Itinerary
- Day 1
Delhi
You'll arrive in Delhi and meet your tour leader at 4pm at the hotel. Before that, you have the afternoon and evening to yourself to walk around the city at your own pace. If you need it, airport transfers are available from Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Deventure Patel Nagar (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to hotel
- Day 2
Delhi to Leh
An early morning flight gets you to Leh, a Silk Road town sitting at 3,500 metres altitude. Most of the day is yours to adjust to the elevation and rest. Your tour leader might offer an optional walk through Leh's local market this evening if you're feeling up to it.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Sera Courtyard (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Short orientation walk through Leh's local market (evening)
Landmarks Leh - Day 3
Leh
Today you'll spend the full day at Phyang Festival watching masked Chham dances performed by monks at Phyang Monastery, just west of Leh. The festival opens with the unfurling of a huge Thangka, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting. You'll meet local pilgrims and take in this sacred event.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Sera Courtyard (or similar))
Included Activities
- Phyang Festival - masked Chham dances and Thangka display
Landmarks Phyang Monastery 
- Day 4
Leh
A full day visiting three major Indus Valley monasteries and palaces. Start at Thiksey Monastery with its multi-level hilltop structure and a 15-metre Maitreya Buddha statue. Then head to Shey Palace, a former royal summer residence featuring a copper-gilded Buddha. In the afternoon, have a traditional vegetarian lunch with a local family in their 200-year-old Stok village home, trying local dishes like momos and chutagi. Or spend a second day at the festival if you prefer.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional vegetarian Ladakhi meal with local family at their 200-year-old home including momos (steamed dumplings), chutagi (hearty Ladakhi soup), and barley tea)
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Sera Courtyard (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Thiksey Monastery (Gompa)
- Visit Shey Palace
- Visit Stok Buddha statue
- Traditional vegetarian Ladakhi lunch with local family at Gyab Thago Heritage Home
Optional Activities
- Second day at Phyang Festival
Landmarks Thiksey Monastery Shey Palace Stok Buddha statue Gyab Thago Heritage Home 
- Day 5
Leh to Alchi
You'll travel west from Leh toward Alchi, stopping at Pathar Sahib, a historic Sikh place of worship. The drive takes about two hours without stops. Once there, visit Alchi Choskor Gompa for its 10th-11th century Kashmiri Buddhist artwork and detailed miniature paintings. The rest of your afternoon is free to explore on your own or relax.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Legacy Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib historic Sikh shrine
- Visit Alchi Choskor Gompa
Landmarks Gurudwara Pathar Sahib Alchi Choskor Gompa 
- Day 6
Alchi
A scenic drive takes you to Lamayuru village to see Yungdrung Tharpaling Monastery, Ladakh's oldest gompa perched on a cliff about one to two hours away. You'll stop for photos at the famous lunar landscape with its otherworldly rock formations. Walk through the monastery, its ancient temples and prayer halls. On the way back, visit Tingmosgang Palace Monastery for valley views, then stop at Ridzong Chulichan Nunnery in a quiet gorge.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Legacy Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Yungdrung Tharpaling Monastery in Lamayuru
- Photos at lunar landscape formations
- Visit Tingmosgang Palace Monastery
- Visit Ridzong Chulichan Nunnery
Landmarks Yungdrung Tharpaling Monastery Lamayuru Lunar Landscape Tingmosgang Palace Monastery Ridzong Chulichan Nunnery - Day 7
Alchi to Nubra Valley
After breakfast, you'll drive to Nubra Valley crossing Khardung La Pass, one of the world's highest motorable roads at 5,359 metres. The journey takes five to six hours with a stop at the pass for views and photos. On clear days you'll see the Karakorum peaks to the north. Upon arrival in Diskit, check out the 33-metre Maitreya statue overlooking the valley, then continue to Hunder village. This evening offers an optional visit to Hunder's sand dunes, famous for Bactrian camels.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hunder Retreat (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Maitreya statue in Diskit
Optional Activities
- Visit Hunder sand dunes (evening)
Landmarks Khardung La Pass Maitreya statue, Diskit Hunder sand dunes - Day 8
Nubra Valley
After breakfast you'll do a half-day hike from Hunder to Diskit village crossing silvery sand dunes, arriving for lunch with a local family. There you'll try traditional butter tea, a Himalayan drink made with yak butter, salt and strong black tea. Spend time in Diskit's local market before heading back to Hunder by vehicle. The afternoon is free to rest, and you can take a walk around Hunder village if you have energy. The hike is mostly flat, about 7km, takes roughly 3 hours, and is graded as easy.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local family lunch with butter tea (gur gur cha), a traditional Himalayan drink made from yak butter, salt and strong black tea)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hunder Retreat (or similar))
Included Activities
- Half-day hike from Hunder to Diskit village
- Visit Diskit local market
Optional Activities
- Walk around Hunder village (afternoon)
Landmarks Diskit village Hunder village - Day 9
Nubra Valley to Leh
A full day drive back to Leh on a different route. You'll cross the Shyok River and climb to Wari La Pass at 5,312 metres, then descend to the main road and drive along the Indus River back to Leh. This route sees fewer tourists. Along the way, visit Daktok Cave Monastery of the Ningma sect, the oldest sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The group might also choose to visit Chemday Monastery.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Sera Courtyard (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Daktok Cave Monastery
Optional Activities
- Visit Chemday Monastery
Landmarks Wari La Pass Daktok Cave Monastery Chemday Monastery 
- Day 10
Leh to Delhi
An early morning flight gets you back to Delhi with a transfer to your hotel. After checking in, you'll go on a city tour of New and Old Delhi. In New Delhi, you'll see the President's Palace, Lok Sabha Parliament, India Gate and the Rajpath. Then head to Old Delhi's lively Chandni Chowk Bazaar, take a short rickshaw to Jama Masjid Mosque, and pass by the Red Fort.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Deventure Patel Nagar (or similar))
Included Activities
- City tour of New Delhi - President's Palace, Lok Sabha (Parliament), India Gate, Rajpath
- City tour of Old Delhi - Chandni Chowk Bazaar
- Rickshaw ride to Jama Masjid Mosque
- View Red Fort
Landmarks President's Palace Lok Sabha (Parliament) India Gate Rajpath Chandni Chowk Bazaar Jama Masjid Mosque Red Fort 
- Day 11
Delhi
Your tour ends this morning at your Delhi hotel. No activities are scheduled, so you can leave whenever you want. If your flight is later in the day, the hotel can store your luggage.
Optional Activities
- Hotel transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
