BUDDHA OFF THE ROAD (18 DAYS) (Season Mid June to October)
This Jeep Safari tour takes the ancient trade route between India and Tibet along the Indo-China border through the Himalayan desert where the landscape changes its color from lushgreen to rugged khaki with snow elsewhere. The highlight of this tour is that one crosses the second highest motorable pass in the world at an altitude of 17582 feet above sea level. Apart from the drive at an altitude of 14000 feet this tour takes you through Rampur the capital of erstwhile Bhushair state, the 2000 year old Hindu Bhimakali temple at Srahan, Tabo the 1000 year old Buddhist Monastery , an exciting visit to the highest village in the world Kibber height 14800 feet. visit many Gompas enroute like Kee, Dhankar and Tanglang la pass height 17582 feet. This is a group tour & a minimum of 4 pax are taken to conduct this tour.
Arrival Delhi in the morning. “Namaste” a warm welcome to India, a sincere greeting with a bow and folded hands. Transfer to a 5-star hotel in New Delhi. After a short break we embark on our first journey to discover India. Our introduction to India will be by a " Rickshaw" ride a mode of transport used in small towns and in Old Delhi. We head for a guided city tour to the most interesting sights of the city that is the Red Fort a fort made of red sand stone which once housed the world famous PEACOCK throne and the Jama Masjid mosque. Welcome Dinner at the old Hauz Khas village complex overnight stay at the hotel.
Early morning transfer to railway station to catch the morning train for Kalka where we transfer to the toy train for our first halt in the sub himalayan town of Shimla the summer capital of British Inmdia.
Sight Seeing of Shimla town and collect the inner line permits for our onward journey. For those taking a self drive tour the day is spent getting familiar to their Indian Jeeps.
The journey into the Himalayas takes off. We stop enroute at Rampur the erstwhile capital of the King of Bhushair state on the bank of the river Satluj. We visit the palace made of wood by an Italiaan architect for the king in the early 1900's. We also visit the 5 th century temple of sun god overnight at Sarahan.
Visit the 2000 years old temple dedicated to goddess Bhimakali in the foreground of the magnificent Shrikand range. After the temple visit we depart for the most picturesque valley of India Sangla overnight in comfortable camp on the banks of the Baspa river.
Day at leisure in the camp. Visit Kamroo Fort . Optional drive for those interested to Chitkul lake. Overnight in camp.
Drive to Nako village on the banks of the lake. The village has foot prints of the second Buddha Padamasambhava embeded in the rock. Overnightat camp which we will set up by the lake.
We leave for Schichiling on the way visit Tabo Gompa built more than a thousnd years ago in mud. The Tabo Gompa is one of the oldest and is considered next in importance to the Tholing Gompa in Tibet. Overnight at camp.
At Schichiling optional drive to Pin valley the land of snow leopard. Overnight at camp.
rive to Kaza enroute visit another monastry called Dhankar . Overnight in camp.
Visit Kye Gompa and Kibber the highest village in the world.
Drive to Jispa overnight camp at Jispa.
Early morning drive to Leh. Today we cross the second highest pass in the world . We have to break camp early because we have to cross this pass in day time to get to Leh in daylight. Overnight in hotel.
Day at leisure half day sight seeing.
Full day sight seeing of Hemis, Shey, Tikse monastries.
Morning flight to Delhi check in to the hotel rest day at leisure.
Early morning drive to Agra to see the Taj Mahal enroute visit Sikandra and Red Fort night return to Delhi.
Flight back to home