Extended Paradise Tour (with Zangskar)
Duration: 15 nights / 16 Days
Route: Srinagar - Pahalgam - Gulmarg - Srinagar - Kargil - Padum - Purne - Kargil - Lamayuru - Leh
This tour follows the same classic Paradise tour with a few extra days to cover the very remote Ladakhi region of Zangskar.
Duration: 15 nights / 16 Days
Route: Srinagar - Pahalgam - Gulmarg - Srinagar - Kargil - Padum - Purne - Kargil - Lamayuru - Leh
This tour follows the same classic Paradise tour with a few extra days to cover the very remote Ladakhi region of Zangskar.
DAY ONE: Srinagar
As per your flight arrival time, our transfer representative will collect you from Srinagar airport and transfer you to our prearranged houseboat where you can rest or further explore the lake region (by walk) as per your interest.
DAY TWO: Srinagar
After breakfast, catch the Shikara to the road, where our driver will be waiting to escort you on full day of Srinagar based sight-seeing starting at the famous Mughal gardens in Srinagar. First, you will see Nishat Bagh (the garden of pleasure) which has an impressive plantation of Chinar trees and buly in a symmetrical plan of waterways ad fountains which divide a series of gardened terraces. Next, visit the Shalimar Bagh (abode of love) garden before finding yourself at the famous Shankaracharya temple. Finish the day with a walk around the ‘old town’ where you can see the historic wooden mosques or you can shop for local Kashmiri style handicrafts including dried fruits, quality pashminas or the intricately designed wooden boxes. Return to our prearranged luxury houseboat in time for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY THREE: Srinagar - Pahalgam
After breakfast you will transfer to Pahalgam which is famous as a shooting point for many Bollywood films. Along the way, you can visit ‘Mattan Temple’ and the ‘Awantipur Ruins ’ which is a 1100 year old temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Explore the courtyard, the ruins and the subsidiary shrines before checking into our prearranged hotel at Pahalgam for overnight stay.
DAY FOUR: Pahalgam
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and then proceed for a full of local sightseeing beginning at ‘Chandanwadi which has beautiful views and is also the starting point of the famous Hindu Amarnath yatra. Enjoy the natural beauty in the ‘Betaab’ and ‘Aru’ valleys’ and one final stop at the breathtaking River Seshnag where you will be surrounded by snow-covered mountain peaks and dense pine and deodar forests. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY FIVE: Pahalgam - Gulmarg
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and then our driver will be waiting to transfer you to ‘Gulmarg’. Known as the ‘Meadow Of Flowers’, Gulmarg is a popular place where you can see many varieties of colourful flowers including Bluebells, Daisies, Forget Me Not’s and Buttercups. The valley itself is around 3km long and up to 1 km wide at its widest point and sits at an altitude of 8700 feet but its biggest attraction is the ski resorts which boast the world’s highest 18 hole golf course! Our driver will transfer you to our prearranged hotel accommodation in Gulmarg.
DAY SIX: Gulmarg - Srinagar (Optional gondola or pony rides at Gulmarg and optional shikara boat ride at Dal Lake). After breakfast our driver will take you to a drop off point where you can enjoy an optional gondola ride from ‘Gulmarg to Kungdoor’. This 1st phase of the Gondola will take you to a height of 8530 feet and the views will be breathtaking. If you enjoy the ride, you can take a second trip to Kongdori Station where you can enjoy a gondola between ‘Kungdoor’ and ‘Aparwath’. This second stage goes up to a height of 12293 feet and guarantees to leave you speechless. You can enjoy
an optional pony ride around the village before returning to Srinagar where you can visit the ‘enjoy an optional shikara boat ride before retiring to your hotel for overnight stay.
