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India: High Road to Kashmir
Group Tour
Overview
For more than a decade, the holiday Mecca of Kashmir was considered out of bounds. Not anymore! Since 2005, we have been running trips to this stunning destination with great success. Of all our trips to Kashmir, this is one of our favourites, including as it does a visit to neighbouring Ladakh with its strong Tibetan Buddhist influences.
Starting with an epic flight over the Himalayas to Leh, we will visit the ancient palaces, forts and monasteries of the Indus Valley and witness rural ...
For more than a decade, the holiday Mecca of Kashmir was considered out of bounds. Not anymore! Since 2005, we have been running trips to this stunning destination with great success. Of all our trips to Kashmir, this is one of our favourites, including as it does a visit to neighbouring Ladakh with its strong Tibetan Buddhist influences.
Starting with an epic flight over the Himalayas to Leh, we will visit the ancient palaces, forts and monasteries of the Indus Valley and witness rural life in the old Silk Road Kingdom of Ladakh. We’ll spend time exploring the remote Nubra Valley, from where we’ll traverse over the world’s highest driveable pass before heading on to what is generally regarded as one of the most spectacular road journeys in the whole Himalaya - via the Zanskar and Suru Valleys - to Srinagar and its beautiful and unforgettable scenery of mountains and lakes.
These tours are scheduled to incorporate local festivals and this itinerary is perfect for those with a real sense of adventure and those who wish to witness awe-inspiring scenery!
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
Minibuses, cars, local-style land cruisers, small man-powered boats and domestic flights
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
This particular trip will involve hotel accommodation in Delhi and Leh, a more local-style hotel in Kargil, a houseboat in Srinagar, and a tented camp. Some of the accommodation can be quite basic at times and some areas can experience power cuts. Travelling with an open mind and a sense of adventure is advised.
Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour Starts In Delhi: Explore New Delhi
Day 1 Tour Starts In Delhi: Explore New Delhi
The tour starts with a group welcome meeting at lunchtime. Rooms are available from 14:00 so we will check in if possible, before taking a drive through New Delhi – visiting Rajpath and India Gate as well as Humayun’s tomb, one of the best preserved Mughal monuments, commissioned by Humayun's son Akbar and designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiya. This evening we will head to Connaught Place for dinner.
Day 2 Delhi – Leh (3,500M): The Land of High Passes
Day 2 Delhi – Leh (3,500M): The Land of High Passes
After a relaxed morning we'll take one of the most spectacular flights in the world in the early afternoon, from Delhi across the plains and over the Himalayas to Leh – if your eyesight is good enough you might even see K2! Upon arrival in Leh, we’ll transfer to our hotel and spend some time relaxing and acclimatising to the altitude. Known as the ‘Land of High Passes’, Ladakh and its capital, Leh, was an important junction on the famous Silk Route. In the afternoon, we’ll take an orientation walk around the town, which is still dominated by the ruins of Leh Palace. This former residence of the royal family of Ladakh is built along the lines of the Potala Palace in Tibet. At nine storeys high, it’s a striking building and an architectural icon of Leh.
Day 3 In & Around Leh: The Monasteries of Leh
Day 3 In & Around Leh: The Monasteries of Leh
Today we’ll visit some of the most spectacular monasteries in the area surrounding Leh. Situated on a hilltop to the south, Shey Monastery was once the summer palace of the royal family and it’s believed that many of the Kings of Leh were born here. The monastery is home to an impressive 24m high seated image of Buddha cast from copper and covered with gold leaf. Thiksey Monastery, filled with colourful murals and statues, affords picturesque views of the green Indus valley from its rooftop. Located around 26kms from Leh, Matho Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery built around 500 years ago which belongs to the Sakya order. We’ll return to Leh in time for dinner this evening.
