Leh Ladakh Cultural Tour for Couple or Group

Day 1- Arrival in Leh | acclimatise for the new weather | visit LAMO.

• Our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. You have to acclimatise for the day in order to better experience the days to come.
• In the evening you will visit L.A.M.O ( Ladakh art and media organisation) at the hill of Kharyok (a place near the Leh Palace). This place houses gallery, library and open-air performance site where lectures, film screenings, research and documentation projects, workshops and exhibitions about Ladakh’s material and visual culture, performing arts and literature are held regularly.
• Also visit Leh Palace if time allows for it.

Day 2- Leh to Lamayuru Village (120 km)

• After breakfast Leave for Lamayuru, visit Hall of fame, Pather Saheb Gurdwara and Sangam on the way. 
• Shortly after crossing the bridge at Khaltse the road splits, Both roads lead to Lamayuru. Yungdrung Gompa, as Lamayuru  Gompa is more properly known, is thought to have its origins in the pre-Buddhist era, as a holy site of the Bon religion.It is also considered to be the oldest monastic site in Ladakh. It offers views down on the ‘moonscape’ refers to what some geologists believe was once a lake-bed in the steep, enclosed valley.
• In the evening expect a dinner invitation from one of the local, as they are good at telling about the culture and whereabout. 
• Enjoy the local cuisine and head for bed.

Day 3- Back to Leh | Enroute Alchi and Likir

• Today you will leave for Leh, visit Alchi monastery on the way. 
• Alchi is one of the few remaining places that have a huge significance in any Ladakh cultural tours, it well preserved Buddhist art from the early Indian Buddhist period, partly due to the damage inflicted on many other important sites during their takeover, in later times, by Muslims. 
• Alchi was abandoned as a place of active worship, it was later taken charge of by Likir Gompa. To which we are heading next. 
• Likir Gompa is situated farther up this side valley beyond the village. On the way to the gompa, you pass several Chortens (statues). This is a good spot to take a photo. From here you can just make out a giant gold-coloured statue situated behind the gompa that, as usual, crowns a hill. 
• Head back to Leh and let go of your tiredness. 

Day 4- Leh to Changthang | Merak village (180 km) 

• Well, today is for a treat because not many people go to these places in Changthang (northern plain of Ladakh), this is where the Pashmina comes from in Leh and exports to other states in India. Well, the culture of the place is such that they have a small grin on their face. And the redness of the cheek is because of the typography of the land, they are welcoming and good for hosting a guest. 
• This is a long journey so it is recommended to leave early in the morning, visit Shey Palace on the way. 
• Shey situated 15km southeast of Leh, is one of the ancient capitals of Ladakh and has a great cultural significance to Ladakh, as it was the first capital of Ladakh. Opposite the palace is a large man-made pond, which houses lots of fish and ducks, thought to have been created when the palace was built. This is a good spot for some Photography. 
• Next, you will run into Chang-la pass, highest road of the journey. This place is worth stopping for and taking pictures.
• You will descend into a beautiful valley of Changthang, after sometimes through a gap in a ridge, Pangong lake appears, and there she is in all her glory. On a good day, the waters of the lake reflect the incredible blues of the skies of Ladakh. And the lake continues down all the way to Spangmik as far as the villages of Maan and Merak. 
• Merak has a small gompa and is worth taking a walk. The view of the Pangong lake and surrounding is amazing from here.
• Stay in a homestay for the night and try a local cuisine of your choice. 

Day 5- Merak to Chuchul village | Border of Indo-China (30 km) 

• Start your day with a healthy breakfast and head towards Chuchul village. This place in this Leh Ladakh cultural tour is tailor-made for the itinerary because of its Location. Just a few kilometres away then there is the border for India and China.
• A lot has happened on this ground from the 1962 war, on ground and Rizang-La. There is a memorial of that war and most of the people are employed by the army as porter, helper and for road construction works. 
• Chuchul is the biggest village among all the other villages in Changthang region. There is a lot to look for in its culture and you have to take a walk in the village and the gompa to find some. 
• Later that evening you can choose to stay at Chuchul or go back to Merak village. 

Day 6- Chuchul to Tsomoriri and Korzok village (180 km) 

• Today is an exciting journey covering lots of barren lands and seeing Kyangs ( Himalayan wild ass) on the way to tsomoriri Lake. You will come across Taklang-La pass and descend into the unknown picturesque valley.  
• This is a great route offering lots of variety. Along the way, you will most likely come across Chang-pa (people of northern plain) nomads and may also spot some interesting wildlife. 
• Tsomoriri lake is visually bigger than Pangong Tso, the lake is an important breeding ground for migratory bird species, including rare and endangered species such as the black-necked crane, as well as: brahminy ducks, Great-crested grebes, bar-headed geese and brown-headed gulls. Tsomoriri hosts a far greater number of birds than does Pangong Tso. 
• Korzok village is the benefactor of fewer tourist for Tsomoriri and it is the highest village in India with around 60 families and 70 monks. Korzok celebrates its festival ( Korzok gustor) every year in the monastery, which attracts a lots of people for the display of its cultural dance by the monk wearing huge masks. 
• In the evening stay in a guest house or homestay in Korzok. 

Day 7- Local Sightseeing 

• Today is for some serious local business, walk around the village, visit the Gompa or talk to a local about the place. 

Day 8- Tsomoriri to Leh | Tsokar (white lake) | Taklang-la (220 km)

• If you wish to visit Tsokar salt lake on the way back from Tsomoriri – a route that after Tsokar joins up with the main Manali to Leh road below Taklang-la pass – you must allow more time. As the road to Tsokar is unmade, driving is slow. Also, you will want to spend some time at Tso Kar itself before returning to Leh. 
• From here the landscape is just a visual feast up until Taklang-la. (second highest motorable road)
• After descending from the pass you will come across few prominent villages of Ladakh like ‘Gya’ Meru, Runtse, Upshi and Kharu all alongside the main highway. 
• Visit Thiksay Gompa on the way back. Thiksay gompa is one of the most impressive and probably also the largest gompa in Ladakh. Even before you arrive in Thiksey, you cannot fail to see Thikse Gompa perched high on a ridge overlooking the Indus valley. Thiksay is one of several gompas established in Ladakh during the period of reformation of Tibetan Buddhism in the 15th century by the Tibetan lama, Tsong Khapa. The Rimpoche of thikse is considered to be a re-incarnation of Tsong Khapa.
• Thiksa is perhaps most famous with visitors for the beautiful giant statue of Maitreya Buddha it houses. 
• Later check into the hotel and restoff. 

Day 9- Leh local 

• Today is at your disposal. Whether you want to visit a nearby village or monastery, or perhaps you can visit local market for some souvenir. 

Day 10- Return 

• Tour ends with loads of memory from Leh Ladakh culture. Our representative will transfer you to the airport.