The Ladakh Tour : 15 days / 14 nights

• Day 1:

  Delhi - Manali 1900 m by overnight bus.

• Day 2:

  Manali - Sarchu 4200 m at Antrek Camp. 10 hours drive.

• Day 3:

  Sarchu - Tsokar 4400 m - Leh 3500 m(start early in the morning) 10 hours drive. Hotel at Leh

• Day 4:

  Leh sightseeing and get the permit made for Nubra Valley, Turtuk and Pangong Tso. Hotel at Leh.

• Day 5:

  Leh - Khardung La 5359 m - Turtuk 3048 m camp

• Day 6:

  Turtuk - Hunder - Sumur - Panamik - Sumur camp 3300 m.

• Day 7:

  Sumur - Wari La - Karu - Chang La - Pangong Tso Lake 4350 m camp.

• Day 8:

  Pangong Tso - Karu (tank up) - Upshi - Chumathang - Leh Hotel. 6 hours drive. Hotel.

• Day 9:

  Visit monasteries around Leh. Hotel.

• Day 10:

  Leh – Alchi – Lamayuru - Kargil Hotel 2600 m 10 hours.

• Day 11:

  Kargil – Zozila – Fotula – Sonmarg – Srinagar House Boat Hotel 2700 m

• Day 12:

  Sightseeing of Srinagar – Srinagar House Boat Hotel.

• Day 13:

  Srinagar – flight to Delhi – drive to Agra Hotel. Visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri.

• Day 14:

  Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal afternoon depart for Delhi Hotel.

• Day 15:

  Transfer to International Airport to board flight.

Manali Ladakh Tour : 10 days / 9 nights

• Day 1: Arrive Manali

  We will receive you upon your arrival at Manali bus station and transfer you to Johnsons Lodge via arranged transport. You will have the remainder of the day to explore the town – strolling down the main street to come across the Buddhist Monastery next to the local market area and dining at local restaurants or taking a short walk out of town to explore Hadimba Temple, Old Manali Village, the Club House and on the other side of town, Vashist hot springs. Dinner and overnight at the Johnsons Lodge.

• Day 2: Manali (1900 m) – Keylong (3349m) – through Jispa – Sarchu (4225m)

  The Jeep safari begins from Manali, following the main road out of town. Surrounded by scenic mountainscape as it ascends to the first landmark, Rohtang Pass (3978m). Rohtang Pass or Rohtang La marks the natural barrier between the dense Deodar forests, apple orchards and pretty alpine meadows of the Kullu-Manali Valley and the harsher high altitude desert of Lahaul-Spiti. Crossing the pass, the road descends into the Chandra Valley, the beginning of the Lahaul-Spiti region – a stark, dry and forbidding yet amazingly beautiful land. The Valley commands excellent views of the surrounding mountains, including the 6,420m White Sail massif (Dharamsura). The road takes us on towards Keylong, the main town and previous capital of the Lahaul kingdom, where we will stop for a quick chai and biscuit break. From here we will continue towards Jispa, an ancient town overlooking the Bhaga River. The second highest pass, Baralacha La (5100m) lies around 52kms beyond Jispa, and is an interesting addition to the journey. The scenery here is spectacular – notwithstanding the sparse vegetation, the bare mountains are a riot of colors – deep crimson, grey-green, indigo, mauve, lilac, each hue depending on sun's location. A brief halt at the top of the pass is mandatory, allowing us to marvel at the awe-inspiring spectacle. After crossing the Pass another hour's drive brings us to our destination, the busy little hamlet of Sarchu (4225m). We will spend overnight at Antrek's deluxe camp in Sarchu, enjoying the open plains and cool breezes coming through the valley while dining on delicious food made by Antrek's chefs. The entire trip will take little more than 9 hours.

