Important Information_ Ladakh Pilgrimage 2025

As of November 22, 2022, foreign nationals and citizens of India no longer need a self-declaration form, proof of vaccination, or a negative RT-PCR test to enter India.

Yellow fever vaccine MAY BE REQUIRED for some people.

If you come from the countries below, you’ll be REQUIRED to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival.

In the Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, PERU, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad only), and Venezuela (the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).
In Africa, the countries are Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte dʼIvoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.
Any traveler (except infants <9 months old) arriving by air or sea without a yellow fever vaccination certificate is detained in isolation for up to 6 days.

2. Visa information

*Please be sure to check ahead of time if there are any special requirements dependent on your country of origin.

A.) Address of your accommodations in Leh: (you will be asked this on the visa form)

Reference name in India: Dragon Residency (Rinchen Angmo is the primary contact)

Address: 4HX9+R2V, Skara Rd

State: Ladakh

District: Leh

Phone: ‪+91 72987 06528‬

Email:

B.) Instructions to apply for India Visa

PLEASE APPLY FOR A SIMPLE TOURIST VISA. YOU ARE NOT TRAVELLING THROUGH A TRAVEL AGENCY, SO INDICATE YOU ARE TRAVELLING ALONE OR WITH A TRAVEL BUDDY TO MEET FRIENDS FOR SPIRITUAL SITE SEEING.

The reason we are indicating this is because if you mark you are travelling with an agency, they will put a pause on your visa, and then ask you more questions by email which will delay your visa. So, it is most efficient to indicate you are simply travelling, and meeting friends, then the visa is usually approved within less than a week this way.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY 30 days before your departure.

→ e-tourist visa

→ 1 month (or one year if you want to stay longer)

→ SITE-SEEING (please do not apply for a course, only site-seeing)

***You will not be able to apply for your visa to India more than 30 days in advance. WHICH MEANS ONLY APPLY ONE MONTH BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE DATE.

( it must be at least 15 - 30 days in advance of departure date, please be sure to check for confirmation after you have submitted your visa application.)

C.) What you will need to apply for the e-Tourist Visa

Scanned biographical page of the passport showing the photograph and details
Applicant's passport should have at least six months validity at the time of making application for grant of e-Visa.
International travelers should have a return ticket or onward journey ticket, with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India.
Carry a separate passport photo ready

Most phones can format the photo as a square shape and then resize on your computer if necessary.

Format - JPEG
Size

Minimum 10 KB (this is equivalent to around 35O Pixels)
Maximum 1 MB

The height and width of the photo must be equal.
Photo should present full face, front view, eyes open and without spectacles
Center head within frame and present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin
Background should be a plain light colored or white background.
No shadows on the face or on the background.
Without borders.

Scanned biographical page of the passport showing the photograph and details.
Format - PDF
Size

Minimum 10 KB
Maximum 300 KB (which is 350 pixels)

PDF format makes the file size very big. We recommend using a screenshot on your computer of your passport photo, and then saving it into a pdf, which significantly decreases the file size.

3. Clarifying visa questions

Some questions on the visa application are worded a little strange. Here are the answers!

a.) Citizenship/National Id No…. means…. Social Security Number
b.) Identification mark

c.) Educational qualification

Below Matriculation: You stopped before 10th grade
Graduate: You hold a college degree
Higher Secondary: You graduated high school
Illiterate: You never attended school
Matriculation: You finished 10th grade in high school
Post Graduate: You received a master's degree or PhD
Professional: You attended professional training and received a certificate

d.) Have you lived for at least two years in the country where you are applying visa? - This question is referring to India

e.) SAARC Countries - SAARC has eight member countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka).

4. Flights

Book your international ROUNDTRIP flight from your hometown to NEW DELHI (DEL Indira Gandhi Airport) It will be necessary to book local Indian flights from Delhi to Leh separately.

a.) INTERNATIONAL

International arrival date:

If possible, we recommend arriving in Leh (IXL Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport) June 4th or 5th so you can rest and acclimate for two days to feel fresh for the retreat. At the very latest, plan to arrive on June 6th because the retreat begins in the morning of the 7th. We recommend trying to get an international flight that arrives in the MORNING in Delhi, then you can continue on to Leh which is much more pleasant to rest, and no need to get a hotel in Delhi. But if you do need to stay in Delhi, we recommend getting a hotel inside the Aerocity complex, and ask your hotel to send you a taxi.

