HIKE BIKE RAFT - LADAKH

Adventure in style, an experience to enjoy nature at slow pace, a test of endurance, an opportunity to interact with local people and time to absorb their cultural and religious traditions. This is a great sports holiday with challenge & lots of fun !!! balanced to give you the ultimate high. Our previous travelers have observed, that local people are incredibly welcoming and trusting when you are cycling !!!

This is a combo active adventure travel in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh also known as Little Tibet. The capital city - LEH was an important trading post on the legendary Silk Route. Ladakh is dry and arid. The elevation on this trip will vary from 3500 mtrs. to 4600 mtrs. Which makes any physical activity a major challenge. The highest point on this trip will be about 5360 mtrs. road pass which we will drive over in jeeps. This region is predominantly Buddhist bordering Tibetan highlands, so the traditions, features of the people and way of life is more Tibetan. Some of the best kept cultural and religious secrets of Tibetian Buddhism are well preserved and protected here. His Holiness Dalai Lama is revered and worshipped throughout this frontier region.

The mountain scenery is spectacular, with rich Buddhist monasteries clinging precariously from hill tops. Trekking and mountain biking through charming villages, broad valleys, great wilderness having huge and stunningly beautiful lake surrounded by exotic flora and fauna. We finally end our trip with a day white water rafting on the Indus River taking in some fabulous views, calm of the waters and some fun filled excitement !! All this together makes it truly a delightful and an enduring adventure travel experience.

DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI Arrive Delhi around mid night and transfer with assistance to your Pre-booked hotel. Morning at leisure. Perhaps there is no other capital city in the world so steeped in history and legend as the Indian capital, Delhi. It was the magnet that drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and Finally the British. All of whom contributed to its glorious but turbulent history. The fascination with Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and again rebuilding it at least seven times.
Old Delhi Tour (half day) : Shah Jahan founded the city of Shahjanabad, now referred to as Old Delhi, in 1648. The famous Red Fort in the heart of Old Delhi was once the most opulent fort of the Mughal Empire and it boasts the Diwan-I-Am, Hall of Private Audience. Opposite the fort is the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world, built by Shah Jahan to dominate his city & Humayun's tomb. Breakfast & Overnight in Hotel.

DAY 02 : DELHI - LEH Early morning before breakfast transfer to domestic airport on time to connect flight for Leh (3505 mt). This is one of most beautiful mountain flights with breathtaking views of Himalayan & Karakoram ranges. Meeting and assistance upon arrival thereafter transfer to Hotel. Day free for acclimatization. Evening gentle walk to the Tibetan Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 03 : LEHMorning we take a leisurely walk through the back streets for sightseeing around Leh town visiting the impressive 17th Century Leh Palace overlooking the town. Back to hotel for lunch, Afternoon visit Sankar Gompa- the residence of the Spritual head monk of Ladakh and further visit Shanti Stupa (Japanese Pagoda). Later back to our hotel via main bazaar. Dinner & overnight in hotel.


Day 04 : LEH / LIKIR / YANGTHANG (Trek starts). After breakfast drive about 60 km/ 2 hrs to Likir (3500 M). We will visit the huge open Buddha statue at Likir monastery - the monastery is the biggest in Sham valley (Lower Ladakh). Late afternoon arrive at your campsite near the trek head & meet your trekking crew and start trek 4-5 hrs. to Yangthang (3600M), over Pobe la (3550M) and Charatse la (3650M). Overnight in tents.

Day 05 : YANGTHANG / RIZONG / YANGTHANG. Today we will take a side trip/ full day trek excursion with packed lunch to Rizong, about (3500m). Visit the isolated & solitary Rizong monastery and the Nunnery. Later retrace to Yangthang for overnight in Tents.

Day 06 : YANGTHANG / HEMIS SHUKPACHAN. After breakfast trek 3-4 hrs to Hemis Shukpachan (3600M) over Sermangchan la (3750M). Arrive Hemis Shukpachan, the charming village is famous for "Losar" (Ladakhi New Year Festival). Overnight in tents.

Day 07 : HEMIS SHUKPACHAN / TEMISGAM (Trek Ends). After breakfast trek 4-5 hrs to Temisgam (3200M) over Lago la (3750M). Temisgam is known to be the biggest village in Sham valley. Overnight in tents.

