Trans Himalayan
Jeep safaris gives you the opportunity to safari across the
remote Kinnaur, Spiti & lahaul valleys & ending in Ladakh, one
of the highest regions of the world & referred as "The Little
Tibet" . This cold desert with stark mountains comes alive with
Buddhist chants, lively mask dances and village fairs.
Trans-Himalayan
Jeep Safari Best Time: July-September Duration: 22 Days Trans
Himalayan Jeep safaris gives you the opportunity to safari
across the remote Kinnaur, Spiti & lahaul valleys & ending in
Ladakh, one of the highest regions of the world..& referred as
"The Little Tibet" . This cold desert with stark mountains comes
alive with Buddhist chants, lively mask dances and village
fairs.
Itinerary
Places to See:- Delhi - Chandigarh - Shimla - Sarahan -
Sangla valley - Nako - Schilling - Lhalung - Rangrik - Keylong -
Jispa - Brandi Nallah - Leh - Delhi Highlights:
Your journey will take you to take you to the breathtakingly
beautiful Baspa valley, the banks of the mighty Sutlej river,
the meadows of Zingzingbar, and some of the oldest and most
historic Buddhist monasteries (called gompas). Catch the
historic Tabo Monastery known for its frescoes; the 6th century
Alchi gompa with its intricate wood carvings; the Stok Palace
and Monastery, overlooking the historic Indus river; the
wealthiest of all Buddhist monasteries, the Hemis gompa; and the
15m high Buddha statue in Thikse.
HIGHLIGHTS OF
TOUR
This safari takes
you to Shimla, which was the winter capital of the British
Empire during the British Rule. From Shimla the safari follows
the beautiful mountain road to Kinnaur.
From Kinnaur you
enter the very remote, dry and mostly barren valley of Spiti
which has the Tabo, Ki and Dankar monasteries. You cross the
Kunzum La (15,155 feet) into Lahaul and then take the Manali -
Leh road that passes over Baralacha La (16,260 feet) and
Tanglang La (17,850 feet) - the third highest pass in the world
- into Leh, where you visit Shey, Thiksey and Hemis Gompas and
the Tibetan bazaar.
PERMITS:
Will be arranged
by us. A minimum of four tourists has to travel together for a
permit to pass through Spiti.
DAY 01: DELHI
√ SHIMLA
Breakfast in
hotel. Departure from Delhi by surface to Shimla, 2030m (380 kms/10-11
hrs). Check into hotel, Shimla upon arrival. Lunch en-route.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
DAY 02:
SHIMLA-RAMPUR-SARAHAN
Breakfast in
hotel. Depart by surface to Sarahan, (2300 m) 185 kms from
Shimla (8/9 Hrs drive) via Rampur, old capital of Rampur-Busher
state having palace and temples. Visit Bhumkali temple (a rare
combination of Buddhist and Hindu architecture, the main idol is
about 200 years old.)
and old palace
enroute to Sarahan. Sarahan is a beautifully located township
amid mountains with Shrikhand Mahadev peak (5155m) looming as a
backdrop. Packed lunch enroute and Dinner and overnight in
tents.
DAY 03:
SARAHAN-REKONG PEO-KALPA
After breakfast
drive to Kalpa (3000 m) 150 kms (6/7 Hrs drive) via Rekong Peo.
Kalpa, the old headquarter of Kinnaur district and one-time
favorite haunt of Lord Dalhousie. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner
and overnight in tents.
DAY 04:
KALPA-RIBBA-MORON-TILA-TABO
After breakfast
drive to Tabo (3200 m) approx. 175 kms (6/7 hrs drive) via Ribba,
Moron and Tila monasteries. Tabo monastery is an ordinary mud
structure but inside it has frescoes, which earned Tabo the
epithet of ⌠Ajanta of Himalayas■. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner
and overnight in tents at Tabo.
DAY 05: PIN-KUNGRI-DANKAR-KAZA
After breakfast
drive to Kaza (3450 m) approx.38 kms via Pin, Kungri and Dankar
monastries. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
DAY 07:
KAZA-KI-KIBBER-KAZA
After breakfast
drive to Ki monastery (4116 m/11 kms). The monastery with rare
paintings and scriptures is the oldest and biggest in Spiti. Go
further to Kibber (4140m) one of the highest villages in the
world. Packed lunch enroute. Return to Kaza for dinner and
overnight.
DAY 08:
KAZA-KUNZUM-CHANDARTAL
After breakfast
drive to Kunzum pass (4551 m) and then trek to Chandartal. (4270
m). This blue water lake is situated about nine kms from Kunzum
pass. The lake is placed between a low ridge and the main Kunzum
range with an outlet into the Chandra River. The lake lies in a
broad grassy plain; cranes and ducks abound in the lake. Packed
lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
DAY 09:
CHANDRATAL-BATAL-KEYLONG
After breakfast
trek to Batal (3960 m). On reaching Batal drive to Keylong (3350
m) approx. 95 kms. Keylong is the district headquarters of
Lahaul and Spiti. Keylong is an ⌠oasis of greenfields■ against a
backdrop of brown hills and snow-clad peaks. Packed lunch
enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 10:
KEYLONG-SARCHU
Drive over the
Baralacha Pass to cross from Himachal into Ladakh. Dinner and
overnight at a camp.
