Ladakh Overland via Manali

Tour - 19 days/ 4 days trekking

LADAKH OVERLAND via MANALI

Tour - 19 days/ 4 days trekking

About LADAKH & HIMACHAL PRADESH

Ladakh is a part of the Indian Himalayas It is located between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Himalayas to the south. Although part of India now, and earlier of the princely state of Kashmir, Ladakh has been an independent kingdom for almost 900 years.

Ladakh is well-known for its starkly beautiful mountain scenery. As a result of its location in the rain shadow of the main Himalayan Range its climate is extremely dry, and due to the high altitude – most valleys are situated at 3300m or higher – winters can be extremely cold. Summers, however, are generally pleasant if not warm and sunny. Ladakh is inhabited by a mix of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan people. Especially the latter, with their colourful buddhist culture, have given the region the nickname of ‘Little Tibet.’

Ladakh in the narrower sense is the Indus Valley with adjacent areas. It is bordered by two mountain ranges: in the northeast by the Ladakh Range, in the southwest by the Zanskar Range. The area around the capital Leh, and further upstream towards Tibet, is referred to as Upper Ladakh. Lower Ladakh is the area further downstream to Kargil, where the Indus enters Pakistan.

The remoter areas of Zanskar, Nubra and Rupshu are now seen as regions of Ladakh. In the past, these areas were sometimes part of Ladakh, sometimes not. They can be visited from Leh by car or on foot. The latter would be your means of transport, if you are up to it. Because, while jeep trips in Ladakh are very rewarding indeed, trekking will give you an even in-depth experience of the land and the people, with the added bonus of a total renovation of body and soul.

Ladakh can be reached by air or overland. This tour takes you by train and car to Ladakh through the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. Being situated on the southern flanks and partly straddling the Great Himalayan Range, Himachal Pradesh is heaven for mountain lovers. There are many tours and treks that we can organise her as well. So, if you’re not on a time budget, there is no need to rush to Ladakh.

Region

Ladakh
(India)

Best Time

July - Sept.

No. of Days

19 days,
4-day trek

Trip Character

Jeep tour with short trek

Sleeping Altitude

1800 - 4500 m.

Trek Character

Homestay
Level: 1

Price

INR XXX/ $ XXX

ABOUT THIS TOUR

On this very varied journey you travel to Ladakh overland via Manali, located at 1800m altitude in the green-forested Kullu Valley. Here you are surrounded by the southern foothills of the Himalayas, covered with dense forests and glaciers.

After a day in this small but lively town, the ‘serious’ part of the journey to Ladakh begins. First, you cross the Pir Panjal mountain range, a promontory of the Himalayas. Descending from the 3978 m high Rothang Pass you reach Lahaul, an area where Hinduism and Buddhism meet and partly go together. Here you will stay another two nights to get used to the altitude.

On the next two days, you cross the high plateau of Changtang to the Indus Valley in Ladakh. On these days, in addition to the religious transition, you will also experience a gradual, but very dramatic, transition from green and wooded to barren and desolate. This is what gives this trip a great added value compared to a plane ticket from Delhi to Leh, the capital of Ladakh.

Before we take you to Leh, you will explore the outskirts near the border with Tibet and Pakistan. You will spend three days in a pleasant lodge in the middle of a traditional village and from there you will visit the cobalt blue, high altitude lake Pangong Tso. Via the much sung Nubra Valley, an isolated valley wedged between India, Pakistan and Tibet, you reach Leh, the capital of Ladakh. In Leh you have two days to explore this pleasant town and make excursions on your own to the many beautiful monasteries in the Indus Valley.

After that, you will make a three-day trek through the Sham area, not far from Leh. Here you walk from village to village over easy mountain passes and through bright green oases that beautifully contract with the colorful but barren mountains around it. You sleep in homestays where you get a glimpse into the daily life of the Ladakhi’s. At the end of the trek you will be brought to Lamayuru, where one of the most picturesque monasteries of Ladakh is located.

