HLadakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram, it is a high‐altitude desert located at the western edge of the Tibetan plateau. Its awe‐inspiring landscape has been modified and sculpted into its spectacular shape by wind and water over the millennia. The moon‐like scenery is extraordinary: stark and barren but interspersedwith isolated settlements of green oases full of swaying poplar trees, apricot orchards and cultivated farmland. Despite the rugged terrain and high altitude, the people of Ladakh exhibit a natural joie de vivre and their customs and lifestyle are a continuum from the past; these friendly and gentle people will all contribute to make your visit to this stunning area both fascinating and memorable. The vibrancy and colourof their cultural traditions can be seen in the many local festivals that take place all through the summer.
Ladakh’srich Buddhist heritage is on display during the annual monasticfestivals at the numerous Gompasthat dominate the area. Perched high up in the mountain ridges,these enchanting medieval monasteries, surrounded by fluttering prayer flags, are still places of active worship and hold treasure troves of superb artifacts, images and ancient frescoes.
Whatever you do here you can be sure of an extremely unforgettable and unbeatable experience in one of the most spectacular places on earth.
2. Contents
1. About Ladakh …3
2. Itinerary …4
3. Route map …13
4. Package Details …14
6. About Us …15
7. Contact …16
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3. L A D A K H
Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the
Karakoram, it is a high‐altitude desert located at the western edge of the Tibetan plateau. Its awe‐inspiring landscape has
been modified and sculpted into its spectacular shape by wind and water over the millennia.
The moon‐like scenery is extraordinary: stark and barren but interspersed
with isolated settlements of green oases full of swaying poplar trees, apricot
orchards and cultivated farmland.
Despite the rugged terrain and high altitude, the people of Ladakh exhibit a
natural joie de vivre and their customs and lifestyle are a continuum from the
past; these friendly and gentle people will all contribute to make your visit to
this stunning area both fascinating and memorable. The vibrancy and colour
of their cultural traditions can be seen in the many local festivals that take
place all through the summer.
Ladakh’s rich Buddhist heritage is on display during the annual monastic festivals at the numerous
Gompas that dominate the area. Perched high up in the mountain ridges, these enchanting medieval
monasteries, surrounded by fluttering prayer flags, are still places of active worship and hold
treasure troves of superb artifacts, images and ancient frescoes.
Whatever you do here you can be sure of an extremely unforgettable unbeatable experience
in one of the most mind‐blowingly beautiful places on earth.
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4. ITINERARY OVERVIEW:
DAY DESTINATION HOTEL / CAMP
Day 1 –15th July New Delhi – Manali Overnight journey
Day 2 – 16th July Manali – (Manikaran & Nagar) River Country Resort
Day 3 – 17th July Manali – (Local village tour) River Country Resort
Day 4 – 18th July Manali – Sarchu Camp Gold Drop
Day 5 – 19th July Sarchu – Tso Moriri Yak Camp
Day 6 – 20th July Tso Moriri – Leh Ladakh Sarai
Day 7 – 21st July Leh – (Shey, Thiksey, Hemis) Ladakh Sarai
Day 8 – 22nd July Leh – Likir – Alchi Uley Ethnic Camp
Day 9 – 23rd July Alchi – Lamayuru – Leh Ladakh Sarai
Day 10 – 24th July Leh – Khardugla – Hunder Camp Chamba
Day 11 – 25th July Hunder – Khardungla – Leh Ladakh Sarai
Day 12 – 26th July Leh – Pangong Tso Pangong Resort
Day 13 – 27th July Pangong Tso – Leh Ladakh Sarai
Day 14 – 28th July Leh – (River Rafting on Indus) Ladakh Sarai
Day 15 – 29th July Leh – (Day at leisure) Ladakh Sarai
Day 16 – 30th July Leh – Delhi End of Journey
Base Plan:
16 Days – Drive In / Fly Out
Alternative Options:
12 Days – Drive In / Fly Out– on 26th July (Day 12)
9 Days – Fly In – on 20th July (Day 6) / Fly Out– on 28th July (Day 14)
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5. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 1: DELHI – MANALI
(Distance: 565 km, Travel Time: 12‐14 hrs,
Elevation: 2,050m/6,726ft)
Pickup from a designated point and transfer to board an AC
Coach to Manali. Overnight bus journey.
