Destination Ladakh - Circling the High Passes

8/2/2019 Destination Ladakh - Circling the High Passes

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Contents

2

1. About Ladakh

2. Itinerary

3. Routemap

4. PackageDetails

5. Guidelines

6. Contact

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4

13

14

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LADAKH

Ladakhisalandlikenoother.Boundedbytwooftheworldsmightiestmountainranges,theGreatHimalayaandthe

Karakoram,it

is

ahigh

altitude

desert

located

at

the

western

edge

of

the

Tibetan

plateau.

Its

awe

inspiring

landscape

has

beenmodifiedandsculptedintoitsspectacularshapebywindandwateroverthemillennia.

The moonlike scenery is extraordinary: stark and barren but interspersed

withisolatedsettlementsofgreenoasesfullofswayingpoplartrees,apricot

orchardsandcultivatedfarmland.

Despite

the

rugged

terrain

and

high

altitude,

the

people

of

Ladakh

exhibit

a

naturaljoiedevivreandtheircustomsandlifestyleareacontinuumfromthe

past;thesefriendlyandgentlepeoplewillallcontributetomakeyourvisitto

thisstunningareabothfascinatingandmemorable.Thevibrancyandcolour

of their cultural traditions can be seen in the many local festivals that take

placeallthroughthesummer.

Whateveryoudohereyoucanbesureofanextremelyunforgettableunbeatableexperience

inoneofthemostmindblowingly beautifulplacesonearth.

Ladakhs richBuddhist

heritage

is

on

display

during

the

annual

monastic festivals

at

the

numerous

Gompas thatdominatethearea.Perchedhighupinthemountainridges, theseenchantingmedieval

monasteries, surrounded by fluttering prayer flags, are still places of active worship and hold

treasuretrovesofsuperbartifacts,imagesandancientfrescoes.

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ITINERARY OVERVIEW:

DAY DESTINATION HOTEL/

CAMP

Day1 : NewDelhi Manali OvernightJourney

Day2 : Manali Hotel/GuestHouse

Day3 : Manali Sarchu Camp

Day4 : Sarchu Leh Hotel/GuestHouse

Day5

:

Leh Shey Thiksey Hemis Leh Hotel/GuestHouse

Day6 : Leh Khardung La Hunder Turtuk Camp

Day7 : Turtuk Diskit Leh Hotel/GuestHouse

Day8 : Leh Pangong Tso Camp

Day9 : Pangong Tso Camp

Day10: Pangong Tso Leh Hotel/GuestHouse

Day11: Leh Hotel/Guest

House

Day12: Leh Lamayuru Kargil Hotel

Day13: Kargil Srinagar Houseboat

Day14: Srinagar NewDelhi EndofTrip

DRIVE IN/ FLY OUT

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Accomodation Details:

TheDragonorsimilarinOldManali

LadakhContinentalorsimilarmidrangehotelinLeh.

Deluxecampaccomodation atSarchu,Tso Moriri,Turtuk andPangong Tso

TheKingsRoseDeluxeHouseboatorsimilarinSrinagar.

Dzozilla Hotel

in

Kargil


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Day1:DELHI MANALI

(Distance:565

km,

Travel

Time:

12

14

hrs,

Elevation:2,050m/6,726ft)

DeparturefromNewDelhiintheeveningonboarda

Deluxe CoachtoManali.Overnightbusjourney.

Day2:ExploreMANALI

Manali, at the northern end of Kulu valley, is a

beautiful Himalayan hill station with an unbeatable

location. The river Beas meanders through the town,

surroundedby

deodar

and

pine

trees,

tiny

fields,

fruit

orchards and grassy meadows carpeted with

wildflowerswhichgiveway tostunningviewsof lofty

snowcapped peaks. The friendly people of this area

are famous for their unique style of dress, including

mens pillbox caps with colorful geometric

embroidery.

5

Daytripoptions:Hadimba temple,Manutemple,Vashisht HotWaterSpringsandTemple,Manikaran

HotSpringsandTemple,Kasol,Naggar CastleandRoerich ArtGallery,Shankchar Village,Solang Valley

forparagliding

and

zorbing.

Meals:Breakfast

Departure:5:30p.m.

