TRANS HIMALAYAN TOUR

(14 NIGHTS/15 DAYS)
Delhi - Chandigarh - Dharamsala - Mandi - Manali  - Jispa - Sarchu - Leh - Delhi
Season of operation: June to September

Day 1:  Arrive Delhi
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Afternoon proceed for a sightseeing of New and Old Delhi. In New Delhi, visit the Qutab Minar, Moghul Emperor Humayun's Tomb, India Gate and the Parliament House. In Old Delhi, see the Red Fort, the Raj Ghat, the Jama Masjid. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 2:  Delhi-Chandigarh by train
Chandigarh-Dharamsala by surface (235 kms/ 6 -7 Hrs)
In time transfer to the railway station to board train (Shatabdi Express) for Chandigarh. Meeting and assistance on arrival and drive for Dharamsala. On arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 3:  In Dharamsala
Morning proceed for a visit to the Namgyal Monastery and Tsechokling Monastery. Afterwards, walk down to Tscholing Monastery. Afternoon, drive to the Tibetan Medical Centre, visit Tibetan Library for introduction on Buddhism and museum of ancient articrafts and scrolls. Also visit the "Nechung Monastery". Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 4:  Dharamsala-Palampur by surface
(55 kms. / 2-3 Hrs)
Today you will drive for Palampur. On arrival, check in at hotel. Later proceed for a visit to the Bir Village (Tibetan settlement centre) and the "Tashi Jong Monastery" famous for its young reincarnate Lama. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 5:  Palampur/Manali by surface
(165 kms / 8-9 Hrs)
Today you will drive for Manali. On arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 6:  In Manali
A visit around Manali town includes Old Manali, Hadimba Devi Temple, Vashisht, Dhungri Village and Tibetan Monastery. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 7:  Manali-Jispa by surface
(141 kms / 8-9 Hrs)
Leave Manali by jeep for Jispa. Start on a road journey from Manali to Jispa. A few kilometers after Manali, one gets the first sight of Himalayan snow as the ascent to the imposing Rohtang pass (3978 mtrs) begins with the conifers giving way to grasslands. The descent across the pass leads to an open valley through which flows the River Chandra. Drive through the valley and climb through the hillside to reach Keylong, once an important stop on the erstwhile trade route between India/Tibet and China. On arrival in Jispa, check in at hotel. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 8:  Jispa-Sarchu by surface
(75 kms / 8 - 9 Hrs)
Leave Jispa by jeep for Sarchu. From Darcha, the road makes a steep ascent to Baralacha Pass (4,892 m). Atop the pass, one can have a stunning view of the snow covered over 6,000 meters peaks like Chandrabhaga, Mulkila, Barashigri. Below the Baralacha lies a jewel of a lake, called Suraj Tal (Lake of the Sun) which is also one of the sources of the river Bhaga. Further on from Baralacha, the landscape changes from the green mountain slopes to the bare mountain sides. An hour's drive from the pass brings you to the vast Sarchu plains and

the site for the overnight stay at the tented camp. On arrival, check in at the camp. Overnight is at the camp.

Day 9:  Sarchu-Leh by surface
(253 kms / 10-11 Hrs)
Leave Sarchu by jeep for Leh. The drive through the Sarchu plateau brings you to the foot of Lachungla, from where another circuitous drive starts up to the Galta loops with 32 hairpin bends coming out in Pang Valley. Continue driving to Tanglangla (5,328 metres), the highest pass on the journey with the breathtaking view of the Zanskar Range of mountains. A drive through few more villages brings you down to the great Indus river. The road alongside the Indus River with view of many monastries atop the mountain sides leads you to Leh. On arrival, check in at hotel.  Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 10 :   In Leh
Proceed for sightseeing tour including Shankar Gompa followed by excursion to Spituk and Phyang monastries. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 11:  In Leh
Morning proceed for full day visit to Thiksey, Hemis,Chemrey, Trak Thok. THIKSEY: The 500-year-old Thiksey monastery, perched on a hill high above the Indus, has about 100 yellow cap monks. The outside of the gompa is painted red and is visible from far away. If you get to the gompa by 6.30 am, you can witness the daily prayers preceded by long mournful sounds from the horns on the roof. HEMIS: The Hemis gompa (45 km from Leh) is famous far beyond the borders of Ladakh for its festival (Hemis Setchu or Mela of the Hemis gompa). Hemis gompa is the largest and one of the most important in Ladakh quite apart from its annual festival. It was founded about 360 years ago by Stagtshang Raspa, who was invited to Ladakh by King Singe Namgyal who also established the monasteries of Chemre, Hanle and Themisgam. CHEMREY: The monastery of Chemrey was founded under the direct patronage of members of the ruling Namgyal dynasty while Hemis monastery, was established at the instance of King Singge Namgyal. His widow founded Chemrey as a posthumous act of merit for him. Both these belong to the Red Hat (Kargyud- Pa) sect of Tibetan monasticism. TRAK-THOK: Trak-thok gompa represents the smaller but much older Nying-ma-pa and Saskya-pa monastic sects respectively. Trak-thok, situated at the foot of the Changla pass, 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. Overnight is at the hotel. 

Day 12:  In Leh
Today you will proceed for a full day visit to Likir and Alchi monasteries. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 13:  Leh – Delhi by air
In time transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 14:  In Delhi
Full day is at leisure. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 15:  Departure Delhi
In time transfer to the airport to board your flight for onward destination.