Best of Leh Ladakh and Kashmir

Stay Locations:
Delhi, Leh, Nubra, Kargil, Srinagar
Best Time to Visit:
April to August
Shoulder Season:
March, September, October
Trip Soul:
Heritage, Himalayas, Buddhism, Spiritual, Scenic, Countryside, Culture, Shopping
14 Nights 15 Days
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Day 1: Arrive Delhi

Arrive at Delhi airport and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon is free to relax

Day 2 : Delhi

Post breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel for a full day guided sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid, experience rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk (silver street), Raj Ghat in Old Delhi. Afternoon visit New Delhi covering Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, drive past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan

Day 3 : Delhi - Leh by flight

Early morning you will be transferred to airport for your flight to Leh. You will be met on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to acclimatise in Leh

The scenic grandeur of entire Greater Himalayas is unmatched, but the mystical aura of the cold desert lends an ethereal charm to the rugged mountain ranges of Leh Ladakh. The varied topography encompassing towering mountains and undulating valleys have no comparison. The stillness of the barren brownish gray mountains gives a mystic charm to the environment that surpasses the visual splendor of the most enchanting landscapes. Due to its high altitude and clear skies, the region is popular as an important astronomy center

Day 4 : Leh

Visit Leh Palace, Phyang,Spituk, Sankar Gompa and Hall of Fame. Stroll through Leh bazaar

Leh Palace : Modelled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Leh Palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 16th century. The palace is nine storeys high, where the upper floors used to accommodate the royal family. The roof provides panoramic views of Leh and the surrounding areas, as the mountain of Stok Kangri in the Zanskar mountain range is visible across the Indus valley to the south, with the Ladakh mountain range rising behind the palace is visible in the north. The Palace Museum holds a rich collection of jewellery, ornaments, ceremonial dresses and crowns. Chinese thangka or paintings, which are more than 450 years old, with intricate designs still retain the bright colours derived from crushed and powdered gems and stones

Phyang monastery : The monastery belongs to the red hat sect of Buddhism and has around 50 monks residing in its premises. The belongings of the temple include hundreds of wooden and bronze statues of Buddhist gods and goddesses. This monastery is also home to the biggest thangkas, one of which is no less than five storey high. The Phyang Museum is yet another attractions of the monastery. It showcases a wonderful collection of Chinese,Tibetan and Mongolian firearms and weapons.

Sankar Gompa : The Sankar Monastery is home to various attractions that shed light on its history and heritage. The front balcony of the monastery is marked with 108 volumes of Buddha’s teachings along with three images of the Buddha – the Sakyamuni, the present and future Buddha. Upon entering the stone walls you will come across some incredible paintings of unknown gods which have been described as “guardians of four quarters of heaven”.

Hall of Fame is a museum constructed by the Indian Army in memory of the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives defending the motherland in the Indo-Pak wars. The Hall of Fame museum is located on the Leh-Kargil Road, about 4 kms from the city of Leh. It stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made by our soldiers to ensure the safety and security of our country

Day 5 : Leh

Visit Thiksey, Hemis and Shey Palace. Also visit Stok Palace Museum

Thiksey Monastery : 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompas, containing images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.

Hemis Monastery : Beautifully adorned, Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan monastery belonging to the Drukpa Lineage. Counted as one of the iconic monasteries in Ladakh, Hemis is perched on a mountain along the west bank of Indus River. The monastery belongs to Dugpa Kargyutpa order or Red Sect of Buddhism and is said to be enriched with a large number of Thangkas or paintings, which are exhibited during the one of the famous festivals in Ladakh, Hemis Festival

Shey Palace, the erstwhile royal residence of the Ladakh monarchs, is the main attraction of Shey. The palace was built by King Deldan Namgyal in 1655 AD. Namgyal also made Shey his summer capital. It offers views of a vast expanse of the surrounding valleys. Currently, the palace serves as a center of Buddhism and houses the Shey monastery. It has the largest golden Buddha statue and covers almost three floors of the monastery. Painting on the walls, murals and sculptures of Buddha are worth seeing.

