Spring

Service Description

After a long cold winter, the Apricot Blossom season marks a colourful beginning of spring. Valleys across Ladakh get draped in pink and white flowers and its a sight to behold. Unlike the cherry blossoms of Japan, Ladakh doesn’t attract big crowds (as yet) for the apricot blossom season, making it an even more desirable experience. People say you MUST visit Ladakh at least once in your life, we’d say at least twice: to see different avatars of it in different seasons: apricot blossom season being a natural wonder worth witnessing! In this trip, we will be exploring Sham valley and Aryan valley in west Ladakh, staying with locals to immerse ourselves in their way of life, learning to cook Ladakhi food and much more, all the while sipping on delicious hot beverages. > **Journey details: 8th-15th April 2023** > **Day 1: (Leh Airport-Leh)** Arrive at Leh airport. You will be picked up and dropped off at the hotel. Leh is at a high altitude and you will experience a sudden drop in temperatures compared to cities, so the first entire day should be used to rest and acclimatize. **Day 2: (Leh-Alchi)** Start the day with some local & cultural explorations. Visit Shanti Stupa and Leh market in the first half of the day. The trip begins after lunch. Visit the confluence (sangam) of Indus and Zanskar rivers, enjoy the apricot blossoms on the way and reach Alchi village by evening. Overnight stay in Alchi. **Day 3: (Alchi-Dah)** Visit Alchi monastery and leave Alchi after breakfast. Drive towards the Aryan valley and spend time enroute enjoying the magnificent views of the apricot blossoms. Spend a beautiful afternoon and evening in the village interacting with the locals and getting to know their way of life. Overnight stay in Dah/Hanu village in Aryan valley. **Day 4: (Dah-Leh)** Leave after breakfast. Visit Pattharsahib Gurudwara and Hall of Fame museum on the  way back. Reach Leh by evening and rest. Overnight stay in Leh. **Day 5: (Leh-Pangong)** Leave Leh after breakfast and drive towards Pangong lake. Cross Changla pass enroute. Spend time at the lake in the evening. Overnight stay at Pangong lake. **Day 6: (Pangong-Leh)** Leave Pangong and drive back towards Leh. Visit Thiksey monastery and Shey Palace on the way. Spend a slow evening in Leh strolling through the market. Overnight stay in Leh. **Day 7: (Giving back day)** This day is for us to get involved in some volunteering activity around Leh. Allow yourself to be surprised on this day an