The trek is
highlighted by two ancient monasteries of Ladakh, Lamayuru and Hemis, and in
just a few days provides a rich experience of the region, its people and its
culture. The trail passes through the Gompas at Wanla and Sumdahchoon,
believed to have been built by Rinchen Zangpo in the 11th century. Unique
woodcarvings of the same era are partly embedded in the ground at
Sumdachenmo. Winding through dramatic desert mountainscape, interspersed
with pockets of vivid green, the trail reaches its highest point at 5200
mmtrs at the Kongmaru La pass. In addition, the Prinkti La (3729 m) and
Konke La (4895 m) passes are also crossed. Musk deer, blue sheep and marmots
can be sighted on occasion and himalayan geriffon circle overhead. Birdlife
is particularily abundant in the fertile areas.
Day 01 Abroad / Delhi Arrive late
night at New Delhi International airport. On arrival , the guest will
be met by our representative and transferred to hotel.Upon arrival at hotel
the guests will be provided with the traditional Indian welcome consisting
of aarti-tikka and garlands with non-alcoholic welcome drink.
Overnight at hotel
Day 02 Delhi This morning you
will be taken to visit Old Delhi - Former centre of Moghul Power, Old Delhi
offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars. Visit the
vast Red Fort, built in 1648, the Jamia Masjid, the greatest mosque in India
and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan who also built the Taj Mahal, and the
Raj Ghat, the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Afternoon sightseeing
tour of New Delhi. New Delhi - drive past the stately government buildings
of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India Gate & the
Presidential Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayuns tomb of the Mughal
era & predecessor of the world famous Taj Mahal. End the tour at the
towering minaret of Qutab Minar. Overnight at hotel. Day 03 Delhi - Leh (3500 mtrs ) Transfer to the airport for
flight to Leh Depart:( 0620/0735 hrs.) .The flight from Delhi to Leh is one
of the few spectacular air journeys to come across. The highlight of the
flight is that it takes you over the Himalayan ranges. For well over half an
hour down below us is a carpet of mountains ranging from 5000 mtrs to 7000
mtrs in altitude. Within couple of hours we are transported to endless
stretch of high altitude desert with green cultivated pockets next to river
Indus and its tributaries.
Upon arrival in Leh - the guest will
be met & transferred to the hotel. Leh is the administrative
capital of Ladakh which is an autonomous region of the state of Jammu &
Kashmir. Strategically this region is very important as it is bordered by
Pakistan, Sinkiang province of China and Chinese occupied Tibet.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 04 Leh Visit the Spituk
monastery, the headquarters of the Yellow Hat Gelugpa sect in Ladakh. Also
visit Pyhang Gompa and return back to Leh. Evening free to explore the
markets of Leh. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05 Leh
Visit the old Shey palace. Thiksey gompa and Tibetian refugee SOS village at
Chugilamsar. Overnight at hotel. Day 06 Leh - Lamayuru - 5 to 6 hours drive
Visit the
Alchi monastery on the way to Lamayuru. Also visit the ancient Gompa of
Lamayuru and camp next to the forsted river bankbeneath the monastery.
Overnight in camp.
Day 07 Lamayuru - Wanla (3090 m) - 4 hours
trek. Start the trek with a gradual ascent through the crumbling
slopes leading to Prinkiti la (3726 m.) Descend on the other side of the
pass to the dry narrow valley leading Shillakong river. Pass through apricot
orchards and reach the vilage of Wanla. Overnight in camp .
Day 08 Wanla - Marjek (3400 m)- 6 hours - trek After following
the Ripchar Nallah (stream) for about an hour and half, the trail ascends
steeply upto the Konke La (4895 m) where the fierce winds are more than
compensated for the spectacular views all around. Descend into the pastures
where the local people bring their horses, cows, dzos and yaks for graxing.
We camp on one meadows by Sumdah Tokpo (Stream). Day 09 Markek - Lanak (4130 m) - 6 hours trek Continue along
the Sumdah Tokpo, the trail reaches Sumdah Chenmo; a beautiful village, with
some very interesting 11th century wooden carvings embedded in the ground
and exposed to the elements. According to local belief, great disaster will
strike the commuinity if the carvings are moved in any way. Get back on the
trail and after crossing the stream climb upto Lanak, a quaint little
pasture with shepherd shelters built with piled up stones. Overnight
at camp.
Day 10 Lanak - Chilling After climbing
upto the Dundochoni La, the trail continues throughly along the ridgeline
offering wonderful views of the landscape which is now barren once more, but
washed in starting shades of maroon and mauve. It then descends into the
valley, where a shock og veridian hits the senses-chiling. Overnight at
Camp.
Chilling - Skiu (3400 m) - 4 to 5 hours - trek
Cross the mighty Zanskar river using cable trolley which can accommodate one
person and his luggage at one go. Bid goodbye to our horses and horsemen of
Lamayuru as the same horses can't go across the Zanskar river. On the other
side we will have fresh horses and horsemen from Leh for our second leg of
the trek. Continue upstream Zanskar till Skaya, where Markha river meets the
former. Proceed upriver towards wild markah Valley where Skiu is located.
Overnight at camp. Day 12 Skiu - Markha (3700 m) - 7 hours trek Continue upstream
to the meadows of Markha village. Enroute cross, the river atleast twice as
the trail might get washed due to rising waters of river Markha. Being the
biggest and most important village of the valley, Markha is located in the
centre of the valley also known as one of the greenest valleys of Ladakh and
Zanskar. Overnight at Camp.
Day 13 Markha - Tchatchutse
(4300 m) - 6 to 7 hours trek Enroute visit the Hankar village and
monastery. Camp on the leading to Nimaling. Overnight at Camp.
Day 14 Tchatchutse - Nimling (4800 m) - 4 hours trek The
route commences ascending to the flats of Nimling. The towering peak of Mt.
Kangyurjee (6400 m) can be viewd from here. This area is fanmous for grazing
goats, sheep, yaks and dogs. Overnight at camp.
Day 15
Nimling - Chokdo - 7 to 8 hours trek The route commences climbing
to the Kangmaru La (5200 m) from where view of Ladakh and the Karakoram
ranges are offered. The trail then descends into the Shang gorge and follows
the Shang nala to Chokfo (3900 m). Overnight at camp. Day 16 Chokdo - Martselang - Hemis - 5 to 6 hours The route
continues along the Shang nalah to Martselang (3400 m). Continue on to Hemis
Gompa for the end of the trek. Overnight in Hemis gompa rest house.
Day 17 Hemis - Stok - Leh Visit the Gompa and proceed to
visit Stok Palace and museum of the erstwhile dynasty of Ladakh.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 18 Leh Free to relax or
explore.
Day 19 Leh - Delhi Morning transfer to the
airport for flight to Delhi. Met and transferred to hotel.
Day
20 Delhi - Abroad
Transfer from hotel to the airport for flight back home.