Leh - Ladakh with Pangong Lake

Ladakh, "country of high Passes"

This program takes you to Ladakh, sometimes also named "small-Tibet" or "west Tibet", in the high northwest of India. Into the Himalaya region, in the central Ladakh between the Zanskar Range (mountain ranges) and the Ladakh Range in the Indus valley, on the edge of mountain cliff and in its side valleys lie the Gompas (monasteries) and settlements, under that lie Leh, the capital of Ladakh. In Ladakh goats are found, whose finest wool is used for the manufacture of the Pashminashals. Today Leh is an ideal place for the sightseeing of Indus valley. Since 1974, Leh is opened for foreign visitors. Yet today maintained Ladakh much of its originality, predominant religious customs and traditions. The Buddhism strongly influenced the persons, their everyday life, their needs and with the many monasteries and Stupas also the breathtaking landscape.

Ladakh with Pangong Lake

06 Nights / 07 Days

Private car round trip: Leh - Alchi - Uietokpo - Lamayuru - Khardongla Pass - Pangong Lake - Leh - Delhi

Day 1 - Delhi - Leh

Flight from Delhi to Leh at early morning and transfer to the hotel. Leh lies at the height of 3500 meters above sea level. Rest of the day free for acclimatizing. Evening go for a walk in the surrounding bazaars. Overnight in Leh.

Day 2 - Excursion to Monasteries

After breakfast, go for excursion to monasteries. Today you see Shey, a royal monastery out of the 16th century. Here the kings were born. The monastery also has the largest statue of Buddha in Ladakh (17.5 m high). Further, it goes to Thiksey (20 km from Leh). Thiksey is an impressing monastery and one of the best examples for Ladakhi architecture. The complex covers 12 plains and offers numerous stupas, statue, tankas (portable religious painting on a piece of cloth) and wall paintings. The main hall has a 15 m high Buddha statue. Also visit today Hemis (40 km of Leh). Hemis is one of the largest and most popular Gompas of Ladakh. It was built around 1630 and belongs to the Red Sect. It is well known for the annual Hemis festival. You can visit the large library with the Tibetan writings, numerous Tankas (portable religious painting on a piece of cloth), pictures of Buddha and frescoes. Finally, you visit Stok Palace. This royal palace out of the 19th century has a museum with fabulous costumes and royal jewellery. Moreover, exquisite Tankas, coins, weapons, valuable Jade and china pots are exhibited. Drive back to Leh for overnight stay.

Day 3 - Leh - Alchi - Uletokpo (75 km)

After breakfast drive to Uletokpo, which is considered as one of the best sites for camping in Ladakh region. In addition, the river coming from the Ridzong side enhances the beauty of camping. On the way visit Spituk monastery (5 km from Leh). Further, drive to visit monasteries of Alchi and Likir. Alchi lies 70 km from Leh at the bank of the Indus. Alchi Gompa was mentioned first in the 11th century. The monastery of Alchi, exceptionally, constructed not on a mountain but rather on a plain. It is well known for its Buddha statue. It is one of the largest and best-known monasteries with a collection of paintings. One of these walls is covered with thousands of miniature paintings of Buddha. This monastery is maintained by the monks of the Likir monastery and is, no longer, place for spiritual life. The actual Likir Gompa dates back to 14th century, built by the Tibetan monks and have innumerable pictures of Buddha and various old scripts. Continue your drive to Uletokpo. Overnight in Camp along the river.

Day 4 - Uletokpo - Lamayuru - Leh (180 km)

After breakfast drive to Lamayuru. In Lamayuru, according to a legend, there was a crystal clear lake at the place of the present monasteries. With the blessing of the Lamas of that period, the water of the lake made the place free for the monasteries. The complex was built in the 11th century. You find here a library that is regarded as the oldest in the region. The current monastery was built in the 16th century and has 11 pictures of the Avalokiteshwara Buddha. In the ruins, one finds also Tankas.

