Hemis Festival Ladakh Tour
9 NIGHTS – 10 DAYS
Leh – Shey – Thiksey – Hemis – Alchi – Likir – Uleyotkpo – Lamayuru – Nubra Valley
There is no better time to visit Ladakh than during Hemis Festival as HemisGompa becomes a hub of celebrations. During the festival , sacred dances, contradictory explanations and special musical performances are the major highlights. Buddhist lamas and monks gather at the HemisGompa to perform the sacred Mask Dance. This also gives you an opportunity to experience life of Ladakhi as it is an occasion for villagers and families to come together and socialise. This tour also takes you other beautiful monasteries of Ladakh and Nubra Valley, a must visit place in Ladakh which lies on an extraordinary trans-Himalayan trade route which originated with the Silk Road in medieval period.
| Tour starts : | 18 June 2021 In Leh |
| Tour ends : | 27 June 2021 in Leh |
| Festival location : | Hemis Monastery Leh |
| Festival Dates : | 20 June – 21 June 2021 |
Tour Cost Includes:
- Double sharing room in listed or similar hotels
- Daily breakfast
- All meals for two days in luxury camp accommodation in Anantpur Sahib
- Air-Conditioned car/van/coach with driver for all transfers, city tour and excursion as per program, inclusive off fuel, parking and all interstate taxes
- Services of local English speaking guide for sightseeing tours as per itinerary
- AC Chair car train fare for Delhi to Amritsar
- Entrance fee to the monuments
- Our assistance
- All taxes
Tour Cost Excludes :
- Air fare, travel insurance
- Drinks during meals
- Other expenses of personal nature
- Anything which is not covered above under “Tour cost includes”
Hotels Envisaged:
| Place | Hotels | Hotel Category |
| Delhi | Hotel Jaypee Siddharth | 5 Star |
| Amritsar | Hotel Ramada | 4 Star |
| Anandpur Sahib | Deluxe Tents ( Swiss Tentes ) | – |
| Chandigarh | Hotel Park Plaza | 4 Star |
| Rishikesh | Aloha On Ganges | 4 Star |
1
Day: Leh : 18 June 2021
Arrive at Leh airport and then transfer to hotel. Leh is a picturesque little town, cocooned amid the hills and is drowned in calmness. Beautiful monasteries and historical monuments attract visitors from all over the world. The rugged terrain with snow clad mountains in the clear blue sky is the perfect holiday destination. Complete day is for acclimatization as Leh is situated at 3500 meters above the sea level.In the evening we will set out for a short walk through the bazaars of Leh. Overnight stay at hotel.
2
Day: Leh (Shey, Thiksey & Stok) : 19 June 2021
Full day excursion to the monasteries of Leh. The tour starts with visit of Thiksey Monastery. Resting on the hill top in the Indus Valley region is the extraordinary Monastery, Thiksey monastery. It is the largest Gompa in central Ladakh. This 12 storey building houses an amazing collection of Buddhist art. The monastery got a nickname – Mini Patola since its architecture resembles that of Tibet’s Patola Palace. Continue tour to visit Shey Monastery which is situated within the complex of Shey Palace. The palace was the summer capital of the royal kingdom, but now it is in ruins. The palace was built in 1655 by the king of Ladakh. SheyGompa has a high elevated statue of Lord Buddha. Finally visit Stok Palace which is the private palace of the present king of Ladakh. A part of the Stok Palace has been converted into a museum. It is a photogenic palace with colourful window frames and patola like architecture. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
3
Day: Leh – Hemis – Leh : 20 June 2021
Morning drive to Hemis to witness famous Hemis Festival. HemisGompa becomes a hub of activities during the festival. The gompa, which is known to be the wealthiest and the biggest in Ladakh, also features the largest thangka in Ladakh. The Buddhist gompa remains divided into two main parts – the assembly hall on the right and the temple on the left. Sacred dances, contradictory explanations and special musical performances are the major highlights of the Hemis Festival in Ladakh. During the festival, lamas and monks gather to perform sacred Mask Dance. The specific dance form is meant to celebrate good over evil. The Hemis Festival brings an opportunity for all the villagers and families to come together and socialise. Men can be seen wearing cummerbands while women are dressed in bright headgear and lots of jewellery. Brass trumpets, which are 3 metre in length, are played and the whole festive scene becomes a sight to behold. Later return to Leh hotel for overnight stay.
