Ladhak, an extension of the Gobi desert and Tibetan plateau, compromises some of the world’s highest and harshest terrain. Large stretches of stark high altitude deserts and moonscapes makes this a forbidding landscape to view, there is a strange beauty of this place making it addictive and attractive for the tourist. Leh, the predominantly Buddhist region has Gompas clinging to mountaintops in what seem the most precarious locations.
The Nubra Valley, once on the trading route that connected eastern Tibet with Turkistan via the famous Karakoram Pass, is the most recently opened area of Ladakh. Nubra invites you to a trip back in time into a nearly forgotten ‘Shangri La’. With breathtaking views and delightfully hospitable inhabitants, it is quite an experience.
Free yourself from urban congestion in separate cottages sprawled over a large area among apple and apricot trees and the kitchen garden. Closeness to nature will relax your body and soul.
From the Delhi airport, board a flight to Leh’s Bakula Airport, at an altitude of 11700 feet. Upon arrival, our tour representative helps you with an assisted transfer to the hotel. After completing the check-in formalities, the day is scheduled for resting for acclimatization to the high altitudes of Ladakh, a necessary thing to do. In the evening, at around 04:30 PM, leave your hotel rooms for visiting the very popular Shanti Stupa- erected on a hilltop in Chanspa in 1991, it is white dome-shaped Buddhist stupa. Next, you visit the Chowkhang monastery- this serene monastery is marked by fluttering prayer flags. Later on, indulge in at the local market of Leh. Some of the best buys include Buddhist masks, prayer wheels, Thangka paintings and woolen items like Pashmina shawls, gloves, sweaters and more. Stay Overnight.
After Breakfast on day 2, get all set for a full day tour of Indus Valley. The attractions that you visit today include the Royal Museum at Stok Palace- called the Stok Palace Museum, it offers an insight into the heritage of the region; Thiksey Monastery- belonging to the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, this gompa is the largest monastery in central Ladakh region, Stagna Monastery- placed on a barren mountain top, the monastery offers nice views of the surrounding area, Changchubling monastery- better known as Rizong monastery, it was erected in 1829 and is known for its high standards of monastic disciplines and the extremely well-known Hemis Monastery- India’s wealthiest monastery, Hemis is the biggest one too and the site of an annual festival. Overnight stay in Leh.
On day 3, post an early breakfast at around 08:00 AM, begin your road journey to Nubra Valley via the world-popular Khardungla Pass. At an altitude of 18360 feet, it is one of the highest motorable passes. As you reach the valley, set your camps at the assigned location. Later on, you visit the silver sand dunes near Hunder village. Hop onto a double humped Camel for a memorable camel safari around the place. The next visit is to the villages of Diskit and Hunder (80 km round trip / 6-7 hours). The road trip in this region is a beautiful one. These places own Monasteries and hot springs. Get a sneak-peak into the lifestyle of the locals. Stay overnight.
Today, leave the valley early morning after relishing sumptuous breakfast. The mornings here are extremely mesmerizing. Thereafter, visit the tiny yet beautiful Yarab tso Lake, also referred to as the hidden lake. This crystal clear lake is bounded by barren yet beautiful surroundings. After sightseeing, begin your drive back to Leh via Khardungla pass. After arrival, check-in at a hotel. Spend the evening by enjoying leisure walk in the Leh market. Stay overnight.
After breakfast, today you start driving to Ulley Resort from Leh. On the way, visit the great statue of Maitreya Buddha in the Likir monastery and the 1000 -year old murals of Alchi monastery, listed among the best Buddhist miniature paintings. Continue your road journey. Finally, you arrive Uley. Check-in at the resort/hotel. After completing the formalities, you can simply relax. Stay overnight.
The day is going to be full of action. Your first visit is to region with lunar landscapes- an area that is similar to the land condition of Moon. After this, you visit Lamayuru Monastery- one of the largest and oldest monasteries in Ladakh, it houses wall paintings, thangkas, murals, old scriptures and various statues of different forms of Buddha as well as other deities. Next you explore Rizong Nunnery- residence of 40 monks, this monastery was constructed in 1831 by the great Lama Tsultim Nima (130 km round trip / 6-7 hours). If you want, you can also enjoy a day hike to Rizong village (around 2-3 hours) or a go for a short hike to Gera-Lardo village across Indus River.Overnight stay at Uleytokpo.
Today, you start driving back to Leh. On the way, halt to visit Spituk Monastery- also known as Pethup Gompa, it was founded in the 11th century; Magnetic Hill or the gravity hill-a natural wonder of the region and the Military Hall of Fame- a museum and memorial of the war heroes that is established and managed by the Indian Army. Late afternoon arrival in Leh. As the rest of the day is free, you can indulge in some last minute shopping at the popular markets of Leh such as Moti market, Balkhang chowk for apricot and Super Market.
