Trekking

Trekking

Markha valley trek:

The Markha trek is the most frequently visited trek in Ladakh for many reasons – endangered and rare Himalayan wildlife, high passes and remote Buddhist villages that are still linked to the outside world only by trails.

Highlights of the trek: Village life, two high passes (4900m & 5200m), Hemis National Park, home to the famous Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, Ladakhi Urial (a type of goat), great Tibetan sheep (Arghali), red fox, Tibetan wolf, wild dog (dhole), Lynx, marmot and mountain hare, prayer flags mark the top of the pass, Lhatos (religious shrines for local deities) and Mani walls (stones inscribed with Buddhist prayers), old stone-mills, a ruined castle and the auspicious monastery of Techa, view of mighty Mt. Kang Yatse (6400m), Gorges with its fascinating rock formations, river crossings, sour-spring of Chhuskyurmo (used in traditional medicine by the Amchi or the local Tibetan medicine doctors).

Day 1:

Spituk – Rumbak (4-5 hours trek)

Day 2:

Zingchen – Ganda La base (3 hours trek)

Day 3.

Ganda La base – Shkyu via Ganda La (5-6 hours trek)

Day 4.

Shkyu – Markha (7-8 hours trek)

Day 5:

Markha – Thachungtse (5-6 hours trek)

Day 6.

Thachungtse – Nyimaling (3-4 hours trek)

Day 7:

Nyimaling – Shangsumdo via Kongmaru La (6-7 hours trek)

Day 8:

Shangsumdo – Leh via Martselang (pleasant 2-hour walk & drive to Leh for an hour).

Frozen River/Chadar trek:

The word “Chadar” means “sheet”. And that is what it appears like when you walk over the white frozen Zanskar river. This trek experiences you all the thrills of a great adventure of being in a wilderness in winters. Temperature can plummet to as low as -30° and even though you walk through amazing landscape you have to be prepared for a really cold experience of course kept warm by glowing fires which we light up each evening at camp. Our daily trek begins at around 9:00 a.m. by when the sun is up and blue sky bring cheer despite the cold temperatures. The trek goes along the Zanskar River in the region of Lingshed and constitutes a walk of around 15 days with coming across maximum altitude of 3850m / 12,628 feet. Many of these spots cannot be accessed during the summer months as they go through spectacular deep canyons and gorges. 

Day 1:

Take early morning flight from New Delhi to Leh. On arrival we meet you and check you into a comfortable warm hotel.

Day 2:

Morning sightseeing of Sankar Gompa and Shanti Stupa (Japanese monastery). Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3:

Drive from Leh to the village of Pishu where we meet our porters and drive further to the village of Chilling by Jeep. Overnight.

Day 4:

Chilling to Zaribago (5 hours trek).Overnight in camp.

Day 5:

Zaribago to Deepyokma (4 hours trek).Camp in a cave.

Day 6:

Deepyokma to Nyrakpulu (4 to 5 hours trek).Overnight in camp.

Day 7. Nubra valley – Leh

Nyrakpulu to Lingshed (1 hour trek). Today we enjoy the comfort of a private house with heating or opt to camp.

Day 8.

Rest Day in Lingshed. Visit the monastery and meeting monks and the local villagers.

Day 9:

Lingshed to Nyarakpulu (5 hours trek). Overnight in camp.

Day 10:

Nyarakpulu to Tsomopaldar (4 hours trek).Overnight in camp

Day 11:

Tsomopaldar to Tilatdo (5 hours trek). Overnight in camp.

Day 12:

From Tilatdo we walk up to Chilling village from where you will be driven back to the hotel in Leh.

PADUM TO LAMAYURU TREK

Sandwiched between the Indus Valley and the main crest of the Indian Himalaya there lays Zanskar valley which was once an independent kingdom. Its remote and inaccessible setting and guarding snowy mountain passes has kept alive an archaic form of Tibetan Buddhism which flourishes in chain of far-flung monasteries, most of which occupy spectacular fortified locations, high on rocky ridges in isolated valleys.
Lovely high meadow camp sites and dry desert land, high passes and snow-capped peaks stunning scenery, Buddhist monasteries and picturesque villages with their irrigated fields of barley and potatoes, and fascinating encounters with the people of Zanskar turn the trek into an unforgettable experience

Day 01 

Delhi – Leh (by flight). 

Day 02 

Visit places around Leh

Day 03  

Leh – Kargil (6-7 hours by jeep) . 

