The India travel specialists · London
Leh and Ladakh Tour — 6 nights through Delhi, Leh, Alchi, Lamayuru and Khardung La.
Leh sits at roughly 3,500 metres, which is higher than any ski resort most people have been to, and the air makes that obvious within about ten minutes of leaving the aircraft. Altitude sickness here is a real risk, not a footnote, which is why Day 3 is spent doing nothing at the hotel. That day is a safety measure and we would rather you treated it as one. The reward for sitting still is a week among whitewashed gompas on bare brown hillsides, the Indus running green through rock with no vegetation on it at all, and a road up to 5,600 metres that the operator describes as the highest motorable road in the world.
In practice this is a summer trip. The passes and the air links into Leh are seasonal, and winter is not a sensible time to attempt this itinerary - the sightseeing it promises simply is not available. The supplier does not publish a travel season, so rather than printing months we are not sure of, we confirm the operating dates for your chosen departure when we quote. Two days are spent in Delhi at the start, your meals in Leh are included, and all the Ladakh permits and entry fees are covered. The Ladakh vehicles are non-air-conditioned Innovas or Xylos, which at that altitude matters less than you would think.
Air-conditioned car in Delhi; in Ladakh everything is point to point by non-air-conditioned Innova or Xylo. The Delhi to Leh flights are quoted separately.
You land in Leh, eat lunch at the hotel and then stop. No sightseeing, no walking into town. It is the least interesting day of the week and the one that makes the rest of it possible.
A 125 km run west down the Indus, taking in Basgo Palace, Likir, Alchi Chosker and Alchi village on the way. Lamayuru Gompa sits at 3,240 metres at the end of it. Long in the car, and worth it for the drive as much as the stops.
Forty-five kilometres from Leh and described by the operator as the highest motorable road in the world. You stop, look, feel the air go thin on you, and come back down fairly promptly. A hot lunch at the hotel is waiting.
Leh Palace over the old town, Shankar Gompa, the Shanti Stupa at Changspa and Spituk Gompa 7 km south. The bazaar in the evening is where the day ends. Everything is deliberately gentle because it is still only your second day up here.
In practice this is a summer trip. The high passes and the air links into Leh are seasonal and winter is not a workable time for this itinerary. The supplier publishes no travel season, so we confirm the operating dates for your chosen departure when we quote.
Arrive Delhi
You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is from 2pm and the rest of the day is free.
Delhi
full day with guide
Jama Masjid, then Chandni Chowk, with a rickshaw through the lanes of the old city. Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, India Gate, the President's House and the Red Fort seen from outside make up the rest of the day.
Delhi to Leh
by flight, then acclimatisation
A morning flight over the mountains into Leh, then a transfer to the hotel and lunch there. The remainder of the day is for acclimatisation - water, shade and no exertion - with dinner at the hotel. This is not a spare day to fill.
Leh
full day, Spituk 7 km south of town
Leh Palace above the old town, Shankar Gompa, the Shanti Stupa at Changspa and Spituk Gompa, 7 km south. The bazaar in the evening, at the slow pace a second day at altitude asks of you.
Basgo, Likir, Alchi and Lamayuru
125 km one way
A long day west down the Indus. Basgo Palace and Likir on the way out, Alchi Chosker and Alchi village 69 km from Leh, and Lamayuru Gompa at 3,240 metres at the far end. Expect a good part of it to be spent in the car.
Leh to Khardung La and back
45 km each way
Up to Khardung La at 5,600 metres, described by the operator as the highest motorable road in the world. You do not linger at that height. Hot lunch back at the hotel, then the local markets in the afternoon.
Leh to Delhi
by flight
A morning flight back to Delhi for your onward connection. Leh departures go early and are weather-dependent, so we would not book you onto a tight international connection the same day.
We price the land arrangements and your flights together, then come back with one number. No deposit is taken on the call and nothing is booked until you say so.
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No. The price covers the land arrangements only and we quote your UK flights separately. The two internal flights between Delhi and Leh are not in the operator's inclusions either, so we quote those alongside your international tickets.
Yes. British passport holders need an Indian visa before departure, and the cost is yours. Apply in good time. The Inner Line Permit for Ladakh is a separate document and that one is included in the tour price and arranged for you.
Serious enough to plan around. Leh is at roughly 3,500 metres and Khardung La at 5,600 metres, and altitude sickness can affect fit, healthy people with no warning. The built-in acclimatisation day on arrival, drinking plenty of water and not exerting yourself in the first 48 hours all help. If you have a heart or lung condition, or any condition you are unsure about, speak to your GP before you book rather than after. We are a travel agency and cannot give you medical advice.
In practice it is a summer tour. The high passes and the air links into Leh are seasonal, and winter is not a workable time for this itinerary. The supplier publishes no travel season, so we will not print months as though they were fixed - we confirm the operating dates for your chosen departure when we quote.
No, and we would ask you not to try. It exists so your body can catch up with the altitude before the long drive on Day 5 and the climb to Khardung La on Day 6. People who spend it walking around town are the people who struggle later in the week.
Non-air-conditioned Innovas or Xylos, used point to point for all transfers and sightseeing. That is standard in Ladakh and at that altitude air conditioning is rarely the thing you want. Roads are mountain roads: the 125 km out to Lamayuru takes most of a day each way, not an afternoon.
Prices shown are the supplier’s published “from” price for the land arrangements only, per person on a twin-share basis, and vary by date, hotel grade and party size. International flights are quoted separately. The route map is an illustration of the order of stops, not an accurate map. Patel Travel is ATOL 74904 and IATA accredited. Tours are operated by our ground partner in India; your confirmation will state who is responsible for your booking.
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