12 DAYS Wild Ladakh Tour Itinerary with Jammu

This journey is very different from the usual one. This is road trip to Jammu from Delhi. Once in a life time experience. Delhi to Jammu is 620Km and takes about 12 Hours to cover the Journey. It is one of the most enjoyable and amazing Himalayan road trip in North east. If you can extend yourself further to Patnitop, it would be a good experience to stay at a beautiful hill station.

Walk around the city. The Patnitop is a beautiful hill station situated in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, Patnitop was originally known as ‘Patan Da Talab’ which literally means The Pond of the Princess.’ Located on a scenic plateau of the Shiwalik Range of the Himalayas, this tourist place in Jammu Region boasts green meadows and panoramic views of the glittering snow-capped peaks. The most popular hill station of Jammu Region, Patnitop offers a number of treks, few temples, monuments, and a garden for a memorable holiday with family, friends or even a partner.

Cover the distance of about 310 / 230 kms from JAMMU / PATNITOP to Srinagar by road. The drive is stupendous, especially after JAWAHAR tunnel.

Spend your evening strolling around the DAL lake or take a quick ride in the SHIKARA to experience the floating market. You can also shop around the floating market for sarees, dress material, pashmina shawls etc. Spend the night at SRINAGAR.

Enjoy the ride through the lush green meadows enroute Sonmarg. Experience the dreaded ZOJILA pass and the route passing through the beautiful valleys with the Indus river flowing alongside. Zojila pass is the highest pass connecting Kashmir valley to its west with the Dras and Suru valleys to its northeast and the Indus valley further east.

At DRASS, view the TIGER HILL & TOLOLING tops towering around Drass. Enroute, do not forget to visit the KARGIL WAR MEMORIAL after DRASS. The names of all the soldiers, who had laid down their lives during the KARGIL war are etched. Spend overnight at Kargil.

Today we begin early so as to cover the SHAM valley enroute. Start from the MULBEK MAITREY BUDDHA statue enroute, visit the LAMAYURU Monastery. If time is managed properly, you can also visit the ALCHI & LIKIR monasteries, which are with small detours from the Srinagar – Leh Highway. Places like BASGO plains, NIMMU SANGAM, GURUDEV PATHER SAHIB, MAGNETIC HILL can be covered as these places are on the highway itself. If time doesn’t permit, you can skip LIKIR monastery. Check in at LEH.

Take rest at the Hotel relax and acclimatize yourself with the altitude. Keep yourself appropriately hydrated to prevent yourself from getting altitude sickness. Preferably pre-book the ILP’’s online OR request the hotel service to arrange for the ILP’s. They may charge you a nominal fee, but since you are hard pressed for time, it may not be the best idea to do it yourself. The process may take about 2-3 hours.

You can visit the local places during the day like SHANTI STUPA, HALL OF FAME, LEH PALACE & STOK museum, SHEY PALACE, THIKSEY monastery. If you feel any fatigue, return back to the hotel.

All places are worth visiting, but if time does not permit, then you can look at omitting LEH PALACE. Please don’t miss out on SHANTI STUPA, HALL OF FAME, THIKSEY monastery & HEMIS monastery. You can cover the monasteries, Hall of Fame during the day time & keep SHANTI STUPA for the evening.

Visit the local market in the evening. You can come across some good stuff like show pieces / jewellery in the Tibetan Market. Explore Leh Main Bazaar & the Changspa road for various souvenirs & multi cuisine restaurants. Overnight at Leh.

Start early for NUBRA valley. Halt at the famous KHARDUNGLA PASS enroute for some quick photographs of the so called Highest Motorable Road. Descend on the other side of Khardung la, enroute halt for a cup of tea / snack at the beautiful KHARDUNG village.

Cover the most beautiful DISKIT monastery & the 32 feet Buddha Statue over looking the beautiful valley. Don’t forget to visit HUNDER to experience the famous Bacterian camel (2 humped camel) rides on the sand dunes. You will definitely keep wondering about where the hell did this sand dunes patch come in the middle of nowhere. If you are against riding we understand and take you places where you enjoy.

If you are at KHALSAR by 12.00 noon, you can first visit SUMUR & PANAMIK & then while on return visit the DISKIT MONASTERY & the HUNDER sand dunes in the evening. Overnight stay at HUNDER / DISKIT.

Start early (06:00 – 07:00 am) since it would take about 5-6 hours to reach Pangong via Shyok route. Check at Agham village for road conditions via Shyok river route before you proceed. In case, it is not feasible, take the alternate route through Wari La. You also have the option to return to Leh & continue further on the regular route through KARU – SAKTI & CHANGLA pass. The distance would be a bit longer comparatively. Check in at Camp sites / Home stays in Pangong To (refer stay options). Spend some good quality time at Spangmik, visit the popular Bollywood shooting place. Overnight at PANGONG LAKE.

Check out & proceed to HANLE via Chusul – Tsaga – Loma This is one of the most beautiful routes of all. Pangong Lake beyond MERAK is mesmerizing. Check in at a Guesthouse / Homestay in HANLE (refer stay options in Hanle). Visit the only India’s Highest Astronomical Observatory in Hanle. Do some leisure walks in the meadows. Experience the basic & simple lifestyle of the villagers. Overnight at HANLE.

Check out & proceed to KORZOK (Tsomoriri Lake) via Chusul – Loma – Mahe route. This is one of the most beautiful route of all. Pangong Lake beyond MERAK is mesmerizing. Check in at Camp sites / Homestays / Guest Houses at KORZOK (refer stay options). Spend a peaceful evening on the banks of Tsomoriri, one of the biggest High Altitude Lake in India. Overnight at Tsomoriri

Visit the Korzok Monastery in the morning, check out & proceed on your return journey via Tsokar Lake. Depending on your destination, you can choose whether to exit at Leh OR proceed to Sarchu / Jispa / Keylong on the Manali side.

For tourists exiting from the Manali side, this route would save about 136 kms of return journey to Leh. Tourist exiting on the Srinagar side OR returning by flight would have to reach Leh back. Overnight at Leh / Sarchu / Jispa / Keylong (depending on your exit side).

Drive to Leh after you  finish the tour and see off.