Ladakh: Trails of Little Tibet
Ladakh: Trails of Little Tibet
13 Days Starting and ending in Delhi
Visiting: India
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TGX
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
Remote, rugged Ladakh is making a name for itself as a paradise for adventurous walkers. The high-altitude desert region in northern India is flanked by the mighty peaks of the western Himalaya, Karakorum range and Tibetan Plateau and soaked with a history stretching back centuries. Our journey starts with a scenic flight from Delhi past the mighty Himalaya to the regional capital Leh, where we acclimatise and explore the town. We then set off on a fairly gentle trekking adventure, allowing us to marvel at jagged mountain ranges, explore Buddhist monasteries and find out why this culturally rich region has earned the nickname Little Tibet.
Highlights
Itinerary
The group flight is an overnight flight departing from London this evening.
Day 2
Passengers travelling on the group flights will arrive into Delhi in the
morning and be transferred to the start hotel. Those making their own way
will join us at the hotel throughout the day. The rest of the day is free to
relax and recover from the flight or for individual exploration of Delhi. The
rooms in the hotel are usually available from mid-morning.
*Hotel Jaypee Siddharth* (or similar)
Day 3
A very early start today for the flight to Leh. We sometimes have to leave
the hotel at around 2 am and drive to the airport for the very early morning
but highly spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Leh. If the weather is
good and the flight goes on time we should be in Leh by early morning. The
rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude (3,500m).
Flying straight to the high altitude of Leh can take your breath away
(literally) and so we concentrate on acclimatising for the first few days. In
the morning we rest and catch up on some sleep and in the afternoon there
will be a gentle orientation walk of Leh and its bazaars.
*Standard Hotel*
Day 4
Today there is a sightseeing tour to two of the major gompas (monasteries) in
the area. We first drive to Shey, a former Royal Palace of the Ladakh kings.
Inside is a small temple containing a 350 year old copper and gold statue of
the Buddha. From Shey we walk across the fields (approx. 2 hours) on a good
level trail to Tikse, where we visit the monastery perched on top of a hill -
its red and white buildings can be seen for miles. We can explore the temples
and courtyards and meet the red robed monks who live here. In one of the
temples there is a 15 metre high statue of the Future Buddha. We return to
Leh in the afternoon.
*Standard Hotel*
Day 5
Today we will have an acclimatisation walk round the Leh Valley. Set above
Leh on the Namgyal Hill, are the ruins of the Old Royal Palace. From here a
winding path takes us to the Tsemo Monastery, from where we are rewarded for
our efforts by magnificent views of the whole of Leh and its surrounding
villages.
Descending round the back of the palace we walk via Sankar to the recently
built Japanese Peace Pagoda. This huge stupa overlooks Leh and we have
stunning views of the town and the Stok range of mountains across the valley.
There is the chance today to make an optional jeep safari to the Khardung
Pass; at 5,602m, one of the highest motorable roads in the world. The journey
to the top of the pass and back takes roughly 4/5 hours in total and can be
booked and paid for locally. Your leader will have details (if you do the
jeep safari this will be in the morning and you can do a walk in the
afternoon).
*Standard Hotel*
Day 6
Well acclimatised, we leave Leh this morning. There is the chance to do an
optional rafting trip on the Indus River for a few hours. The rafting starts
in Phey, and after a safety briefing we set off down the river. This is not
high-level white water rafting but there are some sections of grade 2 and 3
rapids. This means that a novice rafter will find it exhilarating and not too
scary. Just after setting off we float through an impressive gorge to where
the Zanskar River flows into the Indus. After about 3 hours the rafting ends
at Nimmu, where we dry off, have lunch and rejoin our transport for the 2-3
hour drive to Yangtang. (Those not wanting to raft can have time to explore
Nimmu village).
If we have time, there is the chance to visit Likir Monastery en route. The
monastery is well kept and there is an active school for young monks. We stay
in or near Yangtang village (3,683m) tonight. Time allowing, we can explore
the village and maybe visit the small local school or watch the Ladakhis
sowing the barley and potatoes, the staple crops of these hardy mountain
people.
