Journey to Ladakh

Welcome to Kashmir! Someone in our team will greet you on your arrival to Srinagar International Airport. You will be taken to the hotel, where you can relax and take a rest. You have arrived. The group will gather today. You will meet each other, and of course, Sankalparaja, the facilitator/travel leader of this unique journey. In the evening, we will have our first dinner together, before a well-deserved sleep. You need to make sure that your arrival in Srinagar happens today, preferably in the morning or early afternoon. Our acclimatization starts here, at an altitude of 1730m.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: -

The calls to prayer in the mosques will wake us up to our day, if not earlier, in the capital of Kashmir. After breakfast, we start the morning wandering around town. For thousands of years, this whole valley has been an inspiring place for Yogis, poets, thinkers, merchants and travellers alike. The region was predominantly Shaivist for several millennia, then Buddhist, and now inhabited by a Muslim majority. As it hosted important spiritual masters and thinkers, such as Abhinavagupta, before the Mughal invasions, Kashmir is still today one of the most important landmarks in Indian culture. In the afternoon, we lean back in a shikara, letting ourselves be carried away by the atmosphere of Srinagar’s lakes, as we navigate along the canals.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

We take off to an easy first day on the road with our motorcycles. We will ride out of Srinagar, and into the NH1, also known as Srinagar-Leh Highway. Some traffic is to be expected as we leave Srinagar. It will get us used to the ways of driving in India, as well as with safe-riding in group formation. By the end of the day, we will be warmed up, and ready for more enduring days ahead. Sonamarg is located at an altitude of 2740m. It had historical significance in the past, as a gateway on the ancient Silk Road, connecting Kashmir with Central Asia, and Tibet. Our mens group will gather today in men’s circle for the first time.

Distance: 80Km - 4h

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After yoga and breakfast, we ride up the first challenging bit of road on this journey and start our ascent of the Himalayas. The stunning landscape of the valley behind and below us, reveals itself on the way up. The slow transition from Kashmir valley, into Ladakh is made through our first high pass crossing, Zoji-La, at 3,528 m. After the pass, we head towards Dras. Dras is often referred to as the Gateway to Ladakh. It is located at 3,300m, in the center of the valley with the same name. The people of Dras are mostly from the Dardic and Balti Tribes. The Dards are of Indo-Aryan origin who are believed to have migrated to Ladakh from Central Asia. We stay the night further ahead, in Kargil.

Distance: 125Km – 5h

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

We keep riding East, along NH1 - Srinagar-Leh Highway - the northernmost East-West highway in India. On the way, we will stop in Mulbek to visit it’s Gompa, a temple known for its remarkable rock-cut cliff-face statue of Buddha. This ancient temple dates back to the Kushan period, and is believed to be from around the eighth century. After lunch, we ride to Lamayuru. The legend says that Lamayuru valley was once a big lake, and Naropa, a well-known Tantric Yogi once lived here, in a cave, around which Lamayuru monastery was built. The monastery was built at the top of a hill, surrounded by a very peculiar landscape of wrinkled slopes.

Distance: 103Km – 6h

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

We will visit the monastery at dawn and attend the morning prayers. After that, we will have our practice, and then breakfast. The ride to our next destination will be relaxed. Hemis Shukpachan (3,630 m - also known as Heshuk),  literally means home between stones and pebbles, with junipers. It is regarded as a holy place due to the presence of the Juniper (shukpa). The village is located in the enchanted Sham Valley. There is a unique serenity about its location, surrounded by mountains of reddish hue on all sides. The main source of water here is a spring, which flows throughout the year.

Distance: 92Km - 4h

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Silent day. Today, we go in. A long waited moment for many, a challenging day for some. Silence gives us the chance to listen. To stay still, instead of acting. To go in, instead of out. To endure, instead of bypassing with distractions. To drop our Instagram posts for a moment, and truly contemplate. In the morning, we will practice yoga in silence. We will be by ourselves the rest of the day. Some will take off and trek. Some will just want to stay still, practice meditation, journal or sleep. And that’s ok. Above the village is the Dakmar Hill (meaning ‘red rocks’) that has a hermit’s abode. The Rinpoche and monks from the Ri-dzong monastery are known to retreat here for meditation. Lamas used to meditate and practice yoga here for years, in isolation. What better place for us to do the same for one day.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

We wake up to our last morning in Hemis-Shukpachan. After yoga and breakfast, we will ride through Yangtang, all the way to Leh. It is a free rest of the day for all. You can cave at will and be by yourself. You can explore more and go on your own walking discovery around the city

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Leh, the ancient capital of Ladakh, was an important market town in the Silk Route days, and stayed like that until the borders with China were closed in 1950. In the ancient labyrinth of streets and alleys of Main Bazaar, one still finds descendants of the old Muslim merchants, who run commercial trading here for centuries. It is important to still keep physical effort in check, so that the body continues to acclimatize, and adapt to the altitude (3500m). Today is a rest day you are free to stay in, or explore by yourself again. . If there is one corner in Leh you would like to see by yourself, this is the moment. Whether you are looking for books, or some warm afternoon bread, on request, Sankalparaja will give you tips on what to explore and where to go.

 Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

After morning yoga, we will go on a ride to explore the Indus monasteries of Hemis and Tiksey, Hemis, around 42Km from Leh, is a Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. After that, we discover the wonders of Thiksey monastery, of the Gelug lineage, considered by many the most impressive among all monasteries of Ladakh. It’s construction is organized in different levels, from the base of the hill, to the very top, where the gompas are. Thiksey has an impressive library, and a Maitreya Buddha temple. We admire the impressive views from the very top, over the Valley.

Distance: 85Km - 5h

 Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

The most adventurous part of our journey starts very early today, as we do our long ride to Pangong Lake. The road will have some dirt patches, worse than we were used to until today, and it will open itself up to some memorable and astonishing views. We will arrive in Pangong in the afternoon. Pangong Lake, situated at a height of almost 4,350m, is the world’s highest saltwater lake. Its water, with its deep blue color, lies in contrast to the arid mountains surrounding it. It extends almost 160km, one-third of it in India and the other two-thirds in Tibet (now China).

Distance: 175Km - 8h

Accommodation: Bungalow

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After our last glance over the deep blue waters of Pangong Lake, we head off to the hardest leg of all, taking the most remote road of our journey. This will be the most demanding day when it comes to our riding skills. Dirt road and water crossings are expected on the way, as we head towards Nubra Valley. In the ancient times of the Silk Route, caravans crossed Nubra Valley, carrying pashmina shawls, spices, opium, saffron and other exotic goods from India. They would head towards Central Asia, to the cities of Yarkand and Kashgar. On their return, they would bring precious gems, tobacco and silk. We spend the night in the small village of Diskit.

Distance: 162Km - 8h

Accommodation: Guest-house

Meals: Breakfast, dinner 

We keep riding West today, in the direction of Turtuk, the most remote village, of our journey. Turtuk is a Balti village that lies in a mountain bed, just above the banks of Shyok River, facing the Karakorum range. Balti people originate from Tibet and they are mixed with Dardic blood (from the regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan). They settled in Baltistan, the region that we now reach, that extends even further towards the West, most of it now in Pakistani territory. This is the closest we get to Pakistan also. We are 7km from the border. Our host will take us in a very special walking tour of the village.

Distance: 95km - 5h

 Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Dinner

We wake up to our yoga practice in beautiful and warm Turtuk. Known for its peaceful beauty and for its variety of fruits, especially apricots, it was under Pakistani control until the war of 1971, when the Indian Army captured the village. Just 7 Km from here, Pakistan-controlled Gilgit-Baltistan begins. The village is one of the gateways to the strategically important Siachen Glacier. And speaking of glacier, today is the day we are testing our resilience to cold, as we dive in the glacial waters of river. Are you joining?

 Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

The last day of our retreat will be filled with practice, rest and free time to stroll around at will. Turtuk is inviting us to explore it’s unique beauty by ourselves. The majority of inhabitants in Turtuk are Sufis, a form of Islamic mysticism that emphasises introspection and spiritual closeness with God. What better place than this, for the closing of our retreat, and the last men’s circle of this journey. The mens group will gather in the afternoon for our special ending. After the circle, a typical Balti dinner awaits, specially cooked for us by our hosts.

 Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

This is our last day riding. And to celebrate, we have one long stretch, all the way back to Leh. The valley extends again, between the ranges of Karakorum on the left, and Ladakh on the right. Today is also the day we ride up to the highest pass, and motorable road in the world. We will celebrate in Khardung La (5603m) with a tea, before we ride all the way down towards Leh, where we will arrive in the afternoon.

Distance: 205Km - 8h

Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfastcription

Final rest today, before our return. You can take it easy, enjoy the city, as you walk around Leh at our own leisure. Our journey has reached it’s end. The men’s group will get together tonight for one last Ladakhi dinner, integration, and a proper closing of our men’s retreat.

Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Time for goodbye. This is the end of our retreat program. Most probably you will take a taxi to Leh airport and head home.

Meals: Breakfast