International departure date:

The retreat ends the morning of June 21st. You are welcome to travel from Leh to New Delhi anytime that day if you wish.
It would be best to book an outgoing international flight late in the day if you plan to travel home on June 21st, because LEH flights are often later arrival, and you need 3 hours between flights in the Delhi airport.

If you are staying for Vajrayogini, you can book your flights out of Leh for the late evening of June 29th, or anytime June 30th. Shyok is a 3 hour drive from Leh according to google maps. So on the 29th you will need time to drive to Leh in the morning and leave room for things that don't flow on time in India, so the safest bet is to aim for late evening or next day. His Holiness will also be visiting Phyang Monastery outside Leh on the 28th and 29th according to his current schedule… so if you also want to attend that, you can make your flights the evening 30th of June or 1st of July.

b.) LOCAL

Local flights From Delhi to Leh:

SpiceJet and IndiGo each have late morning flights New Delhi to Leh. There are no afternoon flights leaving New Delhi for Leh, at the time of composing this note.
A ROUNDTRIP ticket in Economy will cost approximately $130 - $200.
For the return flight from Leh to New Delhi, there are multiple morning options, and a few early afternoon options.
PLEASE ALLOW 3 HOURS BETWEEN FLIGHTS IN DELHI!

ADDITIONAL TEACHINGS WITH HIS HOLINESS

If you want to stay for additional teachings with His Holiness outside the retreat, there will be teachings before and after the retreat, so book your flights accordingly) These are not included in the sacred journey package, but we of course will help you with logistics! Please keep in mind that HH sometimes shifts dates, but we will keep our main retreat dates the same. (This document was last updated Feb 16th.)

May 27-31 Snake Year Teaching in Lamayuru

June 23-28: Vajrayogini Drupcho in Shyok

June 28 & 29: Phyang Monastery

5. Navigating New Delhi

DO NOT BUY A SIM CARD FOR YOUR PHONE in the airport. It will not work in Leh. You can purchase one easily in the main square in Leh.
Getting to your local flight:
Please plan at least 3 hours between your international arrival and departure of your local flight to Leh. Customs can be slow.
When you arrive in New Delhi, go through customs and get your bags.
If you are continuing to Leh via SpiceJet, IndiGo, or other airline, walk outside to post #10 and wait for the bus.
Taxis and drivers will be offering assistance, gently decline and proceed to your door.
Relax. Do not let anyone carry your bags for you. Keep valuable items and money inside your hidden money belt. Always have around $10 somewhere easily accessible so you never need to open your money belt in front of anyone
Once the bus arrives, expect about 15-20 minutes transport on a free bus that takes you on a long route around the airport to another terminal. Have your SpiceJet, Air India, or IndiGo pass ready.

Baggage limits on SpiceJet and IndiGo

These airlines allow checked bags up to only 15 kg, so you will either need to take some things out or pay more if your bag is heavier. Maximum baggage is 32 kg and 158 cm (L+W+H).

Hotel in New Delhi (optional)

We recommend you get an international flight that arrives in the morning in Delhi if you are choosing to continue on to Leh later that day. Please schedule the local flight to Leh at least 3 hours following arrival to New Delhi to provide time to clear customs. Continuing on will allow time for rest in a small Tibetan town (Ladhak) rather than a big chaotic city (New Delhi), in preparation for the retreat.

If you are unable to arrive in the morning, and must arrive in the evening, this is not a problem. In this case we recommend you get a hotel in the Aerocity complex in New Delhi. It is near the airport. We also recommend that you book a taxi directly with your hotel if possible. If not, then book a taxi with a certified agency through your hotel.
Carolina and virginia chose this hotel in aerocity: https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-new-delhi-airport

DO NOT get a taxi on your own outside the airport. USE AN AGENCY.

6. Arriving in Leh

A.) *Please complete your travel forms sent via email from DNJ so we know about your arrival information*

We will send the form soon.
We recommend arriving by June 4th or 5th if possible, so you can rest and acclimate for a few days to be fresh for the teachings.

