LEH SHAM VALLEY THIKSEY 3N4D 3 Nights / 4 Days

A warm welcome at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh at an elevation of 3500m above sea level and board the vehicle for a transfer to hotel. Check in to the hotel for a half day of rest for acclimatization. Evening drive to visit Leh Palace known as Lhachen Palkhar. The former palace of the royal family of Leh was erected in the 17th century. The place was one of the tallest structures with 9 stories during its heydays and now a wonderful example of medieval Ladakhi art. Later visit Shanti Stupa on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful city of Leh, a marvelous gigantic white domed dedicated to Buddhism was built in 1991 by Japanese and Ladakhi Buddhists to commemorate Buddhism and promote world peace. Here you can enjoy the various shades of the sky with the golden light illuminating the valley as the sun sets. In the evening walk around the local market. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel in Leh.

Day starts with Hall of Fame, which encapsulates the essence of patriotism and displays exhibits relating the bravery of Indian soldiers and their courageous accomplishments. Later we will proceed to Sangam (Confluence of Zanskar and Indus River), enroute we will visit locally popular Kali Mata temple dedicated to Goddess Kali Kali Mata Temple, followed by Spituk Gompa - an 11th century monastery. Next on the list of attractions is Gurdwara Pathar Sahib, which was constructed by the Lamas of Leh in 1517 in memory and honor of Guru Nanak - the founder of the Sikh faith. Drive another few km to witness Magnetic Hill, the place where gravity takes a backseat. It is marked by a yellow signboard which reads “The Phenomenon That Defies Gravity”. When a car is placed in neutral, it will begin to roll backwards, apparently uphill. Driving through a picturesque landscape, we reach the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar River (Sangam), Zanskar river rafting is the highest in the world and 2nd toughest in India and known for the famous ‘Chadar Trek’ (frozen river) during winter when the temperature plunges to -30-degree Celsius. Driving along the NH1, we returned to Leh in the evening. Overnight stay in Leh.

After a leisurely breakfast, head out to tour the monasteries here. Hemis is the largest and the wealthiest monastery in Ladakh. The Monastery has the tall Buddha statue, or the many stupas made of gold and silver with Tibetan thangkas, there is a common thread of tranquility running through them and the museum attached which is quite informative. From Hemis, you are driven back taking the same route to visit Thiksey Monastery, located on a hill-lock with formidable views of the Indus valley. Visit the Thiksey Monastery, the largest in Ladakh, to admire its traditional Tibetan architecture. Thiksey is especially noteworthy for its gigantic, seated statue of the Maitreya Buddha and is also known for its (Dukhang) assembly hall which houses hundreds of rectangular prayer books, stacked between wooden covers and bound in silk. After that we continued to drive through a series of chortens to visit Shey Palace, the former summer palace of the King of Ladakh. The monastery inside the palace is known for its giant copper with gilded gold statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is said to be the second-largest statue in Ladakh. Evening free for shopping in the local market. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel in Leh.

Early morning transfer to Leh airport to board flight back to destination. Journey ends with sweet memories of Ladakh