Day 3
(3500m) Visit the eastern part of the Indus valley: Tikse, Chimre, Hemis. Return to Leh at end of day. Night in guesthouse*
Tikse: this amazing architectural complex of the Gelukpa order was built in the 15th century. It covers an entire hillside half way between Leh and Hemis. A hundred odd monks live there.
Hemis: this is situated in a valley that joins the left bank of the Indus. Today, Hemis is the biggest monastery in Ladakh, with 500 monks. It was founded in 1602 by a monk of the Kagyupa order.