You return to Leh via the also very beautiful Alchi Gompa (monastery) and fly back to Delhi the next day.

YOUR custom-made TRIP

The tour described here, as well as the other ones on our website, are mainly meant as suggestions. We would be happy to offer you a travel proposal that fully meets your personal demands and expectations. That means that you choose where you want to go, what level of accommodation and type of transport you want and what activities you prefer.

Please let yourself be inspired by this and other trips on our website and then drop us a line (or call us) to explain your travel wishes. We will be happy to help you put together the perfect trip. You can reach us over e-mail, Messenger, Whatsapp or mobile phone.

EXTENSIONS & VARIATIONS

Apart from the tour as described here, you could consider the following add-ons and changes:

Break up the first day with a visit to Shimla. Going to Shimla instead of Manali on day 1 reduces your travel time considerably. Besides, Shimla is a very pleasant hill station with a lot of old world charm as it was the summer capital of British India. We recommend two nights here.
Explore the Shyok River further downstream in the direction of Pakistan. The road passes through magnificent gorges and while the vegetation gets more opulent as you are reaching lower altitudes the culture gradually changes from predominantly Buddhist to Muslim. You can travel up to the village of Turtuk where you can stay the night at a simple but decent tented camp.
Spend one more day in Nubra on which you make a 5-hour walk to two small, hidden monasteries that rarely if ever see a foreigner coming.
Do a more challenging trek instead of the Sham trek. For instance, the Chilling – Lamayuru trek. On this 4- or 5-day trek you sleep in trekkers tents while a walk-along cook prepares your meals. You walk longer distances, climb higher passes but the rewards are even better views, more authentic villages. See here.
Spend a day rafting on the Indus. There are different grades available, so there is the easy but fun to do level as well. Professional oarsmen will be with you in any case. You will be picked up from your hotel and dropped off there again at the end of the day, a pic-nic lunch is included.