*Village homestay or lodge*
Day 7
We leave Yangtang away from the main trail and head north with spectacular
rock formations surrounding us. Ladakh is a mountainous desert and the
multi-coloured hills are magnificent in any light. During the first couple of
hours of today's walk, we will come across some interesting erosional
features, including pinnacles with rock boulders precariously balanced upon
them. We will get to our accommodation around lunchtime and in the afternoon
there is the chance to walk higher up the valley. This area is well known for
Ibex and Snow Leopards have sometimes been seen.
*Village homestay or lodge*
Day 8
We head off along an easy trail which climbs to our first pass, the Spangpo
La (4,082m) with wonderful views of the hills ahead and down to the village
of Hemis Shupachen (3,663m). This tranquil village with a small gompa, green
pastures and a clear stream is a lovely place to stay for the night. In the
afternoon we can visit the monastery and have a look around the village.
*Village homestay*
Day 9
Today we cross the pastures in a northwesterly direction skirting the sides
of the fields. After a stop at a chorten, we follow the trail past the mature
juniper trees that give the village its name, 'shukpa'. The path climbs
easily to our first pass today, the Mebtek La (3,796m) from where we can
admire the pink and mauve-coloured mountains ahead. We descend into the next
valley and the trail ahead can just be made out as it zig-zags up the
mountainside in the distance. The path winds up to the Lago La (3,832m) and
from the top there are magnificent views across to the south side of the
Indus Valley. The trail descends steeply from the pass to the village of Ang.
This area is regarded as the richest in Ladakh and fields of barley, potatoes
and fruit orchards provide more than adequate food for these villages.
From Ang, it is an easy walk (although it can be hot and dusty) along the new
jeep track to Temisgam (3,256m). This is the largest, most prosperous village
on the trek. Set amongst fertile fields as well as spreading apple and
apricot orchards there are some fine examples of large, white-washed Ladakhi
homes. As a result of a division of Ladakh in the 14th to 15th centuries, the
lower kingdom was controlled from Basgo and Temisgam. Little remains of its
glorious past and the castle is in ruins but there are still temples you can
visit.
*Village homestay*
Day 10
Temisgam is famed for its monastery and is perhaps the most affluent village
in the Sham valley for its apricots, apples, nuts and beautiful houses.
In the morning we visit Temisgam Monastery, a complex of several temples,
built in the 15th century AD. Further up the valley is a smaller gompa called
Tsekarmo. On our way back we visit the old Royal Palace of Temisgam, situated
in the middle of the village. The palace was home to Gyalpo Tagspa Bom, who
chose Temisgam as a capital of his kingdom of Ladakh in the 15th century.
After lunch we explore the village; there is a chance to visit a local school
and interact with local people.
*Village homestay*
Day 11
Today is a longer day. We begin with a gentle ascent to the base of the
Skinyang Pass. We pass the pretty village of Tia and then Charcha as we
follow a new jeep track. The trail then begins to climb up a barren hillside
to a col at 3,927m. From here a wonderful boulder-strewn landscape greets us.
The wild landscape around here is home to Snow Leopards and Blue Sheep. We
can see the pass ahead and an easy 45minutes walk brings us to the top of the
pass at 4,060m. We now descend into a dry valley which we follow to a set of
chortens above the village. The last 30 minutes of the descent is a little
steeper as we drop down to Skinyang, a traditional Ladakhi village.
Please note there is the option today of going all the way to Skinyang by
jeep or if it is very hot we can drive to Tia at the base of the pass to
avoid the heat.
*Village homestay*
Day 12
We say goodbye to our trekking crew this morning and join our transport for
the spectacular drive to Lamayuru Monastery, set amidst an amazing lunar
landscape. We descend first to Khalatse and then head west on one of the most
magnificent parts of the Srinagar to Leh road. The road winds through a
fantastic landscape – it was here that 50 million years ago two continents
collided to form the Himalaya. Just before Lamayuru we pass a futuristic
lunar landscape. Arriving at Lamayuru we have time to explore the monastery
and the village surrounding it. We then rejoin our vehicles for the drive
eastwards to Alchi where we spend the night.
Alchi village is set in a side valley hidden from the main road and is an
oasis of calm. In summer the villagers are busy in the fields with their
crops of barley, wheat and vegetables. The climate here is very mild and
apricot trees abound. Alchi Monastery is one of the most important cultural
sites in Ladakh. Built in the 11th century, it is a treasure trove of early
Buddhist art in the Kashmiri tradition, a style quite different from the
Tibetan art found in Ladakh’s other monasteries.
