Ladakh - Ladakh Cultural Festival

Early morning flight to the Himalayan barrier, then transfer to the hotel. Day dedicated to a first discovery of the location.

Discover the city, its streets, its markets, its palace of Leh, located in Leh at the top of the Namgyal hill. The palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century but was abandoned later when Dogra forces took control of Ladakh in the mid-19th century.

Acclimatization has begun slowly; Leh is located at 3500 meters altitude.

Hundar was the capital of the ancient Nubra kingdom in the 17th century and is home to the ruins of Chamba Gompa.

From Hundar, you cross the Shyok River and head further north to the Samstanling Gompa, in a peaceful setting overlooking the verdant fields of the village of Sumur. Some parts of this 19th-century monastery have been recently restored and feature impressive murals. Next comes the sacred Yarab Tso, popularly known as the hidden lake.

From the road, you take a short 15-minute walk to the lake shore. The lake is very beautiful and an ideal place for a picnic. You continue to Panamik. It was a major stop on the caravan trade route, and is now well known for its medicinal hot springs.

An evening walk through the village and surrounding greenery is a fascinating and relaxing experience.

After breakfast, begin a spectacular drive from Nubra to Leh. Road conditions are initially good before crossing the vertiginous and spectacular Wari La pass (5,342 m), one of the highest drivable mountain passes in the world located in the northeast of the Ladakh valley.

From the pass, magnificent views offer you a panorama that extends far south over the Indus valley to the seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar mountain range.

Arrival in Leh.

Attend the Morning Puja Ceremony at Thiksey Monastery

Early this morning around 5:45 am, we depart to attend and take part in the morning ceremony (puja) at the Thiksey Monastery.

This conch horn blowing ceremony that takes place high on one of the monastery's roofs gives you a truly fascinating spiritual and cultural pleasure. As the ceremony begins with a few rituals and all the monks flock in when the chants accompanied by drums/horns begin. An breathtaking view and the highlight is the most beautiful Buddha statue (Maitreya form).

You will also see a number of young Buddhist monks and lamas, novice students from Buddhist schools, attending the morning puja ceremony at the monastery.

Return to Leh for breakfast, then drive towards Lamayuru and visit the Gompa. Lamayuru, one of the most famous and spectacular gompas in Ladakh, perches on a steep cliff overlooking a strange and alien earthen formation called the "lunar landscape". The first monastery of Lamayuru was built in the late 10th century. At its peak, up to 400 monks lived in the monastery, but today only 20 to 30 remain. You visit the recently renovated prayer hall and head back east to Themisgaam, the most fertile valley in Ladakh. Apricots, apples and walnuts are abundant here, and you will visit a beautiful village with its gompa.

Cooking Demonstration with Dinner in a Local Ladakhi Family

Treat yourself to an experience making traditional Ladakhi dishes such as hand-made Ladakhi momos, local thuntuk with a local family enriched with the traditions of the local village in Ladakh. Learn the art of indigenous Ladakhi cooking and discover new cooking techniques as we introduce you to our culinary experience where you will learn to cook Ladakhi specialties and deepen your knowledge while the family shares their experiences about life in Ladakh.

And try local traditional Ladakhi costumes at Thiksey Monastery

This morning, you explore Themisham, the two monasteries of Themisgam, one belonging to the Yellow Hat order and the other to the Red Hat order of Tibetan Buddhism. One of the monasteries was the palace of the Kings of Ladakh before they moved to Leh.

This afternoon, you return to Leh via Alchi. Arrival in Leh and relaxation at the hotel.

Alchi, the famous Alchi monastery of the 12th century. Alchi is a religious enclave that houses an extraordinary wealth of ancient murals and wooden sculptures. Barely a handful of the monasteries founded at that time escaped the Muslim depredations of the 14th century, but Alchi's treasures were miraculously preserved for more than nine centuries within five tiny temples with mud walls. Arrival in Leh and relaxation at the hotel.

This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Delhi. End of services.