Discover India's Little Tibet
Discover India's Little Tibet
$2820
Discover India's Little Tibet
17 Days Starting in Amritsar and ending in Delhi
Visiting: Amritsar, Dharamshala, Mandi, Manali, Rohtang La, Jispa, Baralacha La Pass, Sarchu, Leh, Thiksey Monastery, Alchi Monastery - Choskhor, Rizong Gompa, Likir Gompa, New Delhi
Tour Overview
Traverse the mountainous landscapes of Northern India, where religions and cultures collide. Journey from golden Amritsar through to the Buddhist enclave of Ladakh, India's Little Tibet. Along the way, witness sacred sites and rituals, from ancient Tibetan Buddhist monasteries to magnificent Hindu temples, and take part in religious and cultural festivals.
Explore Amritsar - Soak up the atmosphere at the Sikh's holiest shrine, the Golden Temple.
Journey to Leh and Dharamsala - Learn about Tibetan Buddhism and visit the home of the Dalai Lama.
Cross the Western Himalayas - Journey through some of the highest mountain passes in the world like Tanglang La.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Join Trip In Amritsar
Location: Amritsar
Accommodation: Treebo Dee Intercontinental
Accommodation Name: Hotel Ritz Plaza
Our tour starts in Amritsar. The city is at the spiritual heart of the Sikh religion with its magnificent Golden Temple.
For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet us in the hotel reception at 4.30pm for a welcome meeting followed by a visit to the Golden Temple. Before we enter, we'll have to remove our shoes, wash our feet and cover our heads - please bring a headscarf or you can buy one outside of the temple. The Golden Temple itself is a surprisingly small building surrounded almost entirely by tanks of holy water in which the Sikh pilgrims bathe. The atmosphere is one of incredible calm with devotees taking turns to pass through the main shrine where there is a continuous and melodic recital (known as the Akhand Path) from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book. We'll also visit the nearby Jalianwala Gardens, the site of the notorious massacre under General Dyer in 1919 which led to 379 Sikhs being shot from point-blank range by British troops.
If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Amritsar's Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ), around a 30-minute drive from our hotel.
If you'd like to join today's city tour, you'll need to arrive at the hotel before 4.30pm. If you're arranging your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport, plus 30 minutes to arrive at the hotel. The latest your flight can arrive is 3pm. If you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible.
Day 2: Travel To Dharamsala, Home Of The Dalai Lama
Location: Dharamshala
Accommodation: Hotel, Shiva Sanctuary
Accommodation Name: Hotel Shiva Sanctuary
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we'll drive out of Amritsar and cross the plains of the Punjab before making our way up to the old British hill station of Dharamsala. Until 1959 this was a quiet unassuming town, but that changed when the Dalai Lama settled here after fleeing Tibet at the time of the Chinese invasion in October of that year.
McLeodganj is the upper part of the town situated 500m above Lower Dharamsala and is the area with the greatest Tibetan influence. It's also where we'll base ourselves for our visit. On arrival, we'll have an orientation walk which includes the Church of St John in the Wilderness, the Buddhist Namgyal Monastery known locally as Little Lhasa, and the Kalachakra Temple.
Day 3: Free Day To Explore Dharamsala's Temples
Location: Dharamshala
Accommodation: Hotel, Shiva Sanctuary
Accommodation Name: Hotel Shiva Sanctuary
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll spend this morning in McLeodganj. If the Dalai Lama is giving one of his occasional public audiences, we might be lucky enough to be granted permission to attend. This afternoon is free for you to explore the town more at your own leisure. Alternatively, you might want to walk out to one of the temples in the surrounding hills, the closest being the Bhagsunath Temple with its small pool, attractive waterfall and spectacular views.
Day 4: Drive To Mandi And Visit The Tirloknath Temple
Location: Mandi
Accommodation: Hotel, Resort, Munish Resorts
Accommodation Name: Hotel Regent Palms
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving Dharamsala today, we'll continue to Mandi. Once an important town on the salt route to Tibet, Mandi is now a small temple town held sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. On arrival, we'll walk to see some of the 81 temples in the town, many of which are huddled on the banks of the Beas River.