ITINERARY

Day 1: New Delhi - Chandigarh - Manali (4 h train, 8 h car)
Your journey starts with a 4-hour train ride from Delhi to Chandigarh. Here, our driver is waiting to take you on an long car drive through the forested mountains and orchards of Kullu Valley upto Manali, situated at 1800m.
Day 2: In Manali
Today you can explore Manali and its surroundings on foot and by car, visit Hindu and Tibetan temples and walk in the forests. Altitude 1800m.
Day 3: Manali - Rothang Pas - Keylong (4 h)
Today’s destination is Keylong in Lahaul, which you reach by crossing the Pir Panjal Range via the 3978 m high Rothang Pass. In Keylong, at 3000m, you have two overnights to get used to the altitude. Today, you may get some mild symptoms of car sickness or altitude sickness (headaches, bad sleep). But remember it is all worth it, as you're traveling one of the most spectacular mountain roads in the world! Altitude 1800 → 3978 → 3000m.
Day 4: In Keylong
Today you can visit Shahur Gompa, a nearby Buddhist monastery with beautiful views. Or the driver takes you to the 12th century Buddhist temple of Triloknath in the Chenab valley, and onwards to the intriguing wooden Hindu temple of Udaipur. Altitude 3000m.
Day 5: Keylong - Shingo La - Purne (7 - 9 hours)
Today you really will get up-close with the Himalayas, as you’ll be crossing the actual Himalayan Range. This will happen at the 5090m high Shingo La pass. Descending from the pass, as you enter one of the high valleys off Zanskar, you’ll enter the “Tibetan realm.” Tiny villages of white-washed houses of sun-dried mud bricks sit amidst dark green oases of barley fields surrounded by starkly coloured mountains. Prayer flags wave from all the roofs and stupa’s (shortens) line the road. Overnight is at the hamlet of Purne, situated at the confluence of two large rivers. Altitude 3000 → 5090 → 3800m.
Day 6: Tsokar/ Pongunagu - Shyok (7 hours)
Again a spectacular drive, crossing two high passes to the remote village of Shyok, situated on the river with the same name. Overnight at comfortable Shyok River Lodge. Altitude 4550 → 5300 → 3750 → 5360→ 3700m.
Day 7: In Shyok
Today you'll be taken on village and nature walks near Shyok. You'll learn a lot about the Ladakh way of life and the Ladakhi flora and fauna. Altitude 3700m.
Day 8: In Shyok, visit Pangong Tso
Famous Pangong Tso, located at 4400 m on the border with Tibet (China), is probably the largest high salt lake on earth. It is not only a spectacular lake, set amidst light-coloured mountains, but the route is beautiful too. Altitude 3700 → 4250 → 3700m.
Day 9: Shyok - Nubra (4 h)
A thrilling jeep ride awaits you today, along the untamed Shyok river to Nubra. The road follows the beautiful valley, passing small hamlets of Ladakhi farms, crossing sand dunes and small side-rivers. Altitude 3700 → 3120m.
Day 10: In Nubra
Today will be spent in Nubra. You can visit some beautiful Buddhist monasteries, ride Bactrian camels through the sand dunes of Hundar or hike to small, hidden monasteries. Altitude 3100 - 3200m.
Day 11: Nubra - Leh (4 -5 h)
The road to Leh, capital of Ladakh, crosses the Khardung La (5450 m). This is supposed to be the highest motorable road in the world. The drive is spectacular and so are the views over the oasis of Leh during the descent. Altitude 3120 → 5450 → 3500m.
Day 12 & 13: In Leh
Leh is a pleasant little city with many restaurants and shops, and opportunitirs for short walks. Highly recommended are excursions by taxi to some of the many nearby Buddhist monasteries. Altitude 3500m.
Day 14: Leh - Likir; Trekking to Yangthang (2 h drive, 4 h walking)
After a transfer to Likir, and a look at the picturesque Likir Gompa, perched on a hillock, you'll start you 4-day trek. Today you cross a low pass to picturesque Yangthang. Altitude 3500 → 3600 → 3720 → 3630m.
Day 15: Trekking Yangthang - Ridzong - Yangthang (4 h walking)
You walk up and down through a beautiful gorge to the hidden monastery of Ridzong. Part of the 'reformed' Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) Sect the monks here adhere to a very austere lifestyle. Altitude 3630 → 3400 → 3630m.
Day 16: Trekking Yangthang - Hemis Shukpachan (3 - 4 h)
Today is a short walk. You'll pass the 3750m high Sermanchan La (3750m) to the beautiful village of Hemis Shukpachan. Altitude 3630 → 3875 → 3575m.
Day 17: Trekking Hemis Shukpachan - Temisgang (4 - 5 h) & car to Lamayuru (2 h)
Crossing another pass, the colorful Meptek La (3750m) takes you to Ang, again a charming village with many apricot orchards. Continuing over a jeep track you'll reach Temisgang. The car will be waiting here to take you to Lamayuru Gompa, where you'll stay near the monastery. Altitude 3575 → 3825 → 3260 → 3500m.
Day 18: Lamayuru - Alchi - Leh (4 -5 h)
Today you return to Leh. You'll follow the old caravan route from Kashmir to Ladakh, which descends from a small pass above Lamayuru Gompa in a series of spectacular hairpin bends. Further down the Indus you'll visit Alchi Gompa, Ladakh's oldest temple, before continuing to Leh. Altitude 3500 → 3000 → 3500m.
Day 19: In Leh
Day to spend as you like. In case you want to do any excursions the management of the hotel will be most happy to assist. See day 3 & 4 for suggestions. Altitude 3500m.
Day 20: Flight Leh - Delhi
Early morning transfer to the airport. On a clear day the flight offers breathtaking views of the colorful mountains of Zanskar and the glacier-capped peaks of the Great Himalayan Range.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