After visits continue your drive to Leh, (4-5 hours drive). Overnight in hotel in Leh.

Day 5 - Leh - Khardongla Pass - Nubra Valley

After breakfast trip to the Nubra valley over Khardongla. The Khardongla is the highest passable pass of the world and has very beautiful viewpoints. Here above, also lies a large military camp of the Indian army. Trip to Nubra takes you back at the time into an almost forgotten "Shangri La" with breathtaking outlook and wonderful guest friendly people. Overnight in Camp.

Day 6 - Nubra Valley

Excursion into the Nubra valley. Diskit is the administration center of the valley. It lies at the edge of a desert in the Shyok side valley, around 8 hours from the Khardongla pass. It is surrounded by the majestic Himalaya and offers a wonderful view into the Leh valley. Spend the night in the camp.

Day 7 - Nubra - Leh

After breakfast, drive to Leh. Rest of the day free to enjoy the panorama. Overnight in hotel.

Day 8 - Leh - Pangong Lake - Leh (290 km)

After breakfast excursion to Pangong. The main attraction here is the Pangong Lake (around 6-7 km wide and 130 km long) where the boundary passes between India and China. In the late afternoon, drive back to Leh. Overnight in Leh.

Day 9 - Leh - Delhi - Departure

Today transfer to the airport for the flight to Delhi. After arrival in Delhi, transfer to international airport for onward journey.

Information about Ladakh

Best Time to Visit: Beginning of June until the end of September.

Situation and climate: very sparsely populated, desert like mountain landscape between the Himalaya and the Karakorum (highest mountain 7672 m high), on both sides flow the river Indus; valley grounds are between 3000 and 4000 ms high. Large temperature differences between day and night, summer and winter. Extremely dry air. Hardly precipitations.

Lodging: There is no star-system here. Leh offers the best hotels in the region (category A). In our tours, we use only A-hotels. Lodging outside of Leh is in semi deluxe tents with toilets.

Vegetation: only in the river valleys and on their cliffs.

Agriculture: at the cliffs of the river oasis grow crops of barley, millet, legumes, vegetable, fruit (Apricots). Yaks and mountain goats are kept and maintained for milk as well as for the extraction of the Kashmir wool.

Capital: Leh is capital of Ladakh with around 20,000 Inhabitants, 3,500 ms high.

Population: around 135,000 inhabitants, usually Tibetan/Mongolian descent, other ethnic groups are the Mon, Darden and Baltis; there are moreover some nomad tribes. 70% Buddhist, 30% Muslim.

Spoke: Ladakhi (very similar to Tibetans), Urdu, Hindi. Many Ladakhi in Leh understand English.

Political Membership: Ladakh is the part of the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir since independence of India in 1947.

How to Reach: Early at the morning, there are daily three flights from Delhi (50 flight minutes). The flights are weather dependent.

Visa: All tourists need an interior Line Permits in order to visit certain zones as well as Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso sheet, Tso Moriri sheet, there Hanu etc. These are issued for 7 days. For the tours, we organize it.

Vaccinations: not required

Information on Leh / Ladakh

1. Best time for a visit of Ladakh is summer from June to September. During these 4 months, the days are warm and sunny in Leh and the surrounding areas (20-30 degree of centigrade) and at night comfortable. The most popular months are July/August for Cultural tours and Trekking into higher regions. The airport in Leh (the highest flight-runway in the world) is almost always open, dependent on the weather situation.

2. How to reach Ladakh?

There are three poupular routes to reach Ladakh.

A) With the Aeroplane. The airport in Leh is connected with Delhi, Srinagar, Jammu and Chandigarh. The flights are always fully booked in advance for the foreign groups for the trips in July until August. Also the airplane never occupied fully so that it can fly in this height generally. That means, you don't surprise yourself over empty seats.