4
Day: Leh – Alchi – Likir -Uleyotkpo : 21 June 2021
After breakfast drive to Uleytokpo and on the way visit Alchi village which is ancient site known for its Alchi monastery. The monastery is situated on the banks of River Indus and is the only monastery situated on the plains. The place houses a spot where Lama’s walking stick was planted and has now grown into a tree. Continue drive to Likir Monastery which belongs to Gelugpa sect or Yellow Hat sect. The monastery was founded in the year 1065 by Lama DuwangChosje under the reign of the fifth king of Ladakh. The monastery houses a 25 ft high gold covered Buddha statue. It is a repository of old manuscripts, magnetizing array of Thangkas, and ancient costumes. It has very colorful buildings and offers breathtaking views over the mountains.
Finally drive to Uleytokpo. Overnight stay in the camp.
5
Day: Uleytokpo – Ridzong – Lamayuru -Uleytokpo : 22 June 2021
After breakfast drive to Lamayuru Monastery which was built in the 10th century. The monastery is situated between Kyagar and Sumur villages. Belonging to Red- hat sect of Buddhism, the monastery is famed for its opulent wall paintings, murals, scriptures, collection of Thangkas and statutes of different form of Buddha.Later drive to Rizong Monastery, located in the remote end of the valley. The monastery provides an impression of rocky fortress. Lama TsultimNim founded the monastery and the Gompa follows strict monastic disciplines. Return to Uleytokpo Village which is one of the largest villages in Ladakh, situated on the banks of the Indus river. Overnight stay in camp.
6
Day: Uleytokpo – Phyang – Sputuk – Leh : 23 June 2021
After breakfast drive to Leh.En-route stop at Phyang monastery which is named after the blue mountain that is situated behind the monastery. The monastery complex features numerous shrines along with a wide array of exquisite paintings that date back to royal period. The oldest temple in the monastery complex is Gomkhang which was founded in the 16th century. Then visit Spituk monastery located on the hill top offering a commanding view of Indusriver. The SpitukGompa was founded in 11thcentury There is a collection of ancient masks, antique arms and fine thangkas. The terrifying face of Vajrabhairva is unveiled only at the annual festival in January. Continue drive to Leh and check in at hotel for overnight stay.
7
Day: Leh – Nubra : 24 June 2021
After early breakfast at hotel we shall leave for the Nubra valley with lunch box.In the north of Leh, capital of Ladakh is the Nubra Valley. The natural beauty of this place will leave you spellbound. This high altitude valley in the tranquil region of Leh – Ladakh serves as the ideal place for the finest serene trekking routes as well as a few ancient Buddhist monasteries. Stop en-route and visit Diskit and Hunder Monastery.Diskit Monastery is the oldest and the largest monastery in Nubra Valley. The monastery was established in the 14th century and belongs to the Gelukpa sect of Buddhism. The monastery was constructed in Tibetan style and houses beautiful murals and frescos. The monastery also offers picturesque view of the Nubra valley. Hunder Monastery is situated just below Diskit monastery. It is a very beautiful monastery housing a huge statue of Buddha.Arrive and check in at camp for overnight stay.
