Julay Ladakh: tradition, culture & snow leopards with Margie Thomas & Nawang Tsering

On arrival in Delhi you will be met by a World Expeditions representative and transferred to your hotel. Should you arrive earlier in the day we are happy to assist with optional sightseeing. Due to the differing times of arrival of group members and the early morning departure to Leh the following day, the initial briefing will be on a ‘need to know’ basis such as what to pack, ordering a packed breakfast, departure time from the hotel, arrangements for leaving gear in Delhi etc. Your World Expeditions kitbag will also be distributed after the briefing. Note: The main briefing will be on arrival in Leh where down jackets and sleeping bags (where necessary) will be distributed. Note: If you are arriving in Delhi on a late night flight, you may like to arrive the day before your trip commences. Please talk to your World Expeditions reservations consultant for pre-tour accommodation options. Overnight: The Metropolitan, Delhi

Meals:  Nil

We board the early morning flight to Leh where you will be rewarded with spectacular views across the Great Himalaya and Zanskar ranges. On arrival in Leh it is essential to rest and start the all important acclimatisation process. Our schedule today is flexible. We include a walk to the main market and adjacent alleyways to gain a sense of Leh’s rich historic past. We can also wander to the chortens at Changspa that were built many centuries before Leh was founded. Overnight: Lakrook Boutique Hotel, Leh NOTE: The internal flights are not included in the tour cost. The nominated group flight is below and we are very happy to assist in booking this for you. 24 FEBRUARY Air India - AI2452 Departs Delhi 08:00 Arrive Leh 09:05 NOTE: The standard checked luggage allowance for internal flights in India is 15kg. Additional kilos can be purchased with your ticket, or at the airport.

Meals:  B,L,D

Our visit to Ladakh is timed to attend the first day of the masked dance festival at Stok monastery on the far (south) side of the Indus Valley. The festival marks a highlight of the monastic year; a chance for the monks and the village community to re-affirm and celebrate their Buddhist beliefs and cultural ancestry. Set amid the stark winter landscape the masked dances offer a welcome respite for the attendees who may have travelled from far corners of the Indus valley. The dances follow a time-honoured sequence where the monks, dressed in heavily embroidered gowns, twirl and pirouette around the monastery courtyard with each significant step met with a clash of cymbals the sound of Tibetan horns played by musicians seated on the side of the courtyard. The day unfolds gradually. There’s no resounding finale. The day simply progresses until the final dance is completed and the congregation depart. Overnight: Lakrook Boutique Hotel, Leh

Meals:  B,L,D

We drive to Shey fort (the former capital of upper Ladakh) with its two storeyed statute of the Shakyamuni Buddha. We transfer to the nearby Tikse monastery located on a sugarloaf mountain with commanding views of the Indus Valley. Tikse is one of the most important Gelug (Yellow Hat) monasteries in Ladakh and nowadays closely associated with His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama. We visit the multi denominational temple built from visitor funds in the 1980’s, proof indeed of the continuing vitality of Buddhism in Ladakh. We continue to Matho Monastery located on the south side of the Indus Valley. When compared to Tikse, Matho only receives a handful of visitors with monks pleased to show us around the main assembly hall and adjacent temples. Matho is the only monastery in Ladakh affiliated to the Sakya Buddhist order that can be traced back to 11th century in Tibet. On return to Leh there is an opportunity to climb the Shanti stupa built in the 1980’s with panoramic views across the city of Leh and the road leading to the Khardung La – the highest motorable road in the world. Overnight: Lakrook Boutique Hotel, Leh

Meals:  B,D

It’s a one hour drive to the isolated Rumbak village where we undertake day walks. Rumbak is famed for snow leopard sightings during the winter. While the chances of sighting a leopard during the middle of the day are slim we can nonetheless gain a sense of the cats’ habitat as they descend to lower elevations in the immediate vicinity of the village. For many years our trekking groups camped at Rumbak. During this time we’ve forged a close relationship with the villagers so we can be assured of a warm welcome as we share our lunch. On return from Rumbak we visit the Snow Leopard conservancy to appreciate some of the fine work they have undertaken over the past 20 years. The initiative to build enclosures to protect the sheep and goats from attacks by snow leopards as well as their pioneering conservation work has been supported by the Australian Himalayan Foundation and their founding director Garry Weare since 2006. Overnight: Lakrook Boutique Hotel, Leh