MANALI

Starting in the early 1800’s the British colonizers established hill stations in the relatively cool foothills of the Himalayas. Manali is one such hill station and a lively tourist town now. It lies on the flanks of the Pir Panjal, a promontory of the Great Himalayan Range, surrounded by dense forests of pines, firs and majestic deodar ceders. In earlier days, the region was the ‘epicentre’ of Indian opium production. The opium was transported by mule caravans across the Himalayas to Ladakh and onwards to China, along the same route that you will follow. Manali has interesting Tibetan and Hindu temples, and pleasant forest walks. Nearby Old Manali and Vashist offer a more rustic feel, as well as the intriguing mixed scent of pine wood and hash.

ROTHANG PASS & KEYLONG

The 3978 m high Rothang Pass is the first major mountain pass that you cross on the way from Manali to Leh. Till late in the summer there is snow on the pass and many Indian tourists come here to see it, ride sleds or even to take ski lessons. After descending from the pass, you will undoubtedly notice some differences in the landscape. The area you enter is called Lahaul. It receives much less rain than the Kullu Valley, but still significantly more than Ladakh, which is in fact a mountain desert. Lahaul is also an intermediary between the domains of Hinduism and Buddhism. On the way to Keylong, your destination for the day, you can see Hindu and Buddhist temples in the same village.

HIMALAYA CROSSING

Between Keylong and the salty lake Tsokar you will cross some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. Leaving Keylong, the road begins to climb, and soon you are in high-alpine area. The climb ends at the Baralacha La pass (4890 m), where you are actually crossing the Himalayan Range and entering Ladakh. In front of you lies an immense no man’s land called the Lingti Plains, which take 2 hours to cross. Because the area is to high for agriculture, there is hardly any inhabitation. You may see nomads wandering around with their goats and yaks. The goats produce the very valuable, extremely warm pashmina wool, out of which the famous cashmere woollens are woven.

SHYOK RIVER LODGE

Shyok River Lodge is a community-based accommodation. The lodge is part of a traditional Ladakhi house and while on the outside is hard to distinguish from the neighbours’ house, inside the rooms are clean, with luxury mattresses and a private bathroom. Shyok river lodge is in a remote village halfway between Nubra and Pangong Lake. It is not a place to pass through but a place to be, to absorb the Ladakhi culture and lifestyle and, if you want, be part of it. You’ll be taken on village and nature walks where you’ll learn about the incredible adaptation of the Ladakhis to their beautiful but forbidding environment, as well how to recognise tracks of snow leopards and wolves. More info.

PANGONG LAKE

Pangong Tso (Tso means Lake in Tibetan) is a huge brackish ‘salt lake’ located right on the border if Ladakh (India) and Tibet (China). Situated at an altitude of 4450m, it is the largest high-altitude salt lake on earth. The lake is spectacular, especially in the afternoon when its colors range from cobalt blue to turquoise, and the yellow-orange mountains behind it form a striking contrast. Besides, the drive in itself is more than enough reason for the trip. It takes only 2 hours from Shyok River Lodge and there is plenty of time to stop along the way for photos, for instance of marmots and, if you’re lucky, the beautiful wild Tibetan horses (kyang). A warm lunch will be served in the form of an outdoor picnic at the lake.

NUBRA VALLEY

Nubra Valley is an idyllic enclave between the mountains of Ladakh and the famous Karakoram. The main highlight here are the many small villages, hidden between poplars and apricot groves and adorned with an abundance of stupas, mani walls and prayer wheels. Definitely worth visiting as well are the beautiful gompas (monasteries), such as 15th century Deskit Gompa, with commanding views over the valley. While in Nubra you may bump into some of the large bactrians, two-humped camels that are descended from the animals that used to work the caravan trails between Leh and Yarkhand (Turkmenistan, now China). Riding the bactrians over the extensive sand dunes near Hundar is like being a Sahara traveler.

