In the morning hour, board flight to Leh and enjoy a thrilling and scenic landing at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport of Leh, surrounded by rugged high mountain ranges. After collecting luggage, we will drive down to the hotel situated in the heart of the ancient city of Leh. Relax during rest of the day and let your body acclimatize to this sudden change of altitude. Enjoy leisure time at Hotel hotel with an early dinner and then to take good rest.

Wake up early to enjoy breathtaking view of Ladakh. Post breakfast, we will proceed to a leisurely tour to Hemis Monastery. Because, our body will take some more time to acclimatize, todays' tour will be at slow pace.

Hidden between a gorge, close to the hill where Lord Padmanasambhava or Rimpoche had once meditated, Hemis monastery stayed unscathed through several wars and conquests. While other monasteries were plundered and looted, Hemis, owing to its hidden location and the generosity showed by reigning Buddhist rulers, went on to become so rich that it is believed that it now owns half of the land in Ladakh. Today, the Hemis Monastery is the biggest, richest and most powerful monastery in Ladakh, situated at 45 km from Leh.

Post lunch hours, on our way back, we will visit, the Thikse Monastery, 20 km away from Leh, which is spectacularly located on a hill and famous for beautiful murals and a huge image of Maitreya Buddha, an outstanding specimen of Ladakhi architecture. Will also visit Druk White Lotus School which is more popularly known as Ranchos school after shooting of 3 Idiots movie. Return back to the hotel for delicious dinner and a good night sleep.

Post breakfast we shall proceed towards Nimmu Valley following Leh - Srinagar highway. On the way, you will find Cooking Gas Refilling Plant, Hydroelectric Power Plant all at the highest altitude in the world. At Nimmu Valley admire breathtaking view of the confluence of Indus and Zanskar river. You can clearly see two different color of rivers flowing from different directions. There is a small restaurant at the view point where you can try some hot soupy noodles or ladakhi chai. Spend some time at Magnetic Hill, a gravitation hill, which creates an optical illusion through a rising and descending terrain.

By noon, we will reach Alchi Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh region, on the bank of river Indus. Though traditionally, the credit for the construction of the monastery goes to the great translator Rinchen Zangpo (958-1055), the oldest monuments preserved here date back to the middle of the 12th century. The monastery complex houses two main temples - Alchi Du-khang and the Sum-tsek. There is no electricity in the monastery, so we have to carry a flash light to sight the lavish wood carving and ancient artwork. You may also offer oil and light to the monastery. Spend some leisure time with shopping of Tibetan style arts and crafts at market outside the Monastery. and enjoy your lunch.

On the way, while returning back to Leh from Alchi, we will visit Pathar Sahib Gurdwara

Today we will climb steadily from Leh to the deep valleys of the Shyok and Nubra rivers that separate Karakoram from Ladakh range. Both rivers are fed by Siachen glacier and flow through the valley of flowers - Nubra. It is really thrilling to know that Nubra Valley lies in the old trans-Himalayan Silk Route from South to Central Asia. We will cross Khadungla Pass (18,500 ft), the highest motorable road in the world.

Once we reach Nubra, you will encounter an awesome creature - double-humped camels grazing on the valley of braided Shyok River. You may go for a safari ride on camel back in the sand dunes of Nubra valley. We will check in to the Tented Swiss Camp at pretty hamlet 'Hunder' and take some rest. In the evening, enjoy a show of Ladakhi dance performance. After returning back to the tent you will be served an early dinner.

Post breakfast, we will drive along the shyok river towards 515 years old Diskit Monastery which was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong Khapa, founder of Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. This is the oldest and the second largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh after Thiksey monastery. From the top of the monastery, get an enthralling view of diskit or roam in the ancient prayer halls full with chanting monks, crashing cymbals and deep horns.

We will drive down to the mesmerizing Pangong Tso Lake which gained immense fame after Bollywood blockbuster '3 idiots' and is a highlight of our tour in Ladakh. It will take appx 5 hours to reach Pangong Lake at 14,270 ft height. We will have couple of stopovers at beautiful villages on the way. As we approach the lake, you can see blue hue of the lake at the horizon surrounded by rugged mountain terrain. 'Pangong' means "long, narrow, enchanted lake". The Indo-China line of control runs through the lake and 60% of the Lake lies in China. Surprisingly Pangong is not a sweet water lake typically found at high altitude, but is the highest salt water lake in Asia. Despite being saline in water, the lake freezes completely during winter months.

Upon reaching the shore of the lake, we will check-in to the comfortable tented camp. In the evening, take a leisurely walk on the shore and admire the shimmering beauty of the lake during sun set. Return back to the camp to participate in team activities and have some fun moments with your co-travelers. Enjoy your dinner and return to your tent for a pleasant sleep.

Do not miss out the panoramic view and serenity of the Pangong Lake in the morning - changing hue from deep mournful grey to an uplifting blue-green as sun rises the horizon. If you have interest in birds, then look out for migratory birds like Brahmani Ducks, Rare black necked cranes and Ladakhi Marmot. Post warm breakfast, we will drive back to Leh and reach by afternoon. On the way to Leh, we will cross Chang La Pass (17,688 ft). We will stop for lunch on the way and then drive down to Leh. Spend rest of the evening at your leisure till dinner at hotel.

Post breakfast, visit Leh Hall of Fame which has a museum built and maintained by Indian Army in the memory of the soldiers who had lost their lives during the Indo-Pak wars. Know about Kargil war heroes and soldiers' life at Siachen glacier.

Post lunch we shall visit Shanthi Stupa and Leh Palace, the former mansion of the royal family of Ladakh, built in the same style and about the same time as the Potala Palace. It was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Go to market to shop for traditional arts and crafts. Return to hotel, enjoy your dinner and get a pleasant sleep.

Today we will check out from the hotel in early morning and proceed towards airport for flight back home. Sad as we were to begin the journey back, some things stay embedded in our hearts and minds forever - the extraordinary scenery, snowy summits magnified by the crystal-clear sunshine, arid plains interspersed with a moonscape of deep gorges, vibrant culture, wizened faces and rosy cheeks... and the aura of greatness. Ladakh will always stay close to the heart.