Duration :- 22 days.
Destination Covered :- Chennai. - Mahabalipuram - Pondichery - Thanjavur - Madurai - Munnar - Thekkady - Periyar National Park - Aleppey - Cochin - Ootacamund - Ooty -Bandipur - Mysore - Hassan - Bangalore
Day 1, Arrive in Delhi
Assistance on arrival and transfer to your pre booked hotel. Morning at leisure. Afternoon visit to Old Delhi. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2, Delhi - Chandigarh (5hrs. drive)
After breakfast, 5hr drive to Chandigarh, via Pinjore Mughal Gardens. Afternoon free. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3, Chandigarh-Manali (9 hrs. drive)
After breakfast, a beautiful drive through the plains of Punjab and on to later winding our way through the hills of Kullu and Manali with beautiful villages and gushing rivers along side the road. Arrive in Manali by evening and stay 2 nights in hotel.
Day 4. Manali
A day free for independent activities. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 5, Manali-Darcha (7 hrs. drive)
After having breakfast drive to Darcha over the Rohtang Pass (3990 mts.) The drive takes us through Cedar forests and bubbling rivers with magnificent views. Enroute stops for tea and lunch break. Afternoon, arrive in Darcha - the first camping site. Evening, a big Indian dinner. Overnight in the tents.
Day 6, Darcha - Palemo (5 hrs. trek)
Today is the first trekking day. After breakfast, we walk through villages and fields, reaching Palemo by early afternoon. Set up camp at Palemo, in a quite spot near a river in a beautiful green meadow. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 7, Palemo-Ramjak (6 hrs. trek)
After an early breakfast, trek to Ramjak via Zanskar Sumdo. Walk along the river at Zanskar Sumdo crossing the suspension bridge. A steep track across the river brings us to Ramjak, a small camping place. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 8, Ramjak-Chumi Nakpo (4 hrs.)
Today after breakfast a short trek over boulders and snowbridges to the base of Shingo La -Chumi Nakpo. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 9, Chumi Nakpo-Lakang (over Shingo La -5100 m/7 hrs. trek)
Very early morning departure. After breakfast, start trekking towards Shingo La (5100m). After about 4 hours we reach the top of Shingo La, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Zanskar and Himalayan ranges. From here, descend to Lakang, a lovely camp site on the river bank. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 10, Lakang - Kargiak (6 hrs. trek)
After breakfast, walk to Kargiak. The route is dotted with alpine flowers, like edelweiss, gentians, blue moon etc. You may also see marmots and butterflies. As well as passing through beautiful fields and villages you will also encounter some indicators of the Buddhist people who live in this area, like Mani walls and stones; huge white chortens. Dinner and overnight in the tents.
Day 11, Kargiak-Purne (8 hrs. trek)
After early breakfast, trek to Purne via Testa Village, passing through beautiful corn and potato fields and meeting the local women and children working there. Enroute lunch stop. Late afternoon reach Purne village with old ruins and huge coloured chortens. Camp in the lovely Purne camping ground. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 12, Purne-Phuktal Gompa -Purne (3 hrs.)
Today after a leisurely breakfast we walk along the river upto the majestic Phuktal Gompa which is beautifully hidden inside the rocky Mountain. The pioneer of Tibetan studies, Kosmos de Koros, lived here during 1852 to 1856. Afternoon, return back to the camp at Purne. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 13, Purne-Ichar (5 hrs trek)
After breakfast, trek to Ichar, meeting local traders along the way with their load-packed horses coming from Padum. Afternoon, reach Ichar and camp overnight on the river bank.
Day 14, Ichar-Mune (6 hrs.)
After breakfast, trek to Mune: On the way, you can visit a small local school for Buddhist children. Lunch stop near a small lake. Afternoon, arrive in Mune and camp overnight. Evening, visit the Mune Gompa and see the Lamas performing the evening prayers.
Day 15, Mune-Padum (6 hrs. trek)
Trek to Padum, enroute visit the Bardan Monastery belonging to the 'red- head' sect. Lunch break and walk down to Padum. In the afternoon arrive at Padum - the capital of Zanskar valley. The place is dotted with huge chortens and gompas with the beautiful mountain range as a back drop. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 16, Padum:
Full day sightseeing to the Palace - like Karsha Gompa, the biggest gompa in Zanksar with about 100 resident monks. Also visit the Stongde Gompa situated majestically on top of the mountain. Evening, Kashmiri dinner. Overnight in tents.
Day 17, Padum-Kargil (10 hrs. drive)
Very early morning drive to Kargil, once a famous cross roads for the traders on the silk route. Lunch enroute. At the village of Parachak we will have fabulous views of Nun (7135 mts.) and Kun (7077 mts.) Peaks. Late afternoon arrive in Kargil. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 18, Kargil-Leh (7 hrs. drive)
After breakfast drive to Leh and enroute visit the Mulbek monastery with a huge statue of Maiterya Buddha (future Buddha). After crossing the Namikila and Fotula Passes, visit the 1000 yrs. old Gompa of Lamayuru, camouflaged by the lunar landscape. Afternoon arrive Leh. Overnight in hotel.
Day 19, Leh-Sightseeing
Morning free. Afternoon sightseeing to visit the Leh Palace, Shankar Monastery and Shanti Stupa. Overnight in hotel.
Day 20, Leh-Delhi (1 hr. fly)
Morning transfer to airport for your flight to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and drive to Agra. Overnight in hotel.
Day 21, Agra- Delhi (4hrs)
Today visit to Taj Mahal and Red Fort. Drive back to Delhi. Overnight in hotel. Late night transfer to the International airport.
Day 22, Departure
Early morning flight back