Day 01 : ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive in India’s capital city New Delhi, where you are greeted with a traditional Indian welcome at the airport and escorted to your hotel, where a room has been blocked for immediate occupancy.
The remainder of this day is at your leisure. Overnight at to your hotel.
DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast at hotel, our representative meets you at the hotel and will brief you on your entire itinerary / tour; and later will accompany you for a full day sightseeing tour of New & Old Delhi.You begin the tour with visit of the Qutab Minar Complex, dominated by the 234-foot Victory Tower, followed by the spectacular Rajpath, passing the triumphant House of Parliament, Diplomatic Enclave, President’s House and the India gate & the famous Birla Mandir.
In the afternoon, you enter into the second leg of the full day tour; Old Delhi.
Visit the great Red Fort which was the opulent residence of Shah Jehan, builder of the Taj Mahal and the magnificent Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) which dominates the skyline. You also visit the Raj Ghat-- cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, later walk through Chandi Chowk, the old marketplace of Shahajahanabad, now a picturesque bazaar.
Later in the day, we take you to the main shopping areas in Delhi, and then drop you back to the hotel for your overnight stay.
DAY 03 : DELHI –AGRA - DELHI
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we pick you up from the hotel for your drive to Agra, which is a 220 kilometer / 5 hours approximate journey.
Our representative will meet you at Taj View hotel, where you freshen up and then continue with your sight seeing tour of Agra.
Explore the 16th century Agra Fort, seat of the Mughal dynasty in the 16th century. It lies on the bend of the River Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the year 1565-73 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls red sandstone and a moat.
Followed by a visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal, this incredible lacy white grandeur built by Emperor Shahjehan in memory of his loving wife Mumtaz Mahal, the “lady of the Taj”. It has been described, as the most extravagant monument ever built for love for the emperor was heartbroken when his wife Mumtaz died. The Taj Mahal has recently been immortalized by the inclusion as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”.
In the evening you will drive you back to Delhi for an overnight stay at your hotel.
DAY 04 : DELHI - LEH
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Leh. Upon arrival at Leh Airport you will met by Footprints representative and Welcome transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to acclimatize.
Leh City: The capital of Ladakh, at one time was a major stop on the Asian "Silk Route". A stroll along the main bazar, observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops, is an entrancing experience. Chang Gali, behind the main bazar is less bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 05 : LEH
Full day is at leisure to acclimatize with the high altitude.
Later in the afternoon, after lunch, you meet your trek guide who brief’s you upon the trek conditions and what one should carry on the back pack and how much can be loaded on your pony & the weather conditions
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 06 : SPITUK - ZINGCHEN 5 HRS.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Spituk trekking point, which is just 9 Kms from Leh town. You meet your trek guide and start the trekking to Zingchen, while the porters load the ponies with the essentials required for the trek.
A bridge takes you across the mighty river Indus to Farkha village. A walk through barren land -scape takes you to the junction where you come across a mountain stream. After fording the stream you reach a hamlet Zingchen consisting of two houses. The upper end of the village offers beautiful camping places at a nominal charge. You stop for picnic lunch enroute.
Arrive at the camping site, where the porters help you pitch your tent followed by serving of hot beverages and snacks.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 07 : ZINGCHEN - YURUTSE 6 HOURS.
After breakfast at the campsite start your trek upstream.
You come across two valleys, on the East and another to the Southwest. Rumbak a small village remains to your left. You will follow the trail to the southwest. After a mild ascend you reaches Yurutse consisting of two houses. After 2 hours walking a good camping site with clear spring water at the base of Kandala (4,900 Mtrs)
You stop for picnic lunch enroute.
Arrive at the camping site, where the porters help you pitch your tent followed by serving of hot beverages and snacks.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 08 : YURUTSE - SKIU 6 HOURS
After breakfast at the campsite start your trek
Having climbed the Kandala (4,900 Metrs) peak which commands a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, the descend from here to Shingo village is 2 hours to Shingo, a small village. You stop here for lunch.
Continue trek through thick groves of willow tress upto Choli Chikpo, descending to the village Sku.
