Ladakh and Spiti Tour | Individual Ladakh Travel | Pyala Travel - Travel Program
Travel to Spiti and Ladakh in the Indian Himalaya. Great Adventure. Individual Tour, tailormade by Pyala Travel.
India, Ladakh and Spiti tour
private tour
Adventurous journey in the Indian Himalayas
Journey to the rich Tibetan Buddhist kingdoms of Ladakh and Spiti in the Indian Himalayas. One of the roughest and most beautiful regions of India. You will find a breathtaking moonscape at high altitude and tranquil Buddhist monasteries.
from 1695,-
21 days
Tabs
Day 1 Arrival Delhi
You arrive around midnight at the Delhi airport. You will be picked up from the airport and taken to a hotel.Day 2 Delhi
Today you can acclimatize in Delhi. You can explore the city on your own. In the late afternoon you board the train to Amritsar. It's about six hours drive to Amritsar. Currently the timetable for the train says the ride takes from 17:00 to 23:00, but this may vary slightly.Day 3 Amritsar
Amritsar is the holy city of the Sikhs. Here you will find the main shrine of the Sikhs, the Golden Temple (also known as Hari Mandir). This imposing building is visited daily by hundreds of pilgrims. A colorful and impressive sight. The Golden Temple is reflected in the surrounding basin (Amrit Sarovar), which in turn is surrounded by a square of white buildings which are accomodations for priests and pilgrims. Sikhs walk in colorful robes with their distinctive beards, headscarves. Everyone has to wear a curved dagger in his belt. In the temple priests read continuously from the original version of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Bible of the Sikhs. Elsewhere in the city you can visit some small Hindu temples and the Jallianwala Bagh, a historic place where the British turned down an uprising in 1919, with 2,000 Indians killed.
Day 4 Amritsar - Dharamsala
A long day's drive (about 8 hours) takes you from the plains of the Punjab to the foothills of the Himalayas. There we visit Dharamsala, the refuge of the Tibetan refugees in exile. Here the Tibetan government sits in exile and the Dalai Lama has his residence. Although known as Dharamsala, most Tibetans and tourists stay in the overlying McLeod Ganj. The town has a real Tibetan atmosphere with many monasteries, prayer flags and prayer wheels. Beautiful walks can be made in the area where one encounters the British history again.
Day 5 Dharamsala
A free day in Dharamsala. You can visit the Namgyalklooster of the Dalai Lama or the small but beautiful Dip Tse Chok Ling monastery, which lies under the Om guesthouse. A nice walk to a waterfall near the Hindu village Bagsu can be made, which also has a beautiful Hindu temple located. The Tibetan SOS Children's Village, which houses more than 3,000 children, is much higher, near the Dal Lake. You can get a tour of the schools and the baby home.Day 6 Dharamasala - Rewalsar
En route to Rewalsar you follow a road with many bends, passing various villages. Baijnath, a sacred ancient Hindu temple and Sidhpur where the Norbulingka Institute is located, which is a replica of the summer palace of the Dalai Lama in Tibet, all are worth a visit. From Mandi drive up into the hills until you arrive at the sacred lake of Rewalsar. The Rewalsar lake lies at an altitude of 735 meters and is sacred to both Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists. Of each denomination temples and monasteries are present. It is an important pilgrimage site. For Buddhists it is the place where the spirit of Padmasambava rests. He meditated for many years on the shores of this lake in a cave. Padmasambava, also known as Guru Rinpoche by Tibetans, is revered because he brought Buddhism to Tibet in 747. The lake is called by Tibetans Pematso, the Lake of the Lotus. There are several Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples around the lake. High above the lake rises a new image of Padmasambhava.
