Heavenly Kashmir & Thrilling Ladakh

After breakfast, head out for sightseeing. Visit Shankaracharya Temple, a sacred Hindu temple on the Shankaracharya Hill on the Zabarwan Range in Srinagar. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is 1,000 feet (300 m) above the valley floor and overlooks the city of Srinagar.

Then visit the famous Mughal Gardens located by Dal Lake – Shalimar Bagh (built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his wife Noor Jahan, in 1619), Nishat Bagh (designed and built in 1633 by Asif Khan, elder brother of Noor Jehan), and Chashme Shahi (built in 1632 AD around a spring by Ali Mardan Khan, a governor of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as per the orders of the Emperor, as a gift for his eldest son Prince Dara Shikoh).

Then visit Boulevard Road. The Boulevard Road is flanked by the Dal Lake on the left side and a chain of roadside eateries, hotels, and Kashmiri art showrooms on the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains on the right side. Apart from providing an ideal place for locals to spend some quality time with their families, Boulevard Road is also an attraction for travelers visiting Srinagar for holidays.

Later, reach back to the hotel by evening. Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Srinagar.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and head towards Gulmarg. Situated at an altitude of 2730 m above sea level, Gulmarg is a popular skiing destination in the Pir Panjal Range of Jammu and Kashmir. Surrounded by snow-covered lofty Himalayas, meadows of flowers, deep ravines, and evergreen forested valleys, Gulmarg also has the world's second-highest Gondola ride.

Enjoy the Gondola Ride (up to Phase 2). Gulmarg Gondola is the second longest and second-highest cable car in the world and the prime attraction Gulmarg is known for. Divided into two phases, it ferries almost 600 people per hour to and from Apharwat Mountain, where most winter sports happen in Gulmarg.

Spend some leisure time in the valley and later head back to the hotel. Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Gulmarg.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Pahalgam, known as the “Valley of Shepherds.” Located 88 km from Srinagar, in the Anantnag District of Kashmir, it is a nature lover's retreat, which makes us believe that paradise is never too far.

On the way, visit Awantipora Ruins (Avantiswami Temple). This aesthetic temple was built by King Awantivarman in 853-855 CE. Afterwards, visit Martand Sun Temple in Mattan, a Hindu temple dedicated to Surya (Sun God), built during the 8th century CE. The temple complex was built by Lalitaditya, the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty. Even in a wrecked state, the architecture is breathtaking, and the vibe is nostalgic and enticing.

Reach Pahalgam by late afternoon. Check-in at the hotel & relax. The evening will be at your leisure. Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Pahalgam.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, head out for sightseeing. Visit Aru Valley. Juxtaposed against the snow-covered Himalayan peaks, Aru Valley is an enthralling village in Kashmir. Aru lies beside the Aru River, a tributary of the Lidder River, and is known for its scenic meadows and activities like horse riding, hiking and trekking.

After that visit Betaab Valley, which got its name from the Bollywood movie “Betaab” starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh shot here. Then, visit the banks of Lidder River, a glacial river flowing through the valleys of Pahalgam, a sight to behold and a popular tourist attraction. Later, reach back at the hotel.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Pahalgam.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and head back towards Srinagar. Reach Srinagar by late afternoon. Check-in at the houseboat on arrival and relax. The evening will be at your leisure.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the houseboat in Srinagar.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, check out of the houseboat and head towards Kargil. Kargil is about 203 km from Srinagar, and the highway runs along the Indus River and through some extremely harsh and barren terrain, including the three high mountain passes named Zozi La (3528 Mtrs), Namki La (3815 Mtrs) and Fotu La (4108 Mtrs).

Reach Kargil by evening hours. Check-in at the hotel on arrival. The evening will be at your leisure.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Kargil.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After early breakfast, check out from the hotel and head towards Leh; your first stop will be at Mulbekh, famous for the 30ft Maitrey Buddha (future Buddha) statue carved in limestone rock. Mulbekh Monastery consists of two gompas, Serdung Gompa of Drukpa sect & Rgaldan-se Gompa of Gelugpa sect. The monastery is believed to have been built around 800 years back by the students of the Tibetan scholar, Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo.

Reach Leh by evening. Check in to the hotel on arrival and relax. The evening will be at your leisure.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, head out for local sightseeing in Leh. Start with a visit to the Hall of Fame, a museum constructed by the Indian Army in memory of the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives defending the motherland in the Indo-Pak wars. It stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made by our soldiers to ensure the safety and security of our country.

