An Immersive Vacation in Ladakh

8 nights/ 9 days Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Acclimatization

Land at Leh Airport, head towards your accommodation and relax. Spend the rest of the day acclimatizing to the high altitude and low temperature. Prepare yourself for an exciting vacation ahead!

Overnight stay at Leh.

Day 2:  An Experiential Day at Ladakh

Start your day around 5 AM and watch the monks at prayer at the famous Thiksey monastery. Be a part of the Prayer and Meditation Session here at 7 am, a unique and immersive experience.

As the echoes of the prayers still linger, return to the hotel for breakfast. 

Drive up to or cycle your way through the valley to reach Stok Palace, and explore the villages around!

End your day with an authentic home-cooked Ladakhi meal. Your host will first demonstrate how to prepare the famous Butter Tea also known as 'Po Cha' Get ready to dig into some delicious dumplings, savoury flatbreads and a lot more.

Overnight stay at Leh.

Day 3: Trace the Erstwhile Silk Route

Drive past Leh market and ascend uphill to the mighty Khardungla pass. Spend some time in the snow here and then descend into the Nubra valley.

Check into your accommodation at Nubra Valley and soak in the fascinating surroundings of this unique landscape. Surrounded by snowcapped Himalayan ranges, Nubra Valley lies sandwiched between Tibet and Kashmir. The view of the valley is picturesque and breathtaking. During winter, the whole valley looks like the landscape of the moon (the reason for it being called Moonland) and in summer is full of greenery.

At sunset, walk through the famous dunes of Sumur and meet the rare Bactrian double-humped camels. Later, return to the hotel and retire for the day. 

Overnight stay at Nubra.

Day 4: Explore Baltistan

Head towards Turtuk, the wonderland of Turtuk, an unknown little hamlet, flanked by Nubra on one side and Baltistan on the other, lies along the shores of Shyok River. While time has not touched the exquisiteness of this place, the friendly nature of its residents is hard to miss. Geographically Turtuk, the village is divided into two parts: Ayul(Yul) and Farol(Ferol), on either side of a wooden bridge. Farol is perched on top of the hill while Ayul sits on the lower side of the village and both together belong to the Balti people of Tibetan descent. Different Muslim communities call this paradise home, with most of its residents being Noorbakshis along with a few Sunnis and Shias. 

The royal family still uses the palace of Turtuk as their residence and a part of it has now been converted into a small museum open to the public, offering a private viewing with none other than the King himself.

Turtuk has a history as colourful as the apricot plantations one sees all around the region. 

Relish a traditional Balti-style lunch. Balti is associated with a slap-up meal of spicy curries and naan served from small copper buckets and degchis. 

 Return to your property to enjoy a warm bonfire and gaze at the Milky Way in the sky!

Day 5: Discover the beauty of Pangong- Tso

Drive via the Panamik hot springs and reach the gorgeous Pangong Tso lake.

Pangong Lake, situated at a height of almost 4,350m, is the world’s highest saltwater lake. Its water, which seems to be dyed in blue, stands in stark contrast to the arid mountains surrounding it. Extending to almost 160km, one-third of Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.

Pangong Lake, one of the most famous lakes in Leh Ladakh, derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”. Spend the night at a campsite here soaking in the aura around you!

Day 6: Sightseeing at Leh

Visit the Hemis Gompa, Shey Palace, Sangam Point, Magnetic Hill, and Gurudwara Patthir Sahib. Drive down to Stok village for your overnight stay. 

Day 7: Trek to Markha Valley

A complete day for a trekking adventure at Markha Valley packed lunch from the hotel to be served during the trek.

Set in the arid cold desert of Ladakh, Markha is a stunning river valley in Hemis National Park. The trek through Markha Valley is very picturesque and full of adventure.

The trek involves many river crossings, some waist-deep, along with crossing the high pass Kongmaru La (17,060 ft). The trail offers some outstanding views of Mt Kang Yatse (21,300 ft). There are also incredible rocky canyons along the trail, as well as plenty of wildlife.

Day 8: Day Trip to Sham Valley

Start your day with a walk around the Alchi Monastery, Basgo Fort, and the Likir Monastery.

Overnight stay at Stok.

Day 9: Departure 

Head back to Leh airport, board your flight from here and fly back with memories of a lifetime!