Welcome to India, or as we say ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (The guest is an incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!!

Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representative will welcome you and transfer you to hotel, Hyatt Regency.

Overnight at Hotel

Following a leisurely breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Srinagar.

Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representative will welcome you and transfer you to Fair Heaven Houseboat.

Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, and, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year. It’s waterways with their own quaint lifestyle, the unique Houseboat, the blossoming gardens, water sports activities, shopping for lovingly handcrafted souvenirs and the nearby resorts make Srinagar a cherished venue those looking for a soul stirring holiday.

Rest of the day is at leisure for your independent activities.

Overnight Houseboat 

Early morning, while sipping a cup of tea in your private balcony, enjoy the floating market in the lake where vendors on board go past on boats selling their wares such as flowers, crafts, vegetables, saffron etc. It just appears to be so unreal.

Following breakfast, proceed on a sightseeing of world famous Mughal Gardens visiting the Nishat Bagh (The garden of pleasure) and Shalimar Bagh (Abode of love) . Laid out by Emperor Jahangir for his queen Nur Jahan, this garden is also divided into four terraces andhas a water channel running down its centre. On the topmost terrace is the pavilion reserved for the royal visitors. Supported by stunning g black marble pillars, the pavilion had tiny niches that were used to keep fragrant flowers.

We will also visit the important and large Jamia Masjid built in 1674. The mosque has thick wooden pillars, each made from an entire deodar tree. One of the oldest mosques in Kashmir, the foundation of the building was said to have been laid as far back as 1398 by Sultan Sikandar. To the southeast is the Rozahbal Mosque, for some esoteric and strange reason known as the ‘tomb of Jesus’. Across the River Jhelum lies the Pattar Masjid, built in 1623 for the Empress Nur Jahan. The mosque was later renamed as the Shahi Masjid.

The Shankracharya temple (Shiva temple) on top of a hill is fascinating too and, one can enjoy the panoramic view of the entire Srinagar city as well as the beautiful lakes.

We drive to the older parts of the Srinagar city where you undertake a revealing walking tour of the decorated narrow bazaars where many Hollywood shoots has been taken place, especially on the olden wooden bridges. Late afternoon, return back to your Houseboat.

As a part of exploring the crafts of Kashmir, we will take you through the narrow bylines of old Srinagar. The wall would open a window into the lives and skills of master craftsmen and weavers whose creations are equally enticing as Kashmir’s apple orchards and snow-clad mountains. Scattered across the old town are small, stuffy sweatshops that the artisans use to create exquisite artwork in wood, cloth or metal. It is interesting to note that UNESCO listed Srinagar among the creative cities of the world. The walk includes visiting artisans of crafts like papermache, woodcarving, pottery, silverware, copperware, namdhaKari, pashmina and silk carpets.

Late afternoon, enjoy a Shikara ride on Dal Lake to soakin the beauty that God has graced this city that is often compared to Venice, but having its own typical character and setting. You will gat a view of some very interesting places thriving on the lake. We shall be visiting an interesting Paper Machie factory where you witness the manufacture of the Persian crafts. The boat ride is very traveling as you notice floating villages and markets and farms. Like on roads, on the lake too there are undefined, but, well understood water channels. Quite a fascinating experience.

Overnight Houseboat

After breakfast, an incredibly beautiful drive along the banks of Sindh river brings us to Sonmarg. We will make several stops at picturesque locations before finally getting to Sonmarg 2690 Mtrs (Meadow of Gold) and also the Gateway to Ladakh.

Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beauty of Sonmarg. The beautiful, Sindh river flowing through the green meadows and the breath taking view of snow covered mountains!

Overnight at Hotel

After breakfast easy and gradual trek to Thajiwas Glacier where snow remains round the year and you will enjoy the horse ridingupto the Glacier to enjoy the snow. The access is easy and it is for the people who are unwilling to walk much distance. Pass through the dense pine forests and undulating meadows of Sonamarg.

Thajiwas Glacier located at an altitude of 9,186 feet and blessed with magnificent beauty. Overlooked by the Thajiwas Mountain and surrounded by meadows, conifer trees and frozen lakes, it is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever come across. You can also take a short hike to the several waterfalls surrounding the Thajiwas Glacier.

Late afternoon, return to your hotel.

Overnight at Hotel

Following breakfast drive to Kargil.

