Day 1 : ARRIVAL DELHI Arrive Delhi. Meeting and assistance on arrival at airport and transfer to Hotel. Delhi is one of India's fastest-growing cities and has spread far beyond the "seven cities" that were created between the 13th and the 17th centuries. It has sprawled over the west bank of the Yamuna and now straddles the river. Remnants of the past survive cheek-by-jowl with skyscrapers, residential colonies, and bustling commercial complexes. Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. Overnight in Delhi. Day 2 : DELHI – LEH (1.5 hrs, by Air, not included) Enjoy your morning breakfast at the hotel and get ready for your transfer to Delhi airport to board your flight to Leh. Upon your arrival, you will be met and greeted by our tour representative, who will assist you with your transfer and hotel. The rest of the day will be at your own leisure, take time to acclimatize. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight in Leh. Day 3 : LEHAfter breakfast, leave for the half-day sightseeing tour of Leh visiting Shey, Thiksey, Stok Palace, Samker and Spituk.Shey was once the ancient capital of Ladakh, and despite the Singge Namgyal building the more imposing palace at Leh, the kings continued to regard Shey, as their real home. The importance which was attached to Shey – the seat of Ladakh’ s heartland – is attested by the enormous number of Chorten about the village, particularly around the palace complex and barren plain to the north of the road.After visiting Shey, drive to Thiksey, one of the largest and most impressive Gompas - Buddhist fortifications of learning. This Gompa comprises several temples containing images, stupas and exquisite wall paintings. It also houses a two-storied statue of Buddha.Continue your drive across the Indus River to visit Stok – The Palace of the banished royal family. Stok has a museum that displays fabulous period costumes and jewelry of the royaty along with exquisite Tangkhas representing the life of the Sakya- Muni Buddha. Interesting historical objects like coins, seals, armor, weapons, precious jade and porcelain can also be seen here. Return to Hotel for Hot Lunch. After lunch Sightseeing of Spituk & Samker. Eight kilometers from Leh, Spituk stands Majestically atop a hillock overlooking the Indus valley for miles. Many icons and fine “Tangkhas” are to be found in this 15th-century monastery. It also houses a collection of ancient masks; antique arms and is the inspiring image of “Mahakala”. The face of the Kali image is kept covered and revealed only at the annual function in January every two years.Return to Leh to visit Samker Gompa which is little up in the valley, 3 Kms from Leh Town, which is open to visitors in the morning and evening only. The Gompa belongs to Yellow Sect & was founded in the 18th Century. The Gompa is the seat of the Head Lama of Ladakh and founder of the yellow sect, Tson-Kha-Pa. The temple walls have recently been painted of figures including Sakyamuni, Avalokiteshwara, Padmasambhava, Tson-Ka-pa and green Tara. Late afternoon, return to your hotel for dinner. Overnight in Leh. Day 4 : LEH - LAMAURU - ALCHI (160 km - 4 hrs) After an early breakfast, depart for Lamayuru driving again through the Villages of Nimu and Basgo. The first visit of the day will be to the Rizong Gompa - a small Gompa situated deep inside a narrow valley. Rizong is among few monasteries in Ladakh which houses women monks called "Chomos". Drive back to Lamayuru, passing through the villages of Nurla & Khaltse and, on arrival, visit Lamayuru Monastery. One of the earliest seats of lamaistic learning and most picturesque monastery in Ladakh. The oldest monastery of Ladakh. The Lamayuru "Yangdrung" Gompa is remarkably built on a rock, around 125kms. West of Leh, on the Leh Srinagar highway. Lamayuru belongs to the Dringungpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. The Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo constructed a temple here in eleventh century. Naropa also visited Lamayuru and meditated here. Gelukpa or Kadampa school of Tibetan Buddhism initially looked after by Lamayuru, but later; it was taken over by the Dringungpa Order. Its monastic festival is called "Yuru Kabgyat", this takes place on the 17th and 18th of the 5th month of the Tibetan Calendar. After Lunch at a local Restaurant, proceed back to Alchi. the rest of the day at leisure. Dine-in Alchi. Overnight in Alchi. Day 5 : ALCHI - DHA HANU - ALCHI (260 km - 6 hrs) After