Little Tibet & The Himalaya - Family Holiday

Day 1
Flights usually depart London in the evening.

Day 2
We arrive in Delhi in the morning and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and recover from the flight or for individual exploration of Delhi. The rooms in the hotel are usually available from mid morning. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel during the day.

Day 3
In the early morning we transfer to the airport for the spectacular flight over the Himalayas to Leh. The rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude (3,500m). Flying straight to the high altitude of Leh can take your breath away (literally) and so we concentrate on acclimatising for the first few days. In the afternoon there will be an orientation walk of Leh and its bazaars.

Day 4
Today there is a sightseeing tour to two of the major gompas (monasteries) in the area. We first drive to Shey, a former Royal Palace of the Ladakh kings. Inside is a small temple containing a 350 year old copper and gold statue of the Buddha. From Shey we walk across the fields on a good level trail to Tikse, where we visit the monastery perched on top of a hill - its red and white buildings can be seen for miles. We can explore the temples and courtyards and meet the red robed monks who live here. In one of the temples there is a 15 metre high statue of the Future Buddha. We return to Leh in the afternoon.

Day 5
Today we will have an acclimatisation cycle round the Leh Valley. (Those not wanting to cycle can walk). Set above Leh on the Namgyal Hill is the Tsemo Monastery from where we are rewarded for our efforts by magnificent views of the whole of Leh and its surrounding villages. From here we descend to the pleasant village of Sankar. Further round the valley is the recently built Japanese Peace Pagoda. This huge stupa overlooks Leh and we have stunning views of the town and the Stok range of mountains across the valley. There is the chance today to make an optional jeep safari to the Khardung Pass; at 5,602m. it is reputedly one of the highest motorable roads in the world. This can be booked and paid for locally, your leader will have details. (If you do the jeep safari this will be in the morning and you can do the bike ride in the afternoon).

Day 6
By now we should be well acclimatised; we leave Leh and take to the river for a spot of easy white water rafting. We drive to Phey, where the rafting starts. After a full safety briefing we set off down the river. This is not high-level white water rafting but there are some sections of grade 2 and 3 rapids. This means that a novice rafter will find it exhilarating and not too scary. Just after setting off we float through an impressive gorge to where the Zanskar River flows into the Indus. After about 3 hours the rafting ends at Nimmu, where we dry off and rejoin our transport for the 2-3 hour drive to Yangtang. If we have time, there is the chance to visit Likir monastery en route. The monastery is well kept and there is an active school for young monks. We camp tonight near Yangtang village (3750m). If there is time we can explore the village and maybe visit the small local school or watch the Ladakhis sowing the barley and potatoes, the staple crops of these hardy mountain people. From the campsite there are wonderful southerly views over the village to the Zanskar Range beyond.

Day 7
We start our trek today heading west on an easy trail which climbs to our first pass, the Sarmanchan La (3,750m). There are wonderful views down to the village of Hemis Shupachen (3596m). This tranquil village with a small gompa, green pastures and a babbling brook is a lovely place to stay for the night. Today's walk is approximately 3 hours. In the afternoon we can visit the monastery and have a look around the village.

Day 8
From camp we cross the pastures in a north westerly direction skirting the sides of the fields. After a stop at a chorten we follow the trail past the mature cedar trees that give the village its name, cedar is shukpa. The path drops steeply away in front of us and we can admire the pink and mauve-coloured mountains ahead. The trail ahead can just be made out as it zig zags up the mountainside in the distance. The path winds up to the Lago La (3,750m) and from the top there are magnificent views across to the south side of the Indus Valley. The trail descends steeply from the pass to the village of Ang. This area is regarded as the richest in Ladakh and fields of barley, potatoes and fruit orchards provide more than adequate food for these villages. From Ang it is an easy walk to Temisgam (3,200m). This is the largest, most prosperous village on the trek. Set amongst fertile fields as well as spreading apple and apricot orchards there are some fine examples of large, whitewashed Ladakhi homes. As a result of a division of Ladakh in the 14th to 15th centuries, the lower kingdom was controlled from Basgo and Temisgam. Little remains of its glorious past and the castle is in ruins but there are still temples you can visit. 4-5 hours walking.

Day 9
From Temisgam we turn right up a side valley through Tia village to our last pass, the Bong Bong La (3,630m). Descending to Khalatse we meet the main Leh to Srinagar road where we pick up our transport for the drive to Alchi, where we stay in a simple guesthouse near to the monastery.

Day 10
Alchi village is set in a side valley hidden from the main road and is an oasis of calm. In summer the villagers are busy in the fields with their crops of barley, wheat and vegetables. The climate here is very mild and apricot trees abound. We have time here to observe village life and we may get the chance to visit a local family. Alchi monastery is one of the most important cultural sites in Ladakh. Built in the 11th century, it is a treasure trove of early Buddhist art in the Kashmiri tradition, a style quite different from the Tibetan art found in Ladakh's other monasteries.

Day 11
We drive back towards Leh and en route stop at Basgo Fort. Now mostly in ruins it is spectacularly situated in the wind blown rocks. We spend some time here exploring the ruins and temples. Driving past Leh we continue to Stok village where we spend the night. On the way we will stop at a Bactrian Camel breeding farm. For centuries the double humped Bactrian Camel was used to transport loads over the Himalaya but they are now rarely seen in Ladakh. The small breeding farm was set up by the government to keep the species alive.

Day 12
Stok is only an hour from Leh and is home to the royal family of Ladakh. Ladakh still has its own king, who spends some of the year in the palace here in Stok. The magnificent red and white palace overlooks the village. Some of the rooms are private but some have been made into a museum which we can visit. We have a short (1 hour) drive back to Leh and have the afternoon free for exploring the bazaar.

Day 13
We fly from Leh to Delhi. The rest of the day is free for individual sightseeing in Delhi. You may want to visit the colourful bazaars and the Red Fort in the heart of Old Delhi or visit some of the Mogul monuments dotted round this ancient city.

Day 14
We have all day to explore this big, bustling city or you may just want to spend time in the swimming pool. There is the option today to visit Agra and the Taj Mahal; this is a very long day trip. You can book and pay for this locally and your leader will have all the details at the trek briefing at the start of the trip.

Day 15
For those on the flight inclusive package you will depart for London this morning for the daytime flight back to London; those on Land Only arrangements will leave us after checkout at the hotel.