DAY SEVEN: Srinagar – Sonamarg – Drass – Kargil
Depart Srinagar and transfer to Kargil via ‘Sonamarg’ hill-station crossing over the world famous Zoji La pass. Along the way, visit Drass Village (popularly known as the second coldest inhabited place in the world) where you can enjoy magnificent views of the famous Kargil War peaks ‘Tiger Hill’ and ‘Tololing’. Stop for a quick tea break at ‘Vijay Smarak’ where you can pay tribute to all the soldiers who laid their lives in the 1999 Kargil War before your overnight stay in Kargil.
DAY EIGHT: Kargil – Sankoo – Panikhar – Parkachik – Rangdum – Penzi La – Padum
Our driver will collect you from the hotel in Kargil and transfer you to Padum village where you can enjoy the long but scenic drive through the dramatic Suru Valley. Cross over the Pensi-la pass which sits at 4400 meters above sea level and on a very clear day, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the ‘Nun’ and ‘Kun’ mountain peaks (each over 7000m). Even if you don’t, you won’t be disappointed as the alternate scenery along the way makes the long and arduous journey well worth the effort! Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY NINE: Padum - Zangla – Stongde - Stakrimo – Pipiting - Padum
After breakfast, you will embark on a full day of Zangskar regional sightseeing starting with a 35km drive along the Zanskar River to Zangla village. Check in to Stongde which is home to the second largest Geluk pa monasatary in all of Zangskar and then make your way to Zangla where you can visit both the old and new palaces of the Zangla king. Next, make your way to the nearby nunnery and then through Stakrimo and Pipiting villages where you can view another great monastery before returning to Padum for overnight stay. Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY TEN: Padum – Muney - Bardan - Phuktal monastery – Purne
Wake as per your leisure and drive through Bardan and Muney villages which are home to small monasteries and beautiful villages before reaching to Admoo village where you will depart the car and start your trek which will take around 5 hours to the famous Phuktal monastery. Enjoy a refreshing drink at one of the nearby tea stalls before walking another 2 hours to Purne village for overnight stay in one of the two houses within the small but friendly village.
DAY ELEVEN: Purne – Admoo - Padum
Wake with the birds and walk approximately 2 hours back to Admoo on the opposite side of TseRa river to reach Admoo where our car will be waiting to collect you to transfer you back to Padum for a hot shower and overnight stay.
DAY TWELVE: Padum – Kargil
Make the return journey back to Kargil via the same route. Overnight in Kargil hotel.
DAY THIRTEEN: Kargil - Mulbeck - Lamayuru
Depart the hotel as per your leisure and enjoy the relatively short drive to Lamayuru. Along the way you can stop in at Mulbeck where you can visit the giant Buddha sculpture on Rock Mountain and then arrive to Lamayuru village which looks like something out of a fairytale! You will enjoy some great sunset views from our hotel, or you can tak a short walk outside of the village to get some amazing pictures of the sun setting behind the mountains with the monastery in the foregroung. Overnight stay in Lamayuru.
DAY FOURTEEN: Lamayuru - Alchi - Likir - Magnetic Hill - Sangham - Leh
Wake early and make your way to the Lamayuru monastery for the early morning ‘puja’ with the resident monks. Watch them perform the daily rituals, marvel at the chanting and then proceed to Alchi monastery via the famous ‘moonland territory’ - so-called because of its crater-like landscape which some people say resembles the environment of the moon. On your arrival at Alchi monastery, you can enjoy the unique Kashmiri influenced architecture before one last holy sight for the day - the Likir gompa which is famous for its tall Buddha statue. Follow the highway past the intersection of the Zangskar and Indus rivers at Sangham where you can stop for some typically touristy photos of the colourful waters. Before making your way to the main town of Leh where you will have free time to roam around the bazaar and peruse the local handicrafts. Overnight stay in Leh.
DAY FIFTEEN: Rest Day | Today is kept free for you to ‘choose your own adventure’ and get a taste of the hustle and bustle of Leh. Suggested activities include:
DAY SIXTEEN: Departure
Our driver will collect you from your Leh based hotel accommodation and transfer you directly to the airport in time for your morning flight.
