|
Experience
the transcendent beauty of Kashmir, Paradise on Earth, and
explore the colourful Buddhist history of Ladakh. In
Srinagar you stay on a houseboat on the serene and peaceful
Nagin Lake - one of life’s most
unforgettable experiences. Water-powered peddlers sell
everything from saffron to paper-mache deer to the houseboat
door. Ride a Shikara - a Kashmiri gondola - to the watery
vegetable markets and see the mountains mirrored in the lakes.
Discover
the Kashmir Himalaya and get close to nature in one of the most
beautiful regions on earth. An easy-graded, seven-day trek
takes us far from civilisation and off into a landscape of
glaciers, towering peaks and enchanting mountain lakes.
Leh,
the capital of Ladakh, is a dream come true for many travellers.
Its ancient Buddhist history, displayed with gompas and
monasteries set off in a fluttering of prayer flags at every
turn, is set off in a most dramatic way against a backdrop of
the world's tallest peaks. Villages untouched by the
trappings of modern life dot the surrounding valley.
A
tour designed to take you to India's most enchanting northern
spots, the places you visit are sure to capture both heart and
imagination for some time to come. An ideal trip for
families and lone travellers alike, this tour fits easily into a
longer itinerary of travel in India, or can be treated as a
short holiday.
ITINERARY
DAY
01 DELHI
You are met on arrival in Delhi and transfer to your hotel.
DAY 02 DELHI - SRINAGAR
In the morning we transfer to the airport for the flight to
Srinagar, Kashmir, which takes just over an hour. On
arrival you are met and taken to your houseboat on the
beautiful Nagin Lake.
 DAY 03 SRINAGAR
Sightseeing in and around Srinagar takes
in the beautiful Hazratbal mosque, where the famous relic of
the repository of a single hair of the prophet Mohammed is
found, and exhibited on certain days of the year. We
explore the old city and visit the beautiful Mughal gardens,
a legacy of the Mughals' great love for Kashmir.
DAY 04 SRINAGAR - PAHALGAM -
ARU We
drive out of Srinagar to commence our trek. Situated
2130m up at the confluence of the streams flowing from
Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder River, Pahalgam was once
a humble shepherd's village with breathtaking views. Now it
is Kashmir's premier resort, deliciously cool even in the
height of summer, and a wonderful day is spent exploring the
natural pine forests and enjoying nature's splendour.
We trek steadily along the river to the pretty log-hut
village of Aru, 11 kms from Pahalgam. At Aru, the camp
is already set up for you beside the Lidder River. We
eat a delicious dinner round the fire and rest.
DAY
05 ARU
- LIDDER WATT We
trek 11 kms through the lush Lidder Valley to Lidder Watt,
where our reward is overnight at the beautiful Lidder Watt
campsite, situated by a stream that runs straight from the
glacier into the Tarsar Lake.
DAY 06
LIDDER WATT - KOLAHOI A
short trek takes us to the base of the Kolahoi Glacier at
the head of the Lidder Valley, where our surroundings
become noticeably more alpine and dry.
The glacier, climbing from 3400m up to 4000m, descends from
twin peaks at 5433m that tower majestically overhead, and is
a truly magnificent sight. We head back to Lidder Watt
for campfire meal and rest.
DAY
07 LIDDER WATT - TARSAR LAKE A
memorable say as we follow the pure, glacial trail to the
shores of Tarsar Lake, a stunning, clear pool hidden deep in
between the awesome surrounding peaks. We camp
overnight at the lake.
DAY
08 TARSAR LAKE - SINDH VALLEY Today is
another momentous day, as we set off over the Simmus Pass at
2500m, offering superb views of the mountain landscape on
all sides of us. We then descend steadily on an easy
path into the Sindh Valley, watching as the scenery becomes
increasingly green and lush once more. We settle into
our camp set up in the near side of the Sindh Valley.
DAY
09 SINDH VALLEY - SUMBAL A pleasant
day's walking as we descend further into the beautiful Sindh
Valley, enjoying the shady forests groves and gushing brooks
that feed this lush landscape of flowers and trees. We
arrive at Sumbal, a small village in this stunning land,
with the mountain peaks still visible on the horizon.
Here we rest and enjoy our last night of the trek.
DAY
10 SUMBAL - SRINAGAR We transfer by
road to Srinagar, and settle into your houseboat
accommodation on arrival to rest and reflect on our
expedition.
DAY 11 SRINAGAR - LEH
We transfer to the airport for our flight to Leh, where
you are met and transfer to your hotel.
DAY 12 LEH
The day is spent
sightseeing in and around Leh, the capital of Ladakh, which
is nestled in a valley just north of the Indus. We visit
some of the Buddhist gompas here, including the Namgyal
Tsemo Gompa, built in 1430, which contains a fabulous
three-storey-high image of the Buddha, as well as many
ancient manuscripts and frescoes. Above lies the
ruined fort, from which spectacular views of Leh, blooming
amidst a fluttering of brightly coloured prayer flags, can
be enjoyed. We visit the former abode of the
sixteenth century ruler of Ladakh, Leh Palace, and journey
out to Thiksey and Hemis to explore the ancient monasteries.
 DAY 13 LEH
The day is spent at leisure to explore this ancient
Buddhist centre at your own pace. Several
nearby villages with fascinating Buddhist history lie within
easy walking distance, whilst within Leh a vibrant culture
of colourful bazaar shops and stalls thrives.
DAY
14 LEH - KARGIL
We transfer by road to Kargil, the second
largest settlement in Ladakh and the mid-way point of our
journey back to Srinagar. Nestling in the Suru valley,
Kargil is set amidst green, richly cultivated hill sides.
The two tributaries of the River Suru, the Drass and the
Wakha, meet here in this beautiful spot. In
Kargil we check into your hotel for the night.
DAY 15 KARGIL - SRINAGAR
We continue on our way to Srinagar, along the spectacular
Leh - Srinagar mountain road. Many times we stop to
marvel at the breath-taking landscape, feeling the remote
mountain air and the closeness to the heavens enveloping us
completely. On arrival in Srinagar in the afternoon,
we transfer to the houseboat and relax.
 DAY 16 SRINAGAR
The day is at leisure in Srinagar, to
rest or to explore the city and shop for famous Kashmiri
handicrafts. A marvellously lazy day can be spent
lounging on a Shikara boat, exploring the narrow waterways
of the lake.
DAY 17 SRINAGAR - DELHI
We transfer to the airport for your
flight back to Delhi. On arrival you settle into your
hotel and are at leisure for the remainder of the day.
DAY 18 DELHI
We transfer to the airport or station for your onward
journey. Tour ends.
TOUR
INCLUSIONS
All food and
accommodation during trek, including cooked breakfast,
packed lunch and cooked dinner. Houseboat
accommodation in Srinagar is on a full board basis.
Accommodation in Delhi, Leh and Kargil is on a room-only
basis.
All trekking
expeditions as specified with guide, all camping equipment
(modern tents, down sleeping bags) and porters. You
carry only your daypack.
All transfers
by road, including pick-ups and drop-offs at start and end
of tour.
All
sightseeing tours as specified.
All economy
class internal flights as specified: DELHI - SRINAGAR;
SRINAGAR - LEH; SRINAGAR - DELHI. |
