Trans Zanskar Expedition- 26 Nights – 27 Days
Trans Zanskar Expedition The Ladakh region and Zanskar together holds several trekking tracks in the Trans Himalayan Region that covers several mountain passes, remote villages, ancient monasteries, deep gorges and patches of lush green meadows. The great Trans-Zanskar Expedition is one of the longest and strenuous trails in the Trans-Himalayan region that takes approximately a month to cover an entire stretch from Darcha at 3400 meters to Leh at 3500 meters passing through more than 10 mountain passes and a contrasting landscape dotted with traditional hues. Trekking in Ladakh-Zanskar region is each trekker’s dream that allows them to acquaint the rugged terrain perched high beyond the Himalaya skyline displaying the traces and colours of ancient civilization and conducing nomadic days being with the Indo-Tibetan lifestyle.
The Trans Zanskar Expedition is a natural fusion of old-fashioned grandeur and colorful art forming a vast gallery and highlighting ancient monasteries like the Lingshed, Karsha, Sani, Bardan and Phuktal. Further the trail climbs up to the fabulous garland of high mountain passes including Shingo La, Parfi La, Hanumil La, Shengi La, Bumiktse La, SirSir La and Prinkti La. Covering almost 26 to 27 days this trekking trail in Ladakh region also allows you to acquaint the ancient and hardy lifestyle secluded in the remote villages like the Table, Tanze, Kuru, Jal, Raru, Mone, Padam, Photoskar, Hanupatta and Shilla.
Further the Trans Zanskar Expedition offers the stunning vista of the farfetched scintillating landscape covered in snow. Moreover the varying climate conditions, roughness and length of the trek is one of the hard and challenging treks of Ladakh that commences from Darcha followed by Palamo, Zanskar Sumdo (4000 meters), Chimnakpo at 4800 meters, Lukung at 4400 meters, Kurgiakh, Shi, Purne at 3650 meters, Gyalbokh, Raru at 3700 meters, Mone, Padam, Rinam, Pissu, Hanumil, Lengshed, Photoskar, Hanupatta at 3450 meters, Shilla and Lamayuru passing through the oldest monastery in Phugtal, the Phugtal Monastery, which belongs to the tradition of the Gelugpas (Yellow Hats).
Activities
Itinerary
DAY 01: Delhi On arrival at Delhi airport, our representative will be there to meet you and thereafter transfer to your pre-booked hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY 02: Delhi - Manali (2050 M)Nuruchan In the morning after breakfast, we will take you for a guided sightseeing tour of Delhi. We will be visiting the Red Fort which was built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Jama Masjid which is one of the largest mosques in India, Raj Ghat and Shantivan, the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Lal Nehru, Humayun Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Laxmi Narayan Temple and thereafter, we will pass through the President House, the Parliament House and various government buildings. By evening, we will drive to Manali by AC Volvo Coach at 18:00 hrs. An overnight journey in the Volvo.
DAY 03 : Manali (2050 M) On arrival in Manali in the morning, we will transfer you to your pre-booked hotel. Rest of the time is free for leisure or you can take a tour of attractive places such as Vashisht Hot Springs, Hadimba Devi temple, etc. An overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 04: Manali - Darcha (3400 M) 180 kms/5-6 hrsNuruchan In the morning after breakfast, we will drive along the Beas River upstream towards the left bank through various villages to the Rohtang pass (4050 m). Down the hill, we will drive to the Gramphu and passport check point at Koksar. On reaching Keylong, the tribal district Headquarter which is about 35 kms a head campsite at Darcha, we will camp near the river at Darcha. An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 05: Darcha - Palemo (3600 m) 5.30 hrs Today, we will go for our first trek tour to Palemo. After a 30 minute walk to check post, we will visit the tiny hamlet and thereafter continue high over the Zanskar Chhu River through the last village of the valley (Rarick and Chhika) after few hour walk camp site is visible on the right side of the Zanskar Chhu (river). An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 06 : Palamo - Zanskar Sumdo (4000 m) 6 hrsNuruchan Today, we will go for a gradual walk through the boulders and meadows, shepherds from the Kangra valley where we can be witness with their flocks. En-route, we have to cross streams twice or thrice. On arrival at Zanskar Sumdo (4000 M), a good camping ground, we will set our camp there and enjoy an overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 07 : Zanskar Sumdo – Chuminakpo (4500 m) 7.30 hrs The day is fixed for trekking high up on the mountain side wherein firstly, we will be crossing the river by a hanging bridge and then take a steep climb up for about an hour and then follow the trek on a narrow valley until we reach Ramjak, a small meadow. Thereafter, we will trek to Chuminakpo (4800 m). An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 08 : Chuminakpo - Lahkhang (4300 m) over Shingo la (5090 m) 7-8 hrs Today, we will follow the path leads over moraines and ice chilled stream. We may have to cross over snow and glacier and suddenly prayer flags can be witness flattering over the pass. We will go down to the Zanskar valley and before arriving at the campsite we have to wade through Kargyak Chhu, beautiful campsite on the bank of Lahkhang Chhu. An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 09 : Lukung - Kargyak (4060 m) 5 hrslukung In the morning, we will go for an easy trek beside the right bank of Kargyak Chhu and foot of the Gumboranjom tower; a chilled stream has to be crossed. The trek will give you an opportunity to closely witness the herds of yaks and Marmots that are whistling around the meadow and plays hide and seek. Long series of Mane wall and Chorten are a symbol to reach Kargyak village, it houses a small Gompa on the top of village. An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 10: Kargyak - Purni (3800 m) 6 hrs Today, we will follow the trek which goes through Tanze, Kuru, Testa and Yal. On the way, village farmers can be seen cultivating their fields with melodious song of Zanskar. On arrival in Purni, situated on the confluence of the Tsarap and Kargyak Chhu, we will rest in our tent and enjoy a night stay.