Day 4 Leh - Nubra Valley (3,000M): Over Khardung La Pass
Day 4 Leh - Nubra Valley (3,000M): Over Khardung La Pass
This morning we’ll head north on a scenic journey along one of the highest motorable roads in the world as we journey over the Khardung La Pass (5,359m), before descending into the spectacular Nubra Valley below. Lying high on the Tibetan plateau - and only recently opened to foreign visitors - Nubra Valley means ‘Valley of Flowers’ and visiting here is like stepping back in time. This is where the Shyok River meets the Siachan River to form a large valley separating the Ladakh and Karakoram mountain ranges. Throughout the journey, a number of stops are required to obtain protected area permits and to show passports. On arrival, we’ll settle into Desert Himalaya Resort, with some free time to explore the surrounding area or to relax on the veranda of your premium tent. In the late afternoon, there is an option to take an easy walk from Diskit. We will start from the main bazaar in the village of Diskit. En route, we pass sea buckthorn bushes used as a traditional medicine for centuries and visit a rolling expanse of sand dunes. We then return to our camp and have dinner.
Driving distance today, 120km, approx. 5 hours.
Day 5 In The Nubra Valley: Chortens and the Wishful Lake
Day 5 In The Nubra Valley: Chortens and the Wishful Lake
After breakfast, we cross the Shyok River heading to the other side of the Nubra Valley to visit a couple of remote local monasteries. Home to around 50 monks, Samstanling Monastery is the main monastery of the region and is over 130 years old. In contrast, Ensa Monastery is around 600 years old with only one resident monk. Here, the kora path takes us past dozens of white chortens and a hermitage retreat to offer fabulous views of the valley. We return to the banks of the Nubra for a picnic lunch. This afternoon, we take a short drive to the Yarab Tso Lake, known locally as ‘Wishful Lake’. Situated at 3,300m, it is one of the holiest high-altitude lakes in the valley where we can enjoy another pleasant walk. On our return journey, we pay a visit to the Women’s Alliance of Nubra, an initiative to improve the status of women in this region, for a traditional Ladakhi lunch before returning to our camp for the evening.
Day 6 Nubra Valley – Leh: Return from the Valley
Day 6 Nubra Valley – Leh: Return from the Valley
We rise early this morning to observe the monks carrying out their morning prayers at Diskit Monastery. We return to the camp for breakfast and after taking in some more of the magnificent views we’ll return to Leh where the rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure. Dinner tonight will be at your own expense.
Driving distance today, 120km, approx. 5 hours.
Day 7 In & around Leh: Explore Leh
Day 7 In & around Leh: Explore Leh
If it transpires, as it often does, that this day coincides with one of the annual colourful Buddhist festivals held in Leh itself or one of the nearby gompas, we’ll plan to spend much of the day marvelling at the famous masked dancers, who through plays, music and dance tell the teachings of Guru Rinpoché – the precious jewel. Alternatively, if there are no festive celebrations today, we'll have a whole day to further explore the Ladakhi capital and its stunning surroundings with a chance to take an optional hike in Stok Gorge. This area marks the entrance to Hemis National Park, renowned for its snow leopards, ibex, urial, and blue sheep or bharal. The gorge is the starting point for the much longer trek to Stok Kangri and features remarkable rock formations and diverse plant life. Along the way, we'll pass many mani walls and chortens before returning along the same path with a stop alongside the stream for a picnic lunch before returning to Leh.
Day 8 Leh – Lamayuru (3,510M): Alchi and the Start of the High Road
Day 8 Leh – Lamayuru (3,510M): Alchi and the Start of the High Road
Today we depart Leh and start our journey on the exhilarating High Road to Kashmir, stopping at Alchi Monastery (3,100M) en route. Adorned with murals depicting different forms of Buddha, this monastery is distinct from other monasteries in Ladakh in that it sits on flat ground rather than a hilltop. From here, we’ll drive to the magnificent 11th-century Lamayuru Monastery (3,510M). This impressive building belongs to the Red Hat sect of Buddhism and is home to more than 150 monks, housing a rich collection of artefacts, wall paintings, thangas, statues, carpets and an impressive 11-headed, 1,000-eyed image of Chenzing. We continue on to Lamayuru (3,510M), where we will overnight.
Driving distance today, 115km, approx. 4 hours.
