Ladakh with Hemis Festival Tour

Duration : 08 Days / 07 Nights
Destinations : Leh (Hemis Festival) - Nubra Valley - Turtuk - Pangong Lake - Leh

DAY 01: Arrive in Leh Airport – Leh City
On arrival at Leh Airport, our representative will greet you and assist you in transfer to your hotel in Leh City. Check-in at the hotel, relax and acclimatize. Enjoy lunch, and the rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 02: Leh – Hemis Festival [45 KM/ APRROX. 1.5 HRS DRIVE]
After a leisurely breakfast, we will drive you to Hemis monastery, where you will experience the Hemis Festival. The festival is dedicated to the birth of the spiritual leader Padmasambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism as well as Tantric Buddhism. Watch and enjoy Cham, a sacred masked dance performed by the Lamas (monks), with the underlying theme of victory of good over evil. Hemis monastery is one of the oldest (built in the 17th century, but its earliest evidence dates back before the 11th century), largest and most popular monasteries in Ladakh. The beautiful Hemis Monastery is filled with the Ladakhis and the tourists to watch this spectacular festival. Later, proceed for lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, explore twelve-story Thiksey Monastery complex, which houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings, swords and has a huge statue of seated Maitreya Buddha (15m or 49ft) largest in Ladakh. Thiksey monastery also resembles with Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Leh.

DAY 03: Leh – Khardungla Pass – Nubra Valley [160 KM/ APPROX. 5 HRS. DRIVE]
Post breakfast, check-out and we head for Khardungla Pass (17852 Ft), which is the world’s highest motorable pass. It lies north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. It would take about 6-7 hours from Leh crossing over Khardungla to reach Nubra Valley which is a high-altitude desert. On reaching Nubra, explore Diskit Monastery and nearby areas. Diskit Monastery is the largest and oldest monastery in the Nubra Valley. Then call it a day and head to check-in at Hotel / Luxury Camp and relax for the rest of the evening. Dinner and Overnight stay at the Luxury Camp/ Hotel in Nubra.

DAY 04: Nubra – Turtuk – Nubra [164 KM/ APPROX. 5 HRS. DRIVE, ONE SIDE]
This morning after breakfast, take a journey to Turtuk Village, which is the last village on the Indian side and very close to the Indo-Pak military line of control (LoC). The place is a part of Balistan, which is across the border. The culture here is different from the Tibetan Buddhist dominant region of Ladakh, as we will see a sudden shift to a more Islamic community. After exploring the village and lunch, we will continue back to your hotel in Nubra and then relax at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Nubra.

DAY 05: Nubra – Leh [160 KM/APPROX. 5 HRS. DRIVE]
After breakfast in Nubra, proceed to Leh city, but not before experiencing the high altitude cold-desert sand dunes and the double-humped camel rides of the Nubra Valley. Also, keep your cameras handy as you can take some wonderful pictures of this surreal natural wonder. Have lunch on the way and then try to reach Leh by evening, so that you may also experience the local markets and pick some souvenirs. Arrive at the hotel and relax. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Leh.

DAY 06: Leh - Pangong Tso [225 KM/APPROX. 6 HRS. DRIVE]
This day we will start our day with an early breakfast, head to Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake - the main attraction of the trip. This is a high altitude lake (at 14,000 Ft), which extends from India to Aksai Chin and is 83 miles in length. The road to Pangong Tso is very scenic. En route, cross wildlife reserve and you might as well sight some rare Himalayan wildlife species too. Go over Changla Pass then stop for lunch. Later, head to Pangong Tso, this is where the most scenic part of the journey starts. Reach the lake in the evening hours, which is the best time to get a scenic view. Get yourselves comfortable in the camps on the banks of Pangong Tso. Relax for some time; then enjoy dinner. Overnight at the Camp.

DAY 07: Pangong Tso – Leh City
Though it can be quite chilly in the morning if you like you can wake up early as morning sunrise could be a great time to go out by the lake and enjoy some breathtaking views and also capturing few stunning photos. Return to the camp for breakfast. After breakfast, enjoy the tranquil ambiance and the breathtaking panorama on the backdrop of this lake. Then drive back to Leh city. Lunch will be done en route. Check-in at the hotel where you will relax. In the afternoon/evening, visit the marketplace of Leh. Overnight at the hotel in Leh.

DAY 08: Departure
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, our team will transfer you to Leh Airport and from here take a flight to your onward journey/ home. We are sure you’ll have amazing memories to take back from this incredible tour.

Hemis Festival Tour Packages

Hemis Festival Tour, a package of 05N / 06D, offers you a chance to relish the festivities during the extremely well-recognised Hemis festival along with exploring the travel attractions of Leh. This two-festival is organized on the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar month at the Hemis monastery, the largest and richest monastery in India. During this tour, you also relish a same day trip to Pangong Lake and Khardung La Pass.