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Arrive at Indira Gandhi International airport. You will be welcomed by a representative from our travel agency at the airport and after a quick briefing, transferred to your hotel. Later we start with a sightseeing tour of the city.

We will start our tour of North India with a visit to Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India and was built by the great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1650 when Delhi first became the capital of the mughal empire. The main mosque is crowned by three onion shaped domes made of white marble and inlaid with strips of black slate. Jama Masjid also has two minarets made of red sandstone and white marbles which are 40 meters in height. The mosque has great religious significance as it houses a hair from the beard of the Prophet and a chapter of the Holy Quran written by the Prophet.

Then board a rickshaw to enjoy a ride through the intricate alleys of Chandni Chowk and reach Red Fort.

Red Fort occupies an area of 120 acres and was also built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the mid 17h century. It was the political center of the Mughal empire and served as the main accommodation for successive emperors and their households. It reflects the power and grandeur of the Mughal court. Red Fort remains relevant even today as the seat of power as the prime minister of India addresses the Indian republic on Independence day from the Red Fort every year.

Later, we continue with our Delhi tour as we proceed to New Delhi and visit India Gate. India Gate is the landmark of New Delhi, situated at the ceremonial axis to the Rashtrapati Bhawan or President’s house. India Gate is a war memorial built to honor the soldiers who had laid their lives during World War 1 and the third Afghan War. It was designed by British architect Edwin Luytens and took ten years to build.

The parliament building situated nearby is the most important political establishment in India, the world’s largest democratic country. Here members of parliament meet everyday to debate and pass laws for the country and also contains offices of various ministries. This circular imperial style architectural monument comprises of open air verandah and 144 columns.

Rashtrapati Bhawan is the residential estate of President of India. Rashtrapati Bhawan has 4 stories and 340 rooms. It is famous for the beautiful ‘Mughal gardens’ that are situated at the back of Rashtrapati Bhawan and is open for visitors during February every year. It was also designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the Bristish Viceroy to India when India was still a colony of the British.

After completing your guided tour of Delhi, return to the hotel for overnight stay.

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Prepare for an early morning transfer to airport to catch a flight to Leh.

Leh, also called as ‘Little Tibet’, is an awe-inspiring destination in India, known around the world for its scenic beauty, snow covered mountains, ‘Gompas’ or grand residences of monks and age old Tibetan-Buddhist culture.

Once you arrive at Leh airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. You will have to wait one before you can begin your sightseeing tour of Leh-Ladakh as the full day is free for you to relax and acclimatize because of Leh’s location at a high altitude of 3500 meters above sea level. In the evening you can stroll around the local bazaar of Leh and then return to hotel for overnight stay.

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We will leave for full day tour of Leh in the morning to visit Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. Thiksey monastery is the largest monastery situated in central Ladakh. It is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Gelugpa sect which is perched on top of a hill. It is known for its amazing architecture. This 12 storey monastery serves as residence for 120 monks and features 10 temples and a grand assembly hall. It is often referred to as mini patola.

Next we visit Hemis Monastery which is a 400 years old monastery situated in Ladakh. It is the largest and wealthiest monastery in Ladakh. The monastery belongs to the Kagupa Brugpa sect of Buddhism and is a perfect example of monastic complex and Buddhist architecture. The foundation of the monastery was laid in 1672 by the royal king of Ladakh, Senge Namgyal. The monastery is also famous for its annual Hemis festival.

On the way back we will visit Shey Palace. Situated on a hilltop, Shey Palace was constructed in the year 1655 and is mostly in ruins now. The palace was built by Deldan Namgyal as the summer palace for the king. The palace houses Shey monastery, which the king built in the memory of his father. The monastery is famous for its huge copper and gilded gold statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha. Due to its location, the monastery offers a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.

After we complete the guided tour of Leh, we proceed to hotel for overnight stay.

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In the morning, we will leave for Uletokpo which is the next place on your Himachal Ladakh Tour itinerary and one of the most beautiful camping sites in Ladakh region. We will also take a small stopovers to visit Spituk and Alchi monastery.

Spituk monastery is a 14th century monastry built at an elevation of 10,852 feet. The main image inside Spituk Gompa is that of Kali Mata apart from numerous small idols of Lord Buddha. The main temple also has a high throne reserved for the Dalai Lama. The monastery also has a wonderful kitchen that serves very popular Butter Tea for free throughout the day.

Next we visit Alchi monastery which is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh. You can witness the Tibetan culture in the monastery which is renowned for being the oldest Buddhist learning center in Ladakh region. This is the only monastery that is located on the flat plains. The foundation of the monastery was laid in the 12th century. Du-Khang is an assembly hall which is the oldest and well preserved part of the monastery. Sum-tsek is a three storey temple and is famous for its four arm Bodhisattva statue.

After these short stop-overs, we finally reach Uletokpo by lunch time. Situated 70 kms from leh, this enchanting village town is a popular for its location on the banks of River Indus and offers a picturesque location for camping.

In the evening, relax on the banks of river gushing down from Ridzong side.

Overnight stay in camp.

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Next morning, we will leave for Lamayuru, a small village situated at a distance of 127 km from Leh. The village is known for the beautiful yet odd rocky landscape that resemble the moon landscape. For this reason, Lamayuru is also called “The Moonland of Ladakh”.

Here, we will visit Lamayuru Monastery which is popularly known as Tharpa Ling and is one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh. The monastery belongs to Red- hat sect of Buddhism. The monastery is well known for its rich wall paintings, murals, scriptures, collection of Thangkas and statutes of different forms of Buddha. It is also renowned for its caves, popularly known as Naropa’s caves. These caves were meditating center for Naropa.

