INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS
Top of the World -
Ladakh & Kashmir
Trip Notes
Welcome to Incredible Indian Tours’ Top of the World - Ladakh & Kashmir Tour. This is a very exotic adventure throughout the Indian Himalayas. First we journey to Ladakh through Himachal Pradesh, visiting Shimla and Manali before driving the spectacular Manali - Leh road. In and around Leh we explore the Nubra Valley, and also experience the Hemis Festival. Heading west we drive through the upper Himalayas along one of the most stunning drives in the world to Kashmir, and Srinagar, holiday mecca of India.
Trip Notes: 2018 - 2019
Highlights
• the splendour and contrast of the 7 cities of Delhi
• the historic toy train ride up the mountain to Shimla
• witness the remnants of the British Raj in Shimla
• see the mountain views from the beautiful green Beas River valley in Manali
• experience the spectacular Manali - Leh Highway
• be part of the energetic and colourful Hemis Festival
• drive the highest motorable pass in the world - the Khardong La - at over 5600m
• explore the amazing Nubra Valley in Ladakh
• drive the amazingly scenic Leh - Srinagar Highway
• discover the monastery villages of Uleytokpo & Basgo
• soak up the relaxing ambience of Dal Lake in Srinagar
INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Top of the World - Ladakh & Kashmir
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www.incredibleindiatours.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Ph: +91 95490 02876
supplement payment of USD905 (or equivalent) will be
payable.
transport
Train, private vehicles, auto-rickshaw, cycle-rickshaw, flight.
Train travel in India is essential considering it is such an
efficient and extensive network, and is also such a part of India’s culture and heritage. On this journey we enjoy a trip
on the UNESCO World Heritage Shimla Toy Train.
We have one domestic flight and will be taking private
vehicles (Awd - 3 person maximum per vehicle) for all other
journeys.
activities included
The following is a list of included activities on this trip. Other
activities are optional and will be at your own expense.
Humayans Tomb, Rajpath, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara (Delhi)
Toy Train ride, Vice-regal Lodge, Jakhoo Temple (Shimla)
Village hike, Hidimba Devi Temple (Manali)
Hemis Festival and Monastery, Shey Palace, Thiksey
Monastery, Shanti Stupa (Leh) Diskit Monastery, Village hike (Nubra Valley)
Bagso, Alchi and Lamayuru Monasteries (Leh-Kargil Rd)
Shikara Rides, Floating vegetable market, Moghal gardens,
Pari Mahal (Srinagar)
meals
Traveling with Incredible Indian Tours we ensure that you will
experience a vast array of the gustatory treats available in
India. Generally, meals are not included in the trip price
when there is a choice of eating options. This allows you to
choose where, and what to eat. More often than not
however we eat together as a group. Your leader will offer
suggestions for favourite restaurants throughout the trip.
meal inclusions
21 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 9 Dinners
group size minimum 4, maximum 10
days 22 days 21 nights
starts and finishes in Delhi
price includes
Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation as specified
All transportation between overnight stops and to and
from included sightseeing
Entrance fees for all sites listed as part of the itinerary
Meals as specified
Tips & Gratuities
price does not include
Visa costs
Meals other than those listed
Drinks, meal tips, laundry and other items of a personal
nature
International flights
accommodation
Guesthouses/hotels (15 nights), Houseboat (3 nights),
Tented Camp (3 nights)
This tour uses a variety of accommodation. From guesthouses to heritage hotels to tented camps, we
experience a wide range of accommodation styles. Hotel
rooms are twin share with private bathrooms with western
style toilets. Although a few rooms may be air-conditioned,
most will be fan-cooled. The tents are all en-suite.
single supplement
If you are a single traveller we do not charge a single
supplement and will pair you with other travelers of the
same sex, often rotating room-mates at each stop so you
get to share with different group members. However if you
do not wish to share accommodation, but would like to
guarantee your own room throughout the tour a single
general tour information
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www.incredibleindiatours.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Ph: +91 95490 02876
culture shock rating
Conditions in India are not always as
comfortable as in
other countries. You
may need to deal with squat toilets, or no toilets (especially
on mountain drives), cold showers or power failure.
travel insurance
Travel Insurance is highly recommended whilst traveling to
India and is compulsory for any group tour with Incredible
Indian Tours. Please read the small print of your insurance
policy to ensure it provides cover for travel to areas where
your state department may be advising against all but
essential travel.
visas
All foreign nationals require a visa to enter India. Most
nationalities can apply for an e-Tourist visa. The Indian
Government is in the process of extending this e-Tourist
facility to more countries so check this website to find out the
latest eligibility details.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
For the e-Tourist visa, you need to apply within 120 days of
travel 60 days validity. The visa is issued online and takes up
to 3 days.