ITINERARY :DRIVEIN/FLYOUT


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Day3:MANALI ROHTANG KEYLONG JISPA BARALACHA

SARCHU(Distance: 51km/64km/30km/43km/42km 230km;TravelTime:810hrs;

Elevation:Rohtang 3,978m/13,051ft,Keylong 3,350m/10,991ft,Jispa

3,182m/10,439ft,BaralachaLa 5045m/16,551ft,Sarchu 4,290m/

14,075ft)

The toughest part of thejourney, the long drive from Manali to

Leh.The

highway

is

open

only

between

June

and

mid

September

when snow is cleared from the road by the Border Roads

Organisation. It connects the Manali valley and Kullu valleys to

LahaulSpiti andLadakh.

Thehighwaycrossessomeofthehighestmountainpassesinthe

world

and

promises

to

be

one

of

the

most

memorable

and

scenic

experiencesofalltime.

6

Overnightatcamp

Mealinclusions:Dinneratcamp.



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Day4:SARCHU LACHULUNGLA TANGLANGLA LEH(Distance:54km/81km/109km 244km;TravelTime:67hrs;

Elevation:

Lachulung

La

5,059m/16,598ft,

Tanglang

La

5,359m/17,582 ft,Leh 3,505m/11,500ft)

Departearlymorning ,crossing theMorePlainsand the

scenic Tanglang La to arrive in Leh by the afternoon.

Could choose to relax after the long journey and

acclimatizeor

walk

around

Leh

town

including

a

visit

to

LehMarket,LehPalace,ShantiStupa&LehGompa.

.

OvernightatHotel.

Mealinclusions:Breakfast

Leh, the capital city of Ladakh is a historical transit point for

caravans of the bygone Silk Route, and still looks and feels like a

tradingpostoftheancientpast.Itisanimminentlyaccessible and

fascinating

locale,

featuring

two

notable

monasteries,

a

palace, a

mosque, and countless narrow, crooked alleyways beckoning the

curious visitor. To stroll through Leh, taking in its sights, sounds,

and a pleasantlymanageable population of just 10,000, is to

experiencewhatwriterAndrewHarveycalledthepeacefullife.

Thetown

is

still

dominated

by

the

now

ruined

Leh

Palace,

former

home of Ladakhs royal family, which resembles a miniPotala

Palace. Italsoplayshosttoaculturaldanceshoweveryevening.

Note: ThoseoptingtoflyinandoutofLeh directlywouldarrive in

themorningandspendtherestofDay4relaxingandacclimatizing

tilltherestofthegrop arrivesinthelateafternoon.

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Day 5:LEH SHEY THIKSEY HEMIS LEH

(Shey 3km;Thiksey 23km;

Hemis 42km;

Leh

45km:

Total:

113km)

We start with Shey, the Kings old palace. The palace was built in

1645asasummerresidenceforthekingsofLadakh.Itistheoldest

palace inLadakhandabove it isanevenolder fortress.Thepalace

andfort,nowclassifiedasworldheritagesites,are inruinsbutthe

monastery is in use to this day. Inside is a 39foot statue made of

gildedcopperoftheSakyamuni Buddha.

Then we visit Thiksey Gompa, an impressive imitation of Lhasas

Potala Palace dramatically perched on a slope overlooking the

Indus Valley. Approximately 600 years old, Thiksey consists of 12

levels

ascending

a

hillside,

with

the

Incarnate

Lama's

private

apartmentsatthesummit.

Themonasteryisalsoknownforitsbeautiful30mhighgoldplated

statueofMaitreya Buddha.

From Thiksey, we head further east to Hemis, one of the biggest

monasteries in Ladakh. Located 45 Km to the south of Leh. Hemis

Gompa wasbuilt in 1630 and houses monksof the Brokpa or Red

Hatsect.Touristscanseebeautifulfrescoes(paintings)onthe walls

andthelargestThangka paintinginLadakh,over12minlength.

OvernightatHotel/GuestHouse

Mealinclusions:

Breakfast

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9/15 9

OvernightatcampinTurtuk.

Mealinclusions: Breakfast,Dinner

The Nubra Valley, on the Nubra and Shyok rivers, is a mix of

desert sand dunes and interspersed lush green villages. The

valleyis

one

of

those

rare

places

on

earth

where

you

can

see

in

one place the splendid beauty of a desert complete with

bactrian camels (twohumped), sand dunes, rolling

mountains,flowing streams andsnowpeaks. giving it a surreal,

dreamlikequality.