Day 7 Rewalsar - Manali
Today you start downhill towards Mandi and then drive the green Kullu valley and follows the Beas river. The Kullu valley is a beautiful green valley dotted with wooden villages, typical of the Kullu valley. You will find beautiful wooden Hindu temples. Along the way you can visit the fort of Nagar. This fort, located at 1870 meters, offers a lovely view of the Kullu valley. The large wooden fort is 500 years old and houses the holy temple Jagtipath and a restaurant. Nagar houses also a gallery of Russian artist Roerich. From Nagar it is an one hour drive to Manali. Once a rustic village in the Kullu valley it now completely changed of character. In the '70s the hippies came and nowadays it is one of the most touristy places of India. And then especially for Indians themselves. It is the ultimate destination to go on honeymoon and then to go skiing on the Rohtang Pass.
Day 8 Manali
The name Manali originates from Manu, the local god of Manali. The story goes that in ancient times, he saved the world, after a huge tidal wave that flooded the entire earth and humanity almost made extinct. In Manali he landed at 2000 meters altitude. From there began its recorded history. Old Manali has a beautiful temple of Manu that is surrounded by ancient farmhouses. Some stories out of the Mahabaratha take place in the Kulluvallei. Hadimba, the goddess of Dungri, a small village next to Manali, occurs in this legend as the wife of Bhima, who Pandavabroers helped overcome her own brother who was an evil demon. Still if the locals are not happy with the weather, too much or too little rain, they go to Hadimba, and slaughter a few goats or sheep. The blood is used by Hadimba to appease evil demons and to ensure that it gets better again. The Hadimba temple was built in 1533 and consists of a pagoda with four layers with beautiful carvings Near Manali you can also find several hot springs, of which Vashist is the most famous.
Day 9 Manali - Kaza (Spiti)
The longest travel day of the route is on the program. You pass through two impressive passes to reach the isolated valley of Spiti. And it is a breathtaking journey. You start climbing the Rohtang Pass (3950 meters) and keep the rest of the trip at high altitude (3000-4000 meters ). The Rohtang Pass is now an attraction for Indian families who come here to see snow, to stand on skis and sleds. After the descent of the pass you find yourself in green Lahaul. You will leave Lahaul quick to climb through a desolate and wild area to the Kunzum La pass, these passes open only a few months per year (June - September) and partly cause the isolated nature of Spiti. The road is very bad, bumpy, dusty and there may be lots of snow. On top of the Kunzum La (4551 meters) you will find a number of stupas with the usual prayer flags. Then begins the descent until you arrive in the village of Losar, the first settlement in Spiti, located at 4079 meters. In the valley you can already see the typical houses that you will encounter in the Spiti valley. From there a rough trip of several hours follows until you arrive in Kaza, the capital of Spiti, still only a village of about 2000 inhabitants (the average villages have 10-100 people). The Spiti name means House of Mani, from Om Mani Padme Hum. These words, a Buddhist mantra, you see everywhere chiseled in stone on walls, the so-called Maniwalls. Spiti is a living museum. The Buddhist valley lies between the 3350 and 4570 meters. The surrounding mountains of around 6,000 meters have no vegetation and have eroded over thousands of years, given the landscape a moon-like appearance. The river Spiti passes through a deep ravine. Small pieces of green in the landscape are the result of the hard work of the villagers who cultivate vegetables and grain using irrigation. Because of its centuries of isolation, the population has focused inward. A large number of unique monasteries is the result. Some of these monasteries are among the most remarkable monasteries across the Himalayas. The main ones we will visit these days.