Regular tourist visas (issued by the Indian Embassy or
Consulate) for those nationalities who do not yet have availability of the e-Tourist facility, or for those who require a
visa longer than 60 days, are usually issued for 6 or 12
months and are either Single, Double or Multiple Entry. As the
validity begins from date of issue, be sure you do not apply
for your visa too early. For information, or assistance with
obtaining a visa, check out the following websites.
Australia http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia/
visa_services/index.html
New Zealand https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/Registration
USA https://www.in.ckgs.us/visa/
UK https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/Registration
Canada http://www.blsindia-canada.com/touristvisa.php
health
We recommend that you consult your doctor for current
medical travel information about before departure. Your
leader will be carrying a basic first aid kit, but we suggest you
bring along your own as well as any personal medical
requirements .
money exchange As at October 2017
AUD1 = 49 INR
CAD1 = 50 INR
EUR1 = 75 INR
GBP1 = 85 INR
NZD1 = 44 INR
USD1 = 65 INR
There are many ATM machines (which accept both Cirrus/Maestro debit cards and Visa and MasterCard) throughout
India. This is a safe and convenient way to access money
in India, however we suggest that you bring some money
in cash for the times that ATMs are not available or
working, as is sometimes the case in Ladakh. The major
currencies, including AUD and CAD are no problem in
general to exchange. Travellers cheques are no longer
commonly accepted. Visa & MasterCard credit cards are
accepted in major shops and restaurants in the bigger
cities.
spending money
Although entrance fees to specified sites are included in
the tour price, there are additional sights that you may like to visit. Many sites levy camera fees.
Spending money requirements will differ from one person
to the next. You will need to take into consideration your
spending habits when allowing for drinks, shopping, and
optional activities.
You will need to allow enough money for the following:
Meals – USD350 (or equivalent)
Optional Activities – USD100 (or equivalent)
Money for drinks, shopping and incidentals.
Tipping is an integral part of Indian life and is essential to a smooth trip. To make things easier, we cover tips for hotel
room boys, local guides and for drivers of private transport
we use. We do NOT cover restaurant tips. You will need to
allow approximately 10% on top of your restaurant bill.
physical rating
There will be plenty
of walking around
towns or sites with
many steps, which
due to the warm weather and the altitude of many
locations on this tour will make general sightseeing more
strenuous. There will also be long days of travel on rough
and bumpy roads.
general tour information
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www.incredibleindiatours.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Ph: +91 95490 02876
INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Top of the World - Ladakh & Kashmir
joining hotel
Claridges Hotel 12, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road,
New Delhi, 110011
Ph: +91 11 3955 5000
transfer/joining instructions
Your airport transfer pickup will await you holding a sign with
your name when you exit the baggage claim area of the
arrivals hall. There may be large crowds here so please look
carefully for your transfer.
arriving early
The elegant Claridges Hotel is one of Delhi’s premium 5 star
hotels. Built in 1952, Claridges is a short walk from the trendy
Khan Market area and is just two kilometres from India Gate.
The refined rooms feature wood floors and a mix of colonial
and contemporary decor, plus flat-screen TVs and minibars.
Dining options include 4 restaurants, a cafe and a bakery. There’s also a fitness room, an outdoor pool and a spa, plus
garden cabanas and a modern Indian art gallery.
early arrival information
If you are arriving earlier than day 1, extra accommodation in Delhi is available at TBA Single/Double (or equivalent) per
night per room. Please notify us as early as possible if you
require extra accommodation as hotels in Delhi tend to be
heavily booked up well in advance.
staying on
If you are staying on in Delhi after the tour, extra
accommodation in Delhi is available at TBA Single/Double (or
equivalent) per night per room. Again, if you will require extra accommodation in Delhi, please advise us as early as
possible as rooms tend to get booked out quickly at peak
season times.
general tour information
INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Top of the World - Ladakh & Kashmir
The following websites have up-to-date information about
health requirements.