Enjoy your breakfast and get assisted for in time transfer to board your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi transfer to hotel check in and day free to relax and rewind the time spent in majestic Himalayas. Overnight stay in Delhi.
Recreate the magic of our old-world charm with luxury under canvas at quite another level at our camps in India. From the land of the lamas, Thiksey Monastery welcomes the adventurous traveller to our unique destination, the Chamba Camp, Thiksey. The Ultimate Travelling Camp introduces glamping in India through its Ladakh tour packages. The Chamba Camp at Thiksey creates once-in-a-lifetime experiences - watch a game of polo, a sport of the royal family of Ladakh, raft down the River Indus, enjoy picnic lunches amidst the most picturesque spots with unforgettable views and much, much more.
Cradled by jagged mountains on the road north from the Leh Valley, meet two ancient rivers - the Nubra and the Shyok. They form the enchanting Nubra Valley - an oasis of legendary merchants, mercenaries and monks who crossed these high-altitude trans-Himalayan sand dunes in search of gold, glory and God. Continuing the expedition through dramatic landscapes of enormous glaciated peaks and arid pathways, reach the tranquil yet thriving village of Diskit. Untouched by the mainstream, the village has preserved its sanctity beautifully, despite being the commercial hub of Nubra.
Sham valley, situated on the Leh Srinagar highway is home to ancient monasteries, river gorges and ancient trek routes. Famous for its riverside assortment of beautiful villages, trekking routes, rafting passages and the best yield of apricots, Sham valley is the Eden of Ladakh. Set at the cliff bank of river Indus, 55 Kilometers into Sham valley is the village of Ule Tokpo. The village is home to the family running Ule Ethnic resorts since 1974. A premier property, Ule Ethnic resort with 15 ensuite deluxe cottages and 15 ensuite huts. Ule Ethnic Luxury Hotel, Resort is the first fully solar powered tourism project in Ladakh, taking ahead the local sustainable tourism initiative.
Journey to India.......once is not enough!!!!
BANKING AND CURRENCY
Currency
The Indian Rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The modern Indian Rupee is subdivided into 100 paise (singular paisa). Banknotes in circulation come in denominations of INR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 2000. Please note that as of November 2016, the older 500 and 1000 INR note are no longer valid legal tender and only new ₹500 notes will be accepted.
The latest Indian Rupee coins are available in denominations of INR 1, 2, 5, 10.
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. However, amounts exceeding US$5,000 or equivalent in cash, or US$10,000 or equivalent in all forms of currency must be declared. The export of foreign currency is allowed up to the amount imported and declared.
Currency can be changed at banks, airports or authorised money changers. Many hotels also have facilities to change money but this is a more expensive option. It is illegal to exchange money through unauthorised money changers. US Dollars and Pounds Sterling are the easiest currencies to exchange.
Banking
Banking hours: Monday-Saturday 10h00-03h30 (Bank will be closed on second and forth Saturday).
Strictly speaking, you can neither import nor export Indian currency, but you can get some at the airport straight away to at least get you transport to your accommodation. There are Authorized Foreign Exchange dealers in most big cities, and banks will also change your currency at a fair rate if you have time for the paperwork.
A good way of getting your travellers currency is via an ATM but beware of hidden bank charges, both from the bank providing the ATM and the card-issuing bank - you also do not know what exchange rate you are getting.ATMs are found in most towns and are recommended for cash withdrawals.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are usually accepted in tourist hotels and many other shops. Debit cards are also widely accepted.
Travellers cheques are widely accepted and may be changed at banks and larger hotels. The most widely accepted currencies include US Dollars and Pounds Sterling. Some banks may refuse to change certain brands of traveller's cheques whilst others may exchange quite happily.
TRAVEL, TRANSPORT AND GETTING AROUND
India is big and there are lots of interesting ways to travel around it, most of which could not very well be described as efficient or punctual. Allow considerable buffer time for any journey with a fixed deadline (eg. your flight back), and try to remember that getting there should be half the fun.
India's large size and uncertain roads make flying a viable option, especially as prices have tumbled in the last few years. Even India's offshore islands and remote mountain states are served by flights, the main exceptions being Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh (although crossing over from neighbouring states is fairly easy). Due to the aviation boom over the last few years, airports have not been able to keep up with the air traffic. Most Indian airports continue to function with one runway and a handful of boarding gates. Check in and security queues can be terribly long, especially in Delhi and Mumbai.
Railways were introduced in India in 1853, more than one and half a centuries ago, by the British, and today India boasts of the biggest network of railway lines in the world, and the rail system is very efficient, if not always on schedule. Travelling on Indian Railways gives you the opportunity to discover the Indian landscape and scenic beauty first hand and is generally more economical than flying domestic. It is one of the safest ways of travel in India. With classes ranging from luxurious to regular, it's the best way to get to know the country and its people. Most train passengers will be curious about you and happy to pass the time with a chat.