Day 11: SARCHU
- LEH
After breakfast
drive to Leh (300kms/08-09hrs). Packed lunch en-route. Check
into hotel Caravan Centre upon arrival. Dinner and overnight in
hotel.
Day 12: LEH -
PHYANG √ LEH
After breakfast
drive to Phyang and spend the day at the festival which carries
on till five in the evening. Lunch at Phyang. Return to Leh for
dinner and overnight at Caravan Centre.
Day 13: LEH √
THIKSEY √ SHEY √ HEMIS - LEH
Breakfast in
hotel. Full day visit to the famous Thiksey, Shey and Hemis
monasteries. Packed lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight in
hotel.
Thiksey:
19 Kms from Leh, Thiksey is one of the largest and most
impressive Gompas of Ladakh. The Thiksey monastery provides a
panoramic view of the green Indus Valley from its vantage point
atop a hill. It has chambers full of statues, Stupas and
colorful Tankhas.
Shey: This
sumer palace of the erstwhile King of Leh set upon a hill. The
monastery itself has a 7.5-meter high, copper statue of a
sitting Buddha, wrought in gold. This is the largest of its kind
in the world.
Hemis:
Situated just off the Manali-Leh Highway, Leach,s biggest and
wealthiest monastery is situated on the Leh - Manali road. It,s
popularity stems from the annual festival held here in summer.
The festival coincides with Guru Padam Sambhava,s (Buddha)
birthday. It contains quite a few statues in gold and Stupas
decorated with precious stones. It has a superb collection of
Tankhas, including one, which is
Supposed to be
the largest in existence and is exhibited only once every 12
years.
Day 14: LEH √
SHANKAR √ SHANTI √ STOK √ LEH
Breakfast in
hotel. Full day visit to Shankar, Shanti and Stok. Packed lunch
en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Shankar:
The small monastery at Sankar (3 kms from Leh), harbours
accomplished modern tantric murals and a thousand-headed
Avalokitesvara deity. It has innumerable collections of small
statues of pure gold and a number of interesting paintings. A
relatively modern monastery, it is closely associated with the
Spituk monastery and serves as the residence of the head priest.
It is well lit and can be visited in the evening as well.
Shanti Stupa:
The modern Ladakh Shanti Stupa, accessible by a winding road, is
a stunning monument
JULY 16: LEH √
SHANKAR √ SHANTI √ STOK √ LEH
Breakfast in
hotel. Full day visit to Shankar, Shanti and Stok. Packed lunch
en-route. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Sankar:
The small monastery at Sankar (3 kms from Leh), harbours
accomplished modern tantric murals and a thousand-headed
Avalokitesvara deity. It has innumerable collections of small
statues of pure gold and a number of interesting paintings. A
relatively modern monastery, it is closely associated with the
Spituk monastery and serves as the residence of the head priest.
It is well lit and can be visited in the evening as well.
Shanti Stupa:
The modern Ladakh Shanti Stupa, accessible by a winding road, is
a stunning monument of Japanese commitment to Buddhism.
Stok Palace
Museum: 17 Km, 1 Hour drive from Leh. Just across the river
from Leh, is the village, which the deposed Royal Family was
compensated for the loss of its throne. Its palace houses a
museum of artifacts associated with the dynasty, and there is
also a small Gompa. The museum in the Stok Palace is a showcase
of the Royal Thankas, while the collection of Turquoise head
dresses worn for the Royal wedding is the most impressive in
Ladakh.
DAY 17: LEH √
DAKTHOK √ DISKIT √ LEH
After breakfast
drive to Dakthok and Diskit. Lunch en-route. Return to hotel for
dinner and overnight.
Dakthok: At the
foot of the Chang-La, Dakthok incorporates one of the many caves
in the Himalayas where the Indian Buddhist apostle Padmasambhava
is said to have rested and meditated on his journey to Tibet.
DAY 18: LEH
Day at leisure in
your hotel. Optional visit to the bazaar for shopping. Evening
attend local Ladakhi cultural show. Overnight in hotel.
DAY 19: LEH -
DELHI
Transfer to
airport for a breathtaking flight over the mighty Himalayas to
Delhi. Of Japanese commitment to Buddhism.
Stok Palace
Museum: 17 Km, 1 Hour drive from Leh. Just across the river from
Leh, is the village, which the deposed Royal Family was
compensated for the loss of its throne. Its palace houses a
museum of artifacts associated with the dynasty, and there is
also a small Gompa. The museum in the Stok Palace is a showcase
of the Royal Thankas, while the collection of Turquoise
headdresses worn for the Royal wedding is the most impressive in
Ladakh