Day 2 and Day 3: Explore MANALI
Manali, at the northern end of Kulu valley, is a
beautiful Himalayan hill station with an unbeatable
location. The river Beas meanders through the town,
surrounded by deodar and pine trees, tiny fields, fruit
orchards and grassy meadows carpeted with
wildflowers which give way to stunning views of lofty
Sightseeing options: Hadimba temple, Manu temple, snow‐capped peaks. The friendly people of this area
Vashisht Hot Water Springs and Temple, Manikaran are famous for their unique style of dress, including
Hot Springs and Temple, Kasol, Naggar Castle and men’s pill‐box caps with colourful geometric
Roerich Art Gallery, Shankchar Village. embroidery.
Overnight at River Country Resort
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6. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 4: MANALI – ROHTANG – KEYLONG – JISPA – BARALACHA LA – SARCHU
(Distance: 51km / 64km / 30km / 43km / 42 km– 230km; Travel Time: 8‐9 hrs;
Elevation: Rohtang– 3,978m / 13,051ft,Keylong– 3,350m/10,991ft, Jispa–
3,182m/10,439ft, Baralacha La ‐ 5045m /16,551ft, Sarchu – 4,290m/ 14,075ft)
From Manali, we drive towards the Beas watershed where we quickly
climb and cross the first high pass of our journey, the Rothang La (13,051
ft). La is the Tibetan word for a mountain pass. Descending the far side of
the pass we enter the rain shadow of the Himalaya and the district of
Lahaul. Passing through the bustling town of Keylong, we continue on to
Jispa.
Jispa is located in the Lahaul Valley and is a pleasant hamlet next to a
river. From here we start a steep climb, an absolutely breathtaking
drive to Baralacha La, one of the most picturesque of the high passes
we crest en‐route to Leh. A steep descent takes us to Sarchu where we
camp for the night.
Sarchu is a campsite in the
Himalayas on the Leh‐Manali
Highway, on the boundary
between Himachal Pradesh and
Ladakh. It is sited between
Baralacha La to the south and
Lachulung La to the north.
Overnight at GoldDrop Camp
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7. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 5: SARCHU – LACHULUNG LA – PANG – TSOMORIRI
(Distance: 54km/ 26km / 90km – 170km; Travel Time: 8‐9 hrs;
Elevation: Lachulung La – 5,059m/16,598ft,
Pang – 4,500m/14,764ft, TsoMoriri – 4,595m/15,075ft)
We drive across beautiful landscapes crossing over the
Lachulung La to Pang. From Pang, we head into the
breathtaking Changthang area to the lake TsoMoriri. This
beautiful white lake is famed for the high quality salt that
rings its edges. TsoMoriri is the largest of the High Altitude
Lakes to be situated entirely within India.
Day 6: TSO MORIRI – TSO KAR – TANGLANG LA – LEH Overnight at The Yak Camp
(Distance: 45km/ 120km – 165km, Travel Time: 7‐8hrs;
Elevation: Tso Kar: 4,200m/13,780ft,
Tanglang La – 5,359m/17,582ft, Leh – 3,505m/11,500ft)
We explore the spectacular area surrounding TsoMoriri.
The Karzok Gompa on the western bank of the lake, one of
the oldest settlements of the world; the salty Tso Kar
(White Lake) northwest of Tso Moriri. The area along this
lake is inhabited by nomadic people, known as Changpas,
employed in rearing of goats, cows and yaks. A variety of
rare and endangered species birds and animals can be
spotted in the area.
We then head to Leh crossing the Tanglang La, the second
highest motorable pass in India after the Khardung‐La
Overnight at Ladakh Sarai
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8. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 7: Around LEH
(Hemis – 42km; Thiksey – 29km; Shey – 3km; Leh – 15km: Total: 89km)
We start with the Hemis Gompa, the biggest monastery in Ladakh. Located 45
Km to the south of Leh. Hemis Gompa was built in 1630 and houses monks of
the Brokpa or Red Hat sect. Tourists can see beautiful frescoes (paintings) on
the walls and the largest Thangka painting in Ladakh, which is over 12 m in
length.
From Hemis, we make our way towards Thiksey –
an impressive imitation of Lhasa’s Potala Palace –
dramatically perched on a slope overlooking the
Indus Valley. Approximately 600 years old, Thiksey consists of 12 levels ascending
a hillside, with the Incarnate Lama's private apartments at the summit.