Day 9 Lamayuru - Padum (3,669M): Through the Zanskar Valley
Day 9 Lamayuru - Padum (3,669M): Through the Zanskar Valley
Today will be a long day, as we traverse some of the most breathtaking scenery and remote villages that have remained hidden for centuries, and true wilderness, some of which is completely uninhabited. We’ll leave early as we travel through the spectacular Zanskar Valley and on to Padum. Once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Zanskar, Padum is the present-day administrative centre of the Zanskar region of Kargil. Arriving in the late afternoon, we will spend the next two nights in Padum.
Driving distance today, 240km, approx 8/9 hours.
Day 10 In Padum: Karsha and Bardan Monasteries
Day 10 In Padum: Karsha and Bardan Monasteries
We’ll have the whole day to explore some of Zanskar’s striking scenery, as well as its religious and historical treasures. With opportunities throughout for small walks and interactions with the local residents of the region, we will visit the nearby monasteries of Karsha and Bardan. Karsha Monastery (4,400m) is situated on the far side of the Stod River and stands majestically on a steep mountainside above Karsha village. Fortress-like Bardan Gompa, a 17th-century Buddhist Monastery, sits atop a rocky crag and belongs to the Dugpa-Kagyud monastic order. It was one of the first monasteries of this sect to be established in Zanskar and the main prayer hall retains some ancient murals.
Day 11 Padum – Kargil: Journey through the Peaks
Day 11 Padum – Kargil: Journey through the Peaks
Leaving early, we’ll take a scenic drive out of the Zanskar Valley and on to Kargil, the second largest town in Ladakh. If time permits, we will take a stroll around this very Islamic town, with workshops and old merchant stores cramming the packed central area.
Driving distance today, 240km, approx 8/9 hours.
Day 12 Kargil – Srinagar: Sonamarg and Through the Sindh Valley
Day 12 Kargil – Srinagar: Sonamarg and Through the Sindh Valley
This morning, we’ll leave early for our drive to Srinagar. En route, we’ll make a brief stop at the Drass War Memorial, built in commemoration of the fallen soldiers from the 1999 conflict, before continuing over the Zoji Pass and onto Sonamarg, meaning "Meadow of Gold" in the Kashmiri language. We should arrive in Sonamarg for lunch, surrounded by Kashmir’s most beautiful mountain countryside. From here, we’ll begin our final drive through the Sindh Valley to Srinagar, a town that is, in many ways, the real highlight of this trip! Sitting at the heart of the Vale of Kashmir lies this extraordinary town, famed for centuries for its clean, clear air, idyllic setting, and lakes. Framed by high-forested hills that rise up in the distance to the snow-capped Himalayas, it’s simply one of the most picturesque places you’re ever likely to visit. On arrival, we’ll transfer by shikaras and check into our beautiful houseboat, which have changed little since the British first built them back in the 19th century. Our houseboat, usually made from cedar wood, is family-owned and operated, therefore providing a wonderful personal touch.
Driving distance today, 202km, approx. 5 hours. There may be unavoidable diversions in place on the drive today, which could see the tour diverted through a short 5km tunnel. Please see Key Aspects to Consider in the Key Information section.
Day 13 In & Around Srinagar: Land of Lakes and Gardens
Day 13 In & Around Srinagar: Land of Lakes and Gardens
Often referred to as the ‘Land of Lakes and Gardens’ or the ‘Switzerland of India’, Srinagar is a place of unforgettable natural beauty. The famous gardens have a distinctly Mughal influence as many of them were cultivated by Mughal emperors. The old city, with its narrow streets and ancient mosques, is a wonderful place to explore on foot. We may also take a stroll up to the imposing 18th-century Hari Parbat Fort, built by Emperor Akbar in the 1590s and visible from virtually anywhere in Srinagar. Until recently, this was closed off to the public but it is now open from time to time when the security situation allows it, and a visit here provides some stunning views of the surrounding area. There’s also the opportunity to do some shopping from local hawkers, selling silk, leather, flowers, jewellery, pashminas, etc. They can come to the houseboat on request so you don't need to go far for souvenirs.
