The capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the largest city in the state, Srinagar (1,730m) is famous for its canals, houseboats and Mughal gardens . The city itself is quite unlike most other large Indian cities for here you are much more in Central Asia than on the sub continent. It’s a city full of intriguing alleyways and curious buildings. A place where it’s very easy to spend a few hours simply wandering – particularly along the old city streets near the Jhelum river.
Srinagar is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is the pride of the beautiful valley of Kashmir. Srinagar is famous for its lakes and the charming rows of houseboats floating on them. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. Srinagar is located in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the northern region of India. It is located in the Kashmir valley. River Jhelum passes through Srinagar city. Srinagar is 876 km north of Delhi. It is rightly called the Pride of the Kashmir Valley.
Day 01 Arrive Delhi (By Flight) / Delhi – Srinagar (By Flight)
Arrive Delhi, meet assist and connecting flight to Srinagar.
Arrive Srinagar, meet assist and transfer to the hotel / house boat.
Later, city tour of Srinagar visiting Shankaracharya Temple & Mughal Gardens, Nishat Bagh (Garden of Pleasure) & Shalimar Bagh (Garden of Pleasure). Overnight in Srinagar.
Srinagar:- Srinagar is located in the picturesque Kashmir valley and one of the most beautiful cities in India in terms of natural splendor. The tourist attractions of Srinagar are mainly related to natural beauty like lakes, gardens, etc
Shankaracharya Temple – One of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage destinations in Srinagar, the Shankaracharya Temple is located atop a hill known as ‘Takht-e-Suleiman’. The ancient temple stands at a height of about 1100 feet above the surface level of the main Srinagar city. A visit to this sacred temple involves a trek to the top of the hills. Devoted to the worship of Lord Shiva, Shankaracharya Temple is believed to have been built by Raja Gopadatya in 371 BC. During those times, the temple was known as Gopadri. The great saint Shankaracharya is supposed to have stayed here when he visited Kashmir in the early part of the ninth century with the primary aim of spreading the philosophy of Vedanta. This perhaps led to the renaming of the temple as Shankaracharya Temple. Shankaracharya was also instrumental in popularizing the worship of Lord Shiva in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mughal Gardens: -With terraced lawns, Cascading fountains, Paint-box bright flowerbeds with the panorama of the Dal in Front of them – three Mughal Garden of Nishat and Shalimar are the Mughal Emperors Concept of Paradise and are today very popular places for the Picnics and Excursion.
Nishat Bagh Gardens: Nishat Bagh, though smaller than Shalimar, is more intensely beautiful. Descending in tiers to the Dal’s edge, Nishat is well known for its stately chinar (plane) trees, imported to Kashmir from distant Persia by the Mughals. Many of the giant chinar trees have been planted by the Mughals.
Shalimar Gardens:- Shalimar Gardens are the piece de resistance of Srinagar’s many gardens and parks. The Mughal Emperor Jehangir for his wife laid this royal garden out four hundred years ago.
Day 02 Srinagar – Sonamarg – Kargil (By Road) (204 Kms. / 6.5 hrs. appx.)
Early morning, boat ride at Dal Lake.
Breakfast and check out from the hotel / houseboat.
Drive to Kargil via Sonmarg.
One of the most beautiful drive from Srinagar. In Sonmarg one can take a pony ride (at your own cost) to Thajiwas Glacier where snow remains round the year. Overnight in Kargil.
Dal Lake is a major tourist attraction in Srinagar. Located on the eastern end of the city, the Dal Lake comprises of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake some 8 kms from the city center. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains dotting Srinagar from this lake. You can enjoy taking a ride on traditional Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to discover the intricate network of waterways of this lake.
Sonamarg: is situated at a height of 2740 m in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Sonamarg is a small and beautiful hill resort. Sonamarg literally means the ‘Meadow of Gold’ and is known so due to the flowers that wraps the meadow in the spring. In the earlier days, Sonamarg lies on the main trading route into central Asia. Sonamarg is the last major point in the Kashmir valley before the Zoji La pass into Ladakh. At the pass, the green and lush Kashmiri landscape changes to the barren and dry landscape of Ladakh. Sonamarg offers various places of interest to the tourists like Nilagrad, Bisansar Lake & Krishnasar Lake and Nichnai Pass.