Australia https://www.travelvax.com.au/
New Zealand http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-
living/travelling
USA https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
UK http://www.travelhealth.co.uk/
Canada https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/vaccines
communications
Many of our hotels have Wifi, but do not rely on it being
available or fast.
You can purchase a local prepaid sim card (for unlocked
cell phones) and data sticks (for mobile internet on your
laptop) inexpensively in India, although they will not work in
Ladakh and Kashmir, where only post-paid sim cards work. Recommended are Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance. You will
need extra passport photos for this as well as photocopies of
your photo and visa page from your passport.
your tour manager
Your tour manager is there to organise and streamline your
travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Whilst
they are not a guide per se, they will share their local
knowledge, give you suggestions for your free time and
manage the day to day running of the tour. They will
introduce you to their local friends and recommend great
local restaurants and experiences. They will have a broad
general knowledge of India, so do feel free to tap into their
wisdom. On this tour, we also have local guides for Ladakh and Kashmir who have unparalleled knowledge of their
regions and will add to the enjoyment of the places we are
visiting.
responsible travel
We believe strongly in responsible travel. This includes being
respectful to the local culture (ie dressing appropriately, and
learning a few basic cultural do’s and don’ts), being mindful
of the environment, and leaving a positive image behind.
Remember we are ambassadors for our country. Bringing a
few photos of your family and home with you is a great way
to interact with the locals by giving them a glimpse of your
world whilst you visit theirs.
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www.incredibleindiatours.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Ph: +91 95490 02876
sunblock and a hat are essentials.
checklist
Travel documents: passport, visa, travel insurance (don’t
forget your emergency insurance contact details), air tickets.
Photocopy of above documents
Day pack
Health vaccinations/medication
First aid kit
Money: ATM card (widely available and easy to access);
credit cards (widely accepted in big cities); cash (for when
atms or credit cards cannot be used/accessed) Money pouch
Alarm clock and torch/flashlight
Mosquito repellent
Ear plugs can be useful if you are a light sleeper
Lock for your bag or suitcase
Good hiking or walking shoes for optional walks in and
around the mountains.
We recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt to
store your passport, air tickets, credit cards and cash. Avoid bringing valuable jewellery with you. Some hotels we use
have safety deposit boxes.
Updated on: 13th November 2017
general tour information
INCREDIBLE INDIAN TOURS Top of the World - Ladakh & Kashmir
what to take
We will be on the move a lot, so try to pack as lightly as possible. The smaller your bag in India the better, as the
various modes of transport we use tend to have limited
storage space.
India is very conservative and we ask that you dress
accordingly. As a guideline, shoulders and knees should
always be covered. The wearing of shorts is looked upon
by locals as akin to wearing your underwear and will limit
your entry into mosques, temples and other places of
worship. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool. Singlets, tank tops and shorts are not suitable
attire for India. We will be visiting some high altitude
regions on this trip, which despite it being summer can be
quite cold, particularly our overnight camping stop at
Sarchu, where the overnight temperature can get as low
as 0C (32F). Thermals and a warm windproof jacket are
recommended as are layers to keep warm.
Note that some Indian domestic airlines have recently
reduced their check-in baggage allowance to 15kg. If you have heavier luggage, you may need to pay the
excess at the airport for your internal flights. Excess
luggage charges range from around Rs300 (USD5) per
kilo.
laundry
Inexpensive laundry facilities are offered by most hotels we
use and are generally available wherever we have a two
night stop.
weather
The weather during our journey should be great. Daytime
temperatures will be warm, in the range 20-30 in the
mountains (hotter in Delhi). Night time temperatures will be
comfortable, and you will need to bring a jacket and
layers for the cooler evenings in the mountains and our
excursions to the high altitude passes. Rain is always a
possibility at this time of year, so bring an umbrella, and
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www.incredibleindiatours.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Ph: +91 95490 02876