High Ladakh: Monasteries & Himalayan Stargazing

Spectacular mountain flight over the Great Himalayan range followed by mandatory gentle acclimatization.

Morning: Scenic mountain flight landing between jagged brown peaks at Leh. Gentle transfer to your boutique heritage hotel.

Afternoon: Mandatory restful acclimatization. Sip warm ginger-lemon-honey tea and read about Ladakhi Buddhist philosophy.

Evening: Short, gentle walk through the quiet cobblestone lanes of old Leh town as the sun dips behind the Stok Kangri range.

Meals: Dinner included

Visit Shey Palace and the stunning Thiksey Monastery, reminiscent of the Potala Palace in Lhasa.

Morning: Visit Shey Palace, once the summer capital of Ladakh, housing a massive copper-gilt statue of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Afternoon: Ascend to Thiksey Monastery. Meet with a senior lama and admire the majestic two-story Maitreya Future Buddha statue.

Evening: Visit the peaceful Shanti Stupa perched atop Changspa hill for a 360-degree panorama of the entire Leh valley.

Meals: Breakfast & Traditional Lunch

Experience early morning monastic chants at Hemis and explore royal treasures at Stok Palace.

Morning: Early morning visit to Hemis Gompa, the wealthiest and largest monastery in Ladakh hidden inside a gorge.

Afternoon: Visit Stok Palace Museum, the current home of the Ladakhi royal family, showcasing royal crowns and antique thangkas.

Evening: Private dinner featuring Ladakhi culinary specialties: hand-rolled skyu pasta, momos, and apricot crumbles.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Cross one of the highest motorable roads on Earth to descend into the fertile Valley of Flowers.

Morning: Ascend the winding switchbacks to Khardung La Pass (17,582 ft). Tie Tibetan prayer flags for good fortune amidst snowbanks.

Afternoon: Descend into the starkly beautiful Nubra Valley along the Shyok River. Check in to your luxury desert glamping retreat.

Evening: Ride double-humped Bactrian camels across the silver sand dunes of Hunder against backdrop of snowcapped peaks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Explore Diskit’s giant outdoor Buddha and travel down the Shyok gorge to the Balti border village of Turtuk.

Morning: Visit Diskit Gompa, dramatically perched above the valley, and gaze upon the 106-foot vibrant statue of Jampa Buddha.

Afternoon: Drive along the Shyok river to Turtuk, a unique Balti Muslim village opened to visitors only recently. Walk through apricot orchards.

Evening: Return to Nubra camp. Stargazing session using high-powered binoculars under the crystal-clear Milky Way.

Meals: All meals included

Drive through raw, unpaved canyon gorges toward the legendary high-altitude cobalt lake.

Morning: Scenic wilderness drive through Agham and Tangtse along the dramatic boulder-strewn Shyok river corridor.

Afternoon: First breathtaking glimpse of Pangong Tso’s miraculous colors shifting from turquoise to deep indigo and cobalt.

Evening: Check into your heated luxury yurt camp on the lakeshore. Watch the twilight hues mirror across the tranquil saline water.

Meals: All meals included

Watch dawn break over the endless Tibetan plateau and cross the mighty Chang La pass back to Leh.

Morning: Early morning contemplation as the rising sun illuminates the mirror-smooth surface of the lake. Fresh warm breakfast.

Afternoon: Drive back to Leh crossing Chang La Pass (17,688 ft). Stop at Chemrey Monastery perched like a fortress on a steep hill.

Evening: Arrive back in Leh. Enjoy a relaxing restorative massage at your hotel spa to relieve mountain travel fatigue.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Journey along the Indus and Zanskar confluence to discover 1,000-year-old Kashmiri-influenced Buddhist wall art.

Morning: Stop at Sangam, the spectacular visual confluence of the muddy Zanskar and crystal-clear Indus rivers.

Afternoon: Explore Alchi Gompa, a UNESCO heritage gem famous for untouched 11th-century Greco-Buddhist style woodcarvings and frescoes.

Evening: Return to Leh for an evening of quiet reflection, journal writing, and artisanal Ladakhi sea-buckthorn juice tasting.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Unstructured time to browse Ladakhi pashmina woolens, handmade brass prayer wheels, and silver jewelry.

Morning: Visit the Central Asian Museum and women’s cooperative handicraft centers in old Leh.

Afternoon: Free afternoon for personal walks or tea at a scenic rooftop cafe overlooking the mountain amphitheater.

Evening: Celebratory farewell dinner hosted by our expedition team with traditional Ladakhi music and butter tea.

Meals: Breakfast & Farewell Feast

Early morning flight above the jagged Himalayan summits connecting to New Delhi for international flights.

Morning: Sunrise transfer to Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport for your dramatic flight over the snowfields back to Delhi.

Afternoon: Assisted transit and access to a day-use lounge or private hotel room in Delhi prior to international departure.

Evening: Board your international flight carrying memories of the transcendent heights of Ladakh.

Meals: Breakfast included