Ladakh_tibetan



Ladakh Tibetan Journey
Ladakh Tibetan Journey

Best time to visit: June - September
Group Guided by Sarah: 20 September - 5 October 08
16 Days *includes flight Delhi to Leh
Highlights Traditional Ladakhi & Tibetan style hotels & hospitality,starkly stunning lunar landscapes of Ladakh & Zanskar, high altitude moderate trekking in the Sham Valley through enchanting apricot orchards & nunnery, homestays with villagers, Leh’s Potala Palace, peaceful Buddhist monasteries and exquisite ancient fresco artworks. Style: A Class/3-4Star Maximum group size: 12 Transfers: to/from airport on arrival & departure Delhi & Leh. Staffing: escorted by tour guide in Ladakh, driver/guide from Ladakh and services of local guides Himachal Pradesh and hotel assistance. Transport: private air-conditioned jeeps, domestic airline, Indian railways. Entrance Fees: included for all sites listed as part of the itinerary. Accomodation: 4 nights Ladakhi heritage hotel, 2 nights village homestay, 1 night monastery guest hotel, 1 night tourist tentcamp, 4 nights luxury heritage hotels, 1overnight sleeper train, 2 nights luxury Delhi hotel. Activities: day visits to ancient monasteries & palaces, 3day trek Sham Valley, sunrise monastery puja ceremony, bazaars, festival activities (if timely), overland drive through mountain ranges of Ladakh & Zanskar. good physical health is required. Meals:as per itinerary ( B-breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner) Breakfast included everyday of the tour.
15 nights / 16 days
Day 1 Dehli Arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon optional sightseeing of Delhi monuments of choice, Red Fort & Jama Masjid, AshtaDham Temple or Lotus Temple. Evening welcome dinner and overnight in the grandure of a Delhi luxury Hotel. (D) Day 2 Leh, Ladakh 4am Airport transfer Depart 5.40am Jet Airways 9W609, Arrive Leh 6.55am, Capital of ancient Buddhist Kingdom, traditional welcome and transfer to Ladakhi heritage hotel. Acclimatize to arid high altitude (3505m) with complete rest and relaxation, hydration and tune into the peaceful Indus Valley ambience. (B,L,D) Day 3 Leh Morning guided sightseeing of Leh, short drive to the spectacular Spituk Gompa (11thcentury). Return to hotel for lunch in the delightful garden. Afternoon visit the impressive Leh Royal Palace (17thcentury) reminiscent of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, overlooking the old town and the Shanti Stupa (Japanese Peace Pagoda) serenely poised overlooking Leh. Take a leisurely walk back to the hotel past the Sankar Gompa, residence of Kushok Bakula, spiritual head monk of Ladakh. (B,L,D) Day 4 Leh - Thiksey - Hemis - Shey (east of Leh) Early morning short drive to Thiksey Gompa for sunrise puja ceremony with monks. Hear the longhorns on the rooftop and be transported by spectacular panoramic views of the Indus Valley. Drive on to Hemis Gompa (Chang-Chub-Sam-Ling/The Lone Place of the Compassionate One), the largest and richest of central ladakh monasteries tucked away up a winding glen in the mountains south of the Indus. Experience the heightened energies and meditation in the Gotsangpa’s Cave. Fine images of the Buddha and chortens set with flawless turquoise are found in the Tshog-khang, one of several temples at Hemis. Christ is said to have studied here in his missing years!? On return journey to Leh, see Shey Palace, the original capital of ancient Ladakh and Summer Palace of the kings of Ladakh and visit the Tibetan Childrens’ Village school in Choglamsar. (B,L,D) Day 5 Leh – Likir - Yangthang * Sham Valley Trek Trek 5hrs to Yangthang over Phobe La (3700m) and Chagatse La (3630m) Morning drive to Likir Gompa (2hr) and start your trek from the impressive giant Maitreya Buddha statute. Walk through lunar landscapes into the Sham Valley with gradual ascents and crossing of two small passes and descents through beautiful villages. Stay overnight in the comfort of the friendly villagers homes for a unique cultural experience. (B,L,D) Day 6 Yangthang - Hemis Shupacha - Ang Trek 6hrs to Ang over Tsemangchan La (4000m) and Meptak La (3980m) Trek on up and over two more passes and be rewarded with stunning views of the Zanskar Range. Late afternoon descend into the Village of Ang, home of one of our guides for another night in the warmth of villagers homes and hospitality. (B,L,D) Day 7 Ang - Nurla - Lamayuru * Trek 5hrs to Temisgam Nunnery and end of trek in Nurla Walk on and reach the enchanting apricot orchards and nunnery at Temisgam. Enjoy the serenity and peace that abounds there whilst lunching in the orchards. Early afternoon finish your trek at Nurla. Drive onto to Lamayuru (1½hr) to the oldest monastery in Ladakh, Yangdrung Gompa. Dramatically situated on a high spur overlooking an eerily eroded landscape, it is believed to date back to the 11th century. See the fine collection of thangkas, brocade hung paintings and the countless white-washed chortens and mani craved stones. Stay overnight in the monastery’s guest hotel and marvel the silence under night sky in this bewildering landscape. (B,L,D) Day 8 LamaYuru - Alchi - Leh Morning drive to Alchi Village (56km/2hrs) Here explore the 1000 year old Alchi Choskor, famous for it’s wooden carvings, murals and stucco art work, some of the best Indo-Tibetan fresco art in the world. Lunch at Alchi Resort and return journey to Leh (69km/ 2hrs) to your Ladakhi heritage