Day 6:LEH KHARDUNGLA HUNDER TURTUK(Distance:37km/90km/90km 217km;TravelTime:67hrs;

Elevation:Khardung La 5,602m/18,380ft)

Driving from Leh, we cross the Khardung La, known as one of

theworldshighestmotorable passes,intotheNubraValley.

Ahighlight

on

this

trip,

the

remote

village

of

Turtuk,

once

apart

of Baltistan. Besides the amazing scenery, there is an ancient

fort and a monastery and the area boasts of rare wildlife:

marmots,ibexandtheelusivesnowleopard.


Day7:TURTUK DISKIT LEH(Distance:98km/119km 217km,TravelTime: 56hrs;

Elevation:Leh 3,505m/11,500ft)

HeadingbackovertheKhardung LawedrivebacktoLeh witha

stopattheDiskit Gompadatingbacktothe14thcentury.




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Day8/9:LEH CHANGLA PANGONGTSO(Distance:78km/82km 160km,TravelTime:56hrs;

Elevation:Chang

La

5,425m/17,800ft,

Pangong 4,250m/13,943ft)

Drive to Pangong Tso a high altitude lake in the Ladakh

Himalayas. It is 134 km long and extends from India to Tibet.

TwothirdsofthelengthofthislakeliesinTibet.Thelakeis 5km

(3 mi) wide at its broadest point. The road to Pangong Tso

traversesthe

Chang

La,

over

5000m

high.

Day9:promisestobeamemorableexperienceatPangong Lake

drivingtillManMerak,beyondwhichnotravelersareallowed.

Day10:

PANGONG

TSO

CHANG

LA

LEH

(Distance:82km/78km 160km,TravelTime:56hrs)

After spending the morning at the shores of the beautiful

Pangong,wedrivebacktoLeh, toarriveby lunch.Therestof

thedayatleisuretoexploreLehtown.

OvernightatCamp

Mealinclusions:Breakfast,LunchandDinner

Overnightat

Hotel/Guest

House

Mealinclusions:BreakfastDay11:InLEH

ArelaxedleisurelydayexploringLeh townincludingvisitstothe

Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace. A stretch of white water rafting

canalsobearrangedforinterestedparticipantsonrequest.



ITINERARY :FLYIN/FLYOUT


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Day12:LEH LAMAYURU KARGIL(Distance:115km/15km/40km/55km 165km;TravelTime:56hrs

Elevation:Fotu La

4,108m/13,478ft,

Namika La

3,700m/12,139ft,

Kargil

2,750m/9,000ft).

WestartourjourneywestontheLeh Srinagar Highway.Wevisitthe

Lamayuru monastery, known for its moon like landscape. After a brief

stop,weheadontotheFotu La, thehighestpasson thishighwayand

theNamika La,

to

reach

Kargil for

an

overnight

stay.

Overnightatahotel.

Mealinclusions:Breakfast,Dinner

ITINERARY :FLYIN/FLYOUT

OvernightonaHouseboat

Mealinclusions:Breakfast,Dinner

Day13:KARGIL DRASS ZOJILA SONAMARG SRINAGAR(Distance:58km/42km/20km/85km 205km;TravelTime:56hrs

Elevation:Drass 3,280m/10,761ft,Srinagar 1,585m/5,200ft).

Driving from Kargil, this is when we enter into the famed Valleys of

Kashmir. Starting from Drass where the landscape changes completely.

WestopandvisitthefamouswarmemorialandthendriveovertheZoji

La intothe lushgreenvalleysaroundSonamarg fromwhereweheadto

Srinagar foranovernightstayatopaluxuryhouseboatontheDal lake.

Day14:SRINAGAR Departure(ByAir/Road).

SpendthemorningindulginginrelaxedShikara ridesaroundtheDal Lake.

Depart

by

midday

to

the

airport

to

catch

an

afternoon

flight

out

of

Srinagar/orproceedtothenextdestinationaftercheckingoutatnoon.

