ROAD TRIP TO LEH LADAKH VIA SRINAGAR

Welcome to the ‘City Beautiful’, Chandigarh, your starting point for the Ladakh expedition. We will all check into our designated stay - the JW Marriot Hotel. At night, we have planned a dinner where you will indulge in fine dining and some wine with your fellow travelers who will be akin to your family for the next 15 days.

Today, we will rev our engines and flag off for our Ladakh Expedition. We will drive towards Amristar where we will pay our reverence at the holy Golden Temple. Afterward, we will head towards our hotel and retire for the day.

After breakfast, we will prepare for another exciting day on our Ladakh road trip, and drive to Patnitop. Your first night unfolds amidst lush emerald mountains in the lap of the great Himalayas. Surrounded by green pines and dense woods, Patnitop is cut by the pristine Chenab River, offering mesmerizing views. The hill station also boasts three freshwater springs with believed medicinal properties. Finally, we reach Patnitop and conclude the day with a delightful dinner.

Today’s drive consists of traversing through stunning landscapes with waves of the Jhelum River ceaselessly flowing in the backdrop as we head towards Srinagar. Embrace the thrill of driving amid the majestic Himalayas and the serenity of the alpine lakes that the city is known for. After reaching our designated stay, we’ll unwind in the lap of Himalayas for the rest of the day.

From indulging in a Shikara ride at the renowned Dal Lake, visiting the exquisite Mughal gardens like Shalimar Bagh, and devouring authentic Kashmiri cuisine, today is all about experiencing the different shades of this paradise on earth.

Today we rev our engines and head towards Kargil. En route, we will get to traverse the legendary Zoji La at 11,575 ft and witness the breathtaking beauty of Dras, the second coldest inhabited village globally. We will also get to witness the iconic Tiger Hill and Point 4875 (Batra Top). Afterward, we will visit the Kargil War Memorial and pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed themselves. Upon reaching Kargil, we will spend the rest of the day at leisure.

As you navigate through some of the most treacherous Himalayan terrains to reach Leh, you will find this particular stretch of the Ladakh Expedition to be equal parts thrilling and beautiful. En route, we will visit the Hall of Fame which is a museum built by the Indian Army to pay tribute to the martyrs. We will also visit other must-see places in Ladakh such as Pathar Sahib Gurudwara which dates back to 1517 and Magnetic Hill which is believed to be a gravity-defying phenomenon. During our thrilling drive, we’ll also witness the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers also known as Sangam before finally reaching Leh.

The Ladakh expedition is one of the rare road trips where you simply can’t decide whether the journey is more beautiful or the destination. After navigating the twists and turns of the Land of the High Passes, it’s time to explore the heart of Ladakh - the city of Leh. First, we will visit the Leh Palace, also known as ‘Lhachen Palkhar’ which was built in 1600 and still stands tall in all its glory offering panoramic views of the entire city. Next, we will visit the Shanti Stupa which has become a significant part of Ladakh and its heritage. The pristine dome structure has been enshrined by the Dalai Lama himself. In the evening, we will stroll through the local market and immerse ourselves in the lively vibe of the city.

When you are driving through Ladakh, every turn of the wheel is yet another surge of adrenaline rushing through your veins. The excitement becomes tenfold on this particular stretch as we head towards Nubra Valley. One of the highlights of the day is driving through one of the World’s Highest Motorable Passes - the mighty Khardung La. Nestled at an altitude of 18,379 ft, the pass is the gateway to Shyok and Nubra Valleys, and conquering it is not an easy feat. Upon reaching Nubra Valley, we will retire for the night.

Renowned for its sweeping dunes and double-humped Bactrian camels, Nubra Valley offers incredible experiences that you can indulge in. From exploring the vast desert valley via Camel Safari to indulging in thrilling ATV rides, the heart-pounding adventures are endless. The rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening, a delectable dinner under the starry skies will be served.

We will bid the valley of Nubra goodbye and retrace our tracks on the iconic Khardung La as we drive back to Leh. En route, we will visit the Diskit Monastery which is considered to be the largest and the oldest monastery in the valley. It is renowned for the 106 ft tall statue of Maitreya overlooking the Shyok River. After paying our reverence, we will resume our return journey towards Leh and once we arrive in the city, we will spend the rest of the day relaxing and giving ourselves some much-needed break.

When they say that the most beautiful view comes after the hardest journeys, they are talking about the breathtaking Pangong Tso. Situated at an altitude of 14270 ft, the lake became immensely popular after being featured in iconic Bollywood movies like Jab Tak Hai Jaan and 3 Idiots making it a pop-culture phenomenon. En route, we will traverse the iconic Chang La Pass which, at a staggering height of 17,688 ft, is also one of the highest motorable passes in the world. We will also visit Thiksey Monastery which is the largest gompa (monastery) in central Ladakh and was commemorated by the Dalai Lama himself in 1970. Upon reaching Pangong, we will bask in all its beautiful glory and spend peaceful moments here before driving back to Leh.

As we kick off our return drive, we will make sure to tick off other iconic spots on our bucket list. First, we will drive through Zing Zing bar to reach Baralacha La which is yet another iconic high mountain pass that travelers dream of conquering. Traversing through the rugged terrains, we will reach Sarchu which is a prominent halt point in any Ladakh road trip. En route, you will get to witness More Plains and Gata Loops renowned for their 21 hairpin bends or loops that are not for the faint-hearted. After conquering so many serpentine routes, we will finally reach Jispa where we will retire for the night.

Today we will sit behind the wheel of our car for the last time on this Ladakh expedition as we wind our way back to Manali. En route, we will cross the world-famous Atal Tunnel which is renowned for being the longest highway tunnel in the world! We will also visit the Keylong Village where we will witness the majestic Bara-Shigri Glacier. After taking a quick stop at Tandi for refueling, we will get back on the road to reach Manali. In the evening, we will indulge in a farewell dinner and reminisce over the last few days that we spent together making memories.

The Ladakh expedition has come to an end and it's time to part ways with the newfound friends you’ve made with a promise to meet each other on the road, with the same passion to make memories and share the love that brought everyone together in the first place.