Oases and Peaks at World’s End

We continue west between the Zanskar and Ladakh mountain ranges and over Fotu La Pass. We cruise through vast, arid landscapes peppered with oases until we reach the village of Bodh Kharbu. We leave the main road to take a small mountain road through a fascinating valley which meets the Indus Valley. We then follow the course of the sacred Indus River, which gave India its name, and finally reach the village of Temisgam.

We head towards Leh on a small road north of the Indus Valley through Hemis Shukpachan. We make the most of this short leg by visiting several sites: Likir monastery, the picturesque village of Yangthang, or Basgo, which was once the royal capital. We return to Leh and can spend the rest of the day as we wish.

We climb up a series of hairpin turns towards Khardung La pass, the highest motorable road in the world at 5,370 metres above sea level! The scenery is magical with the Zanskar range to the south and the Karakoram mountains to the north. We descend through the Shyok and Nubra valleys, where time seems to have stood still. At Khalsar, we turn northwest towards the Hunder sand dunes.

We enjoy the sublime Nubra valley in the morning light, only to leave it fairly quickly and follow the course of the Shyok into a monumental valley, where we are like tiny ants! We pray that the weather or the glacial floods haven't dismantled the road, and by the time we reach Tangtse, we can consider ourselves out of the woods. After a frugal local lunch, we drive to and along what is a pure jewel of natural beauty, the immense Pangong Lake, straddling the Indo-Tibetan border.

The more adventurous and less chilly will go for a swim in the pristine waters of the lake. Others will applaud with a cereal bar. Walkers will exercise their leg muscles. They'll turn around and opt to get lost in the little village instead. Others will take a noisy nap. And then those who can't stand still will ask their guide if we can't do a little bonus loop on a motorcycle. The guide will reply: "Of course, no problem", and they'll go and lift the dust, or sand... from the edges of the Pangong.

We follow an unconventional route, adding several mountain lakes to the picture, as well as a pass higher than the Khardung La, at 5437 meters above sea level!!! It's a magnificent day, in a wild and unspoilt environment. This region is called Rupshu (or Changtang), and it's the most isolated part of Ladakh, home to cashmere goat herders, and Kyang (Tibet's wild donkeys) in abundance.

To round off this trip in style, we offer you your longest stretch of track on the same day, a passage through the Tso Khar basin, a magical place that makes you believe you're in Mongolia, a final high pass for fitness (Tanglang La, 5340m), and the Rumtse gorges with their unique rock spectacle.

Today is a free day in Leh (a buffer day, just in case). You can take a bike ride to Stok palace or buy some souvenirs for your friends and family.

This is the end of your amazing Indian Himalayan adventure! In the morning, you are taken to Leh airport for a domestic flight to Delhi, where you are transferred on to the hotel.

You have a free day in Delhi today (buffer day). Among this hustle and bustle, havens of peace do exist: recharge your batteries in Lodhi Gardens, admire the Lotus Temple’s modern architecture or discover the capital’s mini Taj Mahal, Humayun’s Tomb, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You are transferred to Delhi international airport according to your flight schedule, where our services end.