This is one of the most fascinating drives in the world, and it also helps you gradually adjust to the thin air in the heights of Ladakh. The road makes a steep climb up to the spectacular Zoji La pass at 3529m. The Zoji La is the dramatic boundary between Kashmir and Ladakh. As you cross it, you go from the sheer greenery of Kashmir into the stark and barren landscape of the Trans Himalayas. The road descends down to Drass which is the second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia, with temperatures droppong to -50°C! Here onwards the road travels along the Drass River with the valley narrowing and almost becoming a gorge. After a challenging but enjoyable drive through incredible landscape you reach Kargil

Overnight at Hotel

As you leave Kargil and cross the Suru River, the road plunges into ridges and valleys and then climbs onto a high flat plateau. At Mulbekh, an impressive 9-metre tall sculpture of Maitreya, the future Buddha, carved into a rock face dominates the village.

Next comes the Namika La pass, also known as the ‘Pillar in the Sky’ at 3720 metres. The road is smooth and fairly wide and soon you are ascending Fotu La, the highest pass on this route at 4093 metres. At the top you get the first tantalizing glimpse of the mysterious Lamayuru monastery, but oxygen is scarce at these heights so don’t stop for long. The road descends sharply and all of a sudden you are at the spectacularly sited monastery.

Perched on a crag overlooking the Indus River, the amazing monastery of Lamayuru was built in the 10th century and is thought to be the oldest in Ladakh. On the left, just short of the monastery is the old ‘Jalebi Ghat’. Drive for 1.5 kms to view the incredible moon land of wind eroded hills and pinnacles of the lunar like moonscape.

Following our tour of Lamayuru we continue to Uleytokpo, a small and a very scenic village located at an altitude of 10,000ft (3048m). Uleytokpo is one of the most enchanting and beautiful villages in Ladakh.

Afternoon is at leisure for nature walks. Alternatively, your guide would be happy to walk you to the neighbouringMangyu village (3hrs). This would be another opportunity to witness traditional Ladakhi country life unchanged from time immemorial.

The guide would be happy to take you to the Ridzon monastery too. This is the most isolated monastery of all the monastery of Ladakh. One can still find the small caves where Lamas used to meditate for years cutting themselves from the rest of the world except for an one feet square outlet window from where they accept the one time meal of the day. Also close by is a nunnery. Food and clothing besides shelter is provided to the Nuns. There are a few very old retired Nuns. A visit here shows us the day to day living of the Nuns, as well as the trainings they receive here and also an opportunity to witness the performance of the evening prayers.

Overnight at Hotel

A half day excursion through paradise as we visit Alchi. Every twist and turn brings to you new vistas of natural beauty.

The village of Alchi in lower Ladakh is to be considered one of the most important cultural sites throughout the Himalayas. Consisting of four separate hamlets, the village contains numerous historic monuments of different ages and in various states of repair, the oldest and most famousof which is a monastic complex. The 1,000-year-old three-storied Himalayan temple, with its unique murals and iconography, is a fragile wooden structure. Confirmed a World Heritage site by UNESCO, this is one of only four surviving monasteries of the 108 founded by the Great Translator, LotsavaRinchenbZangpo in the later 10 th and early 11 th century. The temple preserves some of the finest examples of Kashmiri art of the period

Later, we will visit continue our drive to Leh

We will also visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. It is situated 25 miles from Leh. Gurudwara Pathar Sahib stands at the place where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion and the first guru, is believed to have vanquished a demon.

Upon arrival in Leh, check into Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel 

This morning, we drive to Hemis Gompa (monastery) which is the most important and the richest Gompa in the whole of Ladakh and is dedicated to Guru PadamaSambhava the great Indian teacher & philosopher. This monastery located among the beautiful landscape of the Hemis National Park was founded in 1630 AD. It is located at a distance of 45km from Leh and is one of the most popular monasteries visited by travelers. It is also famous across the world for the Hemis Festival hosted by it.

From here we drive to Thiksey Gompa (monastery), it is located 17 km on the main highway from Leh in the direction of Manali. The present day monastery founded by PaldanSherab, overlooking the village below, was not the original location. It was originally built at Stakmo. This monastery hosts the festival of ThikseyGustor.

Evening we drive back to our hotel in Leh.