Day 03 Kargil
In the morning after breakfast, full day visit of Kargil.
Overnight in Kargil.
Kargil Town & Around – Kargil town (2,704 m), situated midway between Srinagar (204 Kms) and Leh, (234 kms) on the Srinagar-Leh highway, is the second largest urban centre (approx. 8,000 inhabitants) of Ladakh and headquarters of Kargil district.
New part of Kargil town A quiet town now, in the past it served as an important trade and transit centre for the Central-Asian merchants due to its unique equidistant location (about 200-230 kms) from Srinagar, Leh and Skardo, all well known trading outposts on the old trade route network. Numerous caravans carrying exotic merchandise transited in the town on their way to and from China, Tibet, Yarkand, Kashmir and Baltistan. Since 1975, travellers of various nationalities have replaced traders of the past and Kargil has regained its importance as a centre of travel-related activities.
Overview of Kargil town & adjoining villages Being located in lap of the Himalayas, Kargil serves as an important base for undertaking adventure tourism and trips to the exotic Zanskar Valley and other Himalayan regions. Visitors travelling between Srinagar and Leh have to make a night halt here before starting the second leg of their journey.
Day 04 Kargil – Lamayuru (By Road) (217 Kms. / 4 hrs. 31 min appx.)
In the morning after breakfast, drive to Leh.
On the way, visiting Lamayuru. Later continue drive to Leh.
Arrive Leh, transfer to the hotel. Ovenright in Leh.
Lamayuru, Belongs to Dripung Kagyu (Red Hat) like Phyang. The oldest structure in Lamayuru is the Singey Lhakhang built by the founder of Alchi Lotsava Rinchen bzangpo in 11th century. After visiting Lamayuru we proceed further to Leh enrote visiting Ridzong Gompa, known as the paradise for Meditation.
Renowned as paradise for meditation, Rizong Monastery overlooks the Indus Valley. The monastery holds special significance for Tibetan Buddhists as it is believed Guru Padmasambhava had meditated in the caves around Rizong. Located 73 km from Leh in Ladakh district in Jammu and Kashmir, the monastery belongs to Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the Yellow Hat sect. The monastery was founded by Lama Tsultim Nima in 1831.
Day 05 Leh – Excursion to Monastaries (By Road) (50 Kms. / 4-5 hrs. appx.)
In the morning after breakfast, full day excursions to the monasteries.
Overnight in Leh.
Spituk monastery was built in 15th century during the reign of Grags ‘bum-lde, these new Gelug-pa monastery was built like fortress on the summit of crags. Spituk lies some 5 kms south of Leh. Nesting at the foot of the crags are the flat-topped houses which go to form the village of Spituk.
Hemis Monastery, 40 kms towards the south-east of the main city of Leh is the largest as well as the most well-known monastery (Gompa) in Ladakh. This monastery was built by under the reigns of the King Singge Namgyal, in 1672 AD.
Shey Monastery located on the hilltop of Shey (the summer capital of the Leh city) is 15kms towards the South of the main city of Ladakh. It was built in 1655 after the order the king of Ladakh, Deldan Namgyal (Lhachen Palgyigon). The building which is mostly in ruins today was built by the king in the memory of his deceased father Singay Namgyal.
Thikse Gompa, of the Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) sect, is around 19 kms to the East of the main city of Leh. The architecture of the largest monastery in central region of Ladakh, is similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. This 12-storey building complex consists of a number of things related to Buddhist art such as Thangka paintings, statues, stupas, swords, and so on. The building also has a nunnery..
Day 06 Leh – Khardung La Pass – Nubra Valley (By Road) (160 Km/ 4.5 hrs)
In the morning after breakfast, drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La Pass.
NUBRA VALLEY leads through KHARDUNG-LA-PASS (the highest motorable road in the world) at 18,390 ft, around 39kms from Leh.
Nubra Valley is situated about 150 km north of Leh, the capital town of Ladakh, India. Its name is derived from Ldumra (the valley of flowers). The average altitude of the valley is about 10,000 ft. above the sea level. The common way to access this valley is to travel over the Khardung La from Leh where one will first encounter the Shuok Valley. To enter the Nubra valley.
First visit SUMUR, another pretty village on the other side of the river’; SAMSTANLING GOMPA here was founded by Lama Tsultims Nima and Monastic community was introduced as Rezong Gonpa.
