Nestled in the northernmost region of India, the picturesque landscapes of Kashmir and Ladakh beckon travelers with their majestic mountains, serene lakes, and vibrant culture. A journey through these regions promises an unforgettable experience, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, adventure, and cultural immersion. From May to October, the favorable weather conditions make it an ideal time to embark on this mesmerizing tour. Begin your journey in the capital of Srinagar, were you will immerse yourself in the serene beauty of Lakes. Explore the Mughal Gardens, which showcase exquisite Mughal architecture and vibrant flowers and gardens. we will spend first 3 nights exploring places like srinagar, gulmarg, pahalgam, then we will move to sonmarg and further traversing through the rugged terrain of the Zoji La Pass, En route, visit the Drass War Memorial, paying homage to the brave soldiers who fought during the Kargil War. the journey will take you towards ladakh, en route we will visit lamayuru, fotula pass, cultural and historical landmarks of Leh. Visit the ancient Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery, and Hemis Monastery, showcasing intricate Tibetan architecture and priceless artifacts. Experience the spiritual ambiance of these monastic sites and immerse yourself in the local culture. in the later part of trip we will cover the remote valleys of Nubra, shyok & Pangong lake.
check out the complete itinerary below;
Day01: Fly to srinagar, you be Received at srinagar airport & transferred to boat house, house boats in Kashmir offer a unique and immersive experience that allows travelers to connect with the region’s culture, natural beauty, and tranquility. after rest & refreshments visit the famous shankracharya temple on top of the hill for some nice views of Srinagar city & the lake, later visit to the Mughal gardens of Nishat, shalimar, chashma shahi, The celebrated Mughal gardens of Kashmir owe their grandeur primarily to Emperor Jahangir who had an undaunted love for Kashmir, and his son Shah Jahan. Jahangir was responsible for the careful selection of the site located on the banks of Dal lake, and maneuvering it to suit the requirements of the traditional paradise gardens of love. later free for shopping and other activities around srinagar city, in evening you can take a boat (shikara ride) in the lake, visit lotus ponds, Meena bazaar, floating market, etc. Night stay in boat house. (Dinner)
Day 02; Today after breakfast drive to Gulmarg, A scenic hill station, just 45 kms away from srinagar, a drive through the forest from Tangmarg to Gulmarg is enjoyable ride to indulge in the beautiful views of Gulmarg valley. Gulmarg is famous for winter sports and other snow activities, you can enjoy skiing here or ride Atv, also take gondola (cable car) rides to Afarwath mountain from there you will see some beautiful views of mountain peaks and valleys below, you can also take a walk in the meadows and visit the shiv temple of Gulmarg and st Mary’s church, by late evening transfer back to srinagar for Night stay in hotel. (Breakfast-Dinner)
Day03: After breakfast drive to Pahalgam. on the way visit saffron Fields, where you can buy good quality saffron and kashmiri spices from farmers. drive along the lidder river to lidder valley in pahalgam, which is a scenic drive through many villages, almond plantations and green rice fields.on reaching pahalgam check into hotel, go on ponies to Kashmir valley & Baisarn also called Mini switzerland, green meadows covered with Alpine forests, these valleys are Encircled by mountains featuring Deodar and pine forests, The sights of coloring beds of flowers amid the lush walnut and willow vistas make the entire panorama quite stunning, casting a spell of magic. the nearby villages & these valley are also an excellent camping site for trekkers and explorers later spend your time for photography and other activities near by the river, by late evening transfer back to srinagar, night stay in hotel. (Breakfast-Dinner)
Day04: After early breakfast we will start our drive to Sonmarg, The place is frequently visited by nature lovers in the search of tranquil peace and soothing natural beauty. A place renown for a gateway to many treks, also for shooting many Bollywood movies, stop over for some refreshments and photography then continue the drive to zojilla pass, minimarg, The enchanting beauty of the towering snow clad mountains is a real treat to the eyes, stop at Drass war memorial for museum visit, from here you will see peaks of tololing and tiger hill, enjoy tea and snacks at the museum cafeteria, continue the drive towards kargil, check in hotel, night stay in Kargil. (Breakfast-Dinner)
