Upon our arrival at Leh, the capital of Ladakh, meet our tour representative, who will escort you to your car and ensures you have a smooth transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, rest for some time to get acclimatized with the high altitude. Leh is located at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level so you need to take it easy at the beginning to give time to your body to adjust to this altitude. Drinking plenty of water and walking at a slow pace are the two important recommendations to remember.

Later in the afternoon, visit Shanti Stupa, which dominates the city’s skyline from atop a hill. The two-storey stupa is embellished with colourful and intriguing paintings of deities and incidents from Buddhist mythology. Watch the sunset over Leh city from Shanti Stupa. It offers a great vantage point over Leh and the Indus valley.

The evening gives you a chance to walk around the local Leh market and and get acquainted with the local life of Leh or buy souvenirs like Buddhist cloth paintings; called thangkas, images of deities, fine-quality pashminas and decorative handicrafts.

Later, retreat to the hotel for dinner, then head to your room for a good night sleep.

After freshening up, we start our sightseeing tour in the Indus valley in the Sham region which means “West” in Ladakhi. A half-an-hour drive from Leh brings us to the strange Magnetic Hill, where we experience the car in neutral starts moving uphill against gravity. Though many researchers have put their theories and statements; no one has been able to decode this mystical phenomenon yet! Further driving a few kilometres on the Leh-Srinagar highway, we arrive at the famous photo spot of Sangam, the confluence of Indus (green color water) with Zanskar rivers (brown color water).

By afternoon, we drive further to visit 1000 year-old Alchi monastery; the only Gompa in Ladakh region on flat ground; which was built during the 11th century. The monastic complex contains some of the best-preserved frescoes and sculptures that constitute an exceptional example of Ladakh’s Indo-Tibetan art. You can have your lunch in Alchi village (direct payment basis) where several pleasant garden restaurants can be found.

Cross the Indus river and head to the Likir Monastery, to visit the splendid three storeys Dharma Wheel Gompa. The 22m-high statue of Maitreya Buddha next to the monastery’s main building is a prominent landmark of the village. A key attraction is the grand Spituk Monastery, dating to the 11th century. While here, do see the statues of Lord Buddha and don’t miss the panoramic view of the Indus Valley below.

While returning, we halt at Gurdwara Pathar Sahib, Sikh place of worship. It houses a huge rock, believed to have been hurled at Guru Nanak, by a demon; as he tried to kill the Guru by rolling a gigantic boulder towards the preacher. The rock, upon touching the Guru, turned into a soft cushion, which he used as a cushion to meditate. Considering the preacher to be dead, when the demon came down, he found Nanak Devji meditating. Furious with rage, the demon tried pushing the rock with his right foot, which finally got stuck in the rock. Realizing the Guru was not an ordinary being, the demon fell on the Guru’s feet asking for forgiveness. Guru Nanak then advised him to abstain himself from all the evil deed and lead the life of the humble person. This pious Gurudwara was later built to commemorate the preaching of Guru Nanak Dev.

Then it is time to move back to our hotel in Leh. Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Leh.

After breakfast at hotel, you will be driven towards the north; to Nubra Valley via Khardung La Pass, (the World’s highest motor able road at 18,832 feet above sea level); where the Shyok River meets the Siachen River to form this large valley.

After driving for 1 hour, the exciting journey through serpentine roads lead you to the Khardungla Pass. At Khardungla, the views of snow-capped peaks are amazing. From the top, there is an amazing view of the K2 mountain range (the Karakoram).  We stop to click some photographs of the fantastic view. The road then passes through a bridge laid on Glacier which finds its way in Guinness Book of world records.

Continue being driven to Nubra Valley, locally known as “Ldumra”, that means the valley of flowers; explore the sand dunes that stretch from Hunder to Diskit along the Nubra and Shyok Rivers. Watch out for the two humped Bactrian camel – small population of shaggy double-humped animals, which in the old days, were used as pack animals on the Central Asian Trade routes are now used as riding animals in the high deserts – only found in this part of India and Central Asia (camel ride to be on direct payment basis).

