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7Kashmir – Leh – Combo Tour
13 nights / 14 days
Day 01: Delhi / Srinagar
Meet upon arrival at Srinagar airport and transfer to Hotel / Deluxe Houseboat.Late afternoon enjoy a majestic Shikara ride on the famous Dal Lake to enjoy the beauty that God has graced this city with, which is often compared to Venice. You will get view of some very interesting places around the Lake.
Dinner & overnight stay at Hotel / Houseboat.
Day 02: In Srinagar
Morning after breakfast sightseeing of Mughal gardens visiting Nishat Bagh (Abode of pleasure), built by Asif Khan brother-in-law of Jehangir in 1632 AD, Shalimar Bagh (Abode of Love) built by Jehangir for his wife Empress Noor Jehan. These beautiful mountains are situated on the bank of Dal Lake with the Zabarwan Mountains in the background. Distance from Srinagar is about 12 and 15 km’s respectively. Enroute, visit a carpet weaving factory. Also visit Shankrachariya Temple to have Darshan and Bird’s eye view of Srinagar city and famous Dal Lake.
Afternoon City Tour visiting Fort, Jamia Masjid, Shah Hamdan Shrine and walk through the narrow streets of Old City ,Down Town to experience the living style and Culture of local people.
Day 03: Srinagar / Gulmarg
After breakfast check out of the Hotel / Houseboat and proceed to Gulmarg, Meadow of Flowers ( 56 km /2 hrs) situated at an altitude of 2730 meters, Arrive Gulmarg and check in at Hotel for overnight stay. Enjoy the leisurely walks on the lush green meadows of flowers with a backdrop of the snow capped mountains. In winter, Gulmarg acquires a new persona that of the country’s premier skiing resort.Dinner & overnight in the Hotel.
Day 04: Gulmarg / Pahalgam
After breakfast check out of the Hotel at Gulmarg and proceed to Pahalgam (7200 fts) “Village of Shepherds” for overnight stay. (140 kms / 31/2 hrs) Enroute visiting the world famous Saffron growing fields, Awantipura ruins (9th Century) and Mattan Temple(Sun temple). Pahalgam is also famous for Indian film Industry (Bollywood). On Pahalgam is also famous for some trekking routes & also base camp for Amarnath Pilgrimage. Enjoy the Natural beauty, river and environs therein Dinner & overnight in the Hotel.
Day 05: In Pahalgam
Option 1. Visit to Aru Valley which is a small village, 15 km upstream theLidderRiver, The route is picturesque with ample campsites. This village is the starting point for treks to the Kolahoi glacier.
Option 2. Vsist to Chandanwari, 16 Km which is the starting point of sacred Amarnath Yatra. Chandanwari is famous for snow sledging on a snow bridge, Enroute you can visit Hajan, an idyllic picnic spot and Betaab valley where the famous Bollywood movie Betaab was shot.
Option 3. You can enjoy leisurely walks in pine forest along River Lidder and enjoy picnic on riverside.
Option 4. You can enjoy pony ride to Baisaran meadow, surrounded by thickly wooded pine forest and snow-capped mountains. This grassy glen offers a panoramic view of Pahalgam town and Lidder Valley.
Dinner & overnight in the hotel.
Day 06: Pahalgam / Srinagar
After breakfast drive back to Srinagar for overnight stay. Arrive Srinagar and check in at Houseboat / Hotel.
Afternoon free for personal activities.
Dinner & overnight in the Houseboat/ hotel.
Day 07: Srinagar / Kargil
Morning drive to Kargil via Sonamarg (Golden Meadow), over Zoji’la pass (3033 Mts.) and Drass (second coldest inhabited place in the world). A distance of 204 kms. will be covered in about 9 hrs.
Dinner overnight in hotel at Kargil.
Day 08: Kargil/Leh
After very early breakfast, leave for Leh. Drive over Namikala ( 12200 ft.) Fatu-la (13,489 ft.) which is the highest pass on Srinagar – Leh road, enroute visit Mulbekh where Chamba statue is carved out of a single rock about 144 ft. high & Lamayuru monastery which is the oldest monastery in Ladakh. A distance of 230 kms will be covered in about 10 hrs.
Dinner overnight in hotel
Day 09 In Leh
Morning after breakfast sightseeing of . Hemis Gompa, Thiksey Gompa and Shey Palace . Hemis is one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh and houses about 150 monks; it also stages the annual Hemis festival. On the way back to Leh, visit the superbly situated, 16th century, Thiksey Gompa, which is perched on a hill top. Last stop is the ruined Shey Palace, once the summer palace of the pre-Tibetan kings. The palace monastery houses a large, bronze, blue haired Buddha statue. Later drive back to Hotel for dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 10 Leh /Pangong / Leh
Morning after early breakfast drive towards east of Leh via Chang-la Mountain Pass (18,000 ft / 5,475 m) to Pangong Lake, (4267m / 14000 ft.), 145 kms / 5 hours one way upto the shore of the lake and the first village, Lukung.
Pangong Lake is 7 kms at its widest point, and over 130 kms long, and is divided by the international border between India and China only one-third of it lying in India. Spangmik, the farthest point is about 7 kms along the southern shore from the head of the lake. It presents a spectacular view of the mountains of the Chang-chenmo range to the north, their reflections shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lake’s brackish waters. Above Spangmik are the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Pangong range. The water o the lake is salty.
Later drive back to Leh for dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 11 In Leh
After breakfast drive to KHARDUNG LA (THE HIGHEST MOTORABLE ROAD IN THE WORLD) AT 5,602 M / 18,390 FT, around 39 km from Leh. From the pass, one can see all the way south over the Indus valley to seemingly endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, and north to the giants of the Saser massif. The views from the top of the pass are amazing. Return to the hotel on time for lunch. In the afternoon you can stroll around the market place for some last minute souvenir shopping.
Dinner overnight in hotel.
Day 12 In Leh
Morning free. Afternoon visit Shanti Stupa built by Japanese, Shankar Gompa is associated with Spituk Gompa and serves as the residence of the Head Lama. The monastery has Dukar Lakhang with a Dukar figure, a most impressive representative of Avalokiteshvara complete with 1000 armes (All holding weapons), and 1000 heads. The painting of the walls is worth seeing Leh Palaceis to be visited by foot as it is situated on a hillock. It was built by Sengge Namgyal it is a 9-storey Palace, A building in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture, said to have inspired the famous Potala in Lahsa.
Dinner overnight in hotel.
Day 13 In Leh
Excursion of Stok, Matho and Stakna, Stok Palace Museumis about 12 kms from Leh across Indus River. It houses some old statues and other equipment. Matho is about 6 kms from Stok and houses some incredible statues and paintings. Later visit Stakna gompa, which is famous for it’s numerous statues and paintings.
Dinner overnight in hotel.
Day 14 Leh / Delhi
After breakfast transfer to Leh Airport to catch flight for onward destination.
After breakfast transfer to Srinagar airport to board flight for onward destination.