SUGGESTED PROGRAM FOR ADVENTURE TOURS:

LAMAYURU TO ALCHI TREK

Duration : 12 nights / 13 days

Cities covered : Delhi - Leh - Lamayuru - Hinju - Sumda Chunoon - Stakspi La Base Camp - Alchi - Leh - Delhi

Highlights : This is an interesting short duration trek on which one can visit three of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, founded around 11th. century. The sights and sounds of being in the “Little Tibet” is unmatched by its contrast of ethnic culture of the last of living migrant Buddhist people living here in the high altitude desert lands of Ladakh Himalayas.
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[Best suitable for minimum 2 travelers]

Day 1 - DELHI
Arrive Delhi. Assistance and garland welcome upon arrival. Transfer to hotel.

Day 2 - AT DELHI
Today we will take you for combined sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. In Old Delhi visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid, drive past Chandani Chowk and visit Raj Ghat-the cremation site of Gandhi. In New Delhi visit Qutab Minar-234 feet high tower, nearby stands the Iron pillar, the Tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, the modern Birla Mandir Temple. Drive past India Gate (War Memorial), President’s House, which was once the Viceroy’s Palace, Parliament House and Secretarial buildings.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 3 - DELHI / LEH
Early morning transfer to the International Airport to board Leh bound flight. The one-hour classic flight over the majestic Himalayas brings you to Leh, the Buddhist influenced kingdom of Ladakh. Arrive and transfer to the Ladakhi style hotel. A day of complete rest to acclimatize to the arid high altitude of Leh (3100 meters) Evening a very brief walk in the bazaar and also to attend a Ladakhi folk cultural show. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 4 -  AT LEH
After breakfast leave for a halfday sightseeing trip to visit the Shankar monastery which is about 200 years old, it contains plethora of impressive images and frescoes with huge statue of Aloketesvara-with 1000 arms and heads.

Next visit the Japanese built peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa). The Pagoda was built about 11 years back. The winding road leading to it offers enthralling views of the countryside. Crowned with massive dome, this stupa is a reminiscent of Nalanda & Rajgir stupas. This grand structure is the symbol of the spiritual ties between the people of Ladakh and Japan.

Finally visit the ruined Leh Palace a look a like of the Patola Palace of Lhasa in Tibet. The Palace was built strategically on the hilltop in the 18th. Century. You will have fabulous views of the Indus valley below.

Afternoon visit a Ladakhi Buddhist family and share a cup of rancid butter tea, tsampa (roasted barley) and tschang (fermented barley beer), and see their way of living. Evening free. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 5 -  LEH / LAMAYURU
Morning after breakfast we drive to reach Lamayuru monastery. Arrive post lunch at the monastery camping ground.
In the afternoon visit the monastery and overnight stay at the Camps.

Day 6 -  LAMAYURU / HINJU
Morning after breakfast trek to the valley for 2 Kms. towards the Prinkit La Pass (3’506 meters) . From the pass the terrain towards the Konze La can be appreciated before you descend the narrow and rather dusty gully to the Shilakung Valley. From here we turn down the valley past the village of Shila to Wanla. From here the trek continues up the valley for 4 to 5 hours to the village of Pangge, here the trail diverge. The trail leads to the tiny village of Hunju. Arrive and overnight stay in Camps.

Day 7 -  HINJU / KONZE LA and SUMDA CHUNOON
The trek up the valley towards the pass is gradual to begin with, along a well-defined trail. The final few hundred meters to the pass is steep and during the months of June / July the pass is under the influence of heavy snow. From the pass there are clear views across the Stok range, and to the gorge country in the vicinity of the Zanskar river. The trail down to the open valley is easy to follow. Down the valley and we reach our campsite near the village of Sumda Chunoon. Arrive and overnight stay in Camps.

Day 8 - SUMDA C. / STAKSPI LA BASE CAMP SUMDA
Morning after breakfast walk towards the turn-off point that leads up valley to another sub-stantial village known locally as Sumda-Chenmo. From here the trail is easier to follow to the campsite. There is a monastery here and was founded at the same time as Alchi, and the assembly hall displays a similar variety of wall paintings and carvings. Th0ere is also an impressive statue of Maitriya Buddha in the adjoining temple.
Arrive and overnight stay in Camps.

Day 9 - OVER STAKSPI LA / ALCHI
Today is a short but demanding day and the climb to the pass requires an early start from your camp. From the top of the pass there are wonderful views down the Indus Valley and across the snow-capped ridges of the Ladakh Range. From the pass, the trail descends quite steeply to a small grazing area and shepherd shelter and we will camp here for the overnight.

Day 10 - ALCHI / LEH
Today after breakfast visit the Alchi and Lamayuru monasteries, driving via Nimmu-the confluence point where the Indus and Zanskar rivers meet, creating a beautiful scenic spot. Alchi Gompa is built on a low land, quite unusual than the other monasteries in Ladakh which are perched on hilltops. The Gompa is noted for its massive Buddha Statues and lavish woodcarvings and the only example of Kashmiri –style wall paintings in the area. There are also many chortens around the village. The Alchi Gompa, believed to be 900 years old is about 70 Kms. from Leh.

At Alchi we will be having our pack lunch. We drive little further to visit the Lamayuru Gompa. Legend has it that the upper reaches of this valley were once filled by a vast lake. The sage Naropa miraculously breached this. The site of the breach was revered, and became the location of the monastery, which was built in the 10th. Century. One of the original temples is situated just beyond the main assembly hall and has been renovated.

Morning our waiting jeeps will take us back to our hotel in Leh, covering about 85 Kms. Arrive at Leh and overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 11 - AT LEH
Morning we visit the famous nearby monasteries of Shey and Thikshey. Shey was once the residence of the royal family and is famous for its 8.5-meter high copper gilded statue of Buddha. In the afternoon visit the Thikshey Gompa, which is one of the most impressive monasteries and is famous for its collection of various images, stupas, ancient tankhas and exquisite wall paintings. It also houses a two-storied statue of Buddha. Later in the late afternoon return back to the hotel.

Afternoon free. You may just relax at the hotel terrace, sipping local tea and enjoying the mesmerizing local views or visit Ladakh Ecological Center or some shopping in the Tibetan bazaars of Leh town. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 12 - LEH / DELHI
Morning transfer to the Leh airport to board Delhi bound flight. Upon arrival in Delhi assistance and check into the hotel.

Afternoon visit to the Lotus temple and Qutab Minar.
Evening witness the Dances of India show followed by farewell Dinner at the Village Bistro complex. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 13 - LEAVE DELHI
Departure transfer to the International Airport to board next days’ early morning flight for onward destination.