Darcha Padum Trek

About Darcha Padum Trek, Ladakh

When you are trekking along the Zanskar valleys, you are actually favoring the most strenuous Himalayan adventure tour and specifically while roaming around the Darcha Padum area, which is an exotic land of ancient kingdoms, high mountain passes and mesmerizing landscapes with a wide opportunity of trekking pleasures all around the valleys.

The Darcha-Padum Trek will take the enthusiastic trekkers at the journey through Leh-Ladakh and Zanskar, once being the part of the Kingdom of Western Tibet. This is a journey back through the centuries to a time when nomads transmigrated from one pastureland to another, and traded their salt and wool barley and staples with the people of the lowlands. The people of the lowland are typically and culturally rich in the villages and seen their living life style.

All around the Darcha Padum Trek, the trekkers will find Tibetan Buddhist lamas, cliff-side monasteries, grazing yaks and lively, traditional villages to take them at the another world all across the Ladakh & Zanskar. The routes of this trek includes the famous passes through the small Kingdom of Yulchung that continues across the Zanskar River gorges and through the canyons and spires of 'Bear Valley' to reach the ancient Kingdom of Zangla, the upper reaches of Zanskar. Besides, one can find the opportunity to explore white-washed villages, ruined forts and dramatically perched Gompas while the tented camping at wonderful site are eagerly waiting for the trekking freaks. The trek will be continued with the spectacular route across the west-end from Stongde Gompa to Brandy Nala. Enjoy trekking at Darcha- Padum and get the best hints of the people of Ladakh and Zanskar who are typically and culturally rich in their villages and their life-style.

Itinerary

In the evening catch AC Volvo Coach for Manali. Over night journey

Arrival at Manali by morning and then drive to Darcha. Arrive Darcha and overnight in Camp.

Leave Darcha, We start our journey with an easy walk into the valley. En route, we will visit the Chika and Rarik monasteries.

We cross the river by a hanging pulley. Overnight at Zanskar Sumdo

Early morning trek from Zanskar Sumdo to Chumi Napo. The route leaves the valley and starts climbing up quite steeply towards the Shingo La pass.

Prayer flags flapping in the wind mark the Shingo La pass, surrounded with fascinating views of the glaciers. An easy traverse of a glacier takes us to the valley and to the Lakham yak pastures.

A gradual descent along the Kurgiak river, lined with mani walls. On the way, we will come across a few Doksas, where yaks are kept in summer time.

The trail is now boarded by meadows of flowers and barley fields. Shortens are spread all the way and highlight the religious fervour of the Zanskaris.

We visit Phuktal monastery (3850m), perched on the side of an impressive cliff. (4h return journey from Phuktal monastery to Purni).

Purni - Ichar (3650m) in 4h

The trail goes up and down along the Tsarap river. On arriving at Mune, we will visit its monastery.

En route we visit Bardan monastery, one of the most important in the area. Overnight in Padum.

Drive from Padum to Kargil, Overnight at Kargil.

Drive from Kargil to Leh, Overnight at Leh hotel.

After breakfast transfer to airport to catcha flight for Delhi.