Stok Palace Museum : This four storey palace of the (erstwhile) royal family of Ladakh is located short distance across the Indus River, near Leh. It was the official residence of the royal family of Ladakh, constructed in 1814 by Ladakh's last ruler. There are more than 80 rooms, only five of which are open to public. It is a small museum with intriguing collection of Buddhist art, weaponry, coins, seals, thangka paintings, other items from the royal household, but the best of the lot are Queen's ceremonial jewellery and ceremonial headgear of the rulers.

Day 6 : Leh - Nubra

Drive to Nubra enroute world’s highest motorable road at Khardungla Pass. It is situated at an altitude of 5359 meters.

Nubra means Ldumra (the valley of flowers), situated in the north of Leh. The average altitude of the valley is about 10,000 ft. above the sea level. The main attraction in this area is Bactrian Camels (Shaggy double hump Camel) around sand dunes, Deskit and Samstanling monasteries and Khardungla Pass (18,380 feet.) above sea level

Day 7 : Nubra

Today you will walk through stunning countryside and experience the local culture, scenery and wildlife

Day 8 : Nubra - Leh

Drive to Leh. Rest of the day is free to relax

Day 9 : Leh - Kargil

Drive to Kargil enroute visit Alchi, Lamayuru and Mulbekh Monastery

Nestled in the abode of nature at Ladakh, Kargil is one of the most prominent cities in Jammu and Kashmir. In 1999, this town saw infiltration by Pakistani forces that led to a lethal conflict between the two countries. Kargil War holds a significant place in India’s martial history. The town is blessed with an entrancing natural scenery peppered with lush greenery, shimmering glacial rivers and arid mountain ranges which provide for a delightful time to all the nature lovers and soul-seeker

Day 10 : Kargil - Srinagar

Drive to Srinagar. Check into your houseboat

Srinagar has the distinction of having multifaceted and unique cultural blend, making it exclusive from the rest of the country, not only from the different cultural forms and heritage, but from geographical, demographically, ethical, social entities, which forms a distinct spectrum of diversity. Dotted with numerous beautiful sights, the city looks amazing in a canopy of landscaped flowering gardens, crystal clear lakes, magnificent structures and bustling market.

Day 11 : Srinagar

Discover Mughal gardens. Visit Shalimar Bagh (Abode of Love),Nishat Bagh (Garden of Pleasure), Chashme Shahi (Royal Spring), Pari Mahal and Jama Masjid. Evening shikara on Dal lake

Shikara, the small wooden carved boat, usually seen at Dal Lake and Nagin Lake of Srinagar, is one of the mesmerizing attractions of the city. Regaining the old world charm, the swift movement of a Shikara provides a unique way to experience the eternal beauty of Kashmir. A relaxing ride while enjoying the surrounding views around Dal Lake is truly a worthful pleasure.

Day 12 : Srinagar - Gulmarg - Srinagar

Full day excursion to Gulmarg. Experience a Gondola ride

Welcome to Gulmarg - literally means "the meadow of flowers". The snow-clad peaks and the lovely landscapes of Gulmarg have provided background for several Bollywood ventures. The slopes of Gulmarg make it Asia's only heli-skiing resort. There are immense beauty and adventure activities that make Gulmarg much more than a cool hill resort. With the setting-up of Gondola Cable Car Lift from Gulmarg to Apharwat top, Gulmarg has become one of the highest lift-served ski resorts in the world. The total aerial distance covered by Gulmarg Gondola is 5 kilometres. The Phase 2 of the Gondola Ride is a prime attraction as it gives panoramic views of the Himalayas as it keeps ascending higher and closer to the Apharwat Mountain. The cable car ascends 1,330 vertical metres to a height of nearly 4,000m.

Day 13 : Srinagar

Experience early morning floating vegetable market through shikara. The Dal Lake is famous for its 'floating vegetable market', the only one of its kind in India and only the second in the world, the other being the rowing shops along the backwaters of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Floating vegetable vendors are a prime tourist attraction in the Kashmir Valley

Rest of the day is free at leisure

Day 14 : Srinagar - Delhi by flight

Post breakfast you will be transferred to Srinagar airport for your flight to Delhi. You will be met on arrival and transfer to your hotel

Day 15 : Depart Delhi

In time you will be transferred to International airport to fly back home