 Once
past the Zoji-La Pass, 12,400 ft., the change is dramatic and stark. The green
valley becomes barren and awesome. The air becomes brisk, then warmer, Now you
are a little closer to the skies. The once forbidden land of Ladakh unfolds
itself. Small villages with towering monuments of granite; gravel mountains
encompassing them- mysterious yet magical... THIS IS LADAKH, Rooftop of the
World. The average height ranges between 10,500 ft. to 13,000 ft. above sea
level. The landscape gives us the impression of being somewhere on a lunar
surface, brown mountains contrasting deep blue. A thousand years ago Leh was
the commercial center of central Asia on the Silk Route'. This is the route
that Genghes Khan, Alexander the Great, and Marco Polo once passed. The
greatest attraction of Leh is its Buddhist culture, similar to Tibet with
monasteries carved into the hillsides. It is a land of magnificent statues of
Buddha in precious metals studded with prismatic stones; rich art treasures;
timeless Thankas and forceful murals with tantric symbols, signposts of a
glorious culture long gone. In Leh we'll visit the royal palace of the
Erstwhile King of Ladakh, Hemis Monastery -the largest in Ladakh. It contains a
number of gold statues and Stupas decorated with precious stones and a superb
collection of the Thankas, including the one that is largest in existence.
Hemis Gompa is the home of the three stories high statue of Buddha. We'll also
meet with the Monastery's resident Lama if permitted. Afterwards proceed to
Aichi & Likir Monasteries, which house statues of Buddha and 1000 year old
religious wall paintings.
On the exciting drive along the zigzagging highway towards
Kargil we'll turn into Suru Valley and cross the Pensi La Pass into Zanskar on
a hill rising dramatically. Before we start our trek from Padum we'll have a
day to explore Kargil and its rural life and to acclimatize ourselves. You will
experience the virgin beauty of this desolate rugged mountain range and its
cheerful inhabitants the Zanskaris as we call them, who welcome us with smiles
and prayer wheels along our route. Definitely an experience to treasure. During
your entire adventure trip you will be accompanied by our expert mountain
guide, chef and support staff to make your adventure a pleasant
experience!
Day 1
USA/DELHI:
 Welcome
aboard your jumbo jet flight to Delhi, your voyage to Ladakh travel, enjoy the
regal hospitality by silk sari clad hostesses. Indulge yourself with delicious
Indian and Continental cuisine.
Day 2
DELHI:
This evening arrive in Delhi, where you'll be received
and escorted to Hotel Taj Palace/ Hotel Ambassador.
Day 3
DELHI:
Morning at leisure.
Afternoon tour includes, the Presidential-Palace, Parliament House, India Gate,
Qutab Minar Tower, Jantar Mantar, the fashionable Connaught Circus. Red Fort,
Chandni Chowk, Mahalaxmi
 Temple and Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi.
Evening free.
Day 4
DELHI/LEH:
After breakfast flight to Leh. Leh is main centre of Ladakh travel, Leh is
located in small valley just the north of Indus valley. Today is free for
complete rest for proper acclimatization to the high altitude atmosphere.
Day 5 LEH/ALCHI:
Local sightseeing, Leh to Lamayuru,
Likir and Alchi and night halt at Alchi. Full day sightseeing Lamayuru. After
exploring villages around the area, it comes as a surprise to find that
Lamayuru is a scruffy little place. The gompa completely shadows and is the
most famous spectacular monastery in Ladakh. Alchi and Likir Monasteries, these
two monasteries are located near Saspal on the Srinagar-Leh road. They house
many gigantic clay statue of Buddha in various forms. The primary attraction of
these monasteries is, their 1000-year old wall painting which makes it a very
rewarding experience.
Day 6
LEH:
Alchi to Leh, on the way back sightseeing of Rizong and Spituk. Rizong is about 4 miles along a steep, rocky
track from the main road is the start of the area with the nunnery of Julochen
and the gompa of Rizong. The gompa, belongs to the Gelukpa. Spituk Monastery,
just before Leh on the Srinagar-Leh road on the hilltop overlooking the Indus,
the Spituk monastery boasts not only of some prized tankha, but also a chamber
with enormous statue of Kali, whose faces are unveiled once a year. The chamber
contains an ancient collection of face masks too. It houses of 135 yellow
capped monks.
Day 7 LEH/KARGIL:
Drive to Kargil. Sightseeing of Kargil, visit the Tete Sping and other interest
places the Suru Valley which form the main stay of Kargil district. Lying
nestled along the northeastern foothills of the Great Himalayan wall, it
extends from Kargil town, first south ward for a length of about 45 miles up to
the expanse around Panikhar, then eastward for another stretch of nearly 50
miles up to the foot of the Penzila watershed where the Suru River rises.
 Day 8-13 Trek Zanskar:
The steep barren hills now stretch to the snow line. As the snows melt, the
waters flow freely down into the heavily irrigated valleys. Here Tibetan-style
settlements thrive. White washed mud and stone houses contrast with deep-green
barley fields. Kargil 9,500 ft. 172 miles from Srinagar in the west and 192
miles from Leh in the east, is the second largest urban centre of Ladakh and
headquarters of the district of the same name. A quiet town now, Kargil once
served as an important trade and transit centre in the Pan Asian trade network.
Numerous caravans carrying exotic merchandise comprising silk, brocade,
carpets, felts tea, poppy, ivory etc. Transited in the town on their way to and
from China, Tibet, Yarkand and Kashmir. 
Day 14 KARGIL:
In Kargil for rest & relaxation
Day 15 KARGIL/SRINAGAR:
Drive to Srinagar via Drass, which is noted for its heavy snowfalls and extreme
cold. Drass 10,600 ft. west of Kargil on the road to Srinagar, are a small
township lying in the centre of a valley of the same name. It has become famous
as the second coldest inhabited place in the world by virtue of the intense
cold that descends upon the valley along with repeated snowfall during winter.
