LADAKH: Little Tibet
Hemis Festival
June 30-July 19, 2014
20 Days
"Ladakh is far too kaleidoscopic to be dismissed with a string of platitudes. Its people, even the meanest peasant, are imbued with a culture handed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. Personally I am in no doubt at all that Ladakh is the most interesting country to visit that one could imagine. It fulfills almost all the expectations of the traveler who is prepared to see it through his own eyes, to experience it through his own emotions, to comprehend it through his own sensibility."Heinrich Harrer
The Hemis Festival is one of the most remarkable celebrations in all of Tibetan Buddhism. Each year Hemis Gompa (Lone Place of the Compassionate Person) has a two-day festival where visitors and pilgrims alike are afforded the opportunity to witness uncommon ritual and prayer. The momentous nature of this will bring Buddhist pilgrims from all over the mountain regions to observe the spectacular drama dances of Buddhism with monks ‘performing’ in splendidly colorful masks representing various figures from the Tibetan pantheon. The sounds of horns and drums blend with the mantras and gaiety to create a surrealistic scene.
Ladakh lies within the specter of the most massive mountain ranges on Earth ... the Karakoram ... the Ladakh ... the Zanskar ... and the Himalaya. This region is a high-altitude desert plateau that is of great interest to people who are fascinated by the world’s high places and the history of Tibet. As the cradle of Buddhism, the religion spread to Tibet. Today, it is only here that the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism is found as a living, thriving religion. And where, a visitor has the opportunity to witness times past, through the thronged festival at the Phiyang Gompa and accessible masterpieces of Buddhist art at Alchi Gompa.
While Ladakh is, today, far more Tibetan than Tibet (because of the manner in which China has changed Tibet) the topographical and cultural resemblances to Tibet are only part of her appeal. Here you will evidence an intermingling of cultures, an astounding array of mountain vistas, an uncompromising monastic tradition and a people who will strike a chord of consonance in your heart. There is something spiritually stirring about the silence and isolation of the place.
 DAY by DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 June 30, 2014 Monday Departure from NEW YORK DAY 2 July 1, 2014 Tuesday Enroute to INDIA DAY 3 July 2, 2014 Wednesday Sightseeing in DELHI
DAY 6 July 5, 2014 Saturday Visit Phiyang, Spituk & Sankar Gompas
DAY 9 July 8, 2014 Tuesday Visit HEMIS, SHEY, THIKSEY DAY 10 July 9, 2014 Wednesday Drive to HUNDER
DAY 14 July 13, 2014 Sunday
Drive to LAMAYURU DAY 15 July 14, 2014 Monday Return to LEH via ALCHI DAY 16 July 15, 2014 Tuesday Majestic PANGONG TSO LAKE DAY 17 July 16, 2014 Wednesday Return to LEH Day 18 July 17, 2014 Thursday Fly to DELHI DAY 19 July 18, 2014 Friday In DELHI DAY 20 July 19, 2014 Saturday Return USA TRIP PRICE: $7,900.00 for Ladakh land portion only (based on 6 participants) SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: $1,080.00  Click Here This price includes: all accommodations based on double occupancy; all meals; tea or coffee, ie. beverages presented as part of or taken with the daily meals; all land transportation; sightseeing and tours; all internal flights and domestic airport taxes (flights within the India); all model fees including the private models and private performances; all domestic transfers and ground transportation; all porterage in hotels and airports within India; and all entrance fees, service charges and taxes. This price covers all gratuities to guides and drivers throughout the trip. We will travel in private 4WD Tata-Sumos or jeeps. Each photographer will have 2 seats and ample room for their equipment. Our professional, hand-selected, national guide will travel with us throughout the trip to enhance our daily photographic opportunities and our appreciation and understanding of the country. Please note: Occasionally the ground operator passes along an increased charge. Generally, VIP Expeditions absorbs these costs. However, sometimes they must be passed along to our clients. While we do not expect this, you must be aware of the possibility. TRIP PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Passport fees; India visa fees; U.S. airfare, round trip airfare from the East Coast; vaccinations; inoculations; international departure taxes; items of a personal nature, eg. laundry, telephone, alcoholic or personal beverages, etc.; personal tips; trip cancellation, travel delay or baggage insurance; charges incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of VIP Expeditions; and excess baggage. CAMPING: Our camping arrangements will be the best available for this part of the world. We will be in a permanent-tented camp for a total of five nights. These facilities have beds, mattresses, quilts (you will need your own sleeping bag), common toilets and dining tent. There is a complete staff to handle everything in camp. A true diversity of cuisine is not available in this part of the world. However, we will have the best possible meals prepared for us three times per day. Brian Vikander will lead this once-in-a-lifetime experience. He is an internationally recognized photographer whose work has appeared in virtually every publication that deals with the world of exotic travel, including: 1) National Geographic publications; 2) New York Times Travel; 3) the Getty Conservation Trust; and 4) Smithsonian, among others. Brian has conducted more than 60 photographic trips, on six continents, over the years and has an excellent feel for the destination, as well as the requirements of trip participants. His goal is to have you better understand the manner in which you can capture your impressions. |
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