Ladakh - The Apricot Country

Day 1: Arrive in Leh and acclimatize

Pick up from airport and transfer to hotel)
Use this day to rest and acclimatize to the high altitude of Ladakh
Staying hydrated and minimum exertion is key today to avoid Altitude Sickness
You can take a stroll through the Leh Bazaar in the evening
Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 2: Hemis monastery and Leh Old Town

Today again we will take it easy and let the acclimatization process continue as we will be doing a lot of walking during the following days
Start the day with a visit to the Hemis Gompa, the most iconic monastery of Ladakh which also holds the status of the wealthiest monastery of Ladakh. The sheer grandeur of the monastery is sure to keep you spell bound
The journey is 40 kms one way covered in about and hour.
Witness the copper gilded statue of Lord Buddha and a large statue of Guru Rimpoche is also quite interesting to witness
The monastery also has a museum within its premises. Numerous historical and religious paintings (Thangkas), carriers, weapons are at display in the museum
Return to Leh for lunch at a local eatery
Post lunch you can take a walk through the Leh old town up to the Leh Palace to watch the sunset
The walk is a unique window into Leh’s past as an important city on the Great Silk Route
Alternatively, you can also choose to go café hopping in the town. We can suggest you some of our favourites
Dinner and overnight at hotel/homestay

Day 3: Leh to Garkone via lower Indus - 167 kms (4 hours)

Trek Distance/Duration: 5 kms / 3 hours
After an early breakfast today, we will drive towards Garkone village along the Indus river passing through a scenic landscape
Enroute stop over at the Domkhar rock art site, a pre historic petroglyph site situated in a private apricot orchid. Take a guided tour with the local host. You can purchase authentic apricot oil and dried apricots from their family run farm.
Garkone is one of the four villages in the Indus valley region inhabited by the “Brokpa” tribe
Once at the village, the homestay is approached by a short walk.
Meet and greet with the local host and sit down for lunch
Relax and take in the beauty of this quaint village

Day 4: Garkone village walk and Local “Chhang” making

Today we will start the day with part taking in “Chhang” preparation, a local beer made using barley
Post this visit the local Labdak museum that preserves the Brokpa heritage of this valley. The museum itself is set up inside the 300 year old heritage building owned by your local host
Take a walk through the apricot orchids in the village and explore the local culture. You will find locals elderly folk relishing the warm spring sun in their courtyards
The warm climate of Garkone makes the land conducive for various other fruits which are not possible to grow in other parts of Ladakh such as walnut, pears, grapes and strawberries which you will discover as you walk through the village
Lunch at homestay
In the evening, you can enjoy the Chhang you helped prepare ealier and relax by a bonfire

Day 5: Garkone to Kargil via Humboting La (3900m) - 63 Kms (2 hours)

Wake up at leisure and savor on some local breakfast
Post breakfast, say goodbye to your local host and head towards Kargil via Humbtongi La pass
Atop the pass offers breathtaking views of the mountains
As you drive down towards Kargil take a short detour to discover a hidden relic. A 7th Century rock cut Maetriya Buddha statue in the village of Apati
It is one of the three only remaining rock arts from the Pre-Tibetan period. A short but beautiful walk along a cobbled path through the village approaches the statue
Spend some time here in contemplation
Continue from here towards Kargil and check into your hotel
Post lunch, take a walk to the Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, a family run museum that showcases artifacts from the Silk Route trade heritage of Kargil. It is situated just above the town and provides great vistas of the town
Kargil was once a thriving trade centre on the Silk Route. From the museum you can walk down to the old bazaar and explore the old shops
The mighty Suru river flows cutting through the town of Kargil and makes for a nice riverside walk in the evening
Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 5: Garkone to Kargil via Humboting La (3900m) - 63 Kms (2 hours)

