Dharamsala to Leh Jeep Safari

16 days in India

Highest Point: 5,328m

Dates: July, August, September 

Highlights: Delhi - Dharamsala - Manali - Keylong - Sarchu - Upshi - Hemis Gompa - Leh - Alchi Gompa - Lamayuru Gompa - Leh - Stok Gompa - Shey Palace -Thikse Gompa - Leh - Delhi

This journey includes much of the best natural as well as cultural wanders of the region. Starting from Dharamsala, the hill station that became the seat of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan culture in exile, we travel to Manali, the gateway to Lahaul and Ladakh. As in Dharamsala, where we visit some of the gompas and centers of Tibetan culture, we spend a day in Manali sightseeing the highlights of the Kullu Valley, including the Naggar Castle and the Nicholas Roerich Museum. Then it's on toward Ladakh, 485 km ahead of us. First it's over the engineering wonder of the Rohtang Pass (3,980m) to Keylong in Lahaul, our first stop in the arid wonderland of Lahaul. After visiting the Shashur and Khardong Gompas, we continue over the Baralacha La (4,950m) to the picturesque Suraj Tal Lake. Spending a night in camp at Sarchu, we travel on over the rugged terrain, traversing Lachuglang La (5,019m) and Tanglang La (5,328m), to a camp at Upshi. You gaze in awe at the savage beauty of the landscape. Deep narrow valleys and high plateaus are seen in hues of red, yellow, ochre and rust. Rocks and sand sculpted into weird shapes appear like illusions as you traverse this rooftop of the world. After Upshi we stop at the grand Hemis Gompa, then follow along the Indus River to Leh (3523m). Next day we rest, day later see the old capital and its treasures. On a day trip we travel along the road toward Kargil to see Alchi and Lamayuru gompas, the ancient monasteries housing treasured art. Another outing will take us to Stok and Thikse monasteries and the Shey Palace in the opposite direction along the Indus. One more day in Leh just to relax and enjoy the daily life in the streets and then we'll return by air back to Delhi.