Day 04 

Kargil – Padum (10-11 hours by jeep). 

Day 05 

Padum – Karsha (3hrs trek). 

Day 06 

Karsha – Pishu (3470mts), 5 hrs trek. 

Day 07 

Pishu – Hanumil (3380mts), 5 hrs trek. 

Day 08 

Hanumil – Snertse (3850mts) via Purfila pass (3950 mts), 6 hrs trek. 

Day 09 

Snerstse – Lingshet (4000mts) via Hanumala pass (4950 mts), 6 hrs trek.  

Day 10 

Lingshet – Singye La base (4550mts), 6 hrs trek. 

Day 11 

Singye La base – Photoksar (4200mts) via Singyela pass (5050 mts), 6 hrs trek. 

Day 12 

Photoksar – Hanupatta (3760mts) via Sirsirla pass (4850 mts),6 hrs trek.

Day 13 

Hanupatta – Wanla (3250mts)via Phanjila pass (3410 mts), 5 hrs trek. 

Day 14 

Wanla – Lamayuru (3420mts) 4 hrs trek. 

Day 15 

Lamayuru – Leh (3500m) by jeep. 

Day 16

Leh – Delhi by flight. 

Day 18

Tsomoriri – Sarchu

Rumtse Tsomoriri trek:

This trek starts after an 85 kms drive to Rumtse near Gya village (South East of Leh). Gya was seat for the ruler (Gyapacho) of the then Ladakh in the 10th century AD. This of is an unique trek across the Rupshu region in south east Ladakh. This region is a starkly beautiful with high altitude arid plains, gentle mountain ranges and salt-water lakes, such as Tsokar and Tsomoriri with the only inhabitants being pastoral nomads. We will spend seven days crossing this region while going over a number of high passes before reaching the salt-water lake of Tsomoriri. While, trekking in this area, you can see wild animals like, wild ass, marmots, wolf, blue sheep, etc., birgs like black neck crane, wild goose, etc. and changpa nomads grazing their herds of goats, sheeps and yaks in the mountains and high passes. The combination of a cultural exploration of the rich Buddhist culture of Ladakh and a challenging trek in the high desert plateau makes this a distinctive Himalayan journey.

Day 1. Leh – Kyamer via Rumtse (4095 mts).

Early morning drive to Rumtse from where the trek Starts for Kyamer (4020 mts) (5 hrs trek). Easy trek with two river crossings after diverting from Leh – Manali road.

Day 2

Kyamar – Tisaling (4200 mts)via Kumurla pass (4870 mts) and Mandalchanla pass (4996 mts), (5-6 hrs trek).

Day 3

Tisaling – Pangunagu (4250 mts) (5-6 hrs trek).

Day 4 

Pangunagu – Nuruchan (4300 mts) via Tsokar lake (4398 mts), (4-5 hrs trek)

Day 5 

Nuruchan – Rachunkaru (4700 mts) via Horlamla (4900 mts), (5 Hrs trek)

Day 6

Rachunkaru – Gyamaburma (5100 mts) via Kazurla (5300 mts), (5-6 hrs trek)

Day 7

Gyamaburma – Gyama (5200 mts)via Kyagartso lake, (5-6 hrs trek)

Day 8  

Gyama – Korzok (Tsomoriri 4500mts)via Pulling pass (4500 mts), (5-6 hrs trek)

Day 9  

Rest at Korzok, explore Tsomoriri lake and visit Korzok monastery and village

Day 10 

Korzok – Leh. (220 kms, 6-7 hrs) Drive back to Leh. Overnight in hotel in Leh.

Sham Trek

This is a 4 days mild trek, which is very convenient for easy hiker groups. The maximum altitude one will come across during this trek is 3750 mts. One will find many villages and monasteries during this trek. This is one of the few treks that can be done throughout spectacular views of Ladakh mountain range. This trek is one of the treks that can be done throughout the year as there are no high passes. This trekking is known as Sham valley or Apricot valley trek.

Day 1:   

Leh – Likir – Yangthang (4 – 5 hrs trek after being driven for two hours to Likir). Overnight in camp.

Day 2:    

Yangthang – Hemis Shukpachan. (4 – 5 hrs). Overnight in camp.

Day 3    

Hemis Shukpachan – Tingmosgang (4 – 5 hrs). Overnight in camp.

Day 4    

Tingmosgang – Khaltse (3 hrs.), Drive back to Leh and spend over night in hotel.