• Day 3: Sarchu - Upshi - Leh

  From Sarchu we will drive uphill to cross the Lachungla Pass and descend into the Pang campgrounds, greeting the tents and accommodations of earlier travelers. A quick break here then continuing to Debring (4703m) a place known for its collection of nomadic tribes. We will pass through the Morey Plains, a flat open plateau nestled in between the mountain ranges. The flat expanse makes it easy for travel, giving the guest a chance to enjoy a respite from the winding cutbacks. From here we climb uphill to greet the Tanglang La Pass, claimed to be the world's second highest motor able pass at an altitude of (5378m). The summit is characterized by hundreds of Buddhist prayer flags attached by previous travelers – if you've brought your own flags along, you can proudly display them here. Passing through Rumse we arrive for a late afternoon snack in Upshi. The scenery changes noticeably as we arrive in the fertile valley. Stupas and villages dot the nearby valley surroundings while the red-colored mountains provide a spectacular backdrop. An ancient trading road heads to the east from Upshi to Tibet, reminding us of the historical value of the village. After registering our vehicles at Upshi, you would continue to Leh, crossing the famous Indus River and following the mainstream traffic to the Leh town centre. The trip will take around 9 hours. Upon arrival in Leh we will check into Glacier View / Lotus Hotel.

• Day 4: Leh Local Sightseeing

  We will be using the cars as little as possible. You can take the opportunity to explore Leh town on foot – walking through the Main Bazaar where everything from cosmetics to Pashmina wool scarves are sold, climbing up to the heights of Shanti Stupa, a site dedicated to world peace and inaugurated by the Dalai lama himself, or wandering the historical ruins of the Leh Palace and Old Leh. If you come across some of the locals, don't forget to call out a cheery 'juley!' – most likely you will be greeted with an equally warm 'juley!' and a lovely smile. Check out the plethora of continental food on Changspa Road or try the local cuisine at the smaller restaurants (ladakhi thukpa is delicious!). Do your part for the environment by filling up your water bottle with pure drinking water at Dsomza – here you can also buy dried apricots, jams, pickles and local handicrafts. Spend overnight at Glacier View / Lotus Hotel located near the centre of town.

• Day 5: Leh - Ule

  In the morning we again take transport through the Ladakh terrain. En-route the trip we visit Hall of Fame, a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian army in memory of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak war and a must-see for historical enthusiasts. Spituk Monastery is also visited, an 11th century Buddhist monastery with commanding views of the surrounding landscape. We take a 30km detour to experience the thrill of natural powers at Magnetic Hill, a place alleged to have magnetic properties strong enough to pull cars uphill and force passing aircraft to increase their altitude in order to escape magnetic interference. We then visit Alchi Monastery, a National Heritage site, mainly known for its magnificent and well-preserved 11th-12th century Indo-Himalayan styled wall paintings. It is also the only monastery in Ladakh located on flat ground, making it easy to traverse. By lunch time, we will reach Uletokpo, one of the most beautiful camping spots in the Ladakh region, to enjoy a hearty meal. Breathe in the fresh mountain air and mingle with the local culture. After four hours drive we reach our destination and stay overnight stay at Ule Ethnic Camp Resort.

• Day 6: Ule - Pangong Lake

  We will be taking you to see the famous Pangong Lake via Thiksey Monastery. The gompa is perched on the side of a mountain, large and impressive. A big golden Buddha sits nestled in the monastery's walls and brings good luck to those who circle the base clockwise. From the top the farmland and small collections of houses stretch out below. After Thiksey Monastery, we will continue to follow the road to Pangong Lake. Pangong Tso, a long narrow basin of inland drainage set amidst rolling mountainous landscape, hardly six to seven kms at its widest point and over 130km long, is bisected by the international border between India and China. Increased tourist attraction to the lake is due to the 3 Idiots Bollywood film set here and is a must-see for everyone. A few years ago the government decided to open it to tourists though the lake and its surrounding is under army surveillance. Due to the lake's salinity, there is little wildlife and vegetation but the incredible blue color remains the traveler's delight and photographer's paradise. A little time for exploration of the surrounding area until we check into a fixed camp with proper beds and attached toilets at Pangong Tso Lake.

• Day 7: Pangong Lake - Leh - Nubra

  Taking transport from Pangong back to Leh and then onward to Diskit Valley, we will be taking the thrilling journey over the Khardung-La Pass. Local summit signs claim this as the highest motor able pass and many biking and motor vehicle journeys have been undertaken to reach this pass. The views are dizzying at this height (17,582ft) and include the wonderful panoramic mountainscapes and snow peaks of the ranges. We continue on to reach Diskit, the capital of Nubra Valley. Diskit also houses an important monastery for the surrounding area, allegedly the wealthiest gompa of Leh-Ladakh area, and the artwork and statues throughout the place are spectacular. Please note: non-locals require an inner line permit to enter Nubra (which we will arrange for you inclusive of cost price). Overnight at the Guest House here.

