India's Himalayas up close: 4X4 Off-Road Adventure

Welcome to Delhi! After your arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and brought to the hotel. In the evening, we will meet and get to know each other over local cuisine. The day has finally come for us to embark on our adventurous expedition! We will depart from Delhi early in the morning and reach Amritsar in the evening. Amritsar is home to one of the sanctuaries of the Sikh ethos - the Golden Temple. Any trip to this region would be incomplete without a visit to the Golden Temple. Covered in 400 kg of gold and surrounded by a tranquil pond, the sight of this glimmering structure is overwhelming. Afterward, we will drive to our hotel and have the rest of the evening at our leisure. After breakfast, we will prepare to drive to Patnitop. Surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Pir Panjal range, Patnitop lies on a plateau in the Shivalik belt and is enveloped by a dense canopy of green pines and thick forests. On the way there, we will pass mountain streams whose cold water is said to have healing powers. We will set off this morning for Srinagar. Srinagar is situated amidst clear lakes and high, wooded mountains and has long been a noted tourist destination. The Jhelum River flowing through the city is spanned by several wooden bridges and numerous canals and waterways. The metropolis is located in the world-renowned Kashmir and, in addition to its silk and carpet industry, offers the production of silver and copperware, leather processing, and wood carving. After our arrival, you will have the rest of the day free to explore all these things at your own pace. Today you can enjoy the beauty of Srinagar at your leisure. This free day gives you the opportunity to explore the sights of the city and take a day off from driving. Perhaps you would also like to take a stroll through Srinagar's beautiful Mughal gardens or visit the local markets where you will find traditional Kashmiri handicrafts, Pashmina shawls, and delicious regional delicacies. Back behind the wheel. Today we drive to Kargil. Our journey will take us over the Zoji-La Pass, which is at an altitude of 11,575 feet and offers great views of the rugged landscapes of Ladakh. Along the way, we will pass through Dras, known as the second coldest inhabited place in the world, see historical sites like Tiger Hill and Point 4875 (Batra Top), and make a stop at the Kargil War Memorial. The seventh day of our expedition takes us to Leh. The route there is as beautiful as it is challenging. Behind every bend, views of rocky cliffs and valleys unfold and we will likely stop for a photo here and there. We will also stop at the Hall of Fame, a museum built by the Indian Army in honor of the soldiers who fell in the Kargil War, and learn about the history of this place. Afterwards, we will visit the Pathar Sahib Gurudwara, a Sikh shrine dating back to 1517. And then comes another highlight of our off-road tour. The Magnetic Hill, known for its gravity-defying illusion, seemingly makes our vehicles roll uphill. We will spend today on a day trip. Leh is located at an altitude of 3,500 meters and this day is important for us to acclimatize to the heights of the Himalayas. Leh also offers another opportunity to explore the cultural and historical treasures of the region. We start with a visit to the Leh Palace, also known as Lhachen Palkhar. The palace was built around 1600 and offers a view over the entire city and the surrounding mountains. Afterwards, we will go to the Shanti Stupa, a beautiful white dome built as a symbol of peace and is an important part of the spiritual landscape of Ladakh. The stage of the ninth day takes us further into the heights of the Himalayas. Today we will cross the Khardung La, which at 5,350 meters is one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world. This adventure is rewarded with the arrival in Nubra Valley, where we will spend the night. The Nubra Valley is known for its dunes and camels, which we will see today. There is the opportunity to swing onto one of the Bactrian camels and explore the valley this way or, if you haven't had enough of motorized transport, take an ATV ride. Another option for the free day is to relax and meet the group again only at dinner. The off-road adventure continues. We cross rugged gravel roads and high passes to reach the Pangong Tso lake at over 4,200 meters altitude. Two-thirds of the lake are located in Chinese territory, specifically Tibet. Due to its beauty, it has already served multiple times as a Bollywood film set. Our adventure trip takes us back to Leh over the Chang La Pass (approx. 5,300 m) between snow-covered peaks. Due to border conflicts in this region, the pass is kept clear of snow, not least for the military. Drivers should have their permits ready today, as there may occasionally be checks. Today's destination is Jispa. Along the way, we will pause at the Zing Zing Bar (tea house) and then cross the Baralacha La, another off-road mountain pass and a serpentine set called the Gata Loops. It consists of asphalt and gravel sections and allows us to reach an altitude difference of 730 meters over a length of 23 km. The Gata Loops are 21 challenging hairpin turns between abysses and debris. At the end of this adventurous day, we will spend the night in Jispa. The section of the route takes us through the Atal Tunnel (approx. 9 km), through the village of Keylong at the Bara-Shigri glacier, which we can visit, over Tandi to Manali. The fifteenth is the last off-road day of our journey. Once more we will travel over the winding roads of northern India and in the evening, we will reflect on the experiences of our trip over a farewell dinner together. On the last day of our tour, we will make our way back to Delhi, from where we will commence our journey home. Alongside material souvenirs, our backpacks will also be full of impressions and memories of this off-road expedition through northern India that will accompany us for a lifetime.