B) on the Manali-Leh Highway of these 475 km long Highway is regarded as the classic trip over the Himalaya. It crosses included 4 high passports the second-highest passable car passport (seaweed long La) and is a worthwhile trip with spectacular river valleys, grandiose rock formations and bare Plateus. The breathtaking beauty combined with the far grounds this route to one makes must for a trip. During the trip, one sees is closed Tramper, Mountain Bikers, Enfield Biker ( Enfield = Indian motorcycle), tourist and the normal population the end of September or beginning of October the street because of strong snowfall. The trip with the bus jeep lasts 2 days (10-12 hours per day) with a night stop in Sarchu/Pang (4500 ms highly) on the half way. Lodging in Sarchu is in tents with

little Facilities and joint toilet.

C) on the Srinagar - Leh Highway of these 470 km long Highway the LOC (military Line of Controll) happens nearly the Zoji La passport, Drass (the two coldest inhabited place to Siberia) and Kargil. This is also a 2 day trip (10.-12 hours daily) with night stop in Kargil. The lodgings in Kargil are hotels. The street is of military value and through it also more long open, also if the snow is more than on the Manali- Leh street.

3. How certain is Ladakh?

Ladakh is in Jammu&Kashmir, but an autonomous region with 2 districts. If security is a problem, one should busy himself more with the mountains, than with the terrorists. AMS (acute Mountain Sickness) and the more dangerous versions (HAPE etc) are actual problems on which one must eighth. The persons in the region (Buddhisten and moslem) live is certain in harmony and Ladakh a place on this earth.

4. Which problems can appear?

The largest problem is the height. On the Manali-Leh Highway, one can go many kilometers without seeing a person or another vehicle. Rain is rare and the vegetation sparse. The height on the Manali-Leh Highway is over 700 ms up to 5800 ms and more than 3400 ms in the remainder of Ladakh. Leh itself is ca. 4000 ms highly. Based on this height, the oxygen content of the air is appears slighter and AMS frequently. The Symtome are headache, Atemlosigkeit, cough, little appetite,, restlessness, insomnia, tiredness, etc. How also always if you come over Manali, pass the 2 days trip for acclimatizing. Sometimes. if one stands 20-30 minutes for photographing, become the heights problems worse. Then one should stand only 5-10 minutes. If you fly to Ladakh, the problems with AMS do not appear first after 36 hours on. and immediately. The medical advice is, in the first 24 hours total quiet and after that partially quiet, dependent on the physical state. After that one can make Sightseeing. For Trekkingtouren, it recommends to remain itself least 5 day in Leh before one breaks open to a Trekkingtour. During the stay in this height, one should drink 2-3 of liter water at the day. In acute AMS, one should search for the physician. (Diamox helps also)

The sun seems much in this height so that it can become very warm at the day. A large hat and sun protection cream are recommended. In the high season July-August, it to is got very hard confirmed flight tickets so that one should prepare himself for a trip over the Highway.

The current precipitates often in Ladakh for many hours. Many hotels have no current generator, therefore one should enjoy with patience of the darkness.

5. Lodging: There is no star-system here. Leh offers the best hotels in the region (category A). In our tours, we use only A-hotels. Lodging outside of Leh is in semi deluxe tents with toilets.

are available in places as well as Tirath and Tegar ( Nubra Valley ). One should adapt himself to these simple ratios in order to enjoy the landscape and people. Most A-hotels have is carpet, TV in the reception hall possible and no current generator. The head season is June-September. Many hotels remain closed of October - April/May. If you want after Tso or Tso Moriri, we can organize camping with tents, all meals. Cook, helper and equipment mittransportiert become.

6. What is with water and meal?

Most hotels camps have all meals and it makes sense there to meal. Leh offers a large selection at foods, Kashmiri, Ladakhi and Tibetan. Indian, Chinese and continental meal there is also. For drinking water, we recommend mineral water out of the bottle for ca. 10-20 Rupee.