Day 10 Kaza - Tabo via Dhankar
You make a trip through the Spiti valley. En route you visit Dhankar Monastery, about an hour's drive outside Kaza. This is one of the most spectacularly situated monasteries across the Himalayas. On jagged rock peaks at 4000 meters a monastery is built in a place where it seems absolutely impossible to build anything. Once at the top the view is breathtaking. You look out over the valley where the Pin and Spiti rivers come together. In the small monastery itself you can admire ancient thankas, some of them more than 1,000 years old. The monastery is in poor condition and looks like it could collapse any moment together. It is also one of the 100 most endangered major historical sites in the world. Shame if this edifice would collapse. You can climb to the small village and the ancient fortress above Dhankar.From Dhankar is still an hour drive to Tabo. In a small village lies one of the most famous monasteries of Tibetan culture. On the outside the monastery is quite different from other Tibetan monasteries. Inside a large mud wall, a number of simple mud buildings and clay stupas can be found. An architecture that hint of early Mali, Yemen or somewhat reminiscent of the houses in the Tibetan region of Aba. Not something that looks directly as an impressive monastery. But the buildings house perhaps the most remarkable frescoes and sculptures of all Tibetan monasteries. The frescoes and statues are over 1,000 years old, it is never destroyed and is one of the few monasteries that still looks like 1000 years ago. In 996 the monastery was founded by Chen Ring Zangpo, one of the most famous scholars of Tibetan Buddhism and the holiest man who originated from Spiti. The monastery itself usually makes a little lively impression, it has become more a museum feature than a funcioning monastery it seems. And while the Dalai Lama has indicated to spent his retirement here (assuming he may not enter Tibet). The buildings are mostly closed and you have to find a monk to open the prayer rooms. In dark, dimly lit room you walk past large statues of boddhisatvasa. Behind the satues you can find beautiful frescos of Buddhas, everywhere you look. One room is even more impressive than the other. Without a doubt one of the most important collections of Buddhist art that reveals itself before your eyes. After visiting the monastery you can climb the hill on the outskirts of the village, where you can still find some caves, which are all but bare inside. They offer quite a nice view over the valley and Tabo.
Day 11 Tabo - Kaza / Ky visit and Kibber
You return to Kaza, to visit Ky and Kibber. A short distance outside Kaza is the Ki monastery, again spectacularly at 4100 meters altitude against a bare mountainside on a rock. From Ki ascend even higher to Kibber, reputedly the world's highest permanently inhabited village (4205 meters). Whether that is true we doubt, but at least it's a beautiful authentic village full of white houses in Tibetan style on a rugged plateau. The residents have all weathered faces of the harsh climate that prevails here.
Day 12 Tabo - Keylong (Lahaul Valley)
You follow a long route back crossing the Kunzum La pass. At some point you reach a fork. Youdo not take direction Manali, but drive to Keylong, the capital of Lahaul (3350 meters). The Lahaul valley, together with Spiti forms the administrative unit of Lahaul and Spiti. Yet Lahaulvallei has a completely different character. The landscape is much greener and the population is a mixture of Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims.
Day 13 Keylong - Sarchu
From Keylong is is a seven hour drive to Sarchu. You pass two highpasses, including Baralachapas at an altitude of 5000 meters. On the passes you find fluttering prayer flags on piles mani stones. You stop there for the wonderful view of the many mountain peaks and to for a good journey you place a small stone on teh pile. You stay in a tent camp at Sarchu at 4200 meters altitude.
Day 14 Sarchu - Tso Moriri
From Sarchu you travel across the ChangTang plateau to the beautiful salt lake Tso Moriri. Along the way, you have a chance to meet nomads with their herds of yaks or with some luck see kyangs (Tibetan wild donkeys) come running past.You stay overnight on a tented camp near Karzok, there is a cook preparing delicious food, because there are no restaurants on site.Day 15 Tso Moriri
In this area Kampanomaden, who first inhabited the Indus Valley live. They were later supplanted by other groups in the Chang Tang Plateau bordering Tibet. Nowadays, there are two types of nomads. The real ones who wander throughout the year and cross the border with Tibet as they like and the semi-nomads who live in the area around Tso Moriri in summer they go trekking and in winter they live in villages like Karzok. The Tso Moriri lake is at 4573 m altitude and is situated approximetaly 240 km southeast of Leh, near the Tibetan border. The lake contains many minerals and is brackish. There are many exotic birds such as rare ducks and geese. For hikers, it is possible to walk the beautiful blue-green lake and you have a chance to spot wild Tibetan donkeys (kyangs) running. You can also visit the Karzokgompa, inhabited by nuns.
Day 16 Tso Moriri - Leh
You travel to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, a six hours drive. Leh is situated at 3500m altitude in the western Indian Himalayas. Ladakh is also known as "Little Tibet" because the nature, culture and language matches Tibet before the Chinese invaded it. Leh is a small place with many hotels, restaurants, shops and markets. The local women sell their vegetables on the sidewalk of the main street, with their distinctive headgear high they form a beautiful scene.
