILA-TABO

After breakfast drive to Tabo (3200 m) approx. 175 kms (6/7 hrs drive) via Ribba, Moron and Tila monasteries. Tabo monastery is an ordinary mud structure but inside it has frescoes, which earned Tabo the epithet of “Ajanta of Himalayas”. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents at Tabo.

DAY 05: PIN-KUNGRI-DANKAR-KAZA

After breakfast drive to Kaza (3450 m) approx.38 kms via Pin, Kungri and Dankar monastries. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

DAY 07: KAZA-KI-KIBBER-KAZA

After breakfast drive to Ki monastery (4116 m/11 kms). The monastery with rare paintings and scriptures is the oldest and biggest in Spiti. Go further to Kibber (4140m) one of the highest villages in the world. Packed lunch enroute. Return to Kaza for dinner and overnight.

DAY 08: KAZA-KUNZUM-CHANDARTAL

After breakfast drive to Kunzum pass (4551 m) and then trek to Chandartal. (4270 m). This blue water lake is situated about nine kms from Kunzum pass. The lake is placed between a low ridge and the main Kunzum range with an outlet into the Chandra River. The lake lies in a broad grassy plain; cranes and ducks abound in the lake. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

DAY 09: CHANDRATAL-BATAL-KEYLONG

After breakfast trek to Batal (3960 m). On reaching Batal drive to Keylong (3350 m) approx. 95 kms. Keylong is the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti. Keylong is an “oasis of greenfields” against a backdrop of brown hills and snow-clad peaks. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 10: KEYLONG-SARCHU

Drive over the Baralacha Pass to cross from Himachal into Ladakh. Dinner and overnight at a camp.

Day 11: SARCHU - LEH

After breakfast drive to Leh (300kms/08-09hrs). Packed lunch en-route. Check into hotel Caravan Centre upon arrival. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 12: LEH - PHYANG – LEH

After breakfast drive to Phyang and spend the day at the festival which carries on till five in the evening. Lunch at Phyang. Return to Leh for dinner and overnight at Caravan Centre.

Day 13: LEH – THIKSEY – SHEY – HEMIS - LEH

Breakfast in hotel. Full day visit to the famous Thiksey, Shey and Hemis monasteries. Packed lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Thiksey: 19 Kms from Leh, Thiksey is one of the largest and most impressive Gompas of Ladakh. The Thiksey monastery provides a panoramic view of the green Indus Valley from its vantage point atop a hill.  It has chambers full of statues, Stupas and colorful Tankhas.

Shey: This sumer palace of the erstwhile King of Leh set upon a hill. The monastery itself has a 7.5-meter high, copper statue of a sitting Buddha, wrought in gold. This is the largest of its kind in the world.

Hemis: Situated just off the Manali-Leh Highway, Leach’s biggest and wealthiest monastery is situated on the Leh - Manali road. It’s popularity stems from the annual festival held here in summer.  The festival coincides with Guru Padam Sambhava’s (Buddha) birthday. It contains quite a few statues in gold and Stupas decorated with precious stones.  It has a superb collection of Tankhas, including one, which is

Supposed to be the largest in existence and is exhibited only once every 12 years.

Day 14: LEH – SHANKAR – SHANTI – STOK – LEH

Breakfast in hotel. Full day visit to Shankar, Shanti and Stok. Packed lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Shankar: The small monastery at Sankar (3 kms from Leh), harbours accomplished modern tantric murals and a thousand-headed Avalokitesvara deity. It has innumerable collections of small statues of pure gold and a number of interesting paintings. A relatively modern monastery, it is closely associated with the Spituk monastery and serves as the residence of the head priest. It is well lit and can be visited in the evening as well.

Shanti Stupa: The modern Ladakh Shanti Stupa, accessible by a winding road, is a stunning monument

JULY 16: LEH – SHANKAR – SHANTI – STOK – LEH

Breakfast in hotel. Full day visit to Shankar, Shanti and Stok. Packed lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Sankar: The small monastery at Sankar (3 kms from Leh), harbours accomplished modern tantric murals and a thousand-headed Avalokitesvara deity. It has innumerable collections of small statues of pure gold and a number of interesting paintings. A relatively modern monastery, it is closely associated with the Spituk monastery and serves as the residence of the head priest. It is well lit and can be visited in the evening as well.

Shanti Stupa: The modern Ladakh Shanti Stupa, accessible by a winding road, is a stunning monument of Japanese commitment to Buddhism.

Stok Palace Museum: 17 Km, 1 Hour drive from Leh. Just across the river from Leh, is the village, which the deposed Royal Family was compensated for the loss of its throne. Its palace houses a museum of artifacts associated with the dynasty, and there is also a small Gompa. The museum in the Stok Palace is a showcase of the Royal Thankas, while the collection of Turquoise head dresses worn for the Royal wedding is the most impressive in Ladakh.

DAY 17: LEH – DAKTHOK – DISKIT – LEH

After breakfast drive to Dakthok and Diskit. Lunch en-route. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Dakthok: At the foot of the Chang-La, Dakthok incorporates one of the many caves in the Himalayas where the Indian Buddhist apostle Padmasambhava is said to have rested and meditated on his journey to Tibet.

DAY 18: LEH

Day at leisure in your hotel. Optional visit to the bazaar for shopping. Evening attend local Ladakhi cultural show. Overnight in hotel. 

DAY 19: LEH - DELHI

Transfer to airport for a breathtaking flight over the mighty Himalayas to Delhi. Of Japanese commitment to Buddhism.

Stok Palace Museum: 17 Km, 1 Hour drive from Leh. Just across the river from Leh, is the village, which the deposed Royal Family was compensated for the loss of its throne. Its palace houses a museum of artifacts associated with the dynasty, and there is also a small Gompa. The museum in the Stok Palace is a showcase of the Royal Thankas, while the collection of Turquoise headdresses worn for the Royal wedding is the most impressive in Ladakh.