7. How should long the trips be?

Equal whether a nature or culture trip, that minimum 1 week should be in Laakh up to 3 weeks. One can also Srinagar and Ladakh combine, which is a magnificent round trip with flight Delhi-Srinagar. Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Manali-Delhi go or fly Leh-Delhi/Jammu/Chandigarh.

8. Which are the most popular festivals in Ladakh?

Most festivals take place around the cloisters. The most important are Hemis Tsechu (20-21 July), Karsha (7-8 July) Phyang (12-13.7.). These fall into the tourist head season and one sees very many tourists here.

9. one Need a permission?

All tourists need an interior Line Permits in order to visit certain zones as well as Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso sheet, Tso Moriri sheet, there Hanu etc. These are issued for 7 days. For the tours, it is organized of us.

10. How good is the carrier?

In Leh, Indian vehicles as well as Sumo, Gypsy, Armada are available or Commander. These are comfortable and very dependable in the terrain.

11. Communication possibilities internet is not available in Leh, however through the current losses very zuverlässigt

Ladakh - individuelle Rundreise

Ladakh, "Land der hohen Pässe"

Dieses Programm führt Sie nach Ladakh, manchmal auch "Klein-Tibet" oder "West­tibet" genannt, im hohen Nordwesten Indiens. In die Himalayaregion, in der Zentralladakh zwischen der Zanskar Range (Gebirgszug) und der Ladakh Range im Industal liegt, an dessen Berghängen und in dessen Seitentälern die Gompas (Klöster) und Siedlungen liegen, darunter auch Leh, die Hauptstadt Ladakhs. In Ladakh werden auch die Ziegen gehalten, deren feinste Wolle für die Herstellung der Pashminaschals verwandt wird. Heute ist Leh der ideale Ausgangsort zu den Sehens­würdigkeiten des Industals. Erst seit 1974 für ausländische Besucher geöffnet, hat sich in Ladakh viel Ursprünglichkeit und altes, vorwiegend religiöses Brauchtum erhalten. Der stark tibetisch beeinflusste Buddhismus prägt die Menschen, ihren Alltag, ihre Gebräuche und mit den vielen Klöstern und Tschörten (Stupas) auch die atemberaubende Landschaft.

Information:

1. Beste Zeit für einen Besuch von Ladakh ist der Sommer von Juni bis September. Während dieser 4 Monate sind die Tage warm und sonnig in Leh und den umliegenden Gebieten (20-30 Grad Celsius) und Nachts angenehm. Die beiden beliebtesten Monate sind July/August für Kulturtouren und Trekking in höhere Regionen. Die Touristen kommen, sobald die Pässe frei sind auf dem Manali-Leh Highway und dem Srinagar-Leh Highway. Dieses passiert im Allgemeinen um May/Juni herum. Wie auch immer, der Flughafen in Leh (die höchste Flug-Landebahn in der Welt) ist fast immer offen, abhängig von der Wetterlage.

2. Wie erreicht man Ladakh

Wie schon beschrieben, gibt es drei beliebte Routen.

a) Mit dem Flugzeug. Der Flughafen in Leh ist verbunden mit Delhi, Srinagar, Jammu und Chandigarh (beide einmal die Woche). Diese Flüge sind immer stark ausgebucht im July bis August bei ausländischen Gruppen Monate im Vorraus. Auch ist das Flugzeug nie voll besetzt, damit es in dieser Höhe überhaupt fliegen kann. Das heisst, wundern Sie sich nicht über leere Sitze. Manchmal ist möglich mit einem Waitlist-Ticket am Indian Airline Counter noch ins Flugzeug zu kommen.

b) Auf dem Manali-Leh Highway

Dieser 475 km lange Highway wird als die klassische Reise über den Himalaya betrachtet. Er kreuzt 4 Hochpässe eingeschlossen den zweithöchsten befahrbaren Autopass (Tanglang La) und ist eine sehenswerte Reise mit spektakulären Flusstälern, grandiosen Felsformationen und kahlen Plateus. Die atemberaubende Schönheit kombiniert mit dem weiten Terrain macht diese Route zu einem Muß für eine Reise. Während der Reise sieht man Tramper, Mountain Bikers, Enfield Biker (Enfield= indisches Motorrad), Touristen und die normale Bevölkerung