Later ,we visit Shey, the King’s old palace. The palace was built in 1645 as a
summer residence for the kings of Ladakh. It is the oldest palace in Ladakh and
above it is an even older fortress. The palace and fort, now classified as world
heritage sites, are in ruins but the monastery is in use to this day. Inside is a 39‐
foot statue made of gilded copper of the Sakyamuni Buddha.
Overnight at Ladakh Sarai
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9. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 8: LEH – LIKIR – ALCHI
(Distance: 52km / 58km – 110km; Travel Time: 5‐6 hrs
Elevation: Alchi – 3,500m/11,483ft)
Drive to Likir, a small town most famous for the Klu‐kkhyil (meaning "water
spirits") Gompa. First built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 18th
century, it has a twenty‐five foot tall gold‐covered Buddha statue.
The gompa at Alchi is nestled in a secluded, tree‐lined spot beside a
bend in the milky‐blue River Indus amid dramatic scenery. It harbors
an extraordinary wealth of ancient wall paintings and wood
sculptures, miraculously preserved for over 900 years inside five mud‐
walled temples. The site’s earliest murals are regarded as the finest
surviving examples of a style that flourished in Kashmir before the
14th century.
Overnight at Uley Ethnic Camp
Day 9: ALCHI – LAMAYURU – LEH
(Distance: 58km / 125km – 183km; Travel Time: 5‐6 hrs
Elevation: Lamayuru – 3,510m/11,515ft)
We head towards Lamayuru, the 10th/11th century Ka‐gyü‐pa
order monastery, which is our furthest point West and is known
for its moon like landscape. The Monastery has always been very
active and powerful and was, at one time, the main contender for
acknowledged supremacy throughout Tibet.
Overnight at Ladakh Sarai
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10. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 10: LEH – KHARDUNG‐LA – HUNDER
(Distance: 37km / 90km – 127km; Travel Time: 4‐5hrs;
Elevation: Khardung La – 5,602m/18,380ft, Hunder – 3,245m/10,646ft)
Driving from Leh, we cross Khardung La (18, 380 ft), known as
one of the world’s highest motorable passes, into the Nubra
Valley towards Hunder.
The Nubra Valley, on the Nubra and Shyok rivers, is a mix of desert
sand dunes and lush green villages tumbling down the hillside.
Making their way through the middle of all this are herds of Yak,
double‐humped Bactrian Camels and the occasional small
whirlwind of dust. The valley is one of those rare places on earth
where you can see in one place the splendid beauty of a desert
complete with bactrian camels (two‐humped), sand dunes, rolling
mountains,flowing streams and snow peaks. giving it a surreal,
dreamlike quality.
Overnight at Camp Mystic Meadows
Day 11: HUNDER – DISKIT – LEH
(Distance: 8km / 119km – 127km, Travel Time: 4‐5hrs;
Elevation: Khardung La – 5,602m/18,380ft, Leh – 3,505m/11,500ft)
Heading back over the Khardung La we drive back to Leh. En
route we stop at the Diskit Gompa dating back to the 14th
century.
Overnight at The Ladakh Sarai
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11. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 12: LEH – CHANG LA – PANGONG TSO
(Distance: 78km / 82km – 160km, Travel Time: 5‐6 hrs;
Elevation: Chang La – 5,425m/17,800ft, Pangong Tso – 4,250m/13,943ft)
Drive to Pangog Tso – a high altitude lake in the Ladakh Himalayas.
It is 134 km long and extends from India to Tibet. Two thirds of the
length of this lake lies in Tibet. The lake is 5 km (3 mi) wide at its
broadest point. In winter, the lake surface freezes completely
despite being salt water.
The road to Pangong Tso traverses another high pass, the Chang La,
where army sentries and a small teahouse greet visitors.
Day 13: PANGONG TSO – STOK – LEH Overnight at The Pangong Resort
(Distance: 153km / 17km – 170km, Travel Time: 5‐6 hrs)
We drive back over the Chang La toward Leh, stopping en route at
Stok, current residence of the former royal family of Ladakh, known
for its 14th century gompa and the museum containing the shrines,
crown, ceremonial dress and jewelry of the Ladakhi king.
Overnight at The Ladakh Sarai
Day 14: River Rafting on The Indus
A day with some thrilling adventure, we drive to a point on the
Indus to commence a stretch of white water rafting. Return to Leh
town by the early evening.