B.) Where to stay in Leh

If you would like to rest in LEH for some days before or after the retreat, we recommend the following hotels:

1.) Dragon Residency in Leh (where the group will begin and finish the retreat)

2.) Nyanjan Guesthouse in Phyang (just outside Leh in nature near Phyang Monastery)

3.) Smanla Guesthouse in Leh (a Tibetan Doctor who offers amazing consultations and health treatments using Tibetan Medicine)

C.) Meeting up on June 7th @ 10am

Dragon Residency

Address: 4HX9+R2V, Skara Rd, Leh, Ladakh 194101

Phone: +91 60059 29942

Hotel Contact: Rinchen

7. Packing list

To keep in mind:

We will be in monasteries and temples. Culturally, it is respectful to cover up and dress conservatively.
Fully cover your chest, shoulders, and midriff. (thick sleeveless is ok but not straps)
Please do not wear tight-fitting or revealing clothes.

What to bring:

Print copies of your passport, visa confirmation, travel documents, and plane tickets
Clothing that is comfortable for sitting during teachings, as well as walking
Plan to dress in layers for warm days and chilly nights

Ladakh in June reports an average highs of 55 F and lows around 29 F
Monasteries tend to be chilly
*Optional* pack a sleeping bag (though hotels will have blankets)

Comfortable walking shoes
Hat and sunglasses, sarong for cover up
Avoid expensive jewelry or accessories- keep it simple
Laundry detergent to hand wash clothes here’s our favorite travel friendly laundry soap.
Toiletries
Personal medications, including motion sickness aids or ginger tablets since bus rides may be curvy
Hand sanitizer
Travel Towel
Headlamp
Universal adapter or Adapter for India
Unlocked phone if you plan to buy a SIM card
Any electronics and chargers for travel, photos
Cash- if you bring USD it can be exchanged into Indian Rupees- between $500-1000 is adequate and ATMs are also available
Use of a money belt is recommended
Personal sacred objects
*Optional* a cushion for sitting (most places will have them or you can buy them in India)
If you have a prayer for a friend or family member you can bring a small object related to that person to pray with in sacred places
It is customary to make a monetary offering in an envelope to guest Lamas and monasteries. Although this is considered optional, this act of generosity is encouraged to help the teachings to flourish. The amount is personal, $10- $20 USD is common, and if the teachings/teacher really touch your heart or you want to support certain projects at the monastery you can donate more to whatever your capacity is.

8.) Agenda overview

*Schedule subject to minor itinerary changes but the dates will not change.*

We will update this section with more precision closer to the retreat. We purposefully leave a flexible schedule because there are often special Rinpoches and opportunities in the area that we will only know about when we get there. So thank you for practicing patience and flexibility.

Saturday, June 7th:

Meet in Leh at 10 am.
Highlights:

Welcome lunch
Sharing circle
First teachings with Drupon Rinpoche

Sunday, June 8th:

Highlights:

Day at Phyang Monastery

Monday, June 9th:

Highlights:

Casual walk in Nature

Tuesday, June 10th:

Highlights:

Travel to Lamayuru
Alchi Monastery visit
Leido Monastery visit

Wednesday, June 11th:

Highlights:

Lamayuru Monastery

Thursday, June 12th:

Highlights:

TBA
Free time

Friday, June 13th:

Highlights:

Naropa’s Cave and Vajrapani

Saturday, June 14th:

Highlights:

Travel to Changtang
Visit Thiksey monastery on the way and lunch

Sunday, June 15th:

Highlights:

Pangong Lake

Monday, June 16th:

Highlights:

Inaguration of Dorbuk Monastery

Tuesday, June 17th:

Highlights:

Hevajra Drupchen with His Holiness

Wednesday, June 18th:

Highlights:

Hevajra Drupchen with His Holiness

Thursday, June 19th:

Highlights:

Hevajra Drupchen
Closing dinner celebration

Friday, June 20th:

Highlights:

Travel day back to Leh am
Free time
Nice dinner

Saturday, June 21st:

Farewells and airport!