Winter temperature is sometimes known to plummet to below freezing levels.
During the spring and summer, however the valley around the township becomes
very picturesque as the gently undulating hillsides turn into lush green
pastures are splashed with a variety of fragrant wild flowers. Its inhabitants
are mainly of Darad stock, an Aryan race believed to have originally migrated
to the high valleys of the western Himalayas from the Central Asian steppes.
They speak Shina which, unlike the Tibetan- originated Ladakhi dialects spoken elsewhere in Ladakh region,
belong to the Indo-European linguistic family. Their ancestral sport, Horse
Polo, which the Darads play with particular zeal, resembles our modern polo.
After Zoji-la pass we'll drive thru Sonamarg, the
gold valley, past winding roads into Srinagar and our abode of luxury
houseboat.
Day 16
SRINAGAR:
ICruise through Dal and Nagin Lakes float through a
network of canals to the enchanted floating gardens of Nishat and Shalimar;
built in the 16th C. by Moghul emperors. Lunch will be served onboard the
Shikara (Gondola). Soak in the sun and swim or surf in
the lake. This evening enjoy a Wazwan feast (Local multi course meal usually
served on weddings or very special occasions).
Day 17
SRINAGAR/DELHI:
Morning free. Afternoon fly to
Delhi, time free for last minute shopping for gifts and prepare for homeward
bound departure.
 Day 18
DELHI/USA:
Early morning transfer to airport for flight bound for
New York.
Departure
Dates:
2009 May 21
Jun 11 18 25 Jul 9 16 23 30 Aug 7,14 Sep 4, 18, Oct 6 |
Tour cost:
2009 From JFK/CHI $4983.00
Single supplement. $23686.00
Note:
High season air surcharge additional
$550.00 Jun 1-Aug 31 & Dec 01-24
|
TOUR COST
INCLUDES:
Round trip coach
air fare from NY, first class & local hotels with daily American breakfast,
while in Srinagar deluxe Houseboat with all meals, transfers to and from
airports to hotels, all local long distance transportation, baggage handling,
all sightseeing tours as per itinerary by coach or chauffeured cars, and
available local transport, all meals Ladakh Zanskar trek with full trekking
gear of tents, sleeping bags and supporting staff of cook, helpers, ponies and
English speaking expert mountain guide, admission fees to all parks, monuments
and monasteries, trekking permits, local English speaking guide and services of
our tour managers.
|
 Business Class and First Class Upgrade supplement choices.
For added
comfort on your flight to Delhi, we are happy to offer the following upgrade
supplement to your tour cost.
Chicago and New York to Delhi
and Mumbai to JFK or CHI:
Subject to availabilityS
| Business
Class $2900.00-1S |
First Class
$6400.00-1S
|
| Business
Class $3700.00-NS |
First Class $9800.00-NS
|
|
Add-on Airfares
For passengers traveling from
cities other than New York or Chicago, you may add the following add-on fare
from your home city from the fare table below to above tour cost. Please call
(212) 564-5164 Mon-Fri 9.30AM-6.00 PM. ET, if you have questions. Travel via
Atlantic routing with an optional stop-over in London, Paris or
Frankfurt.
| $138.JFK
/CHI Albany NY, Bradley CT.
Binghamton NY, Boston, Buffalo, Baltimore, Charleston WV, Harrisburg PA,
Norfolk VA, Newport News VA, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
DC. |
| $246.JFK/CHIAtlanta GA,
Ashville NC, Kalamazoo MI, Birmingham AL, Nashville TN, Columbia SC, Akron
canton OH, Chattanooga TN, Charleston SC, Cleveland OH, Charlotte NC, Columbus
OH, Cincinnati OH, Dayton OH, Detroit MI, Fayetteville NC, Fort Lauderdale FL,
Fort Myers FL, Flint MI, Grand Rapids MI, Greensboro NC, Greenville SC,
Huntsville AL, Lansing MI, Lexington KY, Memphis TN, Miami, Melbourne FL,
Mobile AL, Orlando FL, West Palm Beach FL, Raleigh Durham NC, Savannah GA,
Louisville KY, Sarasota FL, Toledo OH, Tampa FL, Knoxville TN
|
| $295.JFK/CHI
Baton Rogue LA, Cedar Rapids IA,
Champaign IL, Daytona Beach FL, Des Moines IA, Evansville IN, Ft Wayne IN,
Fayetteville AR, Gulfport/Biloxi MS, Green bay WI, Indianapolis IN, Jackson MS,
Jacksonville FL, Lafayette LA, Little Rock AR, Kansas City MO, Milwaukee WI,
Madison WI, Minneapolis MN, New Orleans LA, Peoria IL, Pensacola FL, Rochester
MN, South Bend IN, Shreveport LA, St. Louis MO, Sioux City IA, Tallahassee FL
|
| $364.JFK/CHI Amarillo
TX, Austin, Corpus Christi TX, Dallas, El Paso, , Sioux Falls SD, Houston,
Wichita KS, Lubbock TX, Lincoln NE, Midland TX, Oklahoma City OK, Omaha NE,
Rapid City SD, San Antonio TX, Tulsa OK |
| $399.JFK/CHI Las Vegas
NV, Portland OR, Phoenix AZ, Seattle WA |
| $412JFK/CHI
Albuquerque NM, Billing MT, Colorado
Springs, Denver, Jackson Hole WY, Salt lake City UT |
| $452JFK/CHI Boise ID,
Eugene OR, Spokane WA, Idaho Falls ID, Reno NV, Tucson AZ |
For
questions or booking call (800) 421-8975 US/Canada |
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