*Basic Hotel*
Day 13
We drive back towards Leh and en route stop at Basgo Fort. Now mostly in
ruins it is spectacularly situated in the wind blown rocks. We spend some
time here exploring the ruins and temples. We then follow the main road back
into Leh arriving by lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is free in Leh for
last minute sightseeing or shopping.
*Standard Hotel*
Day 14
We fly from Leh to Delhi. The rest of the day is free for individual
sightseeing in Delhi. You may want to visit the colourful bazaars and the Red
Fort in the heart of Old Delhi or visit some of the Mogul monuments dotted
around this ancient city.
*Hotel Jaypee Siddharth* (or similar)
Day 15
It is time to say our farewells this morning as the tour ends after
breakfast. Those travelling on the group flights will be transferred to Delhi
Airport for your daytime flight back to London.
**
What's Included
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All breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone (in Delhi)
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
We spend six nights in hotels and four nights in lodges and homestays.
In Delhi, we use a standard hotel with air-conditioned rooms. In Leh, we stay in a standard hotel, close to the market and town centre. All rooms in Delhi and Leh have private bathrooms. There is wifi available in Leh; however, there is no coverage for international phones in Ladakh.
During the trek, we stay in a mix of homestays and lodges. Homestays offer an authentic experience of village life, allowing you to immerse in Ladakhi culture, lifestyles, hospitality, food and drinks. Homestays directly empower and benefit the community as well as the environment, while giving visitors the chance to experience the true Ladakhi culture. They enable a constant flow of travellers to rural economies, creating multiple livelihood opportunities for local people. At some locations on the trek, we also use lodges. These are also run by local people but are slightly more comfortable than a homestay. Homestays and lodges generally provide common/shared Western toilets and showers, although shared squat toilets may be the only option in some locations.
The quality of food in homestays and lodges can vary, so we carry our kitchen with us including the cook and the helpers to provide full-service meals during the trek.
Single rooms can be accommodated in Delhi and Leh for a supplement (subject to availability); however, single rooms are difficult to guarantee at the homestay and lodges so, if available, an additional supplement charge can be paid locally. Please enquire at the time of booking.
Food
All breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners are included.
Indian food is highly regarded and there is ample chance to try traditional Ladakhi cuisine, which was influenced by Silk Road traders from Tibet and China. Don’t miss the delicious and popular snacks momos (dumplings) or yak cheese. Also try thukpa, a clear vegetable soup with noodles and often mutton, chicken or yak meat; tingmo (pronounced tee-mo), steamed bread eaten with dal; and a favourite found in most restaurants, chutagi, a thick soup of local vegetables and bow tie-shaped pieces of dough cooked in the broth (also served with meat).
Allow at least 1,600-2,000 rupees (approximately US$20-US$25) per day for lunch and dinner (where not included). You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large) bottle of beer is approximately 300 rupees (approximately US$4).
While camping, the staff bring a hot drink (usually tea) to your tent each morning. When you reach camp in the afternoon, tea and biscuits are served. At breakfast, dinner and in the afternoons, there is a choice of hot drinks. Breakfasts typically include cereal, toast and jam, eggs and porridge. Lunch on trek is usually served as a picnic en route (except on shorter days when it is in camp). Lunch and dinner typically include soup to start, followed by a variety of hot dishes (both local and Western) such as potatoes/chips, vegetables, curry, pasta, rice, dal and paneer (cottage cheese). At dinner, a dessert such as tinned fruit and custard, fritters or cake is also served.
Please note, although some meals include meat, it is not as readily available while camping.
Drinking water
Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity but particularly so at altitude where it is generally recommended to drink at least 100floz-135floz (3l-4l) per person per day.
We strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in Ladakh. In Leh, there is a shop called Dzomsa that sells safe drinking water. Your leader will show you where this is on your first day in Leh. The Leh hotel provides safe filtered drinking water.
During the trek, the cooks will collect and boil drinking water from the mountain streams and fill up your water bottles for you, but you may need to collect water during the day and may wish to use your own water purification treatment as well. We suggest you bring a reusable bottle with a wide opening (Nalgene or similar) with you and use a SteriPEN (a handheld UV water purifier) or purification tablets to treat any non-boiled water.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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