Leh & Ladakh

Delhi - Leh. Early morning transfer to the airport for your included flight to Leh, upon arrival we transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Leh is the capital of Ladakh – a vast highland desert lying between the Karakoram and the Himalayan ranges. Ladakh is characterised by a desolate moonlike landscape and snowy peaks. Leh is inhabited predominantly by the Buddhists and accordingly is the centre of Buddhist culture. Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of the town, dominated by Sengge Namgyal’s nine-storey palace, a building in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture. Above it, on Namgyal Semo the peak overlooking the town, are the ruins of the earliest royal residence at Leh, a fort built by king Tashi Namgyal in the 16th century. In the bazaar, the main sites to visit are the Jo Khang a modern ecumenical Buddhist temple, and an imposing mosque dating from the late 17th century situated opposite each other.

Enjoy a full day excursion to Shey, Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. Shey monastery situated on a hilltop is about 15km from Leh and was the summer palace of the royal family of Leh. The monastery houses a two storey high-seated image of Buddha cast from copper and covered with gold leaf. Thiksey monastery is situated on a hilltop and the views of the green Indus Valley from its rooftop are splendid. This monastery has a number of chambers full of statues and stupas. Courtyard murals are bright and this imposing structure is in many respects a replica of Potala Palace in Lhasa. Hemis Gompa is the biggest and wealthiest monastery in Ladakh and contains a large number of gold statues, stupas and thangkas, one of which is reputed to be the largest in existence and is exhibited once every 12 years.

Leh - Delhi. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your fight back to Delhi. Late evening you will be transferred to your hotel or to the airport in time for your onward fight.

If you'd like to extend your stay, we offer a variety of hotels, short stays and add-ons for you to choose from. Please read our best places to visit or best things to see each month for suggested places to visit on your holiday. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please let us know so we can accommodate your request.

For information about visas, top travel tips, best time to travel and much more, browse our travel guide.