Day 01 Arrive Delhi late night and transfer to domestic airport for early morning flight to Leh. Transfer to your hotel, rest day after a long flight and time to get acclimatize. Late afternoon walking tour of Leh bazaar. O/N in hotel.

Leh : the main town of the region, is dominated by Sengge Namgyal's 9-story Palace, a building in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture, said to have inspired the famous Potola in Lhasa. Down in the bazaar, the main sites to visit are the Jo-Khang, a modern ecumenical Buddhist temple, and the
imposing Mosque dating from the late 17th century. For locals and visitors alike a stroll along the main bazaar observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops is an entrancing experience.

Day 02 After breakfast morning tour with guide of Spituk and Phyang monastries. Late afternoon tour of Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa & Samkar monastry. O/N in hotel.

Phyang : looks like a huge Palace from afar, built by Tashi Namgyal in thelater half of the 16th century AD., it belongs to the Red Cap sect of Buddhists. Hundreds of icons of Buddha and other Gods are kept on wooden shelves.

Spituk : Stands prominently on the top of a hillock commanding a panoramic view of the Indus valley for miles. Many icons of Buddha and fine thankas are to be found in this 15th century Gompa. The Gompa also houses a collection of ancient masks, antique arms and an awe inspiring image of
mahakal. The face of the Kali image is kept covered and is revealed only at the annual function in January.

Samkar Gompa : the seat of the yellow Hat Sect and one of the few Gompa built in the valley bottom, is a 3 km. Pleasant walk through fields. It houses the chief lama of Spituk and 20 others. The newer monks quarters are on three sides of the courtyard with steps leading up to the Du-Khang ( Assembly Hall ). There are a number of gold statues, numerous wall paintings and sculptures including a large one of the 11 headed, 1000-armed Avalokitesvara.

Shanti Stupa : There are good views from the top where a tea room is a welcoming sight after the climb. There is also a jeep able road.

Day 03 Fullday trip with guide to Alchi and Likir Monastries. O/N cam at
Basgo.

Alchi : On the banks of the Indus is the Alchi Gompa, dating a thousand years back. One of its walls features thousands of miniature-sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attraction. No longer an active religious center, it is looked after by monks from the Likir monastery.

Likir : Founded in the 11th century and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century, its earlier Gompa was destroyed in a fire. The present Gompa dates back to the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent thankas, earthen pots and carved folding wooden tables. A magnificent giant juniper tree, one of the few survivors of its species stands in the courtyard.

Day 04 Trek over Pobe-la ( 3550 mts. ) to Likir. Trek time: 4 hours.

Day 05 Trek Likir to Yangthang. Trek time : 5 hours.

Day 06 Yangthang / Redzong / Yangthang. Trek time : 6 hours.

Day 07 Yangthang to Temisgam. Trek time : 5 hours.

Day 08 Drive Temisgam to Leh. O/N hotel.

Day 09 Fullday sightseeing of Hemis, Thiksey & Shey. O/N in hotel in Leh.

Shey : The old summer Palace of the kings of Ladakh, Shey ( 15 km. From Leh towards Hemis ) was built more than 550 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the king of Ladakh. It stands next to the remains of a larger construction on the east side of a hill, which runs south-east towards the Indus. From the Palace you can see over the fertile Indus plain, north-east to the Thiksey Gompa and over the Indus to the Zanskar mountain range. Hundreds of Chortens of the most diverse from and size stand on the barren plains to the north, separated from the fertile riverbank along the Hemis road. The old palace Gompa has the largest golden Buddha statue in Ladakh.

Thiksey : The 500 year old Thiksey monastery, perched on a hill high above the Indus. Has about 100 yellow cap monks. On the right of the entrance to the main courtyard, a new chapel houses an enormous 15 meter high, seated Buddha figure. The morning prayer can be witness around 6 AM, but there are also prayers closer to noon, preceded by long mournful sounds from the horns on the roof. The monastery mountain is best ascended on foot although there is also a new road up to the monastery. The temple of Zan-la is beside the car parking area on this road. On the walls of the Gompa courtyard are some interesting Tibetan calendars. In the chapel is a picture near the central Chamba statue, of Tsung-Khapas, the founder of the Tugend ( Gelupa ) sect. Some steps run up to a roof balcony from which there is access to the rooms of the head lama.

Hemis : It is the wealthiest , best known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honor of Guru Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh, which is unfurled once in 12 years ( next in 2004 ). Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal , an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favored for Drugkpa Sect, which managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the Assembly Hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall, Dukhang, is also used as a ' Green room ' by the dancers during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes among them the Buddhist Wheel of Life ( Kalachakra ) and the Lord of the four quarters, besides rows of prayer wheels.

Day 10 Rest day in Leh after the trek, or security day ( in case of flight cancellation ). O/N in hotel.

Day 11 Early morning flight Leh to Delhi, Overnight at hotel.
Day 12 Departure transfer to airport.