Ladakh has long been on the map for backpackers, mostly staying in and around Leh, it is has not yet come on the radar of the adventurous luxury traveler. As such, Shakti Himalaya has designed a Ladakh Himalaya ‘village’ experience that avoids the commercialized capital, Leh and takes you off the beaten track to these untouched villages in the Indus valley.
Shakti has six village houses in Ladakh, each with its own unique charm. The itinerary below is a brief example of what we offer in Ladakh, however, each client’s itinerary is tailored specifically to suit his/her interests. The itinerary does not in any way reflect the ‘best’ possible routing and is simply a sample.
As with all Shakti journeys, this is only a sample but showcases our Shakti Ladakh Village Experience combined with a 3 night trek, Shakti style. Shakti has two houses in the village of Nimoo, so again this journey will start in one of those. From here, head west towards our house in Stok and onwards for the trek. Round off the Ladakh visit with time spent in one of Shakti’s beautiful houses.
Delhi
Delhi
Arrive at Delhi Airport. Meet with our company representative, warm welcome with fresh flower garlands & then transfer to hotel. Overnight stay.
Post breakfast transfer to airport to take flight for Leh.
Fly from Delhi to Leh and be met and driven to the Shakti village house in Nimoo where we recommend complete rest, to aid your acclimatization. Nimoo (3190m/10463ft) is a large village, situated 36km west of Leh along the Indus valley at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers. The village is characterized by impressive mountain scenery, surrounded by lush green fields and apricot, apple, and walnut orchards abound. As you will be acclimatizing today, we recommend that you spend the day taking it very easy relaxing at your house
After breakfast go on a leisurely walk of the village of Nimoo with your guide for a fascinating insight into rural Ladakhi life before returning to the village house for lunch. After lunch, relax in the village house or visit the Basgo Fort in the late afternoon. At Basgo (3295m/10808ft) there are three ‘Future Buddha’ monasteries completed in the 16th century, interesting for its Islamic architecture. This evening you could take a cooking lesson in the kitchen with your Shakti private chef
After a leisurely breakfast, you will drive up the Zanskar canyon to the village of Chilling (3236m/10614ft), around an hour from Nimoo. Chilling is a settlement that is traditionally home to metal smiths and has provided copper, bronze, tin, silver and iron work to Leh through the centuries. You will get the chance to see the local metal smith at work before rafting for two hours to the shores of the village of Nimoo where you will be served a picnic lunch. After lunch, relax at the village house, or if you are feeling active, take a hike this afternoon with your guide. Relax this evening under the stars before dinner in the charming Ladakhi Kitchen.
This morning visit the charming Phyang monastery, which is 45 minutes away by drive. Take a hike around the surrounding area, which will end with a picnic lunch at a lovely spot with the monastery in the background. You will then be driven for 1.5 hours to your next village house in Stok. The glorious village of Stok (3650m/11972ft) lies at the foot of Stok Kangri which at 6120m (20,073ft) is not Ladakh’s highest mountain, but one of its most beautiful. Later today, you may walk a walk or cycle around the royal village of Stok.
Start a 3 day trek, setting off by foot towards your first campsite at Moncarmo. You will follow a small river up a narrow valley for around two hours until you reach Changma where there is a tea house. Continue to walk for another hour to Moncarmo (4250m/13,727ft), where you will camp for the night. Accommodation will be in dome tents, though Shakti’s usual standard of food and service will make up for the simplicity of the accommodation. Enjoy light and healthy snacks during the trek. Lunch and dinner will be served at the campsite.
Begin walking in an easterly direction from your campsite to cross a glacial stream and gently begin climbing uphill for about an hour and a half to get to the Matho La (Matho pass) at an altitude of 4900 m/16,076 ft. You will continue walking downhill for about an hour and a half till you reach the high altitude pasture and summer settlement of Matho village 4400m (14436 ft) which is your campsite for the second night. Enjoy light and healthy snacks during the trek. Lunch and dinner will be served at the campsite.
Walk down the valley for about an hour and cross a glacial stream. You will continue to climb up the trail for another hour to reach a small pass, and then begin to descend to the valley. Put a prayer flag in the stone cairns at the pass before walking for another hour down a narrow valley to reach the high altitude pastures of Shang village (4500 m/ 14764 ft).where you will camp for the night. Enjoy light and healthy snacks during the trek. Lunch and dinner will be served at the campsite
After breakfast, walk down for an hour to Shang village, where a Shakti car will be waiting for you. You will then proceed to Hemis monastery, which is 45 minutes away. visit the monastery and the museum with your guide, you will have a picnic lunch. After lunch, you could take a short walk around the monastery. You will then be driven for 45 minutes to The River House, which is located in Stakna’s neighboring village Ranbirpur. It is Shakti’s first 4 bedroom house, located by the bank of river Indus, offering spectacular views of the Stok Kangri range of mountains and three monasteries – Stakna, Matho & Thiksey.
After breakfast, walk down for an hour to Shang village, where a Shakti car will be waiting for you. You will then proceed to Hemis monastery, which is 45 minutes away. visit the monastery and the museum with your guide, you will have a picnic lunch. After lunch, you could take a short walk around the monastery. You will then be driven for 45 minutes to The River House, which is located in Stakna’s neighboring village Ranbirpur. It is Shakti’s first 4 bedroom house, located by the bank of river Indus, offering spectacular views of the Stok Kangri range of mountains and three monasteries – Stakna, Matho & Thiksey.
This morning, you will be driven for an hour to Leh airport for your flight to Delhi.
Upon arrival in Delhi transfer to hotel, overnight stay.
Time to say good bye. After breakfast transfer to the airport to connect your flight back home.
