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