Additional teachings with His Holiness

If you want to stay for additional teachings with His Holiness outside the retreat, there will be teachings before and after the retreat, so book your flights accordingly) These are not included in the sacred pilgrimage package, but we of course will help you with logistics! Please be mindful that H.H. sometimes shifts dates, but we will keep our main retreat dates the same. (This document was last updated May 1)

May 27-31 Snake Year Teaching in Lamayuru with H.H.

June 7-21: Sacred Pilgrimage with Drupon Thinley Ningpo (including Hevajra with H.H)

June 23-26: Vajrayogini Drupcho in Shyok with H.H

June 27: Phyang Monastery with H.H.

Below is the full list that was published to the international sangha community from HH office

9. Conduct during the journey

Be prepared to be adaptable; remember impermanence. We will have a schedule. And it will change.
Come with a good motivation, patience, willingness to put teachings into practice into daily life.
Practice Mindfulness, Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Intention.

10. Guidelines for monasteries

Substance free retreat - no drinking, no smoking (if you must smoke it cannot be near monastery or temples)
Shoes must be removed before entering the temple
It is recommended to perform three prostrations to the altar. We will review how to do a prostration.
Be mindful not to stretch out your legs with the bottoms of your feet facing the altar.
Do not touch the sacred objects.
Remain mindful and quiet in the temples and monasteries.
Out of respect for the monks and their vows:

Avoid revealing or tight-fitting clothing; chest, shoulders, and midriff must be fully covered.
Bow in acknowledgement, but avoid touching or speaking.

When a Lama or Rinpoche enters a temple or area please rise, allow the Lama or Rinpoche to sit, then sit.
When a Lama or Rinpoche is about to stand, first stand, allow the Lama or Rinpoche to stand and leave.
When a teacher shares a teaching it is common to bring a “khata” and an envelope to make an offering. Khatas and envelopes will be available in India.
When visiting a monastery, upon entering the Dharampala temple or main temple, it is customary, but optional, to make a small offering at the entrance.

11. Safety/Health reminders and travel tips for India

We recommend that while traveling to India (especially through Qatar and other middle eastern countries) please wear clothes that keep midriff , full chest, and shoulders covered, and are not too tight or revealing.
Don't drink water from the faucet, even to brush your teeth
Drink only bottled water from known brands (Aquafina and Bisleri are good.) Make sure the cap is fully sealed! Best not to drink other brands
Don't drink fresh juices or drinks with ice cubes - could have unfiltered water in it. Some juices like orange juice is fine because its peeled and squeezed.
India is a bit stimulating. Be prepared for odd smells and loud noises, poverty, wild driving. At the same time you can notice the kind and gentle demeanor of the people and the sanctuaries hidden on every street.
At the airport don’t let people take your bags for you
Don’t drink cold water at this altitude, we can drink hot water or room temp water from the thermoses.
Monasteries will serve tea - tea often has milk and butter in it
Don’t eat street food, we’ll be sharing vegetarian foods at the monastery that will not cause illness
Typical vegetarian food served at monasteries

Rice, dal, veggies, chapati, butter tea, chai tea, black tea, soup

Consider preventative care – natural products like Activated Charcoal can prevent belly issues, or you can use over the counter items of your choice
We will have limited to no wifi and the monasteries - if you need access to wifi you can purchase a sim card or check with your service provided prior to leaving to unlock international data

Option for international sim card

International travel insurance is optional (recommended if you are elder or have health issues because we will be in remote areas)

We recommend World Nomad

12. Finishing your payment by April 12th

For those of you who have registered with a deposit only, your final payment will be due by April 12th. You can do so by check or zelle.

More information will be posted here soon when I hear from the accounting team.

13.) Special note to come with an open heart and curious mind, ready for a deep intercultural dive!

We have chosen accommodations that were recommended by the Drikung Kagyu Lamas are located close to the monasteries. The intention is to support the community and the monastics, and to benefit from the true cultural experience together. Though we have chosen the most recommended hotels, they will still not be equivalent to a 5-star hotel. Please come with patience and an open heart. Sometimes rooms are simple, hot showers can be spotty at certain times of the day if they use solar heating. Experience what it is like to live simply and happily!

Carolina is your coordinator and here for any questions you have:

Ladakh@dnjus.org