As per your flight arrival time, our transfer representative will collect you from Srinagar airport and transfer you to our prearranged houseboat where you can rest or further explore the lake region (by walk) as per your interest.
DAY TWO: Srinagar
After breakfast, catch the Shikara to the road, where our driver will be waiting to escort you on full day of Srinagar based sight-seeing starting at the famous Mughal gardens in Srinagar. First, you will see Nishat Bagh (the garden of pleasure) which has an impressive plantation of Chinar trees and buly in a symmetrical plan of waterways ad fountains which divide a series of gardened terraces. Next, visit the Shalimar Bagh (abode of love) garden before finding yourself at the famous Shankaracharya temple. Finish the day with a walk around the ‘old town’ where you can see the historic wooden mosques or you can shop for local Kashmiri style handicrafts including dried fruits, quality pashminas or the intricately designed wooden boxes. Return to our prearranged luxury houseboat in time for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY THREE: Srinagar - Pahalgam
After breakfast you will transfer to Pahalgam which is famous as a shooting point for many Bollywood films. Along the way, you can visit ‘Mattan Temple’ and the ‘Awantipur Ruins ’ which is a 1100 year old temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Explore the courtyard, the ruins and the subsidiary shrines before checking into our prearranged hotel at Pahalgam for overnight stay.
DAY FOUR: Pahalgam
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and then proceed for a full of local sightseeing beginning at ‘Chandanwadi which has beautiful views and is also the starting point of the famous Hindu Amarnath yatra. Enjoy the natural beauty in the ‘Betaab’ and ‘Aru’ valleys’ and one final stop at the breathtaking River Seshnag where you will be surrounded by snow-covered mountain peaks and dense pine and deodar forests. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY FIVE: Pahalgam - Gulmarg
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and then our driver will be waiting to transfer you to ‘Gulmarg’. Known as the ‘Meadow Of Flowers’, Gulmarg is a popular place where you can see many varieties of colourful flowers including Bluebells, Daisies, Forget Me Not’s and Buttercups. The valley itself is around 3km long and up to 1 km wide at its widest point and sits at an altitude of 8700 feet but its biggest attraction is the ski resorts which boast the world’s highest 18 hole golf course! Our driver will transfer you to our prearranged hotel accommodation in Gulmarg.
DAY SIX: Gulmarg - Srinagar (Optional gondola or pony rides at Gulmarg and optional shikara boat ride at Dal Lake). After breakfast our driver will take you to a drop off point where you can enjoy an optional gondola ride from ‘Gulmarg to Kungdoor’. This 1st phase of the Gondola will take you to a height of 8530 feet and the views will be breathtaking. If you enjoy the ride, you can take a second trip to Kongdori Station where you can enjoy a gondola between ‘Kungdoor’ and ‘Aparwath’. This second stage goes up to a height of 12293 feet and guarantees to leave you speechless. You can enjoy
an optional pony ride around the village before returning to Srinagar where you can visit the ‘enjoy an optional shikara boat ride before retiring to your hotel for overnight stay.
DAY SEVEN: Srinagar – Sonamarg – Drass – Kargil
Depart Srinagar and transfer to Kargil via ‘Sonamarg’ hill-station crossing over the world famous Zoji La pass. Along the way, visit Drass Village (popularly known as the second coldest inhabited place in the world) where you can enjoy magnificent views of the famous Kargil War peaks ‘Tiger Hill’ and ‘Tololing’. Stop for a quick tea break at ‘Vijay Smarak’ where you can pay tribute to all the soldiers who laid their lives in the 1999 Kargil War before your overnight stay in Kargil.
