LADAKH VILLAGE EXPERIENCE

Day 1 Arrive Delhi

Today arrive Delhi and transfer to the excellent Trident in Gurgaon, a location close to the airport. 

Overnight: The Trident Gurgaon

Day 2 Delhi - Nimoo

Early this morning you will be collected from your hotel in Delhi and driven to the airport in time to check-in for your flight to Leh (0540/0645hrs). On arrival at Leh Airport (3332m/10928ft), you will be met and driven your first village house in Nimoo, around 1 hour from the airport. Nimoo (3190m/10463ft) is a large village situated 36km west of Leh along the Indus valley at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers. The village is characterised by impressive mountain scenery, and is considered exceptionally fertile in Ladakhi terms - lush green fields and apricot, apple, and walnut orchards abound. The house has a large ground floor with a first floor built in a 'C' shape around a courtyard. We have paved the courtyard and the roof terrace above with local grey slate - a perfect place to soak up the ever present sun whilst reading a book or enjoying a meal or drink on 'the rooftop of the world.' As you will be acclimatizing, you spend the day taking it very easy relaxing at the house.

Overnight: Nimoo Village House - Double/twin Room (Fully Inclusive)

Day 3 Nimoo

A fairly leisurely pace today as you will still be acclimatising. This morning before breakfast you will be taken on a two hour walk of the village of Nimoo by the owner of our village house who is also the village Goba (head of the village), Chinglo, (villager in charge of water distribution) and Ladakhi medicine man. You will get a fascinating insight into rural Ladakhi life and possibly the opportunity to try your hand at archery! Afternoon at leisure. Perhaps wander off with a set of water colours, relax with a book, or take a cooking lesson with house chef.

Overnight: Nimoo Village House - Double/twin Room (Fully Inclusive)

Day 4 Nimoo - Likhir

This morning head out on a gentle hike into the surrounding area with your guide.Later continue by road to the ancient Alchi Monastery. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the nearby fields before continuing to explore the Monastery - one of the most famous in Asia, especially known for its Tibetan frescos dating back ten centuries. Continue by road to Likhir, stopping en route to explore Basgo Fort, an extraordinary edifice constructed of rammed-mud in the mid sixteenth century.

Overnight: Likhir Village House - Double/twin Room (Fully Inclusive)

Day 5 Likhir

The day will begin with a walk around the picturesque village of Likhir. Situated at a height of 11,483 feet, Likhir has one of the most interesting Yellow Hat Sect monasteries in Ladakh. The monastery also has a school where approximately 40 monks study per year. A visit to the monastery will leave you struck by the beauty of the illustrative paintings on the walls, the spectacular 25 foot statue of the Buddha and the witty construction of the school. From here you will commence a four-hour walk to the remote village of Yangthang which is the base for many famous treks in Ladakh. The walk will take you through Saspotse Village and many small passes like the Phobe La, 3600m and Chagatse La, 3650m. Lunch will be served en route. Yangthang is a dramatically placed village with all the houses built on the farther end of the plateau which takes a stiff drop into the stream flowing by. The area is very rich in minerals which will be displayed by the vast majority of colours that the mountains will display during your two hour drive back.

Overnight: Likhir Village House - Double/twin Room (Fully Inclusive)

Day 6 Likhir - Stakna

After a leisurely breakfast you will depart from Likhir and drive through the Zanskar Canyon and up to the small village of Chilling. Chilling is a settlement that is traditionally home to metal smiths and is the only village in Ladakh that has provided copper, bronze, tin, silver and iron work to Leh through the centuries. You will meet the local metalsmith at work before enjoying a picnic lunch. Afterwards you will have the option of white water rafting back through the Zanskar canyon (mid-June to mid- September, Grade Four Plus) or drive by car. After reaching the river bank you will have hot tea or cold lemonade and a chance to freshen up, before driving 1 hour to Shey Village. The historic village of Stakna is situated on the banks of Indus River and is approximately 15 kilometres away from the main town of Leh. Shey was once the capital of Upper Ladakh under the Namgyal rulers. With a magnificent palace, a spectacular Gompa (with the second largest Buddha statue in Ladakh) and a relatively large inhabitation, Stakna will be your home for next three nights.  It is perfectly located for walking to nearby places and avoiding car use. The house is by Ladakhi standards substantial and provides three en suite bedrooms, a large sitting room and traditional kitchen for our guests. Some of the rooms are painted in a traditional style with motifs and styles that are decades old.

Overnight: River House - Double/twin Room (Fully Inclusive)

Day 7 Stakna

For those who are prepared to get up at around 05h00, we would recommend starting early and driving, walking or cycling to Thiksey monastery to experience the early morning Buddhist prayers. Built around 600 years ago, Thiksey monastery is one of the finest examples of Ladakhi religious architecture. The monastery consists of twelve levels ascending the hillside crowned by the current lama's private residence. Below the monastery proper are chapels and houses stretching down the hillside where one hundred monks of the Yellow Hat Buddhist sect reside. As part of the visit, we have arranged a private audience with the Rinpoche (head priest) of Thiksey. After the monastery visit, drive to Sakti, a local village, for a picnic breakfast around twenty five minutes away. After breakfast relaxing under the poplar trees, you will return on foot or by road to your house. This afternoon take a hike out into the village of Stakna with your guide (or this can be by mountain bike).

Overnight: River House - Double/twin Room (Fully Inclusive)

Day 8 Stakna

Today take a full day's walk to the base camp of Stok Kangri. Depending on how fit you feel, you can start at Stok village house and walk for 1.5 hours to the start point or you can drive to it. From here you will follow a small river up a narrow valley for around an hour and a half to two hours until you reach Changma where there is a tea house. The higher you climb, the more impressive the scenery becomes with some beautiful and unusual rock formations and stunning views of the Stok range. You may wish to finish your hike at Changma after having a picnic lunch (that our porters will have carried with you), returning the way you came. For those who are feeling fitter, it is well worth walking another 1 hour - 1.5 hours to Moncarmo (4250m/13,727ft) where again there is nothing but a teahouse and even more stunning views.

Overnight: River House - Double/twin Room (Fully Inclusive)

Day 9 Stakna - Leh - Delhi

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi, departing at 0730hrs and arriving into Delhi at 0845hrs. On arrival you will be met and transferred to The Lodhi Hotel, which will be your home for the next 2 nights.

Overnight: The Lodhi

Day 10 Delhi

Enjoy a final day in India exploring Delhi with a private guide.

Day 11 Depart

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.