Ende September oder Anfang Oktober wird die Strasse wegen starkem Schneefalls geschlossen. Die Fahrt mit dem Bus/Jeep dauert 2 Tage (10-12 Stunden pro Tag) mit einem Nachtstop in Sarchu/Pang (4500 m hoch) auf dem halben Weg. Unterkunft in Sarchu ist in Zelten mit wenig Facilities und gemeinsamer Toilette.

c) Auf dem Srinagar - Leh Highway

Dieser 470 km lange Highway passiert nahe der LOC ( militärische Line of Controll) den Zoji La Pass,Drass (den zweitkältesten bewohnten Ort nach Sibirien) und Kargil. Dieses ist auch eine 2 Tagesreise (10.-12 Stunden täglich) mit Nachtstop in Kargil. Die Unterkünfte in Kargil sind Hotels. Die Strasse ist von militärischem Wert und dadurch auch länger offen, auch wenn der Schnee mehr ist als auf der Manali-Leh Strasse.

3. Wie sicher ist Ladakh?

Ladakh ist in Jammu&Kashmir, aber eine autonome Region mit 2 Distrikten. Wenn Sicherheit ein Problem ist, so sollte man mehr sich mit den Bergen beschäftigen, als mit den Terroristen. AMS (Akute Mountain Sickness) und die mehr gefährlichen Versionen (HAPE etc) sind wirkliche Probleme, auf die man achten muss. Die Menschen in der Region (Buddhisten und Moslems) leben in Harmonie und Ladakh ist ein sicherer Platz auf dieser Erde.

4. Welche Probleme können auftreten?

Das größte Problem ist die Höhe. Auf dem Manali-Leh Highway kann man viele Kilometer fahren, ohne einen Menschen zu sehen oder ein anderes Fahrzeug. Regen ist selten und die Vegetation spärlich. Die Höhe auf dem Manali-Leh Highway ist über 700 m bis zu 5800 m und mehr als 3400 m im Rest von Ladakh. Leh selber ist ca. 4000 m hoch. Aufgrund dieser Höhe ist der Sauerstoffgehalt der Luft geringer und AMS tritt häufig auf. Die Symtome sind Kopfschmerzen, Atemlosigkeit, Husten, wenig Appetit,, Ruhelosigkeit, Schlaflosigkeit, Müdigkeit, etc. Wie auch immer, wenn Sie über Manali kommen, reichen die 2 Tage Fahrt zum Akklimatisieren. Manchmal. wenn man 20-30 Minuten zum Fotografieren steht, werden die Höhenprobleme schlimmer. Dann sollte man nur 5-10 Minuten stehen. Wenn Sie nach Ladakh fliegen, treten die Probleme mit AMS erst nach 36 Stunden auf. und nicht sofort auf. Der ärztliche Rat ist, in den ersten 24 Stunden totale Ruhe und danach teilweise Ruhe, abhängig von der körperlichen Verfassung. Danach kann man Sightseeing machen. Für Trekkingtouren empfiehlt es sich mindesten 5 Tage in Leh zu bleiben bevor man zu einer Trekkingtour aufbricht. Während des Aufenthaltes in dieser Höhe sollte man 2-3 Liter Wasser trinken am Tag. Bei akuter AMS sollte man den Arzt aufsuchen. (Diamox hilft auch)

Die Sonne scheint viel in dieser Höhe, sodaß es sehr warm werden kann am Tage. Ein grosser Hut und Sonnenschutzcreme sind empfehlenswert. In der Hochsaison July-August ist es sehr schwierig confirmed Flugtickets zu bekommen, sodaß man sich auf eine Fahrt über den Highway vorbereiten sollte.

