Dune and Nomad Tour

Arrival and transfar , Installation at the hotel, breakfast and rest until noon, to acclimatize the best during this first day. Meal, then a short jeep ride takes us to Namgyal Tsemo, a small monastery that dominates the city. Downhill walk, the path passes next to the former Royal Palace. Visit the old town and its typical bazaar before returning to the hotel.

• Transfer: 0h30
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h

First day of discovery of the high places around Leh. On the program, the monastery of Spituk , one of the most important in the region. Located south of the city, it offers beautiful views of the valley. Its rooms decorated with paintings and imposing statues allow an interesting approach to Himalayan Buddhism . After 30 minutes drive, we arrive at the Stok Palace , residence of the ancient kings of Ladakh. Transformed into a museum , the collections presented evoke a recent past where the royal family ruled over this valley. We leave this place on foot, and following the small road, we descend for 45 minutes in the countryside. Picnic in front of mani walls, in the middle of the fields of barley. Continuation to Stakna, monastery located on a promontory in the middle of the plain of the Indus and offering a magnificent panorama. Belonging to the Drukpa-Kagyu School (the official school in Bhutan), this religious building dates back to the 16th century. He owns a beautiful statue of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. Return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.

• Transfer: 2h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h30

Continuation of the visit of the high valley of the Indus and its monasteries. It takes an hour driving up the course of the Indus, to arrive at the monastery of Hemis , beautiful architectural ensemble, order Drukpa-Kagyu. Nestled in the valley floor, this monastery was built around 1602 by a Bhutanese monk invited by the king of the time. Back and stop for lunch in the beautiful village of Thikse , dominated by an imposing Gelugpa monastery . This Thikse monastery majestically overlooks the valley, a magnificent ensemble of about 80 monks; discovery of the beautiful inner courtyard that distributes access to different temples. The most amazing is certainly the temple of Maitreya with itsgigantic interior statue that covers all floors of the building. To join the next site, we will take the path of schoolchildren. Departure on foot from the monastery of Thikse following small roads that cross the fields. It is possible to find the vehicles after 45 minutes of walking … or to go to Shey , in this case to count 1:30 of easy walk. Shey, capital of Ladakh until the 15th century , is an interesting complex whose importance is still measured by the quality of the paintings and the astonishing quantity of chortens or other votive monuments that surround it. Return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.

• Transfer: 2.5 hours
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1 to 2 hours

We leave Leh, the road rises quickly on the heights of the valley. The asphalt strip follows large laces to reach the Kardung La pass (5360m) , one of the highest road passes in the world. Here on a clear day the view is incredible; to the south, the view plunges into the Indus Valley and the peaks of the Stok Range , Kang Yatse and the Zanskar Mountains . To the north, immaculate white, the group of five Saser which culminates at 7672 m, then the Rimo. The road descends and crosses beautiful landscapes to arrive in the famous Nubra Valley , ancient route of caravans from Leh to Kashgar. We make the detour atDiskit monastery (15th century), surmounted by a 32 meter statue of Maitreya (the Buddha of the future). This monastery also contains splendid murals of the time and marks the entrance to the valley of the Shyok, a tributary of the Indus. We continue towards the beautiful oasis of Hunder which contrasts with the desert atmosphere of the nearby dune massifs. Walk through the village between fields of barley, buckwheat, apricot trees, sea buckthorns and poplars, towards the gompa Dechen Tsemo which offers a bird’s eye view of the valley. Then return to Diskit and install in a guesthouse.

• Transfer: 5h
• Accommodation: Guest House
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h30
• Altitude difference: +120 m
• Altitude difference: -120 m

This morning heading to Nubra! Here each village is an oasis of greenery radically cutting with the rocks or the surrounding sand … Short journey to Hargam to cross the Nubra and join the hamlet of Murg where we visit the small gompa of Ensa , 250 years old. Back to the sources of Panamik and the village of Pulthang. Small walk in the middle of the desert, to discover the lake of Lo Bame Tso, nestled like a jewel in the hollow of the rocks. We return to the road to catch the bus a few minutes, and visit the Samtanling School Monastery.This monastery of the 19th brings together about fifty young monks in training. Back at the end of the day at our guest house in Diskit.