Day 08 : TEMISGAM / LAMAYURU / ALCHI / LEH. Today we will drive to Lamayuru (45 kms / 1-2 hrs.), known to be the oldest monastery in Ladakh. Later revert to Leh (126 kms / 4 hrs.) Enroute we will visit the 1000 year old Alchi Choskor (Religious Enclave) at charming Alchi village (3250 m). The unique monastery is famous for Kashmiri style woods carvings and frescoes/ wall paintings. Arrive & transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 09 : LEH - TAKTHOK - HEMYA, After breakfast drive to Hemya, about 100 km/ 3 hrs. Enroute visit Takthok (Rock roof) gompa. Further continue to your campsite at Hemya (3600 m) - a pretty village on the banks of Indus river. Afternoon visit the village OR fix your bikes. O/n tents.

Day 10 : HEMYA - CHUMATHANG, (Biking Starts)After early breakfast we start our mountain biking to Chumathang, about 45 km/ 6 hrs. Bike alongside the Indus river & crossing small pretty villages is just amazing. Arrive Chumathang (3950 m) and transfer to your camp. The village is famous for its hot-springs- known as the medicinal/ healing water. O/n tents.

Day 11 : CHUMATHANG - PUGA VALLEY, Today we proceed on to Puga valley (4300 m), via Mahe bridge, 55 km/ about 7 hrs. Its again an amazing piece of bike hike in the off beat trail of Ladakh. Enter your passport details at the police check point at Mahe Bridge and later proceed on to the campsite in Puga valley. O/n tents.

Puga Valley : The Puga-Sumdo Valley is a wide diversity of habitats - streams, marshes, meadows, bushcovered valley floors and steep rocky slopes - which results in a rich avifauna, including flagship species such as Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae, Tibetan Snowcock, Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo (race hemachalana), Lammergeier, Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius, White-tailed Rubythroat (race tschebaiewi) and Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis. Wolf, fox, weasel, blue sheep, woolly hare, marmot and pika are frequently recorded.

Day 12 : PUGA VALLEY - KORZOK / TSOMORIRI LAKE, (Biking Ends)Today we head towards on our bike to Korzok, Rupshu valley, about 50 km / 7 hrs. The unmettled trail is bumpy and also have to overcross a pass called Namshang la (4800 m). Arrive at Korzok - the Nomadic Headquarters of Rupsu Valley. O/n in tents, overlooking the stunning emerald waters of Tsomoriri Lake.

Day 13 : EXPLORE TSOMORIRI LAKE, Today we halt the bikes on rest and walk around the valley, visiting Korzok village, the small gompa and the impressive Tsomoriri Lake, which extends 15 miles in length and 3 - 5 miles width, at a height of 4520 m. Afternoon visit the Changpa Tribals. O/n tents.

Tsomoriri Lake : lies to the Eastern part of Ladakh in the Rupshu Valley. Situated at 14000ft./ 4267mts. the lake extends 15 miles in length and 3-4 miles in width and is surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is the home of the rare migratory birds and you also find the Nomads of Changthang with their livestock's and animals. Explore around the Lake and if you want, walk some distance to the Phu area to see their life in action.

Korzok village, situated at 15,000 ft./ 4572 mts. with pretty Ladakhi houses and its 19th Century gompa appearing like a mirage among the barren hills, is the only permanent settlement in Rupshu; otherwise the region is inhabited only by nomadic Chang-pa herd's people. The Rupshu Chang-pa live in tents all the year, moving in accordance with an old established annual routine between the pastures that exist wherever an occasional stream carrying snowmelt from the heights makes possible the growth the grass, scanty indeed, but reportedly highly nutritious. The few barely - fields at Korzok must be among the highest cultivation in the world, but there is no guarantee that the crop will ripen every year.

Day 14 : TSOMORIRI - TSOKAR, After breakfast board the Jeeps and long drive to Leh about 250 kms/ 7-8 hrs. via Tsokar Salt Lake. Further drive over the high Tanglang La pass down to Upshi and finally back to Leh. Arrive Leh and transfer to hotel. O/n hotel.

Day 15 : LEH - PHEY - NIMOO - ALCHI - LEH (DAY RAFTING) Drive about 1 hrs. to the raft head at Phey village with packed lunch, 15 km south of Leh, Arrive and meet your raft crew followed by a brief safety instructions by the raft guide and from here this program starts to Nimoo village about a distance of 33 kms/ 4hrs. through narrow Gorge's and finally before arriving Nimoo you will meet the confluence of river Zanskar & the Indus. This white water rafting is a great introduction to the Indus River with medium waves & rapids and scenic splendor. You may see some mountain deer & antelopes. Later drive back to Leh. Overnight and dinner in Hotel.

Day 16 : LEH - DELHI Early morning return flight to Delhi over the Himalaya is a true farewell to our memorable journey. Arrive Delhi and transfer to the hotel. Day use rooms. If time permits, Half Day sightseeing of Delhi. Late evening transfer to the international airport for the international connection.

Day 17 : DELHI - EUROPE / USA Fly back to your country.