Delhi-Chandigarh-Mandi-Manali-Jespa-Sarchu-Tsokar-Leh-Delhi

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DAY 01: ARRIVE DELHI
On arrival at Delhi’s international airport, you will be received by our representative and taken to your hotel. Overnight in your hotel

DAY 02 : DELHI TO CHANDIGARH - BY SHATABDI EXPRESS (DEP. 0730 /ARR. 1040 HRS) & TO MANDI –RIDE / 197 KMS / APPROX 6 HRS /HT. 750 MTS
You will be transferred in time to the railway station to board your train for Chandigarh. You will be received and assisted on arrival at Chandigarh, from where you will ride to Mandi. It is an interesting drive along the banks of the river Beas. Mandi has long been an important commercial center and the sage Mandva is said to have meditated here. This one time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast developing town that still retains much of its original charm and character. Mandi is renowned for its 81 old stone temples and their enormous range of fine carvings. The town has remains of old palaces and notable examples of 'colonial' architecture. Overnight stay in Resort.

DAY 03 : MANDI TO MANALI – RIDE / 110 KM / APPROX 4 HRS / 2050 MTS
After early breakfast ride via Nagar to Manali. NAGAR was the capital of Kullu Rajas till A.D. 1660. The ancient castle, which has now been converted into Tourist Bungalow, overlooks the entire Beas valley. There are two old temples near the castle. Nicholas Roerich, the famous Russian painter and philosopher lived at Nagar and his quaint little house has been converted into a small museum. On arrival at Manali check into your hotel. Manali is famous for apple orchards, its old wooden temples and its folk music and dance. Overnight in your hotel.

DAY 04 : MANALI TO JESPA- RIDE / 147 KMS / APPROX 6-7 HRS /HT. 3360 MTS
After an early breakfast ride to Jespa a small village in Lahaul region. Leaving Manali you ascend the Rohtang Pass (3980 M), on crossing which you enter Lahoul district. Descending from Rohtang Pass you reach Gramphu, the bifurcation point on the road to Spiti, from where you get superb views of the glaciated valley of the Chandra River. You next reach Keylong, the District Headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti, located on the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers. It has the distinction of having a small satellite exchange from which you can dial anywhere in the world with sparkling clarity. From here you continue your drive along the Bhaga River for your night halt at Jespa. Overnight in Hotel.

DAY 05 : JESPA TO SARCHU – RIDE / 98 KMS / APPROX 5-6 HRS /HT. 4245 MTS
From Jespa the road climbs to Patseo, a little further is Zingzingbar and then goes over the formidable Baralacha La, (4,89m/16,046ft). The drive up to the Pass is unforgettable for the 21 loops that you traverse to reach the top, referred to as the ‘Gatta Loops”. Baralacha La means ‘the pass with the crossroads on the summit’ and here meets the path from Zanskar, Ladakh, Spiti and Lahoul. This is also the watershed for the Chandra, Bhaga and Yunam rivers. It is 8 km long. Just below the Baralacha La at an altitude of 4800 m, Surajtal is the source of river Bhaga. Once across the Pass the road leads to a sprawling valley, where the border of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh lies and you reach Sarchu for your night halt in a tented camp.

DAY 06 : SARCHU – TSO KAR – RIDE / APPROX 122 KM / 6 –7 HRS
After breakfast at Sarchu you drive into Ladakh. Leaving the Sarchu Plains behind, you enter a narrow valley of sheer rocky mountains on either side. The river runs downstream alongside the road. The jaggedness of the rocky faces gives them intricate designs. Sometimes these designs make them look like an awesome fortress on the skyline with steep parapets. The backdrop of cobalt blue skies enhances the majestic awesome grandeur of this stark mountain scape. A number of Bailey bridges span narrow streams along the way. An hour after leaving Sarchu you negotiate 21 hairpin bends known as the “Gatta Loops” which takes you from an altitude of 4210 M/ 13,780 Ft to a height of 4667 M / 15,302 Ft. Thereafter, the first pass that you cross is Nakee La (15,547 Ft). The next pass, which is the highest altitude that you reach on today’s drive, is Lachulung La (5065 M / 16,616 Ft).
The rocky citadels that were seen earlier are at a closer range. From these rocks fine gravel slithers down like huge sand dunes descending to the road below. These sand dune like patches are a unique feature of the landscape in Ladakh. One then enters a gorge running alongside the river. Some of the rock faces along the gorge look like huge anthills. Every bend in the road offers unforgettable views of the intricate patterns of the rocky outcrop. Within the gorge is Kangla Jal (4,878 M) where you cross a stream. This brings you to Pang.
After a 15 minutes ascent from Pang, you find yourself in the vast expanse of the Morri Plains, which appears immediately on getting to the top of the climb. The view of the vastness of the plains with mountains in the background is breathtaking. Along the Morri Plains the road curves gently to the right and you descend into a valley. A huge dry lake with a yellow sandy bed is on the right. About 27 km short of Taklang La there is a prominent dirt track to the right of the road, which is marked for Tso Kar. Traveling for about 6 km along this dirt track for around 15 – 20 minutes you come to Tso Kar.
Tso Kar is also called “White Lake” because of the salt deposits around it. It is a small lake with the backdrop formed by a chain of snow peaked mountains. The waters are deep blue in colour and the mountains, like the rest of the Ladakhi landscape are of varying shades of brown and purple with snow capped peaks. The banks are covered with salt deposits. The water of the lake is so salty that the salt that is deposited on its banks is sold all over Ladakh and Kashmir. A Nomad Headquarters (Samad Rockchen) is located next to the lake. There will be awesome photo opportunities to capture the serenity of the lake.

You will be spending your night here in a tented camp.

DAY 07 : TSO KAR - LEH - RIDE / APPROX / 141 KM / APPROX 4- 5 HRS
After breakfast, your journey today takes you over the second highest motorable pass in the world - Taklang La (5,336 M / 17,582 Ft) On crossing over the pass the full force of the awesome stark grandeur of barren mountains greets you. The near distance mountains are greenish – brown in colour, the middle distance ones are purplish – grayish and snow-capped peaks are visible in the distance. Approximately an hour’s drive brings you to the bottom of the pass where you level up with a stream that is caused by melting snows. Thereafter, the road gradually descends along the river course. Descending from the pass the road gets you back in to civilization passing through picturesque villages with well-cultivated fields and finally meets the Indus River at Upshi. From Upshi, an hour’s drive on a well mettled broad road moving downstream besides the Indus River brings you to Leh. After the bump and grind of crossing over high mountain passes, the smooth fast drive on the stretch from Upshi to Leh comes as a welcome relief.

DAY 08 : IN LEH
Day at leisure, you may want to walk around the town and near by it a free day.

DAY 09 : LEH TO DELHI - BY FLIGHT 9W 610 - DEP AT 0735 HRS / ARR. AT 0850 HRS
In time transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon proceed for a city tour of Old Delhi. Visit Red Fort built by Emperor Shah Jahan; Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Later drive to visit Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India or you have the option to relax after your stay in high altitude. Farwell dinner on the way to the airport and transfer to the international airport for your onward journey / home.

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