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ROUTEMAP

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PACKAGEDETAILS

*Pricesarebasedonaminimumgroupsizeof4participantsinonevehicle

PackageIncludes:

Accommodationontwinsharingbasisincomfortablehotelsanddeluxecampsasmentioned.

Mealinclusionsasspecifiedintheplan.

Accomodation inguesthousesinManali andLeh withnomealinclusionsforeconomyplans.

Paraglidingin

Manali.

TransportationbySUVs(Innovas/Scorpios)with4passengersineach.

DelhitoManali bydeluxecoach.

AllInnerLinePermitsandWildlifefeesforrestrictedareas.

Tripleaderfortheentiredurationofthetrip.

PackagedoesnotInclude:

AnyAirfare

Expensesofpersonalnaturelikelaundry,telephone/faxcalls,

alcoholicbeverages,camera/videocamerafeeatmonuments,

medicalexpenses,gratuitiesetc.

AnyInsurance

AnyexpensesincurredduetodelaysowingtoForceMajeure

conditionsor

unforeseen

circumstances.

Anyotherservicesnotmentionedintheinclusions.

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Paymentsandcancellations:

Aminimum50%oftotalonconfirmation.

Cancellationcharges:

2monthsbeforedeparture NoCharge

2960daysbeforedeparture 25%oftotal

1028daysbeforedeparture 50%oftotal

Lessthan10daysbeforedeparture NoRefund

Head Costperperson

(Standard)

Costperperson

(Economy)

14days/13nights(Delhi Manali Leh Srinagar) INR 38,900/ INR 34,800/

12days/11nights(Delhi Manali Leh) INR 29,800/ INR 26,800/

11days/10nights(Leh Srinagar) INR 28,000/ INR 24,700/


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GUIDELINES

14

Essentials TSHIRTS(preferablydryfits)

TRACKLOWERS

THERMALINNERS(Upper&Lower)

RAINSUIT(Upper&Lower)

SWEATSHIRT

SHORTS

BOOTS(Avoid

Brand

New!)

SUNCAP&BALACLAVA

TOILETRIES

TOWEL

FLASHLIGHTS(preferablyheadtorch)

EXTRABATTERIES

SUNSCREEN,

minimum

50spf SUNGLASSES

DOWNJACKET

PERSONALMEDICATION ifany

BACKPACK LARGEandaDAYPACK

PENKNIFE

SOCKS Cotton&Woollen

GLOVES SOMEIDENTIFICATION

Do&Donts.

1.On

Arrival

Please

rest

for

24

Hours,

as

you

are

travelling to

high

altitudeandwouldneedtimetoacclimatize.

2.Haveplentyofdrinkingwateroranykindofliquid(exceptalcohol)

3.Whilevisiting anymonastery,pleasetakeaLamaspermissionand

adheretotherulesforphotoorvideoshoots.

4.Please

wear

proper

clothing

while

visiting

monasteries:

ForFemales:NoOpenHair,ShortSkirtsoranyShortDresses.

ForMales:NoShortPantsorSleevelesstshirts.

5.Pleasefollowmonasteryruleswhilevisiting.

Note:PleasedontforgottotakesuggestionofyourFamilyDoctor

beforevisitingLadakhforanykindofmedicines

RecommendedMedicines:

*Avomine Vomiting.

*DCold Illness/Combiflam BodyPain.

*Vicks

Balm.

*Diamox (250mg) forHighAltitude/HighPressure.

*Disprin etc forheadaches.

*PersonalMedicines.

*Electral oranyotherrehydration salts.


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CONTACT

RohitChawlaExplorer

[email protected]

mailyourdetailsandqueriesto:[email protected]

logon:www.cosurvivor.in

Fordetails,

clarifications

and

bookings,

please

get

in

touch

directly

Ourplanethasneverbeenasvulnerableasitistoday,Wehavetakenapledgetocarrywithus,at

alltimes,acommitmenttoconservation

15

2011.Allrightsreserved.

Alllogos,photographs,graphicalillustrationsandwrittenmaterialaretheintellectualpropertyofCoSurvivor |Travel&Photography.Unauthorizedusageisstrictlyprohibited

Saurabh KhanduriExplorer

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]://www.cosurvivor.in/http://www.cosurvivor.in/mailto:[email protected]

Destination Ladakh - Circling the High Passes

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