Overnight at Hotel 

Following breakfast, we drive to see a very beautiful Pangong Lake

This journey takes us past picturesque villages of Shey and Thiskey, and turns off the Indus valley by the side-valley of Chemrey and Sakti. The Ladakh range is crossed by the Chang-la (18,000 feet / 5,475 m), which despite its great elevation is one of the easier, passes, remaining open for much of the year even in winter, apart from periods of actual snowfall. Tangse, just beyond the foot of the pass, has an ancient temple.

But the main attraction of this circuit is the Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 m). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometer at its widest point and over 130km long, it is bisected by the international border between India and China. This is a breathtaking scene of natural beauty. Spectacular views are to be had of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north. Their reflections shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lake's brackish waters. At an altitude can be seen glaciers and snowcapped peaks of the Pangong range. There are also a scattering of tiny villages along the lake's southern shore are the summer homes of a scanty population of the nomadic herds people of Tibet and southeast Ladakh. The nomads cultivate sparse crops of barley and peas in summer.

Overnight at Camp

Morning, we will drive to the Nubra Valley which is little visited, as it is inaccessible for all but a couple of months in the year, its high passes closed by the winter snows. In comparison to the Indus valley which is cooler the Nubra is a comparatively warm valley where walnut, apricot, apple and mulberry trees grow and yak, sheep and goats graze in small forests and along the river Shyok. The journey brings us excellent view of great Karakoram Range.

In the ancient times the fertile Nubra Valley formed a part of the overland route between Tibet and Turkestan. Once dotted with garlands of camel and yak caravans, this Silk Route glen is also known as the ‘Valley of Flowers’ of Ladakh, and is amongst the greenest valleys in the region. During early summer, Nubra is clad in endless bushes of yellow and pink wild roses, and once the valley is through with the season of roses around August, a carpet of wild lavender lies gently on it.

We will spend some time exploring the village. Hunder is a quaint and beautiful village, maze-like in its formation, winding paths bathed in dappled sunlight, branches forming tunnels. The Ladakhi people are creative in the way they devise for water to enter homes and fields in turn, with tenderly cared for gardens and fruit orchards. The houses are thatched, built with mud-dried.

The people are so hospitable and look on curiously, smiling. They radiate joy, with their rosy sun burnt cheeks, wide smiles and eyes speaking volumes about the depth of character and humane goodness they exude. They are humble, joyous and childlike, with a palpable dignity. It would hit you to realize how material culture and luxury do not provide happiness.

Then, we continue to explore the Nubra Valley and the quaint villages that dot the landscape. Sumur is one such village where we interact with the people and also visit the citadel of their faith - The Samtanling Gompa which is definitely worth a visit, and houses a fine collection of idols, frescos and tangkhas (painted and embroidered scrolls).

We will make a short way to Panamik which used to be a busy centre being the last major settlement before the caravans entered into the mountains of Karakoram. Today, Panamik is a sleepy village, its inhabitants quietly going about their work in the fields. On the mountainside above the village, hot water bubbles out of the earth in thermal springs, reputed to have therapeutic qualities. Across the river, clinging to the mountains, are a few trees rooted among the rocks surrounding the tiny Ensa gompa.

Late afternoon, drive back to Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel

This morning, we will visit Turtuk to enjoy a full day tour with guide.

Turtuk is the last village before the Pakistan border starts. The last remaining stretch of land where an ancient culture can be witnessed. Besides, you have a village full of beautiful landscapes, interesting history and smiling people!

In the evening, we will drive back to Nubra.

Overnight at Hotel

After breakfast, we visit the Diskit Village which is amongst the larger villages in the region, and home to the 350 year-old DiskitGompa – the oldest, and the largest monastery in the NubraValley . We will also find time to walk along the Nubra village. The people are amazingly friendly inspite of their lack of material disposition. Their traditional lifestyles and homes give you the feel of a Living Museum.
Following the visit drive to Leh with guide.

Overnight at Hotel 

After breakfast, we will transfer you to Leh airport for your flight to Delhi.

Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representative will welcome you and transfer you to hotel, Hyatt Regency.

Overnight at Hotel

(Though the checkout time is 12 noon, every effort would be made to retain rooms till as late as possible without additional charges - subject to availability)

In time, we will transfer you to International airport for your onward flight.

END OF SERVICES

We do hope the flavor of India will remain on your taste buds for all times to come and hopefully would kindle an indelible fondness for the country and her people; Thank you for being our guest, and as we say in India 
‘Please come back soon”

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!!