Day 5: Visit Nagar Castle En Route To Manali
Location: Manali
Accommodation: Hotel, Utopia
Accommodation Name: Hotel Utopia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we'll follow the Beas River north through the lovely Kulu Valley. A slight detour will take us up to the medieval Naggar Castle which overlooks the valley. Our destination is the picturesque town of Manali, surrounded by forests and mountains.
Day 6: Walk In Villages To Aid Acclimatisation
Location: Manali
Accommodation: Hotel, Utopia
Accommodation Name: Hotel Utopia
Meals Included: Breakfast
The day is free to explore the town and the many picturesque villages nearby. Our tour leader will also organise an optional half-day walk to some of the traditional villages to the north of Manali. Alternatively, you can also visit the Hadimba Devi Temple or Vashisht village on the other side of the Beas River. Later on, you might want to bargain for a colourful souvenir or two in the local bazaar.
Day 7: Travel Through Atal Tunnel To Jespa
Location: Rohtang La
Accommodation: Hotel, Tashi Delek
Accommodation Name: Hotel Ibex - Jespa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we'll climb higher still as we travel from Manali to the small mountain village of Jespa. Our route takes us through the Atal tunnel, a newly constructed road that allows easier access to the region. The journey will take around three hours and we'll stop to visit the villages of Sissu and Tandi along the way. When we reach Jespa we'll explore the village and then relax for the rest of the day, allowing ourselves time to adjust to the gain in altitude.
Day 8: Free Day In Jespa To Acclimatise
Location: Jispa
Accommodation: Hotel, Ibex - Jespa
Accommodation Name: Hotel Ibex - Jespa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Jespa is a small village, home to less than 1000 people, and we'll spend today strolling around and getting to meet the local community. Surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and set on the banks of a river it's a great spot to relax and acclimatise a little more.
Day 9: Drive To Sarchu Via The Baralacha La Pass (4891M)
Location: Baralacha La Pass, Sarchu
Accommodation: Camp, Sarchu Fixed
Accommodation Name: Sarchu Fixed Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, we'll gradually travel higher as we head for Sarchu. We'll climb to the top of the Baralacha La Pass (4891m) and then descend to our campsite for the night. The large pre-erected tents are set up each summer when the Leh to Manali highway is open. They're fully equipped with beds and bedding and have ensuite toilet facilities. Please note that electricity is provided via generator and is operational between 19:30 and 22:00.
Day 10: Experience The Gata Loops On The Road To Leh
Location: Leh
Accommodation: Hotel, Himalayan Heritage
Accommodation Name: Sera Courtyard
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll set off for the long drive to Leh this morning, winding our way up through the Gata loops, an amazing series of 21 hair-pin bends, before crossing the Tanglang La Pass at 5328m - the highest point of our journey.
Leh was once a staging post on the Silk Road from China and is a small, picturesque town of about 8,000 people. Sited at 3500m, the summer days are dry and sunny, but nights can be cold. The people of this harsh land are Tibetan and have maintained their strong sense of tradition. On arrival in Leh, we'll take it easy and have a short orientation walk through the town.
Day 11: Spend A Day Watching The Masked Dances At The Hemis Festival
Location: Leh
Accommodation: Hotel, Himalayan Heritage
Accommodation Name: Sera Courtyard
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we'll spend the day at the Hemis Festival, an annual celebration dedicated to the Lord Padmasambhava. Hemis Gompa, situated 48km outside Leh, is the largest and most important monastery in Ladakh, a treasure house of golden statues, gem-studded stupas, rare books and fine paintings of the Buddha.
The festival opens early in the morning with the sound of traditional long horns and drums beating from the monastery. A mural of Lord Padmasambhava is then displayed for people to worship throughout the festival. The highlight is the masked dances, known as chhams, performed by monks and depicting good overcoming evil. This is one of the biggest festivals in Ladakh and draws in thousands of pilgrims. It's also a great opportunity to spend time with locals.
Day 12: Visit Monasteries At Thiksey, Tak Tak And Hemis
Location: Thiksey Monastery
Accommodation: Hotel, Himalayan Heritage
Accommodation Name: Sera Courtyard
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The predominant faith of the residents here is the Lamaistic form of Buddhism in Tibet. This is seen clearly in the monastery (gompa) architecture and by the extraordinary number of gods and demons that give order to the daily life of the community.