Overnight at The Ladakh Sarai
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12. ITINERARY : DRIVE IN/FLY OUT
Day 15: Explore LEH
Leh, capital of Ladakh, is a historical transit point of the bygone
Silk Route, and looks and feels like a trading post of the ancient
past. It is an imminently accessible and fascinating locale,
featuring monasteries, a palace, a mosque, and countless
narrow, crooked alleyways beckoning the curious visitor. To
stroll through Leh, taking in it’s sights, sounds is to experience
what writer Andrew Harvey called “the peaceful life.”
The town is dominated by the now ruined Leh Palace, former
home of Ladakh’s royal family. A walk around Leh includes a
visit to the Market, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa & Leh Gompa.
Strolling around, one can enjoy looking at curios and
souvenirs, Tibetan handicraft items including prayer wheels,
Buddhist masks, Thangka paintings, Tibetan silver jewelry and
traditional Ladakhi jewelry with turquoise.
Overnight at The Ladakh Sarai
Day 16: LEH – NEW DELHI
(By Air, Travel Time: 1hr15mins)
Catch the early morning flight back to New Delhi. Arrival in
New Delhi by 10:45 a.m. Pick up from the airport and transfer
to hotel or next transit point.
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14. PACKAGE DETAILS
Pricing:
Head Cost per person
16 Days / 15 Nights (Delhi – Manali – Ladakh) INR 42,160 /‐*
12 Days / 11 Nights (Delhi – Manali – Ladakh) INR 31,620 /‐*
9 Days / 8 Nights (Ladakh) INR 23,715 /‐*
Air Fare (Leh – Delhi) INR 4,525 /‐**
* Prices are subject to government service taxes as applicable
** Prices quoted are as per current airfare and are subject to change.
Package Includes: ‐
• Transfer Delhi – Manali by AC coach.
• Accommodation on twin sharing basis in ‘A’ category hotels or deluxe camps as mentioned.
• Camping in Tso Moriri and Tso Kar wih all logistic support.
• All meals.
• Transportation in Ladakh by mini bus accommodating 6‐10 passengers.
• All transfers on arrival and departurens in New Delhi.
• Local Ladakhi English speaking guide and a Synapses trip leader for the duration of the trip.
• Inner Line Permits, Camping and Wild Life fee for Tso Moriri, Tso Kar and Nubra Valley.
Package does not include: ‐
• Expenses of personal nature like laundry, telephone/fax calls, alcoholic beverages, camera/video camera fee at
monuments, medical expenses, airport departure tax etc.
• Any Insurance
• Any other services not mentioned in the inclusions.
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15. ABOUT US
About Synapses:
As an organization, Synapses comes across as one with a lot of
energy and enthusiasm at its core, one that wants to learn more
and do better. With a team of young and passionate enthusiasts,
Synapses puts forward its expertise in Outdoor Education, Travel,
and Adventure. An extensive background in training coupled with
a passion for the Great Outdoors has enabled Synapses to set up a formal approach to learning with experience
– ‘Experiential Learning’. The Team has specialized in mountaineering and experiential learning activities with
the most reputed institutions of the country, like the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Nehru Institute of
Mountaineering & National Outdoor Leadership School. A unique blend of corporate and outdoor experience
has thus enabled Synapses develop an edge in delivering quality training, while building on ‘Camaraderie’ &
developing ‘Leadership Skills’for organizations and educational institutions.
Whilst keeping the remotest parts of the world as the centre of their activities, Synapses endeavors to
encourage and inspire individuals of any level through positive experiences and participation in engaging and
motivating tasks and events.
The association:
Our association represents our commitment to each other borne out of having understood our collective
values, objective and vision. Together we aim to establish distinct benchmarks in our endeavors, while at the
same time realizing our responsibilities towards society and the environment.
With the association thus established, we look forward to enriching experiences, that of our customers and our
very own as well!
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16. CONTACT
For details, clarifications and bookings, please contact any one on the team
Aditya Shinde Mandeep Dhillon Rohit Chawla
- +91 9968330067 - +91 9968323205 - +91 9871042235
aditya@synapses.in mandeep@synapses.in rohit@synapses.in
or mail your details and queries to: connect@synapses.in
log on : www.synapses.in/ladakh.html
Synapses
1021, Sector 29, Noida (NCR)
Uttar Pradesh, INDIA – 201 301
Tel: +91 120 4321869 Fax: +91 120 4257027
Our planet has never been as vulnerable as it is
today, We have taken a pledge to carry with us, at
all times, a commitment to conservation
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