Breakfast visit the twin Villages of DHA & HANU. DHA & HANU are two villages of the Brokpa Sect of the Ladakh & The Brokpa are a small community of Dardi people residing there. At the confluence of the rivers, Shyok and Indus in the Kargil region west of Leh live a people known as Drok-pa. They are racially and culturally distinct from the rest of Ladakhis. Their religious practices more so resemble the animist practices of the pre-Buddhist religion Bon than that of Buddhism as practiced in the rest of Ladakh. One curious cultural feature is their abhorrence of the cow or any of its products. Their ancient traditions and way of life are partly preserved through their songs and hymns. One of these is a description of an ibex hunt and the ibex is especially sacred to them. Another recalls their migration from the Gilgit region further west in Pakistan, an event which must have occurred well before Gilgit came under the influence of Islam. Their language is said to be akin to that spoken in Gilgit and by immigrants from Gilgit who settled in Drass, south of Kargil. Their facial features, however, as well as their head and dress ornaments are striking and the first one notices when they encounter them. On the other hand, Ladakh's population seems to be mostly of Tibetan origin, they are of pure Indo-Aryan stock, believed perhaps to have descended from the army of Alexander of Macedonia. Today they number around two thousand inhabitants settled in five villages. Land of Aryans...Dha Hanu is situated to the southwest of Leh, around 163 Kms passing through the beautiful villages of Khaltse, Domkhar, Skurbuchan, and Achinathang. There are many small villages but only two villages of Dha and Hanu are open for tourists. Being on lower altitude Dha Hanu is warmer than Leh. This community is believed to be the last race of Aryans, confined to the valley. With their pure Aryan features, these people seemed to have preserved their racial purity down the centuries.Continue drive & stop for Tea at Khaltse. Drive along Indus River passing through the village of Nurla till you reach Alchi. Dinner in Alchi. Overnight in Alchi. Day 6 : ALCHI - LEH (70 km - 4.5 hrs) Start your morning with breakfast at the hotel, followed by the visit to Alchi Gompa. Alchi Gompa is very famous for its wall paintings. One must take a torch to see the paintings in dark rooms, as there is no light. Likir Gompa lies on the left side of Srinagar - Leh is road about 4 km from the main road and is famous for numerous Thangkas. After an early lunch, drive to Leh via Saspol. Enroute, visit Likir Gompa. Likir monastery, which is situated at the head of the village of the same name, which straggles down the valley of a side stream flowing into the Indus between the Basgo and Saspol. It is the seat of the Ngri Rinpoche, an incarnation at present embodied in the younger brother of the Dalai Lama. Likir belongs to the Gelugpa Order. The Alchi Monastery is a branch of Likir. Lama Durwang Chosje founded this monastery in 1065 A.D. during the reign of King Lha Chen Gyalpo, which was named 'Klu-Khil-GA-Ladan-Dar-Rgyas-Ling' and a monastic festival. Drive back to Leh stopping en route to have a view of the Ruined Basgo Fort, Confluence of Indus & Zanskar River. Enroute take a detour of 5 Kms to visit Phyang Monastery, this is 17 Kms from Leh, built by Tashi Namgyal in 16th century A.D. and belongs to the Red Cap Sect of Buddhists. On Arrival to Leh, you will transfer to your hotel for dinner. Overnight in Leh. Day 7 : LEH - HEMISH - LEH(80 km - 2 h) After breakfast, proceed to Hemis – which is dedicated to Padmasambhava, you will observe a series of scenes in which the lamas, robed in gowns of rich, brightly-colored brocade and sporting masks sometimes bizarrely hideous, parade in a solemn dance and mime around the huge flag pole in the center of the courtyard to the plaintive melody of the Shawn. This tradition is revived with the music of drums and the performance of the sacred "Cham" dances by the lamas from the monastery. The lamas also recite all prescribed mantras and observe the necessary rites, as well as prepare the sacrificial offerings, such as the "DO", the Thread Crosses, which will trap all evil spirits, hungry ghosts, and demonic forces. The moan of the eleven feet horns, the boom of drums and the clash of Cymbals. Hemis was found in the 1630s by Tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of Singe Namgyal, Hemis is the largest and richest of the