In central locations of big cities like airports or stations reliable pre-paid taxis are available and will save you money as well as the bargaining hassle. However beware of touts who would claim themselves to be running pre-paid taxis. Always collect the receipt from the counter first. The receipt has two parts - one part is for your reference and the other part you will need to handover to the taxi driver only after you reach your desired destination. The taxi driver will get his payment by submitting or producing this other part to the pre-paid taxi counter. Normal taxis running by meter are usually more common. In many non Metro Cities (or even in Metros depending on time) taxies or autos may ply without the usual meter.
While you can't take a cross-country bus-ride across India, buses are the second most popular way of travelling across states and the only cheap way of reaching many places not on the rail network (eg. Dharamsala).
FOOD, DRINK AND CUISINE ADVICE
Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is often unpasteurised and should be boiled. Avoid dairy products likely to have been made from non-boiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Do not eat salads, vegetables should be cooked and peel your own fruit. Don’t eat street vendor food unless it is piping hot. Tap water is not safe to drink, rely on bottled water which is widely available. However, do check the seal on bottled water.
Indian food is world-renowned for its tantalising flavours, spiciness and enormous variety. Curries are created from the subtle and delicate blending of spices such as cumin, turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and poppy seed although these vary from region to region and every spice has medicinal properties and use.
Vegetable dishes are more common than in Europe, particularly in the fruity, coconutty dishes of southern India, while northern India has an entirely different but equally satisfying cuisine to sample. Breads like paranthas, chapatis, naans and rotis are also part of the main diet in several states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Achars (pickles), relishes and chutneys again vary by region and add more resonance to amazing meals.
Sweets or mithai too have regional specialities. They tend to be milk based and some are syrupy and fried. Well-known northern sweets are gulab jamun, jalebi (it’s worth watching how these syprup-based confections are made in the street), kulfi, kheer, halwa and laddu. From the east are rasgulla and rasmalai. The south has several burfi and halwa-type desserts like coconut burfi and badam halwa made from almonds.
While care should be taken in where one eats, exceptional food can be had in the most humble surroundings such as food at ashrams as can be found in 5-star restaurants. Non-vegetarians will find fabulously spiced mutton dishes according to regional specialities including fish dishes typical to coastal areas.
10 to 15% is usual in restaurants that impose no service fee; optional where service fee is added to bill.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The weather is mainly hot most of the year with significant variations from region to region. The coolest weather lasts from around the end of November to the beginning of March, with fresh mornings and evenings, and mostly sunny days. The really hot weather, when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between March and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer anywhere between June and early October.
CLOTHING AND DRESS RECOMMENDATIONS
Male or female, one rule covers all visitors to India: don't leave the house with your arms or legs bare. You'll naturally get attention as a foreigner, as full-on staring is common and accepted on Indian streets, but you'll suffer far less negative attention if you remain covered up. For most locations and seasons in India, thin, loose linen or cotton pants and button-down shirts will keep you comfortable in hot, humid weather and help you blend in. While you may see Indian young adults sporting tight jeans and fitted brand-name tops, you'd stand out significantly more in the same outfit. If you visit anywhere in northern India - not just the mountains, Delhi too - during the winter, prepare for seriously cold weather. Bring jeans and heavy shirts and pick up an Indian wool wrap.
What you can get away with at an Indian beach depends entirely on which beach you visit. In the state of Goa, a popular beach and club getaway destination, locals are accustomed to seeing tourists in bikinis on the beach and Indian men often sport Speedos. But skimpy clothes need to stay on the beach. Don't walk around town or your hotel in nothing but a bikini and sarong. In less Western-frequented beach destinations, such as the beaches around Bombay, Alibag and Chowpatty, or anywhere in the south, hit the beach in light pants and a tunic.
When visiting temples and other religious sites on your own or part of a tour, be on the lookout for signs advising visitors to dress in a specific way to enter the temple. The government of India advises that some religious institutions require visitors to cover their heads or remove their shoes, and covering your legs and arms in respect goes without saying. Certain sites may carry more specific requirements, such as donning a certain colored sash or sarong-like covering. Take your cue from other visitors exiting the site.
ELECTRICITY AND PLUG STANDARDS
For the most part, electrical sockets (outlets) in India are the "Type D" 5 amp BS-546 sockets. This is actually an old British standard. The "Type D" Indian plug and socket is not to be confused with the "Type M" South African plug and socket. In pictures, they look very similar, but the South African type is much larger than the Indian type, and they are physically incompatible. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in.
Electrical sockets (outlets) in India usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliances are not compatible with 220-240 volt electrical output, a voltage converter will be necessary.