8
Day: Nubra : 25 June 2021
After breakfast, visit Panamik village. This is the last village that is accessible to foreigners. The green valley of Panamik is the sight to behold because the village is surrounded by snow clad mountains. The village is renowned for its curative hot springs. The destination is worth a visit as it has sulfur springs and Saichan glacier in close proximity. The village is also famous for Bactrian camels and Pashmina goats.Return to camp for lunch and in the afternoon visit Samtaling monastery in Sumur village. It is a very beautiful monastery located in Nubra Valley.
The monastery houses numerous shrines with intricate wood carvings.Later in the evening return to camp for dinner and overnight stay.
9
Day: Nubra – Leh : 26 June 2021
After a breakfast we shall leave for Leh with a lunchbox.En-route stop at the Khardung-La Pass. The Khardung-La Pass is a high mountain pass located in Ladakh region and is 39 kms from Leh. The pass is the gateway to Nubra Valley. Some of the locals claim the pass to be the highest motorable road in the world. Continue drive to Leh. Arrive and check in at hotel. The rest of the day is free for exploring local bazaar and independent activities.Overnight stay at hotel.
10
Day: Leh : 27 June 2021
In the morning transfer to Leh airport to catch your flight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is this trip possible for single traveller or for private small group?
Yes, it is possible. But, the cost may be high in case of a single traveller. You may send us information in the form and we shall send you our best offer depending on number of persons in your group or for a single person.
May I choose dates according to my choice?
If you go for a private tour, you may decide the dates as per your choice but you must consider that you are on right place and right day for festival. We also need to check the availability which we shall let you know after you send us your request.
Could you provide us international flights to India?
It is better if you could buy international tickets directly through your local agent or on internet. Although we can provide you international flight tickets, but you may a get a better deal locally.
Is visa service included in your cost?
No, you have to obtain visa on your own. The visa regulations will depend on your nationality. You may contact us for further details.
Is it possible to make extension or modify tours?
Yes, it is very much possible. You can extend your stay on arrival or departure or at any other place. You may also modify the tour. You may let us know your interest and we can send you modified tour itinerary with cost.
What’s included in the cost?
Our cost normally includes hotel accommodation with breakfast, private air-conditioned car with driver which includes fuel, parking and all taxes, entrance fee to monuments, train tickets if any, guided city tours in English or in other foreign languages, viz French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian or other foreign languages subject to availability which we can notify at the time of reservation request. We may also include other travel related services and may also exclude guide service and entrance fee to monuments if you so wish.
Are domestic flights and trains are included in tour cost ?
Train tickets are included in our cost. But, we give supplement cost for domestic flight tickets as these days, there are dynamic fares and these are not fixed. We send you indicative fare at the time of sending you quotation which is subject to change until issue of tickets with advance purchase for which we need payment from you to issue flight tickets. You may also purchase domestic flight tickets directly on your own if you prefer.
When do I have to pay?
We usually request 25% advance upon confirmation of our services. We shall send you all payment terms at the time of sending you our offer.
I am interested. What is next step?
Click here to send us information of your trip and we shall send you soonest possible.
Why State Express
Established in 1980, State Express has been providing most reliable services to travelers all over the world for last 35 years. We are renowned for our customer first approach and unobtrusive efficiency which ensures the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We have been awarded several times by State Government for being best Tour Operator. All aspects of our tours have been carefully researched and then designed to give ultimate experience to travelers. Let our travel knowledge help you to create a wonderful experience, whether on one of our tour itineraries or a tailor made tour itinerary made exclusively for you to give you an unforgettable holiday.
Our people make the difference
Our success has been possible because of our people who are our biggest asset. We have a team of highly dedicated, sincere, hardworking who work with integrity that has made State Express one of the leading and most reliable tour companies in India. They not only have expertise and experience to meet any requirement, they also speak foreign languages and trained to offer only the best and leave nothing to chance. We know that travel to Indian sub-continent is a dream of many of our guests and our team does everything possible to make their dream true and give them an experience of their lifetime.