Day 17 Leh
Leh was once the center for trade routes from Central Asia and is now the capital of Ladakh, a busy place full of hotels, restaurants and shops. In the center of Leh there are three ancient stupas. On a hill in the middle of Leh you see the old palace in ruins, a bit higher you can find the royal Tsemo Gompa monastery which houses a beautiful two-story-Chamba image of Buddha. You can explore Leh on your own in. You can visit for example one of the following monasteries: Mathomonastry is a small monastery of a small order, where every day a lunchean ceremony is held at 12 am that you may be visit. This monastery dates backfrom the sixteenth century is less well known and therefore less touristy. It belongs to the rare Sakyapa sect and the monks take the time to show you around. Stakna Gompa, means "the nose of the tiger 'and is Drukpa- order. There are many ancient prayer rooms and it has a special silver stupa. Stok is a beautiful palace where the royal family lives. It has a nice museum.
Day 18 Leh / excursion Hemis and Tikse
Hemis is the wealthiest and largest monastery in Ladakh. The monastery is filled with golden statues and stupas, inlaid with semiprecious stones. This monastery was built four hundred years ago as an imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Also visit Thikse Monastery, situated on a hill. The monastery consists of twelve floors. It is eight hundred years old and has many ancient temples and is inhabited by sixty monks. The most famous Buddha image of Ladakh, the Maitreya Buddha (the Buddha of the Future) is here.
Day 19 Leh - Lamayuru
You leave to Lamayuru, this impressive monastery is situated against the rocks. It has a cave, where in the 10th century Buddhist teacher Naropa, teacher of Milarepa is said to have been meditating for years. The monastery is located in an impressive moonscape and the trip to the monastry also is breathtakingly beautiful. Along the way you also will visit the monastery of Rizong, a magnificent monastery from 1840, where the monks keep a conservative regime.
Day 20 Lamayuru - Leh via Alchi
You travel to Alchi, the oldest monastery of Ladakh, dating from the eleventh century. The monastery is no longer in use as a monastery, nowadays it serves as a museum with beautiful colorful murals. Along with Taboklooster in Spiti is one of the most remarkable monasteries in this region. It has the same mix of Buddhist and Moghulstyle murals. In one of the six temples you can find three big beautiful colorful images of Vajrapani, Manjushri and Maitreya Buddha.
Dag 21 Leh – Delhi
You fly early in the morning to Delhi. The next two days you can use to explore the city. Delhi is the capital of the country and consists of two parts: New Delhi and Old Delhi. New Delhi is the rich part with villas, embassies and the seat of government. The vast lawns and trees are sprayed every day so it's a kind of green island in a dry and dusty landscape. Here are the impressive government buildings and the triumphal gate of India. Connaught Place is a roundabout where several busy roads meet. Around here you will find the more expensive restaurants and shops, such as the large souvenir shops at the Janpath. The majority of the ten million people live in Old Delhi. It gives a good image of the bustling India. Here are the cheaper bazaars and the many historical monuments that show the turbulent past of this city. In short, Delhi is a city where no one will be bored. However, it is wise not to do too much in a short time. You have a variety of transportation available: buses, taxis, scooter and bicycle rickshaws, horse-drawn carriages and even extended Harley Davidsons. You should be aware that the crowds often result in traffic jams and certain parts of New Delhi become inaccessible to rickshaws.Some of the main attractions are:
- The massive Red Fort with a two kilometers long Defensive wall ranging in height from 18 to 33 meters.
- Jama Masjid. This is the largest mosque in India, completed in 1658, overlooking the old town.
- Qutab Minar complex. A 73 meter high minaret from 1206. This is also a legacy of the Great Moghuls.
- Rai Ghat. The place where Gandhi was cremated. One of other monuments or museums dedicated to Gandhi, are also a worth visiting.
- Many colorful bazaars like the Khari Baoli (herbs) or dariba Kalan (jewelry).
- Finally, definitely so much fun, you step out of the hotel and is just start walking.
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