Ladakh Gompas. It nestles into the mountainside a little way up a glen in the Zanskar mountain range. Overnight in Leh. Day 8 : LEH - NUBRA (150 km - 4 hrs) After breakfast at the hotel, an early morning start departing from Leh, for the start of your three day trip to Nubra Valley - passing through Horzey & Gangles Village. The road rises to reach Khardungla (5602 Mts) - the world's highest Motorable road. Enjoy beautiful the landscape and stunning bird’s eye view of the Leh town. Halt for a picnic lunch at Khardong village. Pass through shyok valley. Upon entering Nubra valley, proceed along the Nubra River to arrive in the afternoon at Tegar or as the locals call it - Kyegar. Dinner in Nubra. Overnight in Nubra. Day 9 : NUBRA Breakfast at the Camp is followed by the morning visit of Deskit, the HQ town of Nubra Valley. Driving for 30 Kms takes to Khalsar Bridge. Deskit can be approachdby driving parallel to Shyok River for 20 Kms. From the Historical and Tourist point of view, Deskit is famous for 515 years old Buddhist Monastery, lying magnificently situated on a hilltop, facing the entire Valley. I t is the main village of headquarter of Nubra valley, which has a small market consisting of a row of shops and about 500 years old Gompa on the hilltop. A spectacular view of the valley can be seen from the monastery. Deskit Gompa was founded by Lama Sherab Zangpo of Stod in about 1420 AD during the reign of King Dragspa. About 100 monks are residing in the Gompa, which is a branch of Thiksey Monastery.Next, visit Hunder - a beautiful village with a lot of trees and sand dunes. It has a small monastery and ruined fort above the village. Next, you will participate in the walk or Camel Safari from Hunder to Deskit, passing through sand dunes. Further drive from Deskit to Hunder, another 15 – 20 Kms drive. At Hunder, you may see a few Double Humped, Hairy and Bactrian Camels. Later drive back on the same road to your camp at Tirith for Lunch.In the afternoon, proceed to visit Sumur village for a short trek to Samstengling Monastery, Which was founded by Lama Tsultim Nima and the Monastic community was introduced as Rizong Gompa. About 50-60 monks are residing at this 132 years old monastery. The Gompa has some strict rules and regulations. Women are not allowed in the monastery after sunset and before sunrise. No smoking is allowed (nor is it permitted to bring in cigarette packages to the monastery), alcohol and meat are also not permitted. After visiting the monastery, drive back to the camp for dinner and overnight stay. Overnight in Nubra. Day 10 : NUBRA - LEH (105 km - 2.5 hrs) After breakfast, you will return back to Leh. Today's lunch will be a picnic. After checking in, visit the Ladakh Ecology Centre “LeDeg”. Later, visit a Ladakhi Home to interact with the family and have Ladakhi tea. You may proceed to visit Shanti Stupabuilt by the Japanese Artists, a few years ago on a hilltop close to Leh town. Drive back to Leh Bazaar to explore the surroundings. Dinner in Leh. Overnight in Leh. Day 11 : LEH - DELHI (1.5 hrs, by Air, not included) After your transfer to Delhi, you will be met on arrival at your hotel, you will then spend the afternoon sightseeing in Old Delhi. We begin with Red Fort, built by the great Mughal Shah Jahan in the 17th century. Rising amid the chaotic huddle of streets is the Jama Masjid, India's most beautiful mosque, its black-striped marble cupolas etched against the skyline. We will visit the Red Fort and explore the bustling Chandni Chowk, the best of all Asian bazaars. Later visit Raj Ghat the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi - father of the nation. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Delhi. Day 12 : DEPARTURE DELHIThe morning will be at your own leisure.Youu will spend the afternoong visiting The war memorial, India Gate built in memory of the85,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives during World War 1. You will drive past Government buildings, Parliament house, Central Secretariat buildings and Connaught place the center of the town. Continue on to Humayun`s Tomb, built in the mid 16th Century by Haji Begum, wife of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The architectural style is a precursor of the Taj Mahal. Visit the Qutub Minar, the 75m high Victory Tower. See the Iron Pillar, which has never rusted in all these years. After dinner, transfer to International airport to connect International flight for onward journey.