hotel. (B,L,D) Day 9 Leh - Sarchu (4253m) Himachal Pradash Early breakfast and then start your overland journey to Sarchu (251km/7-8 hrs). Traverse the starkly beautiful lunar wilderness of the Zanskar range, arguably the most spectacular road journey on the second-highest road in the world. Cross over Tanglang La (5360m) followed by Lachulung La (5065m) and Nakeela Pass (4740m). While ascending maybe tough, once at the top, you will be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of dramatic landscapes. Lunch at Pang and tea stops in Bharatpur and Darcha. Break journey overnight in Sarchu in a comfortable guest TentCamp. (B,L,D) Day 10 Sarchu - Manali (2050m) Journey on to Manali (222km/7-8hrs) crossing over Baralacha Pass (4892m) and then the picturesque Rohtang Pass (3980m) which offers spectacular views of Pir Panjal Range and Lahauls haunting beauty. After the arid dry land of Ladakh, descend into the refreshing green Kullu Valley. Arrive late afternoon at a luxury alpine hotel set in deodar woods. (B,L,D) Day 11 Manali Free day in Manali to explore the bazaars, Old Manali and Manu Temple, the sacred Hadimba Temple in deodars woods within walking distance of hotel and the Tibetan village and gompas. Atop of town, visit the village of Vashisht where you can rejuvenate in the hot thermal springs of Vashisht’s ancient temple with a few sadhu and hindu pilgrims in Turkish-style baths. Or if you feel like hiking or motor-biking head for Solang Valley and the pastures of Dhumti and lake Beas Kund. (B,D) Day 11 Manali Drive to Dharamsala (235km/ 8-9hrs) past gushing rivers, pretty villages, via Kullu and Mandi towns. En route visit the 5000yr old Baijnath Temple near Palampur, homage to Lord Krishna. Late afternoon arrive to hill station MacCleod Ganj, home to HH Dalai Lama & Tibetans in exile and stay in an artful heritage hotel with delicious garden café. (B,D) Day 13 MacCleod Ganj / Dharamsala Free Tibet day to explore the town and kora (circumambulate) around Namgyal Gompa, Tsug Lakhang Temple & HH Dalai Lama’s residence. Enjoy the many cafés and stores of Tibetan wares. Observe the monks rigorously debating and spin a few prayer wheels to the chant of heart mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hung’. (B,L,D) Day 14 Dharamsala - Pathankot FreedOm for further Tibetan or Buddhist exploration. Visit the Tibetan Childrens Village School and even sponsor a child if you wish. High noon tea at hotel café and then depart for Pathankot railway station (3hrs) to board an overnight air-conditioned sleeper train to Delhi. Packed dinner. (B,L,D) Day 15 Delhi Arrive early morning to New Delhi and transfer to a luxury Delhi hotel and rest of the day at your leisure for sightseeing or shopping on your own. (B,D) Day 16 Delhi After breakfast, transfer to airport or railway. End of your Samadhi journey.
About Ladakh Ladakh is a high altitude desert, sparsely populated and accounts for two thirds of Jammu and Kashmir, India’s northern most state. It’s harsh lines are softened by the emerald green of oasis villages, the crystal light of cloudless blue skies, and the dramatic silhouettes of ancient Buddhist monasteries, many of which are situated along the Indus Valley, the region’s historical and cultural heartland. Typically a Ladakhi monastery/gompa stands on a hill or ridge above a village that adjoins it.The upper part consists of temples/Lhakhang and assembly halls/Dukhang together with the Gongkhang, the temple of the fearsome guardian Deities. The monks dwellings spill picturesquely down the hillside. The monasteries are still active centres of worship, so need to be approached respectfully. A little history… Ladakh is often called Little Tibet, as lying close to the west of Tibet, shares Tibet’s cultural and religious traditions dating back to the 9th Century.Then the great grandson of the King of Tibet fled after the fallout of the Guge kingdom in West Tibet and came to Ladakh and married the daughter of its ruler. Later his sons ruled different parts of the Ladakh kingdom. During the 11th Century Ladakh extended its kingdom to Zanskar and Mustang. Later in the 15th & 16th Centuries invasions from a Muslim ruler of Baltistan eventually led to a treaty signed with Mughal rulers of Kashmir to repell such attacks. While paying nominal allegiance to Kashmir, Ladakh retained cultural, commercial and religious ties with Tibet. In the 19th Century Ladakh was invaded by the Sikh Zorawar Singh and his army and then came under the direct rule of Kashmir, though due to geopgrahical barriers remained secluded and separated culturally and economically. After 1962, the Leh to Srinagar highway opened Ladakh to real cultural and economic invasion with a large garrison established near Leh and later in 1974 when the area was opened to tourism. Ladakh for all its history and challenges still retains a remarkable tranquility given the peaceful Buddhist way of life that penetrates the heart and mind as soon as one arrives to the high altiplano. The people are full of heart & soul, smiles reveal all and the colourful costumes and festivals draw crowds of visitors every season who are simply enchanted by this Himalayan Kingdom and its dramatic landscapes.
www.tibet.com HH Dalai Lama Dates for travel and teachings.
Samadhi journeys can assist you with train and flight reservations upon your arrival to India & for any on-going transport or hotels within India.