Spend the day with some sightseeing and shopping. Ladakh houses some of the biggest and the most popular monasteries and sites, which are a must visit. You can explore the following places that are famous in Leh.

The Leh palace : Built to mark the famous Ladakhi war with rulers of Kashmir in the 19th century, the Ladakh palace is an illustrious milestone that the people of Ladakh preserve. Inside the palace are paintings and galleries exhibiting the famous places in Ladakh.

Shanti Stupa : This magnificent structure representing Buddhism was built in 1991 by a Japanese Buddhist. The unexplainable architecture of the place attracts thousands of tourists every year and also contains relics of the old Buddhism culture.

Tsermo Monastery : Founded by King Tashi Namgayal, the monastery offers a bird’s eye view of Leh, surrounded by the snow-capped Zanskar range and Indus River at its feet.

Indulge in some window shopping in the local markets of Leh and buy from a range of Indo-Tibetan artworks, and stroll in the streets of Leh to know more about the culture of the place, and you never know, you may make new friends!

Wake up to the call of birds and indulge in a sumptuous breakfast at your hotel. Get ready for some local sightseeing to know more about the culture of Ladakh. Proceed for a local sightseeing tour of the Hemis Monastery and the Thiksey Monastery. The Hemis Monastery is a sheer reflection of the Buddhist culture exhibiting harmony and peace amid the lush green valleys, high altitude passes and snow-clad mountains. Indulge in some delectable local dishes served there and visit the shrines around the courtyard. The entry fee is INR 100 per person, which is quite affordable.

The Thiksey Monastery is one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh and is a true representation of the Buddhist tradition and the cultural heritage. The beautiful structure houses various statues, paintings, and stupas. It also has a museum which provides the visitors more insight about Buddhism.

After visiting the monasteries and post a shopping spree, return to your hotel and get some rest, to prepare yourself for the adventure that lies ahead of you.

Wake up to a beautiful sunshine and post a delicious breakfast at the hotel, get ready for a 6-hour pleasant drive to Kargil. The second largest town in Ladakh, Kargil is remembered because of the famous Kargil war when the Indian Army captured the Tiger Hill and emerged victorious.

You will be driving over the Fotu La Pass at an elevation of 4100 meters, which is absolutely spectacular. Stop by the Lamayuru Monastery for some local delicacies before you continue with the drive. Do not forget to click pictures of the beautiful moonscape at the Lamayuru monastery. Also, stop to admire the beautiful stone statue of Maitreya at Mulbek. Spend the night at the Kargil hotel with a delectable dinner and prepare yourself for another blissful ride.

After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, prepare for a five-hour drive to Rangdum. As you proceed towards Zanskar, you will be crossing the Suru Valley. Te alpine green valley is located at an elevation of 3600 meters. As you move closer, witness the twin peaks: Nun Peak and Kun Peak situated above 7000 meters. These twin peaks separate Zanaskar from the Suru Valley and the rest of Ladakh. Witness the lush green meadows of the valley as you move closer to Rangdum.

After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, prepare for a five-hour drive to Rangdum. As you proceed towards Zanskar, you will be crossing the Suru Valley. Te alpine green valley is located at an elevation of 3600 meters. As you move closer, witness the twin peaks: Nun Peak and Kun Peak situated above 7000 meters. These twin peaks separate Zanaskar from the Suru Valley and the rest of Ladakh. Witness the lush green meadows of the valley as you move closer to Rangdum.

After the long tiring yet overwhelming journey from Kargil to Padum, enjoy the day at leisure and prepare yourself from the much-awaited trek. Spend the night at Padum before beginning with the trek.

Distance (Karsha- Pishu): 16.9 kilometers
Pack your belongings and hit the road for an adventurous trek. Take a taxi to reach Karsha. It will be a 3-4 hour trek with an elevation gain of 174 meters and a loss of 77 meters. Karsha is known for its monastery, which is the largest and the most prominent monastery in the Zanskar region. Standing high on the banks of the Doda River, the monastery is home to more than 150 yellow capped monks. With statues of Buddha and other prominent monks, and a huge library, the monastery is a sight to behold. Karsha to Pishu is a five hour trek with an elevation loss of 251 meters. So make sure that you are all pumped up to cover this journey. After the long trek, camp at the site at Pishu for the night, before leaving for Hanumil.

Maximum Elevation: 3550 meters
Start the trek with a whole new energy and walk along the banks of the river to reach the Pidmo village. Pishu to Hanumil is a six-hour walk at an elevation of 3550 meters. Take rest after reaching Hanumil and prepare for the exciting day ahead.

Maximum elevation: 3950 meters
As you begin the trek up to the plateau, bidding farewell to the Zanskar River, you will have to climb up to the Parfi La Pass, which takes four hours to reach is at an elevation of 3950 meters. Climb up to the steep pass and descend 500 meters down the valley to find Oma Chu River. Walk further to a bridge, crossing which you will reach the Snertse campsite. Feed yourself with some delicious food as you spend the night at the campsite.

Distance: 17.8 kilometers
Pump yourself up to explore Ladakh further. With a total trek of 9 hours, ascend the Hanuma La Pass (2 hours), another steep walkway at 4950 meters. You will come across picturesque gorges and a sheepfold. Reach the campsite after a steep descend for a kilometer and then a half kilometer ascends. Spend the day at leisure.

Distance: 11.9 kilometers
The day starts with a four-hour trek to Murgum La, situated at an elevation of 14330 feet. Enjoy a stunning view of the Nierag Valley, before you make a steep descent to the next pass. Climb up the mountainside to the Kiupa La, the second pass of the day to reach the campsite at Sengi La Base Camp.

Distance: 20.1 kilometers
Get ready for a 7-8 hour trek starting from the foot of Sengi La, via Sengi La Pass ( 2-hour trek) and Bhumiktse La. Your descent from Bhumiktse La will lead you to a small village Photoksar. Nestled amid the hung mountain walls, the village offers a spectacular view of the mountains and the beautiful valleys. Enjoy some delicious food at the campsite, on the banks of the river.

Maximum elevation: 4805 meters
Start early in the morning from Photoksar to climb the Sir Sir La Pass, situated at an elevation of 4805 meters, and descends towards Hanupatta. Ascend towards the campsite at Doksa. Spend the night at Doksa.

Maximum elevation: 5100 meters
Wake up to the call of birds and get ready to climb the Nyigutse La Pass, located at an elevation of 5100 meters. Enjoy a stunning view of the Zanskar Range and descend to your campsite at Yokma La. Spend the night at the campsite.

Maximum Elevation: 4700 meters
Start the day with a six-hour trek via the Yokma La Pass at an elevation of 4700 meters, which is roughly 15000 ft, towards the Kanji Dok. Watch the nomads and the villagers at Kanji Dok bring their livestock for rearing as you move towards the campsite.

Distance: 77 kilometers
Complete the final part of your trek with a two-hour walk to the Kanji Village. A car will be waiting for you to drive you back to Leh, after which you can bid farewell to Leh.

With June- October being the best time to visit, you can leave all your stress at bay and surrender yourself in the lap of nature for those 17 days. Book your tickets and prepare for an adventure like never before.