Der Strom fällt öfters in Ladakh für viele Stunden aus. Viele Hotels haben keinen Stromgenerator, deswegen sollte man mit Geduld die Dunkelheit geniessen.

5. Unterkunft

Alle Hotels sind in der Kategorie A,B,C nach Jammu&Kashmir Tourism. Es gibt kein Sterne-System hier. Leh bietet die besten Hotels in der Region (Kategorie A). In unseren Touren benutzen wir nur A-Hotels. Unterkunft ausserhalb Leh ist in Guesthäusern und die sind einfach. Semi deluxe Zelte mit Toiletten sind in Plätzen wie Tirath und Tegar (Nubra Valley) verfügbar. Man sollte sich diesen einfachen Verhältnissen anpassen, um die Landschaft und Leute zu geniessen.

Die meisten A-Hotels haben Teppich, TV ist in der Empfangshalle möglich und kein Stromgenerator. Die Hauptsaison ist Juni-September. Viele Hotels bleiben geschlossen von Oktober - April/May.

Wenn Sie nach Tso oder Tso Moriri wollen, können wir Camping organisieren mit Zelten, allen Mahlzeiten. Koch, Helfer und Equipment werden mittransportiert.

6. Was ist mit Wasser und Essen?

Die meisten Hotels/Camps haben alle Mahlzeiten und es macht Sinn dort zu Essen. Leh bietet eine grosse Auswahl an Speisen, Kashmiri, Ladakhi und Tibetan. Indisch, chinesisch und continental Essen gibt es auch. Für Trinkwasser empfehlen wir Mineralwasser aus der Flasche für ca. 10-20 Rupee.

7. Wie lange sollten die Reisen sein?

Egal ob eine Natur- oder Kultur Reise, das Minimum sollte in Laakh 1 Woche sein bis zu 3 Wochen. Man kann auch Srinagar und Ladakh kombinieren, welches eine großartigen Rundreise ist mit Flug Delhi-Srinagar. Fahren Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Manali-Delhi oder fliegen Leh-Delhi/Jammu/Chandigarh.

8. Welches sind die populärsten Feste in Ladakh?

Die meisten Feste finden um die Klöster statt. Die wichtigsten sind Hemis Tsechu (20-21 July), Karsha (7-8 July) Phyang (12-13.7.). Diese fallen in die Touristenhauptsaison und man sieht sehr viele Touristen hier.

9. Braucht man eine Erlaubnis?

Alle Touristen brauchen eine Inner Line Permits, um gewisse Gebiete wie Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Moriri Lake, Da Hanu etc zu besuchen. Diese werden für 7 Tage ausgestellt. Für die Touren wird es von uns organisiert.

10. Wie gut ist der Transport?

In Leh stehen indische Wagen wie Sumo, Gypsy, Armada oder Commander zur Verfügung. Diese sind komfortabel und sehr zuverlässig im Gelände.

11. Kommunikationmöglichkeiten

Internet ist verfügbar in Leh, jedoch durch die Stromausfälle nicht sehr zuverlässigt

Ladakh - individual round trip

Ladakh, "country of high Passes"

This program takes you to Ladakh, named sometimes also "small-Tibet" or "west­tibet", in the high northwest of India. Into the Himalaya region, in the central Ladakh between the Zanskar Range (mountain ranges) and the Ladakh Range in the Indus valley, on the edge of mountain cliff and in its side valleys lie the Gompas (monasteries) and settlements, under that also lie Leh, the capital of Ladakh. In Ladakh goats are found, whose finest wool is used for the manufacture of the Pashminaschals. Today Leh is an ideal place for the sight-seeing of Indus valley. Since 1974 Leh is opened for foreign visitors. Yet today maintained Ladakh much of its originality, predominant religious customs and traditions. The buddhism strongl influenced the persons, their everyday life, their needs and with the many monasteries and Stupas also the breathtaking landscape.