Meals:  B,L,D

We commence with an exhilarating drive down the Indus valley. En route we reach the dramatic confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers before leaving the main highway at Likir. We divert to the monastery that was the oldest (dating to the 15th century) Gelug monasteries in Ladakh. However on account of its location it attracts few visitors. The main assembly hall is impressive with statues of the Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha), the Maitreya Buddha (the Buddha to be) and Tsong kha pa (the Tibetan founder of the Gelug order).We continue along a minor road linking smaller settlements and crossing several small passes that afford wonderous views back to the snow-capped peaks of the Ladakh range to the east of Leh. The drive from Leh to Hemis Shukpachen takes three to four hours. On arrival at Hemis Shukpachen homestay we meet the family and explore the rugged rural landscape in the immediate vicinity of the village. Overnight: Serupa Homestay, Hemis Shukpachen

Meals:  B,L,D

Weather permitting we will undertake an optional three hour walk across two small passes to Tingmosgang, one of the former capitals of lower Ladakh. Note that the passes we follow and the road leading back through Hemis Shukpachen to Likir formed part of the original Royal highway to Leh, long before a trail was carved out alongside the Indus. From Tingmosgang we drive to Mangyu, one of the oldest monastic complexes in Ladakh dating to the 11th century. It is located in a secluded gorge just south of the Indus Valley. We then cross back over the Indus to another secluded monastery at Rizong. The monastery, built in the 19th century attracts only a handful of visitors and yet it has much to offer including its famous 200 year old ‘Black Kitchen’ originally built to accommodate the resident monks. Overnight: Serupa Homestay, Hemis Shukpachen

Meals:  B,L,D

It is less than one hour to Ulley village, where on arrival, we transfer to the Ulley lodge . Ulley, locked into a remote valley emanating from the Ladakh range has gained a justified reputation for regular snow leopard sightings. From the warmth and comfort of our well-appointed lodge we head to vantage points (that do not require undue exertion) to optimise sightings while from dawn to dusk our local guides will be out looking for any signs of the leopard in the vicinity of the village. You will be able to share some of their vast knowledge and sightings that will deepen your understanding of the elusive cat. However although we will do our utmost to ensure a sighting you must accept that the cats are not on anyone’s payroll. Overnight: well appointed lodge

Meals:  B,L,D

After spending the morning accessing vantage points for possible snow leopard sighting we return to Leh via the famous monastic complex at Alchi. The four temples are some of the oldest in Ladakh while the impressive wall paintings reflect a Kashmir/India style introduced by artists when they travelled to Ladakh in search of patronage in the 11th century. On return to Leh we can visit the Kings Palace. It has been extensively renovated over the past 20 years to capture something of the life during the heyday of the Ladakh’s rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1835 Ladakh was invaded by the Dogra army (from Jammu) intent on incorporating Ladakh into part of a vast Himalayan kingdom that included Ladakh, Baltistan, Jammu and Kashmir. After a brief skirmish the Ladakh royal family were exiled to the remote and more modest palace in Stok on the far side of the Indus Valley. Overnight: Lakrook Boutique Hotel, Leh

Meals:  B,L,D

A free day to rest, wind down and reflect on your time in Ladakh as well as to complete your sightseeing and shopping and preparing for your early morning flight to Delhi the following day. A celebration dinner will mark our final night in Ladakh. Overnight: Lakrook Boutique Hotel, Leh

Meals:  B,D

Our trip concludes in Leh after breakfast. Note: The internal flights are not included in the tour cost. You are welcome to book additional accommodation in Leh, Delhi or further arrangements in India or Nepal. The recommended flight if you wish to return to Delhi is below, however there are both earlier and later services. A transfer from the Leh hotel, to the airport will be provided. Any additional services for Delhi eg airport transfers or hotel nights, we are happy to assist with, at an additional cost. 06 MARCH Air India - AI446 Depart Leh 12:00 Arrive Delhi 13:30

Meals:  B