- 16 Days
- Cultural Touring
A remote borderland region in far northern India, Ladakh remains an unspoiled enclave of Tibetan Buddhism. The high ramparts of the Greater Himalaya and Karakorum ranges have shielded its cultural treasures from marauding Mongol hordes; its location within India has spared it the destruction of the Cultural Revolution in Tibet. Ladakh's Indus River Valley monasteries contain a wealth of brightly-painted murals; gilded, gem-studded statues of Buddha; religious icons; carvings and scrolls. For centuries, Silk Road caravans and faithful pilgrims passed through this mountain crossroads between India, Tibet and Chinese Turkestan, endowing Ladakh with a convergence of artistic traditions. Clinging to impossibly steep and barren cliffs, the gompas remain alive with the devotions of monks young and old. Here it is possible to receive a lama's blessing, hear the throaty wail of a horn echoing off mountain walls, and witness a lifestyle passed down intact through the ages.
Illustration of Himalayan Rain Shadow shows how this region stays dry.
Trip Highlights
- Tibetan Buddhist monasteries with centuries of exquisite artwork untouched by the upheavals in neighboring Tibet
- Leh, the historical capital of the kingdom of Ladakh, and formerly a major crossroads on the Silk Route
- Peaceful, pastoral villages nestled in green valleys beneath rugged mountain ranges
- A spectacular drive over the world's highest motorable pass (18,400')
- Sightseeing in Delhi
What's Included
- Services of an English-speaking guide
- Double-occupancy hotel and fixed camp accommodations
- Private ground transportation and driver as per itinerary
- Meals as per itinerary
- Sightseeing and admission fees as per itinerary
- Airport transfers
