Glimpses of Laddakh

Arrive Delhi airport. After clearing your custom & immigrations you shall be met by our representative outside the exit gate of the arrival hall. After meeting/assistance and traditional welcome at the airport transfer to hotel. Rest of the day/night at leisure to overcome jet-leg of the long flight & to recuperate to our weather conditions. Overnight stay at hotel.

Delhi - The capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India. Don't let your first impressions of Delhi stick like a sacred cow in a traffic jam: get behind the madcap façade and discover the inner peace of a city rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep with history and totally addictive to epicureans. Both Old and New Delhi exert a beguiling charm on visitors. Lose yourself unwinding the secrets of the city's Mughal past in the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi before emerging into the wide open spaces of imperial New Delhi, with its ordered governmental vistas and generous leafy avenues.

After an earlytea/coffee at the hotel you are transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Ladakh. This must be one of the most sensational flights in the world. On a clear day from one side of the aircraft can be seen in the distance the peaks of K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum and on the other side of the aircraft, so close that you feel you could reach out and touch it, is the Nun Kun massif. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to acclimatize to the rarefied air or you may choose to stroll along the main bazaar - observing the varied crowds. Looking into curio shops is an engaging experience. A particularly attractive sight is the line of women from nearby villages sitting along the edge of the footpath with baskets of fresh vegetables brought for sale. Behind the main bazaar, Chang Gali is less bustling but has interesting little shops selling curios and jewellery. Further on are the labyrinthine alleyways and piled-up houses of the old town, clustering around the foot of the Palace Hill. In the other direction, down the bazaar, are the Tibetan markets where one can bargain for pearls, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli and many other kinds of semi-precious stones and jewellery, as well as carved yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls, or any of a whole array of curios. Overnight at Hotel.

Morning breakfast at the hotel and leave for city tour of this fascinating city Leh- capital of Ladakh, situated at at highet of 3505 meters and is towards the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a beautfull destination with many attractions and is the centre of Tibeto-Bhddhist culture for ages. Its colourful Gompas have attracted teh devout Budhhists from all over the globe. City tour will include the Leh Palace- The battle scarred and deserted 16th century ruins of the royal residence built by singee Namgyal. Shankar Gompa and Leh Mosque. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast leave for full day exucursion to visit Shey, Thiksey and Hemis monastries. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Khardong-La (80 kms round trip), highest motorable pass in the world (alt: 18,380 ft.) and recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. On the drive back from the pass, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Indus Valley and the endless peaks of the Zanskar range. Rest of the day free to explore the markets. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

Early morning tea/coffee at the hotel and transfer to the airport to board onwad flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi direct transfer to hotel and after quick wash and change leave for combined city tour of old and new Delhi.

New Delhi - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, 12th century Minaret- Qutub Minar graceful and well sculptured and stands 75 meters, Lotus Temple, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, The President House, once the House of British viceroys and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.

Old Delhi - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort-once the most opulent fort and palace of the Mughal Empire.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Morning breakfast at the hotel. In time meeting/assistance at the hotel and transfer to international airport to connect your return flight for home country.