In the afternoon, we will drive back to Leh for overnight stay at hotel.

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The next place in the Himachal Ladakh tour itinerary is Changthang which houses the famous Tso Moriri lake. Don’t forget to carry your personal identification documents as you will be subjected to passport checking at Upshi.

En- route, we will also visit Chumathang, a small town located on the banks of the river Indus, which is famous for hot springs that are believed to have medicinal properties. The water in these springs are extremely rich in minerals, especially sulphur, which helps in relieving pain, stress and skin problems.

Also visit Sumdah village on the way. Sumdah village features one of the oldest and most interesting monasteries. The monastery has bronze figures which are made in a manner which is different from Ladakhi and Tibetan monasteries. The figures display Indian style. It is small but has preserved old monastic traditions.

Continue drive to camps at Changthang for dinner and overnight stay.

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In the morning, we will visit the small but charming Korzok village. The village houses the beautiful Korzok monastery. It is the most sacred monastery located on the banks of Tso Moriri. Located on a hill, the monastery has a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha amongst other statues. The major attraction of the monastery is the Korzok Gu-stor festival.

Later, spend an enjoyable afternoon on the banks of the beautiful and serene Tsomoriri lake. Tsomoriri Lake is a high altitude alpine lake which is located in the breathtakingly beautiful Rupshu Valley. The lake is flanked by lofty mountains on all sides and is situated 4000 meter above sea level. It attracts numerous migratory birds and marmots and is the largest high altitude lake in India.

Afterwards, Return to camp for dinner and overnight stay.

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In the morning, leave Changthang for a full day drive to Sarchu via Upshi. On the way, you will cross Tanglang La or Changla Pass, the second highest motorable pass in the world. Throughout the drive, enjoy mystical view of mountains and the beautiful flora and fauna in the region – Marmots, yaks and herbs. Stop at Pang for lunch and then continue to drive to Changla Pass –which is situated at an altitude of 5065 meters in the middle of mountains.

Arrive at Sarchu and stay at a camp which is at an altitude of 4200 meters. Be prepared for the coldest night of your Himachal Ladakh and Amritsar tour. Sarchu is the main stop-over point while on the way of Leh to Manali. In Sarchu, you will be provided with tented accommodation. The spot is even used as a starting point for various treks in Zanskar mountain ranges. The place is situated on the border of the two Indian states; Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Check in at camp for Overnight stay.

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In the morning, we will leave Sarchu and begin our drive to Manali. We will stop at Khoksar for passport check and lunch.Continue ascending towards Rohtang Pass and then dip into the Manali region.

Manali is a popular tourist destination in the country. It is nestled in the lap of Himalayas and is located at an altitude of 2050 meter above the sea level. Located near the beautiful river Beas, the hilly town is widely known for white water rafting, kayaking, angling, Paragliding, hot air ballooning and trekking.

Arrive and check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

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In the morning we will visit Pagoda temple, which is the only temple in India dedicated to Goddess Hadimba Devi. The four-storey temple was built around a cave in the 16th century. The beautiful temple is a masterpiece of local craftsmanship.

Next we visit Old Manali to see Manu temple. Located at the edge of a mountain, the temple is dedicated to the sage Manu, who is regarded as the creator of “Hindu Law”. It is the only Manu temple in the world. The temple is made of wood, stone and marble and provides a picturesque view of the surroundings.

In the afternoon visit Vashisht Hot sulfur spring bath that is known for its curative powers.

Later, return to hotel for overnight stay.

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In the morning we will leave for Dharamshala which is a popular hill station located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The place is renowned for its idyllic scenic views. Dharamshala is known worldwide for small village of McLeodGanj, lying in the upper reaches, for the presence of the Dalai Lama. Dharamshala is the centre of the Tibetan exile world in India. The town is beautifully nestled in the snow clad Dhauladhar ranges.

Arrive and check in at hotel for overnight stay

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In the morning. We will begin our exploration of the little town of Mcleodganj with a visit to the Dalai Lama Temple and Tibetan refugee camps. The Dalai Lama temple is also known as Tsug la Khang. The temple houses Namgyal Monastery, Tibet museum and Dalai Lama’s residence. It is a large shrine featuring giant gilded statue of the Buddha, along with two smaller statues of Chenresig and Guru Rinpoche. The prayer chants by the monks will surely enthrall you.

In the afternoon, we will leave for Amritsar which is an important city in the state of Punjab. Amritsar is the cultural and spiritual centre of the Sikh religion and is home to Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple.

Arrive and check in at hotel for overnight stay.

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In the morning we will visit Golden Temple and Akal Takht.

Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara or Golden temple (as it is popularly called) is famous worldwide. The facade of the marvellous temple is covered with pure gold leaf. Inside the temple lies the holy book of the Sikhs – the Guru Granth Sahib. The holy book is kept in the Temple during the day and in the Akal Takht or Eternal Throne in the night. The ‘Guru Ka Langar’ located near the eastern entrance offers free food to all visitors.

Located in the heart of Amritsar, the temple complex is surrounded by a maze of narrow lanes popularly known as katras that house one of the busiest markets. But the Golden Temple has a serene and calming presence that makes people bow their heads in reverence.

Later we will transfer you to Amritsar Railway station to board a train to Delhi.

Once you arrival in Delhi, we will transfer you to your hotel for overnight stay.

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At Delhi, the amazing Himach Pradesh – Ladakh tour with Amritsar comes to an end. State Express, your favourite tour operators in India, bid you goodbye as we transfer you to the airport for your flight to onward destination.