Amazing India - Hemis Festival - 10 days

 DAY 1

Arrival in Delhi. The city is divided into New Delhi and Old Delhi. The Old City of Delhi tells the story of the city's history, while modern New Delhi reflects the cosmopolitan face of India. Transfer to New Delhi. Meeting with the pilot, transfer to the hotel and check-in. Sightseeing tour of New Delhi - the capital and seat of India's government. Free time and opportunity to have lunch. Return to the hotel, dinner.

DAY 2

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and arrive at the airport. Flight to Leh, during which - if the weather conditions are suitable - you will be able to observe in the distance the peaks of K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum, and from the other side of the plane, the Nun Kun massif. Transfer from the airport to the hotel and check-in. Lunch. Rest of the day free for exploring on your own or relaxing. In the evening, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 3

Breakfast at hotel and start full day sightseeing in Leh. Visit to Stok Palace, located in a tiny village on the outskirts of Leh - the former residence of the royal family. It houses a museum that houses a collection of Thangka paintings. Then visit Takthok Monastery. it is the only monastery belonging to the school of the Nimgmapa order east of Leh. Lunch at a local restaurant. The last point is Chemday monastery. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 4

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the festival at Hemis Monastery. The festival includes a dance show and performed live traditional music, the atmosphere will be complemented by the amazing colorful costumes in which the participants of the show will be dressed. The entire event is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava). It is believed that his birth was prophesied by Buddha Shakyamuni and that his life mission is to improve the spiritual condition of all living beings. On this day, which falls once every 12 years, a grand celebration is held in Hemis in his memory. The Hemis festival takes place in the courtyard in front of the monastery's main doors. The ceremony begins with a morning ritual, during which a portrait of "Dadmokarpo" or "Rygyalsras Rinpoche" is exhibited to the public. Then it's time for an amazing show - "Ladakh mask dances". Return to the hotel. Free time. Lunch at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

 DAY 5.

Breakfast at the hotel. Then check out and depart for the onward route, the destination of which will be the village of Alchi. Along the way, we will stop and visit many interesting places. The first of these will be the confluence of 2 rivers - Zanskar and Indus. In India, the places where the 2 rivers meet and merge are considered sacred. Next, we will visit the fortress in Basgo and the monastery in the village of Likir. There is a huge old tree preserved in the courtyard of the monastery, and the village itself is very picturesque. Drive to Alchi, lunch at a local restaurant and visit the monastery, which is located on the banks of the Indus River. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Alchi.

DAY 6

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. The day begins with a visit to Lamayuru Monastery, which is surrounded by a lunar landscape. Then a visit to Rizong Monastery, considered a paradise for meditation and where Guru Padmasambhava meditated for several years. Lunch at a local restaurant. Finally, visit Chulichan Monastery, home to 20 nuns. Return to Leh. Check-in and dinner at hotel in Leh.

 DAY 7

Breakfast at hotel, check out and transfer to Nubra Valley. Drive through the highest mountain road in the world with a length of 39 km. Visit to the white sand dunes of the desert in Hundar. Possibility to take a camel ride with an additional charge. Visit to the monastery in the village of Diskit, followed by lunch and free time for sightseeing on your own. Drive to the village of Nubra. Sightseeing of the town and the monastery located there. Transfer to the hotel, check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

 DAY 8

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and return to Leh. In the evening visit local market - opportunity to buy regional products and souvenirs. Arrival at hotel in Leh, check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

 DAY 9

Early breakfast or optional hotel breakfast takeaway. Transfer to Leh airport and fly to Delhi. Before departure, guided tour of Old and New Delhi: Grand Mosque, Chandni Chowk, Raj Ghat. Finally, a rickshaw ride through the market. During the tour, there will also be an opportunity to see the Qutub Minar, and along the way admire the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the spectacular Gateway of India. Dinner, hotel check-in and overnight stay.

 DAY 10

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer to the airport.