Wake up at leisure and savor on some local breakfast
Post breakfast, say goodbye to your local host and head towards Kargil via Humbtongi La pass
Atop the pass offers breathtaking views of the mountains
As you drive down towards Kargil take a short detour to discover a hidden relic. A 7th Century rock cut Maetriya Buddha statue in the village of Apati
It is one of the three only remaining rock arts from the Pre-Tibetan period. A short but beautiful walk along a cobbled path through the village approaches the statue
Spend some time here in contemplation
Continue from here towards Kargil and check into your hotel
Post lunch, take a walk to the Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, a family run museum that showcases artifacts from the Silk Route trade heritage of Kargil. It is situated just above the town and provides great vistas of the town
Kargil was once a thriving trade centre on the Silk Route. From the museum you can walk down to the old bazaar and explore the old shops
The mighty Suru river flows cutting through the town of Kargil and makes for a nice riverside walk in the evening
Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 6: Village Walks in Hardass and Hundurman village. Overnight at Hundurman border village

After an early breakfast at the hotel we will set out to see the apricot blossom in Hardass village just off Kargil town
Hardass is another unique settlement inhabited by the “Balti” tribe who are originally from Baltistan (now in Pakistan)
Hardass is one of the highest producers of high quality “Halman” apricots so you can imagine how this village looks when the apricot flowers are in full bloom
Take a casual stroll through the village and enjoy a cup of local “Namkeen Chai” in the orchids
From here we will drive to Hundurman village which about 30 minutes from Hardass
Hundurman is a frontier settlement near the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. The villagers now shifted to a new settlement near by, the original settlement is a 500 year old architectural marvel now in ruins. It has been transformed into a heritage experience called the Unlock Hundurman – Museum of Memories and houses personal object of people who used to live here. Once a village along the Silk Route, the settlement has a long war history and remained under Pakistani territory till 1971 post which there were many families that got separated. This museum is a window into Kargil’s unknown past.
Continuing our exploration on foot, we will take a walk through this time capsule and eventually end up in the new settlement of Hundurman. A local host who will accompany us for the walk
After a tour of the museum we will hike upstream through the village orchids
In spring time, it is a beautiful green walk
Explore the history and architecture of this forgotten village
Learn how to make apricot oil
Spend the night at the homestay.

Day 7: Suru valley drive and camping – 60 Kms one way (1.5 hours)

Suru valley is probably the most underrated region of Ladakh in terms of scenic beauty. And if you have travelled this far, it would be a pity if you don’t experience Suru.
Suru valley is an adventure paradise and the greenest region of Ladakh. Fed by numerous glacial streams, the Suru river snakes through the valley originating from the Zanskar mountain range with the Nun Kun massif as its crown jewel, two of Ladakh’s highest peaks standing at 7135m and 7070m respectively. In the spring time, Suru is covered by snow capped mountains and green hill sides with spectacular views of the Nun Kun Massif.
After breakfast in Hundurman, drive towards Suru valley
Have lunch in Sankoo
It is a scenic drive along the Suru river
The road bends to reveal the first sight of the Nun Kun massif in Purtiktsey. The massive white domes towering over the wide valley of Suru, is a spellbinding sight.
Tonight we setup a private camp here with the best view of the valley
Camping under the stars here with the a jaw dropping view of the Nun Kun range is surely the highlight of this trip
Spend the evening by the bonfire and celebrate this moment with a beautiful sunset

Day 8: Suru to Leh via Namki La (3700m) and Foto La (4108m) – 260 Kms (6 hours)

Wake up to catch the sunrise with a hot cup of tea
Post breakfast, we will drive back to Leh via Namki La and Foto La pass along the NH1
Spectacular panoramas from atop the passes as usual
Enroute there are couple of worthwile historical sites to visit. You can check out the Shergole cave monastery, the Buddha rock statue in Mulbekh and Lamayuru monastery
Arrive in Leh by evening and check into your hotel
You can freshen up and rest after the long journey
Dinner at overnight at the hotel

Day 9: Departure from Leh

Early morning airport transfer