After arrival and clearing immigration and customs, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. You should expect to reach your hotel room approximately three hours after landing.

(The Imperial, Heritage Rooms)

Even when Bombay and Madras were mere trading posts and Calcutta a village of mud huts, Delhi had been the seat of an empire for 500 years. Through the centuries, eight cities have been built on this site by Hindus, the Mughals and the British, with each adding their own flavor. In a matter of minutes, you can be transported from a sprawling, elegant garden city to the ancient twisting alleyways of Old Delhi.

This morning on your tour of “Old Delhi,” you will explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, its myriad of people, and inexpensive and colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Driving past the Red Fort, trade your motor vehicle for a bicycle rickshaw, which will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants). Negotiating alleyways, which seemingly get narrower and narrower, you end up at the Jama Masjid, the largest Muslim mosque in India.

Your day of exploration concludes with a visit to the Qutub Minar, a victory minaret built by the first invading Persian, Qutab-ud-din, a millennium ago in South Delhi. One of Delhi’s most striking monuments, the 72-meter (230 feet) high tower looks out majestically over the wide plains of Delhi.

This evening, enjoy a traditional Indian welcome dinner.

(The Imperial, Heritage Rooms; B, D)

The flight up the Indus Valley provides spectacular views of the Zanskar Range to the west, including the twin peaks of Nun and Kun, while to the north is K2, the second highest peak on earth. You will be met on arrival at Leh airport and transferred to your hotel.

Leh, 11,400 feet in altitude,the capital city of Ladakh since ancient times and a transit point for caravans of the bygone silk route, still feels and looks like a trading post. A small town with a population of 10,000, there are two monasteries, a palace/fort, a mosque and a church, two major roads, and numerous alleyways that can be easily mastered. It is a fascinating place to explore on your own. The balance of the day is free to rest, acclimate to the high altitude, and explore the city. A minimal amount of physical activity is advised.

(The Grand Dragon - Heritage Room; B, L, D)

You have the full day to leisurely explore the local villages, meditate in the monasteries and photograph the landscape of the Indus Valley.

Shey used to be the old palace of the King of Ladakh. The fort and palace are in ruins but the monastery is still active. Here, you will marvel at the giant 39-foot gilded copper statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha.

Thikse gompa, dramatically situated on the slopes of a hill and built in imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, commands a formidable view of the Indus Valley. In the new building is a three-story statue of the Maitreya Buddha, one the most beautiful pieces of religious art in Ladakh.

Also visit Hemis gompa, which was associated with the Ladakhi Royal Family and is quite prosperous. It is the most important of the “Red Hat” or non-reformist gompas in Ladakh belonging to the Druk-pa sect.

(The Grand Dragon - Heritage Room; B, L, D)

Leaving Leh, we drive North to Nubra Valley, traversing Khardungla Pass, which at 18,400 feet is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. After enjoying the panoramic views at the pass we descend down into the Nubra Valley.

Our first stop in the valley is Deskit, the quaint capital of Nubra. Visit Deskit Gompa, perched on a rocky spur, site of a 106-feet high statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future.

Continuing our journey through a landscape of sand dunes we reach Hunder where we have the opportunity of riding Bactrian camels, once indispensable on the Central Asian Trade routes.

(The Kyagar, Mountain View Room; B, L, D)

Crossing over the Shyok River we delve deeper into the valley to explore some of its remoter sites, including the Samstanling and Ensa Monasteries. We will time our visit to the former for when the 50 monk body begin one of their daily prayer chanting sessions. Ensa on the other hand is almost a private retreat with just one monk caretaker. We then continue to, and hike along the shore of the Holy Yarab Tso Lake, locally referred to as the ‘Wishful Lake.’

On our way back to our lodge, visit the Women’s Alliance of Nubra, dedicated to enhancing women’s status in the region. After dropping off our bags we head out to explore the “mural wonderland” of Alchi.

(The Kyagar, Mountain View Room; B, L, D)

Today you delve deeper into the Ladakhi way of life as we drive back over the mountains down to the Indus Valley and then follow the Indus downstream to Ulley. After dropping off our bags we head out to explore the “mural wonderland” of Alchi.

Dating back to the mid-10th century, Alchi today is an inactive gompa. Why this monastery was deserted remains a mystery especially since it has the most prolific art forms: wall painting, painted chorten, statues, giving an impression of having once been rich and powerful.

(Ulley Ethnic Resort, Cottage; B, L, D)

After breakfast head further west from Alchi on the Leh-Srinager Highway to visit Lamayuru Monastery (9,700 feet), belonging to the Ka-gyü-pa order. This is a 10th/11th century monastery and has always been very active and powerful. In the 13th century, it was the main contender against the Sakya Monastery for acknowledged supremacy throughout Tibet.

After a picnic lunch with views of the dramatic mountain scape of Lamayuru’s location, we head back on the Leh highway to the Village of Stok. Time permitting, we may stop along the way to explore sites or just to enjoy and photograph the mountains and deep river valleys.

(Stok Palace, Suite; B, L, D)

Today you hike up the beautiful, sometime narrow canyon with impressive rock formations on either side. Multi-hued rust and purple rock formations make the hike visually dramatic. Also visit the Stok Palace museum which houses Tibetan artworks form the 17th-18th Century. This evening enjoy your “Farewell Dinner.”

Stok Palace, Suite; B, L, D)