DAY EIGHT: Kargil – Sankoo – Panikhar – Parkachik – Rangdum – Penzi La – Padum
Our driver will collect you from the hotel in Kargil and transfer you to Padum village where you can enjoy the long but scenic drive through the dramatic Suru Valley. Cross over the Pensi-la pass which sits at 4400 meters above sea level and on a very clear day, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the ‘Nun’ and ‘Kun’ mountain peaks (each over 7000m). Even if you don’t, you won’t be disappointed as the alternate scenery along the way makes the long and arduous journey well worth the effort! Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY NINE: Padum - Zangla – Stongde - Stakrimo – Pipiting - Padum
After breakfast, you will embark on a full day of Zangskar regional sightseeing starting with a 35km drive along the Zanskar River to Zangla village. Check in to Stongde which is home to the second largest Geluk pa monasatary in all of Zangskar and then make your way to Zangla where you can visit both the old and new palaces of the Zangla king. Next, make your way to the nearby nunnery and then through Stakrimo and Pipiting villages where you can view another great monastery before returning to Padum for overnight stay. Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY TEN: Padum – Muney - Bardan - Phuktal monastery – Purne
Wake as per your leisure and drive through Bardan and Muney villages which are home to small monasteries and beautiful villages before reaching to Admoo village where you will depart the car and start your trek which will take around 5 hours to the famous Phuktal monastery. Enjoy a refreshing drink at one of the nearby tea stalls before walking another 2 hours to Purne village for overnight stay in one of the two houses within the small but friendly village.
DAY ELEVEN: Purne – Admoo - Padum
Wake with the birds and walk approximately 2 hours back to Admoo on the opposite side of TseRa river to reach Admoo where our car will be waiting to collect you to transfer you back to Padum for a hot shower and overnight stay.
DAY TWELVE: Padum – Kargil
Make the return journey back to Kargil via the same route. Overnight in Kargil hotel.
DAY THIRTEEN: Kargil - Mulbeck - Lamayuru
Depart the hotel as per your leisure and enjoy the relatively short drive to Lamayuru. Along the way you can stop in at Mulbeck where you can visit the giant Buddha sculpture on Rock Mountain and then arrive to Lamayuru village which looks like something out of a fairytale! You will enjoy some great sunset views from our hotel, or you can tak a short walk outside of the village to get some amazing pictures of the sun setting behind the mountains with the monastery in the foregroung. Overnight stay in Lamayuru.
DAY FOURTEEN: Lamayuru - Alchi - Likir - Magnetic Hill - Sangham - Leh
Wake early and make your way to the Lamayuru monastery for the early morning ‘puja’ with the resident monks. Watch them perform the daily rituals, marvel at the chanting and then proceed to Alchi monastery via the famous ‘moonland territory’ - so-called because of its crater-like landscape which some people say resembles the environment of the moon. On your arrival at Alchi monastery, you can enjoy the unique Kashmiri influenced architecture before one last holy sight for the day - the Likir gompa which is famous for its tall Buddha statue. Follow the highway past the intersection of the Zangskar and Indus rivers at Sangham where you can stop for some typically touristy photos of the colourful waters. Before making your way to the main town of Leh where you will have free time to roam around the bazaar and peruse the local handicrafts. Overnight stay in Leh.
DAY FIFTEEN: Rest Day | Today is kept free for you to ‘choose your own adventure’ and get a taste of the hustle and bustle of Leh. Suggested activities include:
- Hire of with a mountain bike or a motorbike and take a self guided ride throughout the region
- Shopping in the Tibetan market or Leh main bazar (The best buys in Ladakh include: authentic pashmina shawls and stoles, handwoven rugs, carpets or decorative wall hangings, locally made woollen socks, gloves, beanies or jackets, trekking gear including backpacks, clothing, boots and climbing accessories, traditional 'chung' pots, teapots, and singing bowls, Tibetan handicraft items including prayer wheels, bowls, Buddhist masks and Thanka paintings and a variety of silver and traditional Ladakhi turquoise jewellery)
- Self guided walking tour of the old market in Leh
- Relax in the hotel
DAY SIXTEEN: Departure
Our driver will collect you from your Leh based hotel accommodation and transfer you directly to the airport in time for your morning flight.