Our infrastructure
We have complete infrastructure to provide you best rate and services to you. We are an IATA approved and authorized agents for all domestic airlines and Indian Railways. We have our own cars vans and coaches with experienced drivers. We have multi lingual staff to ensure that our guests do not face any language problem. We also have associate offices in all major tourist centers to provide assistance in shortest possible time.
Our fleet of vehicles & drivers
We undoubtedly have one of the best and most modern fleet of cars, vans, 4X4s and large coaches. Surface travel is a very important aspect in India as you spend lot of your time while travelling on the road and therefore given us an edge over other tour companies who have to rely on other transport companies to provide this service to their clients. We have our own garage and all our vehicles are well maintained to give you hassle free journey.
Besides having the best fleet, it is our drivers who truly make the difference as they play a crucial role in making a tour successful. Even if you stay in best of the hotels and travel in most comfortable and luxurious vehicles, if you do not have a good driver, it may spoil your experience. We have our team of drivers who are part of State Express and have been working with us for years and they are trained, dedicated and motivated to take care of our guests and make them comfortable. That is the reason that more than 90% of our guests thank us and appreciate them after returning to their home.
Our choice of hotels
We take utmost care in selection of hotels that we recommend to our clients and include in our list of suggested hotels. We inspect these hotels regularly to be sure of their quality of product and services. We give lot of emphasis on the location and the people who run those hotels. We want to give you clients an experience of heritage and palace hotels which are unique and not available in other part of the world.
Our tour itineraries
All our tour itineraries are designed by experts to give you an opportunity to see most wonderful sites in number of days at your disposal at the same time giving you time to explore the places in your own way. We have a number of itineraries to choose from which covers all India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. We also include mode of travel and approximate time taken between places to ensure that you do not have any surprises during the tour. Our specialists will also work with you to create an itinerary of your choice either by modifying our readymade tour itineraries or prepare an exclusive tailor made tour for you based on your interest and liking keeping in mind local conditions.
24×7 assistance during the tour
We provide you clients real 24×7 assistance during the tour. This is not a marketing gimmick but we have someone in our office always to assist you in case of any emergency anytime. We also provide cell phone numbers of our executive who you may contact even during odd hours when you need them for anything urgent. We have associate offices in all major cities of India to provide you assistance in minimum possible time.
Response time
We know that response time is key to our success and we value it a lot. Even at initial stages before reservation, you will get replies from us in not more than 24 working hours. We shall always be there whenever you need us during the tour.
Personalised Service
Apart from professional service, we believe in emphasising on personalised service. That is to make our guests feel at home in a foreign country and also feel that they have friends here who they can trust for any need. Our customer executives remain in constant touch with our guests during the tour to give them comfort and trust that we are always with them.
Good value for money
We know that there are so many travel companies providing their services and unless we provide good value for money to our clients, they will not be satisfied. Our own fleet of cars, vans and coaches and best special discounted rates with hotels due to our volumes enables us to offer value for money.
Call us at ++91 11 47674000 or email us on info@statexp.in
1. Check availability
Go through the tour details in our website carefully. If you are interested, send us an email to check availability and get the final quotation or for any other information that you may need to decide. We can also design a special private tour just for you based on your requirement.
2. Make your reservation
Once you have received all details and confirmed availability with us, you need to send us advance deposit for guaranteed reservation on the tour besides other details as requested. You can send the same to us through credit card or bank remittance. You will need to send us balance amount as per payment details which you will receive from us at the time of reservation.
3. Book your flights
You can then book your international flight, buy appropriate travel insurance and obtain necessary visa. We can book domestic flight or train if you arrive in any other city in India at extra cost. Our representative will come to receive you at airport or any other location in the city where the tour begins and you will be dropped at airport or other location of your choice in the city where tour ends.
4. Pre & Post tour services
We can also provide you hotel accommodation, airport transfer or any other travel related services if you arrive earlier or leave later than the tour dates. Feel free to contact us by sending us mail at info@statexp.in for the rate for any such services or for any other information.