Ladakh – A Land of Fascination and Wonder

You will be welcome at the airport by your driver, and start to drive to Nimmu, located 45mn along the Hindus Valley. As Nimmu is lower in elevation than Leh or Stok, this is where we start to adjust to the elevation. The first day is an acclimatizing day, relax & enjoy Nimmu House garden, drink lot of water, tea, juices. After the lunch at Nimmu House, take a breath with 15mn Pranayam session, guided by our yoga master. Have a visit of the house to understand the Ladakhi lifestyle and enjoy the beautiful paintings and carving. Share a drink at our bone fire place before the dinner.

After the breakfast you will go to Seaspol, at 30 mn drive of Nimmu to discover the meditation caves and their amazing paintings. From there you will continue to Alchi (15mn drive) who is one of the oldest monasteries of Ladakh, from the 11th century. Enjoy this particular structure and location in the middle of apricots tree orchard. Have lunch at Alchi, and continue your day to Mangyu monastery important by this history. Back to Nimmu House, to relax, enjoy the bone fire and the dinner.

After breakfast, you will start at 08.00 to the Nubra valley and cross over one of the world's highest motorable roads, Khardung La (5,600m) tracing the erstwhile Silk Roads. It is at the same altitude as the base camp of Mt. Everest. Enjoy the aerial view of the snow-clad mountains. Nubra Valley, once on the trading route that connected eastern Tibet with Turkistan via the famous Karakoram Pass, is the most recently opened area of Ladakh. Nubra invites you to a trip back in time into a nearly forgotten 'Shangri La'. With breath-taking views and delightfully hospitable inhabitants, it is quite an experience. We will reach the property by noon and have lunch. Post-lunch, enjoy the afternoon getting to know the property and nearby attractions.

Today, explore the valley from Hunder, to Turtuk and Sumur.
After breakfast we head to Turtuk, Turtuk is the northernmost village in India situated in the Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir located in the Nubra tehsil. It is the only Balti region under the Indian administration and was under Pakistan's control until 1971 after which India gained control over this strategic area. Geographically Turtuk lies in the Baltistan Region and is one among four such villages in India, the other three being Tyakshi, Chalunkha and Thang. The residents of Turtuk and its adjoining villages speak Balti language along with Ladakhi and Urdu. Turtuk is the last outpost of India at Thang after which Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan begins.
Turtuk is very famous for the availability of different varieties of fruits especially apricots. Explore the village by foot and visit the Balti Museum, Crafts man’s workshops, and the Nurbakashia Mosque. Lunch at local restaurant.
Continue driving to Sumur, passing by the Hundar sand dunes with the native Bactrian camels, where the views are almost reminiscent of the Sahara - if your imagination allows you to momentarily conceal the snowy peaks. Check-in and rest at the hotel.

After breakfast, we set out on foot, meandering through the narrow lanes of Kyagaar village. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of juniper and distant prayers whispered by fluttering prayer flags. Our destination is an old heritage house, its weathered walls echoing tales of generations past. Here, amidst the warmth of the community, we immerse ourselves in the simplicity of village life, exchanging smiles and stories with the locals. Our next stop is the Samstangling Gonpa, a sanctuary of serenity nestled amid nature's embrace. After a soul-nourishing experience, we retreat to a picturesque spot where a sumptuous lunch awaits. If the weather permits, we indulge in a picnic, surrounded by breath-taking vistas that seem to stretch to eternity. Post Lunch we embark on the next leg of our journey towards Panamik village. Here, the earth's warmth bubbles to the surface in natural hot springs. Back to the hotel and rest.

After an early breakfast, leave for Pangong Lake via Shayok. Though we do not cross any high passes today, the drive is quite interesting, as we would be driving on a less travelled road via Shyok. The majority of our journey is along the stunning Shyok River, passing through villages such as Agham, Shyok, Durbuk, and Tangste. Since the road remains slushy, with some exciting water crossings and rocky terrain, being cautious is very important. After crossing Durbuk, the last stretch of the drive is along the lake. Arrive at Pangong Lake. It is the highest saltwater lake in the world, shared by two countries, India and China. Enjoy the beauty of the lake on the banks of Pangong Lake while appreciating the changing colours and fascinating high altitude of the lake. Dinner at the lodge.

After breakfast, we explore Pangong Lake and the surrounding areas. It is a long narrow basin of inland drainage. About 1/3 of the lake is Indian Territory and the remaining is Chinese. The Chinese border is just beyond the mountains across the lake. Drive back to Leh, crossing Changla Pass(5,300m), it is the the third highest motorable road in the world. If lucky we may get to see Marmots, Pikas, Hares and Eagles. On the way we may stop to visit Chemdray monastery. Have a free visit at the monastery before continue to Stok for your check in and tea at the Palace. Stok Palace is a 200 year old summer palace of the royal family of Ladakh. In winter, only the annex, The Chulli Bagh villas, situated in a green oasis of Apricot and Willow trees, just below Stok Palace, are operational. Rest for a while and dinner will be served in the royal kitchen (or the lounge for Chulli Bagh).

This morning we rise early with the sun and we drive right away to attend prayers at Thiksey monastery. We continue with a traditional Ladakhi breakfast, served at a farm, then we go to visit Hemis Monastery and Gotsang meditation retreat with a learned monk, who will takes us through the history and legacy of Tibetan Buddhism and the origins of this particular monastery. We share a simple lunch with the monks of the monastery. In the afternoon, we cycle along the Indus River and will reach a secret scenic spot right on time for sunset. Back to the palace, the dinner will be served around a bonfire under a star studded sky.

We can add one more night in Leh, if you want to spend the last day in the city and do some shopping for souvenir.

After breakfast, (depending on your flight time), departure from the hotel to the airport.

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Before of after Ladak, we suggest extension to explore nearby Kashmir and Dal Lake. Ask Secret Retreats concierge for advice.