Ladakh Healing Trek

Today you will spend a full day visiting many of the important places in the wide Indus valley. This will certainly include Shey, - Palace of the old Ladakhi kings, Thikse - a large monastery which contains a three-storey-high statue of Chamba, Buddha of the future, and Hemis - the largest monastery in Ladakh. At the latter, ask to see the temple in the rear, which houses the Buddhas that have in the past 'spoken'. In the afternoon you drive back to Leh. Overnight at Hotel.

SHEY PALACE (15 km from Leh)
The old 'summer palace' of the kings of Ladakh was built about 550 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the first king of Ladakh. It stands next to the remains of a larger construction on the east side of a hill which runs south-east towards the Indus. From the palace you can see over the fertile Indus plain north-east to Tikse Gompa and over the Indus to the Zanskar mountain range. The old Shey palace has the largest golden Buddha statue in Ladakh in its gompa. The statue is worked out of gold and gilded copper sheets, stands 12 meters high and has blue hair. It was erected by King Dalden Namgyal in the middle of the 17th century. The most important moment in the construction of such a figure is when the eyes are painted in and the statue can 'see'. No artist or monk would dare to look the Buddha in the eye so the pupils are painted over the artist's shoulder, with his back to the idol.

THIKSE GOMPA (17 km from Leh)
The 500-year-old Thikse monastery, perched on a hill high above the Indus, has the largest contingent of monks in Ladakh. On the right of the entrance to the main courtyard a new chapel houses an enormous 15 meter high seated Buddha figure. About 100 yellow-cap monks belong to the gompa. If you get there by 6.30am you can witness the daily morning prayers, but there are also prayers closer to noon, preceded by long, mournful sounds from the horns on the roof.

HEMIS GOMPA (45 km from Leh)
Hemis Gompa is famous far beyond the borders of Ladakh for its Festival. This takes place every year with mask dances on the 9th to 11th day of the fifth Tibetan month. Hemis also has a gigantic thangka, one of the largest in the world, which is only displayed to the public every 12 years at the Festival. Hemis Gompa is the largest and one of the most important in Ladakh quite apart from its annual festival. It was founded about 350 years ago by Stagtshang Raschen, who was invited to Ladakh by King Singe Namgyal.

A Buddhist scholar will give a talk and answer questions.
Overnight at hotel.

We cannot guarantee this proposed audience with an oracle who foretells the future, but if possible we will arrange for you to meet her in a village near Leh. She has such a reputation that local people are afraid to talk to her for fear she will tell them things they would rather not hear. Much of today is free time to be spent doing your own thing.

In the afternoon, you drive to the start of your trek at Ridzong, and on arrival, you walk up to Ridzong Gompa. Ridzong monastery is nestled on a hilltop and is a meditation center inhabited by monks. No local house can be seen except for small Pullus here and there. Visit the Gompa and camp nearby.

You start the trek to Yangthang. It will be a gradual walk, 3-4 hrs, ascending through a valley until you are near Yangthang, where you have to climb the hill to reach the village. Yangthang is a village with 15-20 houses. Overnight camp at the village.

Another easy trek of 4-5 hrs, crossing by a good bridge you reach a small oasis called Ule. This region is home for the pasture people with their yaks and sheep. During the summertime these people make small Pullus (very small temporary shelter built of stones) and remain there for the entire summer. They come down to the village during the winter with their animals. Overnight camp near Ule.

Climb for approx. 50 minutes gradually to reach Sermanchan-La. From here it is an easy descent to the village of Hemis-Shukpachan, a major village the name of which derives from Conifers (Shukpa) that are seen everywhere in the village. There is a beautiful Gompa that you will visit. Here you visit local houses, test local food and beverages etc. Overnight camp at the village.

Passing through the village the trail then enters a sort of plateau to an ill-defined pass. There is then a steep descent and then contouring to the right around the mountainside. There is another climb to the summit of Meptak La. This is about 2 hours from Hemis Shukpachen. There is then an easy descent towards the village of Ang.You will then have a picnic lunch at Ang. Then another one hour to Temisgam.

Temisgam was capital of Ladakh in the 14th centry. The King Tagspa Bom chose it as the capital of his kingdom. Practice meditation and teaching by lama. Overnight in Temisgam

Temisgam has a famous palace with a particularly fine statue of Avalokitesvara. This is the Bhudda of Compassion - the Dalai Lama being the living incarnation. Visit Lotsava School before lunch then drive back to Leh which is approximately 3-4 hours. On the way you will visit Alchi, one of the very oldest temples in Ladakh. On arriving back into Leh you check into the Hotel.

Continue your exploration of Leh , go for shopping and witness cultural show in the evening.

Our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Late night transfer to International Airport.