Day 1: Delhi
You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to the group hotel. No sightseeing is included in Delhi. We recommend additional time to explore the wonders the city has to offer.

Day 2: Leh

Transfer to the Delhi Airport for flight to Leh. On arrival in Leh transfer to your Guest House. The rest of the day is free until an evening meeting with your leader for a trip briefing.

This is useful time for acclimatising to the altitude, and you can also explore the town.

Day 3: Leh

A day devoted to sightseeing. Only opened to foreign tourists in 1974, Leh has changed somewhat from the days yak trains would set off from the main bazaar into Central Asia. However, the town still retains its wild west feel. We wander the alleyways of the main bazaar, viewing traditional wares and sampling the local produce. We also visit the 7-storey Leh Palace, once the thriving royal residence of the ruling Namgyals. The palace not only pre-dates but also served as the model for the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Scramble further up the hill to the Victory Fort for a panoramic view of the city.

Day 4: Leh to Likir via Phayang (45 Kms)

Morning after Breakfast drive to Likir enroute visit the rarely visited Phayang to a rarely-visited gompa (traditional Buddhist monastery) of the Kagyupa order and the 400-year-old mud brick gompa of Basgo. After Lunch walk tour of Likir includes a visit to Klukhil gompa which is believed to be the first monastery built under Tibetan direction, now under the Gelukpa order. Overnight in a guesthouse at Likir.

Day 5: Drive to Lamayuru via Julichen Nunnery & Rizong Monastery (90 Kms)

Morning drive to Lamayuru enroute Rizong monastery. Arrive Lamayuru. Evening visit Lamayuru monastery. The gompa here is the oldest in Ladakh and has deep mystical origins, but its location is what is most spectacular - the ancient sandstone structure is perched precariously on a time-eroded crag, in the shadow of a massive mountain.

Overnight in Guest House.

Day 6: Lamayuru to Stok via Spituk Gompa (150 Kms)

Morning after Breakfast drive to Stok enroute visit Spituk monastery and Alchi.

A village situated in lower Ladakh, Alchi is considered one of the most important cultural sites throughout the Himalayas. It's also home to one of the Buddhist world's greatest treasures - the Alchi Monastery - prized for its well-preserved frescoes.

The exuberantly painted shrines at Alchi, some of which date back to the late 11th century, are consider by scholars to be the rarest and most extensive examples of Buddhist art in Kashmir.

Lunch on the way to Stok. Peruse fabulous period costumes and jewellery at the Stok Palace Museum. The present-day royal family still resides in the palace towering majestically on the top of a hill. We also visit the Stok Palace Museum that displays rare ornaments, fabulous period costumes and royal jewellery along with exquisite sacred thangka paintings representing the life of Sakyamuni Buddha. Interesting historical objects such as coins, armour, weapons, precious jade and porcelain, can also be seen here. Overnight in Guest House at Leh.

Day 7: Drive to Hemis via Shey & Thiksey Gompa (45 Kms)

We visit the summer palace in Shey and feast our eyes on its 12-m tall gold-plated Sakyamuni Buddha statue before driving further out to the beautifully restored Thiksey gompa. Perched on top of a steep crag rising into the sky, Thiksey's dark interiors resonate with the sombre tone of deep gongs and lamas chanting. 

Afterwards, we travel to Hemis, 'the Lone Place of the Compassionate Person' (approx. 2 hours total travelling time today). The gompa here is Ladakh's largest and most auspicious. At Hemis Gompa walk the vast courtyard and imagine a life of hard work and prayer. Overnight in Camp.

Day 8: Drive to Tso Moriri Lake (240 kms)
After breakfast we leave for Tsomoriri Lake via Upshi, Chumathang (Hot spring) along the Leh Manali Highway.

This is the world's second-highest motorable road, we begin our epic journey toward Manali. This includes the Tanglang La Pass (17,585ft) where we can soak up sweeping views of mountains rising far above clouds - a truly breathtaking and mesmerising sight.

We reach Tso Moriri by the afternoon, and in the evening we can take a walk around the lake to enjoy the scenic beauty. Overnight in Camp

Day 9: Korzok Gustor Festival
Full day visit to festival and monastery. This gives us plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this religious occasion and a lot of opportunities for photographing the numbers of pilgrims that will be attracted to it. Overnight in Camp.

Day 10: Korzok Gustor Festival
This is our second day at the festival. We will need to be quite flexible, as it is hard to predict events this long in advance. We have allowed two days here to make sure to witness the best events of the festival, but we also have the chance to explore this high altitude lake and the surrounding region.

The lake is at the extreme limit of cultivation, at 4600 m. The crops around here are said to be the highest fields in the world! This is not just a cultivated area: the habitat around the lake is home to a number of bird and animal species. There are even reports that the Snow Leopard and the Tibetan Grey Wolf can be found here! Overnight in Camp.

Day 11: Drive to Serchu (220 Kms)
Early morning leave for leisure walk by the Lake and enjoy the beauty of the lake and changing colours. After breakfast leave for Serchu passing though Tsokar Lake, Nakila and and the Lachangla Pass (16,617 ft)

This is a long and atmospheric days drive, reaching our evening stop in the afternoon. We camp overnight in Sarchu in very comfortable twin share tents with toilets provided. There is very little in the way of running water, just enough to wash your hands etc before meals.

Day 12: Serchu to Manali (222 Kms)

After Breakfast drive to Manali via Baralacha Pass (16020 ft), Darcha, Keylong, Tandi and Rohtang Pass (13050 ft). Arrive Manali by evening in time to celebrate conquering the fabled Leh-Manali highway! Overnight in Hotel.

Day 13: Manali
A popular resort at the northern end of the lush Kullu Valley, Manali has spectacular views of snow-capped peaks and wooded slopes and it's a great place to browse bustling markets for locally made handicrafts and trade noodles for chocolate cake. 

The Beas River rushes along its rocky course amid Manali's grassy meadows, which are often carpeted with wild flowers, and there are marvellous walks through flourishing orchards and fairy tale forests of Deodar. Famous for its shawls, the Manali market is crowded with a myriad of interesting shops selling Tibetan carpets and crafts and the appetising aroma of steaming noodles hangs about the little restaurants. Manali, with its Mountaineering Institute, is a popular base for trekking and mountaineering in summer and skiing in winter.

We enjoy a half day sightseeing of Manali including a visit to Hadimba Devi Temple, Vashisht and Old Manali. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 14: Manali to Delhi

Early morning we take an A/C coach to Delhi. Arrive Delhi early evening, transfer to the group hotel, then final group meal.

Day 15: Tour ends

The tour ends today, and you are free to leave at any time, alternatively why not make your own arrangements to stay an extra few days and explore.

Intrepid have a three day extension from Delhi, which headsdown to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Please enquire for more information.