Day 2 Delhi - Leh (3,500
m) - By Flight 9W - Depart at 0630 hrs / Arrive at 0745 hrs
After an early breakfast you
are transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Ladakh. This
must be one of the most sensational flights in the world. On a clear day
from one side of the aircraft can be seen in the distance the peaks of
K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum and on the other side of the aircraft, so
close that you feel you could reach out and touch it, is the Nun Kun
massif. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the Mahabodhi Eco
Resorts. You would take a little time to settle in and acclimatize since
you have gone from a relatively low elevation in New Delhi to over
11,000 feet! During the afternoon, you can walk through the old town,
beneath the Leh Palace, to allow you to get oriented to this fascinating
city. Overnight in Mahabodhi Eco Resorts.
Day 3 In Leh - Visit to
Leh Palace & Shankar Gompa
The morning is at leisure to
acclimatize to the rarefied air. You may choose to stroll along the main
bazaar - observing the varied crowds. Looking into curio shops is an
engaging experience. A particularly attractive sight is the line of
women from nearby villages sitting along the edge of the footpath with
baskets of fresh vegetables brought for sale. Behind the main bazaar,
Chang Gali is less bustling but has interesting little shops selling
curios and jewellery. Further on are the labyrinthine alleyways and
piled-up houses of the old town, clustering around the foot of the
Palace Hill. In the other direction, down the bazaar, are the Tibetan
markets where one can bargain for pearls, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli
and many other kinds of semi-precious stones and jewellery, as well as
carved yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls, or any
of a whole array of curios. When tired of strolling, one can step into
any of the several restaurants; some of them located in gardens or on
the sidewalks and serve local Tibetan, Indian and Continental cuisine.
Also walk to the Leh Palace & Shankar Gompa, which belongs to Gelukspa
school of Tibetan Buddhism. This small Gompa is a branch of Spituk Gompa,
founded by the first incarnation of Skyabje Bakula (head monk of Spituk
monastery). Return to Mahabodhi Eco Resorts for dinner and an overnight
stay.
Day 4 Leh - Zingchan - By
Surface / Approx 1 hr Drive to Zingchan in the afternoon.
This is the entry point to
Rumbak Valley - the home of the Snow Leopard. You will have the
opportunity to be interacting with the locals of the area and gain a
good insight into their culture. Overnight in a tented camp.
Day 5 Zingchan - Rumbak
(12,540 ft) - Trek / Approx 5 hrs
Today you trek into the
interiors of Snow Leopard country. Overnight stay in a tented camp.
Day 6 - 12 In Rumbak
Valley
Explore the area on foot with
your guide to try and spot the Snow Leopard. In the process there will
also be plenty of opportunity for you to get enthralling insights into
local folklore, as well as learn about their customs and traditions.
Day 13 Rumbak - Zingchan -
Trek / Approx 3 ½ hrs - Leh - By Surface / Approx 1 hr
Today you trek back to
Zingchan and drive onward to Leh for an overnight stay at Mahabodhi Eco
Resorts.
Day 14 Leh - Delhi - By
Flight 9W - Depart at 0735 hrs / Arrive at 0850 hrs