Today we'll have a full day of sightseeing to visit the gompas of Thiksey, Taktak and Hemis. Hemis Gompa, situated some 48km outside Leh, is the largest and most important monastery in Ladakh, a treasure house of golden statues, gem-studded stupas, rare books, and fine paintings of the Buddha.
Day 13: Raft On The Indus River En Route To Alchi
Location: Alchi Monastery - Choskhor
Accommodation: Hotel, Zimskang
Accommodation Name: Hotel Zimskang
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning there's the option to do some white water rafting on the Indus River (if water levels permit). Lifejackets are provided but we recommend that you're able to swim a minimum of 25 metres unaided.
In the afternoon, we'll visit historic Alchi Gompa. Alchi is renowned for its magnificent Kashmiri Buddhist artwork which dates from an earlier period and is quite different from the other frescos in Ladakh.
Day 14: Explore Saspol Caves And Rizong Monastery
Location: Rizong Gompa
Accommodation: Hotel, Zimskang
Accommodation Name: Hotel Zimskang
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today there are a few optional walks planned. The first takes us back across the river to Saspol, then up to the nearby Saspol caves with views across the Indus Valley. This afternoon, we can take a slightly longer and very scenic route back down to the Indus Valley after a visit to Rizong Gompa and the nearby nunnery where we might see the nuns sorting and toasting barley depending on the season.
Day 15: Drive To Likir Gompa Before Return To Leh
Location: Leh, Likir Gompa
Accommodation: Hotel, Himalayan Heritage
Accommodation Name: Sera Courtyard
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we drive up to Likir Gompa, which houses some beautiful murals and is guarded by a 10-metre golden Buddha, there's also a small museum of religious artefacts to explore.
We'll then drive back to Leh, with the afternoon left free. You might opt to walk to the Shankar Gompa, a small monastery that's home to an impressive Dukar figure (Avalokiteshvara), complete with 1000 arms, each holding a weapon, and 11 heads. There might also be time to visit the ruined 17\super th\nosupersub -century Old Palace, which clings, tier by tier, to the hillside above the town.
Day 16: Fly To Delhi And Explore The City
Location: New Delhi
Accommodation: Hotel, EVOKE Lifestyle Delhi
Accommodation Name: The Suncourt Hotel Yatri
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we'll take an early morning flight to Delhi and transfer to our hotel. After checking in we'll begin a city tour of some of the main sights of New and Old Delhi. The Indian capital is something of a phoenix rising again and again out of its own ruins. New Delhi was the creation of the British Raj in the 1930s and our tour will take us to the President's Palace, Lok Sabha (Parliament), India Gate and the Rajpath. We'll then continue to Old Delhi and its energetic hub - the Chandni Chowk Bazaar, a jamboree of deafening barter. A short cycle rickshaw will take us to the Jama Masjid Mosque and we'll pass by the Red Fort en route.
Day 17: Trip Ends In Delhi
Location: New Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our tour ends at our hotel in Delhi.
There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
What's Included
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Accommodation
1 nights simple camping
2 nights simple guesthouse
13 nights comfortable hotel -
Airport Transfers at Destination
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Meals – Half Board
Breakfast: 16
Lunch: 1
Dinner: 6
What's Not Included
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1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
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Tipping and Gratuities
Meals
Breakfasts: 16
Lunches: 1
Dinners: 6
Check out our Q&As
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
1 nights simple camping
2 nights simple guesthouse
13 nights comfortable hotel -
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
All customers that travel on an Explore group trip will be provided with a complimentary transfer, provided they arrive and depart into the designated airport or train station on the trip start and end dates. This is a great way to start your travels, offering you that little extra peace of mind and comfort in the knowledge that there will be someone at the airport or station waiting to take you t
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Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
No. The large pre-erected tents are set up each summer when the Leh to Manali highway is open and are fully equipped with beds and bedding with ensuite toilet facilities.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Moderate
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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What is the maximum group size?
18
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes, we would be delighted to book extra nights before the start or at the end of your trip, please let us know your requirements at the time of booking.
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I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
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Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
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How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
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What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
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Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
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Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
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