Overnight in Nubra Valley.
Day 07 Nubra Valley
After your breakfast at the camp, visit the SAND DUNES to enjoy a camel safari (Optional).
Lunch at the camp. Explore Nubra Valley. Dinner and Overnight in Nubra Valley.
Day 08 Nubra Valley – Leh (By Road) (120 Kms. / 5 hrs. appx.)
In the morning after breakfast, drive to Leh.
Arrive Leh and visit local markets and walking tour of Leh and shopping tours of Leh.
Overnight in Leh.
Leh town offers a number of sightseeing options for the visitors. A historic town that served as the royal capital of the Old Kingdom, it is dominated by the nine-storey palace built by King Singge Namgyal in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture, which is said to have inspired the famous Potala in Lhasa built about half a century later.
Down in the historic bazaar, the main sites to visit are the Jo-khang, a newly built Buddhist temple, and the imposing historic mosque founded in the late 17th century standing, almost opposite. But the pleasures of Leh are not confined to the visiting of monuments and sites. For locals and visitors alike, a stroll along the main bazaar, observing the varied crowd and looking into the curio shops is an engaging experience. A particularly attractive sight is the line of women from nearby villages sitting along the edge of the footpath with baskets of fresh vegetables brought for sale. Behind the main bazaar, Chang Gali is less bustling but has interesting little shops selling curios and jewellery. Further on are the labyrinthine alleyways and piled-up houses of the old town, clustering around the foot of the palace hill. In the other direction, down the bazaar, are the Tibetan markets where one can bargain for pearls, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli and many other kinds of semi-precious stones and jewellery, as well as carved yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls, or any of a whole array of curios.
Day 09 Leh – River Rafting
In the morning after breakfast, proceed for river rafting in Leh.
Lunch after river rafting. Back to Leh.
Free time for own activities. Overnight in Leh.
Enjoy thrills and chills of Rafting and Kayaking along Indus and Zanskar River.
Zanskar River, a remote Himalayan tributary of the Indus harbors one of the most spectacular navigable gorges in the world. Hailed as the Grand Canyon of the Himalaya ” a journey down the Zanskar features an excursion through a geologic paradise, submersion into a culture (Zanskari) virtually unknown throughout the contemporary world and a thrilling whitewater adventure
Day 10 Leh – Alchi – Leh (By Road 60 Km/ 2 hrs. – One Way)
In the morning after breakfast, visit Alchi monastery, Basgo Palace andHall of Fame.
Later, drive back to Leh. Overnight in Leh.
Alchi is situated around 70 kms. from Leh on the left banks of the Indus river. The village Alchi differentiate itself from other villages of Ladakh by being so lush green. The flood plain at Alchi is very fertile and provides good and relatively extensive agricultural land. Now most of the small houses are made of bricks. The main road at both side is covered by the Apricot trees. It is a normal sight to see the donkeys (Mules) laden with wares and building material during the summers when all the activities are at their peak. The Alchi region too received cultural influence from other areas.
Day 11 Leh – Delhi (By Flight)
Morning, transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi.
On arrival, proceed for Delhi city tour. Dinner in Delhi. Overnight in Delhi.
Delhi- India’s capital and a major gateway to the country. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively.
Tourist Attractions: Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, Red Fort, which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638 to 1648, Chandni Chowk and Rajghat – the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. Witness the India Gate, The Presidents House & the Parliament, Qutab Minar.
Day 12 Depart Delhi (By Flight)
Early morning, transfer to airport for flight back home.
| City | Nights | 5* Hotels |
| Srinagar | 01 | Vivanta by Taj |
| Kargil | 02 | Zojila Residency |
| Leh | 02 | Grand Dragon |
| Nubra Valley | 02 | Deluxe Camp |
| Leh | 03 | Grand Dragon |
| Delhi | 01 | Radisson Blu |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– 11 Nights hotel / Camp accommodation.
– Daily breakfast and Dinners.
– Shikara Boat Ride at Dal Lake.
– Delhi – Srinagar and Leh – Delhi economy class air ticket.
– River Rafting in Leh with Lunch.
– Covering all main / major monuments and tourist attractions in each city.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by private vehicle.
– All Inner line Permit / Permits in Protected Areas in Kashmir & Ladakh Region.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian speaking guide.
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.