Day 14 In & Around Srinagar: Floating Markets and City Waterways
Day 14 In & Around Srinagar: Floating Markets and City Waterways
If you don’t mind an early start then a dawn trip to the floating vegetable market to watch the hustle and bustle of trading on the water, along with the accompanying sunrise, is a truly wonderful experience. Returning to the houseboat for breakfast, we’ll enjoy a trip out on the lakes taking in more of the picturesque gardens, drifting along the narrow waterways and witnessing more of the unique lifestyle that Srinagar offers.
Day 15 Srinagar – Delhi: Return to Delhi
Day 15 Srinagar – Delhi: Return to Delhi
After a leisurely morning, we’ll fly to Delhi and check into our hotel. Depending on our flight arrival time, there might be a couple of hours free for a last look around before heading out for our farewell dinner.
Day 16 Tour Ends In Delhi
Day 16 Tour Ends In Delhi
The tour ends after breakfast at our hotel. Those on the suggested group flight will be transfered to the airport in time for their morning flight.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
The Claridges, Delhi
The Claridges has been a veritable treasure in Lutyens Delhi since the 1950's. Amidst the rush of new modernity, the soul of The Claridges lives on. Refurbished, redesigned and revitalized, the hotel now offers guests an experience that is new and yet so familiar. The hotel is also in an excellent location just a short auto ride from Khan Market and not much further to Connaught Place. Under current management, the hotel has a blend of tradition and modernity. Leading designers of international repute have helped enhance the heritage and elegance of this four star hotel. There are 132 different rooms and suites, all designed with an elegant blend of 19th century character and contemporary style. Wine and dine to your heart's content in the Dhaba, inspired by rustic Punjabi villages; the Jade, serving Chinese-Cantonese cuisine; Sevilla, for all your tapas needs; Pickwicks, a multicuisine buffet that is always open; Ye Old Bakery, where the corn pudding is a must try; or the Aura, a romantic, dimly lit bar. There is also a refreshing outdoor pool, indoor gym and relaxing spa to enjoy at the end of a busy day.
Hotel Tsokar Retreat, Leh
Hotel Tsokar Retreat is a comfortable mid-range option in the heart of Leh, located within walking distance of the main market. With just 21 rooms, the hotel maintains an intimate feel but offers a lot of space, both in the rooms and in the communal areas. There is a good in house restaurant and guests can enjoy uninterrupted views of the city and surrounding mountains from the hotel's rooftop, however there is no alcohol available at the property.
Desert Himalaya Resort, Nubra Valley
Located in the Nubra Valley, the Desert Himalaya Resort offers a comfortable option with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The premium tents have been fitted with some modern comforts, including clean and comfortable beds and mattresses and en suite bathrooms with hot and cold water. Each tent has its own terrace area where you can relax and watch the sunset or marvel at the stars, and in order to fully embrace the natural setting there are no TVs and electricity is only available till around 10.30pm. The Resort's restaurant serves buffet style meals with a variety of Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes, or guests can rejuvenate with a dip in the fresh spring water pool.
The Kargil, Kargil
Hotel 'The Kargil' has been established with the aim of providing high quality service with world-class facilities made available to its guests in one of the remotest and naturally exquisite places in India. The hotel is owned and is run by the Bagh Family in Kargil who are well known for their hospitality and warmth.
Royal Houseboat, Srinagar
Situated on a quiet corner of Dal Lake, with wonderful views out over a lotus field, picturesque houseboats and the mountains beyond, besides Sukoon this is probably the most luxurious group of houseboats in Kashmir. Consisting of seven houseboats, ranging in size from the mega seven-bedroom supper boat, the Shalimar Palace, to the two-bedroom Pigeon Deluxe, they are spacious, for the most part exquisitely carved, each coming with the their own housekeeper/butler. The boats are quite close together with a busy walkway in front, so they're great if you're looking for an authentic Kashmir experience, but not so perfect if privacy is what you're after. But all in all a very good option.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| BA 257 | London Heathrow (LHR) 18:50 | Delhi Airport (DEL) 08:05 |
| BA 256 | Delhi Airport (DEL) 10:10 | London Heathrow (LHR) 15:15 |
Visas & Vaccinations
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for India.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Please note that if your profession, or previous profession, relates to anything media, governmental, and military related, please speak to the office before booking onto this tour.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to India.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is a requirement for travellers arriving from certain countries. Please visit the Indian Bureau of Immigration website for information.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
Malaria is present in some parts of India and precautions are essential.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Warning
The FCDO sometimes advises against certain parts of this itinerary.
