|
Tour highlights |
Ladakh bicycle tour into some of the most distant
villages visiting amazing monasteries, traversing Ladakh's barren passes that
are among the highest in the world, namely the Photo La ( 4100m), Wari La
(5250m) and the highest pass of them all, the striking Khardung La leading into
Nubra, the remote outpost of Ladakh in the far north, separating the Leh Valley
from that of Nubra, with the pass towering to an awesome 5385 meters above sea
level.
The tour packs in all of the cultural highlights of Ladakh. You'll visit the
dramatically located Lamayuru Gompa, one of probably the most photographed
gompas in Ladakh and all of Buddhist world. The Lamayuru gompa sits on a high
rocky outcrop overlooking a valley against the backdrop of peaks of Ladakh
range, a Leh highway winding below and then ascending up toward passes leading
to Kargil.
From Lamayuru we head toward Pakistan / India border, to villages of Dha-Hanu,
populated by the Brokpa people of pure Indo Aryan race, with links to genes of
the Alexander the Great's troops of 2000 years ago. Unlike their neighbors
across the Indus on the Pakistani side of the border, their culture and
religious practices of the Brokpa are incredibly similar to ancient pre-Buddhist
religion of Bon.
From Dha Han we cycle back east towards Leh and half way there turn we sidetrack
to the exclusive Alchi Gompa. The Alchi monastery is positioned on a flat
terrain but high above the Indus. Established by Ringchen Zangpo, the Alchi
Gompa is unique among Ladakh monasteries as it displays a Kashmiri influence in
its art and architecture, rich in fine frescoes and images of Buddha.
Back on the primary Leh road we soon take yet another detour, up towards the
striking Likir Monastery situated below the ridge separating the Indus watershed
from Nubra's. Of the Gyalukpa order, housing a rich collection of works of art,
and also called the Klu-Kkhjil or "water spirits" Gompa, the 18th century Likir
monastery is constructed over an earlier Gompa burnt down in the 15th century.
Some 52 Km later we pass by Leh en route to Shey and Thiksey monasteries. Soon
thereafter leave the Indus Valley once more, cycling uphill towards Chemrey
village and monastery of the same name, imposing at the summit of a perfect cone
of a hill. From here we continue climbing until arriving the fine Nyingmapa
monastery of Takthok.
After Takthok we proceed to climb up over the impressive Wari La pass (5250m)
down to Shyok River and the secluded Nubra Valley, once the staging ground for
caravans into Chinese Turkestan. In Hunder you may have a chance to see few
remaining Bactrian camels that were once used by the caravans of the ancient
Silk Road. Finally from Nubra we bike up the highest pass of Khardung La (5385m
/ 18,390 ft) and over back down to Indus Valley and Leh.
 |
Lamayuru
to Dha Hanu and Nubra Itinerary
Day 1:Leh to Lamayuru by car,
125km
Day 2: Lamayuru to Dha Hanu across Photo La (4100m), 82km
Day 3: Dha Hanu to Khaltse, 79km
Day 4: Khaltse to Liker with a visit to Alchi, 45km
Day 5: Liker to Shey
Palace and Monastery, 72km
Day 6: Shey to Takthok, 46km
Day 7: Takthok to Tangyar , 48km
Day 8: Tangyar across Wari La (5250m)o Hunder in Nubra, 52km
Day 9: Hunder to Sumur 23km
Day 10: Sumur return to Leh over Khardung La (5385m)
Day 11: Fly Leh back to Delhi.
Click
to Print Itinerary
Book Now |
or