DAY 11: Prune - Phugtal - Gyalbokhlukung Today, we will visit Phugtal Gompa, one of the oldest monasteries in Zanskar known for its spectacular located. Thereafter, we will be passing through a narrow valley and the splendid gorge where we will be crossing the bridge and come to a small plateau sprinkled with Chorten and religious banners. From here, we can see one of the most spectacular sights of the Phugtal Monastery built in a cave. The monastery belongs to the tradition of the Gelugpas (Yellow Hats). Thereafter, we will go back to Prune and further trek up on the left bank of Tsarap River after crossing the bridge. On arrival in Gyalbokh village, enjoy a night stay in the tent.
DAY 12: Gyalbokh - Raru (3700) Today, we will go for some difficult stretches for the horses and mules. We will take a gradual climb before coming to small plateau and the gradual descending towards to Raru village for an overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 13: Raru - Mone – Padum The day is fixed for an easy trekking down on motorable road. After an hour trekking, we will come to a small village called Mone. Here, we will visit a Gompa. Further, en-route after two hours drive we will visit the Bardan Gompa, which is situated on mountain plateau. On arrival in Padum (3650 m), the capital of Zanskar where two rivers Doda and Tsarap join to form Zanskar River, we will rent in our camp and enjoy an overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 14: Padum The day is free for leisure and to acclimatise.
DAY 15: Padum- Karsha – Rinam In the morning, from Padum we will head towards Pipiting and follow a dusty plain towards the Doda River and reach bridge. We will cross the bridge thereafter to reach Karsha Monastery dating back to the 16th century. It is the largest and the wealthiest of all monasteries in Zanskar. Further, we will be trekking down on the plain path to reach Rinam for an overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 16: Rinam – Pishu (3400 m) 3 hrs via Zangla 6 hrs Today, we will walk on the flat trail beside the Zanskar River. We will visit the Zangla village, an ancient capital of Zanskar. Further we can visit the ruin of castle and Nunery, a small Gompa in the village. After visiting this village, we will move back to the beautiful camp site of Pishu for an overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 17: Pissu – Hanumil (3550 m) 5 hrs We will go for a moronic track leading up and down. We will be crossing a bridge over stream. Colourful Chorten appear before arriving in the Pidmo village, which is best to explore. Thereafter, we will proceed for 2 hours walk till campsite of Hanumil. An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 18: Hanumil - Snertse (4200 m) over Parfila (3900 m) 6 hrs Today, we will walk on the path that leads us away from Zanskar River. Climb up to Parfi-La (3950 m) and then steep descend until reaching the Oma-Chu River. En-route, we will be crossing over the bridge and climb up a 500 m sandy slope to reach the sheepfolds of Snertse.
DAY 19: Snertse - Hanumil La – Lingshed We will follow the long gradual ascend towards Hanumil-La (4877 m). After reaching on the top of Hanumil-La and then steep descent about 1000 meters, we will again climb about 400 meter up along the mountain side, cross a small pass and then easy descent to Lingshed (3800 m). An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 20: Lingshed - Foot of Shinge - La We will proceed for a gradual one hour climb to the Margum La (4200 m), then pass an escarpment to go along the slope. A gentle descent towards the villages of Gongma and Skiumpata. Further, we will take a steep climb to Kiupa-la (3850 m) and then gradual climb along mountainside to the foot of Shinge-la. An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 21: Foot of Shinge - La - Photoskar We will take about one to two hours steep climb to Shinge-la (5060 m) and then descending to a broad valley. Again, we will take a gentle climb towards Bumiktse-la (4200 m) and descending towards Photoskar (3750 m), a splendid village. An overnight stay in the Tent.
DAY 22: Photoskar - SirSir La – Hanupatta Today, we will start from Photoskar and take a gentle climb up to a large Chorten, then long ascent of SirSir-la (4990 m). Thereafter, we will take an easy descent to the river and village Hanupatta (3450 m). An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 23: Hanupatta – Shilla Today, we will trek down the slope unless entering the gorge and the bridge at the junction of the two rivers. Thereafter, we will walk on some easy and some difficult stretches of fallen rocks until we reach Phenji La. Afterwards, we will be trekking on motorable road up to Wanla (3245 m). An overnight stay in the tent.
DAY 24: Shilla - Lamayuru – Leh Today is the last day of trekking in our tour. We will pass the Shilla village to cross Prinkti-la (3726 m) in order to reach Lamayuru (3 hrs). Further, we will be visiting the monastery and drive to Leh (3500 m). An overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 25: Leh – Shey – Thiksey - Hemis Today, you will go for a sightseeing tour to some ancient monasteries in this area.
Shey Gompa is about 15 kms from Leh. It used to be the summer palace of the kings of Ladakh. There are lots of Stupas and Gompas built around the palace. Shey palace was built by Deldan Namgyal in the beginning of 17'Th century AD. Main attraction in Shey is the 12m Shakyamuni Buddha statue inside the Dresthang Gompa.
Located close to Shey, Thiksey Gompa is about 17 kms from Leh. The monastery is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Ladakh and belongs to the Gelukspa order.
Hemis, about 45 kms south of Leh it is one of the most famous and largest monastery in Ladakh. It belongs to the Drukpa order and was founded in the early 17'Th century. The setting is perfect with the monastery cradled in a lovely valley, surrounded by streams and fronted by long Mani walls. Overnight stay at the guest house.
DAY 26: Leh – Delhi Today, we will transfer you to the airport early in the morning to catch the flight to Delhi. An overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.
DAY 27: Delhi –Departure Transfer to the international airport to catch the flight for onwards destination.