Then, visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, a beautiful Sikh Temple built in 1517 to commemorate the visit to the Ladakh region of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder Guru of the Sikh faith. Then stop at Magnetic Hill, a "Cyclops hill" or Gravity hill near Leh. The layout of the area and surrounding slopes create an amazing optic illusion. The hill road is a downhill road. Objects and cars on the hill road may appear to roll uphill in defiance of gravity when rolling downhill.

After that, visit Sangam (the confluence of the Zanskar & Indus rivers), a picturesque site. You could try adventurous rafting on the river. Afterwards, visit Alchi Monastery, built between 958 and 1055 CE. The artistic and spiritual details of both Buddhism and the Hindu kings of that time in Kashmir are reflected in the wall paintings in the monastery complex. The complex also has giant statues of the Buddha and lavish wood carvings and artwork — almost baroque in style.

Return to Leh by evening and visit Shanti Stupa, a Buddhist white-domed stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura and was part of the Peace Pagoda mission.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, head out for local sightseeing. Visit Leh Palace built in the 17th century and the rooftop of the palace provides spectacular views of the mountain of Stok Kangri and the Ladakh mountain range. Then visit Shey Palace & Monastery, built in 1665 by the King of Ladakh (Deldon Namgyal) as his summer retreat house. The Gompa is known for its colossal copper-gold gilded statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha. This statue is reckoned to be the second-largest Buddha statue in Ladakh.

Afterwards, visit Thiksey Monastery, one of the finest examples of Ladakhi architecture. This Monastery is located on the top of the hill in solitude, which lies 20 kilometers away from Leh. It is very famous for its similarity with the Potala Palace of Lhasa. This monastery is famous for pilgrim activities, architectural elements, sightseeing, and exploration.

Reach back at the hotel by evening. Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, drive from Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung-La Pass (18380ft) – one of the world's highest motorable roads. The valley is located around 159 km from Leh. The route will be Leh – Phyang – Khardung La – Khardung – Khalsar – Diskit – Nubra Valley.

Along the way before and after Khardungla Pass, you will pass by 2 Indian Army check-posts, namely – South Pullu & North Pullu, which are very picturesque sites and flaunt the beauty of nature. On the route, you will pass by some beautiful villages, where you can catch glimpses of locals working on their farms.

Reach Nubra Valley by early evening. This valley is a virgin destination for people who seek peace and interaction with the tribal community of Ladakh. The Sasser Pass and the famous Karakoram Pass of the Silk Route fame lie northwest of the valley and connect Nubra with Xinjiang (China).

Check-in at the hotel on arrival. Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Nubra Valley.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, head out to explore Nubra Valley. Visit Diskit Monastery, the largest and the oldest surviving monastery in Nubra Valley. The prime attraction of the Diskit monastery is 100, the 100-foot-high Maitreya Buddha statue, which the holy Dalai Lama inaugurated.

After that, visit the Hunder dunes. Beyond Ladakh's cultural and monastic side, there are picturesque silver dunes of Hunder in the Nubra Valley. Located at 4,000 meters, Hunder Sand Dunes are beautiful beyond imagination. A serene meandering stream and the beautiful countryside cut across the desert. With such awe-inspiring landscapes against the backdrop of the snow-clad mountains, the Hunder Sand Dune looks nothing less than a dreamland. Try a ride over the rare Bactrian Camel (double-humped camel), which should not be missed. Then, visit Panamic Hot Springs. The hot spring water contains high amounts of sulfur and is believed to possess many medicinal properties.

Reach back at the hotel by evening. Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Nubra Valley.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, drive from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake. This endorheic Himalayan Lake lies at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to China.

Reach Pangong Lake by late afternoon. Check-in at the camps/cottages, which offer unparalleled views of the surrounding mountain ranges and a fantastic view of Pangong Lake. Its water is salty, crystal clear, and has a lovely shade of blue. It looks its best when the sun is shining bright. The evening will be at your leisure. You can stroll at shores of the lake or indulge in a Yak safari.

Dinner & night stay will be at the camps/cottages near Pangong Lake.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, drive from Pangong Lake to Leh. On the way, visit Hemis Monastery, revered as the largest monastic institution in Ladakh. It is the wealthiest Buddhist monastery in India and is famous for its rich collection of ancient remnants like the statue of Buddha made of copper and stupas made of gold and silver. The monastery also has sacred Thangkas, murals, and various artifacts.

Reach Leh in the evening and check-in at the hotel. The evening will be at your leisure.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, check out from the hotel. The private car will drop you at Leh airport for your return flight to Delhi.

To all the good things comes an end. Leave with the beautiful memories of this fantastic trip to Kashmir & Ladakh, worth remembering for a lifetime.

Meals: Breakfast