Arrive at the camping site, where the porters help you pitch your tent followed by serving of hot beverages and snacks.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 09 : SKIU - MARKHA 5 HRS TREK.
After breakfast at the campsite start your trek
Most times, the Zanskar river remains to the right and has to be crossed a few times. After a pleasant walk through the wooded valley you reach the biggest village on the trek, called Markha Village. The village consisting of approximately 50 houses and has a monastery on a mountain spur at the lower end of the village. You will have picnic lunch.
Arrive at the camping site, where the porters help you pitch your tent followed by serving of hot beverages and snacks.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 10 : MARKHA - THACHUNCHE (4-5 HRS TREK)
After breakfast at the campsite start your trek
The trail continues eastwards, climbing steadily up the valley through the picturesque village of markha and its monastery. Today’s trek is more of ascending and we watch the wild animals like himalayan marmot, deer and white tail hare.
Arrive at the camping site, where the porters help you pitch your tent followed by serving of hot beverages and snacks.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 11 : THACHUNCHE – NIMALING (4 HRS TREK)
After breakfast at the campsite start your trek
Nimaling is a broad undulating meadow which slopes upwards to the base of ice clad Kangyatse peak which dominates the area. Nimaling, with tiny ponds and rivulets flowing all over its meadows. You will find yak, dzos, sheep, goats, horses and himalayan marmots and white tailed hares & Ibex.
Arrive at the camping site, where the porters help you pitch your tent followed by serving of hot beverages and snacks.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 12 : NIMALING
After a leisurely breakfast, you today laze around the camp site, or go right upto the base of Kangyatse mountain, one of the porters will carry your lunch hamper or explore the high meadowland.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 13 : NIMALING - SHANG SUMDHO (13,230 FT/3,973
M): 7-8 HRS.
After breakfast at the campsite start your trek
Crossing to the north of markha begin the climb up to the highest of the three passes Kongmarula (17,409 ft/5,274 m) with its wonderful views from the top. The trial descends steeply to the head of martselang valley pasty the sulphur springs of chuskyurmo. Packed lunch enroute
Arrive at the camping site, where the porters help you pitch your tent followed by serving of hot beverages and snacks.
Dinner & overnight in camp.
DAY 14 : SUMDHO – HEMIS - LEH: 01 HRS TREK
+ DRIVE
After breakfast at the campsite start your trek
An Easy Descent Along The Bank Of The Martselang To Where It Broadens Into The Valley Of Indus At The Village Of Martselang your Jeep Waits For You And Drivee You to Hemis Monastery.
Hemis, this is the richest monastery in the Indus valley this is famous for it's annual festival Hemis festival is celebrated on the 10th day (Tses-Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month and lasts for two days. The festival occurs only once in 12 years (as per the Tibetan calendar it takes place in the year of the Monkey). Last time it was in year 2004
After lunch drive to Leh. On arrival check in hotel.
Dinner & overnight at your hotel..
DAY 15 : LEH
Full day is at leisure to rest.
All meals and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 16 : LEH – ALCHI (VIA PHYANG, LIKIR &
BASGO)
After breakfast our representative will take you on a sight seeing tour of Leh and the surrounding areas.
Drive to Phyang, Located 22 Kms from Leh. The monastery is remarkably built on the hilltop, similar to the Likir monastery. Drive further to Likir and visit Likir gompa situated atop a windy cliff top overlooking the beautiful village of Likir. It was founded in the 12th Century. Basgo, The seat of power of a branch of the Namgyal family. It is here in 1680 A.D. that invading Mongol and Tibetian armies were held in check over a three yearlong seige.
Drive and cross the River Indus and reach Alchi, Ladakh's most loved monastery. Over a century old, its wall paintings are very similar to those of the Tabo gompa in Spiti.
Drive back to leh.
Dinner & overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 17 : LEH – DELHI – ONWARD DESTINATION
After breakfast at the hotel, time is at leisure. Afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi.
Upon arrival at Delhi’s domestic airport, you will be met and taken to city center for a frewell dinner at a local restaurant followed by your being transferred to the International airport for your onward flight.
Duration : 16 Nights / 17 Days Trek & Touring