Wild Frontiers has many years of experience in running trips which contravene FCDO advice but these decisions are never taken lightly and are always taken in conjunction with our local partners after extensive consultation. As part of the booking process, you will need to sign a disclaimer to confirm you have read the advice, that you are still happy to travel and that you will obtain travel insurance which is not invalidated by the FCDO advice. Please click here to see the disclaimer.
On this tour, the FCDO advise against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir, except for travel within
the Union Territory of Ladakh. The tourist destinations of Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city
of Srinagar, and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway are within the areas
where the FCDO advises against all travel. This effectively equates to Days 12 - 15 of this tour, however please note that this information is subject to change.
For more information, please see the Insurance section or contact us. Non-UK clients should be sure to check the travel advice of their own governments as well as the small print of their insurance policies. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The main thing to bear in mind when visiting Kashmir, especially when travelling up from the Indian plains, is that weather-wise anything can happen. Though we plan our itineraries carefully, taking into account the seasonal conditions, and would expect you to experience nothing but sunshine, there is the potential for lingering monsoons and chilly conditions on the high mountain passes. Therefore, as with so many of Wild Frontiers’ mountain trips, you need to come prepared for any eventuality.
You can generally expect daytime temperatures in the mountains to be in the mid-20’s with nighttime temperatures to be a little above freezing. Delhi will be a good 10-15 degrees hotter. It is not unusual to experience snow at higher altitudes so we always recommend bringing some warm layers for the days and nights spent at high altitude.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious, but not all Wild Frontiers tours are the same, and it is important that you choose a tour which is suitable for you. To help you decide and ensure you choose a suitable tour, please refer to our helpful guide here. As a minimum, you should make sure that you read the day-by-day itinerary and the Key Aspects to Consider sections carefully. Should you still have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour, then please contact us.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.
This trip operates at altitude. However, as long as you take it easy on arrival in Leh (3,500m) – as the itinerary is planned – you should be fine. The highest point this trip reaches is 5,359m as we pass into the Nubra Valley. But this is only driving – we’ll actually sleep back at a lower altitude than where we started the day. Anyone in a good state of health who enjoys walking should be perfectly able to cope with our Ladakh and Kashmir itineraries.
The route of the hike on Day 7 may need to be adjusted due to the weather conditions so please ensure you travel with an open mind and adaptability.
Please come prepared for some very bumpy roads that have not been well-maintained in recent years (and thus some long driving days) and some real adventures involving several river crossings. Conditions in Kashmir and Ladakh can be unpredictable and a flexible attitude is essential during this trip. In addition, there is the possibility that vehicles can be diverted through a tunnel on the road from Kargil to Srinagar on the basis of safety. This tunnel is approximately 5km long and will not take away from the rest of the beautiful scenery along the rest of the route.
This tour has a couple of long driving days, these will be approx. 8/9 hours driving time (around 240km) and regular breaks will be provided.
Please note that the accommodation on this tour is, at times, quite basic and there can be power cuts in some areas.
Please be advised that on this trip, vegetarians can be catered for but the selection and variety may be limited. Guests with other dietary requirements should discuss their requirements with the office. The State of Ladakh has designated dry days during which alcohol cannot be purchased in shops, restaurants, or hotels. This is typically only for a day or two and should not affect your enjoyment of the tour. You can also opt to purchase alcohol in the airport when flying from Delhi to Leh and bring it with you should you prefer to have access to your favourite tipple on these days.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 8350 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.