Day05; today drive through beautiful scenic mountains, stop at Mulbekh Gompa, and moon landscape at Lamayuru, it’s is popular for its ‘lunar’ landscape and monastery. Interestingly, this quaint little village is promoted as ‘moonscape’ for tourists; reason being its incredible yet odd geographical formations. Enjoy a hot lunch at Lamayuru monastery, continue the drive through uleytokpo, magnetic hill, Located at a distance of 30 km from Leh city on the Leh-Kargil Highway is a stretch of road that defies the phenomenon of gravity, later proceed to Sangam Valley, it is a 48 kilometer drive from Leh and is the confluence of the Indus river and Zanskar river. The colors of the two rivers can be distinctly seen at the confluence. It is an amazing place to sit, relax, and enjoy photography, on the way visit Gurduwara pathir sahib, by afternoon you will reach leh. Check into hotel for rest and refreshments, take rest to get acclimatized to the high altitude of leh, night stay in hotel.(Breakfast-Dinner)
Day06:today we will go to Nubra valley by crossing the famous khardungla pass, Nubra has gained fame as a tourist destination due to its stunning landscapes, unique cultural experiences, and the opportunity to explore remote villages. The valley’s breathtaking beauty and diverse range of attractions make it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking an authentic Himalayan experience. we will leave leh & drive to khardungla pass, The Pass on the Ladakh Range is north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valley. Khardong La is historically important as it lies on the major caravan route from Leh to Kashgar in Central Asia. About 10,000 horses and camels used to take the route annually, and a small population of Bactrian camels can still be seen at Hunder, we will stop over at the top of pass for tea and photography, continue the drive to Nubra valley, visit Deskit monastery at Deskit village, later proceed to Hunder, check in hotel in Hunder, later go for camel safari in sand dunes enjoy the cultural show & local Ladakhi Dance at the sand dunes, dinner and night stay in hotel in Nubra. (Breakfast-Dinner)
Day07: today we will explore the far end of Nubra valley & Turtuk village, Turtuk located at the end of Nubra in karakoram mountain range, it has three small villages farool, ueel & thang, visitors can explore a range of attractions and engage with diverse communities. Each village has its own story to tell, providing travelers with an opportunity to understand the Himalayan region’s multifaceted charm. turtuk was earlier a village of Pakistan and after the war it came under Indian territory, it offers a unique cultural experience. It’s remote location has preserved its traditional way of life, and visitors are treated to stunning apricot orchards, lush fields, and the warmth of Balti culture. The people of Turtuk, known as Turtukkars, belong to the Balti community, speak Balti, practice Islam, and have a strong sense of community. The people of Turtuk are ethnically and culturally distinct from the people of Ladakh. later evening we will drive to Hunder for night stay. (Breakfast-Dinner)
Day08:Early morning you will drive to Pangong lake, via shyok valley, The Shyok River receives the waters of the Nubra and Changchenmo rivers. It rises from the Khumdang glacier, which can be approached from Shyok. The Shyok River takes a southerly course after it is joined by the Nubra River and thereafter the Shyok flows into the Indus at Keris. today most of the journey will be along the shyok river and the villages of durbuk and Tangste, you will drive through the beautiful river with snow cold waters, afternoon reaching pangong lake, a beautiful blue lake covered by mountains, is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of 4,225 m (13,862 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and divided into five sub lakes, called Pangong Tso, Tso Nyak, Rum Tso (twin lakes) and Nyak Tso. Approximately 50% of the length of the overall lake lies within Tibet in China, 40% in Ladakh, India and the remaining 10% is disputed and is a de-facto buffer zone between India and China. spend your time around the pangong lake, we will stay overnight at Pangong lake. (Breakfast-Dinner)
Day09:after breakfast drive back to leh via changla pass, Chang La is a high mountain pass in Ladakh at an elevation of 17,688. ft in the Ladakh Range between Leh and the Shyok River valley. There is a temple on the pass named after the saint changla baba, on the way to leh visit thiksey monastery,(it’s a Tibetan-style monastery, noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, It is a twelve-storey complex and houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords. also visit shey palace, Ranchoo’s school. later in evening, we will visit shanti stupa, a magnificent white-domed Buddhist monument, it is home to the relics of Buddha, and offers some of the most surreal views of nearby village of Changspa. later visit the leh palace the former palace of king of leh and the army museum of hall of fame, Night stay in hotel in leh. (Breakfast-Dinner)
Day10:Morning free for leisure and breakfast, drop at leh airport.(Breakfast)