Post lunch, we will be driven to the village of Hunder, check-in at the camp. Dinner and Overnight stay at the camp.

Note: The Khardung La pass may remain close till first week of May. In that case the tourist will do excursion to Khadung La and stay at Leh in place of Nubra Valley on day 03 & 04.

Today, we proceed for an excursion to Turtuk village, (A village that was won by India in the 1971 war with Pakistan) – the last village on the Indian side of the border. It was first opened for the tourists in the year 2010; while visiting Turtuk, we see Thoise Airport (Military Airfield), Turtuk wooden bridge, Turtuk monastery,  a 16th Century Mosque, (comprising of a touch of Turkish & Iranian culture), ruined fort of Dhards and Monastery. Admire the magnificent view of the famous K2 peak (The second highest peak in the world after Mount Everest). Later, we take a short walk through Baltic village. The people here speak Balti, a language that uses sounds in Tibetan that are no longer used in modern Tibetan parlance. Apricot orchards and the Shyok River flowing near the village makes it an unforgettable experience. Further, we visit Thang village (Subject to operation)- Northern most last village at LOC. Here we take a photo stop at LOC point. Later back to hotel for overnight stay.

Mark this day as the highlight of your fabulous trip as you visit the Diskit Monastery and the Pangong Tso.

After breakfast, under a clear sky on the river bank, we travel to Diskit Monastery in the town of the same name. Perched on a rocky spur above the village, with a commanding view of the entire valley; the views from here are breath-taking. The winding road leading to the gompa is dotted with 108 whitewashed stupas. You can view the huge 106-feet high statue of Maitreya Buddha, the tallest Buddha statue in Ladakh atop a hill. The monastery has intriguing images of many deities. Some claim that the hand of a demon killed near the monastery is also kept here, all wrinkled and eerie.

Thereafter, continue travel to Pangong via Agham & Shyok valley; a lake which is 134 km long and extends from India to Tibet (60% of the length of the lake lies in China). The road follows the Shayok river and climbs up a mountain before finally descending into Shayok village. It takes less than an hour to reach Shayok and you will be delighted at the sight of the rather big village surrounded by barren mountains, the entire setting being very picturesque.

We reach Pangong (after a further drive of 6 hrs) – one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world and the highest salt water lake. Setting of the blue lake set amidst the lofty Himalaya Mountains makes for a picture-perfect postcard; a popular location for many Bollywood movies; enjoy some unique moments here. Check in to your respective camp besides the lake for the night, under a star-spangled sky.

Dinner & Overnight stay at the camp.

Wake up to a mesmeric sunrise above the lake; The picture-perfect Pangong lake has crystal clear waters spanning over the Indo-China border and it is surrounded by colourful Himalayan mountains. Take a stroll along the shore of Pangong lake and watch the sunrise over the glistening blue waters.

After breakfast, we head back to Leh.  On the way, cross the approximately 17950-feet high Chang La Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in the world. Along the way, we also stop for a visit to the Druk Padma Karpo School which was made famous as Rancho’s school in the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots. After exploring it and meeting local students, drive back to Leh,

Just before entering leh, we also stop at Thiksey monastery, one of the most beautiful and famous gompas in Ladakh, whose architecture reminds of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The monastery was built on a hilltop in the 15th century and 80 Buddhist monks live here currently. There are many temples and shrines within the complex, one of them houses an impressive 14m gold-faced Buddha statue seated in the lotus position. The monastery roof offers a stunning panoramic view of the Indus valley, the villages surrounded by barley fields and fringed by the Stok mountain range.

Continue being driven to Leh, where upon arrival, you can spend some time at leisure. A delicious dinner waits you at the hotel; thereafter, get a good night sleep in your room.

Post checking-out from the hotel, we visit the Hall of Fame dedicated to the Indian soldiers (subject to being operational). Here you can learn more about the role of the Indian army in the region and Ladakh’s history; It showcases weapons and documents recovered from the enemy during various wars.

Afterwards drop to Leh Airport for your onward flight.