Spituk to Stok Trek

Duration: 07 Nights / 08 Days

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN LEH

Welcome in traditional Ladakhi style and transfer to our pre-arranged hotel, rest of the day at leisure to acclimatize. Overnight stay at hotel 
Leh City: The capital of Ladakh, at one time was a major stop on the Asian “Silk Route”. A stroll along the main bazar, observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops, is an entrancing experience. Chhang Gali, behind the main bazar is less bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc.

DAY 02: LEH

Excursion to Shey, Thiksey, Hemis
Today we proceed for Indus Valley monastery tour. We start with a visit to Shey the ancient capital of Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge gold-gilded statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning in front of the statue, built in the memory of King Singee Namgyal by his son Deldan Namgyal in 1633 A.D. It is the only kind of statue made of Gold, Gilt and copper in entire Ladakh. Then we visit Thiksey Gompa an impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill above the village. The monastery has a beautiful 30 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future is one of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh. Drive further to visit the famous Hemis Gompa, This is the largest monastic foundation of Drukpa Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Most of the other Drukpa monasteries are the branch monasteries of Hemis. It was built during early 17th century with the blessing of Lama Stagtsang Raspa (Shambunatha), by famous Namgyal dynasty king Singee Namgyal. The two-day festival of monastic dance in June-July has raised the reputation of Hemis particularly high. The festival is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as second Buddha and responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Tibetan world. 

DAY 03: LEH – SPITUK TO ZINGCHEN 3700 M (4-5 HOURS)

Post breakfast we drive to Spituk, Spituk monastery was built in 15th century during the reign of Grags ‘bum-lde, these new Gelug-pa monastery was built like fortress on the summit of crags. Spituk lies some 5 kms south of Leh. Nesting at the foot of the crags are the flat-topped houses which go to form the village of Spituk. Spituk or dpe-thub mean ‘effective as an Example’ and this is thus a suitable name for the first Gelug-pa monastery in Ladakh. Inside the monastery, which includes several courtyards and temples of various sizes, has been built at different levels, following the shape of the rock. After visiting monastery Our walk begins along an old jeep road on very dry and exposed land, so water and protection against the sun are important! After 3 hours the landscape becomes greener as we go into the Zingchen Valley, where the Rumbak River flows into the Indus. Our camp is in the small village of Zingchen, which means ‘big field’, where there are just two houses. The rest of the day will be spent enjoying the view and maybe even a dip in the river.

DAY 04: ZINGCHEN TO RUMBAK 3900 M (3-4 HOURS)

Today we enter Hemis National Park, home to the famous Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, Ladakhi Urial (a type of goat), great Tibetan sheep (Arghali), red fox, Tibetan wolf, wild dog (dhole), Lynx, marmot and mountain hare. We start to climb gradually up to village of Rumbak, through a beautiful gorge from which the Stok peaks come into view from time to time. Rumbak is known as a place to see and research on the magnificent Himalayan snow leopard.

DAY 05: RUMBAK TO MANCARMO 4200 M VIA STOK LA 4900 M (5 -6 HRS)

The trail up to the base of Stok la (4900 m) starts fairly gradual but becomes steeper as we approach the pass. Views of the Indus valley and remarkable colorful rock formations of Stok la will diminish the hardship of our climb. We descend along the mountainside up and down until we reach some stone houses, use by the Stok villagers for summer pasture. Our campsite at Mancarmo is also a first camp for the Stok Kangri approach.

DAY 06: MANCARMO TO STOK (3-4 HRS TREK ) – LEH (BY JEEPS)

After breakfast, we start descending to Stok village through a narrow valley of beautiful rock patterns. It is possible to visit the Stok palace, Stok lies south south of leh on the opposite side of the singe Tsangspo River. The castle was built on a hill at the end of village in about the year 1825 by king Tsespal Tondup Namgyal. In stok there is also the sacred monastery of Gurphug, a branch of Spituk Monastery. On the 9th and 10th days of the first tibeten month of the festival called the “Guru Tshechu” is held during which the monks of Spituk Monastery come to perform the sacred dances. At that time two gods make their appearance.
The drive to Leh is about 30 minutes. Upon arrival in Leh we check in at our hotel for overnight stay

DAY 07: LEH 

This morning, we will visit the local oracle lady. If you have any ailments or problems, she can conduct a healing. Should you have questions to ask, she can also help. That will take a good part of the morning

DAY 08: LEH – Delhi