• Day 8: Nubra - Leh

  Experience the amazing double hump Bactrian camel rides at the Hunder sand dunes surrounded by snow capped mountains. Gaze at the wonderful Shyok and the Nubra River maneuvering through the vast Nubra Valley Plains. Look at the Gyalwa Champa Statue (future Buddha) atop the rocky mountain. A pleasant drive further east to Hunder road brings you to the village of Sumur, famous for its 115 years old Samtanling Gompa. There are several frescoes and beautiful tangthas on view here. A further drive brings us to the village of Panamik famous for its hot springs. In the afternoon, trace your way back to Leh taking 4 hours. Upon reaching Leh check into the Glacier View / Lotus Hotel for dinner and overnight.

• Day 9: Leh - Jispa

  Wake up and enjoy an early breakfast in Leh. We will take transport back to Manali via Jispa. Leh to Jispa takes about 10 hours drive through the high mountain passes. Upon reaching Jispa check into the Ibex hotel for dinner and overnight.

• Day 10: Jispa to Manali over Rohtang Pass

  Jispa to Manali over the Rohtang Pass taking 6 hours. After arriving in Manali feel free to grab last minute gifts for friends or family from the Mall. To return to Delhi, you can take the overnight Volvo bus at 16:30 hours, booked from our Antrek office. Reminisce about your spectacular exploration throughout Himachal/Ladakh!

The Lakes of Ladakh – 10 Days / 9 Nights

• Day 1: Manali

  We will meet you in Manali and check you into a local hotel before spending the rest of the day exploring the local sights which include the Hadimba Temple, Manu Rishi Temple, the Tibetan Monsatery and the nearby town of Vashist which is famed for its hot water sulphur springs.

• Day 2: Manali-Jispa (153km, 8 hours)

  After breakfast we will leave for Jispa. This takes us through the Rohtang Pass (3980m) which holds some spectacular views, and then onwards through the picturesque landscape surrounding the Chandra River, Keylong (3350m) which is the capital of the Lahoul Valley until we reach Jispa (3142m). Here we will spend the night in a local hotel.

• Day 3: Jispa-Tso Kar (200km, 8-9 hours)

  Today we continue to the Baralacha Pass (4900m) and then onto our Sarchu Camp to stop for lunch. Afterwards, we drive through the Nakeela Pass (4965m) and then Lachung La (5100m) on our way to Pang, More Plain and then to Tso Kar (4600m which is a famous salt water lake. We will spend the night camping here.

• Day 4: Tso Kar-Tsomiriri (135km, 8 hours)

  Our route today takes usover Polakongka La (5159m) and Namashang La (5300m) to Korzok where there is a Tibetan monastery. A short drive after this will bring us to Tsomiriri, home to one of the World's highest lakes and the nomadic Khampa people. Here we will camp overnight.

• Day 5: Tsomiriri-Pangong Lake (325km, 11 hours)

  After breakfast we will begin by driving through Namashang La (5300m), Kere, Kumdok and Karu before arriving at Pangong Lake in the early evening. We will camp here overnight.

• Day 6: Pangong Lake-Hamis-Thikse-Shey-Leh (150km, 8 hours)

  We will start our day by visiting Hamis, home to the oldest and largest monastery in Ladakh. Then to Stok Palace and Museum, Phyang Monastery, Thikse Monastery and then onto Shey where there is both a monastery and palace. Afterwards we will end the day in Leh to stay in a local hotel.

• Day 7: Leh

  We have a rest day in Leh to acclimatize. Here we can visit Leh Palace, Shankar Gompa, Shanti Stupa, Leh Bazaar and explore the local area. We will stay nce more in a local hotel here.

• Day 8: Leh-Khardung La-Nubra Valley (125km, 5-6 hours)

  Today we will visit Khardung La (5602m) which is the highest motorable pass in the World and then onto Diskit, the capital of the Nubra Valley and where we will spend the night in a local hotel.

• Day 9: Nubra Valley-Leh (125km, 5-6 hours)

  Reaching the end of our journey, we will trace our route back to Leh to spend the night in a local hotel.

• Day 10: Leh

  Today we can either take you to Leh domestic airport for an onwards flight to Delho or return you to Manali with a night spent at our Sarchu Camp.

Note:

All of our tours include accommodation, transport, local guides and drivers, food and mineral water. To book any of our packages or discuss a custom itinerary please feel free to contact us.