Day 1 : Delhi
You are welcomed at Delhi airport by our local agency representative or your French-speaking guide, who will greet you and assist with your transfer to the hotel we have reserved for the night.
The afternoon is dedicated to exploring Delhi.
Bathed by the sacred waters of the Yamuna, Delhi has been the capital of two empires: first under the Mughals and later, in 1911, under the British. The city is divided into two very contrasting parts: New Delhi, the Victorian city with wide avenues, business district, and parliament centered around Connaught Place, and Old Delhi, the ancient city and capital of Muslim India, with bustling bazaars. The old city houses the Red Fort, a testament to the power of the Mughal emperors, as well as the country’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid.
You will explore Old Delhi on foot, then visit Raj Ghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi.
In the evening, you will share a moment of devotion with the Sikh community at the Bangla Sahib Temple.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 : Delhi - Leh (by plane)
After breakfast, depart for Leh. You will follow an endless route of asphalt loops that seem scraped by the reddish cliffs before reaching Taglang La, at 5,330 meters altitude, the second highest motorable pass in the world. At the summit, you begin the descent towards your destination, Leh.
Little Tibet in India was highly influenced by the presence of Sengge Namgyal, the most famous king of Ladakh, who decided to open the famous trade route of the Central Asian region. In 1974, the region opened to visitors and has seen a significant number of tourists since 2002.
Today, Leh is the most important city and the capital of the Ladakh region. With about 33,000 inhabitants and an altitude of 3,524 meters, the city has tripled in size over the past two decades and has become a major point for tourism. In addition to its numerous monuments and sites (Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Leh Mosque, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa), mostly influenced by secular Tibetan architecture, you will find great pleasure in getting lost in the charming little streets, meeting the local population, and strolling through the shops.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 : Leh - Lamayuru - Nurla
After breakfast, depart for Nurla. On the way, you visit the Likir Monastery, Magnetic Hill, and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel in the late morning.
In the afternoon, you depart for Lamayuru where you discover hypnotizing lunar landscapes and the Lamayuru Monastery, one of the largest and oldest monasteries in Ladakh, which once housed 400 monks.
Its frescoes, a beautiful statue of Buddha Vairocana, and the exceptional surrounding landscapes make Lamayuru a magnificent excursion.
Return to Nurla.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 : Nurla - Leh
After breakfast, you leave for Leh and visit the Alchi Monastery and the Pantheon on the way.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel in the late afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 : Leh - Turtuk Valley
After breakfast, depart for Turtuk Valley.
On the way, you pass through the Khardung La pass, listed in the Guinness World Records for being at an altitude of 5,602 meters, the highest motorable pass in the world. After catching your breath, you continue the road to Turtuk Valley.
Upon arrival, you check into the camp. In the evening, you visit Zero Point, the last outpost of civilization at an altitude of 3,490 meters, where the snow never melts, offering a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains and picturesque surroundings.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 6 : Turtuk Valley - Nubra Valley
After breakfast, you depart for Nubra Valley. Situated at a high altitude in a cold desert (3,000 meters), it is a land where rainfall and vegetation are rare, except along the riverbanks where you will be impressed by the incredible diversity of landscapes.
The mountains are snow-covered, with rocky peaks, surprising contrasts and colors, and at the base, sand dunes bordered by lush vegetation and rivers. You will enjoy visiting the Diskit Monastery, home to a 35-meter high statue of Maitreya Buddha.
You check into the camp before visiting the Hunder Dunes, nicknamed the desert in the sky, where you can encounter camels, found only in this region of India.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 7 : Nubra Valley - Shyok - Pangong
After breakfast in this beautiful location, you depart for Pangong Lake. With an area of 700 square kilometers and a depth of 100 meters at an altitude of 4,350 meters, Pangong Lake is also called the “long, narrow, enchanted lake” by the Tibetans. Being saline, the lake completely freezes in winter.
This is a day for navigating through mud and water crossings. Shyok Valley acts as a wind tunnel, with passing motorcyclists shivering during their ride due to strong winds, sandstorms, and rolling stones.
These conditions are very common in this valley. Few river crossings are as imposing and challenging, nothing like what you’ve seen before. Later, you tackle the rolling curves along the Shyok River.
Arrival and check-in at the cottage.
Dinner and overnight at the cottage.
Day 8 : Pangong - Leh
Early in the morning, you will have the chance to witness the sunrise over the lake.You will begin on the narrow road along the coast of Pangong Lake. You encounter many streams on the way before reaching the next major highlight: the third highest pass in the world, Chang La (5,360 meters), which you will cross.
Then, you will visit the Shey Monastery, the former residence of the Ladakh royal family (the highlight of the monastery is an immense gold-plated copper statue of Buddha Shakyamuni) and the Indus River.
Upon arrival in Leh, you check into the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 : Leh / Jaipur (by plane)
After breakfast, you are transferred to Leh airport for a flight to Jaipur, one of the most pleasant and lively cities in India.
The capital of Rajasthan is also called “The Pink City” in reference to the color of the old city’s buildings, surrounded by bare hills topped with forts and crenelated walls. Sacred cows, camels, elephants, and rickshaws coexist here. Built in 1727, Jaipur is one of the most colorful and picturesque cities in all of India.
Upon arrival in Jaipur, you check into the hotel.
After lunch, you will visit the “Jantar Mantar,” an astonishing observatory built by a prince passionate about astronomy, then stroll through the old city bazaars by rickshaw to admire the artisans in their shops (potters, dyers, jewelers), street vendors, and vegetable sellers.
In the evening, you visit the Birla Mandir temple, where you attend a religious ceremony (Aarti).
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 : Jaipur
After breakfast, you depart for an excursion to Amber Fort. This majestic structure is located 9 km north of Jaipur, in the former capital of the Rajput empire. On the way, you stop to see the Hawa Mahal (or Palace of Winds), a thin structure with over 900 windows and balconies, allowing you to capture this extraordinary moment at sunrise.
Lunch, then visit the Monkey Temple (Galta Ji), and the afternoon is free for strolling through the bazaars, shopping, and/or relaxing at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 : Jaipur / Agra
After breakfast, on the road to Agra, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, a remarkable site from an artistic and architectural standpoint. Fatehpur Sikri is the former capital of Emperor Akbar, built in 1571. The Imperial City contains buildings in pink sandstone with the most varied architectural forms: palaces, pavilions, courtyards and pools, mosques, caravanserai.
After lunch, you continue on the road to Agra.
Upon arrival, you visit the Taj Mahal. You will then discover this pinnacle of Mughal art and architecture, a luminous mausoleum of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and is considered the third wonder of the world.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Agra / Delhi
After breakfast, you visit the Red Fort of Agra, whose high red sandstone walls dominate the Yamuna River. It marks the birth of the Mughal imperial style and offers you a last look at the Taj Mahal.
Late in the morning, you take the road to Delhi.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Delhi / Departure
After breakfast, you are transferred to Delhi airport for your return flight.