LEH

Leh is a bustling little town. It’s small size and laid-back atmosphere belie a very prominent and historically important position. While in Leh, there are numerous things to do. Apart from short walks in and around town, you can browse the little streets and allow yourself to be lured into some of the many little shops, most of them run by Kashmiris and Tibetans, that sell beautiful Kashmiri carpets, Tibetan artefacts, and jewellery. Leh abounds in restaurants that cater to all tastes, quite a number of them located on a rooftop or in a pleasant garden. Also, it is highly recommended to take a taxi and visit some of the delightful gompas – Buddhist monasteries – in the Indus Valley to the southeast of Leh. Apart from the traditional trio of Shey, Thikse & Hemis, you may also consider visiting Matho and Stakna, maybe in combination with Stok Palace.

CARAVAN ROADS OF LADAKH

Leh used to lie at the intersection of seven caravan routes. Yaks, donkeys and camels were used as pack animals. One route connected Leh with the Silk Road in China. Others routes went to Lhasa in Tibet, Srinagar in Kashmir and to Baltistan, Nubra and Manali (the opium route). When the borders with China and Pakistan were closed in 1962, the caravans stopped. But by now Leh had acquired a place on the world maps, and the Ladakhis were used to ‘strangers’ in the bazaar. When the first tourists came to Leh, in 1974, it was not a big step for the Ladakhis to accommodate and guide them.

SHAM TREK

Ladakh has built itself quite a reputation as a trekking paradise. Although we can offer you many treks of different length, the truth is that many of these do require a certain level of fitness, as well as a thorough adaptation to the altitude. There is one trek, however, that almost anyone can do. This trek, between Likir and Temisgang, takes you through some very beautiful typical Ladakhi scenery of small villages surrounded by emerald green barley fields set against a backdrop of colorful mountains. Your luggage will be transported by horses and you sleep in homestays where you will get an insight into the daily life of the Ladakhis.

LOWER INDUS VALLEY (WEST)

The Indus Valley to the northwest of Leh is definitely an area worth exploring while you are in Leh. Some of the most picturesque and atmospheric Buddhist monasteries are found here, notably Phyang, Likir, Ridzong, Alchi and Lamayuru, as well as the burrough temple of Basgo. The road passes through some pretty spectacular mountain scenery that makes the drive in itself more than worthwhile. You’ll drive over desert plateaus, alongside the Indus River in the gorge that is has carved out for itself and on seemingly never ending switchbacks clinging to steep mountain slopes.

LAMAYURU & ALCHI GOMPA

The two most remarkable monasteries of lower Ladakh are Lamayuru Gompa and Alchi Gompa. Lamayuru Gompa is spectacularly situated, overlooking a “moonland” of yellow silt deposited in a prehistoric lake. Lamayuru belongs to the Digungpa sect, one of the many older Buddhist sects collectively named ‘red hat order.’ The current buildings date from the 16th century, but the foundations are much older. Alchi is hands down the most respectable gompa of Ladakh. Inside you’ll notice the artwork is very different from what you see in other monasteries and temples. The reason is that this was created by Kashmiri artists at a time when the typical ‘Tibetan’ art style that you see elsewhere was not developed.

Flight to Delhi

Although the flight takes only one hour, on a clear day this no doubt is one of the most spectacular flights in Asia. The take-off from Leh itself is a phenomenon. Due to the rarefied air, the aircraft has to take off at greater speed then at sea level in order to get enough upward thrust. But at the end of the runway there is a hill with Spituk Monastery on top and the 6000m high Zanskar Mountains not far behind it. So a sharp turn is required immediately after take-off. After that you’ll fly over the colorful, barren mountains and valleys of Zanskar, then the heavily glaciated Himalayan Range, the wooded slopes of Himachal Pradesh and, before you know, the hazy fields and villages of the Noth-Indian plains.