This
classic trek explores most of the heartland of Zanskar and covers
some spectacular scenery. This itinerary includes visits to almost
15 of the oldest and most remote Monasteries in Ladakh and zanskar.
Duration: 25 days Delhi to Delhi. 16 days trekking.
GRADE: Hard.
MAXIMIUM ALTITUDE: 5150 Mts at the top of the Kanji
La
SEASON: July to September.
Detailed Trek:
Day 01: Delhi - Leh
Fly to Leh. Meeting and assistance upon arrival. Transfer to Hotel
Caravan Centre or similar. Day free for acclimatisation. Dinner and
overnight in hotel.
DAY 02 : Acclamatise / Sightseeing
Post breakfast it is advised to take a tour of some of the famous
Gompas (Monasteries) around Leh.
Thiksey Gompa : 17 kms from Leh enroute to Hemis Gompa, the
Thiksey monastery provides a panoramic view of the Indus valley from
its vantage point atop a hill. There are several temples and wall
paintings of the Buddha. Close by is the summer palace of the old
Raja of Leh. This monastery is 800 years old with statues made of
silver and gold.
Shey Gompa: This monastery has a large 7.5 m copper statue of
Buddha plated with gold.
Hemis
Gompa : 40 kms from Leh, built in 1630, it is the biggest
monastery in Ladakh. It is not visible from the road as it is
located in a side valley. Hemis has the largest thanka in Ladakh
which is unfurled once in 12 years (next in 2004). It celebrates an
annual festival attended by people from all over the provinces who
come to join in the celebrated mask dances. Packed lunch enroute.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 : Leh - Lamayuru
After breakfast drive to Lamayuru. Visit the Lamayuru monastery
which is a major landmark on the old silk route. Legend behind this
monastery is that Lamayuru village was once filled by a lake which
was drained by sage Naropa to permit the foundation of the
monastery. The monastery belongs to the old Tibetan schools the
Kargyupa / Drukpa school. Lunch, dinner and overnight in tents /
hotel.
Day 04 : Lamayuru - Wanla (03 hrs)
After breakfast in camp trek to Wanla . It is an easy ascent after
crossing the river up to the Prinkit La (3726mts). Pass the village
of Shilla following a narrow and dry gorge and reach Wanla. Packed
lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in trekking tents.
Day 05 : Wanla - Hanupatta (05 hrs)
Trek to Hanupatta after breakfast. Walk begins with a flat section.
Cross onto the right bank before Phenjilla. At the junction of the
rivers, chorten and religious banners can be seen. Continue across
the slope to reach Hanupatta. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and
overnight in trekking tents.
Day 06 : Hanupatta - Photoskar (06 hrs)
Breakfast in camp. Trek to Photoskar . Long ascent into the stony
valley. Cross the river and walk up to Sisir La (4800mts) after
which it is a long descent to Photoskar (3750mts). Packed lunch
enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 07 : Photoskar - Foot of Sengge La (07 hrs)
After breakfast trek to foot of the Sengge La with packed lunch.
Ascend to the Bumiktse La (4200mts) after which is a gentle slope
into the broad valley. A short climb to the Sengge La (5000mts) and
then a steep descent till the foot of the Sengge La. Camp here for
the night. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day
08 : Foot of the Sengg La - Lingshed (06 hrs)
Breakfast in camp. Begin trek to Lingshed, after Kiupa La (3850mts)
is a steep descent to the villages of Gongma and Skiumpata
(3840mts). It is a wonderful landscape with a view of the valley of
Nierag on the other bank of the Zanskar. Reach Lingshed after
crossing the Murgum La (4100mts). Camp near the monastery. Packed
lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 09 : Lingshed/Rest
The whole day is reserved for a well deserved rest.
Day 10 : Lingshed - Snertse (06 hrs)
After breakfast trek to Snertse. From Lingshed it is an easy ascent
to the Hanuma La pass (4700mts) then a long gradual descent to the
sheepfolds of Snertse. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in
tents.
Day 11 : Snertse - Hanumil (06 hrs)
Trek to Hanumil after breakfast From the Oma Chu river is a steep
ascent to the Parfi La (3900mts) and a sharp descent to the foot of
the pass. Walk up to the plateau taking the path that leads towards
the edge of the Zanskar to Hanumil. Packed lunch. Dinner and
overnight in tents.
Day 12 : Hanumil - Pishu (05 hrs)
Breakfast in camp. Easy walk to Pishu along the river and sometimes
across the morainic pleatue. Camp below the village of Pishu. Packed
lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 13 : Pishu - Karsha (05 hrs)
After breakfast trek to Karsha. Cross Rinam above which is a small
stream and shelter formed by the rocks. Easy stretch along the banks
of the Zanskar river to Karsha. It is a beautiful Gelukpa monastery
dating back to the 15th century. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight
in tents.
Day 14 : Karsha - Padum (3-4 hrs)
After breakfast trek to Padum with packed lunch. Cross the Doda
river, walk through a dusty plain to Pipiting and then Padum. Visit
the local monasteries / Gompas in the evening. Camp for dinner and
overnight.
Day 15 : Padum - Rangdum
Drive to Rangdum (3657mts) after breakfast. Situated 130 kms
south-east of Kargil, it falls midway between Kargil and Padum. Set
amidst spectacular surroundings, Rangdum serves as the ideal area
for camping in the Himalayan wilderness while being sufficiently
near a road head. The chief attraction of the area is an imposing
18th century Buddhist monastery with about 40 monks in residence.
Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 16 : Rangdum Village/Rest/Photographs
Rangdum is among the most beautiful plateaus in the World. The twin
peaks of Nun Kun (7316 Mts) loom over the lush green plain. Visit
Rangdum Gompa after lunch.
Day 17 : Rangdum - Kanji La (07-8 hrs)
Breakfast in camp. Begin trek back to Lamayuru across the Kanji La
(5150mts) and through the Kanji Gorge. Camp at the junction of Kanji
La and Puzdon La. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 18 : Kanji La - River Kong (07-8 hrs)
After breakfast trek hours to the River Kong (4300mts). Packed lunch
enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 19 : River Kong - Kanji (04 hrs)
Breakfast in camp. Trek to Kanji (3850mts). It is a gradual descent
to Kanji, the distance being covered in 04 hours. Packed lunch.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day
20 : Kanji - River Shilakong (6-7 hrs)
After breakfast trek to the campsite near River Shilakong (4100mts)
crossing the Yogma La (4700mts) Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 21 : Shilakong - Lamayuru
Breakfast in camp. Walk to Lamayuru crossing the Shilla village.
Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents / hotel.
Day 22 : Lamayuru - Uletokpo
After breakfast drive to Uletokpo and check into the MHE luxury camp
situated at a heigh of 9000 feet. It is an ideal destination off the
beaten track on the banks of the famous river Indus. Lunch, dinner
and overnight at camp.
Day 23 : Uletokpo After breakfast trek to Ridzong (08kms).
Ridzong is one of the most impressive monasteries of Ladakh.
Relatively new (1840), it is perched on a beautiful spot in a side
valley and has a wonderful collection of Thankas. Return to camp for
lunch. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at camp.
Day 24 : Uletokpo - Likir - Alchi - Leh
Drive to Leh after an early breakfast enroute visiting Likir and
Alci Gompas. Alchi is the oldest Gompa in the region and houses well
preserved wall paintings called Thankas.
Day 25 : Leh - Delhi
Transfer to airport in time for connecting flight to Delhi. Meeting
and assistance upon arrival in Delhi. Transfer to hotel. Overnight
in hotel