• Transfer: 3h
• Accommodation: Guest house
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 2h
• Altitude difference: +60 m
• Altitude difference: -60 m

We go up the road along the Shyok to the village of Tanggyar . Here the new road rises in a hairpin bend in the beautiful valley of Lurten Togpo, an old caravan route. In the rocks on our right, a small monastery is suspended above the pastures … Soon we reach the Wari La (5280 m), another high road pass; the view is really beautiful and the decor of the wildest … Descent to the village of Sakti where we settle. Then we visit the monastery Tak Tok , integrated in a cave, and that of Chemre, perched on a beautiful promontory … Return to the guest house of Sakti for the night.

• Transfer: 5 / 6h
• Accommodation: Guesthouse
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 2h
• Altitude difference: +50 m

We leave the beautiful Sakti valley to join that of the Indus we follow to the east. The colors of the rocks in the gorge are incredible, ranging from white to purple, through ocher and green … In Mahé, the road rises faster to reach the Kiagar La at 4960 m . From the pass, we discover the lake of the same name and, deep down, the deep blue of Lake Tsomoriri. We go to the top of Changtang , universe of Tibetan nomads who share this territory with blue sheep, kyangs and wolves! Arrival in Korzok, a small village on the lake, surmounted by his monastery Karmapa school (19th), only place of schooling of young monks in the region. Installation in fixed camp arranged for the night. Walk along the lake towards the south, to enjoy the mystical serenity and the unique geography of this lake … Overnight in Korzok.

• Transfer: 5h
• Accommodation: Fixed Camp
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 2h
• Altitude difference: +150 m
• Altitude difference: -150 m

Morning walk on the heights of Korzok to admire the lake and the surrounding peaks. Then return by the Kiagar pass and descent to Sumdo . Here we fork west to go up on the Tsokar plateau. Arrival at the gompa Tukjee , a small monastery with a Buddhist cave (a lamp is useful). The view of Lake Tsokar from the terraces is exceptional, the opportunity for great photos … We enjoy a wild and bright, where kyangs and wild geese roam very often. After lunch, we leave the Changtang plateau, via the Tanglang La passat 5300 m, located at the end of the Kang Yatse range. Descent to Lhato, then we reach the Indus Valley and rejoin our hotel in Leh.

• Transfer: 6 / 7h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h

This morning we leave Leh definitely to go west. Stop at the fortress of Basgo , ancient capital of Ladakh between the fifteenth and seventeenth, strategic site for the control of caravans between high and low Ladakh. Discovery of ruins and small temples still in state. We continue then to the monastery of Rizong , where we discover a magnificent architectural ensemble of the Order Gelugpa, hanging on the side of the mountain . With its narrow streets and walkways, this monastery looks like a big village. Downstream from the monastery, we can also visit the nunnery. We leave by vehicle to cross the valley and reach the village of Alchi.Installation at the small guest-house and discovery of one of the most interesting sites of Ladakh (eleventh and twelfth) for his paintings typical of Indo-Kashmiri art (provide a headlamp to enjoy the frescoes in the dark), its monumental statues, chortens, prayer wheels and loungta. Quiet evening in the village of Alchi, lined with fields of barley, apricot orchards and mulberry trees, while the tourists left the place !!! Night in the heart of the village in a typical and comfortable guest-house.

• Transfer: 4h
• Accommodation: Guest House
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h
• Altitude difference: +100 m
• Altitude difference: -100 m

Today, we continue to climb the Indus. Shortly after our departure from Alchi, visit Likir , a monasterybelonging to the Gelugpa order (the Reformed School of Tibetan Buddhism) with beautiful statues and an interesting collection of thankas . We arrive at Leh in the afternoon with installation at the hotel and end of free day . You can explore the old streets, the old fortress, enjoy a ladakhi dances show, go shopping …

• Transfer: 3h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

Early departure and flight to Delhi (subject to weather conditions). Installation at the hotel, near the city center. Free time or for those who wish, visit the districts of old Delhi and monuments such as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib , the splendid Sikh temple of Delhi, or the red mosque Jama Masjid . Return to the hotel at the end of the day.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

We leave the hotel by bus, direction India Gate, President House and Parliament House , the occasion of some photos of these official buildings left by the English colonizers. We continue by visiting Humayun’s tomb, located on the banks of the Yamuna River. This mausoleum was built in 1560 following the accidental death of the Emperor. The complex was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and has since been extensively restored. This sumptuous tomb inaugurated a great series of architectural renewal that will continue with, among other things, the realization of the famous Taj Mahal. Around noon, lunch near Connaught Place and free time in the afternoon. We meet in the evening at the hotel, where we booked 1 room for 4 people so that everyone can shower at the end of the day. Last dinner in common then transfer to the airport. End of the tour with sweet memories thanks .

• Accommodation: Day Hotel
• Meal: BLD