Indo Vacations offers you a 15 Days tour to Ladakh. In this Ladakh tour you will visit the Buddhist monasteries of Thikse, Shey, Hemis, Spituk, Phyang, Alchi, Likir, Lamayuru and Stok. In this tour a visit to Dharamshala, Amritsar and Manali is also included. The best season to visit Ladakh is during the months from June to October.

Day 01: New Delhi 
Around midnight arrival in New Delhi. The cosmopolitan city and capital of India is the main gateway for travellers to India. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel.

Day 02: New Delhi - Leh (by air)
In the morning transfer to the airport to board flight for Leh, the capital of Ladakh. Arrival in Leh in the afternoon. Due to its altitude (3500 m) Ladakh is known as the roof of the world. Leh was an important place in the historical times on the silk road to central Asia. The rest of the day is at leisure to acclaim yourselves to this high altitude of Leh.

Day 03: Leh Excursion (Spituk, Phyang)
Today we start our day by visiting the Spituk monastery. Spituk monastery is 8 km from Leh and is situated on a hilltop overlooking the Indus. The Spituk Monastery has a collection of 21 gold statues of Goddess Tara and a number of scroll paintings. Spituk valley has an enormous statue of Kali whose face is unveiled once a year during the Spituk festival. This monastery also contains an ancient collection of masks. Around 135 yellow capped monks resides in this monastery. After the visit of Spituk we shall proceed to the Gompa Phyang which is a traditional monastery setting for a spectacular religious festival with masked dancing. There are 50 red capped monks residing here.

Day 04: Leh Excursion (Thikse, Shey, Hemis)
Today we start our excursion by visiting the monastery of Thikse. Thikse is one of the most imposing monastery in Ladakh. The monastery has 12 stories, 10 temples, a nunnery and 60 lamas in residence. It contains numerous stupas, statues, tankhas, wall painting and a large pillar engraved with the teaching of Buddha. We can also see here a collection of Tibetan scripts. After the visit of Thikse we visit the village of Shey on the eastern bank of the Indus. Shey was the royal residence and was located at an important vantage point in the Indus valley. According to tradition, it was the seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kings. A 7.5 metre high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold, and the largest of its kind, is installed here. Today we also visit the monastery of Hemis. The rich monastery of Hemis is the biggest in Ladakh and is perched on top of a pleasant green hill surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. Every year a colorful famous festival of mask dances takes place in Hemis. This Monastery (Gompa) has an important library of Tibetan style books and an impressive collection of tankhas, the largest of which is displayed every 11 years.

Day 05: Leh Excursion (Alchi, Likir)
Today we drive to Alchi through the exciting landscape of Ladakh. On the banks of the Indus river, is the Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years back. One of its walls features thousands of miniature sized pictures of the Buddha. Alchi has been declared as an UNESCO monument. The Monastery of Alchi is a large temple complex and is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centers in Ladakh and a jewel of monastic skill. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attraction. After the visit of Alchi we proceed to Likir. Likir contains the ruins of a Buddhist citadel impressively sited on a spur overlooking the Indus Valley. Founded in the 11th century AD and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century AD, Likir's earlier gompa was destroyed in a fire. The present Gompa dates back to the18th century. It served as a royal residence for several periods between 15th and 17th Centuries.

Day 06: Leh Excursion (Lamayuru, Stok)
Today we start our excursion by visiting the Lamayuru Monastery. This monastery is situated at the altitude of 3800 meters between Fotu-la and Khalsi. As per the legend, in ancient times a lake covered this site. This monastery is noted for the sect "Drigungpa". In the gallery one will be able to see 35 Buddhas painted on the wall. Then we drive to the small village known as Stok. The attraction of Stok remains the palace of Stok which is 200 years old. The palace and museum at Stok is a showpiece for the royal tankhas, royal crown, dresses, coins, precious stones and turquoise head dresses.

Day 07: Leh - Sarchu (about 253 km) 
Today we will drive to Sarchu. Enroute we will stop for photography and admire the natural beauty. In the evening arrive in Sarchu. We have an overnight stay in Sarchu. 

Day 08: Sarchu - Jispa (about 125 km)
Today we will leave Sarchu and drive further to Jispa. Evening at leisure upon arrival in Jispa. We will have an overnight stay in Jispa. 

Day 09: Jispa - Manali (about 141 km)
In the morning after having breakfast we will drive to Manali. Manali has spectacular views of snow capped peaks and wooded slopes. It is also known as "Switzerland of India". It offers marvellous walks through dappled orchards and fairy tale forests of Deodar. 

Day 10: Manali 
In the morning we will visit the Hidimba Temple, standing tall among the stately Deodars. This ancient temple with its three level roofs looks like a pagoda and its lintel and door frame are of intricately carved wood. The market is crowded with interesting shops selling Tibetan carpets and crafts. In the evening visit the Mall and the market of Manali.

Day 11: Manali - Dharamshala (about 253 km) 
Today we will drive to Dharamshala. Dharamshala has one of the most spectacular settings for a hill station as it varies in height from 1200 m. to 1800 m. In Dharamshala, there is a strong Tibetan influence. The Dalai Lama settled here after the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the year 1959. There is a monastery at Mcleodganj a short distance along from the Dalai's Lama's residence. In the evening we have a walk through Mcleodganj and visit a Tibetan monastery, the church of St. John and a school complex.

Day 12: Dharamshala - Amritsar (about 199 km) 
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon leave for Amritsar. Arrive in Amristsar by the evening. Amritsar was founded by the fourth Sikh Guru – Ram Das while excavating the holy tank called the “Pool of Immortality”. Amritsar (meaning pool of Nectar) lies in the northern state of Punjab and is famous for the Golden Temple. Rest of the day at leisure in Amritsar. 

Day 13: Amritsar - New Delhi (by train)
Today in the morning we will visit the Golden Temple to know more about the native Sikh population of the state Punjab. It is the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs. Guru Arjun Dev built the temple and Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler, enshrined the shrine and covered the domes with copper, overlaid with gold foil. The exterior walls are inlaid with precious stones and inside contains fine fillgree and gold inlay works. Afterwards we will visit the Jallianwala Bagh. In the evening transfer to the railway station for the train to Delhi. 

Day 14: New Delhi 
In the morning arrive in New Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to explore the market or have sightseeing.

Day 15: New Delhi
Around midnight flight to home destination.

Tour Reservation
To get more information or to book this tour please submit the Query Form or send us an e-mail ! Your booking will be activated only after we get a reconfirmation from your side.

Our Services Include:
      Accommodation in double rooms on twin sharing basis with bath and WC in the 
         chosen category.
      American/continental Breakfast.
      Services of qualified local guides (English speaking or languages of your choice) at     
         every place of sightseeing.
      All Transfers and departures on arrival and departure by Indo Vacations
         representative.
       All Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an air-conditioned Car with driver.

Exclusions:
      Any kind of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone Bills and Alcoholic    
         beverages.
      Camera Fees (Still or Movie).
      Any Flight Charges.
      Monument Entrances.
      Unspecified Meals etc.

We always look forward for any changes in the itinerary as wished by you for your individual trip.